Polynesian., 1856-09-13
HONOLULU, lei. l., SEPTEMBER 49, 1856

he knew that this need would be supplied, as
his sword had been, by miraculous aid. And SO it
was; for ne soon reacheda an old chapel tenanted by
a holy man, where he found shield hanging be-
fore altar--a shield of white with led cross
made with blood upon it, which none might t4ke
down but the very bravest. His armor was now
complete; he rode on to fulfil mis- glorious mission
fight his glorious battle He knew, for God had
told him, that he should certainly be victorious,
and yet he spared no effort that his destiny might
be fully worked out. His fist exploit was against
fend who had polluted church-yard by lying in
tomb, and whom none else could conquer eject.
After that he proceeded to q strong castle which
was held by brotherhood of seven knights as
stronghold of tyranny. Seven maidens met him
and warned him against the attempt, but he reso-
lutely kept on his way until the knights came
forth to do battle with him. He fought, of course
VIGOROUSLY, and then set free the many captives
whom he found in the castle dungeons. Exploit
follow ed exploit, in not one of which he was so
much as wounded. Lances were shivered, castles
were conquered, maidens were rescued but Sir
Galahad himself passed through all unscathed-
charmed by its purity. The poets words might
have been his own
"sometimes on lonely mountan-meres
hnd magic bark;
leap on buard no helmsman
float till all is DARK.
A gentle sound, awful light
Three angels bear the holy grail
With folded feet, in stoles of white,
On sleeping wings they sail,
An, blessed vision blood Of God
Ny spirit heats her mortal bars,
As down dark tdes the glory slides,
And sIaTlke mngles with the stars,
When O my goodly charger borne
1hrO' dreaming towns go,
The cock crows ere the Chri,tmas morn
The streets are dumb with snow.
The tempest crackles the leads,
And, ringing. spins from brand and mail
But o'er me DARK glory spreads,
And glds the driving hail.
leave the plain, climb the height
No branchy thicket shelter Yields
But blessed forms in whistling storms,
Fly o'er waste fens and windy felds.'
-TeHHySoHS'S % SIR Gaiahad.'
The blessed sight-the sacred charge, for which
he had sought so long, was at length granted to
him and to two knights, Sir Percival and Sir Bors,
who were permitted to accompany him. 1t was
found mysteriously placed on silver table in the
mystic ship, which was cared that night by unseen
hands towards an unknown shore. They soon
found themselves in O country of Saracens, who
knew not the glory of their mission, and cast them
into dark dungeon; but in a strange reaction of
feeling, when the throne fell vacant, Sir Galahad
was elected King. He had scarcely worn the crown
year when, as he kneeled in church one morning,
he was gifted with spiritual sight, and saw the
company of the angels who guarded him, and the
armies Of the faithful who were waiting to welcome
him. He prayed that he might depart in peace,
and Immediately myriads of angels came into visi-
Die Slght ana bore MIN up 10 Oou. None ever alter
saw Sir Galahad or the Holy Graal.
Such are the outlines of this singular mysticism.
1t is an alegory with many meanings-a strange
mingling Of pety and romance but it cannot fail,
we think to teach many beautiful lessons. The
chief one however that we learn from it is the
strength of earnest purpose aided by an umblem-
ished life. This found its type in Sir Galahad;
and if we wish to pass from the imaginary to the
actual-from the ideal battles of ideal terrors to
the real struggles of real lie, we can hardly take
with US any stronger aids than the noble love Of
truth, and the unhinching faith in holiness, which
inspired the legend of Sir Galahad.