{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/arthur/art147.htm","path":"neu/arthur/art147.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/arthur/art147.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends/Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n An Arthurian Miscellany\n THE CITY OF SARRAS\n by\n ERNEST RHYS\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"I require you that ye bury me not in this country, but as soon as I am dead put me in a boat at the next haven, . . . and as soon as ye three come to the city of Sarras, there to achieve the Holy Grail, . . . there bury me in the spiritual place.\"\n \n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I\n OH, have you not heard of Sir Galahad,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sir Bors and Sir Percival,--\n How they came to the Castle of Carbonek,--\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On the Quest of the Sancgreal?\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0II\n They sate at King Pelles' table,--\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And they saw a Spear that bled\n Three drops of blood most marvellous,--\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And a marvellous sweet voice said,--\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0III\n \"Sir Galahad,--Sir Galahad!\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sir Bors, and Sir Percival!\"--\n And all three saw a shining form\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By the cup of the Sancgreal.\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0IV\n \"This is Joseph of Arimathea,\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It said, \"The which had grace;\n Which was saved in the City of Sarras\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the Spiritual Place!\"\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\n They grew adread to see the form\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Of one dead, three hundred year!\n But Joseph said, \"A man like you,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Look on me,--have no fear!\"\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0VI\n Then they saw two angels stand there,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wax candles in their hand:\n And Joseph of Arimathea\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Between that twain did stand.\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0VII\n \"Now,\" said he, \"servants of Jesu Christ\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All three, you shall be fed\n Afore this table with meats, more sweet\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Than any knight ate,\" he said:\n But when he had said it, he vanished away,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And the greater grew their dread.\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0VIII\n Then came One from the Holy Grail,--\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They saw his blood; they knew the Light!\n My knights, he said, my true children:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You shall taste of the Grail this night.\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0IX\n Straightway Sir Galahad kneeled down,--\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sir Bors, and Sir Percival:\n And they humbly received their Saviour\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And partook of the Sancgreal.\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0X\n Too sweet for earth its savour was;--\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Too marvellous to be told\n Was the Mystery, and beyond man's sight\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What the three knights saw unroll'd.\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0XI\n This night, said he, you have seen much:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But after Night, the Day;\n And here in the realm of Logris\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Sancgreal cannot stay.\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0XII\n You have seen this night your souls' desire;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But there waits a Mystery\n More strange, my knights, than you can think\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Till to Sarras you sail the sea,--\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0XIII\n Till you come where Joseph of Arimathea\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stood with me, face to face;--\n Till you stand in the City of Sarras,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the Spiritual Place.\n \n \n \n \n Next: The Lament of Sir Ector de Maris, by Ernest Rhys [1905]","title":"Arthurian Miscellany: The City of Sarras, by Ernest Rhys [1905]","type":"page"}