April 17, 2025 • 23 mins
A retelling of the classic Arthurian legends, this collection of twelve tales captures the grandeur, mystery, and moral depth of King Arthur’s court and the quest for the Holy Grail. Designed for young readers and educators, it brings timeless ideals to life.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Story of King Arthur in Twelve Sails by Renona
Caroline Martin. Tale ten The Quest of the Holy Grail.
Oh yet, methought I saw the Holy Grail all pealed
in Crimson Summit. But what I saw was veiled and covered,
and this quest was not for me Tennyson's Holy Grail.
(00:24):
Well nigh impossible would it be to follow the exploits
of all one hundred and fifty brave men who set
out from Camelot that sad yet glorious morning in quest
of the Holy Grail. Therefore we must content ourselves with
relating some of the marvelous adventures of the three whose
seats had been nearest to the siege, Perilous Lancelot Boors,
and Perceval the Pure the adventures of Sir Launcelot. All
(00:49):
that first day the knights rode together until towards evening
they came to a place where four roads met, in
the center of which stood a double cross, whose arms
thus pointed north and south, and east and west. There
the company broke up, each riding in the direction toward
which he believed himself called. So it happened that, when
darkness overtook him Launcelot, whose seat had been third from
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the mystic siege, found himself alone in a strange land. Now.
Although he believed that in times past he had traveled
all over the island of Britain, he had never come
across so wild and desolate a region before. There were
no highways, and scarcely any path that he might follow.
Only here and there did he meet a human being.
But the wild beasts of the forests often crossed his track,
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so that his deeds of prowess took the form of
defending himself against their attacks, rather than that of tilting
with mailed knights. So he rode for many days, sleeping
at night beneath such shelter as he could find in
the moldy ruins of some old castle, through the chinks
in whose walls the fierce eyes of famished beasts of
prey frequently glared at him. One night, however, he chanced
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to come across a stone cross which stood by an
ancient chapel. Having tied his horse to a tree, he
looked in through the door and saw that all was
in a ruined and wasted condition, save for an altar
richly decked in white summit upon which there stood a
silver candlestick bearing six lights. Being weary with his journey, however,
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he made no attempt to enter, but unlaced his helmet,
ungirded his sword, and lay down to sleep upon his
shield at the foot of the cross. And as he slept,
he dreamed that he saw drive up two white palfreys
bearing a litter, upon which lay a wounded knight. Then
the chapel door seemed to open, and the candlestick, with
its six lighted tapers, was borne by invisible hands to
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the other side of the cross. Presently there appeared, in
the same mysterious manner, a table of gold and silver,
upon which was set the holy Grail itself. Yet even
in his dream Launcelot could not see it plainly, for
it was still covered with white silk and enshrouded in
that same luminous cloud which had veiled it from his eyes.
At Camelot, the wounded Knights seen to be aware of
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its presence, too, for he suddenly sat up, raising his
arms toward the sacred chalice, and cried aloud, have mercy, Lord,
and grant that I'd be made whole. Then he crept
slowly and painfully on hands and knees until he was
able to touch the grail, whereupon he immediately leaped up, joyfully, exclaiming, Lord,
I thank THEE for now at last I am whole,
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indeed and cleansed of all my sin. Hearing the man's
last words, Launcelot, who was sick and soul, if not
in body, tried with all his might to rise, that
he likewise might lay his hand upon the holy thing.
But he found that struggle as he would, he could
move neither hand nor foot. Then suddenly, knight and candlestick,
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and table and grail vanished from his side, and he
awoke to hear a voice, still ringing in his ears,
which said, Launcelot, Launcelot, withdraw yourself from this sacred place,
for you are unworthy. So he departed, sad at heart,
remembering the king's warning, and saying bitterly to himself, alas
this us is not for such as I. After a
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while he came to a wild forest on the side
of the lofty mountain, where he found a hermitage, of
whose occupant he begged shelter for the night. As the
two talked together over their frugal fare, Launcelot felt moved
to unburden his heart to the holy Man, who said
to him gravely, when he had heard all, Sir Launcelot
of the Lake, you have won honor and glory, so
that you have come to be known far and wide
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as the mightiest knight of Arthur's round table. But you
are proud, and often your great feats have been performed
not for God and his righteousness only, but more for
the plaudits of men, and the praise of the King
in the admiration of the beautiful Guinevere. Therefore, the open
vision of the grail is not for you. To three
men only will it be given to see it plainly.
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But of all the others who ride upon this quest,
you will come nearest to it. For you have been
tempted as few are tempted, and you have striven with
your own heart as few have been called upon to strive. Farewell,
go in peace and sin no more, Sir Launcelot said
out again, a trifle comforted, And when the evening shadows
were descending upon him once more, he found himself in
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a deep wood, through the gloom of which he presently
dimly perceived the form of a knight coming toward him
on horseback, So Knight, he cried out joyfully, when the
man was within speaking distance, I pray you to try
a jout with me, for I have fought with none
but wild beasts for so long that I have almost
forgotten knightly ways. The stranger made no reply, but set
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his lance in rest. Then both spurred their horses and
crashed together, so that Launcelot's spear struck full upon the
shield of his opponent and was instantly broken to splinters.
Another moment, and our hero was hurled from the back
of his charger and lay upon the ground. Thus was
the mighty Launcelot, the glory of King Arthur's court, thrown
by the first knight whom he chanced to meet in
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the quest. Instantly, however, he was on his feet again.
Yet he did not draw his sword, as he would
most assuredly have done in other days, but bowed his
head before his conqueror, saying, humbly, I know who you are,
sir Knight, For I have jousted with the best knights
of Britain and would recognize the stroke of each. Neither
Gareth nor Great nor Tristan could have thrown me. Therefore,
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I know that you are Galahad. Then Galahad put up
his sword, crying joyfully, Ah Launcelot, Launcelot, the man to
whom I owe my knighthood, How glad I am of
this meeting. Long these two talked together, of the court,
which now seemed like some far off dream of the past,
and of the achieving of the quest, which was no
less a distant dream of the future. Then at last
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Launcelot said, Galahad, may I fare with you henceforth, for
I am certain that you will some day see the
holy Grail. But Galahad answered sadly, alas, my Launcelot, that
cannot be, for I am permitted to take no one
with me as yet. And with that he grasped the
old Knight's hand in farewell, and mounting his horse, was
soon lost to sight amid the shadows of the wood.
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Yet for many moments after his departure, it seemed to
Launcelot that there lingered a gleaming trail of life where
his flame colo ed armor had passed by. Presently, feeling
no need of rest, Launcelot too mounted his charger to
follow the road along which Galahad had preceded him, and
so in the course of time. As the morning sun
shot up from underground, he found that he had reached
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the sea. There, floating gently upon the waves, he saw
a little ship which lay so close to the rocks
that he could easily step on board, as an inner
voice seemed to be canceling him to do. No sooner
had he placed his foot upon the deck, however, than
the little craft, by the aid of neither sail nor owe,
left its moorings, and was soon a drift upon the
high sea. Then a feeling of strange peace came over
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his troubled spirit, and the weariness of all his sleepless
nights enveloped him, so that presently his eyes closed, and
he did not awaken until the sudden cessation of the
rocking motion that had lulled him caused him to realize
that his vessel had reached its port. A full moon,
riding high in the cloudless heavens, revealed to him by
its weird light the outlines of a castle with a
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high tower and many turrets and battlements standing near the shore. Still,
impelled by the commands of that inner voice, he disembarked
and walked up to the gate, which, as he now perceived,
was guarded by two immense lions. Instinctively, he drew his sword,
but no sooner had he done so than it was
wrenched from his hand by a small black dwarf, who
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at that moment stepped out from among the shadows. Proud Night,
said he, why do you trust to the strength of
your arm rather than to the goodness of your maker?
Then he returned the weapon to Launcelot, who now pointed
it towards the lions cross shaped hilt forward, whereupon the
beast made no further effort to impede his progress. So
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he passed on into the fortress through many doors which
opened at his approach, until at last he came to
one that remained fast closed. He tried the handle, but
it refused to turn, and as he hesitated, uncertain what
to do next, he heard the sound of soft music
on the other side. So like the singing of some
heavenly choir were those strains that Launcelot felt impelled to
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kneel humbly before that fast closed portal. As he did so,
the sound grew louder, and presently the door swung slowly
back upon its hinges. Reverently, he raised his eyes and
beheld in the center of a great room, a table
of gold and silver inlaid in weird patterns, upon which,
still with its covering of white silk, but with no
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cloud about it, now stood the long sought holy Grail.
Ten times brighter did its mystic glow appear to the
weary seeker than when he had first seen it in
the old hall at Camelot, or even than it had
seemed to him in his dream by the Cross. As
he continued to gaze in mute wonder, a figure cloaked
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and hooded in apparel of stainless white, stepped forward and
lived in the sacred chalice, with both hands, raised it
far above his head in adoration. Whereupon Lancelot, with the
one idea of coming nearer to the holy thing, arose
from his knees, intending to enter the room. Suddenly, however,
it seemed to him that a blast like a fiery
breath struck him in the face, and the burning air
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was all about him and through him, so that he
fell to the ground, having lost the power of motion.
Then he felt no more pain, yet he was aware
of the fact that he was being carried away to
another room, where he was laid tenderly upon a soft
white bed, and there he remained unconscious for twenty four days,
one day for each year that he had failed in
perfect fidelity to the vows of his knighthood. At the
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end of that time, he awoke one morning able to
answer the questions of the kind people of the castle.
I am Launcelot of the Lake, said he, and I
seek the Holy Grail. This is Carbonac, the Castle of
the Grail, they replied, which was rebuilt by unseen hands
after its terrible fall when Barlin the Savage gave its
master the dolorous stroke. You have done nobly, said Launcelot,
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But now you must return to King Arthur's court, for
the open vision is not for you, and you will
never see more of the sacred vessel than you have
seen already. Then Launcelot took ship again and sailed away
toward distant Camelot, where he arrived in time a humbler
and a wiser man the Adventures of Sir Bors. When
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the knights parted at the crossroads, Bores, whose seat had
been second from the mystic siege, rode on alone for
some days without meeting with any adventure which a brave
man such as he would have considered worth relating. One evening, however,
he too reached a hermitage, where he was made welcome
at the humble board, the fair of which consisted of
dry bread and sparkling water from a mountain spring. As
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he and his kind host talked together, Bors was moved,
as Lancelot had been to tell the hermit the story
of the quest. When he had finished, the good man
said gravely, Sir knight, do you know that all the
powers of evil are leagued together against the men who
seek the Grail? And do you realize that only they
who triumph over all temptations shall achieve the open vision? Yes,
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said Bors, All this I know very well. Then will
you make me a promise? The hermit? If it be
one that I can keep, said Bors. Promise me, continued
the good man, that you will eat nothing but dry
bread and drink nothing but pure water until you achieved
the quest. Then Balls hesitated, but friends, said he, it
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may well be that I am destined never to see
the Grail at all. Then would you have me live
the rest of my life upon such simple fare? I know,
replied the hermit mysteriously, that you will see it if
you never allow yourself to be turned from the quest
through any fear, or for any pleasure or gain. Then
the light of hope kindled in the young man's eyes,
and he exclaimed joyfully, kind friend, I promise. So in
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the morning he bid farewell to his host and rode
on his way through the forest, until they chanced to
meet with two great, rough looking knights who were leading
a third as their prisoner. As they drew nearer, Bors
perceived that the unfortunate man whom they had bound upon
his horse and were beating with thorns was none other
than his own brother, Lionel. Instantly he had drawn his
sword red to fly to the rescue, and was about
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to fall upon the men, when suddenly, from out of
the thicket on the farther side of the road dashed
a woman, neither young nor beautiful, who, as he soon discovered,
was fleeing for her own life from a band of robbers.
For an instant bos hesitated in doubt whether his duty
lay in the direction of rescuing his brother, whom he
dearly loved, or of saving this woman, who was nothing
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to him. Then his chivalrous training and Arthur's halls came
to his aid, and he remembered that Lionel too was
a night bound, like himself, to suffer whatsoever came to
him in the writing of wrongs and in the championing
of the cause of the week and the oppressed. He
turned therefore fiercely upon the robbers, who presently fled in dismay,
so that he was able to deliver the woman in
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safety to her friends when they appeared upon the scene.
Having thus obeyed the voice of his conscience, Bors now
spurred his horse and hastened down the road where he
had seen his brother disappear. He had not gone far, however,
when he met a man in the robe of a
priest riding a great black charger. W are you going
so fast, sir night, this man called out, Do not
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detain me, I pray you, replied Boars, for I am
speeding to overtake two roads. Who are carrying my brother
away a prisoner. Then it will be useless for you
to go any farther, said the priest, for the wicked
man have already killed your brother and disposed of his
body in the mere. Come with me now to a
castle nearby, where you can spend the night. So boors
turned sadly and rode with the stranger, relating his story
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as he went. Did I do right? He inquired at last,
to forsake my brother and rescue the woman. No, answered
the priest, You did wrong, and you are responsible for
your brother's death. Therefore you may as well give up
the quest, for only harm can come of your following
it now. Thereupon Boars grew sadder than ever, and took
no notice of the road until he realized that they
were drawing rain before the gates of a fair white castle. There,
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a young and strangely beautiful woman came forward to meet them,
followed by a troop of maidens, almost as fair as she.
They welcomed Boars with a special warmth, and led him
into a stately banquet hall, where a feat was spread
of all the delicacies of which he had been so
long deprived. Eat and drink, sir night, said the mistress
of the castle, and afterwards you may join us in
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our games and dances. But Boors answered, fair lady, I
am one of the grail seekers and cannot turn from
the quest for any pleasure. Furthermore, I am bound by
a promise to eat nothing but dry bread and to
drink nothing but pure water until I achieved the open vision.
I pray you therefore to excuse me, to which the
lady replied, Sir Knight, has not this good priest told
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you that your search is in vain because your brother's
blood will be required at your hands. Forget that you
ever set out upon this mad quest, and remain here
with us and be happy like other men. At this,
the maiden's one and all stretched out to him, soft white,
appealing hands of entreaty, as they echoed the words of
their mistress. Yes, stay with us, and be happy like
other men. Then bors hesitated before him rose, on the
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one hand a picture of his lonely rides along desolate man, deserted,
god forsaken rose, and on the other that of this
gorgeous hall, with its feasting and laughter, sweet music, and
fair faces. Then his eyes wandered over the dainty dishes,
to the rosy cheeks and merry glances of the maidens,
until he had all but yielded when they chanced to
alight upon the object by which he had made his vow,
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the craw shaped hilt of his trusty sword. In another
instant he had seized it, drawn it from its scabbard,
and was holding it aloft. Then a strange thing happened.
A great cry burst from the lips of mistress and maidens,
while the black garb of the so called priest dropped
from his shoulders, revealing him as the wicked creature he was.
A great wind began to sweep over the castle, accompanied
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by deafening thunder and blinding flashes of lightning. Then in
another moment, castle and priest and maidens had vanished from
his sight, and Boors found himself standing by a wide
stretch of sea, still holding aloft the sacred symbol which
had been the means of his salvation. By his side.
He presently distinguished the form of his good friend, the
kindly hermit, who said to him gladly baas Boors, thank
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God you've overcome your two great temptations. That man dressed
like a priest was in fact a wicked enchanter, and
the woman was likewise an enchantress whose sole aim at
present is to prevent the grail seeking knights from achieving
the quest. You did right when you rescued the woman,
rather than your brother. And furthermore, Lionel is not dead,
for he was saved by Gawayne, who chanced to be
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riding that way, and some day you will see him again.
While the good man had been speaking, Bores had aspired
a speck of the sail on the far horizon, which
had gradually drawn nearer, until now he perceived that a
little vessel covered with a wondrous canopy of white summit
lay moored near the shore. Boors continued the hermit. Now
I may tell you with certainty that you are one
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of the three who shall see the grail in open vision.
Enter into that ship therefore, and await in peace such
adventures as may come to you. So Bors obeyed, and
presently felt himself being borne swiftly out to sea the
adventure of Sir Percival. And now we come to the
adventure that befell Perceval, the pure, whose place had ever
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been the very next to the siege perilous, and whose
soul was beyond the reach of such temptations as assailed
Lancelot and Boores. Some days after his parting with his companions,
he met with twenty armed knights of ferocious aspect, who
demanded his name and his Errand I am Percival of
Arthur's round table, he replied, and I ride in quest
of the holy Grail. Then we will slay you. They
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all cried together, for we are the bitter enemies of
King Arthur, and of all those who have set out
upon that mad quest. Thereupon they dropped their spears and
charged upon him in a body. The first and the
second and the third he was able to overthrow, But
when they continued to rush upon him from all sides,
he could no longer defend himself, so that presently his
good steed was killed, and he lay helpless among them,
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awaiting death. Suddenly the sound of a galloping horse's hoof
struck his ear. Then he caught sight of the flash
of bright, flame colored armor coming directly towards him. In
another moment, the strange Knight was among his captors, striking
right and left with his sword. None who felt one
stroke linger to encounter second. Some fled in terror, while
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many more dropped, never to rise again, so that very
soon Perceval saw that not one of his tormentors was
left to do him harm. Thereupon, the night in the
flame colored armor, waiting for no thanks, wheeled his horse
and vanished like a sunbeam amid the shadows of the forest.
Gladly would Perceval have followed his rescuer, for he knew
full well that the strange Knight was Galahad. But alas
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his good and faithful steed lay dead by his side,
he could think of nothing better to do, therefore, than
to pursue on foot the road down which the great
Galahad had disappeared. So he plodded wearily on his way,
while all grew dark about him, until at last, from
sheer exhaustion, he sank upon the ground, and was soon
fast asleep. When he awoke, the moonlight was sifting down
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through the foliage, so that in the weird light he
was able to distinguish the form of a strangely beautiful
woman standing by his side. Knight said she, why are
you lying here by the roadside like a beggar? Because,
fair lady, said he, My horse has been killed, and
I have walked until weariness overcame me. Was your errand
then so very pressing, And the voice of the woman
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had grown soft and sweet and alluring. It was fair lady,
and it still is, replied Perceval. For I am in
quest of the Holy Grail, and I took this road
along which Sir Galahad has preceded me, because I know
that he at least she'll achieve the open vision. If
that is your errand Sir Knight, I would speed to
you with all my heart, said the woman, still in
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that soft caressing tone. Will you therefore accept a swift
steed from me? Perceval thanked her greatly, whereupon she disappeared
to return presently with a handsome black chargeler richly capparrisoned
in another moment. Overjoyed at the thought of being able
to proceed without further loss of time, Perceval leaped into
the saddle, But before he could turn to express his
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gratitude once more, the horse was away like the wind.
So that experienced rider, though who was he found great
difficulty in keeping his seat. Presently, he discovered that he
could neither stop nor turn the beast, and that they
were going at such a tremendous pace that within an
hour they had completed a full four days journey. Then,
all at once he heard the roar of rough water
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just ahead of him, and realized that his stea was
about to plunge straight into the ocean, with his rider
still on his back. Thus the end of the quest
and of all earthly things seemed to be at hand.
But just at that moment, Perceval bethought himself of his
sword and struck the horse's neck with its cross shaped hilt. Instantly,
the beast took a great leap into the air, thus
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on seating his rider, who fell backwards upon the soft
sand of the shore. Yet the horse never stopped, but
plunged madly into the waves, and disappeared in the midst
of a bright blue flame, which was presently extinguished by
the water, leaving a thick black smoke behind. When this
had cleared away, Perceval arose to find standing beside him
a kind faced man in the of a hermit. Good Night,
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said the stranger. You have had a narrow escape. That
steed which he rode was not a horse at all,
but a fiend, sent by the powers of darkness to prevent,
if possible, you're achieving the quest. The beautiful woman who
gave him to you is a wicked enchantress from whose
clutches bors has but lately escaped. Ah, holy man, exclaimed Perceval.
Tell me, if you can, shall I ever behold the
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sacred cup? Yes, was the comforting reply. You are one
of the three to whom the open vision will in
time be granted. Step into that little boat which lies
yonder amid the rocks, and rest in peace for a season.
Then Perceval looked and beheld a tiny craft covered with
a canopy of rich white summit. He stepped on board therefore,
and was soon fast asleep. When he awoke, you realized
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that he was upon the high seas, and that a
man was bending over him. Then he saw that the
man was boors. End of Tail ten recording by Rachel McGuire.
The Story of King Arthur in Twelve Sails by Renona
Caroline Martin. Tale ten The Quest of the Holy Grail.
Oh yet, methought I saw the Holy Grail all pealed
in Crimson Summit. But what I saw was veiled and covered,
and this quest was not for me Tennyson's Holy Grail.
(00:24):
Well nigh impossible would it be to follow the exploits
of all one hundred and fifty brave men who set
out from Camelot that sad yet glorious morning in quest
of the Holy Grail. Therefore we must content ourselves with
relating some of the marvelous adventures of the three whose
seats had been nearest to the siege, Perilous Lancelot Boors,
and Perceval the Pure the adventures of Sir Launcelot. All
(00:49):
that first day the knights rode together until towards evening
they came to a place where four roads met, in
the center of which stood a double cross, whose arms
thus pointed north and south, and east and west. There
the company broke up, each riding in the direction toward
which he believed himself called. So it happened that, when
darkness overtook him Launcelot, whose seat had been third from
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the mystic siege, found himself alone in a strange land. Now.
Although he believed that in times past he had traveled
all over the island of Britain, he had never come
across so wild and desolate a region before. There were
no highways, and scarcely any path that he might follow.
Only here and there did he meet a human being.
But the wild beasts of the forests often crossed his track,
(01:34):
so that his deeds of prowess took the form of
defending himself against their attacks, rather than that of tilting
with mailed knights. So he rode for many days, sleeping
at night beneath such shelter as he could find in
the moldy ruins of some old castle, through the chinks
in whose walls the fierce eyes of famished beasts of
prey frequently glared at him. One night, however, he chanced
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to come across a stone cross which stood by an
ancient chapel. Having tied his horse to a tree, he
looked in through the door and saw that all was
in a ruined and wasted condition, save for an altar
richly decked in white summit upon which there stood a
silver candlestick bearing six lights. Being weary with his journey, however,
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he made no attempt to enter, but unlaced his helmet,
ungirded his sword, and lay down to sleep upon his
shield at the foot of the cross. And as he slept,
he dreamed that he saw drive up two white palfreys
bearing a litter, upon which lay a wounded knight. Then
the chapel door seemed to open, and the candlestick, with
its six lighted tapers, was borne by invisible hands to
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the other side of the cross. Presently there appeared, in
the same mysterious manner, a table of gold and silver,
upon which was set the holy Grail itself. Yet even
in his dream Launcelot could not see it plainly, for
it was still covered with white silk and enshrouded in
that same luminous cloud which had veiled it from his eyes.
At Camelot, the wounded Knights seen to be aware of
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its presence, too, for he suddenly sat up, raising his
arms toward the sacred chalice, and cried aloud, have mercy, Lord,
and grant that I'd be made whole. Then he crept
slowly and painfully on hands and knees until he was
able to touch the grail, whereupon he immediately leaped up, joyfully, exclaiming, Lord,
I thank THEE for now at last I am whole,
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indeed and cleansed of all my sin. Hearing the man's
last words, Launcelot, who was sick and soul, if not
in body, tried with all his might to rise, that
he likewise might lay his hand upon the holy thing.
But he found that struggle as he would, he could
move neither hand nor foot. Then suddenly, knight and candlestick,
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and table and grail vanished from his side, and he
awoke to hear a voice, still ringing in his ears,
which said, Launcelot, Launcelot, withdraw yourself from this sacred place,
for you are unworthy. So he departed, sad at heart,
remembering the king's warning, and saying bitterly to himself, alas
this us is not for such as I. After a
(04:03):
while he came to a wild forest on the side
of the lofty mountain, where he found a hermitage, of
whose occupant he begged shelter for the night. As the
two talked together over their frugal fare, Launcelot felt moved
to unburden his heart to the holy Man, who said
to him gravely, when he had heard all, Sir Launcelot
of the Lake, you have won honor and glory, so
that you have come to be known far and wide
(04:24):
as the mightiest knight of Arthur's round table. But you
are proud, and often your great feats have been performed
not for God and his righteousness only, but more for
the plaudits of men, and the praise of the King
in the admiration of the beautiful Guinevere. Therefore, the open
vision of the grail is not for you. To three
men only will it be given to see it plainly.
(04:44):
But of all the others who ride upon this quest,
you will come nearest to it. For you have been
tempted as few are tempted, and you have striven with
your own heart as few have been called upon to strive. Farewell,
go in peace and sin no more, Sir Launcelot said
out again, a trifle comforted, And when the evening shadows
were descending upon him once more, he found himself in
(05:05):
a deep wood, through the gloom of which he presently
dimly perceived the form of a knight coming toward him
on horseback, So Knight, he cried out joyfully, when the
man was within speaking distance, I pray you to try
a jout with me, for I have fought with none
but wild beasts for so long that I have almost
forgotten knightly ways. The stranger made no reply, but set
(05:25):
his lance in rest. Then both spurred their horses and
crashed together, so that Launcelot's spear struck full upon the
shield of his opponent and was instantly broken to splinters.
Another moment, and our hero was hurled from the back
of his charger and lay upon the ground. Thus was
the mighty Launcelot, the glory of King Arthur's court, thrown
by the first knight whom he chanced to meet in
(05:47):
the quest. Instantly, however, he was on his feet again.
Yet he did not draw his sword, as he would
most assuredly have done in other days, but bowed his
head before his conqueror, saying, humbly, I know who you are,
sir Knight, For I have jousted with the best knights
of Britain and would recognize the stroke of each. Neither
Gareth nor Great nor Tristan could have thrown me. Therefore,
(06:10):
I know that you are Galahad. Then Galahad put up
his sword, crying joyfully, Ah Launcelot, Launcelot, the man to
whom I owe my knighthood, How glad I am of
this meeting. Long these two talked together, of the court,
which now seemed like some far off dream of the past,
and of the achieving of the quest, which was no
less a distant dream of the future. Then at last
(06:31):
Launcelot said, Galahad, may I fare with you henceforth, for
I am certain that you will some day see the
holy Grail. But Galahad answered sadly, alas, my Launcelot, that
cannot be, for I am permitted to take no one
with me as yet. And with that he grasped the
old Knight's hand in farewell, and mounting his horse, was
soon lost to sight amid the shadows of the wood.
(06:54):
Yet for many moments after his departure, it seemed to
Launcelot that there lingered a gleaming trail of life where
his flame colo ed armor had passed by. Presently, feeling
no need of rest, Launcelot too mounted his charger to
follow the road along which Galahad had preceded him, and
so in the course of time. As the morning sun
shot up from underground, he found that he had reached
(07:15):
the sea. There, floating gently upon the waves, he saw
a little ship which lay so close to the rocks
that he could easily step on board, as an inner
voice seemed to be canceling him to do. No sooner
had he placed his foot upon the deck, however, than
the little craft, by the aid of neither sail nor owe,
left its moorings, and was soon a drift upon the
high sea. Then a feeling of strange peace came over
(07:38):
his troubled spirit, and the weariness of all his sleepless
nights enveloped him, so that presently his eyes closed, and
he did not awaken until the sudden cessation of the
rocking motion that had lulled him caused him to realize
that his vessel had reached its port. A full moon,
riding high in the cloudless heavens, revealed to him by
its weird light the outlines of a castle with a
(07:59):
high tower and many turrets and battlements standing near the shore. Still,
impelled by the commands of that inner voice, he disembarked
and walked up to the gate, which, as he now perceived,
was guarded by two immense lions. Instinctively, he drew his sword,
but no sooner had he done so than it was
wrenched from his hand by a small black dwarf, who
(08:19):
at that moment stepped out from among the shadows. Proud Night,
said he, why do you trust to the strength of
your arm rather than to the goodness of your maker?
Then he returned the weapon to Launcelot, who now pointed
it towards the lions cross shaped hilt forward, whereupon the
beast made no further effort to impede his progress. So
(08:41):
he passed on into the fortress through many doors which
opened at his approach, until at last he came to
one that remained fast closed. He tried the handle, but
it refused to turn, and as he hesitated, uncertain what
to do next, he heard the sound of soft music
on the other side. So like the singing of some
heavenly choir were those strains that Launcelot felt impelled to
(09:01):
kneel humbly before that fast closed portal. As he did so,
the sound grew louder, and presently the door swung slowly
back upon its hinges. Reverently, he raised his eyes and
beheld in the center of a great room, a table
of gold and silver inlaid in weird patterns, upon which,
still with its covering of white silk, but with no
(09:22):
cloud about it, now stood the long sought holy Grail.
Ten times brighter did its mystic glow appear to the
weary seeker than when he had first seen it in
the old hall at Camelot, or even than it had
seemed to him in his dream by the Cross. As
he continued to gaze in mute wonder, a figure cloaked
(09:43):
and hooded in apparel of stainless white, stepped forward and
lived in the sacred chalice, with both hands, raised it
far above his head in adoration. Whereupon Lancelot, with the
one idea of coming nearer to the holy thing, arose
from his knees, intending to enter the room. Suddenly, however,
it seemed to him that a blast like a fiery
breath struck him in the face, and the burning air
(10:05):
was all about him and through him, so that he
fell to the ground, having lost the power of motion.
Then he felt no more pain, yet he was aware
of the fact that he was being carried away to
another room, where he was laid tenderly upon a soft
white bed, and there he remained unconscious for twenty four days,
one day for each year that he had failed in
perfect fidelity to the vows of his knighthood. At the
(10:28):
end of that time, he awoke one morning able to
answer the questions of the kind people of the castle.
I am Launcelot of the Lake, said he, and I
seek the Holy Grail. This is Carbonac, the Castle of
the Grail, they replied, which was rebuilt by unseen hands
after its terrible fall when Barlin the Savage gave its
master the dolorous stroke. You have done nobly, said Launcelot,
(10:49):
But now you must return to King Arthur's court, for
the open vision is not for you, and you will
never see more of the sacred vessel than you have
seen already. Then Launcelot took ship again and sailed away
toward distant Camelot, where he arrived in time a humbler
and a wiser man the Adventures of Sir Bors. When
(11:10):
the knights parted at the crossroads, Bores, whose seat had
been second from the mystic siege, rode on alone for
some days without meeting with any adventure which a brave
man such as he would have considered worth relating. One evening, however,
he too reached a hermitage, where he was made welcome
at the humble board, the fair of which consisted of
dry bread and sparkling water from a mountain spring. As
(11:33):
he and his kind host talked together, Bors was moved,
as Lancelot had been to tell the hermit the story
of the quest. When he had finished, the good man
said gravely, Sir knight, do you know that all the
powers of evil are leagued together against the men who
seek the Grail? And do you realize that only they
who triumph over all temptations shall achieve the open vision? Yes,
(11:55):
said Bors, All this I know very well. Then will
you make me a promise? The hermit? If it be
one that I can keep, said Bors. Promise me, continued
the good man, that you will eat nothing but dry
bread and drink nothing but pure water until you achieved
the quest. Then Balls hesitated, but friends, said he, it
(12:15):
may well be that I am destined never to see
the Grail at all. Then would you have me live
the rest of my life upon such simple fare? I know,
replied the hermit mysteriously, that you will see it if
you never allow yourself to be turned from the quest
through any fear, or for any pleasure or gain. Then
the light of hope kindled in the young man's eyes,
and he exclaimed joyfully, kind friend, I promise. So in
(12:39):
the morning he bid farewell to his host and rode
on his way through the forest, until they chanced to
meet with two great, rough looking knights who were leading
a third as their prisoner. As they drew nearer, Bors
perceived that the unfortunate man whom they had bound upon
his horse and were beating with thorns was none other
than his own brother, Lionel. Instantly he had drawn his
sword red to fly to the rescue, and was about
(13:01):
to fall upon the men, when suddenly, from out of
the thicket on the farther side of the road dashed
a woman, neither young nor beautiful, who, as he soon discovered,
was fleeing for her own life from a band of robbers.
For an instant bos hesitated in doubt whether his duty
lay in the direction of rescuing his brother, whom he
dearly loved, or of saving this woman, who was nothing
(13:23):
to him. Then his chivalrous training and Arthur's halls came
to his aid, and he remembered that Lionel too was
a night bound, like himself, to suffer whatsoever came to
him in the writing of wrongs and in the championing
of the cause of the week and the oppressed. He
turned therefore fiercely upon the robbers, who presently fled in dismay,
so that he was able to deliver the woman in
(13:43):
safety to her friends when they appeared upon the scene.
Having thus obeyed the voice of his conscience, Bors now
spurred his horse and hastened down the road where he
had seen his brother disappear. He had not gone far, however,
when he met a man in the robe of a
priest riding a great black charger. W are you going
so fast, sir night, this man called out, Do not
(14:03):
detain me, I pray you, replied Boars, for I am
speeding to overtake two roads. Who are carrying my brother
away a prisoner. Then it will be useless for you
to go any farther, said the priest, for the wicked
man have already killed your brother and disposed of his
body in the mere. Come with me now to a
castle nearby, where you can spend the night. So boors
turned sadly and rode with the stranger, relating his story
(14:25):
as he went. Did I do right? He inquired at last,
to forsake my brother and rescue the woman. No, answered
the priest, You did wrong, and you are responsible for
your brother's death. Therefore you may as well give up
the quest, for only harm can come of your following
it now. Thereupon Boars grew sadder than ever, and took
no notice of the road until he realized that they
were drawing rain before the gates of a fair white castle. There,
(14:48):
a young and strangely beautiful woman came forward to meet them,
followed by a troop of maidens, almost as fair as she.
They welcomed Boars with a special warmth, and led him
into a stately banquet hall, where a feat was spread
of all the delicacies of which he had been so
long deprived. Eat and drink, sir night, said the mistress
of the castle, and afterwards you may join us in
(15:08):
our games and dances. But Boors answered, fair lady, I
am one of the grail seekers and cannot turn from
the quest for any pleasure. Furthermore, I am bound by
a promise to eat nothing but dry bread and to
drink nothing but pure water until I achieved the open vision.
I pray you therefore to excuse me, to which the
lady replied, Sir Knight, has not this good priest told
(15:30):
you that your search is in vain because your brother's
blood will be required at your hands. Forget that you
ever set out upon this mad quest, and remain here
with us and be happy like other men. At this,
the maiden's one and all stretched out to him, soft white,
appealing hands of entreaty, as they echoed the words of
their mistress. Yes, stay with us, and be happy like
other men. Then bors hesitated before him rose, on the
(15:54):
one hand a picture of his lonely rides along desolate man, deserted,
god forsaken rose, and on the other that of this
gorgeous hall, with its feasting and laughter, sweet music, and
fair faces. Then his eyes wandered over the dainty dishes,
to the rosy cheeks and merry glances of the maidens,
until he had all but yielded when they chanced to
alight upon the object by which he had made his vow,
(16:16):
the craw shaped hilt of his trusty sword. In another
instant he had seized it, drawn it from its scabbard,
and was holding it aloft. Then a strange thing happened.
A great cry burst from the lips of mistress and maidens,
while the black garb of the so called priest dropped
from his shoulders, revealing him as the wicked creature he was.
A great wind began to sweep over the castle, accompanied
(16:36):
by deafening thunder and blinding flashes of lightning. Then in
another moment, castle and priest and maidens had vanished from
his sight, and Boors found himself standing by a wide
stretch of sea, still holding aloft the sacred symbol which
had been the means of his salvation. By his side.
He presently distinguished the form of his good friend, the
kindly hermit, who said to him gladly baas Boors, thank
(17:00):
God you've overcome your two great temptations. That man dressed
like a priest was in fact a wicked enchanter, and
the woman was likewise an enchantress whose sole aim at
present is to prevent the grail seeking knights from achieving
the quest. You did right when you rescued the woman,
rather than your brother. And furthermore, Lionel is not dead,
for he was saved by Gawayne, who chanced to be
(17:22):
riding that way, and some day you will see him again.
While the good man had been speaking, Bores had aspired
a speck of the sail on the far horizon, which
had gradually drawn nearer, until now he perceived that a
little vessel covered with a wondrous canopy of white summit
lay moored near the shore. Boors continued the hermit. Now
I may tell you with certainty that you are one
(17:43):
of the three who shall see the grail in open vision.
Enter into that ship therefore, and await in peace such
adventures as may come to you. So Bors obeyed, and
presently felt himself being borne swiftly out to sea the
adventure of Sir Percival. And now we come to the
adventure that befell Perceval, the pure, whose place had ever
(18:05):
been the very next to the siege perilous, and whose
soul was beyond the reach of such temptations as assailed
Lancelot and Boores. Some days after his parting with his companions,
he met with twenty armed knights of ferocious aspect, who
demanded his name and his Errand I am Percival of
Arthur's round table, he replied, and I ride in quest
of the holy Grail. Then we will slay you. They
(18:27):
all cried together, for we are the bitter enemies of
King Arthur, and of all those who have set out
upon that mad quest. Thereupon they dropped their spears and
charged upon him in a body. The first and the
second and the third he was able to overthrow, But
when they continued to rush upon him from all sides,
he could no longer defend himself, so that presently his
good steed was killed, and he lay helpless among them,
(18:48):
awaiting death. Suddenly the sound of a galloping horse's hoof
struck his ear. Then he caught sight of the flash
of bright, flame colored armor coming directly towards him. In
another moment, the strange Knight was among his captors, striking
right and left with his sword. None who felt one
stroke linger to encounter second. Some fled in terror, while
(19:09):
many more dropped, never to rise again, so that very
soon Perceval saw that not one of his tormentors was
left to do him harm. Thereupon, the night in the
flame colored armor, waiting for no thanks, wheeled his horse
and vanished like a sunbeam amid the shadows of the forest.
Gladly would Perceval have followed his rescuer, for he knew
full well that the strange Knight was Galahad. But alas
(19:31):
his good and faithful steed lay dead by his side,
he could think of nothing better to do, therefore, than
to pursue on foot the road down which the great
Galahad had disappeared. So he plodded wearily on his way,
while all grew dark about him, until at last, from
sheer exhaustion, he sank upon the ground, and was soon
fast asleep. When he awoke, the moonlight was sifting down
(19:52):
through the foliage, so that in the weird light he
was able to distinguish the form of a strangely beautiful
woman standing by his side. Knight said she, why are
you lying here by the roadside like a beggar? Because,
fair lady, said he, My horse has been killed, and
I have walked until weariness overcame me. Was your errand
then so very pressing, And the voice of the woman
(20:14):
had grown soft and sweet and alluring. It was fair lady,
and it still is, replied Perceval. For I am in
quest of the Holy Grail, and I took this road
along which Sir Galahad has preceded me, because I know
that he at least she'll achieve the open vision. If
that is your errand Sir Knight, I would speed to
you with all my heart, said the woman, still in
(20:34):
that soft caressing tone. Will you therefore accept a swift
steed from me? Perceval thanked her greatly, whereupon she disappeared
to return presently with a handsome black chargeler richly capparrisoned
in another moment. Overjoyed at the thought of being able
to proceed without further loss of time, Perceval leaped into
the saddle, But before he could turn to express his
(20:56):
gratitude once more, the horse was away like the wind.
So that experienced rider, though who was he found great
difficulty in keeping his seat. Presently, he discovered that he
could neither stop nor turn the beast, and that they
were going at such a tremendous pace that within an
hour they had completed a full four days journey. Then,
all at once he heard the roar of rough water
(21:18):
just ahead of him, and realized that his stea was
about to plunge straight into the ocean, with his rider
still on his back. Thus the end of the quest
and of all earthly things seemed to be at hand.
But just at that moment, Perceval bethought himself of his
sword and struck the horse's neck with its cross shaped hilt. Instantly,
the beast took a great leap into the air, thus
(21:38):
on seating his rider, who fell backwards upon the soft
sand of the shore. Yet the horse never stopped, but
plunged madly into the waves, and disappeared in the midst
of a bright blue flame, which was presently extinguished by
the water, leaving a thick black smoke behind. When this
had cleared away, Perceval arose to find standing beside him
a kind faced man in the of a hermit. Good Night,
(22:02):
said the stranger. You have had a narrow escape. That
steed which he rode was not a horse at all,
but a fiend, sent by the powers of darkness to prevent,
if possible, you're achieving the quest. The beautiful woman who
gave him to you is a wicked enchantress from whose
clutches bors has but lately escaped. Ah, holy man, exclaimed Perceval.
Tell me, if you can, shall I ever behold the
(22:23):
sacred cup? Yes, was the comforting reply. You are one
of the three to whom the open vision will in
time be granted. Step into that little boat which lies
yonder amid the rocks, and rest in peace for a season.
Then Perceval looked and beheld a tiny craft covered with
a canopy of rich white summit. He stepped on board therefore,
and was soon fast asleep. When he awoke, you realized
(22:45):
that he was upon the high seas, and that a
man was bending over him. Then he saw that the
man was boors. End of Tail ten recording by Rachel McGuire.
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