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 were the
beginner of me in the world.'
'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 me and you 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.