_How Galahad came to king Mordrains, and of other matters and
adventures._
Now saith the story that Galahad rode many journeys in vain. And at the
last he came to the abbey where king Mordrains was, and when he heard
that, he thought he would abide to see him. And upon the morn, when he
had heard mass, Galahad came unto king Mordrains, and anon the king saw
him, the which had lain blind of long time. And then he dressed him
against him, and said, Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, whose
coming I have abiden so long, now embrace me, and let me rest on thy
breast, so that I may rest between thine arms, for thou art a clean
virgin above all knights, as the flower of the lily, in whom virginity
is signified, and thou art the rose, the which is the flower of all
good virtue, and in colour of fire. For the fire of the Holy Ghost is
taken so in thee, that my flesh, which was all dead of oldness, is
become young again. When Galahad heard his words, then he embraced him
and all his body. Then said he, Fair Lord Jesu Christ, now I have my
will, now I require thee in this point that I am in, thou come and
visit me. And anon our Lord heard his prayer. Therewith the soul
departed from the body. And then Galahad put him in the earth as a king
ought to be: and so departed, and came into a perilous forest, where he
found the well the which boiled with great waves, as the tale telleth
tofore. And as soon as Galahad set his hand thereto it ceased, so that
it burnt no more, and the heat departed: for that it burnt it was a
sign of lust; but that heat might not abide his pure virginity. And
this was taken in the country for a miracle, and so ever after was it
called Galahad’s well. Then by adventure he came into the country of
Gore, and into the abbey where Sir Launcelot had been toforehand, and
found the tomb of king Bagdemagus (but was founder thereof Joseph of
Armathie’s son) and the tomb of Simeon where Launcelot had failed. Then
he looked into a croft under the minster, and there he saw a tomb which
burnt full marvellously. Then asked he the brethren what it was? Sir,
said they, a marvellous adventure that may not be brought unto none
end, but by him that passeth of bounty and of knighthood all them of
the Round Table. I would, said Galahad, that ye would lead me thereto.
Gladly, said they: and so led him till a cave; and he went down upon
steps and came nigh the tomb, and then the flaming failed and the fire
staunched, the which many a day had been great. Then came there a voice
that said, Much are ye beholden to thank our Lord, the which hath given
you a good hour, that ye may draw out the souls of earthly pain, and to
put them into the joys of paradise. I am of your kindred, the which
have dwelled in this heat this three hundred winter and four and fifty,
to be purged of the sin that I did against Joseph of Armathie. Then
Galahad took the body in his arms, and bear it into the minster. And
that night lay Galahad in the abbey: and on the morn he gave him
service, and put him in the earth, afore the high altar.