The Sangreal

A Part Of The Story Omitted In The Old Romances.     I.             How sir Galahad despaired of finding the Grail.     Through the wood the sunny day         Glimmered sweetly glad;     Through the wood his weary way         Rode sir Galahad.     All about stood open porch,         Long-drawn cloister dim;     'Twas a wavering wandering church         Every side of him.     On through columns arching high,         Foliage-vaulted, he     Rode in thirst that made him sigh,         Longing miserably.     Came the moon, and through the trees         Glimmered faintly sad;     Withered, worn, and ill at ease         Down lay Galahad;     Closed his eyes and took no heed         What might come or pass;     Heard his hunger-busy steed         Cropping dewy grass.     Cool and juicy was the blade,         Good to him as wine:     For his labour he was paid,         Galahad must pine!     Late had he at Arthur's board,         Arthur strong and wise,     Pledged the cup with friendly lord,         Looked in ladies' eyes;     Now, alas! he wandered wide,         Resting never more,     Over lake and mountain-side,         Over sea and shore!     Swift in vision rose and fled         All he might have had;     Weary tossed his restless head,         And his heart grew sad.     With the lowliest in the land         He a maiden fair     Might have led with virgin hand         From the altar-stair:     Youth away with strength would glide,         Age bring frost and woe;     Through the world so dreary wide         Mateless he must go!     Lost was life and all its good,         Gone without avail!     All his labour never would         Find the Holy Grail!     II.             How sir Galahad found and lost the Grail.     Galahad was in the night,         And the wood was drear;     But to men in darksome plight         Radiant things appear:     Wings he heard not floating by,         Heard no heavenly hail;     But he started with a cry,         For he saw the Grail.     Hid from bright beholding sun,         Hid from moonlight wan,     Lo, from age-long darkness won,         It was seen of man!     Three feet off, on cushioned moss,         As if cast away,     Homely wood with carven cross,         Rough and rude it lay!     To his knees the knight rose up,         Loosed his gauntlet-band;     Fearing, daring, toward the cup         Went his naked hand;     When, as if it fled from harm,         Sank the holy thing,     And his eager following arm         Plunged into a spring.     Oh the thirst, the water sweet!         Down he lay and quaffed,     Quaffed and rose up on his feet,         Rose and gayly laughed;     Fell upon his knees to thank,         Loved and lauded there;     Stretched him on the mossy bank,         Fell asleep in prayer;     Dreamed, and dreaming murmured low         Ave, pater, creed;     When the fir-tops gan to glow         Waked and called his steed;     Bitted him and drew his girth,         Watered from his helm:     Happier knight or better worth         Was not in the realm!     Belted on him then his sword,         Braced his slackened mail;     Doubting said: "I dreamed the Lord         Offered me the Grail."     III.             How sir Galahad gave up the Quest for the Grail.     Ere the sun had cast his light         On the water's face,     Firm in saddle rode the knight         From the holy place,     Merry songs began to sing,         Let his matins bide;     Rode a good hour pondering,         And was turned aside,     Saying, "I will henceforth then         Yield this hopeless quest;     Tis a dream of holy men         This ideal Best!"     "Every good for miracle         Heart devout may hold;     Grail indeed was that fair well         Full of water cold!     "Not my thirst alone it stilled         But my soul it stayed;     And my heart, with gladness filled,         Wept and laughed and prayed!     "Spectral church with cryptic niche         I will seek no more;     That the holiest Grail is, which         Helps the need most sore!"     And he spake with speech more true         Than his thought indeed,     For not yet the good knight knew         His own sorest need.     IV.             How sir Galahad sought yet again for the Grail.     On he rode, to succour bound,         But his faith grew dim;     Wells for thirst he many found,         Water none for him.     Never more from drinking deep         Rose he up and laughed;     Never more did prayerful sleep         Follow on the draught.     Good the water which they bore,         Plenteously it flowed,     Quenched his thirst, but, ah, no more         Eased his bosom's load!     For the Best no more he sighed;         Rode as in a trance;     Life grew poor, undignified,         And he spake of chance.     Then he dreamed through Jesus' hand         That he drove a nail--     Woke and cried, "Through every land,         Lord, I seek thy Grail!"     V.             That sir Galahad found the Grail.     Up the quest again he took,         Rode through wood and wave;     Sought in many a mossy nook,         Many a hermit-cave;     Sought until the evening red         Sunk in shadow deep;     Sought until the moonlight fled;         Slept, and sought in sleep.     Where he wandered, seeking, sad,         Story doth not say,     But at length sir Galahad         Found it on a day;     Took the Grail with holy hand,         Had the cup of joy;     Carried it about the land,         Gleesome as a boy;     Laid his sword where he had found         Boot for every bale,     Stuck his spear into the ground,         Kept alone the Grail.     VI.             How sir Galahad carried about the Grail.     Horse and crested helmet gone,         Greaves and shield and mail,     Caroling loud the knight walked on,         For he had the Grail;     Caroling loud walked south and north,         East and west, for years;     Where he went, the smiles came forth,         Where he left, the tears.     Glave nor dagger mourned he,         Axe nor iron flail:     Evil might not brook to see         Once the Holy Grail.     Wilds he wandered with his staff,         Woods no longer sad;     Earth and sky and sea did laugh         Round sir Galahad.     Bitter mere nor trodden pool         Did in service fail,     Water all grew sweet and cool         In the Holy Grail.     Without where to lay his head,         Chanting loud he went;     Found each cave a palace-bed,         Every rock a tent.     Age that had begun to quail         In the gathering gloom,     Counselled he to seek the Grail         And forget the tomb.     Youth with hope or passion pale,         Youth with eager eyes,     Taught he that the Holy Grail         Was the only prize.     Maiden worn with hidden ail,         Restless and unsure,     Taught he that the Holy Grail         Was the only cure.     Children rosy in the sun         Ran to hear his tale     How twelve little ones had won         Each of them the Grail.     VII.             How sir Galahad hid the Grail.     Very still was earth and sky         When he passing lay;     Oft he said he should not die,         Would but go away.     When he passed, they reverent sought,         Where his hand lay prest,     For the cup he bare, they thought,         Hidden in his breast.     Hope and haste and eager thrill         Turned to sorrowing wail:     Hid he held it deeper still,         Took with him the Grail.