Book: Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur





[1] Omitted by Caxton, supplied from W. de Worde.

therefore I counsel you knights to be well advised. Well,
said Bagdemagus, I wot well that I am not the best knight
of the world, but yet I shall assay to bear it, and so bare
it out of the minster. And then he said unto Galahad:
An it please you abide here still, till ye wit how that I
speed. I shall abide you, said Galahad. Then King
Bagdemagus took with him a good squire, to bring tidings
unto Sir Galahad how he sped.

Then when they had ridden a two mile and came
to a fair valley afore an hermitage, then they saw a
knight come from that part in white armour, horse and
all; and he came as fast as his horse might run, and his
spear in his rest, and Bagdemagus dressed his spear
against him and brake it upon the white knight. But the
other struck him so hard that he brast the mails, and
sheef him through the right shoulder, for the shield
covered him not as at that time; and so he bare him from
his horse. And therewith he alighted and took the white
shield from him, saying: Knight, thou hast done thyself
great folly, for this shield ought not to be borne but by
him that shall have no peer that liveth. And then he
came to Bagdemagus' squire and said: Bear this shield
unto the good knight Sir Galahad, that thou left in the
abbey, and greet him well by me. Sir, said the squire,
what is your name? Take thou no heed of my name,
said the knight, for it is not for thee to know nor
for none earthly man. Now, fair sir, said the squire, at
the reverence of Jesu Christ, tell me for what cause this
shield may not be borne but if the bearer thereof be
mischieved. Now sith thou hast conjured me so, said the
knight, this shield behoveth unto no man but unto Galahad.
And the squire went unto Bagdemagus and asked whether
he were sore wounded or not. Yea forsooth, said he, I
shall escape hard from the death. Then he fetched his
horse, and brought him with great pain unto an abbey.
Then was he taken down softly and unarmed, and laid in a
bed, and there was looked to his wounds. And as the book
telleth, he lay there long, and escaped hard with the life.



CHAPTER X

How Galahad departed with the shield, and how King
Evelake had received the shield of Joseph of Aramathie.


SIR GALAHAD, said the squire, that knight that wounded
Bagdemagus sendeth you greeting, and bade that ye should
bear this shield, wherethrough great adventures should
befall. Now blessed be God and fortune, said Galahad.
And then he asked his arms, and mounted upon his horse,
and hung the white shield about his neck, and commended
them unto God. And Sir Uwaine said he would bear
him fellowship if it pleased him. Sir, said Galahad, that
may ye not, for I must go alone, save this squire shall
bear me fellowship: and so departed Uwaine.

Then within a while came Galahad thereas the White
Knight abode him by the hermitage, and everych saluted
other courteously. Sir, said Galahad, by this shield be
many marvels fallen. Sir, said the knight, it befell after
the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ thirty-two year, that
Joseph of Aramathie, the gentle knight, the which took
down our Lord off the holy Cross, at that time he
departed from Jerusalem with a great party of his kindred
with him. And so he laboured till that they came to a
city that hight Sarras. And at that same hour that Joseph
came to Sarras there was a king that hight Evelake, that
had great war against the Saracens, and in especial against
one Saracen, the which was King Evelake's cousin, a rich
king and a mighty, which marched nigh this land, and his
name was called Tolleme la Feintes. So on a day these
two met to do battle. Then Joseph, the son of Joseph of
Aramathie, went to King Evelake and told him he should
be discomfit and slain, but if he left his belief of the old
law and believed upon the new law. And then there he
shewed him the right belief of the Holy Trinity, to the
which he agreed unto with all his heart; and there this
shield was made for King Evelake, in the name of Him
that died upon the Cross. And then through his good
belief he had the better of King Tolleme. For when
Evelake was in the battle there was a cloth set afore the
shield, and when he was in the greatest peril he let put
away the cloth, and then his enemies saw a figure of a
man on the Cross, wherethrough they all were discomfit.
And so it befell that a man of King Evelake's was smitten
his hand off, and bare that hand in his other hand; and
Joseph called that man unto him and bade him go with
good devotion touch the Cross. And as soon as that man
had touched the Cross with his hand it was as whole as
ever it was to-fore. Then soon after there fell a great
marvel, that the cross of the shield at one time vanished
away that no man wist where it became. And then King
Evelake was baptised, and for the most part all the people
of that city. So, soon after Joseph would depart, and
King Evelake would go with him, whether he wold or
nold. And so by fortune they came into this land, that
at that time was called Great Britain; and there they
found a great felon paynim, that put Joseph into prison.
And so by fortune tidings came unto a worthy man that
hight Mondrames, and he assembled all his people for the
great renown he had heard of Joseph; and so he came
into the land of Great Britain and disherited this felon
paynim and consumed him, and therewith delivered Joseph
out of prison. And after that all the people were turned
to the Christian faith.



CHAPTER XI

How Joseph made a cross on the white shield with his
blood, and how Galahad was by a monk brought to
a tomb.


NOT long after that Joseph was laid in his deadly bed.
And when King Evelake saw that he made much sorrow,
and said: For thy love I have left my country, and sith
ye shall depart out of this world, leave me some token of
yours that I may think on you. Joseph said: That will
I do full gladly; now bring me your shield that I took
you when ye went into battle against King Tolleme.
Then Joseph bled sore at the nose, so that he might not
by no mean be staunched. And there upon that shield
he made a cross of his own blood. Now may ye see a
remembrance that I love you, for ye shall never see this
shield but ye shall think on me, and it shall be always as
fresh as it is now. And never shall man bear this shield
about his neck but he shall repent it, unto the time that
Galahad, the good knight, bear it; and the last of my
lineage shall have it about his neck, that shall do many
marvellous deeds. Now, said King Evelake, where shall
I put this shield, that this worthy knight may have it?
Ye shall leave it thereas Nacien, the hermit, shall be put
after his death; for thither shall that good knight come
the fifteenth day after that he shall receive the order of
knighthood: and so that day that they set is this time
that he have his shield, and in the same abbey lieth
Nacien, the hermit. And then the White Knight
vanished away.

Anon as the squire had heard these words, he alighted
off his hackney and kneeled down at Galahad's feet, and
prayed him that he might go with him till he had made him
knight. Yea,[1] I would not refuse you. Then will ye
make me a knight? said the squire, and that order, by the
grace of God, shall be well set in me. So Sir Galahad
granted him, and turned again unto the abbey where they
came from; and there men made great joy of Sir Galahad.
And anon as he was alighted there was a monk brought
him unto a tomb in a churchyard, where there was such a
noise that who that heard it should verily nigh be mad or
lose his strength: and sir, they said, we deem it is a fiend.


[1] Caxton ``Yf,'' for which ``Ye'' seems the easiest emendation that
will save the sense.



CHAPTER XII

Of the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and heard in the
tomb, and how he made Melias knight.


NOW lead me thither, said Galahad. And so they did, all
armed save his helm. Now, said the good man, go to
the tomb and lift it up. So he did, and heard a great
noise; and piteously he said, that all men might hear it:
Sir Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, come thou not
nigh me, for thou shalt make me go again there where I
have been so long. But Galahad was nothing afraid, but
lifted up the stone; and there came out so foul a smoke,
and after he saw the foulest figure leap thereout that ever
he saw in the likeness of a man; and then he blessed him
and wist well it was a fiend. Then heard he a voice say
Galahad, I see there environ about thee so many angels
that my power may not dere thee{sic} Right so Sir Galahad
saw a body all armed lie in that tomb, and beside him a
sword. Now, fair brother, said Galahad, let us remove
this body, for it is not worthy to lie in this churchyard,
for he was a false Christian man. And therewith they all
departed and went to the abbey. And anon as he was
unarmed a good man came and set him down by him and
said: Sir, I shall tell you what betokeneth all that ye saw
in the tomb; for that covered body betokeneth the
duresse of the world, and the great sin that Our Lord
found in the world. For there was such wretchedness
that the father loved not the son, nor the son loved not
the father; and that was one of the causes that Our Lord
took flesh and blood of a clean maiden, for our sins were
so great at that time that well-nigh all was wickedness.
Truly, said Galahad, I believe you right well.

So Sir Galahad rested him there that night; and upon
the morn he made the squire knight, and asked him his
name, and of what kindred he was come. Sir, said he,
men calleth me Melias de Lile, and I am the son of the
King of Denmark. Now, fair sir, said Galahad, sith
that ye be come of kings and queens, now look that
knighthood be well set in you, for ye ought to be a mirror
unto all chivalry. Sir, said Sir Melias, ye say sooth. But,
sir, sithen ye have made me a knight ye must of right
grant me my first desire that is reasonable. Ye say sooth,
said Galahad. Melias said: Then that ye will suffer me
to ride with you in this quest of the Sangreal, till that some
adventure depart us. I grant you, sir.

Then men brought Sir Melias his armour and his spear
and his horse, and so Sir Galahad and he rode forth all
that week or they found any adventure. And then upon a
Monday in the morning, as they were departed from an
abbey, they came to a cross which departed two ways, and
in that cross were letters written that said thus: Now, ye
knights errant, the which goeth to seek knights adventurous,
see here two ways; that one way defendeth thee that
thou ne go that way, for he shall not go out of the way
again but if he be a good man and a worthy knight; and
if thou go on the left hand, thou shalt not lightly there
win prowess, for thou shalt in this way be soon assayed.
Sir, said Melias to Galahad, if it like you 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 deem I should better escape in that way
than ye. Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have that
adventure. Take it in God's name, said Galahad.



CHAPTER XIII

Of the adventure that Melias had, and how Galahad revenged
him, and how Melias was carried into an abbey.


AND then rode Melias into an old forest, and therein he
rode two days and more. And then he came into a fair
meadow, and there was a fair lodge of boughs. And then
he espied in that lodge a chair, wherein was a crown of gold,
subtly wrought. Also there were cloths covered upon the
earth, and many delicious meats set thereon. Sir Melias
beheld this adventure, and thought it marvellous, but he
had no hunger, but of the crown of gold he took much
keep; and therewith he stooped down and took it up, and
rode his way with it. And anon he saw a knight came
riding after him that said: Knight, set down that crown
which is not yours, and therefore defend you. Then Sir
Melias blessed him and said: Fair lord of heaven, help and
save thy new-made knight. And then they let their horses
run as fast as they might, so that the other knight smote
Sir Melias through hauberk and through the left side, that
he fell to the earth nigh dead. And then he took the
crown and went his way; and Sir Melias lay still and had
no power to stir.

In the meanwhile by fortune there came Sir Galahad
and found him there in peril of death. And then he said:
Ah Melias, who hath wounded you? therefore it had been
better to have ridden 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 here
beside, that I may be confessed and have my rights. It
shall be done, said Galahad, but where is he that hath
wounded you? With that Sir Galahad heard in the leaves
cry on high: Knight, keep thee from me. Ah sir, said
Melias, beware, for that is he that hath slain me. Sir
Galahad answered: Sir knight, come on your peril. Then
either dressed to other, and came together as fast as their
horses might run, and Galahad smote him so that his spear
went through his shoulder, and smote him down off his
horse, and in the falling Galahad's spear brake.

With that came out another knight out of the leaves,
and brake a spear upon Galahad or ever he might turn
him. Then Galahad drew out his sword and smote off
the left arm of him, so that it fell to the earth. And then
he fled, and Sir Galahad pursued fast after him. And then
he turned again unto Sir Melias, and there he alighted and
dressed him softly on his horse to-fore him, for the truncheon
of his spear was in his body; and Sir Galahad stert up
behind him, and held him in his arms, and so brought him
to the abbey, and there unarmed him and brought him
to his chamber. And then he asked his Saviour. And
when he had received Him he said unto Sir Galahad: Sir,
let death come when it pleaseth him. And therewith he
drew out the truncheon of the spear out of his body: and
then he swooned.

Then came there an old monk which sometime had
been a knight, and beheld Sir Melias. And anon he ransacked
him; and then he said unto Sir Galahad: I shall
heal him of his wound, by the grace of God, within the
term of seven weeks. Then was Sir Galahad glad, and
unarmed him, and said he would abide there three days.
And then he asked Sir Melias how it stood with him.
Then he said he was turned unto helping, God be
thanked.



CHAPTER XIV

How Sir Galahad departed, and how he was commanded
to go to the Castle of Maidens to destroy the wicked
custom.


NOW will I depart, said Galahad, for I have much on hand,
for many good knights be full busy about it, and this
knight and I were in the same quest of the Sangreal. Sir,
said a good man, for his sin he was thus wounded; and
I marvel, said the good man, 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
highway of our Lord Jesu Christ, and the way of a good
true good liver. And the other way betokeneth the way
of sinners and of misbelievers. And when the devil saw
your pride and presumption, for to take you in the quest
of the Sangreal, that made you to be overthrown, for it
may not be enchieved but by virtuous living. Also, the
writing on the cross was a signification of heavenly deeds,
and of knightly deeds in God's works, and no knightly
deeds in worldly works. And pride is head of all deadly
sins, that caused this knight to depart from Galahad. And
where thou tookest the crown of gold thou sinnest in
covetise and in theft: all this were no knightly deeds.
And this Galahad, the holy knight, the which fought with
the two knights, the two knights signify the two deadly
sins which were wholly in this knight Melias; and they
might not withstand you, for ye are without deadly sin.

Now departed Galahad from thence, and betaught them
all unto God. Sir Melias said: My lord Galahad, as soon
as I may ride I shall seek you. God send you health, said
Galahad, and so took his horse and departed, and rode
many journeys forward and backward, as adventure would
lead him. And at the last it happened him to depart from
a place or a castle the which was named Abblasoure; and
he had heard no mass, the which he was wont ever to hear
or ever he departed out of any castle or place, and kept
that for a custom. Then Sir Galahad came unto a mountain
where he found an old chapel, and found there
nobody, for all, all was desolate; and there he kneeled
to-fore the altar, and besought God of wholesome counsel.
So 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.



CHAPTER XV

How Sir Galahad fought with the knights of the castle, and
destroyed the wicked custom.


WHEN Sir Galahad heard this he thanked God, and took
his horse; and he had not ridden but half a mile, he saw
in the valley afore him a strong castle with deep ditches,
and there ran beside it a fair river that hight Severn; and
there he met with a man of great age, and 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 they that be conversant therein,
for all pity is out thereof, and all hardiness and mischief
is therein. Therefore, I counsel you, sir knight, to turn
again. Sir, said Galahad, wit you well I shall not turn
again. Then looked Sir Galahad on his arms that nothing
failed him, and then he put his shield afore him; and anon
there met him seven fair maidens, the which said unto
him: Sir knight, ye ride here in a great folly, for ye have
the water to pass over. Why should I not pass the water?
said Galahad. So rode he away from them and met with
a squire that said: Knight, those knights in the castle
defy you, and defenden you ye go no further till that they
wit what ye would. Fair sir, said Galahad, I come for to
destroy the wicked custom of this castle. Sir, an ye will
abide by that ye shall have enough to do. Go you now,
said Galahad, and haste my needs.

Then the squire entered into the castle. And anon
after there came out of the castle seven knights, and all
were brethren. And when they saw Galahad they cried:
Knight, keep thee, for we assure thee nothing but death.
Why, said Galahad, will ye all have ado with me at once?
Yea, said they, thereto mayst thou trust. Then Galahad
put forth his spear and smote the foremost to the earth,
that near he brake his neck. And therewithal the other
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;
and Galahad chased them till they entered into the castle,
and so passed through the castle at another gate.

And there met Sir Galahad an old man clothed in
religious clothing, and said: Sir, have here the keys of
this castle. Then Sir Galahad opened the gates, and saw
so much people in the streets that he might not number
them, and all said: Sir, ye be welcome, for long have we
abiden here our deliverance. Then came to him a gentlewoman
and said: These knights be fled, but they will
come again this night, and here to begin again their evil
custom. 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 for to use the customs that were used
heretofore of old time. I will well, said Galahad. And
there she brought him an horn of ivory, bounden with
gold richly, and said: Sir, blow this horn which will be
heard two mile about this castle. When Sir Galahad had
blown the horn he set him down upon a bed.

Then came a priest to Galahad, and said: Sir, it is
past a seven year agone that these seven brethren came
into this castle, and harboured with the lord of this castle
that hight the Duke Lianour, and he was lord of all this
country. And when they espied the duke's daughter,
that was a full fair woman, then by their false covin they
made debate betwixt themself, and the duke of his goodness
would have departed them, and there they slew him
and his eldest son. And then they took the maiden and
the treasure of the castle. And then by great force they
held all the knights of this castle against their will under
their obeissance, and in great service and truage, robbing
and pilling the poor common people of all that they
had. So it happened on a day the duke's daughter said:
Ye have done unto me great wrong to slay mine own
father, and my brother, and thus to hold our lands: not
for then, she said, ye shall not hold this castle for many
years, for by one knight ye shall be overcome. Thus she
prophesied seven years agone. Well, said the seven
knights, sithen ye say so, there shall never lady nor knight
pass this castle but they shall abide maugre their heads, or
die therefore, till that knight be come by whom we shall
lose this castle. And therefore is it called the Maidens'
Castle, for they have devoured many maidens. Now, said
Galahad, is she here for whom this castle was lost? Nay
sir, said the priest, she was dead within these three nights
after that she was thus enforced; and sithen have they
kept her younger sister, which endureth great pains with
mo other ladies.

By this were the knights of the country come, and
then he made them do homage and fealty to the king's
daughter, and set them in great ease of heart. And in
the morn there came one to Galahad and told him how
that Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine, had slain the seven
brethren. I suppose well, said Sir Galahad, and took his
armour and his horse, and commended them unto God.



CHAPTER XVI

How Sir Gawaine came to the abbey for to follow Galahad,
and how he was shriven to a hermit.


NOW, saith the tale, after Sir Gawaine departed, he rode
many journeys, both toward and froward. And at the
last he came to the abbey where Sir Galahad had the white
shield, and there Sir Gawaine learned the way to sewe after
Sir Galahad; and so he rode to the abbey where Melias
lay sick, and there Sir Melias told Sir Gawaine of the
marvellous adventures that Sir Galahad did. Certes, said
Sir Gawaine, I am not happy that I took not the way that
he went, for an I may meet with him I will not depart
from him lightly, for all marvellous adventures Sir
Galahad enchieveth. Sir, said one of the monks, he will
not of your fellowship. Why? said Sir Gawaine. Sir,
said he, for ye be wicked and sinful, and he is full blessed.
Right as they thus stood talking there came in riding Sir
Gareth. And then they made joy either of other. And
on the morn they heard mass, and so departed. And by
the way they met with Sir Uwaine les Avoutres, and
there Sir Uwaine told Sir Gawaine how he had met with
none adventure sith he departed from the court. Nor
we, said Sir Gawaine. And either promised other of the
three knights not to depart while they were in that quest,
but if fortune caused it.

So they departed and rode by fortune till that they
came by the Castle of Maidens; and there the seven
brethren espied the three knights, and said: Sithen, we
be flemed by one knight from this castle, we shall destroy
all the knights of King Arthur's that we may overcome,
for the love of Sir Galahad. And therewith the seven
knights set upon the three knights, and by fortune Sir
Gawaine slew one ot the brethren, and each one of his
fellows slew another, and so slew the remnant. And then
they took the way under the castle, and there they lost
the way that Sir Galahad rode, and there everych of
them departed from other; and Sir Gawaine rode till he
came to an hermitage, and there he found the good man
saying his evensong of Our Lady; and there Sir Gawaine
asked harbour for charity, and the good man granted it
him gladly.

Then the good man asked him what he was. Sir,
he said, I am a knight of King Arthur's that am in the
quest of the Sangreal, and my name is Sir Gawaine.
Sir, said the good man, I would wit how it standeth
betwixt God and you. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I will
with a good will shew you my life if it please you;
and there he told the hermit how a monk of an abbey
called me wicked knight. He might well say it, said
the hermit, for when ye were first made knight ye
should have taken you to knightly deeds and virtuous
living, and ye have done the contrary, for ye have
lived mischievously many winters; and Sir Galahad is
a maid and sinned never, and that is the cause he shall
enchieve where he goeth that ye nor none such shall
not attain, nor none in your fellowship, for ye have
used the most untruest life that ever I heard knight
live. For certes had ye not been so wicked as ye are,
never had the seven brethren been slain by you and
your two fellows. For Sir Galahad himself alone beat
them all seven the day to-fore, but his living is such
he shall slay no man lightly. Also I may say you the
Castle of Maidens betokeneth the good souls that were
in prison afore the Incarnation of Jesu Christ. And the
seven knights betoken the seven deadly sins that reigned
that time in the world; and I may liken the good
Galahad unto the son of the High Father, that lighted
within a maid, and bought all the souls out of thrall,
so did Sir Galahad deliver all the maidens out of the
woful castle.

Copyright (c) 2007. knowncrafts.net. All rights reserved.