_How king Pelles was smitten through both thighs because he drew the
sword, and other marvellous histories._
Sir, said she, there was a king that hight Pelles the maimed king. And
while he might ride, he supported much Christendom, and holy Church. So
upon a day he hunted in a wood of his which lasted unto the sea, and at
the last he lost his hounds and his knights, save only one: and there
he and his knight went till that they came toward Ireland, and there he
found the ship. And when he saw the letters and understood them, yet he
entered, for he was right perfect of his life: but his knight had none
hardiness to enter, and there found he this sword, and drew it out as
much as ye may see. So therewith entered a spear, wherewith he was
smitten him through both the thighs, and never sith might he be healed,
nor nought shall tofore we come to him. Thus, said she, was king
Pelles, your grandsire, maimed for his hardiness. In the name of God,
damsel, said Galahad. So they went toward the bed to behold all about
it, and above the head there hung two swords. Also there were two
spindles which were as white as any snow, and other that were as red as
blood, and other above green as any emerald: of these three colours
were the spindles, and of natural colour within, and without any
painting. These spindles, said the damsel, were when sinful Eve came to
gather fruit, for which Adam and she were put out of paradise, she took
with her the bough on which the apple hung on. Then perceived she that
the branch was fair and green, and she remembered her the loss which
came from the tree. Then she thought to keep the branch as long as she
might. And for she had no coffer to keep it in, she put it in the
earth. So by the will of our Lord the branch grew to a great tree
within a little while, and was as white as any snow, branches, boughs,
and leaves, that was a token a maiden planted it. But after the tree
which was white became green as any grass, and all that came out of it.
And in the same time there was Abel begotten; thus was the tree long of
green colour. And so it befell many days after, under the same tree
Cain slew Abel, whereof befell great marvel. For anon as Abel had
received the death under the green tree, it lost the green colour and
became red, and that was in tokening of the blood. And anon all the
plants died thereof, but the tree grew and waxed marvellously fair, and
it was the fairest tree and the most delectable that any man might
behold and see, and so died the plants that grew out of it tofore the
time that Abel was slain under it. So long endured the tree till that
Solomon king David’s son reigned, and held the land after his father.
This Solomon was wise, and knew all the virtues of stones and trees,
and so he knew the course of the stars, and many other diverse things.
This Solomon had an evil wife, where through he wend that there had
never been no good woman, and so he despised them in his books. So
answered a voice him once, Solomon, if heaviness come to a man by a
woman, ne reck thou never. For yet shall there come a woman whereof
there shall come greater joy unto man an hundred times more than this
heaviness giveth sorrow, and that woman shall be born of thy lineage.
Then when Solomon heard these words, he held himself but a fool, and
the truth he perceived by old books. Also the Holy Ghost shewed him the
coming of the glorious Virgin Mary. Then asked he of the voice if it
should be in the end of his lineage. Nay, said the voice, but there
shall come a man which shall be a maid, and the last of your blood, and
he shall be as good a knight as duke Josua thy brother-in-law.