Le Morte Darthur
were with him is to understand the four evangelists, which set in
writing a part of Jesu Christ’s deeds that he did some time when he was
among you an earthly man. For wit ye well never erst might no knight
know the truth, for, ofttimes or this, our Lord shewed him unto good
men and unto good knights in likeness of an hart. But I suppose from
henceforth ye shall see no more. And then they joyed much, and dwelled
there all that day. And upon the morrow, when they had heard mass they
departed, and commended the good man to God. And so they came to a
castle, and passed by. So there came a knight armed after them, and
said, Lords, hark what I shall say to you.
CHAP. X.
_How they were desired of a strange custom, the which they would not
obey; and how they fought and slew many knights._
This gentlewoman that ye lead with you is a maid? Sir, said she, a maid
I am. Then he took her by the bridle and said, By the holy cross ye
shall not escape me tofore ye have yielden the custom of this castle.
Let her go, said Percivale; ye be not wise, for a maid in what place
she cometh is free. So in the meanwhile there came out a ten or twelve
knights armed, out of the castle, and with them came gentlewomen which
held a dish of silver, and then they said, This gentlewoman must yield
us the custom of this castle. Sir, said a knight, what maid passeth
hereby shall give this dish full of blood of her right arm. Blame have
ye, said Galahad, that brought up such customs, and I ensure you of
this gentlewoman ye shall fail while that I live. Truly, said Sir
Percivale, I had lever be slain. And I also, said Sir Bors. By my
truth, said the knight, then shall ye die, for ye may not endure
against us, though ye were the best knights of the world. Then let them
run each to other, and the three fellows beat the ten knights, and then
set their hands to their swords, and beat them down and slew them. Then
there came out of the castle well a threescore knights armed. Fair
lords, said the three fellows, have mercy upon yourselves, and have not
ado with us. Nay, fair lords, said the knights of the castle, we
counsel you to withdraw you, for ye are the best knights of the world,
and therefore do no more, for ye have done enough. We will let you go
with this harm, but we must needs have the custom. Certes, said
Galahad, for nought speak ye. Well, said they, will ye die? We be not
yet come thereto, said Galahad. Then began they to meddle together, and
Galahad drew his sword with the strange girdles, and smote on the right
hand and on the left hand, and slew what that ever abode him, and did
such marvels that there was none that saw him but they wend he had been
none earthly man but a monster. And his two fellows halp him passing
well, and so they held the journey every each in like hard, till it was
night. Then must they needs part. So came a good knight and said to the
three fellows, If ye will come in to night, and take such harbour as
here is, ye shall be right welcome, and we shall ensure you by the
faith of our bodies, as we are true knights, to leave you in such
estate to-morrow as we find you, without any falsehood. And as soon as
ye know of the custom we dare say ye will accord. Therefore, for God’s
love, said the gentlewoman, go thither, and spare not for me. Go we,
said Galahad, and so they entered into the castle. And when they were
alight, they made great joy of them. So within a while the three
knights asked the custom of the castle, and wherefore it was. What it
is, said they, we will say you sooth.
CHAP. XI.
_How Sir Percivale’s sister bled a dish full of blood for to heal a
lady; wherefore she died; and how that the body was put in a ship._
There is in this castle a gentlewoman which we and this castle is hers,
and many other. So it befell many years agone there fell upon her a
malady. And when she had lain a great while, she fell into a measle,
and of no leech she could have no remedy. But at the last an old man
said, and she might have a dish full of blood of a maid and a clean
virgin in will and in work, and a king’s daughter, that blood should be
her health, and for to anoint her withal: and for this thing was this
custom made. Now, said Percivale’s sister, Fair knights, I see well
that this gentlewoman is but dead. Certes, said Galahad, and if ye
bleed so much, ye may die. Truly, said she, and I die for to heal her,
I shall get me great worship and soul’s health, and worship to my
lineage, and better is one harm than twain. And therefore there shall
be no more battle, but to-morn I shall yield you your custom of this
castle. And then there was great joy, more than there was tofore. For
else had there been mortal war upon the morn; notwithstanding she would
none other, whether they would or nold. That night were the three
fellows eased with the best, and on the morn they heard mass, and Sir
Percivale’s sister bad bring forth the sick lady. So she was, the which
was evil at ease. Then said she, Who shall let me blood? So one came
forth and let her blood, and she bled so much that the dish was full.
Then she lift up her hand and blessed her. And then she said to the
lady, Madam, I am come to the death, for to make you whole; for God’s
love pray for me. With that she fell in a swoon. Then Galahad and his
two fellows start up to her, and lift her up, and stanched her, but she
had bled so much that she might not live. Then she said, when she was
awaked, Fair brother Percivale, I die for the healing of this lady. So
I require you that ye bury not me in this country, but as soon as I am
dead put me in a boat at the next haven, and let me go as adventure
will lead me; and as soon as ye three come to the city of Sarras, there
to achieve the holy Graile, ye shall find me under a tower arrived, and
there bury me in the spiritual place, for I say you so much, there
Galahad shall be buried, and ye also, in the same place. Then Percivale
understood these words, and granted it her, weeping. And then said a
voice, Lords and fellows, to-morrow at the hour of prime ye three shall
depart every each from other, till the adventure bring you to the
maimed king. Then asked she her Saviour, and as soon as she had
received him the soul departed from the body. So the same day was the
lady healed, when she was anointed withal. Then Sir Percivale made a
letter of all that she had holpen them as in strange adventures, and
put it in her right hand, and so laid her in a barge, and covered it
with black silk; and so the wind arose, and drove the barge from the
land, and all knights beheld it, till it was out of their sight.
Then they drew all to the castle, and so forthwith there fell a sudden
tempest, and a thunder, lightning, and rain, as all the earth would
have broken. So half the castle turned up so down. So it passed
evensong or the tempest was ceased. Then they saw afore them a knight
armed and wounded hard in the body and in the head, that said, Oh God,
succour me, for now it is need! After this knight came another knight
and a dwarf which cried to them afar, Stand, ye may not escape. Then
the wounded knight held up his hands to God, that he should not die in
such tribulation. Truly, said Galahad, I shall succour him for His sake
that he calleth upon. Sir, said Bors, I shall do it, for it is not for
you, for he is but one knight. Sir, said he, I grant. So Sir Bors took
his horse, and commended him to God, and rode after to rescue the
wounded knight.
Now turn we to the two fellows.
CHAP. XII.
_How Galahad and Percivale found in a castle many tombs of maidens that
had bled to death._
Now saith the story that all night Galahad and Percivale were in a
chapel in their prayers, for to save Sir Bors. So on the morrow they
dressed them in their harness toward the castle, to wit what was fallen
of them therein. And when they came there, they found neither man nor
woman that he ne was dead by the vengeance of our Lord. With that they
heard a voice that said, This vengeance is for blood shedding of
maidens. Also they found at the end of the chapel a churchyard, and
therein might they see a threescore fair tombs, and that place was so
fair and so delectable that it seemed them there had been none tempest.
For there lay the bodies of all the good maidens which were martyred
for the sick lady’s sake. Also they found the names of every each, and
of what blood they were come, and all were of kings’ blood, and twelve
of them were kings’ daughters. Then they departed, and went into a
forest. Now, said Percivale unto Galahad, we must depart; so pray we
our Lord that we may meet together in short time. Then they did off
their helms, and kissed together, and wept at their departing.
CHAP. XIII.
_How Sir Launcelot entered into the ship where Sir Percivale’s sister
lay dead; and how he met with Sir Galahad his son._
Now saith the history, that when Launcelot was come to the water of
Mortoise, as it is rehearsed before, he was in great peril, and so he
laid him down and slept, and took the adventure that God would send him.
So when he was asleep, there came a vision unto him and said,
Launcelot, arise up, and take thine armour, and enter into the first
ship that thou shalt find. And when he had heard these words, he start
up and saw great clearness about him. And then he lift up his hand and
blessed him, and so took his arms, and made him ready; and so by
adventure he came by a strand, and found a ship, the which was without
sail or oar. And as soon as he was within the ship, there he felt the
most sweetness that ever he felt; and he was fulfilled with all thing
that he thought on or desired. Then said he, Fair sweet Father Jesu
Christ, I wot not in what joy I am, for this joy passeth all earthly
joys that ever I was in. And so in this joy he laid him down to the
ship’s board, and slept till day. And when he awoke, he found there a
fair bed, and therein lying a gentlewoman dead, the which was Sir
Percivale’s sister. And as Launcelot devised her, he espied in her
right hand a writ, the which he read, the which told him all the
adventures that ye have heard tofore, and of what lineage she was come.
So with this gentlewoman Sir Launcelot was a month and more. If ye
would ask how he lived, He that fed the people of Israel with manna in
the desert, so was he fed. For every day, when he had said his prayers,
he was sustained with the grace of the Holy Ghost. So on a night he
went to play him by the water side, for he was somewhat weary of the
ship. And then he listened, and heard an horse come, and one riding
upon him. And when he came nigh he seemed a knight. And so he let him
pass, and went there as the ship was, and there he alight, and took the
saddle and the bridle and put the horse from him, and went into the
ship. And then Launcelot dressed unto him and said, Ye be welcome. And
he answered and saluted him again, and asked him, What is your name?
for much my heart giveth unto you. Truly, said he, my name is Launcelot
du Lake. Sir, said he, then be ye welcome, for ye were the beginner of
me in this world. Ah, said he, are ye Galahad? Yea forsooth, said he.
And so he kneeled down and asked him his blessing, and after took off
his helm and kissed him. And there was great joy between them, for
there is no tongue can tell the joy that they made either of other, and
many a friendly word spoken between, as kind would, the which is no
need here to be rehearsed. And there every each told other of their
adventures and marvels that were befallen to them in many journeys,
sith that they departed from the court. Anon as Galahad saw the
gentlewoman dead in the bed, he knew her well enough, and told great