Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table 10

Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table 10

When he waked he saw a Knight lying in the midst of the ship, all armed

save for his helm, and he knew him for Sir Percivale, and welcomed him

with great joy; and they told each other of their adventures and of

their temptations, and had great happiness in each other's company. "We

lack nothing but Galahad, the good Knight," Sir Percivale said.

 

 

IX.

Adventure of Sir Galahad.

 

Sir Galahad rested one evening at a hermitage. And while he was resting,

there came a gentlewoman and asked leave of the hermit to speak with Sir

Galahad, and would not be denied, though she was told he was weary and

asleep. Then the hermit waked Sir Galahad and bade him rise, as a

gentlewoman had great need of him, so Sir Galahad rose and asked her

what she wished. "Galahad," said she, "I will that you arm yourself, and

mount your horse and follow me, and I will show you the highest

adventure that ever any Knight saw." And Sir Galahad bade her go, and he

would follow wherever she led. In three days they reached the sea, where

they found the ship where Sir Bors and Sir Percivale were lying. And the

lady bade him leave his horse behind and said she would leave hers also,

but their saddles and bridles they would take on board the ship. This

they did, and were received with great joy by the two Knights; then the

sails were spread, and the ship was driven before the wind at a

marvellous pace till they reached the land of Logris, the entrance to

which lies between two great rocks with a whirlpool in the middle.

 

Their own ship might not get safely through; but they left it and went

into another ship that lay there, which had neither man nor woman in it.

At the end of the ship was written these words: "Thou man which shalt

enter this ship beware thou be in steadfast belief; if thou fail, I

shall not help thee." Then the gentlewoman turned and said, "Percivale,

do you know who I am?" "No, truly," answered he. "I am your sister, and

therefore you are the man in the world that I most love. If you are

without faith, or have any hidden sin, beware how you enter, else you

will perish." "Fair sister," answered he, "I shall enter therein, for if

I am an untrue Knight then shall I perish." So they entered the ship,

and it was so rich and well adorned, that they all marvelled.

 

In the midst of it was a fair bed, and Sir Galahad went thereto and

found on it a crown of silk, and a sword drawn out of its sheath half a

foot and more. The sword was of divers fashions, and the pommel was of

stone, wrought about with colours, and every colour with its own virtue,

and the handle was of the ribs of two beasts. The one was the bone of a

serpent, and no hand that handles it shall ever become weary or hurt;

and the other was a bone of a fish that swims in Euphrates, and whoso

handles it shall not think on joy or sorrow that he has had, but only on

that which he beholds before him. And no man shall grip this sword but

one that is better than other men. So first Sir Percivale stepped

forward and set his hand to the sword, but he might not grasp it. Next

Sir Bors tried to seize it, but he also failed. When Sir Galahad beheld

the sword, he saw that there was written on it, in letters of blood,

that he who tried to draw it should never fail of shame in his body or

be wounded to the death. "By my faith," said Galahad, "I would draw this

sword out of its sheath, but the offending is so great I shall not lay

my hand thereto." "Sir," answered the gentlewoman, "know that no man can

draw this sword save you alone;" and she told him many tales of the

Knights who had set their hands to it, and of the evil things that had

befallen them. And they all begged Sir Galahad to grip the sword, as it

was ordained that he should. "I will grip it," said Galahad, "to give

you courage, but it belongs no more to me than it does to you." Then he

gripped it tight with his fingers, and the gentlewoman girt him about

the middle with the sword, and after that they left that ship and went

into another, which brought them to land, where they fell upon many

strange adventures. On the shore they saw three score Knights by a

castle to which they repaired. And the owner of this castle was a

gentlewoman on whom years ago had befallen a great malady of which there

was but one remedy. It was that she must be anointed with a dish of the

blood of a maid pure and fair, and a King's daughter withal.

 

And the Knights accosted them, and counselled them to withdraw, saying

they might go without harm, only they must needs have their custom. And

this custom was the blood of Sir Percivale's sister.

 

And Sir Galahad drew his sword with the two handles, and slew whatever

withstood him. But night fell, and a good Knight promised to harbour

them for the night safely and surely, saying, "On the morrow we dare say

you will accord with the custom."

 

"Then," said Sir Percivale's sister, "fair Knights, I fain would heal

this fair lady, for thus shall I gain great worship and my lineage

withal, and better is one harm than twain. And therefore there shall be

no battle, but to-morrow at morn I shall yield you your custom of this

castle." And then there was great joy. It chanced that while she bled on

the morrow, she lifted her hands and blessed them, and she said, "Madam,

I die to make you whole, for God's love pray for me." With that she fell

in a swoon. Then Galahad and his fellows lifted her up and stanched her,

but she died, and weeping, they put her body in a barge as she had

wished. In her hand Sir Percivale put a letter showing how she had

helped them, and they covered her with black silk; so the wind arose and

drove the barge from the land, and all Knights beheld it disappear from

sight.

 

 

X.

Sir Lancelot meets Sir Galahad, and they part for Ever.

 

Now we must tell what happened to Sir Lancelot.

 

When he was come to a water called Mortoise he fell asleep, awaiting for

the adventure that should be sent to him, and in his sleep a voice spoke

to him, and bade him rise and take his armour, and enter the first ship

he should find. So he started up and took his arms and made him ready,

and on the strand he found a ship that was without sail or oar. As soon

as he was within the ship, he felt himself wrapped round with a

sweetness such as he had never known before, as if all that he could

desire was fulfilled. And with this joy and peace about him he fell

asleep. When he woke he found near him a fair bed, with a dead lady

lying on it, whom he knew to be Sir Percivale's sister, and in her hand

was the tale of her adventures, which Sir Lancelot took and read. For a

month or more they dwelt in that ship together, and one day, when it had

drifted near the shore, he heard a sound as of a horse; and when the

steps came nearer he saw that a Knight was riding him. At the sight of

the ship the Knight alighted and took the saddle and bridle, and entered

the ship. "You are welcome," said Lancelot, and the Knight saluted him

and said, "What is your name? for my heart goeth out to you."

 

"Truly," answered he, "my name is Sir Lancelot du Lake."

 

"Sir," said the new Knight, "you are welcome, for you are my father."

 

"Ah," cried Sir Lancelot, "is it you, then, Galahad?"

 

"Yes, in sooth," said he, and kneeled down and asked Lancelot's

blessing, and then took off his helm and kissed him. And there was great

joy between them, and they told each other all that had befallen them

since they left King Arthur's Court. Then Galahad saw the gentlewoman

dead on the bed, and he knew her, and said he held her in great worship,

and that she was the best maid in the world, and how it was great pity

that she had come to her death. But when Lancelot heard that Galahad had

won the marvellous sword he prayed that he might see it, and kissed the

pommel and the hilt, and the scabbard. "In truth," he said, "never did I

know of adventures so wonderful and strange." So dwelled Lancelot and

Galahad in that ship for half a year, and served God daily and nightly

with all their power. And after six months had gone it befell that on a

Monday they drifted to the edge of the forest, where they saw a Knight

with white armour bestriding one horse and holding another all white, by

the bridle. And he came to the ship, and saluted the two Knights and

said, "Galahad, you have been long enough with your father, therefore

leave that ship and start upon this horse, and go on the quest of the

Holy Graal." So Galahad went to his father and kissed him, saying, "Fair

sweet father, I know not if I shall see you more till I have beheld the

Holy Graal." Then they heard a voice which said, "The one shall never

see the other till the day of doom." "Now, Galahad," said Lancelot,

"since we are to bid farewell for ever now, I pray to the great Father

to preserve you and me both." "Sir," answered Galahad, "no prayer

availeth so much as yours."

 

The next day Sir Lancelot made his way back to Camelot, where he found

King Arthur and Guenevere; but many of the Knights of the Round Table

were slain and destroyed, more than the half. All the Court was passing

glad to see Sir Lancelot, and the King asked many tidings of his son Sir

Galahad.

 

 

XI.

How Sir Galahad found the Graal and died of that Finding.

 

Sir Galahad rode on till he met Sir Percivale and afterwards Sir Bors,

whom they greeted most gladly, and they bare each other company. First

they came to the Castle of Carbonek, where dwelled King Pelles, who

welcomed them with joy, for he knew by their coming the quest of the

Graal would be fulfilled. They then departed on other adventures, and it

is told how Galahad cured the maimed King by anointing him with blood

from a certain holy spear. That same night at midnight a voice bade them

arise and quit the castle, which they did, followed by three Knights of

Gaul. Then Galahad prayed every one of them that if they reached King

Arthur's Court they should salute Sir Lancelot his father, and those

Knights of the Round Table that were present, and with that he left

them, and Sir Bors and Sir Percivale with him. For three days they rode

till they came to a shore, and found a ship awaiting them. And in the

midst of it was the table of silver, and the Holy Graal which was

covered with red samite. Then were their hearts right glad, and they

made great reverence thereto, and Galahad prayed that at what time he

asked, he might depart out of this world. So long he prayed that at

length a voice said to him, "Galahad, thou shalt have thy desire, and

when thou askest the death of the body thou shalt have it, and shalt

find the life of the soul." Percivale likewise heard the voice, and

besought Galahad to tell him why he asked such things. And Galahad

answered, "The other day when we saw a part of the adventures of the

Holy Graal, I was in such a joy of heart that never did man feel before,

and I knew well that when my body is dead my soul shall be in joy of

which the other was but a shadow."

 

Some time were the three Knights in that ship, till at length they saw

before them the city of Sarras. Then they took from the ship the table