"Sir," said the good man, "ye have heard of Joseph of Arimathea, how he
was sent of Jesus Christ into this land to preach and teach the
Christian faith. Now, in the city of Sarras he converted a king named
Evelake, and this is he. He came with Joseph to this land, and ever
desired greatly to see the Sangreal; so on a time he came nigh thereto,
and was struck almost blind. Then he cried out for mercy, and said,
'Fair Lord, I pray thee let me never die until a good knight of my blood
achieve the Sangreal, and I may see and kiss him.' When he had thus
prayed, he heard a voice that said, 'Thy prayers be heard and answered,
for thou shalt not die till that knight kiss thee; and when he cometh
shall thine eyes be opened and thy wounds be healed.' And now hath he
lived here for three hundred winters in a holy life, and men say a
certain knight of King Arthur's court shall shortly heal him."
Thereat Sir Percival marveled greatly, for he well knew who that knight
should be; and so, taking his leave of the monk, departed.
Then he rode on till noon, and came into a valley where he met twenty
men-at-arms bearing a dead knight on a bier. And they cried to him,
"Whence comest thou?"
"From King Arthur's court," he answered.
Then they all cried together, "Slay him," and set upon him.
But he smote down the first man to the ground, and his horse upon him;
whereat seven of them all at once assailed him, and others slew his
horse. Thus he had been either taken or slain, but by good chance Sir
Galahad was passing by that way, who, seeing twenty men attacking one,
cried, "Slay him not," and rushed upon them; and, as fast as his horse
could drive, he encountered with the foremost man, and smote him down.
Then, his spear being broken, he drew forth his sword and struck out on
the right hand and on the left, at each blow smiting down a man, till
the remainder fled, and he pursued them.
Then Sir Percival, knowing that it was Sir Galahad, would fain have
overtaken him, but could not, for his horse was slain. Yet followed he
on foot as fast as he could go; and as he went there met him a yeoman
riding on a palfrey, and leading in his hand a great black steed. So Sir
Percival prayed him to lend him the steed, that he might overtake Sir
Galahad. But he replied, "That can I not do, fair sir, for the horse is
my master's, and should I lend it he would slay me." So he departed, and
Sir Percival sat down beneath a tree in heaviness of heart. And as he
sat, anon a knight went riding past on the black steed which the yeoman
had led. And presently after came the yeoman back in haste, and asked
Sir Percival if he had seen a knight riding his horse.
"Yea," said Sir Percival.
"Alas," said the yeoman, "he hath reft him from me by strength, and my
master will slay me."
Then he besought Sir Percival to take his hackney and follow, and get
back his steed. So he rode quickly, and overtook the knight, and cried,
"Knight, turn again." Whereat he turned and set his spear, and smote Sir
Percival's hackney in the breast, so that it fell dead, and then went on
his way. Then cried Sir Percival after him, "Turn now, false knight, and
fight with me on foot"; but he would not, and rode out of sight.
Then was Sir Percival passing wroth and heavy of heart, and lay down to
rest beneath a tree, and slept till midnight. When he awoke he saw a
woman standing by him, who said to him right fiercely, "Sir Percival,
what doest thou here?"
"I do neither good nor evil," said he.
"If thou wilt promise me," said she, "to do my will whenever I shall ask
thee, I will bring thee here a horse that will bear thee wheresoever
thou desirest."
At that he was full glad, and promised as she asked. Then anon she came
again, with a great black steed, strong and well appareled. So Sir
Percival mounted, and rode through the clear moonlight, and within less
than an hour had gone a four days' journey, till he came to a rough
water that roared; and his horse would have borne him into it, but Sir
Percival would not suffer him, yet could he scarce restrain him. And
seeing the water so furious, he made the sign of the cross upon his
forehead, whereat the horse suddenly shook him off, and with a terrible
sound leaped into the water and disappeared, the waves all burning up in
flames around him. Then Sir Percival knew it was a fiend which had
brought him the horse; so he commended himself to God, and prayed that
he might escape temptations, and continued in prayer till it was day.
Then he saw that he was on a wild mountain, nigh surrounded on all sides
by the sea, and filled with wild beasts; and going on into a valley, he
saw a serpent carrying a young lion by the neck. With that came another
lion, crying and roaring after the serpent, and anon overtook him, and
began to battle with him. And Sir Percival helped the lion, and drew his
sword, and gave the serpent such a stroke that it fell dead. Thereat the
lion fawned upon him like a dog, licking his hands, and crouching at his
feet, and at night lay down by him and slept at his side.
And at noon the next day Sir Percival saw a ship come sailing before a
strong wind upon the sea towards him, and he rose and went towards it.
And when it came to shore, he found it covered with white samite, and on
the deck there stood an old man dressed in priest's robes, who said,
"God be with you, fair sir; whence come ye?"
"I am a knight of King Arthur's court," said he, "and follow the quest
of the Sangreal; but here have I lost myself in this wilderness."
"Fear nothing," said the old man, "for I have come from a strange
country to comfort thee."
Then he told Sir Percival it was a fiend of hell upon which he had
ridden to the sea, and that the lion, whom he had delivered from the
serpent, meant the Church. And Sir Percival rejoiced at these tidings,
and entered into the ship, which presently sailed from the shore into
the sea.
Now when Sir Bors rode forth from Camelot to seek the Sangreal, anon he
met a holy man riding on an ass, and courteously saluted him.
"Who are ye, son?" said the good man.
"I am a knight," said he, "in quest of the Sangreal, and would fain have
thy counsel, for he shall have much earthly honor who may bring it to a
favorable end."
"That is truth," said the good man, "for he shall be the best knight of
the world; yet know that none shall gain it save by sinless living."
So they rode to his hermitage together, and there he prayed Sir Bors to
abide that night, and anon they went into the chapel, and Sir Bors was
confessed. And they eat bread and drank water together.
"Now," said the hermit, "I pray thee eat no other food till thou sit at
the table where the Sangreal shall be." Thereto Sir Bors agreed.
"Also," said the hermit, "it were wise that ye should wear a sackcloth
garment next your skin, for penance"; and in this also did Sir Bors as
he was counseled. And afterwards he armed himself and took his leave.
Then rode he onwards all that day, and as he rode he saw a passing great
bird sit in an old dry tree, whereon no leaves were left; and many
little birds lay round the great one, nigh dead with hunger. Then did
the big bird smite himself with his own bill, and bled till he died
amongst his little ones, and they recovered life in drinking up his
blood. When Sir Bors saw this he knew it was a token, and rode on full
of thought. And about eventide he came to a tower, whereto he prayed
admission, and he was received gladly by the lady of the castle. But
when a supper of many meats and dainties was set before him, he
remembered his vow, and bade a squire to bring him water, and therein he
dipped his bread, and ate.
Then said the lady, "Sir Bors, I fear ye like not my meat."
"Yea, truly," said he; "God thank thee, madam; but I may eat no other
meat this day."
After supper came a squire, and said, "Madam, bethink thee to provide a
champion for thee to-morrow for the tourney, or else shall thy sister
have thy castle."
At that the lady wept, and made great sorrow. But Sir Bors prayed her to
be comforted, and asked her why the tournament was held. Then she told
him how she and her sister were the daughters of King Anianse, who left
them all his lands between them; and how her sister was the wife of a
strong knight, named Sir Pridan le Noir, who had taken from herself all
her lands, save the one tower wherein she dwelt. "And now," said she,
"this also will they take, unless I find a champion by to-morrow."
Then said Sir Bors, "Be comforted; to-morrow I will fight for thee";
whereat she rejoiced not a little, and sent word to Sir Pridan that she
was provided and ready. And Sir Bors lay on the floor, and in no bed,
nor ever would do otherwise till he had achieved his quest.
On the morrow he arose and clothed himself, and went into the chapel,
where the lady met him, and they heard mass together. Anon he called for
his armor, and went with a goodly company of knights to the battle. And
the lady prayed him to refresh himself ere he should fight, but he
refused to break his fast until the tournament were done. So they all
rode together to the lists, and there they saw the lady's eldest sister,
and her husband, Sir Pridan le Noir. And a cry was made by the heralds
that, whichever should win, his lady should have all the other's lands.
Then the two knights departed asunder a little space, and came together
with such force, that both their spears were shivered, and their shields
and hauberks pierced through; and both fell to the ground sorely
wounded, with their horses under them. But swiftly they arose, and drew
their swords, and smote each other on the head with many great and
heavy blows, till the blood ran down their bodies; and Sir Pridan was a
full good knight, so that Sir Bors had more ado than he had thought for
to overcome him.
But at last Sir Pridan grew a little faint; that instantly perceived Sir
Bors, and rushed upon him the more vehemently, and smote him fiercely,
till he rent off his helm, and then gave him great strokes upon his
visage with the flat of his sword, and bade him yield or be slain.
And then Sir Pridan cried him mercy, and said, "For God's sake slay me
not, and I will never war against thy lady more." So Sir Bors let him
go, and his wife fled away with all her knights.
Then all those who had held lands of the lady of the tower came and did
homage to her again, and swore fealty. And when the country was at peace
Sir Bors departed, and rode forth into a forest until it was midday, and
there befell him a marvelous adventure.
For at a place where two ways parted, there met him two knights, bearing
Sir Lionel, his brother, all naked, bound on a horse, and as they rode,
they beat him sorely with thorns, so that the blood trailed down in more
than a hundred places from his body; but for all this he uttered no word
or groan, so great he was of heart. As soon as Sir Bors knew his
brother, he put his spear in rest to run and rescue him; but in the same
moment heard a woman's voice cry close beside him in the wood, "St.
Mary, succor thy maid"; and, looking round, he saw a damsel whom a felon
knight dragged after him into the thickets; and she, perceiving him,
cried piteously for help, and adjured him to deliver her as he was a
sworn knight. Then was Sir Bors sore troubled, and knew not what to do,
for he thought within himself, "If I let my brother be, he will be
murdered; but if I help not the maid, she is shamed forever, and my vow
compelleth me to set her free; wherefore must I first help her, and
trust my brother unto God."
So, riding to the knight who held the damsel, he cried out, "Sir knight,
lay your hand off that maid, or else ye be but dead."
At that the knight set down the maid, and dropped his shield, and drew
forth his sword against Sir Bors, who ran at him, and smote him through
both shield and shoulder, and threw him to the earth; and when he pulled
his spear forth, the knight swooned. Then the maid thanked Sir Bors
heartily, and he set her on the knight's horse, and brought her to her
men-at-arms, who presently came riding after her. And they made much
joy, and besought him to come to her father, a great lord, and he should
be right welcome. But "truly," said he, "I may not at this time, for I
have a great adventure yet to do"; and commending them to God, he
departed in great haste to find his brother.
So he rode, seeking him by the track of the horses a great while. Anon
he met a seeming holy man riding upon a strong black horse, and asked
him, had he seen pass by that way a knight led bound and beaten with
thorns by two others.
"Yea, truly, such an one I saw," said the man; "but he is dead, and lo!
his body is hard by in a bush."
Then he showed him a newly slain body lying in a thick bush, which
seemed indeed to be Sir Lionel. Then made Sir Bors such mourning and
sorrow that by-and-by he fell into a swoon upon the ground. And when he
came to himself again, he took the body in his arms and put it on his
horse's saddle, and bore it to a chapel hard by, and would have buried
it. But when he made the sign of the cross, he heard a full great noise
and cry as though all the fiends of hell had been about him, and
suddenly the body and the chapel and the old man vanished all away. Then
he knew that it was the devil who had thus beguiled him, and that his
brother yet lived.
Then held he up his hands to heaven, and thanked God for his own escape
from hurt, and rode onwards; and anon, as he passed by an hermitage in a
forest, he saw his brother sitting armed by the door. And when he saw
him he was filled with joy, and lighted from his horse, and ran to him
and said, "Fair brother, when came ye hither?"
But Sir Lionel answered, with an angry face, "What vain words be these,
when for you I might have been slain? Did ye not see me bound and led
away to death, and left me in that peril to go succoring a gentlewoman,
the like whereof no brother ever yet hath done? Now, for thy false
misdeed, I do defy thee, and ensure thee speedy death."
Then Sir Bors prayed his brother to abate his anger, and said, "Fair
brother, remember the love that should be between us twain."
But Sir Lionel would not hear, and prepared to fight, and mounted his
horse and came before him, crying, "Sir Bors, keep thee from me, for I
shall do to thee as a felon and a traitor; therefore, start upon thy
horse, for if thou wilt not, I will run upon thee as thou standest."
But for all his words Sir Bors would not defend himself against his
brother. And anon the fiend stirred up Sir Lionel to such rage, that he
rushed over him and overthrew him with his horse's hoofs, so that he lay
swooning on the ground. Then would he have rent off his helm and slain
him, but the hermit of that place ran out, and prayed him to forbear,
and shielded Sir Bors with his body.
Then Sir Lionel cried out, "Now, God so help me, sir priest, but I shall
slay thee else thou depart, and him too after thee."
And when the good man utterly refused to leave Sir Bors, he smote him on
the head until he died, and then he took his brother by the helm and
unlaced it, to have stricken off his head, and so he would have done,
but suddenly was pulled off backwards by a knight of the Round Table,
who, by the will of Heaven, was passing by that place--Sir Colgrevance
by name.
"Sir Lionel," he cried, "will ye slay your brother, one of the best
knights of all the world? That ought no man to suffer."
"Why," said Sir Lionel, "will ye hinder me and meddle in this strife?
beware, lest I shall slay both thee and him."
And when Sir Colgrevance refused to let them be, Sir Lionel defied him,
and gave him a great stroke through the helmet, whereat Sir Colgrevance
drew his sword, and smote again right manfully. And so long they fought
together that Sir Bors awoke from his swoon, and tried to rise and part
them, but had no strength to stand upon his feet.
Anon Sir Colgrevance saw him, and cried out to him for help, for now Sir
Lionel had nigh defeated him. When Sir Bors heard that, he struggled to
his feet, and put his helmet on, and took his sword. But before he could
come to him, Sir Lionel had smitten off Sir Colgrevance's helm, and
thrown him to the earth and slain him. Then turned he to his brother as
a man possessed by fiends, and gave him such a stroke as bent him nearly
double.
But Sir Bors prayed him for God's sake to quit that battle, "For if it
befell us that we either slew the other we should die for care of that
sin."
"Never will I spare thee if I master thee," cried out Sir Lionel.
Then Sir Bors drew his sword all weeping, and said, "Now, God have mercy
on me, though I defend my life against my brother"; with that he lifted
up his sword to strike, but suddenly he heard a mighty voice, "Put up
thy sword, Sir Bors, and flee, or thou shalt surely slay him." And then
there fell upon them both a fiery cloud, which flamed and burned their
shields, and they fell to the earth in sore dread.
Anon Sir Bors rose to his feet, and saw that Sir Lionel had taken no
harm. Then came the voice again, and said, "Sir Bors, go hence and leave
thy brother, and ride thou forward to the sea, for there Sir Percival
abideth thee."
Then he said to his brother, "Brother, forgive me all my trespass
against thee."
And Sir Lionel answered, "God forgive it thee, as I do."
Then he departed and rode to the sea, and on the strand he found a ship
all covered with white samite, and as soon as he had entered thereinto,
it put forth from the shore. And in the midst of the ship there stood an
armed knight, whom he knew to be Sir Percival. Then they rejoiced
greatly over each other, and said, "We lack nothing now but the good
knight Sir Galahad."
Now when Sir Galahad had rescued Sir Percival from the twenty knights he
rode into a vast forest. And after many days it befell that he came to a
castle whereat was a tournament. And the knights of the castle were put
to the worse; which when he saw, he set his spear in rest and ran to
help them, and smote down many of their adversaries. And as it chanced,
Sir Gawain was amongst the stranger knights, and when he saw the white
shield with the red cross, he knew it was Sir Galahad, and proffered to
joust with him. So they encountered, and having broken their spears,
they drew their swords, and Sir Galahad smote Sir Gawain so sorely on
the helm that he clove it through, and struck on slanting to the earth,
carving the horse's shoulder in twain, and Sir Gawain fell to the earth.
Then Sir Galahad beat back all who warred against the castle, yet would
he not wait for thanks, but rode away that no man might know him.
And he rested that night at a hermitage, and when he was asleep, he
heard a knocking at the door. So he rose, and found a damsel there, who
said, "Sir Galahad, I will that ye arm you, and mount upon your horse
and follow me, for I will show you within these three days the highest
adventure that ever any knight saw."
Anon Sir Galahad armed him, and took his horse, and commended himself to
God, and bade the gentlewoman go, and he would follow where she liked.
So they rode onwards to the sea as fast as their horses might gallop,
and at night they came to a castle in a valley, inclosed by running
water, and by strong and high walls, whereinto they entered and had
great cheer, for the lady of the castle was the damsel's mistress.
And when he was unarmed, the damsel said to her lady, "Madam, shall we
abide here this night?"
"Nay," said she, "but only till he hath dined and slept a little."
So he ate and slept a while, till the maid called him, and armed him by
torchlight; and when he had saluted the lady of the castle, the damsel
and Sir Galahad rode on.
Anon they came to the seaside, and lo! the ship, wherein were Sir
Percival and Sir Bors, abode by the shore. Then they cried, "Welcome,
Sir Galahad, for we have awaited thee long."
Then they rejoiced to see each other, and told of all their adventures
and temptations. And the damsel went into the ship with them, and spake
to Sir Percival: "Sir Percival, know ye not who I am?"
And he replied, "Nay, certainly, I know thee not."
Then said she, "I am thy sister, the daughter of King Pellinore, and am
sent to help thee and these knights, thy fellows, to achieve the quest
which ye all follow."
So Sir Percival rejoiced to see his sister, and they departed from the
shore. And after a while they came upon a whirlpool, where their ship
could not live. Then saw they another greater ship hard by and went
towards it, but saw neither man nor woman therein. And on the end of it
these words were written, "Thou who shalt enter me, beware that thou be
in steadfast belief, for I am Faith; and if thou doubtest, I cannot help
thee." Then were they all adread, but, commending themselves to God,
they entered in.
As soon as they were on board they saw a fair bed, whereon lay a crown
of silk, and at the foot was a fair and rich sword drawn from its
scabbard half a foot and more. The pommel was of precious stones of many
colors, every color having a different virtue, and the scales of the
haft were of two ribs of different beasts. The one was bone of a serpent
from Calidone forest, named the serpent of the fiend; and its virtue
saveth all men who hold it from weariness. The other was of a fish that
haunteth the floods of Euphrates, named Ertanax; and its virtue causeth
whoever holdeth it to forget all other things, whether of joy or pain,
save the thing he seeth before him.
"In the name of God," said Sir Percival, "I shall assay to handle this
sword"; and set his hand to it, but could not grasp it. "By my faith,"
said he, "now have I failed."
Sir Bors set his hand to it, and failed also.
Then came Sir Galahad, and saw these letters written red as blood, "None
shall draw me forth save the hardiest of all men; but he that draweth me
shall never be shamed or wounded to death." "By my faith," said Sir
Galahad, "I would draw it forth, but dare not try."
"Ye may try safely," said the gentlewoman, Sir Percival's sister, "for
be ye well assured the drawing of this sword is forbid to all but you.
For this was the sword of David, King of Israel, and Solomon his son
made for it this marvelous pommel and this wondrous sheath, and laid it
on this bed till thou shouldest come and take it up; and though before
thee some have dared to raise it, yet have they all been maimed or
wounded for their daring."
"Where," said Sir Galahad, "shall we find a girdle for it?"
"Fair sir," said she, "dismay you not"; and therewith took from out a
box a girdle, nobly wrought with golden thread, set full of precious
stones and with a rich gold buckle. "This girdle, lords," said she, "is
made for the most part of mine own hair, which, while I was yet in the
world, I loved full well; but when I knew that this adventure was
ordained me, I cut off and wove as ye now see."
Then they all prayed Sir Galahad to take the sword, and so anon he
gripped it in his fingers; and the maiden girt it round his waist,
saying, "Now reck I not though I die, for I have made thee the worthiest
knight of all the world."
"Fair damsel," said Sir Galahad, "ye have done so much that I shall be
your knight all the days of my life."
Then the ship sailed a great way on the sea, and brought them to land
near the Castle of Carteloise. When they were landed came a squire and
asked them, "Be ye of King Arthur's court?"
"We are," said they.
"In an evil hour are ye come," said he, and went back swiftly to the
castle.
Within a while they heard a great horn blow, and saw a multitude of
well-armed knights come forth, who bade them yield or die. At that they
ran together, and Sir Percival smote one to the earth and mounted his
horse, and so likewise did Sir Bors and Sir Galahad, and soon had they
routed all their enemies and alighted on foot, and with their swords
slew them downright, and entered into the castle.
Then came there forth a priest, to whom Sir Galahad kneeled and said,
"In sooth, good father, I repent me of this slaughter; but we were first
assailed, or else it had not been."
"Repent ye not," said the good man, "for if ye lived as long as the
world lasted ye could do no better deed, for these were all the felon
sons of a good knight, Earl Hernox, whom they have thrown into a
dungeon, and in his name have slain priests and clerks, and beat down
chapels far and near."
Then Sir Galahad prayed the priest to bring him to the earl; who, when
he saw Sir Galahad, cried out, "Long have I waited for thy coming, and
now I pray thee hold me in thine arms that I may die in peace."
And therewith, when Sir Galahad had taken him in his arms, his soul
departed from his body.
Then came a voice in the hearing of them all, "Depart now, Sir Galahad,
and go quickly to the maimed king, for he hath long abided to receive
health from thy hand."