_How Sir Galahad fought with the knights of the castle, and destroyed
the wicked custom._
When Sir Galahad heard this he thanked God, and took his horse, and he
had not ridden but half a mile, he saw in a valley afore him a strong
castle with deep ditches, and there ran beside it a fair river, that
hight Severn, and there he met with a man of great age, and either
saluted other, and Galahad asked him the castle’s name? Fair sir, said
he, it is the Castle of Maidens. That is a cursed castle, said Galahad,
and all they that be conversant therein; for all pity is out thereof,
and all hardiness and mischief is therein.—Therefore I counsel you,
sir knight, to turn again. Sir, said Galahad, wit you well I shall not
turn again. Then looked Sir Galahad on his arms that nothing failed
him, and then he put his shield afore him, and anon there met him seven
fair maidens, the which said unto him, Sir knight, ye ride here in a
great folly, for ye have the water to pass over. Why should I not pass
the water? said Galahad. So rode he away from them, and met with a
squire that said, Knight, those knights in the castle defy you, and
forbid you, ye go no further till that they wit what ye would. Fair
sir, said Galahad, I come for to destroy the wicked custom of this
castle.—Sir, and ye will abide by that, ye shall have enough to
do.—Go you now, said Galahad, and haste my needs. Then the squire
entered into the castle. And anon after there came out of the castle
seven knights, and all were brethren. And when they saw Galahad, they
cried, Knight, keep thee, for we assure thee nothing but death. Why,
said Galahad, will ye all have ado with me at once? Yea, said they,
thereto mayest thou trust. Then Galahad put forth his spear, and smote
the foremost to the earth, that near he brake his neck. And therewith
all the other smote him on his shield great strokes, so that their
spears brake. Then Sir Galahad drew out his sword, and set upon them so
hard that it was marvel to see it, and so, through great force, he made
them to forsake the field; and Galahad chased them till they entered
into the castle, and so passed through the castle at another gate. And
there met Sir Galahad an old man, clothed in religious clothing, and
said, Sir, have here the keys of this castle. Then Sir Galahad opened
the gates, and saw so much people in the streets that he might not
number them, and all said, Sir, ye be welcome, for long have we abiden
here our deliverance. Then came to him a gentlewoman, and said, These
knights be fled, but they will come again this night, and here to begin
again their evil custom. What will ye that I shall do? said Galahad.
Sir, said the gentlewoman, that ye send after all the knights hither
that hold their lands of this castle, and make them to swear for to use
the customs that were used heretofore of old time. I will well, said
Galahad. And there she brought him an horn of ivory, bounden with gold
richly, and said, Sir, blow this horn, which will be heard two mile
about this castle. When Sir Galahad had blown the horn he set him down
upon a bed. Then came a priest unto Galahad, and said, Sir, it is past
a seven year agone that these seven brethren came into this castle, and
harboured with the lord of this castle, that hight the duke Lianour,
and he was lord of all this country. And when they espied the duke’s
daughter that was a full fair woman, then by their false covin they
made debate betwixt themselves, and the duke of his goodness would have
departed them; and there they slew him and his eldest son. And then
they took the maiden, and the treasure of the castle. And then by great
force they held all the knights of this castle against their will under
their obeisance, and in great servage and truage, robbing and pilling
the poor common people of all that they had. So it happened on a day
the duke’s daughter said, Ye have done unto me great wrong to slay mine
own father and my brother, and thus to hold our lands: not for then,
she said, ye shall not hold this castle for many years, for by one
knight ye shall be overcome. Thus she prophesied seven years agone.
Well, said the seven knights, sithen ye say so, there shall never lady
nor knight pass this castle, but they shall abide maugre their heads,
or die therefore, till that knight be come by whom we shall lose this
castle. And therefore it is called the Maidens’ Castle, for they have
devoured many maidens. Now, said Sir Galahad, is she here for whom this
castle was lost? Nay, said the priest, she was dead within these three
nights after that she was thus enforced; and sithen have they kept her
younger sister, which endureth great pains with many other ladies. By
this were the knights of the country come. And then he made them do
homage and fealty to the duke’s daughter, and set them in great ease of
heart. And in the morn there came one to Galahad, and told him how that
Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine had slain the seven brethren. I suppose
well, said Sir Galahad: and took his armour and his horse and commended
them unto God.