| Nicholson & Lee, eds. The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse. 1917. |
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| 82. From ‘The Quest of the Sangraal’ |
| By Robert Stephen Hawker (1803–1875) |
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| THEN came Sir Joseph, hight, of Arimathèe, | |
| Bearing that awful vase, the Sangraal! | |
| The vessel of the Pasch, Shere Thursday night: | |
| The selfsame Cup, wherein the faithful Wine | |
| Heard God, and was obedient unto Blood! | 5 |
| Therewith he knelt, and gathered blessèd drops | |
| From his dear Master’s Side that sadly fell, | |
| The ruddy dews from the great Tree of Life: | |
| Sweet Lord! what treasures! like the priceless gems, | |
| Hid in the tawny casket of a king— | 10 |
| A ransom for an army, one by one. | |
| That wealth he cherished long; his very soul | |
| Around his ark; bent, as before a shrine! | |
| He dwelt in orient Syria: God’s own land: | |
| The ladder-foot of heaven—where shadowy shapes | 15 |
| In white apparel glided up and down! | |
| His home was like a garner, full of corn | |
| And wine and oil: a granary of God! | |
| Young men, that no one knew, went in and out, | |
| With a far look in their eternal eyes! | 20 |
| All things were strange and rare: the Sangraal | |
| As though it clung to some etherial chain, | |
| Brought down high heaven to earth at Arimathèe. | |
| He lived long centuries! and prophesied. | |
| A girded pilgrim ever and anon: | 25 |
| Cross-staff in hand, and folded at his side, | |
| The mystic marvel of the feast of blood! | |
| Once in old time he stood in this dear land, | |
| Enthralled:—for lo! a sign! his grounded staff | |
| Took root, and branched, and bloomed, like Aaron’s rod; | 30 |
| Thence came the shrine, the cell: therefore he dwelt, | |
| The vassal of the vase, at Avalon! | |
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