_How Merlin likened the Round Table to the world, and how the knights
that should achieve the Sangreal should be known._
Also Merlin made the Round Table in tokening of the roundness of the
world, for by the Round Table is the world signified by right. For all
the world, Christian and heathen, repair unto the Round Table, and when
they are chosen to be of the fellowship of the Round Table, they think
them more blessed, and more in worship, than if they had gotten half
the world; and ye have seen that they have lost their fathers and their
mothers, and all their kin, and their wives and their children, for to
be of your fellowship. It is well seen by you; for since ye departed
from your mother ye would never see her, ye found such a fellowship at
the Round Table. When Merlin had ordained the Round Table, he said, by
them which should be fellows of the Round Table the truth of the
Sancgreal should be well known. And men asked him how men might know
them that should best do, and to achieve the Sancgreal? then he said
there should be three white bulls that should achieve it, and the two
should be maidens, and the third should be chaste. And that one of the
three should pass his father as much as the lion passeth the libard,
both of strength and hardiness. They that heard Merlin say so, said
thus unto Merlin: Sithen there shall be such a knight, thou shouldst
ordain by thy crafts a siege that no man should sit in it but he all
only that shall pass all other knights. Then Merlin answered that he
would do so. And then he made the siege perilous, in the which Galahad
sat in at his meat on Whitsunday last past. Now madam, said Sir
Percivale, so much have I heard of you, that by my good will I will
never have ado with Sir Galahad, but by way of kindness. And for God’s
love, fair aunt, can ye teach me some way where I may find him, for
much would I love the fellowship of him? Fair nephew, said she, ye must
ride unto a castle the which is called Goothe, where he hath a cousin
german, and there may ye be lodged this night. And as he teacheth you,
sue after as fast as ye can, and if he can tell you no tidings of him,
ride straight unto the castle of Carbonek, where the maimed king is
there lying, for there shall ye hear true tidings of him.