‘Before God, sir, if I thought you meant what you said I’d lend a favourable ear! But indeed, I don’t doubt your words, and if you do as I ask I’ll grant you my love and make you lord of this castle.’
Perceval was overjoyed at this, and said: ‘Damsel, ask me anything in the world and I’ll do it! Tell me what you wish.’
And she replied: ‘If you can catch the white hart that lives in this forest and bring me back its head, I’ll be your love for evermore. And I’ll give you a good and faithful hound who’ll lead you straight to the hart as soon as you let him go. Follow him fast, cut off the hart’s head and bring it to me.’
‘Gladly, lady,’ Perceval replied. ‘I promise you, if God grants me life, I’ll do exactly as you ask.’
With that the damsel’s servants came forward and set up the tables, and they sat down to dine and were well satisfied. After eating they rose, and Perceval and the damsel walked together in the courtyard until it was time to go to bed. Then the servants came to Perceval and took off his shoes and led him to a beautiful bed they had prepared for him, and Perceval lay down; but I tell you, he slept very little that night, for he could not stop thinking about the damsel and the task she had set him.
At the crack of dawn next day Perceval rose and armed himself, and two boys brought him his horse and he mounted. Then the damsel came and gave him her hound, and charged him for love of her to take good care of him.
‘Before God, damsel,’ Perceval replied, ‘there’s nothing I’d less like to lose than your dog.’
And he sat the hound across his horse’s neck in front of him and took his leave of the damsel, and rode away swiftly until he came to the forest, when he put the dog down and let him go. The hound set off on the trail of the hart until he came to a thicket where he started it; and the hart, great, antlered and white as snow, took to flight; and when Perceval caught sight of it he was elated and spurred his horse forward: the whole forest echoed to the sound of its hooves. Why should I make a long story of this? The hound pursued the hart until it gave in, and pinned it down by its legs. Then Perceval, overjoyed, swiftly dismounted and cut off its head, and thought he would hang it from his saddle. But just as he was about to tie it on, an old woman came galloping up on a palfrey, seized the hound and rode off with it. Perceval was furious, and jumped on his horse and spurred after her; when he caught up with her he grabbed her by the shoulders and made her stop, saying: ‘Give me back my dog, lady – it’s very wrong of you to take off like this.’
When the wicked old woman heard his words she said: ‘May you be damned for stopping me, sir knight, and saying this hound was yours: I think you’ve stolen it! I’m going to give it to the one it belongs to, for you’ve no right to it.’
‘Lady,’ said Perceval in reply, ‘if you don’t give it to me kindly I’ll get angry and you’ll not take it away – and it’ll be the worse for you!’
‘Dear sir,’ she said, ‘you can use force upon me, but force is not right. If you’ll do as I say, I’ll give the hound back without a fuss.’
‘Tell me what it is,’ said Perceval, ‘and I’ll do it if I can, for I’ve no wish to start a fight with you.’
‘Ahead of us on this path,’ she replied, ‘you’ll find a tomb with a knight painted on it. Go up and say that the one who painted it was a false rogue! When you’ve done so, come back to me and I’ll give you the hound.’
‘I’m not going to lose him for want of this!’ said Perceval; and he came to the tomb and said: ‘Sir knight, the one who painted you was a false rogue!’
But when he had said this and was on his way back he heard a terrible noise behind him; and looking round he saw a knight galloping towards him on a black horse of amazing size, and he was fully armed in armour blacker than any ink. Perceval was terrified at the sight of him, and crossed himself at once – for indeed, he was frighteningly huge. But as soon as he had made the sign of the true cross he grew in strength and courage; he turned his horse’s head towards him and they came charging at each other full tilt. They struck one another such awesome blows that they shattered lances and shields, and collided, bodies and chests and helms together, so violently that their hearts erupted inside them and their eyes spun so wildly that they had no idea what had happened. They lost their reins and shield-straps and plummeted to the ground with such a crash that their hearts nearly burst: you could have ridden two leagues before they came to or knew where each other had gone. But when they recovered their wits and senses they stood up, drew their swords, clutched their shields and came at each other once again. The knight of the tomb attacked Perceval in a fury, and dealt him a sword-blow full on the helm; but it was strong enough to withstand it, and Perceval attacked him vigorously in his turn, pressing him so hard that he sent him staggering back; and he struck one blow so mighty that the blade cut through both the helmet and the hood of the mailcoat, wounding the knight on the left side of his head and sending him reeling: had the sword not turned in his hand, I tell you, it would have killed him. But the knight clutched his shield once more and returned to a fearsome attack, and Perceval again defended; and while they fought in the middle of the field, a fully armed knight rode up, took the hart’s head and the dog that the old woman was holding, and rode off again without saying a word. When Perceval saw this he was most distressed, but he could not go after him because of the knight’s mighty attack. Then Perceval’s strength and courage grew, and he assailed the knight ferociously. The knight could take no more and, overawed, ran swiftly back to his tomb; it opened for him and he dived back in. Perceval was about to dive after him, but he could not, for the tomb slammed shut behind the knight – with such force that the earth shook beneath Perceval’s feet. He was astounded by what he had seen, and came up to the tomb and called to the knight three times; but there was no reply. Perceval, realising he would get no word from him, returned to his horse and mounted, and rode swiftly after the knight who had stolen the head and the hound, swearing that he would not rest till he tracked him down. As he rode he saw the old woman who had sent him to the tomb, and he spurred towards her and asked her who the knight of the tomb was, and whether she knew the one who had stolen his dog.
‘Sir knight, that’s a damnably pointless question,’ she replied. ‘If you’ve lost it, go and find it – it’s your business; it’s none of mine.’
Hearing she had no intention of helping, Perceval commended her to the devil and set off again after the knight who had stolen the head and hound. But he rode and rode for most of that season and heard no news of him.
*
Through the forests and woods he rode and encountered many adventures. Chance led him one day to the wild forest where his mother and father had lived, their castle now left to a damsel who was Perceval’s sister. When he came to the forest he did not recognise it at all, for he had not been there for a very long time. But he made his way as chance led him and came riding up to the house. When the damsel his sister saw him she ran to his stirrup and said: ‘Dismount, sir knight, for you’ll have good lodging if you’ll care to stay here for the night.’
‘Damsel,’ Perceval replied, ‘I came for no other reason.’
And he dismounted, graciously helped by his sister and two other damsels who were her nieces. They helped him to disarm, too; and when he was out of his armour his sister brought him a most beautiful silken tunic. Then she seated him beside her, and looked long at him and began to weep. Perceval was most upset to see her cry, and asked her the reason for her tears.
‘I’ll tell you, sir,’ she replied. ‘I had a brother, a noble young man – I was his full sister: we shared the same father and mother. Our father died when it pleased God – and I tell you, Christ sent the voice of the Holy Spirit to him at his passing – and after his death my brother went off to the court of the great King Arthur. He was very young, sir, and knew nothing of the ways of the world, and my mother was so distressed at his leaving that she fell sick and died of grief. I’m sure he must be burde
ned by the sin of causing her death.’
And Perceval, hearing this, said: ‘Dear sister, know that I am Perceval your brother who left for the court of the great King Arthur.’
When the damsel heard this she was filled with joy and jumped up, weeping, and hugged him and kissed him a hundred times and more, and Perceval kissed her likewise as they rejoiced at their meeting. Then she asked him if he had been to the court of his grandfather, the rich Fisher King.
‘Dear sister,’ said Perceval, ‘I’ve not been there yet, but I’ve been seeking it for a long time – for more than three years. And I promise you, I shan’t rest until I find it.’
‘Dear brother,’ she replied, ‘may God grant that you earn His favour.’
While they were talking together and delighting in each other’s company, the damsel’s young servants came into the house, and when they saw her kissing Perceval so passionately they were most distressed, and said she must be mad thus to kiss a stranger. But the damsel called them forward and said: ‘Dear servants, know that this is Perceval my brother, who left here when he was very young.’
When the boys heard this they were overjoyed and greeted him with delight.
Later, after they had dined, the damsel called to Perceval and said: ‘Dear brother, I’m very worried about you: you’re so young, and the knights who roam these parts are very wicked and cruel; they’ll kill you if they can to get your horse. Take my advice, dear brother, and leave this weighty task you’ve undertaken and stay here with me, for it’s a great sin to kill another knight, and you’re in great danger each day of being killed yourself.’
‘Truly, dear sister,’ said Perceval, ‘I assure you I’d be glad to stay if I’d accomplished the quest I’ve begun, and as soon as I’ve done so I’ll come back and do all I can to aid and guide you. But until it’s accomplished I shan’t stay.’
The damsel wept tenderly at his words and said: ‘Then I beg you, Perceval, my dear sweet brother, do me the favour I shall ask.’
‘Dear sister,’ he replied, ‘tell me what you wish and I’ll do it.’
‘I want you to come with me,’ she said, ‘to the house of an uncle of yours; he’s a hermit, and a most worthy man, and he lives here in the forest half a league away. Make confession to him, and take penance for your mother’s sake who died because of you, and you may be sure he’ll give you the best guidance that he can. And be sure you do as he commands, for he’s a most holy man, and came to this land from Jerusalem in the land of Judaea, and was one of the brothers of your father Alain li Gros. And know this: if he prays to Christ that God may guide you to your goal, his prayers may well direct you there; for he told me the most wonderful things about your ancestor, and about Joseph and Enigeus – his mother, Joseph’s sister – and about his father Bron, who is known as the Fisher King. And he told me that Bron – your grandfather – has the vessel in which the blood of Our Lord was gathered. This vessel is called the Grail, and he said that Our Lord declared that it should come to you, and that you must search until you find it.’
When Perceval heard his sister’s words he was filled with joy, and said he would gladly go to his uncle. He armed at once and mounted, and bade his sister mount a hunting horse that was kept at the house, and they set off together and rode to the hermit’s dwelling. When they arrived at his door they rapped the knocker on the wicket gate, and the hermit, who was a most holy old man, came hobbling on his crutch to open it. Perceval and his sister dismounted and entered the hermit’s house. But their horses remained outside: they could not come in, for the door was so low that Perceval had to stoop as he entered. The holy man was very surprised to see his niece arrive with a knight, and asked her why she had come with him, and whether he had seized or abducted her. And she replied:
‘Dear uncle, this is my brother Perceval – the son of your brother Alain li Gros – who went away to the court of the great King Arthur to receive arms. He did so, thanks be to God, and has them now.’
The worthy man was delighted by her words and said: ‘Tell me, dear nephew, have you yet been to the house of the rich Fisher King, who is my father and your grandfather?’
And Perceval replied that he had been in search of it for a long while but had not yet been there.
‘Dear nephew,’ said the hermit, ‘know this: once, when we were seated together at supper, we heard the voice of the Holy Spirit commanding us to go to far-off lands in the West; and it commanded my father Bron to come to these parts, towards the setting sun, and said that to Alain li Gros would be born an heir who would have the Grail in his keeping, and that the Fisher King could not die until you had been to his court – and when you had done so, he would be healed and would bestow his grace and the vessel upon you, and you would be lord of the blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Now be sure to behave with all honour, and I beg you, have no thoughts of killing other knights, but spare them and bear with them in all kinds of ways for the sake of your mother’s soul. And pray to Our Lord to have mercy on you, for it was the grief your mother suffered on your account that killed her. And I beg you, be mindful and ever careful to guard against sin and all misdeeds, for you are of a line devoted to Our Lord, and He has so exalted them that He has given His flesh and His blood into their keeping.’
‘Sir,’ replied Perceval, ‘may God grant that I serve Him always according to His will.’
And the worthy hermit echoed this prayer to Our Lord. Then he told Perceval many good things which I cannot relate, but I can tell you that Perceval stayed with him all that night till morning, when he heard him say mass in his chapel. And when he had heard mass and the hermit had taken off the armour of Our Lord,8 Perceval came and bowed to him most humbly and took his leave, saying that he wished to resume the quest he had undertaken. The worthy man prayed to Our Lord to grant that he would soon find his father’s house; then Perceval left the hermit’s cell, went to his horse and mounted, and bade his sister mount likewise; then he set off, leaving the hermit in tears. And Perceval rode swiftly away with his sister, who rejoiced in her brother’s company.
As they rode along and were nearing their castle, Perceval stopped beside a cross where he had often played while a boy at his mother’s house. And he saw a fully armed knight riding towards him, and as he came he cried at the top of his voice:
‘By God, sir knight, you’ll not take this damsel away with you unless you fight me for her first!’
Perceval heard him well enough but said not a word in reply, for he was so absorbed in his business that he had no thought for the knight’s cries. The knight was deeply angered, and came galloping towards him, lance lowered. He would have struck Perceval if his sister had not cried out to him: ‘Perceval dear brother, look out or this knight will kill you!’
Perceval was startled, so preoccupied by thoughts of the damsel who had given him the hound that he had not noticed the knight. But as soon as he did, he turned his horse’s head and spurred him straight towards his attacker; the knight did likewise: both were intent upon doing each other harm. The knight struck Perceval’s shield with his lance and smashed clean through it; but the mailcoat was strong enough to withstand it, and the shaft of the lance flew into splinters. Perceval returned a blow to the shield with all his strength: neither shield nor mailcoat could stop the lance plunging into the knight’s chest. Such was the fury of the blow that he was sent flying full length to the ground; and such was the fall that his heart burst within him and he died instantly: neither foot nor hand moved again.
‘By God, sir knight,’ said Perceval, ‘you’ve brought this upon yourself: you’d have done better to keep quiet than to come after me like this. But I’m sorry I’ve killed you: I’d rather simply have defeated you, for it’s a great sin to kill another knight.’
Then he took the knight’s horse and turned away, and rode back to his sister and gave the horse to her. They set off swiftly and returned to their manor and dismounted at once. The damsel’s servants came to meet them and took their horses and sta
bled them: they were very pleased to see them return, but most surprised about the horse that Perceval had brought back. They came to him then and very graciously helped him from his armour, and once he was disarmed the servants set up the table and Perceval dined with his sister. When he had eaten he lay down to sleep for a while, for he had stayed up all the previous night; and after a short sleep he rose and called for his arms and swiftly armed once more. When his sister saw this her heart was filled with sorrow, and she came to him and said: ‘What’s this, dear brother Perceval? What do you mean to do? Are you going to go without me and leave me alone here in the forest?’
‘Dear sister,’ he replied, ‘if there’s any way I can return to you I’ll do so, and then I’ll do all in my power to help you as a brother should. But for the time being I can’t stay.’
The damsel was very distressed at this, and wept most tenderly. Perceval did what he could to comfort her, promising to return as soon as he could; but then he called for his horse at once and quickly mounted, having no desire to stay. Then he and his sister commended each other to God; she was weeping and filled with grief, but there was nothing more she could do.
*
After leaving his sister, Perceval rode on all day without encountering any adventure; nor did he find anywhere to take lodging. He had to lie that night in the forest; he took off his horse’s harness and let him graze all night on the grass which was sweet and heavy with dew. Perceval watched over him all night without sleeping.
At the crack of dawn next morning he rose and harnessed his horse once more, took up his arms and mounted and rode all day. He greatly enjoyed that morning: the forest was huge and bursting with green, and he listened with delight to the birds’ joyful dawn chorus. And then, as he rode along, he looked ahead and saw a knight approaching on a horse, with a damsel beside him of the most startling appearance ever seen: her neck and face and hands were blacker than iron, her legs all bent, and her eyes redder than any fire – and truly, a full hand’s width apart. And I promise you, no more than a foot of her peeped over the saddle-bow, and her feet and legs were so twisted that she could not keep them in the stirrups. Her hair was tied in a single tress, which was short and black, looking more like a rat’s tail than anything else. But she was riding along most proudly, with whip in hand and one leg cocked elegantly over her palfrey’s neck! And as she rode beside the knight she hugged and kissed him sweetly from time to time, as he did her.
Merlin and the Grail Page 20