OF THE COMING OF SIR GALAHAD
At the vigil of Pentecost, when all the fellowship of the Round Table
were come unto Camelot, and the tables were set ready to the meat,
right so entered into the hall a full fair gentlewoman before the King,
and on behalf of King Pelles requested that Sir Launcelot should go
with her hereby into a forest. Sir Launcelot bade his squire saddle
his horse and bring his arms, and right so he departed with the
gentlewoman, and rode until that he came into a great valley, where
they saw an abbey of nuns. There was a squire ready, and opened the
gates; and so they entered and descended off their horses, and there
came a fair fellowship about Sir Launcelot and welcomed him, and were
passing glad of his coming.
In the meanwhile there came twelve nuns which brought with them
Galahad, the which was passing fair and well made, so that in the world
men might scarcely find his match. "Sir," said the ladies, "we bring
you here this child, the which we have nourished, and we pray you to
make him a knight; for of a worthier man's hand may he not receive the
order of knighthood."
Sir Launcelot beheld that young squire, and saw him seemly and demure
as a dove, with all manner of good features, and he thought of his age
never to have seen so fair a man of form. Then said Sir Launcelot,
"Cometh this desire of himself?"
He and all they said, "Yea."
"Then shall he," said Sir Launcelot, "receive the high order of
knighthood to-morrow."
That night Sir Launcelot had passing good cheer, and on the morn at the
hour of prime, at Galahad's desire, he made him knight, and said, "God
make you a good man, for beauty faileth you not as any that liveth."
Then Sir Launcelot departed from them, and came again unto Camelot by
the hour of nine on Whitsunday morning. By that time the King and the
Queen and all the fellowship were gone to the minster to hear the
service.
When they were come from service all were passing glad of Sir
Launcelot's return. And as they entered the hall each of the barons
sought his name, written with gold letters, in the sieges of the Round
Table. Thus they went along from seat to seat, until that they came to
the Siege Perilous, where they found letters newly written of gold,
that said: "Four hundred winters and fifty-four accomplished after the
passion of our Lord Jesu Christ ought this siege to be filled."
All thought this a marvellous thing, and an adventurous. And then Sir
Launcelot accounted the term of the writing from the birth of our Lord
unto that day, and said: "It seemeth me this siege ought to be filled
this same day, for this is the feast of Pentecost after the four
hundred and four and fifty years; and if it would please all parties, I
would none of these letters were seen this day, till he be come that
ought to achieve this adventure."
Then they provided a cloth of silk for to cover these letters in the
Siege Perilous, and the King bade haste unto dinner.
It was an old custom of Arthur's court that on this day they should not
sit at their meat until they had seen some adventure. As they stood
waiting therefor, in came a squire bringing the marvellous tidings that
beneath at the river there was a great stone, as it were of red marble,
floating above the water, wherein a sword stuck. So the King and all
the knights went unto the river to see this marvel, and they found it
even as the squire had said. There in the stone was the fair rich
sword, and in the pommel thereof were precious stones and subtile
letters wrought with gold. Then the barons read the letters, which
said in this wise: "Never shall man take me hence but only he by whose
side I ought to hang, and he shall be the best knight of the world."
When the King had seen these letters, he said unto Sir Launcelot, "Fair
sir, this sword ought to be yours, for I am sure ye be the best knight
of the world."
Then Sir Launcelot answered full soberly, conscious of a great sin:
"Certes, sir, it is not my sword; also, sir, wit ye well I have no
hardiness to set my hand thereto, for it belongs not by my side."
"Now, fair nephew," said the King unto Sir Gawaine, "assay ye to take
the sword for my love."
Therewith Sir Gawaine took the sword by the handles, though unwillingly
and only at the King's commandment, but he might not stir it. Then the
King said unto Sir Percivale that he should assay. So he set his hand
on the sword and drew it strongly, but he might not move it. Then were
there more that durst be so hardy as to set their hands thereto, but
all failed.
"Now may ye go to your dinner," said Sir Kay unto King Arthur, "for a
marvellous adventure have ye seen."
So the King and all went in, and every knight knew his own place and
set himself therein, and all sieges were filled save only the Siege
Perilous. Anon there befell a marvellous adventure, for all the doors
and the windows of the place shut of themselves, yet then the hall was
not greatly darkened, and therewith they were amazed, both one and
other.
While they sat there in suspense as to what should happen, came in a
good old man, and an ancient, clothed all in white, and there was no
knight knew from whence he came. With him he brought a young knight in
red arms, without sword or shield, save a scabbard hanging by his side.
Then the old man said unto Arthur, "Sir, I bring here a young knight
the which is of king's lineage and of the kindred of Joseph of
Arimathea, whereby the marvels of this court and of strange realms
shall be fully accomplished."
The King was right glad of the good man's words, and bade him and the
young knight welcome. Then the old man made the young man unarm; and
he was in a coat of red silk, and bore a mantle upon his shoulder that
was furred with ermine. Anon the old knight led him unto the Siege
Perilous, where beside sat Sir Percivale and Sir Launcelot. The good
man lifted up the cloth, and found there letters that said thus: "This
is the siege of Galahad, the high prince." He set him down surely in
that siege, saying, "Wit ye well that place is yours," and then,
departed and went his way.
All the knights of the Table Round marvelled greatly that Sir Galahad
durst sit there in that Siege Perilous, and was so tender of age; for
never before had anyone sat therein but he was mischieved. And they
foresaw that Sir Galahad would come to great honour, and outdo them all
in knightly courtesy.
Then the King bade him welcome to the court, and taking him by the
hand, went down from the palace to show Galahad the adventures of the
stone. "Sir" said the King unto him, "here is a great marvel as ever I
saw, and right good knights have assayed and failed."
"Sir," said Galahad, "that is no marvel, for this adventure is not
theirs but mine, and for the surety of this sword I brought none with
me; for here by my side hangeth the scabbard."
Anon he laid his hand on the sword, and lightly drew it out of the
stone and put it in the sheath, saying, "Now it goeth better than it
did aforehand."