_How Sir Gawaine came to the Abbey for to follow Galahad, and how he
was shriven to a Hermit._
Now, saith the tale, after Sir Gawaine departed, he rode many journeys
both toward and froward. And at the last he came to the abbey where Sir
Galahad had the white shield. And there Sir Gawaine learned the way to
sue after Sir Galahad, and so he rode to the abbey where Melias lay
sick, and there Sir Melias told Sir Gawaine of the marvellous adventure
that Sir Galahad did. Certes, said Sir Gawaine, I am not happy that I
took not the way that he went; for, and I may meet with him, I will not
depart from him lightly, for all marvellous adventures Sir Galahad
achieveth. Sir, said one of the monks, he will not of your fellowship.
Why? said Sir Gawaine. Sir, said he, for ye be wicked and sinful, and
he is full blessed.
Right as they thus stood talking together, there came in riding Sir
Gareth. And then they made joy either of other. And on the morn they
heard mass, and so departed. And by the way they met with Sir Uwaine
les Avoutres. And there Sir Uwaine told Sir Gawaine how he had met with
none adventure sith he departed from the court. Nor we, said Sir
Gawaine. And either promised other of those three knights not to depart
while that they were in that quest, but if fortune caused it. So they
departed and rode by fortune till that they came by the Castle of
Maidens. And there the seven brethren espied the three knights, and
said, Sithen we be banished by one knight from this castle, we shall
destroy all the knights of king Arthur’s that we may overcome, for the
love of Sir Galahad. And therewith the seven knights set upon the three
knights: and by fortune Sir Gawaine slew one of the brethren, and each
one of his fellows slew another, and so slew the remnant. And then they
took the way under the castle; and there they lost the way that Sir
Galahad rode, and there every each of them departed from other, and Sir
Gawaine rode till he came to an hermitage, and there he found the good
man saying his evensong of Our Lady. And there Sir Gawaine asked
harbour for charity, and the good man granted it him gladly. Then the
good man asked him what he was? Sir, he said, I am a knight of king
Arthur’s, that am in the quest of the Sancgreal, and my name is Sir
Gawaine. Sir, said the good man, I would wit how it standeth betwixt
God and you? Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I will with a good will shew you my
life, if it please you. And there he told the hermit how a monk of an
abbey called me wicked knight. He might well say it, said the hermit,
for when ye were first made knight, ye should have taken you to
knightly deeds and virtuous living, and ye have done the contrary, for
ye have lived mischievously many winters, and Sir Galahad is a maid,
and sinned never, and that is the cause he shall achieve where he goeth
that ye nor none such shall not attain, nor none in your fellowship;
for ye have used the most untruest life that ever I heard knight live.
For, certes, had ye not been so wicked as ye are, never had the seven
brethren been slain by you and your two fellows. For Sir Galahad,
himself alone, beat them all seven the day before, but his living is
such he shall slay no man lightly. Also I may say you, the Castle of
Maidens betokeneth the good souls that were in prison afore the
Incarnation of Jesu Christ. And the seven knights betoken the seven
deadly sins that reigned that time in the world. And I may liken the
good Galahad unto the Son of the High Father, that light within a maid,
and bought all the souls out of thrall: so did Sir Galahad deliver all
the maidens out of the woful castle. Now, Sir Gawaine, said the good
man, thou must do penance for thy sin.—Sir, what penance shall I
do?—Such as I will give, said the good man. Nay, said Sir Gawaine, I
may do no penance; for we knights adventurous often suffer great woe
and pain. Well, said the good man, and then he held his peace. And on
the morn Sir Gawaine departed from the hermit, and betaught him unto
God. And by adventure he met with Sir Aglovale and Sir Griflet, two
knights of the Table Round. And they two rode four days without finding
of any adventure, and at the fifth day they departed. And every each
held as fell them by adventure.
Here leaveth the tale of Sir Gawaine and his fellows, and speak we of
Sir Galahad.