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Maidens’ Castle
The Maidens’ Castle, on the Severn. It was taken from a duke by seven knights, and held by them till sir Galahad expelled them. It was called “The Maidens’ Castle” because these knights made a vow that every maiden who passed it should be made a captive. This is an allegory.
The Castle of Maidens betokens the good souls that were in prison afore the incarnation of Christ. And the seven knights betoken the seven deadly sins which reigned in the world…And the good knight sir Galahad may be likened to the Son of the High Father, that Light within a maiden which brought all souls out of thraldom.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, iii. 44 (1470).
"The devoted knights might speak of Lancelot's nobleness and
courtesy, his beauty and gentleness, but the quest was not for
him. His expiation was severe. Of the hundred and fifty knights
"the fairest fellowship and the truest of knighthood that ever
were seen together in any realm of the world whom King Arthur
reluctantly allowed to seek for the Grail, only one, the virgin
Galahad, could enter the Castle of Maidens and deliver the
prisoners, could hear the voices of angels foretelling his
triumph, could find the Grail, and could be crowned in the holy
city of Sarras, the 'spiritual place.' 'It was in this city that
Joseph had been succoured; it was here that Perceval's sister was
entombed; it was here by general assent that the pure Galahad was
proda med king; and it was here that the Grail remained. " And
when he was come for to behold the land, he let make about the
table of silver a chest of gold and of precious stones, that
covered the holy vessel; and every day in the morning the three
fellows (Perceval and Bors with Galahad) would come before it,
and say their devotions."
The
Lost Land Of King Arthur By J. Cuming Walters
