Robbins Library Digital Projects Announcement: We are currently working on a large-scale migration of the Robbins Library Digital Projects to a new platform. This migration affects The Camelot Project, The Robin Hood Project, The Crusades Project, The Cinderella Bibliography, and Visualizing Chaucer.
While these resources will remain accessible during the course of migration, they will be static, with reduced functionality. They will not be updated during this time. We anticipate the migration project to be complete by Summer 2025.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us directly at robbins@ur.rochester.edu. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
While these resources will remain accessible during the course of migration, they will be static, with reduced functionality. They will not be updated during this time. We anticipate the migration project to be complete by Summer 2025.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us directly at robbins@ur.rochester.edu. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
Sir Percivale's Ballade
I loved fierce battle -- savage strivings where
High Heaven lay in the fortunes of the fight,
And gleaming swords on glittering mail rang fair --
With all the field a wilderment of light.
My lust of war has lost its joyous bite;
No more the strife of mighty men in mail
Seems decked in glamour, gloriously dight,
For these poor eyes have seen the Holy Grail.
I loved proud pomp -- the ruddy torches glare
On ruddier gold, to blazon forth my might;
Homage of courtiers -- Yea, the poor folks' stare
Was all in the world in my blind sight.
But all is dim to me that once was bright;
How petty is man's pomp, how fragile-frail,
Seen dully, as at dusk before the night --
For these poor eyes have seen the Holy Grail.
I loved my lady -- tangled in her hair
Were all my longings; in her person slight
Lay all things wonderful and all things rare.
But idle, day-dreamt dreams have taken flight
And fled away. The Cup's unsullied white
Rests on soothed eyes as softly as a veil,
Dull-dimming worlding pleasures that invite,
For these poor eyes have seen the Holy Grail.
Lordlings, I saw it, veiled in red samite,
That before which all earthly passions pale,
The lustings of desire and of delight --
For these poor eyes have seen the Holy Grail.
High Heaven lay in the fortunes of the fight,
And gleaming swords on glittering mail rang fair --
With all the field a wilderment of light.
My lust of war has lost its joyous bite;
No more the strife of mighty men in mail
Seems decked in glamour, gloriously dight,
For these poor eyes have seen the Holy Grail.
I loved proud pomp -- the ruddy torches glare
On ruddier gold, to blazon forth my might;
Homage of courtiers -- Yea, the poor folks' stare
Was all in the world in my blind sight.
But all is dim to me that once was bright;
How petty is man's pomp, how fragile-frail,
Seen dully, as at dusk before the night --
For these poor eyes have seen the Holy Grail.
I loved my lady -- tangled in her hair
Were all my longings; in her person slight
Lay all things wonderful and all things rare.
But idle, day-dreamt dreams have taken flight
And fled away. The Cup's unsullied white
Rests on soothed eyes as softly as a veil,
Dull-dimming worlding pleasures that invite,
For these poor eyes have seen the Holy Grail.
Lordlings, I saw it, veiled in red samite,
That before which all earthly passions pale,
The lustings of desire and of delight --
For these poor eyes have seen the Holy Grail.
share this page
