Book: Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur






CHAPTER XIII

How Sir Launcelot entered into the ship where Sir Percivale's
sister lay dead, and how he met with Sir Galahad,
his son.


NOW saith the history, that when Launcelot was come to
the water of Mortoise, as it is rehearsed before, he was in
great peril, and so he laid him down and slept, and took
the adventure that God would send him. So when he was
asleep there came a vision unto him and said: Launcelot,
arise up and take thine armour, and enter into the first
ship that thou shalt find. And when he heard these words
he start up and saw great clearness about him. And then
he lift up his hand and blessed him, and so took his arms
and made him ready; and so by adventure he came by a
strand, and found a ship the which was without sail or oar.
And as soon as he was within the ship there he felt the
most sweetness that ever he felt, and he was fulfilled with
all thing that he thought on or desired. Then he said:
Fair sweet Father, Jesu Christ, I wot not in what joy
I am, for this joy passeth all earthly joys that ever I was
in. And so in this joy he laid him down to the ship's
board, and slept till day. And when he awoke he found
there a fair bed, and therein lying a gentlewoman dead,
the which was Sir Percivale's sister. And as Launcelot
devised her, he espied in her right hand a writ, the which
he read, the which told him all the adventures that ye
have heard to-fore, and of what lineage she was come. So
with this gentlewoman Sir Launcelot was a month and
more. If ye would ask how he lived, He that fed the
people of Israel with manna in the desert, so was he fed;
for every day when he had said his prayers he was sustained
with the grace of the Holy Ghost.

So on a night he went to play him by the water side,
for he was somewhat weary of the ship. And then he
listened and heard an horse come, and one riding upon
him. And when he came nigh he seemed a knight. And
so he let him pass, and went thereas the ship was; and
there he alighted, and took the saddle and the bridle and
put the horse from him, and went into the ship. And then
Launcelot dressed unto him, and said: Ye be welcome.
And he answered and saluted him again, and asked him:
What is your name? for much my heart giveth unto you.
Truly, said he, my name is Launcelot du Lake. Sir, said
he, then be ye welcome, for ye were the beginner of me in
this world. Ah, said he, are ye Galahad? Yea, forsooth,
said he; and so he kneeled down and asked him his
blessing, and after took off his helm and kissed him.
And there was great joy between them, for there is no
tongue can tell the joy that they made either of other,
and many a friendly word spoken between, as kin
would, the which is no need here to be rehearsed. And
there everych told other of their adventures and marvels
that were befallen to them in many journeys sith that they
departed from the court.

Anon, as Galahad saw the gentlewoman dead in the
bed, he knew her well enough, and told great worship of
her, that she was the best maid living, and it was great
pity of her death. But when Launcelot heard how the
marvellous sword was gotten, and who made it, and all
the marvels rehearsed afore, then he prayed Galahad, his
son, that he would show him the sword, and so he did;
and anon he kissed the pommel, and the hilt, and the
scabbard. Truly, said Launcelot, never erst knew I of so
high adventures done, and so marvellous and strange.
So dwelt Launcelot and Galahad within that ship half a
year, and served God daily and nightly with all their
power; and often they arrived in isles far from folk,
where there repaired none but wild beasts, and there they
found many strange adventures and perilous, which they
brought to an end; but for those adventures were with
wild beasts, and not in the quest of the Sangreal, therefore
the tale maketh here no mention thereof, for it would be
too long to tell of all those adventures that befell them.



CHAPTER XIV

How a knight brought unto Sir Galahad a horse, and bade
him come from his father, Sir Launcelot.


SO after, on a Monday, it befell that they arrived in the
edge of a forest to-fore a cross; and then saw they a
knight armed all in white, and was richly horsed, and led
in his right hand a white horse; and so he came to the
ship, and saluted the two knights on the High Lord's
behalf, and said: Galahad, sir, ye have been long enough
with your father, come out of the ship, and start upon
this horse, and go where the adventures shall lead thee in
the quest of the Sangreal. Then he went to his father
and kissed him sweetly, and said: Fair sweet father, I wot
not when I shall see you more till I see the body of Jesu
Christ. I pray you, said Launcelot, pray ye to the High
Father that He hold me in His service. And so he took
his horse, and there they heard a voice that said: Think
for to do well, for the one shall never see the other before
the dreadful day of doom. Now, son Galahad, said
Launcelot, since we shall depart, and never see other, I
pray to the High Father to conserve me and you both.
Sir, said Galahad, no prayer availeth so much as yours
And therewith Galahad entered into the forest.

And the wind arose, and drove Launcelot more than a
month throughout the sea, where he slept but little, but
prayed to God that he might see some tidings of the
Sangreal. So it befell on a night, at midnight, he arrived
afore a castle, on the back side, which was rich and fair,
and there was a postern opened toward the sea, and was
open without any keeping, save two lions kept the entry;
and the moon shone clear. Anon Sir Launcelot heard a
voice that said: Launcelot, go out of this ship and enter
into the castle, where thou shalt see a great part of thy
desire. Then he ran to his arms, and so armed him, and
so went to the gate and saw the lions. Then set he hand
to his sword and drew it. Then there came a dwarf
suddenly, and smote him on the arm so sore that the
sword fell out of his hand. Then heard he a voice say:
O man of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore trowest
thou more on thy harness than in thy Maker, for He
might more avail thee than thine armour, in whose
service that thou art set. Then said Launcelot: Fair
Father Jesu Christ, I thank thee of Thy great mercy that
Thou reprovest me of my misdeed; now see I well that
ye hold me for your servant. Then took he again his
sword and put it up in his sheath, and made a cross in his
forehead, and came to the lions, and they made semblaunt
to do him harm. Notwithstanding he passed by them
without hurt, and entered into the castle to the chief
fortress, and there were they all at rest. Then Launcelot
entered in so armed, for he found no gate nor door but it
was open. And at the last he found a chamber whereof
the door was shut, and he set his hand thereto to have
opened it, but he might not.



CHAPTER XV

How Sir Launcelot was to-fore the door of the chamber
wherein the Holy Sangreal was.


THEN he enforced him mickle to undo the door. Then
he listened and heard a voice which sang so sweetly that
it seemed none earthly thing; and him thought the voice
said: Joy and honour be to the Father of Heaven. Then
Launcelot kneeled down to-fore the chamber, for well
wist he that there was the Sangreal within that chamber.
Then said he: Fair sweet Father, Jesu Christ, if ever I
did thing that pleased Thee, Lord for Thy pity never
have me not in despite for my sins done aforetime, and
that Thou show me something of that I seek. And with
that he saw the chamber door open, and there came out a
great clearness, that the house was as bright as all the
torches of the world had been there.

So came he to the chamber door, and would have
entered. And anon a voice said to him: Flee, Launcelot,
and enter not, for thou oughtest not to do it; and if
thou enter thou shalt for-think it. Then he withdrew
him aback right heavy. Then looked he up in the midst
of the chamber, and saw a table of silver, and the Holy
Vessel, covered with red samite, and many angels about it,
whereof one held a candle of wax burning, and the other
held a cross, and the ornaments of an altar. And before
the Holy Vessel he saw a good man clothed as a priest.
And it seemed that he was at the sacring of the mass. And
it seemed to Launcelot that above the priest's hands were
three men, whereof the two put the youngest by likeness
between the priest's hands; and so he lift it up right high,
and it seemed to show so to the people. And then
Launcelot marvelled not a little, for him thought the
priest was so greatly charged of the figure that him
seemed that he should fall to the earth. And when he
saw none about him that would help him, then came he to
the door a great pace, and said: Fair Father Jesu Christ,
ne take it for no sin though I help the good man which
hath great need of help.

Right so entered he into the chamber, and came
toward the table of silver; and when he came nigh he felt
a breath, that him thought it was intermeddled with fire,
which smote him so sore in the visage that him thought it
brent his visage; and therewith he fell to the earth, and
had no power to arise, as he that was so araged, that had
lost the power of his body, and his hearing, and his seeing.
Then felt he many hands about him, which took him up
and bare him out of the chamber door, without any
amending of his swoon, and left him there, seeming dead
to all people.

So upon the morrow when it was fair day they within
were arisen, and found Launcelot lying afore the chamber
door. All they marvelled how that he came in, and so
they looked upon him, and felt his pulse to wit whether
there were any life in him; and so they found life in him,
but he might not stand nor stir no member that he had.
And so they took him by every part of the body, and
bare him into a chamber, and laid him in a rich bed, far
from all folk; and so he lay four days. Then the one
said he was alive, and the other said, Nay. In the name
of God, said an old man, for I do you verily to wit he is
not dead, but he is so full of life as the mightiest of you
all; and therefore I counsel you that he be well kept till
God send him life again.



CHAPTER XVI

How Sir launcelot had lain four-and-twenty days and as
many nights as a dead man, and other divers matters.


IN such manner they kept Launcelot four-and-twenty
days and all so many nights, that ever he lay still as a
dead man; and at the twenty-fifth day befell him after
midday that he opened his eyes. And when he saw folk
he made great sorrow, and said: Why have ye awaked
me, for I was more at ease than I am now. O Jesu
Christ, who might be so blessed that might see openly
thy great marvels of secretness there where no sinner may
be! What have ye seen? said they about him. I
have seen, said he, so great marvels that no tongue may
tell, and more than any heart can think, and had not my
son been here afore me I had seen much more.

Then they told him how he had lain there four-and-twenty
days and nights. Then him thought it was
punishment for the four-and-twenty years that he had
been a sinner, wherefore Our Lord put him in penance
four-and-twenty days and nights. Then looked Sir
Launcelot afore him, and saw the hair which he had
borne nigh a year, for that he for-thought him right
much that he had broken his promise unto the hermit,
which he had avowed to do. Then they asked how it
stood with him. Forsooth, said he, I am whole of body,
thanked be Our Lord; therefore, sirs, for God's love tell
me where I am. Then said they all that he was in the
castle of Carbonek.

Therewith came a gentlewoman and brought him
a shirt of small linen cloth, but he changed not there,
but took the hair to him again. Sir, said they, the
quest of the Sangreal is achieved now right in you, that
never shall ye see of the Sangreal no more than ye have
seen. Now I thank God, said Launcelot, of His great
mercy of that I have seen, for it sufficeth me; for as I
suppose no man in this world hath lived better than I
have done to enchieve that I have done. And therewith
he took the hair and clothed him in it, and above that he
put a linen shirt, and after a robe of scarlet, fresh and
new. And when he was so arrayed they marvelled all,
for they knew him that he was Launcelot, the good
knight. And then they said all: O my lord Sir Launcelot,
be that ye? And he said: Truly I am he.

Then came word to King Pelles that the knight that
had lain so long dead was Sir Launcelot. Then was the
king right glad, and went to see him. And when Launcelot
saw him come he dressed him against him, and there
made the king great joy of him. And there the king
told him tidings that his fair daughter was dead. Then
Launcelot was right heavy of it, and said: Sir, me
forthinketh the death of your daughter, for she was a full
fair lady, fresh and young. And well I wot she bare the
best knight that is now on the earth, or that ever was sith
God was born. So the king held him there four days,
and on the morrow he took his leave at King Pelles
and at all the fellowship, and thanked them of their great
labour.

Right so as they sat at their dinner in the chief salle,
then was so befallen that the Sangreal had fulfilled the table
with all manner of meats that any heart might think. So
as they sat they saw all the doors and the windows of the
place were shut without man's hand, whereof they were
all abashed, and none wist what to do.

And then it happed suddenly a knight came to the
chief door and knocked, and cried: Undo the door. But
they would not. And ever he cried: Undo; but they
would not. And at last it noyed them so much that
the king himself arose and came to a window there where
the knight called. Then he said: Sir knight, ye shall
not enter at this time while the Sangreal is here, and
therefore go into another; for certes ye be none of the
knights of the quest, but one of them which hath served
the fiend, and hast left the service of Our Lord: and he
was passing wroth at the king's words. Sir knight, said
the king, sith ye would so fain enter, say me of what
country ye be. Sir, said he, I am of the realm of Logris,
and my name is Ector de Maris, and brother unto my
lord, Sir Launcelot. In the name of God, said the king,
me for-thinketh of what I have said, for your brother is
here within. And when Ector de Maris understood that
his brother was there, for he was the man in the world
that he most dread and loved, and then he said: Ah God,
now doubleth my sorrow and shame. Full truly said the
good man of the hill unto Gawaine and to me of our
dreams. Then went he out of the court as fast as his
horse might, and so throughout the castle.



CHAPTER XVII

How Sir Launcelot returned towards Logris, and of other
adventures which he saw in the way.


THEN King Pelles came to Sir Launcelot and told him
tidings of his brother, whereof he was sorry, that he wist
not what to do. So Sir Launcelot departed, and took his
arms, and said he would go see the realm of Logris,
which I have not seen in twelve months. And there
with he commended the king to God, and so rode through
many realms. And at the last he came to a white abbey,
and there they made him that night great cheer; and on
the morn he rose and heard mass. And afore an altar
he found a rich tomb, which was newly made; and then
he took heed, and saw the sides written with gold which
said: Here lieth King Bagdemagus of Gore, which King
Arthur's nephew slew; and named him, Sir Gawaine.
Then was not he a little sorry, for Launcelot loved him
much more than any other, and had it been any other
than Gawaine he should not have escaped from death to
life; and said to himself: Ah Lord God, this is a great
hurt unto King Arthur's court, the loss of such a man.
And then he departed and came to the abbey where
Galahad did the adventure of the tombs, and won the
white shield with the red cross; and there had he great
cheer all that night.

And on the morn he turned unto Camelot, where he
found King Arthur and the queen. But many of the
knights of the Round Table were slain and destroyed,
more than half. And so three were come home, Ector,
Gawaine, and Lionel, and many other that need not to
be rehearsed. And all the court was passing glad of Sir
Launcelot, and the king asked him many tidings of his
son Galahad. And there Launcelot told the king of his
adventures that had befallen him since he departed. And
also he told him of the adventures of Galahad, Percivale,
and Bors, which that he knew by the letter of the dead
damosel, and as Galahad had told him. Now God would,
said the king, that they were all three here. That shall
never be, said Launcelot, for two of them shall ye never
see, but one of them shall come again.

Now leave we this story and speak of Galahad.



CHAPTER XVIII

How Galahad came to King Mordrains, and of other matters
and adventures.


NOW, saith the story, 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, 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 virtues, 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. Then 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 so came into a perilous
forest where he found the well the which boileth with
great waves, as the tale telleth to-fore. And as soon as
Galahad set his hand thereto it ceased, so that it brent no
more, and the heat departed. For that it brent it was a
sign of lechery, the which was that time much used. 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 Launcelot had been to-forehand,
and found the tomb of King Bagdemagus, but he was
founder thereof, Joseph of Aramathie'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
brent 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 greses, 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 hath
dwelled in this heat this three hundred winter and
four-and-fifty to be purged of the sin that I did against Joseph of
Aramathie. Then Galahad took the body in his arms and
bare 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.



CHAPTER XIX

How Sir Percivale and Sir Bors met with Sir Galahad,
and how they came to the castle of Carbonek, and other
matters.


SO departed he from thence, and commended the brethren
to God; and so he rode five days till that he came to the
Maimed King. And ever followed Percivale the five days,
asking where he had been; and so one told him how the
adventures of Logris were enchieved. So on a day it befell
that they came out of a great forest, and there they met at
traverse with Sir Bors, the which rode alone. It is none
need to tell if they were glad; and them he saluted, and
they yielded him honour and good adventure, and everych
told other. Then said Bors: It is mo than a year and
an half that I ne lay ten times where men dwelled, but in
wild forests and in mountains, but God was ever my
comfort.

Then rode they a great while till that they came to the
castle of Carbonek. And when they were entered within
the castle King Pelles knew them; then there was great
joy, for they wist well by their coming that they had
fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal. Then Eliazar, King
Pelles' son, brought to-fore them the broken sword
wherewith Joseph was stricken through the thigh. Then
Bors set his hand thereto, if that he might have soldered
it again; but it would not be. Then he took it to Percivale,
but he had no more power thereto than he. Now
have ye it again, said Percivale to Galahad, for an it be ever
enchieved by any bodily man ye must do it. And then he
took the pieces and set them together, and they seemed
that they had never been broken, and as well as it had
been first forged. And when they within espied that the
adventure of the sword was enchieved, then they gave the
sword to Bors, for it might not be better set; for he was
a good knight and a worthy man.

And a little afore even the sword arose great and
marvellous, and was full of great heat that many men fell
for dread. And anon alighted a voice among them, and
said: They that ought not to sit at the table of Jesu
Christ arise, for now shall very knights be fed. So they
went thence, all save King Pelles and Eliazar, his son, the
which were holy men, and a maid which was his niece;
and so these three fellows and they three were there, no
mo. Anon they saw knights all armed came in at the
hall door, and did off their helms and their arms, and said
unto Galahad: Sir, we have hied right much for to be
with you at this table where the holy meat shall be
departed. Then said he: Ye be welcome, but of whence
be ye? So three of them said they were of Gaul, and
other three said they were of Ireland, and the other three
said they were of Denmark. So as they sat thus there
came out a bed of tree, of a chamber, the which four
gentlewomen brought; and in the bed lay a good man
sick, and a crown of gold upon his head; and there in the
midst of the place they set him down, and went again
their way. Then he lift up his head, and said: Galahad,
Knight, ye be welcome, for much have I desired your
coming, for in such pain and in such anguish I have been
long. But now I trust to God the term is come that my
pain shall be allayed, that I shall pass out of this world so
as it was promised me long ago. Therewith a voice said:
There be two among you that be not in the quest of the
Sangreal, and therefore depart ye.



CHAPTER XX
How Galahad and his fellows were fed of the Holy Sangreal,
and how Our Lord appeared to them, and other things.


THEN King Pelles and his son departed. And therewithal
beseemed them that there came a man, and four angels
from heaven, clothed in likeness of a bishop, and had a
cross in his hand; and these four angels bare him up in a
chair, and set him down before the table of silver where
upon the Sangreal was; and it seemed that he had in
midst of his forehead letters the which said: See ye here
Joseph, the first bishop of Christendom, the same which Our
Lord succoured in the city of Sarras in the spiritual place.
Then the knights marvelled, for that bishop was dead
more than three hundred year to-fore. O knights, said
he, marvel not, for I was sometime an earthly man.
With that they heard the chamber door open, and there
they saw angels; and two bare candles of wax, and the
third a towel, and the fourth a spear which bled marvellously,
that three drops fell within a box which he held
with his other hand. And they set the candles upon the
table, and the third the towel upon the vessel, and the
fourth the holy spear even upright upon the vessel. And
then the bishop made semblaunt as though he would have
gone to the sacring of the mass. And then he took an
ubblie which was made in likeness of bread. And at the
lifting up there came a figure in likeness of a child, and
the visage was as red and as bright as any fire, and smote
himself into the bread, so that they all saw it that the
bread was formed of a fleshly man; and then he put it
into the Holy Vessel again, and then he did that longed
to a priest to do to a mass. And then he went to Galahad
and kissed him, and bade him go and kiss his fellows: and
so he did anon. Now, said he, servants of Jesu Christ,
ye shall be fed afore this table with sweet meats that never
knights tasted. And when he had said, he vanished away.
And they set them at the table in great dread, and made
their prayers.

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