ance of Perceval at Arthur's court is related. The writer introduces the Gallic wars of Arthur, followed by the Pentecostal feast described by Geoffrey of Monmouth; in the account of the latter this festival is immediately followed by the Roman wars and the struggle with Mordred; but the French romancer intercalates a long period containing the exploits of the knights of the Round Table in Britain. The daughter of Pelles attends this festival, as does Lancelot; the latter, once more unintentionally unfaithful to the queen, is reproved by the latter, and in consequence loses his mind, flying to the forest. After various experiences, he comes as a want-wit to Corbenic, is found by Elaine, and carried before the Grail to be healed. Accompanied by Elaine, he withdraws to a retreat called the Joyous Isle, whence, through the agency of his half-brother, Hector de Mares, and Perceval, he is once more induced to visit the court. By this time the young Galahad has reached the period of an independent resolution; desiring to be near his father, he asks and obtains permission to be transferred from Corbenic to an abbey near Camelot, where his education is intrusted to a hermit-tutor. A lapse of some years is now presumed to take place.
QUESTE DEL SAINT GRAAL.
This part of the Lancelot has been separately printed by Furnivall, but only from one MS. There exists also a Welsh translation, of a very faithful and literal character, but, as compared with the French text, exhibiting a number of omissions; it would seem that the Welsh manuscript represents a better text, the increments being invariably the result of interpolation. Whether there is in existence any French text answering to that of the Welsh version, can only be determined by a future critical edition.
The story is continued from the Agravain, the tale relating a visit of Lancelot to the abbey of nuns where Galahad resides, the knighting of the youth, his advent in Arthur's court, and his extraction of a sword from a block of marble (the incident is imitated after that related in the Merlin concerning a similar feat of Arthur). The Holy Grail appears, covered by a white napkin (the color of chastity), carried as usual by invisible bearers, and passes before the tables, causing these to be supplied with all desirable food; the knights vow a quest, not to be intermitted until they shall reach the court (of the Fisher King), where such fare is daily supplied. Galahad is owned chief of the questers, who pursue their several ways; he is provided with the red-cross shield hanging in the abbey where Nascien is interred (as recited in the romance treating of the latter), and performs feats allegorically interpreted, driving away the evil spirit that has taken up residence in the body of an entombed knight,
