Page:Studies on the legend of the Holy Grail.djvu/100

74 Properties and Effect of the Grail. In Chrestien these seem to be of a purely physical nature; the Grail is borne uncovered through the hall at every meal (4,470-79), it feeds the Fisher King's father—

the most direct testimony in Chrestien to its sacred nature. In Gautier, likewise, the physical properties are insisted upon in the following passages:—

but in verses 28,078-81 a remarkable spiritual effect is attributed to it—

In A II, Pseudo-Gautier, the physical side alone is insisted upon—

Manessier makes no special reference to the properties of the Grail.

In the B versions it is the spiritual power of the Grail which is dwelt upon. Christ's words to Joseph have already been quoted (supra, p. 71), and the use which the latter puts the Grail to, and which is specially indicated to Joseph by the Holy Ghost, is in