Le Morte Darthur
were discomfit. And so it befell that a man of king Evelake’s was
smitten his hand off, and bare that hand in his other hand. And Joseph
called that man unto him, and bad him, Go with good devotion, touch the
cross. And as soon as that man had touched the cross with his hand, it
was as whole as ever it was tofore. Then soon after there fell a great
marvel, that the cross of the shield at one time vanished away, that no
man wist where it became. And then king Evelake was baptised, and for
the most part all the people of that city. So soon after Joseph would
depart, and king Evelake would go with him, whether he would or nould.
And so by fortune they came into this land, that at that time was
called Great Britain. And there they found a great felon paynim, that
put Joseph into prison. And so by fortune tidings came unto a worthy
man that hight Mondrames, and he assembled all his people, for the
great renown he had heard of Joseph, and so he came into the land of
Great Britain, and disherited this felon paynim and consumed him, and
therewith delivered Joseph out of prison. And after that all the people
were turned to the christian faith.
CHAP. XI.
_How Joseph made a cross on the white shield with his blood, and how
Galahad was by a monk brought to a tomb._
Not long after that Joseph was laid in his deadly bed. And when king
Evelake saw that, he made much sorrow, and said, For thy love I have
left my country, and sith ye shall depart out of this world leave me
some token of yours, that I may think on you. Joseph said, that will I
do full gladly. Now bring me your shield that I took you when ye went
into battle against king Tolleme. Then Joseph bled sore at the nose
that he might not by no means be staunched. And there upon that shield
he made a cross of his own blood. Now may ye see a remembrance that I
love you, for ye shall never see this shield but ye shall think on me,
and it shall be always as fresh as it is now; and never shall no man
bear this shield about his neck but he shall repent it, unto the time
that Galahad the good knight bear it, and the last of my lineage shall
have it about his neck, that shall do many marvellous deeds. Now, said
king Evelake, where shall I put this shield, that this worthy knight
may have it? Ye shall leave it there as Nacien the hermit shall be put
after his death. For thither shall that good knight come the fifteenth
day after that he shall receive the order of knighthood. And so that
day that they set is this time that ye have his shield. And in the same
abbey lieth Nacien the hermit. And then the white knight vanished away.
Anon, as the squire had heard these words, he alight off his hackney,
and kneeled down at Galahad’s feet, and prayed him that he might go
with him till he had made him knight.—If I would not refuse you?—Then
will ye make me a knight, said the squire, and that order, by the grace
of God, shall be well set in me. So Sir Galahad granted him, and turned
again unto the abbey there they came from. And there men made great joy
of Sir Galahad. And anon as he was alight, there was a monk brought him
unto a tomb in a church-yard, where that was such a noise that who that
heard it should verily nigh be mad or lose his strength. And, sir, they
said, we deem it is a fiend.
CHAP. XII.
_Of the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and heard in the tomb, and how he
made Melias knight._
Now lead me thither, said Galahad. And so they did, all armed save his
helm. Now, said the good man, go to the tomb and lift it up. So he did,
and heard a great noise, and piteously he said that all men might hear
it. Sir Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, come thou not nigh me, for
thou shalt make me go again there where I have been so long. But
Galahad was nothing afraid, but lift up the stone, and there came out
so foul a smoke, and after he saw the foulest figure leap thereout that
ever he saw in the likeness of a man; and then he blessed him, and wist
well it was a fiend. Then heard he a voice say, Galahad, I see there
environ about thee so many angels that my power may not dare thee.
Right so Sir Galahad saw a body all armed lie in that tomb, and beside
him a sword. Now, fair brother, said Galahad, let us remove this body,
for it is not worthy to lie in this church-yard, for he was a false
Christian man. And therewith they all departed and went to the abbey.
And anon as he was unarmed, a good man came and set him down by him,
and said, Sir, I shall tell you what betokeneth all that ye saw in the
tomb: For that covered body betokeneth the duresse of the world, and
the great sin that our Lord found in the world, for there was such
wretchedness that the father loved not the son, nor the son loved not
the father, and that was one of the causes that our Lord took flesh and
blood of a clean maiden; for our sins were so great at that time that
well nigh all was wickedness. Truly, said Galahad, I believe you right
well. So Sir Galahad rested him there that night. And upon the morn he
made the squire knight, and asked him his name, and of what kindred he
was come. Sir, said he, men call me Melias de Lile, and I am the son of
the king of Denmark. Now, fair sir, said Galahad, sith ye be come of
kings and queens, now look that knighthood be well set in you, for ye
ought to be a mirror unto all chivalry. Sir, said Melias, ye say sooth.
But, sir, sithen ye have made me a knight, ye must of right grant me my
first desire that is reasonable. Ye say sooth, said Galahad. Then
Melias said, that ye will suffer me to ride with you in this quest of
the Sancgreal till that some adventure depart us.—I grant you, sir.
Then men brought Sir Melias his armour, and his spear, and his horse;
and so Sir Galahad and he rode forth all that week ere they found any
adventure. And then upon a Monday, in the morning, as they were
departed from an abbey, they came to a cross which departed two ways;
and in that cross were letters written, that said thus: Now ye knights
errant, the which goeth to seek knights adventurous, see here two ways;
that one way defendeth thee that thou ne go that way, for he shall not
go out of the way again, but if he be a good man and a worthy knight;
and if thou go on the left hand, thou shalt not there lightly win
prowess, for thou shalt in this way be soon assayed. Sir, said Melias
to Galahad, if it like you to suffer me to take the way on the left
hand, tell me, for there I shall well prove my strength. It were
better, said Galahad, ye rode not that way, for I deem I should better
escape in that way than ye.—Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have that
adventure.—Take it, in God’s name, said Galahad.
CHAP. XIII.
_Of the adventure that Melias had, and how Galahad revenged him, and
how Melias was carried into an abbey._
And then rode Melias into an old forest, and therein he rode two days
and more. And then he came into a fair meadow, and there was a fair
lodge of boughs. And then he espied in that lodge a chair, wherein was
a crown of gold subtily wrought. Also there was clothes covered upon
the earth, and many delicious meats were set thereon. Sir Melias beheld
this adventure, and thought it marvellous, but he had no hunger, but of
the crown of gold he took much keep, and therewith he stooped down, and
took it up, and rode his way with it. And anon he saw a knight came
riding after him that said, Knight, set down that crown which is not
yours, and therefore defend you. Then Sir Melias blessed him, and said,
Fair Lord of heaven, help and save thy new-made knight. And then they
let their horses run as fast as they might, so that the other knight
smote Sir Melias through hauberk and through the left side, that he
fell to the earth nigh dead. And then he took the crown and went his
way, and Sir Melias lay still and had no power to stir. In the
meanwhile by fortune there came Sir Galahad and found him there in
peril of death. And then he said, Ah, Melias, who hath wounded you?
therefore it had been better to have ridden that other way. And when
Sir Melias heard him speak, Sir, he said, for God’s love let me not die
in this forest, but bear me unto the abbey here beside, that I may be
confessed and have my rites. It shall be done, said Galahad, but where
is he that hath wounded you? With that Sir Galahad heard in the leaves
cry on high, Knight, keep thee from me! Ah sir, said Melias, beware,
for that is he that hath slain me. Sir Galahad answered, Sir knight,
come on your peril. Then either dressed to other, and came together as
fast as their horses might run; and Galahad smote him so that his spear
went through his shoulder, and smote him down off his horse, and in the
falling Galahad’s spear brake. With that came out another knight out of
the leaves and brake a spear upon Galahad, or ever he might turn him.
Then Galahad drew out his sword and smote off the left arm of him, so
that it fell to the earth. And then he fled, and Sir Galahad sued fast
after him. And then he turned again unto Sir Melias, and there he
alight and dressed him softly on his horse tofore him, for the
truncheon of his spear was in his body, and Sir Galahad start up behind
him, and held him in his arms, and so brought him to the abbey, and
there unarmed him and brought him to his chamber. And then he asked his
Saviour. And when he had received Him he said unto Sir Galahad, Sir,
let death come when it pleaseth him. And therewith he drew out the
truncheon of the spear out of his body: and then he swooned. Then came
there an old monk, which sometime had been a knight, and beheld Sir
Melias. And anon he ransacked him, and then he said unto Sir Galahad, I
shall heal him of this wound, by the grace of God, within the term of
seven weeks. Then was Sir Galahad glad, and unarmed him, and said he
would abide there three days. And then he asked Sir Melias how it stood
with him. Then he said, he was turned unto helping, God be thanked.
CHAP. XIV.
_How Sir Galahad departed, and how he was commanded to go to the castle
of maidens to destroy the wicked custom._
Now will I depart, said Galahad, for I have much on hand, for many good
knights be full busy about it, and this knight and I were in the same
quest of the Sancgreal. Sir, said a good man, for his sin he was thus
wounded: and I marvel, said the good man, how ye durst take upon you so
rich a thing as the high order of knighthood without clean confession,
and that was the cause ye were bitterly wounded. For the way on the
right hand betokeneth the high way of our Lord Jesu Christ, and the way
of a true good liver. And the other way betokeneth the way of sinners
and of misbelievers. And when the devil saw your pride and presumption
for to take you in the quest of the holy Sancgreal, that made you to be
overthrown, for it may not be achieved but by virtuous living. Also,
the writing on the cross was a signification of heavenly deeds, and of
knightly deeds in God’s works, and no knightly deeds in worldly works;
and pride is head of all deadly sins, that caused this knight to depart
from Sir Galahad: and where thou tookest the crown of gold thou
sinnedst in covetise and in theft. All this were no knightly deeds. And
this Galahad the holy knight, the which fought with the two knights,
the two knights signify the two deadly sins which were wholly in this
knight Sir Melias, and they might not withstand you, for ye are without
deadly sin. Now departed Galahad from thence, and betaught them all
unto God. Sir Melias said, My lord Galahad, as soon as I may ride I
shall seek you. God send you health, said Galahad; and so took his
horse and departed and rode many journeys forward and backward, as