At the vigil of Pentecost, when all the fellowship of the Round Table
were come unto Camelot and there heard their service, and the tables
were set ready to the meat, right so, entered into the hall a full fair
gentlewoman on horseback, that had ridden full fast, for her horse was
all besweated. Then she there alit and came before the King and saluted
him and he said, "Damosel, God thee bless."
"Sir," said she, "for God's sake say me where Sir Launcelot is."
"Yonder ye may see him," said the King.
Then she went unto Launcelot and said, "Sir Launcelot, I require you to
come along with me hereby into a forest."
"What will ye with me?" said Sir Launcelot.
"Ye shall know," said she, "when ye come thither."
"Well," said he, "I will gladly go with you."
So Sir Launcelot bade him his squire saddle his horse and bring his
arms.
Right so departed Sir Launcelot with the gentlewoman and rode until he
came into a forest, and into a great valley, where they saw an abbey of
nuns; and 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.
And they led him into the Abbess's chamber and unarmed him; and therein
came twelve nuns that brought with them Galahad, the which was passing
fair and well made, that unnethe[1] in the world men might not find his
match: and all those ladies wept.
[Footnote 1: This is an old word meaning _with difficulty_.]
"Sir," said they all, "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."