holy. There is a tradition
which says that for a long time after the death of Christ the
Holy Grail remained on earth, and any one who was sick and
touched it was healed at once. But then people grew to be so
wicked that it disappeared from earth. It is said that if a
person in our day were only good enough, he could see the Holy
Grail."

"Really see it?" asked the maiden, eagerly, "or see it in a
vision?"

"I do not know," answered the good old man, "but either one would
be a great happiness. For a real sight of it, or a vision, would
show the person who saw it that he was sinless."

Then the beautiful maiden prayed more than ever. She became so
thin and pale that it seemed as if she were almost transparent,
and at last she lay dying. One morning she sent for her brother,
Sir Perceval, and for his friend, Sir Galahad.

Sir Perceval and Sir Galahad were the two best knights in
Arthur's Court. They were not so powerful as Sir Lancelot or Sir
Geraint or Sir Gareth, but they had purer souls than these. When
they came to the bedside of the maiden, she said:

"Oh, my brother and my friend, I have seen the Holy Grail. Last
night I was awakened by a sound like the music of a silver horn
across the hills. It was more beautiful music than any I have
ever heard. Then through my window shone a long cold beam of
silver light, and slowly across that beam came the Holy Grail. It
was red like a beautiful rose, and the light reflected from it
covered all the walls with a rosy color. And then it vanished.
Now I beg you to seek it; and go to the hall of Arthur and tell
all the other knights to take the quest. If they can but see the
Grail, it will be a sign that they are good, and that the world
is growing better."

As she spoke, Sir Galahad's face wore an expression so like her
own that Sir Perceval was amazed. But the maiden took from the
side of her bed a sword-belt, and gave it to Sir Galahad.

"Fair knight," she said, "I have made this golden belt of my
hair, and woven on it, in crimson and silver thread, the device
of the Holy Grail. Put on this belt, bind your sword to it, and
go forth; for you, too, shall see the Holy Grail."

Then Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval went away quietly, for they saw
that the beautiful maiden had not long to live. That night they
went to Arthur's hall. The king was absent with the queen, but
most of the knights of the Round Table were there, and to them
Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval told the