_How Sir Percivale’s sister bled a dish full of blood for to heal a
lady; wherefore she died; and how that the body was put in a ship._
There is in this castle a gentlewoman which we and this castle is hers,
and many other. So it befell many years agone there fell upon her a
malady. And when she had lain a great while, she fell into a measle,
and of no leech she could have no remedy. But at the last an old man
said, and she might have a dish full of blood of a maid and a clean
virgin in will and in work, and a king’s daughter, that blood should be
her health, and for to anoint her withal: and for this thing was this
custom made. Now, said Percivale’s sister, Fair knights, I see well
that this gentlewoman is but dead. Certes, said Galahad, and if ye
bleed so much, ye may die. Truly, said she, and I die for to heal her,
I shall get me great worship and soul’s health, and worship to my
lineage, and better is one harm than twain. And therefore there shall
be no more battle, but to-morn I shall yield you your custom of this
castle. And then there was great joy, more than there was tofore. For
else had there been mortal war upon the morn; notwithstanding she would
none other, whether they would or nold. That night were the three
fellows eased with the best, and on the morn they heard mass, and Sir
Percivale’s sister bad bring forth the sick lady. So she was, the which
was evil at ease. Then said she, Who shall let me blood? So one came
forth and let her blood, and she bled so much that the dish was full.
Then she lift up her hand and blessed her. And then she said to the
lady, Madam, I am come to the death, for to make you whole; for God’s
love pray for me. With that she fell in a swoon. Then Galahad and his
two fellows start up to her, and lift her up, and stanched her, but she
had bled so much that she might not live. Then she said, when she was
awaked, Fair brother Percivale, I die for the healing of this lady. So
I require you that ye bury not me in this country, but as soon as I am
dead put me in a boat at the next haven, and let me go as adventure
will lead me; and as soon as ye three come to the city of Sarras, there
to achieve the holy Graile, ye shall find me under a tower arrived, and
there bury me in the spiritual place, for I say you so much, there
Galahad shall be buried, and ye also, in the same place. Then Percivale
understood these words, and granted it her, weeping. And then said a
voice, Lords and fellows, to-morrow at the hour of prime ye three shall
depart every each from other, till the adventure bring you to the
maimed king. Then asked she her Saviour, and as soon as she had
received him the soul departed from the body. So the same day was the
lady healed, when she was anointed withal. Then Sir Percivale made a
letter of all that she had holpen them as in strange adventures, and
put it in her right hand, and so laid her in a barge, and covered it
with black silk; and so the wind arose, and drove the barge from the
land, and all knights beheld it, till it was out of their sight.
Then they drew all to the castle, and so forthwith there fell a sudden
tempest, and a thunder, lightning, and rain, as all the earth would
have broken. So half the castle turned up so down. So it passed
evensong or the tempest was ceased. Then they saw afore them a knight
armed and wounded hard in the body and in the head, that said, Oh God,
succour me, for now it is need! After this knight came another knight
and a dwarf which cried to them afar, Stand, ye may not escape. Then
the wounded knight held up his hands to God, that he should not die in
such tribulation. Truly, said Galahad, I shall succour him for His sake
that he calleth upon. Sir, said Bors, I shall do it, for it is not for
you, for he is but one knight. Sir, said he, I grant. So Sir Bors took
his horse, and commended him to God, and rode after to rescue the
wounded knight.
Now turn we to the two fellows.