The story of the Grail is somewhat confused, owing to the many changes made by the different authors.  The account here given, while mentioning the most striking incidents of other versions, is in general an outline of the “Titurel” and “Parzival” of Von Eschenbach.

[Sidenote:  The Holy Grail.] When Lucifer was cast out of heaven, one stone of great beauty as detached from the marvelous crown which sixty thousand angels had tendered him.  This stone fell upon earth, and from it was carved a vessel of great beauty, which came, after many ages, into the hands of Joseph of Arimathea.  He offered it to the Savior, who made use of it in the Last Supper.  When the blood flowed from the Redeemer’s side, Joseph of Arimathea caught a few drops of it in this wonderful vessel; and, owing to this circumstance, it was thought to be endowed with marvelous powers.  “Wherever it was there were good things in abundance.  Whoever looked upon it, even though he were sick unto death, could not die that week; whoever looked at it continually, his cheeks never grew pale, nor his hair gray.”

Once a year, on the anniversary of the Savior’s death, a white dove brought a fresh host down from heaven, and placed it on the vessel, which was borne by a host of angels, or by spotless virgins.  The care of it was at times intrusted to mortals, who, however, had to prove themselves worthy of this exalted honor by leading immaculate lives.  This vessel, called the “Holy Grail,” remained, after the crucifixion, in the hands of Joseph of Arimathea.  The Jews, angry because Joseph had helped to bury Christ, cast him into a dungeon, and left him there for a whole year without food or drink.  Their purpose in doing so was to slay Joseph, as they had already slain Nicodemus, so that should the Romans ever ask them to produce Christ’s body, they might declare that it had been stolen by Joseph of Arimathea.

The Jews little suspected, however, that Joseph, having the Holy Grail with him, could suffer no lack.  When Vespasian, the Roman emperor, heard the story of Christ’s passion, as related by a knight who had just returned from the Holy Land, he sent a commission to Jerusalem to investigate the matter and bring back some holy relic to cure his son Titus of leprosy.

In due time the ambassadors returned, giving Pilate’s version of the story, and bringing with them an old woman (known after her death as St. Veronica).  She produced the cloth with which she had wiped the Lord’s face, and upon which his likeness had been stamped by miracle.  The mere sight of this holy relic sufficed to restore Titus, who now proceeded with Vespasian to Jerusalem.  There they vainly tried to compel the Jews to produce the body of Christ, until one of them revealed, under pressure of torture, the place where Joseph was imprisoned.  Vespasian proceeded in person to the dungeon, and was hailed by name by the perfectly healthy prisoner.  Joseph was set free, but, fearing further persecution from the Jews, soon departed with his sister, Enigee, and her husband, Brons, for a distant land.  The pilgrims found a place of refuge near Marseilles, where the Holy Grail supplied all their needs, until one of them committed a sin.  Then divine displeasure became manifest by a terrible famine.