Book: Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur




Then looked they and saw a man come out of the
Holy Vessel, that had all the signs of the passion of Jesu
Christ, bleeding all openly, and said: My knights, and
my servants, and my true children, which be come out of
deadly life into spiritual life, I will now no longer hide me
from you, but ye shall see now a part of my secrets and of
my hidden things: now hold and receive the high meat which
ye have so much desired. Then took he himself the Holy
Vessel and came to Galahad; and he kneeled down, and
there he received his Saviour, and after him so received all
his fellows; and they thought it so sweet that it was
marvellous to tell. Then said he to Galahad: Son,
wottest thou what I hold betwixt my hands? Nay, said
he, but if ye will tell me. This is, said he, the holy dish
wherein I ate the lamb on Sheer-Thursday. And now hast
thou seen that thou most desired to see, but yet hast thou
not seen it so openly as thou shalt see it in the city of
Sarras in the spiritual place. Therefore thou must go
hence and bear with thee this Holy Vessel; for this night
it shall depart from the realm of Logris, that it shall never
be seen more here. And wottest thou wherefore? For
he is not served nor worshipped to his right by them of
this land, for they be turned to evil living; therefore I
shall disherit them of the honour which I have done them.
And therefore go ye three to-morrow unto the sea, where
ye shall find your ship ready, and with you take the sword
with the strange girdles, and no more with you but Sir
Percivale and Sir Bors. Also I will that ye take with you
of the blood of this spear for to anoint the Maimed King,
both his legs and all his body, and he shall have his health.
Sir, said Galahad, why shall not these other fellows go with
us? For this cause: for right as I departed my apostles
one here and another there, so I will that ye depart; and
two of you shall die in my service, but one of you shall
come again and tell tidings. Then gave he them his
blessing and vanished away.



CHAPTER XXI

How Galahad anointed with the blood of the spear the
Maimed King, and of other adventures.


AND Galahad went anon to the spear which lay upon the
table, and touched the blood with his fingers, and came
after to the Maimed King and anointed his legs. And
therewith he clothed him anon, and start upon his feet out
of his bed as an whole man, and thanked Our Lord that
He had healed him. And that was not to the worldward,
for anon he yielded him to a place of religion of
white monks, and was a full holy man. That same night
about midnight came a voice among them which said:
My sons and not my chief sons, my friends and not my
warriors, go ye hence where ye hope best to do and as I
bade you. Ah, thanked' be Thou, Lord, that Thou wilt
vouchsafe to call us, Thy sinners. Now may we well
prove that we have not lost our pains. And anon in
all haste they took their harness and departed. But the
three knights of Gaul, one of them hight Claudine, King
Claudas' son, and the other two were great gentlemen.
Then prayed Galahad to everych of them, that if they
come to King Arthur's court that they should salute my
lord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and all the fellowship[1] of
the Round Table; and prayed them if that they came on
that part that they should not forget it.

Right so departed Galahad, Percivale and Bors with
him; and so they rode three days, and then they came to
a rivage, and found the ship whereof the tale speaketh of


[1] So W. de Worde; Caxton ``of them.''


to-fore. And when they came to the board they found in
the midst the table of silver which they had left with the
Maimed King, and the Sangreal which was covered with
red samite. Then were they glad to have such things in
their fellowship; and so they entered and made great
reverence thereto; and Galahad fell in his prayer long time
to Our Lord, that at what time he asked, that he should
pass out of this world. So much he prayed till a voice
said to him: Galahad, thou shalt have thy request; and
when thou askest the death of thy body thou shalt have it,
and then shalt thou find the life of the soul. Percivale
heard this, and prayed him, of fellowship that was between
them, to tell him wherefore he asked such things. That
shall I tell you, said Galahad; the other day when we saw
a part of the adventures of the Sangreal I was in such a joy
of heart, that I trow never man was that was earthly. And
therefore I wot well, when my body is dead my soul shall
be in great joy to see the blessed Trinity every day, and
the majesty of Our Lord, Jesu Christ.

So long were they in the ship that they said to Galahad:
Sir, in this bed ought ye to lie, for so saith the scripture.
And so he laid him down and slept a great while; and
when he awaked he looked afore him and saw the city of
Sarras. And as they would have landed they saw the ship
wherein Percivale had put his sister in. Truly, said
Percivale, in the name of God, well hath my sister holden us
covenant. Then took they out of the ship the table of
silver, and he took it to Percivale and to Bors, to go to-fore,
and Galahad came behind. And right so they went to the
city, and at the gate of the city they saw an old man
crooked. Then Galahad called him and bade him help to
bear this heavy thing. Truly, said the old man, it is ten
year ago that I might not go but with crutches. Care thou
not, said Galahad, and arise up and shew thy good will.
And so he assayed, and found himself as whole as ever he
was. Than ran he to the table, and took one part against
Galahad. And anon arose there great noise in the city,
that a cripple was made whole by knights marvellous that
entered into the city.

Then anon after, the three knights went to the water,
and brought up into the palace Percivale's sister, and buried
her as richly as a king's daughter ought to be. And when
the king of the city, which was cleped Estorause, saw the
fellowship, he asked them of whence they were, and what
thing it was that they had brought upon the table of silver.
And they told him the truth of the Sangreal, and the power
which that God had sent there. Then the king was a
tyrant, and was come of the line of paynims, and took them
and put them in prison in a deep hole.



CHAPTER XXII

How they were fed with the Sangreal while they were in
prison, and how Galahad was made king.


BUT as soon as they were there Our Lord sent them the
Sangreal, through whose grace they were always fulfilled
while that they were in prison. So at the year's end it
befell that this King Estorause lay sick, and felt that he
should die. Then he sent for the three knights, and they
came afore him; and he cried them mercy of that he had
done to them, and they forgave it him goodly; and he died
anon. When the king was dead all the city was dismayed,
and wist not who might be their king. Right so as they
were in counsel there came a voice among them, and bade
them choose the youngest knight of them three to be their
king: For he shall well maintain you and all yours. So
they made Galahad king by all the assent of the holy city,
and else they would have slain him. And when he was
come to behold the land, he let make above the table of
silver a chest of gold and of precious stones, that hilled the
Holy Vessel. And every day early the three fellows
would come afore it, and make their prayers.

Now at the year's end, and the self day after Galahad
had borne the crown of gold, he arose up early and his
fellows, and came to the palace, and saw to-fore them the
Holy Vessel, and a man kneeling on his knees in likeness
of a bishop, that had about him a great fellowship of angels,
as it had been Jesu Christ himself; and then he arose and
began a mass of Our Lady. And when he came to the
sacrament of the mass, and had done, anon he called
Galahad, and said to him: Come forth the servant of Jesu
Christ, and thou shalt see that thou hast much desired to
see. And then he began to tremble right hard when the
deadly flesh began to behold the spiritual things. Then he
held up his hands toward heaven and said: Lord, I thank
thee, for now I see that that hath been my desire many a
day. Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it
might please thee, Lord. And therewith the good man
took Our Lord's body betwixt his hands, and proffered it
to Galahad, and he received it right gladly and meekly.
Now wottest thou what I am? said the good man. Nay,
said Galahad. I am Joseph of Aramathie, the which Our
Lord hath sent here to thee to bear thee fellowship; and
wottest thou wherefore that he hath sent me more than any
other? For thou hast resembled me in two things; in
that thou hast seen the marvels of the Sangreal, in that
thou hast been a clean maiden, as I have been and am.

And when he had said these words Galahad went
to Percivale and kissed him, and commended him
to God; and so he went to Sir Bors and kissed him,
and commended him to God, and said: Fair lord,
salute me to my lord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and
as soon as ye see him, bid him remember of this
unstable world. And therewith he kneeled down to-fore
the table and made his prayers, and then suddenly his
soul departed to Jesu Christ, and a great multitude of
angels bare his soul up to heaven, that the two fellows
might well behold it. Also the two fellows saw come from
heaven an hand, but they saw not the body. And then it
came right to the Vessel, and took it and the spear, and so
bare it up to heaven. Sithen was there never man so hardy
to say that he had seen the Sangreal.



CHAPTER XXIII

Of the sorrow that Percivale and Bors made when Galahad
was dead: and of Percivale how he died, and other
matters.


WHEN Percivale and Bors saw Galahad dead they made
as much sorrow as ever did two men. And if they had
not been good men they might lightly have fallen in
despair. And the people of the country and of the city
were right heavy. And then he was buried; and as soon
as he was buried Sir Percivale yielded him to an hermitage
out of the city, and took a religious clothing. And Bors
was alway with him, but never changed he his secular
clothing, for that he purposed him to go again into the
realm of Logris. Thus a year and two months lived Sir
Percivale in the hermitage a full holy life, and then passed
out of this world; and Bors let bury him by his sister and
by Galahad in the spiritualities.

When Bors saw that he was in so far countries as in the
parts of Babylon he departed from Sarras, and armed him
and came to the sea, and entered into a ship; and so it
befell him in good adventure he came into the realm of
Logris; and he rode so fast till he came to Camelot where
the king was. And then was there great joy made of him
in the court, for they weened all he had been dead,
forasmuch as he had been so long out of the country. And
when they had eaten, the king made great clerks to come
afore him, that they should chronicle of the high adventures
of the good knights. When Bors had told him of
the adventures of the Sangreal, such as had befallen him
and his three fellows, that was Launcelot, Percivale,
Galahad, and himself, there Launcelot told the adventures of
the Sangreal that he had seen. All this was made in great
books, and put up in almeries at Salisbury. And anon Sir
Bors said to Sir Launcelot: Galahad, your own son,
saluted you by me, and after you King Arthur and all the
court, and so did Sir Percivale, for I buried them with
mine own hands in the city of Sarras. Also, Sir Launcelot,
Galahad prayed you to remember of this unsiker world as
ye behight him when ye were together more than half a
year. This is true, said Launcelot; now I trust to God
his prayer shall avail me.

Then Launcelot took Sir Bors in his arms, and said:
Gentle cousin, ye are right welcome to me, and all that
ever I may do for you and for yours ye shall find my poor
body ready at all times, while the spirit is in it, and that I
promise you faithfully, and never to fail. And wit ye well,
gentle cousin, Sir Bors, that ye and I will never depart
asunder whilst our lives may last. Sir, said he, I will as
ye will.

drawn out of French into English, the which is a
story chronicled for one of the truest and the holiest
that is in this world, the which is the xvii book.


And here followeth the eighteenth book.>



BOOK XVIII


CHAPTER I

Of the joy King Arthur and the queen had of the achievement
of the Sangreal; and how Launcelot fell to his old
love again.


SO after the quest of the Sangreal was fulfilled, and all
knights that were left alive were come again unto the
Table Round, as the book of the Sangreal maketh
mention, then was there great joy in the court; and in
especial King Arthur and Queen Guenever made great
joy of the remnant that were come home, and passing
glad was the king and the queen of Sir Launcelot and of
Sir Bors, for they had been passing long away in the
quest of the Sangreal.

Then, as the book saith, Sir Launcelot began to resort
unto Queen Guenever again, and forgat the promise and
the perfection that he made in the quest. For, as the
book saith, had not Sir Launcelot been in his privy
thoughts and in his mind so set inwardly to the queen
as he was in seeming outward to God, there had no
knight passed him in the quest of the Sangreal; but
ever his thoughts were privily on the queen, and so
they loved together more hotter than they did to-forehand,
and had such privy draughts together, that many in the
court spake of it, and in especial Sir Agravaine, Sir
Gawaine's brother, for he was ever open-mouthed.

So befell that Sir Launcelot had many resorts of ladies
and damosels that daily resorted unto him, that besought
him to be their champion, and in all such matters of right
Sir Launcelot applied him daily to do for the pleasure of
Our Lord, Jesu Christ. And ever as much as he might
he withdrew him from the company and fellowship of
Queen Guenever, for to eschew the slander and noise;
wherefore the queen waxed wroth with Sir Launcelot.
And upon a day she called Sir Launcelot unto her chamber,
and said thus: Sir Launcelot, I see and feel daily that thy
love beginneth to slake, for thou hast no joy to be in my
presence, but ever thou art out of this court, and quarrels
and matters thou hast nowadays for ladies and gentlewomen
more than ever thou wert wont to have aforehand.

Ah madam, said Launcelot, in this ye must hold me
excused for divers causes; one is, I was but late in the
quest of the Sangreal; and I thank God of his great
mercy, and never of my desert, that I saw in that my
quest as much as ever saw any sinful man, and so was it
told me. And if I had not had my privy thoughts to
return to your love again as I do, I had seen as great
mysteries as ever saw my son Galahad, outher Percivale,
or Sir Bors; and therefore, madam, I was but late in that
quest. Wit ye well, madam, it may not be yet lightly
forgotten the high service in whom I did my diligent
labour. Also, madam, wit ye well that there be many
men speak of our love in this court, and have you and me
greatly in await, as Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred; and
madam, wit ye well I dread them more for your sake than
for any fear I have of them myself, for I may happen to
escape and rid myself in a great need, where ye must
abide all that will be said unto you. And then if that ye
fall in any distress through wilful folly, then is there none
other remedy or help but by me and my blood. And wit
ye well, madam, the boldness of you and me will bring us
to great shame and slander; and that were me loath to see
you dishonoured. And that is the cause I take upon me
more for to do for damosels and maidens than ever I did
to-fore, that men should understand my joy and my delight
is my pleasure to have ado for damosels and maidens.



CHAPTER II

How the queen commanded Sir Launcelot to avoid the court,
and of the sorrow that Launcelot made.


ALL this while the queen stood still and let Sir Launcelot
say what he would. And when he had all said she brast
out a-weeping, and so she sobbed and wept a great while.
And when she might speak she said: Launcelot, now I
well understand that thou art a false recreant knight and
a common lecher, and lovest and holdest other ladies, and
by me thou hast disdain and scorn. For wit thou well,
she said, now I understand thy falsehood, and therefore
shall I never love thee no more. And never be thou so
hardy to come in my sight; and right here I discharge
thee this court, that thou never come within it; and I
forfend thee my fellowship, and upon pain of thy head
that thou see me no more. Right so Sir Launcelot departed
with great heaviness, that unnethe he might sustain
himself for great dole-making.

Then he called Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir
Lionel, and told them how the queen had forfended him
the court, and so he was in will to depart into his own
country. Fair sir, said Sir Bors de Ganis, ye shall not
depart out of this land by mine advice. Ye must remember
in what honour ye are renowned, and called the
noblest knight of the world; and many great matters ye
have in hand. And women in their hastiness will do
ofttimes that sore repenteth them; and therefore by mine
advice ye shall take your horse, and ride to the good
hermitage here beside Windsor, that sometime was a good
knight, his name is Sir Brasias, and there shall ye abide
till I send you word of better tidings. Brother, said Sir
Launcelot, wit ye well I am full loath to depart out of
this realm, but the queen hath defended me so highly,
that meseemeth she will never be my good lady as she
hath been. Say ye never so, said Sir Bors, for many
times or this time she hath been wroth with you, and
after it she was the first that repented it. Ye say well,
said Launcelot, for now will I do by your counsel, and
take mine horse and my harness, and ride to the hermit
Sir Brasias, and there will I repose me until I hear some
manner of tidings from you; but, fair brother, I pray
you get me the love of my lady, Queen Guenever, an ye
may Sir, said Sir Bors, ye need not to move me of such
matters, for well ye wot I will do what I may to please
you.

And then the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, departed
with right heavy cheer suddenly, that none earthly creature
wist of him, nor where he was become, but Sir Bors. So
when Sir Launcelot was departed, the queen outward
made no manner of sorrow in showing to none of his
blood nor to none other. But wit ye well, inwardly, as
the book saith, she took great thought, but she bare it
out with a proud countenance as though she felt nothing
nor danger.



CHAPTER III

How at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight
enpoisoned, which Sir Mador laid on the queen.


AND then the queen let make a privy dinner in London
unto the knights of the Round Table. And all was for
to show outward that she had as great joy in all other
knights of the Table Round as she had in Sir Launcelot.
All only at that dinner she had Sir Gawaine and his
brethren, that is for to say Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir
Gareth, and Sir Mordred. Also there was Sir Bors de
Ganis, Sir Blamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir
Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel,
Sir Palomides, Safere his brother, Sir La Cote Male Taile,
Sir Persant, Sir Ironside, Sir Brandiles, Sir Kay le Seneschal,
Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Patrise, a knight of Ireland,
Aliduk, Sir Astamore, and Sir Pinel le Savage, the which
was cousin to Sir Lamorak de Galis, the good knight that
Sir Gawaine and his brethren slew by treason. And so
these four-and-twenty knights should dine with the queen
in a privy place by themself, and there was made a great
feast of all manner of dainties.

But Sir Gawaine had a custom that he used daily at
dinner and at supper, that he loved well all manner of
fruit, and in especial apples and pears. And therefore
whosomever dined or feasted Sir Gawaine would commonly
purvey for good fruit for him, and so did the queen for
to please Sir Gawaine; she let purvey for him all manner
of fruit, for Sir Gawaine was a passing hot knight of
nature. And this Pinel hated Sir Gawaine because of his
kinsman Sir Lamorak de Galis; and therefore for pure
envy and hate Sir Pinel enpoisoned certain apples for to
enpoison Sir Gawaine. And so this was well unto the
end of the meat; and so it befell by misfortune a good
knight named Patrise, cousin unto Sir Mador de la Porte,
to take a poisoned apple. And when he had eaten it he
swelled so till he brast, and there Sir Patrise fell down
suddenly dead among them.

Then every knight leapt from the board ashamed, and
araged for wrath, nigh out of their wits. For they wist
not what to say; considering Queen Guenever made the
feast and dinner, they all had suspicion unto her. My
lady, the queen, said Gawaine, wit ye well, madam, that
this dinner was made for me, for all folks that know my
condition understand that I love well fruit, and now I see
well I had near been slain; therefore, madam, I dread me
lest ye will be shamed. Then the queen stood still and was
sore abashed, that she nist not what to say. This shall
not so be ended, said Sir Mador de la Porte, for here
have I lost a full noble knight of my blood; and therefore
upon this shame and despite I will be revenged to the
utterance. And there openly Sir Mador appealed the
queen of the death of his cousin, Sir Patrise. Then stood
they all still, that none would speak a word against him,
for they all had great suspicion unto the queen because
she let make that dinner. And the queen was so abashed
that she could none other ways do, but wept so heartily
that she fell in a swoon. With this noise and cry came
to them King Arthur, and when he wist of that trouble he
was a passing heavy man.



CHAPTER IV

How Sir Mador appeached the queen of treason, and there
was no knight would fight for her at the first time.


AND ever Sir Mador stood still afore the king, and ever
he appealed the queen of treason; for the custom was
such that time that all manner of shameful death was
called treason. Fair lords, said King Arthur, me repenteth
of this trouble, but the case is so I may not have
ado in this matter, for I must be a rightful judge; and
that repenteth me that I may not do battle for my wife,
for as I deem this deed came never by her. And therefore
I suppose she shall not be all distained, but that some
good knight shall put his body in jeopardy for my queen
rather than she shall be brent in a wrong quarrel. And
therefore, Sir Mador, be not so hasty, for it may happen
she shall not be all friendless; and therefore desire
thou thy day of battle, and she shall purvey her of some
good knight that shall answer you, or else it were to me
great shame, and to all my court.

My gracious lord, said Sir Mador, ye must hold me
excused, for though ye be our king in that degree, ye are
but a knight as we are, and ye are sworn unto knighthood
as well as we; and therefore I beseech you that ye be not
displeased, for there is none of the four-and-twenty knights
that were bidden to this dinner but all they have great
suspicion unto the queen. What say ye all, my lords?
said Sir Mador. Then they answered by and by that they
could not excuse the queen; for why she made the dinner,
and either it must come by her or by her servants. Alas,
said the queen, I made this dinner for a good intent, and
never for none evil, so Almighty God me help in my
right, as I was never purposed to do such evil deeds, and
that I report me unto God.

My lord, the king, said Sir Mador, I require you as
ye be a righteous king give me a day that I may have
justice. Well, said the king, I give the day this day
fifteen days that thou be ready armed on horseback in the
meadow beside Westminster. And if it so fall that there
be any knight to encounter with you, there mayst thou
do the best, and God speed the right. And if it so fall
that there be no knight at that day, then must my queen
be burnt, and there she shall be ready to have her judgment.
I am answered, said Sir Mador. And every
knight went where it liked them.

So when the king and the queen were together the
king asked the queen how this case befell. The queen
answered: So God me help, I wot not how or in what
manner. Where is Sir Launcelot? said King Arthur; an
he were here he would not grudge to do battle for you.
Sir, said the queen, I wot not where he is, but his brother
and his kinsmen deem that he be not within this realm.
That me repenteth, said King Arthur, for an he were here
he would soon stint this strife. Then I will counsel you,
said the king, and unto Sir Bors: That ye will do battle
for her for Sir Launcelot's sake, and upon my life he will
not refuse you. For well I see, said the king, that none
of these four-and-twenty knights that were with you at
your dinner where Sir Patrise was slain, that will do battle
for you, nor none of them will say well of you, and that
shall be a great slander for you in this court. Alas, said
the queen, and I may not do withal, but now I miss Sir
Launcelot, for an he were here he would put me soon
to my heart's ease. What aileth you, said the king, ye
cannot keep Sir Launcelot upon your side? For wit ye
well, said the king, who that hath Sir Launcelot upon his
part hath the most man of worship in the world upon his
side. Now go your way, said the king unto the queen,
and require Sir Bors to do battle for you for Sir Launcelot's
sake.

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