2006 Dunstanburgh Project > Visitors > King Arthur > The Legendary Arthur > Parsifal

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Parsifal/Percival was shielded from the ways of chivalry as a child by his mother, because his father was a knight and was killed.

He came to Arthur's court as a young man and quickly learned the ways of knighthood. Percival was charged with the finding of the Holy Grail in a vision at the Round Table, and took up the quest with Lancelot's son, Galahad. During this quest he met the Lady Blanchefleur, the Holy Grail maiden. Percival married Blanchefleur, and lived at Cartomek where their son, the Black Knight, later became King.

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Parsifal has overcome the gently babbling daughters
Who'd distract him to desire; despite fleshly delight
That might lure the virgin youth, the temptation
To love their swelling breasts and gentle babble;

He has vanquished fair Womankind, of subtle heart,
Her tender arms outstretched and her throat pale;
From harrowing Hell, he now returns triumphant,
Bearing a heavy trophy in his boyish hands,

With the spear that pierced the Saviour's side!
He who healed the King shall be himself enthroned,
As priest-king and guardian of the sacred treasure.

In golden robe he worships that sign of grace,
The pure vessel in which shines the Holy Blood.
-- And, o those children's voices singing in the dome!

The last line of this poem by Verlaine was used by T.S. Eliot in his poem The Wasteland. It signifies Parsifal's purity of heart and his ability to grasp the Grail, something which Lancelot could not do because of his affair with Guenevere, and it ties in with the legend of The Fisher King.