CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The Beggar And The Grail
England to Charles, was indeed strange but so much had Walker spokenthereof that he looked forward to seeing it as if it were his nativeland. The joy of Walker at its nearness, though he tried to hide itunder pretended calm was yet a thing quite obvious to Sir Galahad andthe boy and much did it amuse them.
"Of all the fair lands we have passed through, have you yet found nonethat pleased you more, good Walker?" the knight asked him.
"There is but one heaven, my master and there is but one England,"replied Walker.
"Then must I confess my sorrow at keeping you this long time fromheaven," said his master with mock regret.
"Nay, master, one can only know heaven when one has seen all the otherplaces. Too, I care not even for England when my master is not there."
"Kind words, good Walker. And spoke I ten times as kindly, yet could Inot do justice to how much you have counted and how well. Will I saythis, that I find it sweet to know that we are so near to England'sshores and that it is but a few days when we shall again findourselves at home. I would see all our friends, the good king, SirPercival, Sir Gareth, Sir Launcelot and the others. This wind thatfills these sails cannot blow too strong for me."
Well did the wind hold yet did it seem as if the next days were overlong. At last they were but a half day from the great castle of KingArthur.
Now as they rode, adventure there had been none since they had leftNormandy, they were stopped by a strange beggar who sought alms. Sickdid he seem, ragged and wretched, and as if life could hold but littlefor him. It was the selfsame beggar they had passed when they startedon their journey.
"Good master, I starve. Charity I seek."
Now though, Sir Galahad was impatient to reach the castle, yet did hestop for the poor wretch drew his pity.
"What will you, my man?"
"Food, if you have it, Sir Knight. Such help as you can give so low athing as me."
So then without further ado, he bade Walker feed the knave, which thelatter did, grumbling at the delay the same must cause. Then, theknight spoke kindly again to the beggar and gave him some silver.
"Master," the beggar said. "The Lord will bless you, for you foundtime for so wretched a soul as me. Far have you traveled, many of highdegree have found it honor to hold speech with you. So great a knightas you and yet have you had time for the beggar on the road.
"Honor have you shown, Faith have you ever had. Service have yourendered. This day you prove that you have Piety and Charity. So thenfor your food and for your silver and your kind words and the spiritbehind it all, I pay you now. Here, then is the Grail. Long sought inmany lands, in many places, yet was it always near at home."
"The Grail? Here, where I never thought to see it. And a beggar topossess it. Aye, even the lowliest possesses riches."
Mixed were the knight's emotions nor could he voice the thoughts andthe feelings within him. While nearby the two with him watched it allin awed silence.
"Aye, Sir Galahad. Think not that your search in far lands wasfruitless. Rather was it the caldron in which your worth was seasoned.Yet will this fact ever remain--that one need not travel far to findHonor, Faith, Service and Piety. For these are ever near."
"I am like Elam who went everywhere and found that what he sought wasnear at home."
"True, good knight. This day shall be a great day for England, forthrough the worth of one of its knights, the Grail stays here. Go youthen, for word will already be at the Round Table that Sir Galahadcomes with the Grail."
"Strange man, I know not what to say. Dear is the possession of thisprecious vessel to me. Long have I sought it. And to find it to havebeen so near at home stirs mixed and wondrous feelings within me. So Ican but go and if I fail to say the thing I should, forgive me."
The knight, Charles and Walker as well, found themselves kneeling toreceive the benediction of this strange man who was both beggar andholy man. And when they looked up again he was gone.
"Thought I," said Walker, "that that day, my master found this Grailthere would be great doings, that there would be great combats.Instead of which a seeming beggar has it to give us. Verily, it is farbeyond me."
And the good squire scratched his head in great puzzlement.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Conclusion
We find our story now near ended. We can well see the great welcomegiven the still youthful knight as he entered the great hall. Therewas King Arthur in high good humor. About him stood many of theknights of the Round Table, and among them Sir Galahad saw his manyfriends. And as the young knight stood there there came to him thememory of that first day and the wondrous hope he had had now cometrue.
In all the hall none was so happy as that brave and noble heartedknight, Sir Launcelot. Well pleased he was. Merlin was there, alsowell content. And there, when they sat down to the great feast spreadout for them, Sir Galahad told the story of his search or the Grail. Along tale it was for they would hear it all. To it they listened insilence, without interruption, until he had done.
Though he showed it not, the young knight was eager to be free of allthese friends. For he had great desire to hasten to the home of SirPercival. He knew from what Sir Percival told him, Yosalinde would hethere. Yet could he not leave until the late afternoon.
Swiftly did the Seeker take him there. Eagerly he sought the sight ofthe castle as if in seeing that, he would also see this damsel who hadhelped so much to give him the great purpose of his search. But it wasnot until he had entered within, that he saw her.
So we draw the curtain and leave you to suppose the joy and thegladness of this welcome. And though to each the finding of the HolyGrail was of high importance yet they spoke not of that but of otherthings for many an hour until the sun had gone down and darkness hadcome.
Wonderful was the picture Sir Galahad had carried of his lady, yet hefound the real presence far dearer. Of the things they talked, one wasthe future and what it meant to both of them.
We leave them then. High the moon shines, the stars are everywhere. Itis a wonderful night, soft the gentle breeze. Such a night as eachhad pictured for their first meeting.
Charles, the Norman lad, had his wish come true in good time, when SirGalahad made him a knight. Then the new knight made his way back toNormandy. It was his children's children who made their way in laterdays to England and settled there.
The deeds of the brave knights of the Round Table continued great andglorious. Sir Galahad, Sir Launcelot, Sir Percival and the othersupheld the honor of King Arthur's court. And never did Sir Galahadlower the banner of his great house.
Honor, Faith, Service and Piety.
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