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 that they had
fulfilled the quest of the Graal. They then departed on other
adventures, and with the blood out of the Holy Lance Galahad anointed
the maimed King and healed him. 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.'
[Illustration: LANCELOT & THE DWARF.]
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
of silver, and Sir Percivale and Sir Bors went first, and Sir Galahad
followed after to the gate of the city, where sat an old man that was
crooked. At the sight of the old man Sir Galahad called to him to help
them carry the table, for it was heavy. 'Truly,' answered the old man,
'it is ten years since I have gone without crutches.' 'Care not for
that,' said Galahad, 'but rise up and show your good will.' So he
arose and found himself as whole as ever he was, and he ran to the
table and held up the side next Galahad. And there was much noise in
the city that a cripple was healed by three Knights newly entered in.
This reached the ears of the King, who sent for the Knights and
questioned them. And they told him the truth, and of the Holy Graal;
but the King listened nothing to all they said, but put them into a
deep hole in the prison. Even here they were not without comfort, for
a vision of the Holy Graal sustained them. And at the end of a year
the King lay sick and felt he should die, and he called the three
Knights and asked forgiveness of the evil he had done to them, which
they gave gladly. Then he died, and the whole city was afraid and knew
not what to do, till while they were in counsel a voice came to them
and bade them choose the youngest of the three strange Knights for
their King. And they did so. After Galahad was proclaimed King, he
ordered that a coffer of gold and precious stones should be made to
encompass the table of silver, and every day he and the two Knights
would kneel before it and make their prayers.
Now at the year's end, and on the selfsame day that Galahad had been
crowned King, he arose up early and came with the two Knights to the
Palace; and he saw a man in the likeness of a Bishop, encircled by a
great crowd of angels, kneeling before the Holy Vessel. And he called
to Galahad and said to him, 'Come forth, thou servant of Christ, and
thou shalt see what thou hast much desired to see.' Then Galahad began
to tremble right hard, when the flesh first beheld the things of the
spirit, and he held up his hands to heaven and said, 'Lord, I thank
thee, for now I see that which hath been my desire for many a day.
Now, blessed Lord, I would no longer live, if it might please Thee.'
Then Galahad went to Percivale and kissed him, and commended him to
God; and he went to Sir Bors and kissed him, and commended him to God,
and said, 'Fair lord, salute me to my lord Sir Lancelot, my father,
and bid him remember this unstable world.' Therewith he kneeled down
before the table and made his prayers, and while he was praying his
soul suddenly left the body and was carried by angels up into heaven,
which the two Knights right well beheld. Also they saw come from
heaven a hand, but no body behind it, and it came unto the Vessel, and
took it and the spear, and bare them back to heaven. And since then no
man has dared to say that he has seen the Holy Graal.
When Percivale and Bors saw Galahad lying dead they made as much
sorrow as ever two men did, and the people of the country and of the
city were right heavy. And they buried him as befitted their King. As
soon as Galahad was buried, Sir Percivale sought a hermitage outside
the city, and put on the dress of a hermit, and Sir Bors was always
with him, but kept the dress that he wore at Court. When a year and
two months had passed Sir Percivale died also, and was buried by the
side of Galahad; and Sir Bors left that land, and after long riding
came to Camelot. Then was there great joy made of him in the Court,
for they had held him as dead; and the King ordered great clerks to
attend him, and to write down all his adventures and those of Sir
Percivale and Sir Galahad. Next, Sir Lancelot told the adventures of
the Graal which he had seen, and this likewise was written and placed
with the other in almonries at Salisbury. And by and by Sir Bors said
to Sir Lancelot, 'Galahad your son saluteth you by me, and after you
King Arthur and all the Court, and so did Sir Percivale; for I buried
them with mine own hands in the City of Sarras. Also, Sir Lancelot,
Galahad prayeth you to remember of this uncertain world, as you
promised when you were together!' 'That is true,' said Sir Lancelot,
'and I trust his prayer may avail me.' But the prayer but little
availed Sir Lancelot, for he fell to his old sins again. And now the
Knights were few that survived the search for the Graal, and the evil
days of Arthur began.