http://clark.bengalenglish.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Perceval_and_the_Holy_Grail_Passage.pdf
(translated by Ruth Harwood Cline)
He told this squire to hold the sword and took his seat beside the lord, who honored him as best he might. The candles cast as bright a light as could be found in any manor. They chatted in a casual manner.
Out of a room a squire came, clasping a lance of purest white: while grasping the center of the lance, the squire walked through the hall between the fire and two men sitting on the bed. All saw him bear, with measured tread, the pure white lance. From its white tip a drop of crimson blood would drip and run along the white shaft and drip down upon the squire's hand, and then another drop would flow.
The knight who came not long ago beheld this marvel, but preferred not to inquire why it occurred, for he recalled the admonition the lord made part of his tuition, since he had taken pains to stress the dangers of loquaciousness. The young man thought his questions might make people think him impolite, and that's why he did not inquire.
Two more squires entered, and each squire held candelabra, wrought of fine pure gold with niello work design. The squires with candelabra fair were an extremely handsome pair. At least ten lighted candles blazed in every holder that they raised.
The squires were followed by a maiden who bore a grail, with both hands laden. The bearer was of noble mien, well dressed, and lovely, and serene, and when she entered with the grail, the candles suddenly grew pale, the grail cast such a brilliant light, as stars grow dimmer in the night when sun or moonrise makes them fade.
A maiden after her conveyed a silver platter past the bed.
The grail, which had been borne ahead, was made of purest, finest gold and set with gems; a manifold display of jewels of every kind, the costliest that one could find in any place on land or sea, the rarest jewels there could be, let not the slightest doubt be cast. The jewels in the grail surpassed all other gems in radiance.
They went the same way as the lance: they passed before the lord's bedside to another room and went inside.
The young man saw the maids' procession and did not dare to ask a question about the grail or whom they served; the wise lord's warning he observed, for he had taken it to heart. I fear he was not very smart; I have heard warnings people give: that one can be too talkative, but also one can be too still. But whether it was good or ill, I do not know, he did not ask.
The squires who were assigned the task of bringing in the water and the cloths obeyed the lord's command. The men who usually were assigned performed these tasks before they dined. They washed their hands in water, warmed, and then two squires, so I'm informed, brought in the ivory tabletop, made of one piece: they had to stop and hold it for a while before the lord and youth, until two more squires entered, each one with a trestle.
The trestles had two very special, rare properties, which they contained since they were built, and which remained in them forever: they were wrought of ebony, a wood that's thought to have two virtues: it will not ignite and burn and will not rot; these dangers cause no harm nor loss. They laid the tabletop across the trestles, and the cloth above. What shall I say? To tell you of the cloth is far beyond my scope. No legate, cardinal, or pope has eaten from a whiter one.
The first course was of venison, a peppered haunch, cooked in its fat, accompanied by a clear wine that was served in golden cups, a pleasant, delicious drink. While they were present a squire carved up the venison. He set the peppered haunch upon a silver platter, carved the meat, and served the slices they would eat by placing them on hunks of bread.
Again the grail passed by the bed, and still the youth remained reserved about the grail and whom they served. He did not ask, because he had been told so kindly it was bad to talk too much, and he had taken these words to heart. He was mistaken; though he remembered, he was still much longer than was suitable.
At every course, and in plain sight, the grail was carried past the knight, who did not ask whom they were serving, although he wished to know, observing in silence that he ought to learn about it prior to his return. So he would ask: before he spoke he'd wait until the morning broke, and he would ask a squire to tell, once he had told the lord farewell and all the others in his train. He put the matter off again and turned his thoughts toward drink and food.
He told this squire to hold the sword and took his seat beside the lord, who honored him as best he might. The candles cast as bright a light as could be found in any manor. They chatted in a casual manner.
Out of a room a squire came, clasping a lance of purest white: while grasping the center of the lance, the squire walked through the hall between the fire and two men sitting on the bed. All saw him bear, with measured tread, the pure white lance. From its white tip a drop of crimson blood would drip and run along the white shaft and drip down upon the squire's hand, and then another drop would flow.
The knight who came not long ago beheld this marvel, but preferred not to inquire why it occurred, for he recalled the admonition the lord made part of his tuition, since he had taken pains to stress the dangers of loquaciousness. The young man thought his questions might make people think him impolite, and that's why he did not inquire.
Two more squires entered, and each squire held candelabra, wrought of fine pure gold with niello work design. The squires with candelabra fair were an extremely handsome pair. At least ten lighted candles blazed in every holder that they raised.
The squires were followed by a maiden who bore a grail, with both hands laden. The bearer was of noble mien, well dressed, and lovely, and serene, and when she entered with the grail, the candles suddenly grew pale, the grail cast such a brilliant light, as stars grow dimmer in the night when sun or moonrise makes them fade.
A maiden after her conveyed a silver platter past the bed.
The grail, which had been borne ahead, was made of purest, finest gold and set with gems; a manifold display of jewels of every kind, the costliest that one could find in any place on land or sea, the rarest jewels there could be, let not the slightest doubt be cast. The jewels in the grail surpassed all other gems in radiance.
They went the same way as the lance: they passed before the lord's bedside to another room and went inside.
The young man saw the maids' procession and did not dare to ask a question about the grail or whom they served; the wise lord's warning he observed, for he had taken it to heart. I fear he was not very smart; I have heard warnings people give: that one can be too talkative, but also one can be too still. But whether it was good or ill, I do not know, he did not ask.
The squires who were assigned the task of bringing in the water and the cloths obeyed the lord's command. The men who usually were assigned performed these tasks before they dined. They washed their hands in water, warmed, and then two squires, so I'm informed, brought in the ivory tabletop, made of one piece: they had to stop and hold it for a while before the lord and youth, until two more squires entered, each one with a trestle.
The trestles had two very special, rare properties, which they contained since they were built, and which remained in them forever: they were wrought of ebony, a wood that's thought to have two virtues: it will not ignite and burn and will not rot; these dangers cause no harm nor loss. They laid the tabletop across the trestles, and the cloth above. What shall I say? To tell you of the cloth is far beyond my scope. No legate, cardinal, or pope has eaten from a whiter one.
The first course was of venison, a peppered haunch, cooked in its fat, accompanied by a clear wine that was served in golden cups, a pleasant, delicious drink. While they were present a squire carved up the venison. He set the peppered haunch upon a silver platter, carved the meat, and served the slices they would eat by placing them on hunks of bread.
Again the grail passed by the bed, and still the youth remained reserved about the grail and whom they served. He did not ask, because he had been told so kindly it was bad to talk too much, and he had taken these words to heart. He was mistaken; though he remembered, he was still much longer than was suitable.
At every course, and in plain sight, the grail was carried past the knight, who did not ask whom they were serving, although he wished to know, observing in silence that he ought to learn about it prior to his return. So he would ask: before he spoke he'd wait until the morning broke, and he would ask a squire to tell, once he had told the lord farewell and all the others in his train. He put the matter off again and turned his thoughts toward drink and food.
