the beggar and the grail

england to charles, was indeed strange but so much had walker spoken thereof that he looked forward to seeing it as if it were his native land. the joy of walker at its nearness, though he tried to hide it under pretended calm was yet a thing quite obvious to sir galahad and the boy and much did it amuse them.

"of all the fair lands we have passed through, have you yet found none that 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 from heaven," said his master with mock regret.

"nay, master, one can only know heaven when one has seen all the other places. 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 i not do justice to how much you have counted and how well. will i say this, that i find it sweet to know that we are so near to england's shores and that it is but a few days when we shall again find ourselves at home. i would see all our friends, the good king, sir percival, sir gareth, sir launcelot and the others. this wind that fills these sails cannot blow too strong for me."

well did the wind hold yet did it seem as if the next days were over long. at last they were but a half day from the great castle of king arthur.

now as they rode, adventure there had been none since they had left normandy, they were stopped by a strange beggar who sought alms. sick did he seem, ragged and wretched, and as if life could hold but little for him. it was the selfsame beggar they had passed when they started on their journey.

"good master, i starve. charity i seek."

now though, sir galahad was impatient to reach the castle, yet did he stop 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 a thing as me."

so then without further ado, he bade walker feed the knave, which the latter did, grumbling at the delay the same must cause. then, the knight spoke kindly again to the beggar and gave him some silver.

"master," the beggar said. "the lord will bless you, for you found time for so wretched a soul as me. far have you traveled, many of high degree have found it honor to hold speech with you. so great a knight as you and yet have you had time for the beggar on the road.

"honor have you shown, faith have you ever had. service have you rendered. this day you prove that you have piety and charity. so then for your food and for your silver and your kind words and the spirit behind it all, i pay you now. here, then is the grail. long sought in many lands, in many places, yet was it always near at home."

"the grail? here, where i never thought to see it. and a beggar to possess it. aye, even the lowliest possesses riches."

mixed were the knight's emotions nor could he voice the thoughts and the feelings within him. while nearby the two with him watched it all in awed silence.

"aye, sir galahad. think not that your search in far lands was fruitless. rather was it the caldron in which your worth was seasoned. yet will this fact ever remain--that one need not travel far to find honor, faith, service and piety. for these are ever near."

"i am like elam who went everywhere and found that what he sought was near at home."

"true, good knight. this day shall be a great day for england, for through the worth of one of its knights, the grail stays here. go you then, for word will already be at the round table that sir galahad comes with the grail."

"strange man, i know not what to say. dear is the possession of this precious vessel to me. long have i sought it. and to find it to have been so near at home stirs mixed and wondrous feelings within me. so i can but go and if i fail to say the thing i should, forgive me."

the knight, charles and walker as well, found themselves kneeling to receive the benediction of this strange man who was both beggar and holy man. and when they looked up again he was gone.

"thought i," said walker, "that that day, my master found this grail there would be great doings, that there would be great combats. instead of which a seeming beggar has it to give us. verily, it is far beyond me."

and the good squire scratched his head in great puzzlement.