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twg_000012926100 | to take him back into Cornwall, and to cherish him for Arthur's sake. King Mark promised this, and swore upon a book afore Arthur and all his knights. Therewith King Arthur forgave him all the evil will that ever he owed him, and King Mark and Sir Tristram took either other by the hands hard knit together. But for all | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926101 | this King Mark thought falsely, as it proved afterward. Then soon afterward King Mark took his leave to ride into Cornwall, and Sir Tristram rode with him; wherefore the most part of the Round Table were passing heavy, and some were wroth, knowing that King Mark was the most coward and the villainest knight living. After a while letters came | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926102 | out of Cornwall that spake ill of Sir Tristram and showed plainly that King Mark took Sir Tristram for his mortal enemy. Sir Launcelot in especial made great sorrow for anger, wherefore Dinadan, a gentle, wise, and courteous knight, said to him: "King Mark is so villainous that by fair speech shall never man get of him. But ye shall | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926103 | see what I shall do. I will make a lay for him, and when it is made I shall make a harper sing it afore him." So anon Dinadan went and made the lay, hoping thereby to humble the crafty king; and he taught it an harper named Eliot, and when he knew it, he taught it to many harpers. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926104 | And so, by the will of Sir Launcelot and of Arthur, the harpers went straight into Wales and into Cornwall, to sing the lay that Sir Dinadan made of King Mark, which was the worst lay that ever harper sang with harp or with any other instrument. At a great feast that King Mark made came in Eliot the harper, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926105 | and because he was a curious harper, men heard him sing the lay that Dinadan had made, the which spake the most villainy of King Mark's treason that ever man heard. When the harper had sung his song to the end, King Mark was wonderly wroth, for he deemed that the lay that was sung afore him was made by | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926106 | Sir Tristram's counsel, wherefore he thought to slay him and all his well willers in that country. So King Mark grew ever more jealous of Sir Tristram because of his prowess as knight and his great love and loyal devotion to the queen, the Fair Isoud; and by treason King Mark let take him and put him in prison, contrary | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926107 | to his promise that he made unto King Arthur. When Queen Isoud understood that Sir Tristram was in prison, she made as great sorrow as ever made lady or gentlewoman. Then Sir Tristram sent a letter unto her, and prayed her to be his good lady; and if it pleased her to make a vessel ready for her and him, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926108 | he would go with her unto the realm of Logris, that is this land. When the Fair Isoud understood Sir Tristram's letter and his intent, she sent him another, and bade him be of good comfort, for she would make the vessel ready, and all things to purpose. Then she had King Mark taken and put in prison, until the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926109 | time that she and Sir Tristram were departed unto the realm of Logris. And then Sir Tristram was delivered out of prison, and anon in all haste they took their vessel, and came by water into England. When Sir Launcelot understood that Sir Tristram was there, he was full glad. He espied whither he went, and after him he rode, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926110 | and then either made of other great joy. And so Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram and the Fair Isoud unto Joyous Gard, that was Sir Launcelot's own castle that he had won with his own hands. And he charged all his people to honour them and love them as they would do himself. Near three years Sir Tristram kept the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926111 | Fair Isoud with him in Joyous Gard, and then by means of treaties he brought her again unto King Fox, which was the name Sir Launcelot gave unto Mark because of his wiles and treason. But ever the malice of King Fox followed his brave nephew, and in the end he slew him as he sat harping afore his lady, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926112 | the Fair Isoud, with a trenchant glaive, thrust in behind to the heart. For his death was much bewailing of every knight that ever was in Arthur's days, for he was traitorously slain. And the Fair Isoud died, swooning upon the cross of Sir Tristram, whereof was great pity. And all that were with King Mark that were consenting to | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926113 | the death of Sir Tristram were slain, as Sir Andred and many others. HOW SIR PERCIVALE OF GALIS SOUGHT AND FOUND SIR LAUNCELOT While King Arthur and his knights were still sorrowful over Sir Tristram's return to Cornwall, greatly fearing mischief to the good knight by some manner of falsehood or treason of King Mark, there came to the court | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926114 | a knight bringing a young squire with him. It was Sir Aglovale, King Pellinore's son, and the squire was his brother, Percivale, that he wished King Arthur to make knight. The boy was the youngest of five sons, and for love of the father and the brothers, good knights all, the King made him a knight the next day in | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926115 | Camelot; yet the King and all the knights thought it would be long ere he proved a man of prowess, and Sir Kay and Sir Mordred made sport of his rude manner. At the dinner, when every knight was set after his honour, the King commanded Sir Percivale to be placed among mean knights. But there was a maiden in | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926116 | the Queen's court that was come of high blood, yet she was dumb, and never spake a word. Right so she came straight into the hall, went unto Sir Percivale, took him by the hand, and said aloud, that the King and all the knights might hear it, "Arise, Sir Percivale, the noble knight and God's knight, and go with | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926117 | me." So he did, and she brought him to the right side of the Siege Perilous, and said, "Fair knight, take here thy siege, for that siege appertaineth to thee, and to none other." Right so she departed, and soon afterward she died. Then the King and all the court made great joy of Sir Percivale. Then Sir Percivale rode | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926118 | forth upon adventures, and came unto Cornwall to seek Sir Tristram. And he delivered him from a prison where King Mark had placed him, and then rode straight unto King Mark and told him he had done himself great shame to treat so falsely Sir Tristram, the knight of most renown in all the world. Then Sir Percivale departed, but | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926119 | anon King Mark bethought him of more treason, notwithstanding his promise never by any manner of means to hurt Sir Tristram, and he let take him and put him again in prison. How he then escaped with Isoud into England we have already read in the tale of Sir Tristram. Now it chanced that Sir Launcelot of the Lake had | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926120 | sore offended the Queen Guenever, and she rebuked him harshly, called him false traitor knight, and sent him from her court. Therewith he took such an hearty sorrow at her words that he went clean out of his mind, and leaped out at a bay window into a garden, and there with thorns he was all scratched up in his | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926121 | visage. So he ran forth he wist not whither, and for a long while none of his kin wist what was become of him. Soon Queen Guenever was right sorry that she had been so angry with her faithful knight, and on her knees besought Sir Bors and many others to seek Sir Launcelot throughout all England, Wales, and Scotland. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926122 | So these noble knights by one assent rode forth by twos and threes; and ever they assigned where they should meet. Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale rode together unto their mother that was a queen in those days. And when she saw her two sons, for joy she wept tenderly and said, "Ah my dear sons, when your father was | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926123 | slain he left me five sons, of the which now be three slain; my heart shall never be glad more." Then she kneeled down tofore Aglovale and Percivale, and besought them to abide at home with her. "Ah, sweet mother," said Sir Percivale, "we may not, for we be come of king's blood on both sides, and therefore, mother, it | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926124 | is our kind to follow arms and noble deeds." Then there was but weeping and sobbing when they should depart, and after they were gone, she sent a squire after them with spending enough. When the squire had overtaken them, they would not suffer him to ride with them, but sent him home again to comfort their mother, praying her | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926125 | meekly for her blessing. So this squire was benighted as he rode homeward, and by misfortune happened to come into the castle of a baron whose brother (a false knight and betrayer of ladies and of good knights) Sir Aglovale had slain. When this baron knew from the squire that he served a good knight called Sir Aglovale, he commanded | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926126 | his men to have him away without mercy. On the morn came Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale riding by a churchyard where men and women were busy in burying this same dead squire. When the brothers heard from a good man of the company how the baron had shamefully slain the squire that night, they alighted both, left their horses | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926127 | with their men, and went on foot to the castle. All so soon as they were within the castle gate Sir Aglovale bade the porter "Go thou unto thy lord and tell him that I am Sir Aglovale, for whom the squire was slain this night." Anon the lord of the castle, whose name was Goodewin, came armed into the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926128 | court, and he and Sir Aglovale lashed together as eagerly as it had been two lions. Sir Percivale fought with all the remnant that would fight, and within a while had slain all that would withstand him, for he dealt so his strokes that there durst no man abide him. Within a while Sir Aglovale had Sir Goodewin also at | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926129 | the earth, and so the two brethren departed and took their horses. Then they let carry the dead squire unto a priory, and there they interred him. When this was done they rode their way into many countries, ever inquiring after Sir Launcelot, but never they could hear of him. At last, at a castle that was called Cardican, Sir | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926130 | Percivale parted from Sir Aglovale, and with his squire rode alone. In the afternoon he came upon a bridge of stone, where he found a knight that was bound with a chain fast about unto a pillar of stone. This was Sir Persides, a knight of the Table Round, who by adventure came this way and lodged in the castle | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926131 | at the bridge foot. There by an evil custom of the castle men set upon him suddenly or ever he might come to his weapon, and bound him, and chained him at the bridge. There he knew he should die unless some man of honour brake his bands. "Be ye of good cheer," said Sir Percivale, "and because ye are | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926132 | a knight of the Round Table as well as I, I trust to God to make you free." Therewith Sir Percivale drew out his sword, and struck at the chain with such a might that he cut a-two the chain, and through Sir Persides' hauberk, and hurt him a little. "Truly," said Sir Persides, "that was a mighty stroke if | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926133 | ever I felt one, for had it not been for the chain, ye had slain me." Therewithal Sir Persides saw a knight coming out of the castle, flying all that ever he might. "Beware, sir," said he; "yonder cometh a man that will have ado with you." "Let him come," said Sir Percivale. So he met with that knight in | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926134 | the midst of the bridge, and gave him such a buffet that he smote him quite from his horse and over a part of the bridge so that, had there not been a little vessel under the bridge, that knight had been drowned. Then Sir Percivale took the knight's horse, and made Sir Persides to mount upon him. So they | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926135 | rode to the castle, and made the lady deliver Sir Persides' servants. Had he not had a great matter in hand, he would have remained to do away with the evil customs there. But Sir Percivale might not long abide, for he rode to seek Sir Launcelot. Sir Persides brought him unto his own castle, and there made him great | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926136 | cheer for that night. Then on the morn, when Sir Percivale had heard mass and broken his fast, he said to Sir Persides: "Ride unto King Arthur, and tell the King how that ye met with me, and tell my brother Sir Aglovale how I rescued you, and bid him seek not after me, for I am in the quest | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926137 | to seek Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and will not see him or the court till Sir Launcelot is found. Also tell Sir Kay and Sir Mordred that I trust to God to be of as good worthiness as either of them, and that I will never see that court till men speak more honour of me than ever men | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926138 | did of any of them both." So Sir Persides departed from Sir Percivale, and rode unto King Arthur, and told there of Sir Percivale. And King Arthur said he must needs prove a good knight, for his father and his brethren were noble knights. Now turn we to Sir Launcelot, and speak we of his care and woe and what | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926139 | pain he endured from cold, hunger, and thirst. As he wandered like a mad man here and there, he by fortune came to the castle of King Pelles. There he was healed of his madness, and when he was recovered he was sore ashamed that he had thus been clean out of his wit. And King Pelles gave him his | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926140 | castle of Bliant, that stood in an island enclosed with a fair water, deep and large. Sir Launcelot called it the Joyous Isle, and here he dwelt a long while. Because he was driven from King Arthur's court he desired not to be known, and he named himself "The knight that hath trespassed." Now it fell at that time that | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926141 | Sir Launcelot heard of a jousting hard by his castle, and he sent word thither that there was one knight in the Joyous Isle, by name "The knight that hath trespassed," that will joust against any knights that will come to him. When this cry was made, unto Joyous Isle drew many knights, and wit you well there was not | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926142 | seen at Arthur's court one knight that did so much deeds of arms as were done in that gay castle. And in the meanwhile came also Sir Percivale nigh to Joyous Isle, and would have gone to that castle, but might not for the broad water. Then he saw on the other side a lady, and he called unto her | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926143 | and asked who was in that castle. "Fair knight," she said, "here within this castle is the fairest knight and the mightiest man that is, I dare say, living, and he calleth himself 'The knight that hath trespassed.' He came into this country like a mad man, with dogs and boys chasing him, and by miracle he was brought into | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926144 | his wit again. If ye list to come into the castle, ye must ride unto the farther side of the isle, and there ye shall find a vessel that will bear you and your horse." Then Sir Percivale came unto the vessel, and passed the water. When he came to the castle gate, he bade the porter, "Go thou to | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926145 | the good knight within the castle, and tell him here is come an errant knight to joust with him." Sir Percivale now rode within the castle, and anon Sir Launcelot had warning, he was soon ready. And there Sir Percivale and Sir Launcelot encountered with such a might that both the horses and the knights fell to the earth. Then | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926146 | they left their horses, swung out noble swords, and hewed away pieces of their shields, and dashed together like two boars, and either wounded other passing sore. At the last Sir Percivale spake, when they had fought there more than two hours: "Fair knight," saith he, "I pray thee tell me thy name, for I met never with such a | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926147 | knight." "Sir," said Sir Launcelot, "my name is 'The knight that hath trespassed.' Now tell me your name, I pray you, gentle knight." "Truly," said Sir Percivale, "my name is Sir Percivale of Galis; King Pellinore was my father and Sir Aglovale is my brother." "Alas," said Sir Launcelot, "what have I done to fight with you that art a | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926148 | knight of the Table Round, that sometime was your fellow." Therewithal Sir Launcelot kneeled down upon his knees, and threw away his shield and his sword from him. When Sir Percivale saw him do so, he marvelled what he meant. Then he begged him upon the high order of knighthood to tell his true name, and Sir Launcelot told him | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926149 | all. "Alas," said Sir Percivale, "what have I done! I was sent by the Queen for to seek you, and so I have sought you nigh these two years. I pray you forgive me mine offence that I have here done." "It is soon forgiven," said Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Percivale told him how King Arthur and all his knights, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926150 | and in especial Queen Guenever, made great dole and sorrow that ever he departed from them, and that never knight was better welcome back to the court than he would be. So Sir Launcelot agreed to do after Sir Percivale's counsel, and ride with him to the King. So then they took their horses and departed from the Joyous Isle, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926151 | and within five days' journey they came to Camelot, that is called in English Winchester. And when Sir Launcelot was come among them, the King and all the knights made great joy of him. Then Sir Percivale of Galis began and told the whole adventures, and all the tales of Sir Launcelot. And the Queen made great cheer, and there | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926152 | were great feasts made, and many great lords and ladies, when they heard that Sir Launcelot was come to the court again, made great joy. OF THE COMING OF SIR GALAHAD At the vigil of Pentecost, when all the fellowship of the Round Table were come unto Camelot, and the tables were set ready to the meat, right so entered | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926153 | into the hall a full fair gentlewoman before the King, and on behalf of King Pelles requested that Sir Launcelot should go with her hereby into a forest. Sir Launcelot bade his squire saddle his horse and bring his arms, and right so he departed with the gentlewoman, and rode until that he came into a great valley, where they | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926154 | saw an abbey of nuns. There was a squire ready, and opened the gates; and so they entered and descended off their horses, and there came a fair fellowship about Sir Launcelot and welcomed him, and were passing glad of his coming. In the meanwhile there came twelve nuns which brought with them Galahad, the which was passing fair and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926155 | well made, so that in the world men might scarcely find his match. "Sir," said the ladies, "we bring you here this child, the which we have nourished, and we pray you to make him a knight; for of a worthier man's hand may he not receive the order of knighthood." Sir Launcelot beheld that young squire, and saw him | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926156 | seemly and demure as a dove, with all manner of good features, and he thought of his age never to have seen so fair a man of form. Then said Sir Launcelot, "Cometh this desire of himself?" He and all they said, "Yea." "Then shall he," said Sir Launcelot, "receive the high order of knighthood to-morrow." That night Sir Launcelot | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926157 | had passing good cheer, and on the morn at the hour of prime, at Galahad's desire, he made him knight, and said, "God make you a good man, for beauty faileth you not as any that liveth." Then Sir Launcelot departed from them, and came again unto Camelot by the hour of nine on Whitsunday morning. By that time the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926158 | King and the Queen and all the fellowship were gone to the minster to hear the service. When they were come from service all were passing glad of Sir Launcelot's return. And as they entered the hall each of the barons sought his name, written with gold letters, in the sieges of the Round Table. Thus they went along from | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926159 | seat to seat, until that they came to the Siege Perilous, where they found letters newly written of gold, that said: "Four hundred winters and fifty-four accomplished after the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ ought this siege to be filled." All thought this a marvellous thing, and an adventurous. And then Sir Launcelot accounted the term of the writing | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926160 | from the birth of our Lord unto that day, and said: "It seemeth me this siege ought to be filled this same day, for this is the feast of Pentecost after the four hundred and four and fifty years; and if it would please all parties, I would none of these letters were seen this day, till he be come | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926161 | that ought to achieve this adventure." Then they provided a cloth of silk for to cover these letters in the Siege Perilous, and the King bade haste unto dinner. It was an old custom of Arthur's court that on this day they should not sit at their meat until they had seen some adventure. As they stood waiting therefor, in | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926162 | came a squire bringing the marvellous tidings that beneath at the river there was a great stone, as it were of red marble, floating above the water, wherein a sword stuck. So the King and all the knights went unto the river to see this marvel, and they found it even as the squire had said. There in the stone | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926163 | was the fair rich sword, and in the pommel thereof were precious stones and subtile letters wrought with gold. Then the barons read the letters, which said in this wise: "Never shall man take me hence but only he by whose side I ought to hang, and he shall be the best knight of the world." When the King had | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926164 | seen these letters, he said unto Sir Launcelot, "Fair sir, this sword ought to be yours, for I am sure ye be the best knight of the world." Then Sir Launcelot answered full soberly, conscious of a great sin: "Certes, sir, it is not my sword; also, sir, wit ye well I have no hardiness to set my hand thereto, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926165 | for it belongs not by my side." "Now, fair nephew," said the King unto Sir Gawaine, "assay ye to take the sword for my love." Therewith Sir Gawaine took the sword by the handles, though unwillingly and only at the King's commandment, but he might not stir it. Then the King said unto Sir Percivale that he should assay. So | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926166 | he set his hand on the sword and drew it strongly, but he might not move it. Then were there more that durst be so hardy as to set their hands thereto, but all failed. "Now may ye go to your dinner," said Sir Kay unto King Arthur, "for a marvellous adventure have ye seen." So the King and all | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926167 | went in, and every knight knew his own place and set himself therein, and all sieges were filled save only the Siege Perilous. Anon there befell a marvellous adventure, for all the doors and the windows of the place shut of themselves, yet then the hall was not greatly darkened, and therewith they were amazed, both one and other. While | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926168 | they sat there in suspense as to what should happen, came in a good old man, and an ancient, clothed all in white, and there was no knight knew from whence he came. With him he brought a young knight in red arms, without sword or shield, save a scabbard hanging by his side. Then the old man said unto | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926169 | Arthur, "Sir, I bring here a young knight the which is of king's lineage and of the kindred of Joseph of Arimathea, whereby the marvels of this court and of strange realms shall be fully accomplished." The King was right glad of the good man's words, and bade him and the young knight welcome. Then the old man made the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926170 | young man unarm; and he was in a coat of red silk, and bore a mantle upon his shoulder that was furred with ermine. Anon the old knight led him unto the Siege Perilous, where beside sat Sir Percivale and Sir Launcelot. The good man lifted up the cloth, and found there letters that said thus: "This is the siege | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926171 | of Galahad, the high prince." He set him down surely in that siege, saying, "Wit ye well that place is yours," and then, departed and went his way. All the knights of the Table Round marvelled greatly that Sir Galahad durst sit there in that Siege Perilous, and was so tender of age; for never before had anyone sat therein | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926172 | but he was mischieved. And they foresaw that Sir Galahad would come to great honour, and outdo them all in knightly courtesy. Then the King bade him welcome to the court, and taking him by the hand, went down from the palace to show Galahad the adventures of the stone. "Sir" said the King unto him, "here is a great | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926173 | marvel as ever I saw, and right good knights have assayed and failed." "Sir," said Galahad, "that is no marvel, for this adventure is not theirs but mine, and for the surety of this sword I brought none with me; for here by my side hangeth the scabbard." Anon he laid his hand on the sword, and lightly drew it | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926174 | out of the stone and put it in the sheath, saying, "Now it goeth better than it did aforehand." HOW THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL WAS BEGUN The dish from which our Lord Jesu Christ ate the paschal lamb at His last supper with His disciples men call the Holy Grail. Therein also Joseph of Arimathea caught the last | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926175 | drops of sacred blood, and after the passion of our Lord that gentle knight, the which took down the body off the holy cross, at that time departed from Jerusalem with a great party of his kindred, bearing the Holy Grail with them. It befell that they came first to a city that was called Sarras, and at the last | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926176 | they crossed to Britain, and through them all the heathen people of this land were turned to the Christian faith. Ever as years went by the Holy Grail became more precious, and the possession of it ever more a sacred trust. But after a long while it was lost from the world through men's sinfulness, and only those of pure | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926177 | heart and life might from time to time see it. Merlin, before he was put under the stone, had foreseen that by them which should be fellows of the Round Table the truth of the Holy Grail would be well known, and in the good days of King Arthur the longing grew to be worthy of the vision of this | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926178 | sign of the Lord's presence among men. Moreover a holy hermit had said that, when the Siege Perilous was filled, the achieving of the Holy Grail should be near. After Galahad drew the sword out of the stone the King and all estates went thoughtful home unto Camelot, and so to even-song in the great minster. After that they went | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926179 | to supper, and every knight sat in his own place at the Round Table. Then anon they heard cracking and crying of thunder that should, as it seemed to them, shake the place all to pieces. In the midst of this blast entered a sunbeam more clear by seven times than ever they saw day, and all they were alighted | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926180 | of the grace of the Holy Ghost. Then began every knight to behold other, and either saw other by their seeming fairer than ever they looked afore. There was no knight might speak one word, and so they looked every man on his fellows, as if they were dumb. Then there entered into the hall the Holy Grail, covered with | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926181 | white samite, but there was none might see it, or who bare it. And there was all the hall filled full with good odours, and every knight was nourished in his soul. When the Holy Grail had been borne through the hall, then it departed suddenly, so that they wist not what became of it. Then had they all breath | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926182 | to speak, and the King yielded thankings unto God for His good grace that He had sent them. "Now," said Sir Gawaine, "we have been richly blessed this day, but one thing beguiled us,--we might not see the Holy Grail, it was so preciously covered. Wherefore I will make here avow, that to-morn, without longer abiding, I shall labour in | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926183 | the quest of the Holy Grail a twelvemonth and a day, or more if need be, and shall not return unto the court till I have seen it more openly than it hath been seen here; and if I may not speed, I shall return again at the end of the time as he that may not be against the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926184 | will of our Lord Jesu Christ." When they of the Table Round heard Sir Gawaine say so, the most part of them arose, and made such avows as Sir Gawaine had made. Anon as King Arthur heard this he was greatly grieved, for he wist well that they might not gainsay their avows, and he should be bereft of the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926185 | fairest fellowship and the truest knighthood that ever were seen together in any realm of the world. For, when they departed from hence, they should never all meet again in this world, and many of his true fellowship of noble knights should die in the quest. When the Queen also and all the court wist these tidings, they had such | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926186 | sorrow and heaviness that there might no tongue tell it. Many of the ladies would have gone with the knights that they loved, had not an old man in religious clothing said on high that none in this quest should lead wife with him. Moreover he warned the knights plainly that he that was not clean of his sins should | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926187 | not see the mysteries of our Lord Jesu Christ. Then they went to rest themselves, and in honour of the highness of Galahad he was led into King Arthur's chamber, and there rested in his own bed. As soon as it was day the King arose, for he had no rest all that night for sorrow. Then the King and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926188 | the Queen went unto the minster, and all the knights, armed fully save their shields and their helms, followed them to hear the service. Then after the service was done, the King would wit how many had taken the quest of the Holy Grail, and found by tale there were an hundred and fifty, all knights of the Round Table. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926189 | Then they put on their helms, and so mounted upon their horses, and rode through the streets of Camelot. And there was weeping of rich and poor, and the King turned away, and might not speak for weeping. Within a while they came to a city and a castle called Vagon. The lord of that castle was a good old | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926190 | man and set open the gates, and made them all the good cheer that he might. On the morrow they were all accorded that they should ride every each from other. Then they departed with weeping and mourning cheer, and every knight took the way that him best liked. HOW GALAHAD GAT HIM A SHIELD Now Sir Galahad was yet | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926191 | without shield, and so he rode four days without any adventure. After even-song of the fourth day he came to a white abbey, and there he was received with great reverence, and led to a chamber wherein he was ware of two knights of the Round Table, the one King Bagdemagus and the other Sir Uwaine. They went unto him | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926192 | and made of him great solace; and they told him that within this place was a shield that no man might bear about his neck without great harm to himself, unless he were the worthiest knight of the world. [Illustration: Sir Galahad] "Ah, sir," said King Bagdemagus to Galahad, "I shall to-morrow assay this strange adventure, and if I may | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926193 | not achieve it ye shall take it upon you, for I am sure ye shall not fail." "Sir," said Galahad, "I agree right well thereto, for I have no shield." So on the morn they arose and heard mass. Then King Bagdemagus asked where the adventurous shield was. Anon a monk led him behind an altar, where the shield hung | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926194 | as white as any snow, but in the midst was a red cross. The monk counselled him to be well advised before taking it, and King Bagdemagus answered: "Well, I wot well that I am not the best knight of the world, but yet shall I assay to bear it." And so, bidding Sir Galahad to abide there still, till | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926195 | it was known how he sped, King Bagdemagus bore the red cross shield out of the monastery, took with him a squire, the which should bring tidings unto Sir Galahad how he sped, and rode away. Two miles off they came into a fair valley afore a hermitage, and there they saw a goodly knight in white armour, horse and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926196 | all. He came as fast as his horse might run, with his spear in the rest, and King Bagdemagus dressed his spear against him, and brake it upon the White Knight. The other struck him so hard that he brake the mails, and thrust him through the right shoulder, for the shield covered him not at that time, and so | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926197 | he bare him from his horse. Therewith the White Knight alighted and took the white shield from King Bagdemagus, saying, "Knight, thou hast done thyself great folly, for this shield ought not to be borne but by him that shall have no peer that liveth." Then he came to the squire, and said, "Bear this shield unto the good knight | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926198 | Sir Galahad, that thou left in the abbey, and greet him well from me." The squire first went unto Bagdemagus, and asked him whether he were sore wounded or not. "Yea, forsooth," said he, "I shall escape hard from death." Then the squire fetched his horse, and brought him with great pain unto an abbey. Then was he taken down | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012926199 | safely, and unarmed, and laid in a bed. There his wounds were looked to, and, as the book telleth, he lay there long, and escaped hard with life. "Sir," said the squire, when he came to Galahad, "that knight that wounded Bagdemagus sendeth you greeting, and bade that ye should bear this shield, wherethrough great adventures should befall." "Now blessed | 60 | gutenberg |
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