“’Nay, lord, I heard the sound, I saw the light,
But since I did not see the Holy Thing,
I sware a vow to follow it till I saw.’

“Then when he ask’d us, knight by knight, if any
Had seen it, all their answers were as one: 
‘Nay, lord, and therefore have we sworn our vows.’”

          
                                                      TENNYSON, The Holy Grail.

[Sidenote:  Quest of the Holy Grail.] During this quest the knights traveled separately or in pairs all through the world, encountered many dangers, and in true mediaeval fashion defended damsels in distress, challenged knights, and covered themselves with scars and glory.  Some of the legends declare that Parzival alone saw the Holy Grail, while others aver that Lancelot saw it through a veil faintly.  The pure Galahad, having never sinned at all, and having spent years in prayer and fasting, finally beheld it just as his immaculate soul was borne to heaven by the angels.

The rest of the knights, realizing after many years’ fruitless search that they were unworthy of the boon, finally returned to Camelot, where they were duly entertained by the queen.  While they were feasting at her table, one of their number, having partaken of a poisonous draught, fell lifeless to the ground.  As the incident had happened at the queen’s side, some of her detractors accused her of the crime, and bade her confess, or prove her innocence by a judicial duel.  Being her husband, Arthur was debarred by law of the privilege of fighting for her in the lists of Camelot, and the poor queen would have been condemned to be burned alive for lack of a champion had not Lancelot appeared incognito, and forced her accuser to retract his words.

Throughout his reign Arthur had been wont to encourage his knights by yearly tournaments, the victor’s prize being each time a precious jewel.  It seems that these jewels had come into his possession in a peculiar way.  While wandering as a lad in Lyonesse, Arthur found the moldering bones of two kings.  Tradition related that these monarchs had slain each other, and, as they were brothers, the murder seemed so heinous that none dared touch their remains.  There among the rusty armor lay a kingly crown studded with diamonds, which Arthur picked up and carelessly set upon his own head.  At that very moment a prophetic voice was heard declaring to him that he should rule.  Arthur kept the crown, and made each jewel set in it the object of a brilliant pageant when the prophecy had been fulfilled.

“And Arthur came, and laboring up the pass,
All in a misty moonshine, unawares
Had trodden that crown’d skeleton, and the skull
Brake from the nape, and from the skull the crown
Roll’d into light, and turning on its rims
Fled like a glittering rivulet to the tarn. 
And down the shingly scaur he plunged, and caught,
And set it on his head, and in his heart
Heard murmurs,—­’Lo! thou likewise shalt be King.’”

                                                          TENNYSON, Lancelot and Elaine.