Le Morte Darthur
said, I might not withsay mine uncle’s will and commandment. But when
the king heard this, he repented it much, and said unto Sir Percivale
that he should assay for his love. And he said, Gladly, for to bear Sir
Gawaine fellowship. And therewith he set his hand on the sword, and
drew it strongly, but he might not move it. Then were there more that
durst be so hardy to set their hands thereto. Now may ye go to your
dinner, said Sir Kay unto the king, for a marvellous adventure have ye
seen. So the king and all went unto the court, and every knight knew
his own place, and set him therein, and young men that were knights
served them. So when they were served, and all sieges fulfilled, save
only the siege perilous, anon there befell a marvellous adventure, that
all the doors and the windows of the place shut by themself. Not for
then the hall was not greatly darkened, and therewith they abashed both
one and other. Then king Arthur spake first, and said, Fair fellows and
lords, we have seen this day marvels, but or night I suppose we shall
see greater marvels. In the mean while came in a good old man, and an
ancient, clothed all in white, and there was no knight knew from whence
he came. And with him he brought a young knight, both on foot, in red
arms, without sword or shield, save a scabbard hanging by his side. And
these words he said, Peace be with you, fair lords. Then the old man
said unto Arthur, Sir, I bring here a young knight the which is of
king’s lineage, and of the kindred of Joseph of Arimathie, whereby the
marvels of this court and of strange realms shall be fully accomplished.
CHAP. IV.
_How the old man brought Galahad to the siege perilous and set him
therein, and how all the knights marvelled._
The king was right glad of his words, and said unto the good man, Sir,
ye be right welcome, and the young knight with you. Then the old man
made the young man to unarm him; and he was in a coat of red sendel,
and bare a mantle upon his shoulder that was furred with ermine, and
put that upon him. And the old knight said unto the young knight, Sir,
follow me. And anon he led him unto the siege perilous, where beside
sat Sir Launcelot, and the good man lift up the cloth, and found there
letters that said thus: This is the siege of Galahad the haut prince.
Sir, said the old knight, wit ye well that place is yours. And then he
set him down surely in that siege. And then he said to the old man,
Sir, ye may now go your way, for well have ye done that ye were
commanded to do. And recommend me unto my grandsire king Pelles, and
unto my lord Petchere, and say them on my behalf, I shall come and see
them as soon as ever I may. So the good man departed, and there met him
twenty noble squires, and so took their horses and went their way. Then
all the knights of the Table Round marvelled them greatly of Sir
Galahad, that he durst sit there in that siege perilous, and was so
tender of age, and wist not from whence he came, but all only by God,
and said, This is he by whom the Sancgreal shall be achieved, for there
sat never none but he, but he were mischieved. Then Sir Launcelot
beheld his son, and had great joy of him. Then Sir Bors told his
fellows, Upon pain of my life this young knight shall come unto great
worship. This noise was great in all the court, so that it came to the
queen. Then she had marvel what knight it might be that durst adventure
him to sit in the siege perilous. Many said unto the queen, he
resembled much unto Sir Launcelot. I may well suppose, said the queen,
that he is son of Sir Launcelot and king Pelles’ daughter, and his name
is Galahad. I would fain see him, said the queen, for he must needs be
a noble man, for so is his father; I report me unto all the Table
Round. So when the meat was done, that the king and all were risen, the
king went unto the siege perilous, and lift up the cloth, and found
there the name of Galahad, and then he shewed it unto Sir Gawaine, and
said, Fair nephew, now have we among us Sir Galahad the good knight,
that shall worship us all, and upon pain of my life he shall achieve
the Sancgreal, right so as Sir Launcelot hath done us to understand.
Then came king Arthur unto Galahad, and said, Sir, ye be welcome, for
ye shall move many good knights to the quest of the Sancgreal, and ye
shall achieve that never knights might bring to an end. Then the king
took him by the hand, and went down from the palace to shew Galahad the
adventures of the stone.
CHAP. V.
_How king Arthur shewed the stone, hoving on the water, to Galahad, and
how he drew out the sword._
The queen heard thereof, and came after with many ladies, and shewed
them the stone where it hoved on the water. Sir, said the king unto Sir
Galahad, here is a great marvel as ever I saw, and right good knights
have assayed and failed. Sir, said Galahad, that is no marvel, for this
adventure is not theirs, but mine, and for the surety of this sword I
brought none with me; for here by my side hangeth the scabbard. And
anon he laid his hand on the sword, and lightly drew it out of the
stone, and put it in the sheath and said unto the king, Now it goeth
better than it did aforehand. Sir, said the king, a shield God shall
send you. Now have I, said Sir Galahad, that sword that sometime was
the good knight’s Balin le Savage, and he was a passing good man of his
hands. And with this sword he slew his brother Balan, and that was
great pity, for he was a good knight, and either slew other through a
dolorous stroke that Balan gave unto my grandfather king Pelles, the
which is not yet whole, nor not shall be till I heal him. Therewith the
king and all espied where came riding down the river a lady on a white
palfrey toward them. Then she saluted the king and the queen, and asked
if that Sir Launcelot was there? And then he answered himself, I am
here, fair lady. Then she said, all with weeping, How your great doing
is changed sith this day in the morn. Damsel, why say ye so? said
Launcelot. I say you sooth, said the damsel, for ye were this day the
best knight of the world, but who should say so now should be a liar,
for there is now one better than ye. And well it is proved by the
adventures of the sword whereto ye durst not set your hand, and that is
the change and leaving of your name; wherefore I make unto you a
remembrance, that ye shall not ween from henceforth that ye be the best
knight of the world. As touching unto that, said Launcelot, I know well
I was never the best. Yes, said the damsel, that were ye, and are yet
of any sinful man of the world. And sir king, Nacien the hermit sendeth
thee word, that thee shall befall the greatest worship that ever befell
king in Britain; and I say you wherefore, for this day the Sancgreal
shall appear in thy house, and feed thee and all thy fellowship of the
Round Table. So she departed and went that same way that she came.
CHAP. VI.
_How King Arthur had all the knights together, for to just in the
meadow beside Camelot or they departed._
Now, said the king, I am sure at this quest of the Sancgreal shall all
ye of the Table Round depart, and never shall I see you again whole
together, therefore I will see you all whole together in the meadow of
Camelot, to just and to tourney, that after your death men may speak of
it, that such good knights were wholly together such a day. As unto
that counsel, and at the king’s request, they accorded all, and took on
their harness that longed unto justing. But all this moving of the king
was for this intent, for to see Galahad proved, for the king deemed he
should not lightly come again unto the court after his departing. So
were they assembled in the meadow, both more and less. Then Sir
Galahad, by the prayer of the king and the queen, did upon him a noble
jesserance, and also he did on his helm, but shield would he take none
for no prayer of the king. And then Sir Gawaine and other knights
prayed him to take a spear. Right so he did; and the queen was in a
tower with all her ladies for to behold that tournament. Then Sir
Galahad dressed him in the midst of the meadow, and began to break
spears marvellously, that all men had wonder of him, for he there
surmounted all other knights, for within a while he had thrown down
many good knights of the Table Round save twain, that was Sir Launcelot
and Sir Percivale.
CHAP. VII.
_How the queen desired to see Galahad, and how after all the knights
were replenished with the holy Sangreal, and how they avowed the
enquest of the same._
Then the king, at the queen’s request, made him to alight and to unlace
his helm, that the queen might see him in the visage. And when she
beheld him she said, Soothly, I dare well say that Sir Launcelot is his
father, for never two men resembled more in likeness, therefore it is
no marvel though he be of great prowess. So a lady that stood by the
queen said, Madam, ought he of right to be so good a knight? Yea,
forsooth, said the queen, for he is of all parties come of the best
knights of the world, and of the highest lineage; for Sir Launcelot is
come but of the eighth degree from our Lord Jesu Christ, and Sir
Galahad is of the ninth degree from our Lord Jesu Christ; therefore I
dare say they be the greatest gentlemen of the world. And then the king
and all estates went home unto Camelot, and so went to evensong to the
great minster. And so after upon that to supper, and every knight sat
in his own place as they were toforehand. Then anon they heard cracking
and crying of thunder, that them thought the place should all to-drive.
In the midst of this blast entered a sun-beam more clearer by seven
times than ever they saw day, and all they were alighted of the grace
of the Holy Ghost. Then began every knight to behold other, and either
saw other by their seeming fairer than ever they saw afore. Not for
then there was no knight might speak one word a great while, and so
they looked every man on other, as they had been dumb. Then there
entered into the hall the holy Graile covered with white samite, but
there was none might see it, nor who bare it. And there was all the
hall full filled with good odours, and every knight had such meats and
drinks as he best loved in this world: and when the holy Graile had
been borne through the hall, then the holy vessel departed suddenly,
that they wist not where it became. Then had they all breath to speak.
And then the king yielded thankings unto God of his good grace that he
had sent them. Certes, said the king, we ought to thank our Lord Jesu
greatly, for that he hath shewed us this day at the reverence of this
high feast of Pentecost. Now, said Sir Gawaine, we have been served
this day of what meats and drinks we thought on, but one thing beguiled
us, we might not see the holy Graile, it was so preciously covered;
wherefore I will make here avow, that to-morn, without longer abiding,
I shall labour in the quest of the Sancgreal, that I shall hold me out
a twelvemonth and a day, or more if need be, and never shall I return
again unto the court till I have seen it more openly than it hath been
seen here: and if I may not speed, I shall return again as he that may
not be against the will of our Lord Jesu Christ. When they of the Table
Round heard Sir Gawaine say so, they arose up the most party, and made
such avows as Sir Gawaine had made.
Anon as king Arthur heard this he was greatly displeased, for he wist
well that they might not againsay their avows. Alas! said king Arthur
unto Sir Gawaine, ye have nigh slain me with the avow and promise that
ye have made. For through you ye have bereft me of the fairest