_How Sir Bors came to dame Elaine, and saw Galahad, and how he was fed
with the Sangreal._
Then, as it befel by fortune and adventure, Sir Bors de Ganis, that was
nephew unto Sir Launcelot, came over that bridge, and there Sir Bromel
and Sir Bors justed, and Sir Bors smote Sir Bromel such a buffet that
he bare him over his horse croup. And then Sir Bromel, as an hardy
knight, pulled out his sword and dressed his shield, to do battle with
Sir Bors. And then Sir Bors alight and avoided his horse, and there
they dashed together many sad strokes, and long thus they fought, till
at the last Sir Bromel was laid to the earth, and there Sir Bors began
to unlace his helm to slay him. Then Sir Bromel cried Sir Bors’ mercy,
and yielded him. Upon this covenant thou shalt have thy life, said Sir
Bors, so thou go unto Sir Launcelot upon Whitsunday that next cometh,
and yield thee unto him as knight recreant. I will do it, said Sir
Bromel: and that he sware upon the cross of the sword, and so he let
him depart. And Sir Bors rode unto king Pelles that was within Corbin.
And when the king and Elaine his daughter wist that Sir Bors was nephew
unto Sir Launcelot, they made him great cheer. Then said dame Elaine,
We marvel where Sir Launcelot is, for he came never here but once.
Marvel not, said Sir Bors, for this half year he hath been in prison
with queen Morgan le Fay, king Arthur’s sister. Alas, said dame Elaine,
that me repenteth. And ever Sir Bors beheld that child in her arms, and
ever him seemed it was passing like Sir Launcelot. Truly, said dame
Elaine, wit ye well this is his child. Then Sir Bors wept for joy, and
he prayed to God it might prove as good a knight as his father was. And
so came in a white dove, and she bare a little censer of gold in her
mouth, and there was all manner of meats and drinks, and a maiden bare
that Sancgreal, and she said openly, Wit you well Sir Bors that this
child is Galahad, that shall sit in the siege perilous, and achieve the
Sancgreal, and he shall be much better than ever was Sir Launcelot du
Lake, that is his own father. And then they kneeled down and made their
devotions, and there was such a savour as all the spicery in the world
had been there. And when the dove took her flight, the maiden vanished
with the Sancgreal as she came. Sir, said Sir Bors unto king Pelles,
this castle may be named the castle adventurous, for here be many
strange adventures. That is soth, said the king. For well may this
place be called the adventurous place, for there come but few knights
here that go away with any worship; be he never so strong, here he may
be proved, and but late Sir Gawaine the good knight gat but little
worship here. For I let you wit, said king Pelles, here shall no knight
win no worship but if he be of worship himself, and of good living, and
that loveth God, and dreadeth God, and else he getteth no worship here,
be he never so hardy. That is a wonderful thing, said Sir Bors. What ye
mean in this country I wot not, for ye have many strange adventures,
and therefore I will lie in this castle this night. Ye shall not do so,
said king Pelles, by my counsel, for it is hard and ye escape without a
shame. I shall take the adventure that will befal me, said Sir Bors.
Then I counsel you, said the king, to be confessed clean. As for that,
said Sir Bors, I will be shriven with a good will. So Sir Bors was
confessed, and for all women Sir Bors was a virgin, save for one, that
was the daughter of king Brangoris, and their child hight Helin, and
save for her Sir Bors was a pure maiden. And so he was led unto bed in
a fair large chamber, and many doors were shut about the chamber. When
Sir Bors espied all those doors, he avoided all the people, for he
might have nobody with him; but in no wise Sir Bors would unarm him,
but so he laid him down upon the bed. And right so he saw come in a
light that he might well see a spear great and long, that came straight
upon him pointling, and to Sir Bors seemed that the head of the spear
burnt like a taper. And anon, or Sir Bors wist, the spear head smote
him into the shoulder an hand breadth in deepness, and that wound
grieved Sir Bors passing sore. And then he laid him down again for
pain, and anon therewithal came a knight armed with his shield on his
shoulder, and his sword in his hand, and he bad Sir Bors, Arise sir
knight, and fight with me. I am sore hurt, he said, but yet I shall not
fail thee. And then Sir Bors start up and dressed his shield, and then
they lashed together mightily a great while. And at the last Sir Bors
bare him backward, until that he came unto a chamber door, and there
that knight went into that chamber, and rested him a great while. And
when he had reposed him he came out freshly again, and began new battle
with Sir Bors mightily and strongly.