Le Morte Darthur
Also ye have slain a gentle knight, and one of our fellows. And well
wot ye that I am not afeard of you greatly, but I dread the wrath of
God; and this is an unkindly war, therefore God shew miracle upon us
both. Now God have mercy upon me, though I defend my life against my
brother. With that Bors lift up his hand, and would have smitten his
brother.
CHAP. XVII.
_How there came a voice which charged Sir Bors to touch not him, and of
a cloud that came between them._
And then he heard a voice that said, Flee, Bors, and touch him not, or
else thou shalt slay him. Right so alight a cloud betwixt them in
likeness of a fire, and a marvellous flame, that both their two shields
burnt. Then were they sore afraid, that they fell both to the earth,
and lay there a great while in a swoon. And when they came to
themselves, Bors saw that his brother had no harm: then he held up both
his hands, for he dread God had taken vengeance upon him. With that he
heard a voice say, Bors, go hence and bear thy brother no longer
fellowship, but take thy way anon right to the sea, for Sir Percivale
abideth thee there. Then he said to his brother, Fair sweet brother,
forgive me, for God’s love, all that I have trespassed unto you. Then
he answered, God forgive it thee, and I do gladly. So Sir Bors departed
from him, and rode the next way to the sea. And at the last, by fortune
he came to an abbey which was nigh the sea. That night Bors rested him
there, and in his sleep there came a voice to him, and bad him go to
the sea; then he start up, and made a sign of the cross in the midst of
his forehead, and took his harness, and made ready his horse, and
mounted upon him. And at a broken wall he rode out, and rode so long
till that he came to the sea. And on the strand he found a ship covered
all with white samite. And he alight, and betook him to Jesu Christ.
And as soon as he entered into the ship, the ship departed into the
sea, and went so fast that him seemed the ship went flying, but it was
soon dark, so that he might know no man, and so he slept till it was
day. Then he awaked, and saw in the midst of the ship a knight lie, all
armed save his helm. Then knew he that it was Sir Percivale of Wales,
and then he made of him right great joy. But Sir Percivale was abashed
of him, and he asked him what he was. Ah, fair sir, said Bors, know ye
me not? Certes, said he, I marvel how ye came hither, but if our Lord
brought you hither himself: then Sir Bors smiled, and did off his helm.
Then Percivale knew him, and either made great joy of other, that it
was marvel to hear. Then Bors told him how he came into the ship, and
by whose admonishment. And either told other of their temptations, as
ye have heard toforehand. So went they downward in the sea, one while
backward another while forward, and every each comforted other, and oft
were in their prayers. Then said Sir Percivale, We lack nothing but
Galahad the good knight.
And thus endeth the syxteenth book whiche is of syre Gawayne, Ector de
marys, and syre Bors de ganys and sir percyual.
And here foloweth the seuententh book which is of the noble knyghte
syre Galahad.
The Seventeenth Book.
CHAP. I.
_How Sir Galahad fought at a tournament, and how he was known of Sir
Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris._
Now saith this story, when Galahad had rescued Percivale from the
twenty knights, he rode then into a vast forest, wherein he rode many
journeys, and he found many adventures, the which he brought to an end,
whereof the story maketh here no mention. Then he took his way to the
sea on a day, and it befell as he passed by a castle where was a wonder
tournament, but they without had done so much that they within were put
to the worse, yet were they within good knights enough. When Galahad
saw that those within were at so great a mischief that men slew them at
the entry of the castle, then he thought to help them, and put a spear
forth, and smote the first that he fell to the earth, and the spear
brake to pieces. Then he drew his sword, and smote there as they were
thickest, and so he did wonderful deeds of arms, that all they
marvelled. Then it happed that Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris were with
the knights without; but when they espied the white shield with the red
cross, the one said to the other, Yonder is the good knight Sir Galahad
the haut prince: now he should be a great fool which should meet with
him to fight. So by adventure he came by Sir Gawaine, and he smote him
so hard that he clave his helm, and the coif of iron unto his head, so
that Gawaine fell to the earth: but the stroke was so great, that it
slanted down to the earth, and carved the horse shoulder in two. When
Ector saw Gawaine down, he drew him aside, and thought it no wisdom for
to abide him, and also for natural love, that he was his uncle. Thus
through his great hardiness he beat aback all the knights without. And
then they within came out and chased them all about. But when Galahad
saw there would none turn again, he stole away privily, so that none
wist where he was become. Now by my head, said Gawaine to Ector, now
are the wonders true that were said of Launcelot du Lake, that the
sword which stuck in the stone should give me such a buffet that I
would not have it for the best castle in this world, and soothly now it
is proved true, for never before had I such a stroke of man’s hand.
Sir, said Ector, me seemeth your quest is done. And yours is not done,
said Gawaine, but mine is done; I shall seek no further. Then Gawaine
was borne into a castle, and unarmed him, and laid him in a rich bed,
and a leech found that he might live, and to be whole within a month.
Thus Gawaine and Ector abode together. For Sir Ector would not away
till Gawaine were whole. And the good knight Galahad rode so long till
he came that night to the castle of Carboneck; and it befell him thus
that he was benighted in an hermitage. So the good man was fain when he
saw he was a knight errant. Then when they were at rest, there came a
gentlewoman knocking at the door, and called Galahad, and so the good
man came to the door to wit what she would. Then she called the hermit,
Sir Ulfin, I am a gentlewoman that would speak with the knight that is
with you. Then the good man awaked Galahad, and bad him arise, and
speak with a gentlewoman that seemeth hath great need of you. Then
Galahad went to her, and asked her what she would. Galahad, said she, I
will that ye arm you, and mount upon your horse, and follow me, for I
shall shew you within these three days the highest adventure that ever
any knight saw. Anon Galahad armed him, and took his horse and
commended him to God, and bad the gentlewoman go, and he would follow
there as she liked.
CHAP. II.
_How Sir Galahad rode with a damsel, and came to the ship whereas Sir
Bors and Sir Percivale were in._
So she rode as fast as her palfrey might bear her, till that she came
to the sea the which was called Collibe. And at the night they came
unto a castle in a valley, was closed with a running water, and with
strong walls and high. And so she entered into the castle with Galahad,
and there had he great cheer, for the lady of that castle was the
damsel’s lady. So when he was unarmed, then said the damsel, Madam,
shall we abide here all this day? Nay, said she, but till he hath
dined, and till he hath slept a little. So he eat and slept a while,
till that the maid called him, and armed him by torchlight. And when
the maid was horsed, and he both, the lady took Galahad a fair child
and rich, and so they departed from the castle, till they came to the
sea-side, and there they found the ship where Bors and Percivale were
in, the which cried on the ship’s board, Sir Galahad, ye be welcome, we
have abiden you long. And when he heard them, he asked them what they
were. Sir, said she, leave your horse here, and I shall leave mine; and
took their saddles and their bridles with them, and made a cross on
them, and so entered into the ship. And the two knights received them
both with great joy, and every each knew other. And so the wind arose,
and drove them through the sea in a marvellous place. And within a
while it dawned. Then did Galahad off his helm and his sword, and asked
of his fellows from whence came that fair ship. Truly, said they, ye
wot as well as we, but of God’s grace. And then they told every each to
other of all their hard adventures, and of their great temptation.
Truly, said Galahad, ye are much bounden to God, for ye have escaped
great adventures: and had not the gentlewoman been I had not come here;
for as for you, I wend never to have found you in these strange
countries. Ah, Galahad, said Bors, if Launcelot your father were here
then were we well at ease, for then me seemeth we failed nothing. That
may not be, said Galahad, but if it please our Lord. By then the ship
went from the land of Logris, and by adventure it arrived up betwixt
two rocks passing great and marvellous, but there they might not land,
for there was a swallow of the sea, save there was another ship, and
upon it they might go without danger. Go we thither, said the
gentlewoman, and there shall we see adventures, for so is our Lord’s
will. And when they came thither, they found the ship rich enough, but
they found neither man nor woman therein. But they found in the end of
the ship two fair letters written, which said a dreadful word and a
marvellous:—Thou man which shall enter into this ship, beware thou be
in steadfast belief, for I am Faith; and therefore beware how thou
enterest, for and thou fail I shall not help thee. Then said the
gentlewoman, Percivale, wot ye what I am? Certes, said he, nay, to my
witting. Wit you well, said she, that I am thy sister, which am
daughter of king Pellinore. And therefore wit ye well ye are the man in
the world that I most love. And if ye be not in perfect belief of Jesu
Christ, enter not in no manner of wise, for then should ye perish in
the ship, for he is so perfect he will suffer no sin in him. When
Percivale understood that she was his very sister, he was inwardly
glad, and said, Fair sister, I shall enter therein, for if I be a
mis-creature, or an untrue knight, there shall I perish.
CHAP. III.
_How Sir Galahad entered into the ship, and of a fair bed therein, with
other marvellous things, and of a sword._
In the mean while Galahad blessed him and entered therein, and then
next the gentlewoman, and then Sir Bors and Sir Percivale. And when
they were therein, it was so marvellous fair and rich that they
marvelled. And in the midst of the ship was a fair bed, and Sir Galahad
went thereto, and found there a crown of silk. And at the feet was a
sword rich and fair, and it was drawn out of the sheath half a foot and
more, and the sword was of divers fashions, and the pommel was of
stone, and there was in him all manner of colours that any man might
find, and every each of the colours had divers virtues, and the scales
of the haft were of two ribs of divers beasts. The one beast was a
serpent, which was conversant in Calidone, and is called the serpent of
the fiend. And the bone of him is of such a virtue, that there is no
hand that handleth him shall never be weary nor hurt: and the other
beast is a fish, which is not right great, and haunteth the flood of
Eufrates; and that fish is called Ertanax, and his bones be of such a
manner of kind, that who that handleth them shall have so much will
that he shall never be weary, and he shall not think on joy nor sorrow
that he hath had, but only that thing that he beholdeth before him. And