Chapter Chapter 427 · How Galahad anointed with the blood of the spear the

. 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 them

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 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.