Le Morte Darthur
worship of her, and that she was the best maid living, and it was great
pity of her death. But when Launcelot heard how the marvellous sword
was gotten, and who made it, and all the marvels rehearsed afore, then
he prayed Galahad his son that he would shew him the sword, and so he
did. And anon he kissed the pommel, and the hilts, and the scabbard.
Truly, said Launcelot, never erst knew I of so high adventures done,
and so marvellous and strange. So dwelled Launcelot and Galahad within
that ship half a year, and served God daily and nightly with all their
power. And often they arrived in isles far from folk, where there
repaired none but wild beasts; and there they found many strange
adventures and perilous, which they brought to an end. But because the
adventures were with wild beasts, and not in the quest of the
Sancgreal, therefore the tale maketh here no mention thereof, for it
would be too long to tell of all those adventures that befell them.
CHAP. XIV.
_How a knight brought unto Sir Galahad an horse, and bad him come from
his father Sir Launcelot._
So after, on a Monday, it befell that they arrived in the edge of a
forest, tofore a cross, and then saw they a knight, armed all in white,
and was richly horsed, and led in his right hand a white horse. And so
he came to the ship, and saluted the two knights on the high Lord’s
behalf, and said, Galahad, sir, ye have been long enough with your
father, come out of the ship, and start upon this horse, and go where
the adventures shall lead thee in the quest of the Sancgreal. Then he
went to his father, and kissed him sweetly, and said, Fair sweet
father, I wot not when I shall see you more, till I see the body of
Jesu Christ. I pray you, said Launcelot, pray ye to the high Father
that He hold me in his service. And so he took his horse; and there
they heard a voice, that said, Think for to do well, for the one shall
never see the other before the dreadful day of doom. Now, son Galahad,
said Launcelot, since we shall depart, and never see other, I pray to
the high Father to preserve both me and you both. Sir, said Galahad, no
prayer availeth so much as yours. And therewith Galahad entered into
the forest. And the wind arose, and drove Launcelot more than a month
throughout the sea, where he slept but little, but prayed to God that
he might see some tidings of the Sancgreal. So it befell on a night, at
midnight he arrived afore a castle, on the back side, which was rich
and fair. And there was a postern opened towards the sea, and was open
without any keeping, save two lions kept the entry; and the moon shone
clear. Anon Sir Launcelot heard a voice that said, Launcelot, go out of
this ship, and enter into the castle, where thou shalt see a great part
of thy desire. Then he ran to his arms, and so armed him, and so he
went to the gate, and saw the lions. Then set he hand to his sword, and
drew it. Then there came a dwarf suddenly, and smote him on the arm so
sore that the sword fell out of his hand. Then heard he a voice say, Oh
man of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore trowest thou more on thy
harness than in thy Maker? for He might more avail thee than thine
armour, in whose service thou art set. Then said Launcelot, Fair Father
Jesu Christ, I thank thee of thy great mercy, that thou reprovest me of
my misdeed. Now see I well that ye hold me for your servant. Then took
he again his sword, and put it up in his sheath, and made a cross in
his forehead, and came to the lions, and they made semblant to do him
harm. Notwithstanding he passed by them without hurt, and entered into
the castle to the chief fortress, and there were they all at rest. Then
Launcelot entered in so armed, for he found no gate nor door but it was
open. And at the last he found a chamber whereof the door was shut, and
he set his hand thereto to have opened it, but he might not.
CHAP. XV.
_How Sir Launcelot was tofore the door of the chamber wherein the holy
Sancgreal was._
Then he enforced him mickle to undo the door. Then he listened, and
heard a voice which sang so sweetly that it seemed none earthly thing;
and him thought the voice said, Joy and honour be to the Father of
Heaven! Then Launcelot kneeled down tofore the chamber, for well wist
he that there was the Sancgreal within that chamber. Then said he, Fair
sweet Father Jesu Christ, if ever I did thing that pleased the Lord,
for thy pity have me not in despite for my sins done aforetime, and
that thou shew me something of that I seek! And with that he saw the
chamber door open, and there came out a great clearness, that the house
was as bright as all the torches of the world had been there. So came
he to the chamber door, and would have entered. And anon a voice said
to him, Flee Launcelot, and enter not, for thou oughtest not to do it:
and if thou enter thou shalt forthink it. Then he withdrew him aback
right heavy. Then looked he up in the midst of the chamber, and saw a
table of silver, and the holy vessel covered with red samite, and many
angels about it, whereof one held a candle of wax burning, and the
other held a cross, and the ornaments of an altar. And before the holy
vessel he saw a good man clothed as a priest, and it seemed that he was
at the sacring of the mass. And it seemed to Launcelot that above the
priest’s hands there were three men, whereof the two put the youngest
by likeness between the priest’s hands, and so he lift it up right
high, and it seemed to shew so to the people. And then Launcelot
marvelled not a little, for him thought that the priest was so greatly
charged of the figure, that him seemed that he should fall to the
earth. And when he saw none about him that would help him, then came he
to the door a great pace, and said, Fair Father Jesu Christ, ne take it
for no sin though I help the good man, which hath great need of help.
Right so entered he into the chamber, and came toward the table of
silver; and when he came nigh he felt a breath that him thought it was
intermeddled with fire, which smote him so sore in the visage that him
thought it burnt his visage; and therewith he fell to the earth, and
had no power to arise, as he that was so araged that had lost the power
of his body, and his hearing, and his saying. Then felt he many hands
about him, which took him up and bare him out of the chamber door,
without any amending of his swoon, and left him there seeming dead to
all people. So upon the morrow, when it was fair day, they within were
arisen, and found Launcelot lying afore the chamber door. All they
marvelled how that he came in. And so they looked upon him, and felt
his pulse, to wit whether there were any life in him; and so they found
life in him, but he might neither stand, nor stir no member that he
had; and so they took him by every part of the body, and bare him into
a chamber, and laid him in a rich bed, far from all folk, and so he lay
four days. Then the one said he was on live, and the other said nay. In
the name of God, said an old man, for I do you verily to wit he is not
dead, but he is so full of life as the mightiest of you all, and
therefore I counsel you that he be well kept till God send him life
again.
CHAP. XVI.
_How Sir Launcelot had lain fourteen days and as many nights as a dead
man, and other divers matters._
In such manner they kept Launcelot four and twenty days, and also many
nights, that ever he lay still as a dead man; and at the twenty-fifth
day befell him after midday that he opened his eyes. And when he saw
folk he made great sorrow and said, Why have ye awaked me? for I was
more at ease than I am now. Oh Jesu Christ, who might be so blessed
that might see openly thy great marvels of secretness there where no
sinner may be. What have ye seen? said they about him. I have seen,
said he, so great marvels that no tongue may tell, and more than any
heart can think, and had not my son been here afore me I had seen much
more. Then they told him how he had lain there four and twenty days and
nights. Then him thought it was punishment for the twenty-four years
that he had been a sinner, wherefore our Lord put him in penance four
and twenty days and nights. Then looked Sir Launcelot before him, and
saw the hair which he had borne nigh a year, for that he forethought
him right much that he had broken his promise unto the hermit, which he
had avowed to do. Then they asked him how it stood with him. Forsooth,
said he, I am whole of body, thanked be our Lord; therefore, sirs, for
God’s love tell me where that I am? Then said they all that he was in
the castle of Carbonek. Therewith came a gentlewoman, and brought him a
shirt of small linen cloth, but he changed not there, but took the hair
to him again. Sir, said they, the quest of the Sancgreal is achieved
right now in you, that never shall ye see of the Sancgreal no more than
ye have seen. Now I thank God, said Launcelot, of His great mercy, of
that I have seen, for it sufficeth me, for, as I suppose, no man in
this world hath lived better than I have done to achieve that I have
done. And therewith he took the hair, and clothed him in it, and above
that he put a linen shirt, and after a robe of scarlet, fresh and new.
And when he was so arrayed, they marvelled all, for they knew him that
he was Launcelot, the good knight. And then they said all, O my lord
Sir Launcelot, be that ye? And he said, Truly I am he. Then came word
to king Pelles, that the knight that had lain so long dead was Sir
Launcelot; then was the king right glad, and went to see him. And when
Launcelot saw him come, he dressed him against him, and there made the
king great joy of him. And there the king told him tidings, that his
fair daughter was dead. Then Launcelot was right heavy of it, and said,
Sir, me forthinketh the death of your daughter, for she was a full fair
lady, fresh and young. And well I wot she bare the best knight that is
now on earth, or that ever was since God was born. So the king held him
there four days. And on the morrow he took his leave at king Pelles,
and at all the fellowship that were there, and thanked them of the
great labour. Right so as they sat at dinner in the chief hall, then
was it so befallen that the Sancgreal had fulfilled the tables with all
manner of meats that any heart might think. So as they sat, they saw
all the doors and windows of the place were shut without man’s hand,
whereof they were all abashed, and none wist what to do. And then it
happed suddenly a knight came to the chief door, and knocked, and
cried, Undo the door; but they would not. And ever he cried, Undo, but
they would not. And at the last it annoyed them so much, that the king
himself arose, and came to a window where the knight called. Then he
said, Sir knight, ye shall not enter at this time, while the Sancgreal
is here, and therefore go into another. For certes ye be none of the
knights of the quest, but one of them which hath served the fiend, and
hast left the service of our Lord. And he was passing wroth at the
king’s words. Sir knight, said the king, sin ye would so fain enter,
say me of what country ye be? Sir, said he, I am of the realm of
Logris, and my name is Ector de Maris, and brother unto my lord Sir
Launcelot. Truly, said the king, me forthinketh of that I have said,
for your brother is here within. And when Ector de Maris understood
that his brother was there, for he was the man in the world that he
most dread and loved, and then he said, Alas, now doubleth my sorrow
and shame, full truly said the good man of the hill unto Gawaine and to
me of our dreams. Then went he out of the court as fast as his courser
might run, and so through out the castle.
CHAP. XVII.