Chapter Chapter 330 · How Sir Bors came to Dame Elaine and saw Galahad, and how

. How Sir Bors came to Dame Elaine and saw Galahad, and how

he was fed with the Sangreal.

Then as it fell by fortune and adventure, Sir Bors de Ganis, that was

nephew unto Sir Launcelot, came over that bridge; and there Sir Bromel

and Sir Bors jousted, and Sir Bors smote Sir Bromel such a buffet that

he bare him over his horse’s croup. And then Sir Bromel, as an hardy

knight, pulled out his sword, and dressed his shield to do battle with

Sir Bors. And then Sir Bors alighted and avoided his horse, and there

they dashed together many sad strokes; and long thus they fought, till

at the last Sir Bromel was laid to the earth, and there Sir Bors began

to unlace his helm to slay him. Then Sir Bromel cried Sir Bors mercy,

and yielded him. Upon this covenant thou shalt have thy life, said Sir

Bors, so thou go unto Sir Launcelot upon Whitsunday that next cometh,

and yield thee unto him as knight recreant. I will do it, said Sir

Bromel, and that he sware upon the cross of the sword. And so he let

him depart, and Sir Bors rode unto King Pelles, that was within Corbin.

And when the king and Elaine his daughter wist that Sir Bors was nephew

unto Sir Launcelot, they made him great cheer. Then said Dame Elaine:

We marvel where Sir Launcelot is, for he came never here but once.

Marvel not, said Sir Bors, for this half year he hath been in prison

with Queen Morgan le Fay, King Arthur’s sister. Alas, said Dame Elaine,

that me repenteth. And ever Sir Bors beheld that child in her arms, and

ever him seemed it was passing like Sir Launcelot. Truly, said Elaine,

wit ye well this child he gat upon me. Then Sir Bors wept for joy, and

he prayed to God it might prove as good a knight as his father was. And

so came in a white dove, and she bare a little censer of gold in her

mouth, and there was all manner of meats and drinks; and a maiden bare

that Sangreal, and she said openly: Wit you well, Sir Bors, that this

child is Galahad, that shall sit in the Siege Perilous, and achieve the

Sangreal, and he shall be much better than ever was Sir Launcelot du

Lake, that is his own father. And then they kneeled down and made their

devotions, and there was such a savour as all the spicery in the world

had been there. And when the dove took her flight, the maiden vanished

with the Sangreal as she came.

Sir, said Sir Bors unto King Pelles, this castle may be named the

Castle Adventurous, for here be many strange adventures. That is sooth,

said the king, for well may this place be called the adventures place,

for there come but few knights here that go away with any worship; be

he never so strong, here he may be proved; and but late Sir Gawaine,

the good knight, gat but little worship here. For I let you wit, said

King Pelles, here shall no knight win no worship but if he be of

worship himself and of good living, and that loveth God and dreadeth

God, and else he getteth no worship here, be he never so hardy. That is

wonderful thing, said Sir Bors. What ye mean in this country I wot not,

for ye have many strange adventures, and therefore I will lie in this

castle this night. Ye shall not do so, said King Pelles, by my counsel,

for it is hard an ye escape without a shame. I shall take the adventure

that will befall me, said Sir Bors. Then I counsel you, said the king,

to be confessed clean. As for that, said Sir Bors, I will be shriven

with a good will. So Sir Bors was confessed, and for all women Sir Bors

was a virgin, save for one, that was the daughter of King Brangoris,

and on her he gat a child that hight Elaine, and save for her Sir Bors

was a clean maiden.

And so Sir Bors was led unto bed in a fair large chamber, and many

doors were shut about the chamber. When Sir Bors espied all those

doors, he avoided all the people, for he might have nobody with him;

but in no wise Sir Bors would unarm him, but so he laid him down upon

the bed. And right so he saw come in a light, that he might well see a

spear great and long that came straight upon him pointling, and to Sir

Bors seemed that the head of the spear brent like a taper. And anon, or

Sir Bors wist, the spear head smote him into the shoulder an

hand-breadth in deepness, and that wound grieved Sir Bors passing sore.

And then he laid him down again for pain; and anon therewithal there

came a knight armed with his shield on his shoulder and his sword in

his hand, and he bade Sir Bors: Arise, sir knight, and fight with me. I

am sore hurt, he said, but yet I shall not fail thee. And then Sir Bors

started up and dressed his shield; and then they lashed together

mightily a great while; and at the last Sir Bors bare him backward

until that he came unto a chamber door, and there that knight yede into

that chamber and rested him a great while. And when he had reposed him

he came out freshly again, and began new battle with Sir Bors mightily

and strongly.