SIR GALAHAD AT THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS
The men of the abbey made great joy of Sir Galahad, and he rested there
that night. Upon the morn he gave the order of knighthood to the
squire who had brought him the red-cross shield, and asked him his
name, and of what kindred he was come.
"Sir," said he, "men call me Melias of Lile, and I am the son of the
King of Denmark."
"Now, fair sir," said Galahad, "since ye are of noble birth, see that
knighthood be well placed in you, for ye ought to be a mirror unto all
chivalry."
"Sir," said Melias, "ye say truly. But, sir, since ye have made me a
knight, ye must of right grant me my first desire that is reasonable."
"Ye say truly," said Galahad.
Then Melias said, "Suffer me to ride with you in this quest of the Holy
Grail till some adventure part us."
"I grant you, sir," said Galahad.
Then men brought Sir Melias his armour and his spear and his horse; and
so Sir Galahad and he rode forth all that week ere they found any
adventure. And then upon a Monday, in the morning, as they had
departed from an abbey, they came to a fork in the road, where stood
written these words: "Now ye knights errant, who go to seek knights
adventurous, see here two ways; the right-hand road ye are warned
against, for knight shall never ride out of that place again unless he
be a good man and a worthy knight; and if ye go to the left hand ye
shall not there easily win prowess, for ye shall in this road be soon
attacked."
"Sir," said Melias to Galahad, "if ye are pleased to suffer me to take
the way on the left hand, tell me, for there I shall well prove my
strength."
"It were better," said Galahad, "ye rode not that way, for I believe I
should better escape in that way than ye."
"Nay, my lord," said Melias, "I pray you, let me have that adventure."
"Take it, in God's name," said Galahad.
So Melias rode far through an old forest, and after two days or more
came into a fair meadow. Here in a fair lodge of boughs he espied a
chair wherein was a subtilely-wrought crown of gold, and near by was a
cloth spread upon the ground with many delicious meats upon it. Sir
Melias had no desire for the food, but the crown of gold pleased him
much, so he stooped down and took it and rode his way with it. And
anon he saw a knight come riding after him, who called upon him to set
down the crown that was not his, and to defend himself.
The new-made knight was glad of this adventure, and the two let their
horses run as fast as they might, so that the other knight smote Sir
Melias through his hauberk and through the left side, and he fell to
the earth nigh dead. Then the knight took the crown and went his way,
and Sir Melias lay still, and had no power to stir. In the meanwhile
by good fortune there came Sir Galahad and found him there in peril of
death.
Then he said, "Ah, Melias, who hath wounded you? It would have been
better to ride the other way."
And when Sir Melias heard him speak, "Sir," he said, "for God's love
let me not die in this forest, but bear me unto the abbey near at hand."
"It shall be done," said Galahad, "but where is he that hath wounded
you?"
With that Sir Galahad heard some one cry, "Knight, keep thee from me!"
"Ah, sir," said Melias, "beware, for that is he that hath slain me."
Sir Galahad answered, "Sir knight, come at your peril."
So they came together as fast as their horses might run; and Galahad
smote the other so that his spear went through the knight's shoulder
and smote him down off his horse, and in the falling Galahad's spear
brake. With that came out another knight from the leaves, and brake a
spear upon Galahad before he might turn about. Then Galahad drew out
his sword and smote this one so that he fled away, and Sir Galahad
pursued fast after him. But soon he turned again unto Sir Melias, and
there he alighted and placed him softly on his horse before him, and
Sir Galahad climbed up behind, and held him in his arms, and so brought
him to the abbey and into his chamber. Here he placed the wounded
knight in the care of an old monk, that promised to heal him of his
wounds.
"Now I will depart," said Galahad, "for I have much on hand; many good
knights be full busy about it, and this knight and I were in the same
quest of the Holy Grail."
"Sir," said the good monk, "for his sins he was thus wounded; and I
marvel," said he to Melias, "how ye durst take upon you so rich a thing
as the high order of knighthood without clean confession, and that was
the cause ye were bitterly wounded. For the way on the right hand
betokeneth the high way of our Lord Jesu Christ, and the way of a true
good liver. And the other way betokeneth the way of sinners and of
misbelievers. Your pride and presumption in taking the quest of the
blessed Holy Grail made you to be overthrown, for it may not be
achieved but by virtuous living. Pride is head of all deadly sins, and
that caused you to depart from Sir Galahad. And when ye took the crown
of gold your sin was covetousness and theft. But this Galahad, the
holy knight, the which fought with the two knights that signify the two
deadly sins which were wholly in you, was able to overthrow them, for
he is pure in his heart."
"My lord Galahad," said Sir Melias, "as soon as I may ride I shall seek
you."
"God send you health," said Galahad, and so he took his horse and
departed, and rode many journeys forward and backward, as adventure
would lead him.
Then Sir Galahad came unto a mountain. There he found an old chapel,
where all was desolate, and he knelt before the altar and besought of
God wholesome counsel. As he prayed, he heard a voice that said, "Go
thou now, thou adventurous knight, to the Castle of Maidens, and there
do thou away the wicked customs."
When Sir Galahad heard this, he thanked God and took his horse, and he
had ridden but half a mile when he saw in a valley afore him a strong
castle with deep ditches, and there ran beside it a fair river, that
was called Severn. Then he met with a man of great age. Either
saluted other, and Galahad asked him the castle's name. "Fair sir,"
said he, "it is the Castle of Maidens."
"That is a cursed castle," said Galahad, "and all who have intercourse
therein are cursed, for all pity is lacking there, and all cruelty and
mischief are therein."
"Therefore I counsel you, sir knight," said the other, "that ye turn
back."
"Sir," said Sir Galahad, "ye may be sure I shall not turn back."
Then Sir Galahad looked on his armour to see that nothing was lacking,
and he put his shield afore him, and anon there met him seven fair
maidens, which said unto him, "Sir knight, ye ride here in great folly,
for ye have the water to pass over."
"Why should I not pass the water?" said Galahad. So he rode away from
them, and met with a squire, who said. "Knight, those knights in the
castle defy you, and forbid you to go farther till they know what ye
would."
"Fair sir," said Galahad, "I come to destroy the wicked customs of this
castle."
"Sir," said the squire, "if ye will abide by that, ye shall have enough
to do."
The squire entered into the castle, and anon there came out seven
knights, all brethren. And when they saw Galahad they cried, "Knight,
defend thyself, for we assure thee nothing but death."
Then Galahad put forth his spear, and smote the foremost to the earth.
And therewith all the others smote him on his shield great strokes so
that their spears brake. Then Sir Galahad drew out his sword, and set
upon them so hard that it was marvel to see it, and so, through great
force, he made them to forsake the field. Galahad chased them till
they entered into the castle, and then passed through the castle and
out at another gate.
Now there met Sir Galahad an old man, who said, "Sir, have here the
keys of this castle."
Then Sir Galahad opened the gates, and saw so many people in the
passages that he might not number them, and all said, "Sir, ye be
welcome, for long have we awaited here our deliverance."
Then came to him a gentlewoman, and said, "These knights are fled, but
they will come again this night, and here begin again their evil
practices."
"What will ye that I shall do?" said Galahad.
"Sir," said the gentlewoman, "that ye send after all the knights hither
that hold their lands of this castle, and make them to swear to use the
customs that were used heretofore of old time."
"I will well," said Galahad.
She brought him a horn of ivory, richly bound with gold, and said,
"Sir, blow this horn, which will be heard two miles about this castle."
When Sir Galahad had blown the horn he set himself down upon a bed.
Then a priest came and told him of the evil practices of the castle,
and why it was called the Castle of Maidens. "It chanced in this
wise," said he: "More than seven years agone the seven brethren came,
and lodged with the lord of this castle and of all the country round
about. When they espied the duke's daughter, a full fair woman, they
plotted falsely betwixt themselves and slew the duke and his eldest
son. Then they took the maiden and the treasure of the castle, and by
great force they held all the knights of this castle against their will
under their power in great slavery, and robbed and pillaged the poor
common people of all that they had. Then it happened on a day the
duke's daughter said, 'Ye have done unto me great wrong to slay my own
father and my brother, and thus to hold our lands. But ye shall not
hold this castle many years, for by one knight ye shall be overcome.'
Thus she had prophesied seven years agone.
"'Well,' said the seven knights, 'if that be so, there shall never lady
nor knight pass by this castle but they shall abide here, whether they
will or not, or die for it, till that knight be come by whom we shall
lose this castle.' Therefore it is called the Maidens' Castle, for
many maidens have here been destroyed."
By the time the priest had finished, the knights of the country were
come at the call from the ivory horn. Then Sir Galahad made them do
homage and fealty to the duke's daughter, and set the people in great
ease of heart.
And the next morning one came to Galahad and told him how Gawaine,
Gareth, and Uwaine had slain the seven brethren. "I am glad to hear
it," said Sir Galahad, and he took his armour, mounted his horse, and
commended the people of the Castle of Maidens unto God, and so rode
away.