The Sangreal by George MacDonald

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!