Merlin and the Grail

by Robert de Boron

  ‘Sir, the good and plentiful harvests that we used to enjoy are failing us; no people ever suffered such hunger as we – we’re close to eating our children!’

  Bron was filled with pity when he heard their words of grief, and asked them: ‘Have you suffered like this for a long while?’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ they replied, ‘but we’ve kept it to ourselves for as long as we could. But now we beg you in God’s name to talk to Joseph, and find out whether it’s because of some sin of ours or his.’

  ‘I’ll gladly ask him,’ said Bron, and he came to Joseph and told him of his people’s misery. ‘They want you to let them know whether it’s because of your sin or theirs.’

  ‘I pray to the one who was born of the Virgin Mary,’ said Joseph, ‘and to my heavenly Father, to tell me why this famine has befallen them.’ Joseph was afraid that he had failed to fulfil one of Our Lord’s commands, and he said to Bron: ‘If I can find the answer, I’ll tell you.’

  And Joseph came, weeping, to his vessel, and knelt before it and said: ‘Lord who was born of the Virgin, by your holy pity and gentleness, and to save your obedient servant; Lord, I saw you truly both alive and dead, and saw you again, in the tower where I was imprisoned, after you had suffered the agonies of death, and you bade that, whenever I needed you, I should come before this precious vessel which held your precious blood; so truly, Lord, I beg and pray you now to guide me in answering my people’s plea, so that I may act according to your will.’

  And when Joseph had thus prayed, the voice of the Holy Spirit descended and said: ‘Joseph, do not be afraid, for you are not guilty of this sin.’

  ‘Ah, Lord,’ said Joseph, ‘give me leave to remove from my company the sinners who have brought this terrible famine upon us.’

  And the voice replied: ‘Joseph, you will give your people a great sign, testing the power of my flesh and blood against those who have sinned. Remember, Joseph, that I was sold and betrayed on Earth, and knew that it would be so; but I did not speak of it until I was at Simon’s house, when I said that eating and drinking with me was one who would betray me. Then the guilty man was ashamed, and withdrew from my company and was no longer my disciple. I reserved his place for another, and none shall fill it before you. As I sat at the table of the Last Supper at Simon’s house,’ said the voice, ‘and foresaw my suffering to come, make another table in its name; and when you have made it, summon your brother-in-law Bron – he is a good man and more good will spring from him – and bid him go and fish on the water and bring you the first he catches. While he is fishing, lay the table and take your vessel and place it where you will be sitting, and cover it with the edge of the tablecloth. When you have done so, call your people and tell them they are about to see the cause of their distress. Then take Bron and sit in my place, just as I did at the Last Supper. Seat Bron at your right hand; and you will see him move one seat away, leaving an empty place between you. Know this: that seat will signify the place abandoned by Judas when he knew that he had betrayed me, and it cannot be filled until the son of Bron’s son fills it. When you have seated Bron, call your people and, in the name of the three powers that are one and the same being, bid those who have true faith in the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and are willing to obey the commandments, to come forward and take their seats by the grace of God.’

  With that the voice departed; and Joseph did as Our Lord had commanded, and a great number of his people sat down at the table; but there were many more who did not. The table was full except for the place that could not be filled. And when those who had sat down to eat sensed the sweetness and the fulfilment of their hearts, they very soon forgot the others. One who was seated at the table, whose name was Petrus, looked at those who were standing and said: ‘Do you feel what we feel?’

  ‘We feel nothing,’ they replied; and Petrus said: ‘Then you are guilty of the sin you discussed with Joseph, which has brought the famine upon us.’

  Hearing Petrus’ words, they were filled with shame and left the house. But one stayed behind, weeping. And when the service was over, they all rose from the table and went off with the others, but Joseph commanded them to return daily at terce.9 And so it was that, by the will of God, Joseph came to discover who had sinned, and this was the first place in which the vessel was put to the test.

  So things remained for a long time, until those who were excluded asked those who attended about the grace they were given, saying: ‘What is it you receive when you go each day, and how do you feel when you sit in the presence of that grace?’

  ‘Our hearts could not conceive,’ they replied, ‘the great joy and delight we feel while we are sitting at that table, and we remain in a state of grace until the following day at terce.’

  ‘Where can such great grace come from, which so fills man’s heart?’

  And Petrus replied: ‘It comes from the one who saved Joseph in prison.’

  ‘And what of the vessel which we’ve seen, but of which we know nothing, for it has never been presented to us?’

  ‘By that vessel,’ he replied, ‘we are separated, for it will allow no sinner in its presence – you can see that for yourselves.’

  And then the one who had been granted grace said: ‘Now you know who committed the sin which had deprived us of God’s grace.’

  And they replied: ‘We shall go now, wretched, but tell us at least what we should say about the state in which we leave you.’

  And Petrus and his company answered: ‘Say that we enjoy the grace of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and follow the instruction and the faith of Joseph.’

  ‘And what can we say about the vessel we have seen, which has so delighted us and delights us still, so that we forget all pain – what shall we call it?’

  ‘Those who wish to name it rightly will call it the Grail, which gives such joy and delight to those who can stay in its presence that they feel as elated as a fish escaping from a man’s hands into the wide water.’

  And hearing this, they said: ‘This vessel should indeed be called the Grail.’10

  Both those who went and those who stayed named it so, and when Joseph heard the name it pleased him greatly. They all came each day at terce, and said they were going to the service of the Grail.

  Now, among those who were excluded was a man named Moyse, and he stayed when the others left. And every time he saw one of those who had been granted grace he would beg for mercy most piteously, with an apparently good heart and good intentions, saying: ‘In the name of God, sir, ask Joseph to have mercy on me, that I may share in the grace that you enjoy.’

  He made this entreaty many times and for a long, long while, desperate to join them, until one day, when all the company of the Grail were gathered together, they said they felt sorry for Moyse and would plead to Joseph on his behalf. They all came to him and fell at his feet and implored his mercy. Joseph was taken aback and asked them what they wanted.

  ‘Most of the people who came have departed,’ they replied, ‘because we enjoy the grace bestowed by your vessel. But there’s one, sir, named Moyse, who’s stayed behind, and he seems to us to be full of penitence, and he says he won’t leave, and is weeping most grievously, begging us to implore you to grant him the grace that God permits us to share when we’re in your company.’

  When Joseph heard this he replied: ‘Grace is not mine to bestow. Our Lord has granted it as He pleases, and those He chooses shall have it. And this man Moyse may not be all he pretends and seems. He may well be tricking us – but if so, he’ll be his own victim.’

  ‘We’ll never trust him,’ they replied, ‘if he’s been deceiving us by his behaviour. But in God’s name, if the man is worthy, invite him to join us if you can.’

  And Joseph said: ‘I’ll pray for Our Lord’s guidance on your behalf.’

  And they all replied together: ‘Many thanks.’

  Then Joseph went alone and prayed, prostrate, before his vessel, that Jesus Christ Our Lord, by His goodness, strength an
d mercy, might reveal to him whether Moyse was truly as he seemed. And thereupon the voice of the Holy Spirit appeared to Joseph and said: ‘Joseph, Joseph, now the time has come when you will see what I told you about the seat left empty between you and Bron. You pray for Moyse. You think, like those who spoke to you on his behalf, that he is as he pretends, and that he seeks the grace of the Holy Spirit. Let him come forward then, and sit in its presence, and you will see what becomes of him.’

  Joseph did as the voice commanded, and returned to those who had pleaded for Moyse and told them: ‘Say to Moyse that if he is as he claims and deserves to be granted grace, no man can deprive him of it. But if he is other than good, he should not come, for he could betray no-one so badly as himself.’

  They went and told Moyse what Joseph had said, and he was delighted and said: ‘My only fear was that Joseph would think me unworthy of being granted admission.’

  ‘You have his leave to come,’ they replied, ‘if you share our faith.’

  They welcomed him into their company most joyfully, and took him to the service, and when Joseph saw him he said: ‘Moyse, Moyse, stay away from anything of which you’re not worthy. No-one can deceive you so thoroughly as yourself.’

  ‘As I am truly a good man,’ he replied, ‘may God permit me to remain in your company.’

  ‘Then step forward,’ said Joseph, ‘if you’re as you say. Be seated, and we’ll clearly see your goodness.’

  Then Joseph sat down, along with his brother-in-law Bron and all the others, each in his rightful place. And when they were all seated, Moyse, still standing, felt afraid. He went around the table, and did not know where to sit except beside Joseph. So he sat there. And the moment he did so he was swallowed up – it seemed as if he had never been. Those who were seated at the table were dismayed to see one of their number disappear.

  When they rose from the service at the end of the day, Petrus spoke to Joseph, saying: ‘We have never been so bewildered as now. By all the powers you believe in, we beg you, if you know,11 to tell us what has become of Moyse.’

  ‘I’ve no idea at all,’ Joseph replied, ‘but if it please the one who has revealed so much to us, we shall find out.’

  And Joseph returned and knelt, weeping, before his vessel, and said: ‘Dear Lord God, your powers are wonderful and your ways are wise. Lord God, you came to Earth and were born of the Virgin Mary and suffered earthly torments and death; you kept me alive in the prison where, by your will, Vespasian came to find me; you told me that whenever I was in trouble you would come to me; Lord, I beg and implore you to free me from doubt and tell me truly what has become of Moyse, so that I may tell those people to whom you grant your grace in my company.’

  Then the voice of the Holy Spirit appeared to Joseph and said: ‘Joseph, Joseph, now is revealed the significance of my words when you established this table, when I told you that the place left empty beside you would be a reminder of Judas – who lost his seat when I said he would betray me – and that it would remain empty until one of Bron’s lineage came to fill it. The third man of Bron’s line will fill that place – or another established in its name. As for the one who was swallowed up, whose fate you do not know, I will tell you what became of him. When he stayed behind after his fellows left, he did so only to deceive you, for he did not believe that those of your company could have such great grace as they did. And be assured that he has fallen into abysmal depths and will never be heard of again. Tell this to your disciples, and consider what you have gained in serving me.’

  And so the voice of the Holy Spirit spoke to Joseph and told him of the wickedness of Moyse, and Joseph related it to Petrus and Bron and the other disciples. When they had heard the story, they said: ‘The justice of Our Lord Jesus Christ is very fierce, and he is a fool indeed who earns His wrath by leading a wicked life.’

  *

  They remained a long while in this state of grace. And Bron and Enigeus had children – twelve fair sons – and they became a great burden, and Enigeus came to her husband Bron and said: ‘Sir, let’s ask my brother Joseph what to do with our children, for we should do nothing except by his leave.’

  ‘I agree with you,’ Bron replied, and he went to Joseph and said: ‘Sir, I’ve come to remind you that your sister and I have twelve fair sons, but we wish to take no decision about their future except with God’s advice and yours.’

  ‘May God keep them in His company and direct them to good,’ Joseph replied. ‘I’ll gladly pray for guidance on their behalf.’

  They let the matter rest until the next day, when Joseph came in private before his vessel, and remembered his nephews. He wept, and begged Our Lord Jesus Christ for advice about their future. And when he had finished his prayer, an angel appeared to him and said:

  ‘Joseph, Jesus Christ sends me to you in answer to your prayer. He wishes your nephews to be in your company, to be disciples with a leader at their head; those who so wish should take wives, but the one who does not take a wife shall have the others as his disciples. And when they are married, command the father and mother to bring the unmarried son to you. Then come before your vessel and you will hear the word of Jesus Christ who will speak to you and to him together.’

  Once he had spoken and Joseph had heard his words the angel departed, leaving Joseph in great happiness about the joyful news of what lay in store for his nephews. He returned to Bron and said:

  ‘Bron, you asked for advice about my nephews, your sons. I want you to prepare them for this earthly life and direct them to keep God’s law and to take wives and have children as others do. But if there’s one who doesn’t wish to take a wife, send him to me.’

  ‘Gladly,’ Bron replied, ‘just as God and you command.’

  Then Bron came to his wife and told her what Joseph had said. She was filled with joy and said to her husband: ‘Hurry, sir, and do as my brother commanded with all speed.’

  And Bron came to his sons and said to them: ‘Dear children, what sort of people do you wish to be?’

  And most of them replied: ‘Such as you would have us.’

  ‘My desire,’ he said, ‘is that all who wish to take wives should do so, and keep them well and faithfully, as I have kept your mother.’

  They were delighted by his words and said: ‘Sir, we’ll do as you command unfailingly.’

  Then Bron searched far and wide to find them wives according to the command of Holy Church.

  Now the twelfth of the sons was named Alain li Gros. He had no wish to marry, and said he would take none of the women, even if he were to be flayed alive. His father was amazed by this and said: ‘Dear son, why won’t you marry like your brothers?’

  ‘Sir,’ he replied, ‘I have no desire to do so; I’ll take none of those wives.’

  And so Bron saw eleven of his children married, and the twelfth he took to Joseph and said: ‘Sir, here is your nephew who will not take a wife either at my bidding or his mother’s.’

  And Joseph said to Bron: ‘Will you and my sister give him into my keeping?’

  And they replied: ‘Yes, sir, most willingly.’

  Joseph was overjoyed at this, and he took Alain in his arms and embraced him and kissed him, and said to the father and mother: ‘Go now, and leave him with me.’

  So Bron and his wife departed, and the child stayed with Joseph, who said to him: ‘My good, dear nephew, you should feel joy indeed, for Our Lord has chosen you to serve Him and exalt His name. You, dear nephew, will be the chief of all your brothers. Stay with me now, and you shall hear the mighty words of Jesus Christ Our Saviour, if it please Him to speak to me.’

  Then Joseph prayed to Our Lord to reveal the truth about his nephew’s future life. And when his prayer was done, he heard the voice saying:

  ‘Joseph, your nephew is chaste and honest and good, and will believe your words in all matters. Tell him of the love I have shown you, as I do still, and why I came to Earth; and how you saw me bought and sold, and how I was abused here on Earth and suf
fered death; and how my body was granted to you, and how you washed me and placed me in a tomb; and how you came to have my vessel and the blood from my body; and how it led to you being left for dead, and how I served and comforted you; and of the gift I have bestowed upon you and your people, and upon all who tell and understand the story of that gift and of the love I bear you. Tell your nephew with certainty that he will receive the fulfilment of the human heart in your company; and to all who pass on the truth of our words I grant grace in this world. I will protect the inheritance of the good and ensure that they are never wrongfully deprived. And I will guard them from shame, along with all that is rightfully theirs, so long as they make a sacrament in my name. And when you have explained all this to him, show him your vessel and tell him to read what is written about me inside, for it will confirm his faith. But warn him that the Enemy is keen to deceive those who follow me; he must beware of the Enemy, and never be so blinded by violent emotion that he fails to see clearly; and bid him keep close to him the things that will guard him from sin and wrath, and to cherish them above all else, for they will be of most use in guarding him against the Enemy’s wiles. He should beware of the pleasure which causes the flesh to languish: pleasures which lead to suffering are of little worth. When you have given him these instructions, tell him to pass them on to whoever he wishes: those who are eager to hear them he should take to be worthy men. Let him speak of me and my works wherever he goes: if he truly loves me, the more he speaks the more pleasure it will give him. And tell him this: that from him will be born a male child to whom my vessel is to come – tell this also to your company. When you have done all this, entrust to him the guardianship of his brothers; then let him go to the West, to the most distant parts he can find, and wherever he goes let him do all he can to exalt my name, and pray to the Father to grant him grace.