The ship in which Galahad embarks is steered by an angel, one of the Guardians of the Holy Grail, and the cup it holds, although closely veiled from profane glances, casts beams of refulgent light upon Galahad and his companions Sir Percival and Sir Bors.  They two, however, not being perfectly pure, cannot clearly distinguish the Grail, whose sight fills the soul of Galahad with ineffable rapture.  Before long the ship arrives at Sarras, the fabulous city, where Galahad can hang up his sword and shield and take his well-earned rest, for the Quest is at last achieved!  The travellers are welcomed by an old man, and, when the king of Sarras dies, the people unanimously elect Galahad their next ruler.

After governing them wisely for a year, Galahad—­who prayed in King Solomon’s ship that he might pass out of the world whenever he should ask it—­begged for the death of the body so he might find the eternal life of the soul.

When he died, the Holy Grail, which had been piously guarded in Sarras, returned to heaven, for Galahad’s work was finished on earth, as is indicated by the frescos of the Boston library, where angels guard a Golden Tree of achievement whose branches reach right up into heaven.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 32:  See the author’s “Stories of the Wagner Operas” and “Legends of the Rhine.”]

EPICS OF THE NETHERLANDS

In searching among Dutch masterpieces of literature we find that their greatest epic is “Joannes Boetgezant,” or John the Messenger of Repentance.  This epic in six books, on the life of John the Baptist, was written in 1662 by Vondel, and bears many traits of resemblance to Milton’s Paradise Lost.

It has been conjectured that the most famous of all the animal epics or beast fables originated in Flanders or Luxembourg, which for a time was included in the Low Countries.  This epic, which has been translated into every European language and has even found its way into the Far East, has been frequently remodelled.  The oldest extant MS. in Latin dates back to the eleventh or twelfth century.  Among modern versions the most clever, finished, and popular is Goethe’s “Reinecke Fuchs."[33]

In this poem he describes how the animals assemble at Whitsuntide to complain to their king, Noble, the Lion, about the dark deeds of Reynard the Fox.  The main grievance is that of Isegrim, the Wolf, who claims Reynard blinded three of his offspring and insulted his wife.  Speaking French, the Lapdog Wackerlos next pathetically describes how he was robbed of a sausage, which the Tomcat vehemently declares was his.

Having heard the depositions of the Wolf, the Dog, the Cat, the Panther, and the Hare, Noble is about to sentence the delinquent, when Grimbart, the Badger,—­uncle of Reynard—­rises to defend the accused.  Artfully he turns the tables and winds up his plausible peroration with the statement that Reynard, repenting of all past sins, has turned hermit, and is now spending his time in fasting, alms-giving, and prayer!