الفصل الفصل 365 · Of the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and heard in the tomb,

. 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.