Kabanata Kabanata 354 · How at the vigil of the Feast of Pentecost entered into the

. How at the vigil of the Feast of Pentecost entered into the

hall before King Arthur a damosel, and desired Sir Launcelot for to

come and dub a knight, and how he went with her.

At the vigil of Pentecost, when all the fellowship of the Round Table

were come unto Camelot and there heard their service, and the tables

were set ready to the meat, right so entered into the hall a full fair

gentlewoman on horseback, that had ridden full fast, for her horse was

all besweated. Then she there alighted, and came before the king and

saluted him; and he said: Damosel, God thee bless. Sir, said she, for

God’s sake say me where Sir Launcelot is. Yonder ye may see him, said

the king. Then she went unto Launcelot and said: Sir Launcelot, I

salute you on King Pelles’ behalf, and I require you come on with me

hereby into a forest. Then Sir Launcelot asked her with whom she

dwelled. I dwell, said she, with King Pelles. What will ye with me?

said Launcelot. Ye shall know, said she, when ye come thither. Well,

said he, I will gladly go with you. So Sir Launcelot bade his squire

saddle his horse and bring his arms; and in all haste he did his

commandment.

Then came the queen unto Launcelot, and said: Will ye leave us at this

high feast? Madam, said the gentlewoman, wit ye well he shall be with

you to-morn by dinner time. If I wist, said the queen, that he should

not be with us here to-morn he should not go with you by my good will.

Right so departed Sir Launcelot with the gentlewoman, and rode until

that he came into a forest and into a great valley, where they saw an

abbey of nuns; and there was a squire ready and opened the gates, and

so they entered and descended off their horses; and there came a fair

fellowship about Sir Launcelot, and welcomed him, and were passing glad

of his coming. And then they led him unto the Abbess’s chamber and

unarmed him; and right so he was ware upon a bed lying two of his

cousins, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and then he waked them; and when they

saw him they made great joy. Sir, said Sir Bors unto Sir Launcelot,

what adventure hath brought you hither, for we weened to-morn to have

found you at Camelot? As God me help, said Sir Launcelot, a gentlewoman

brought me hither, but I know not the cause.

In the meanwhile that they thus stood talking together, therein came

twelve nuns that brought with them Galahad, the which was passing fair

and well made, that unnethe in the world men might not find his match:

and all those ladies wept. Sir, said they all, we bring you here this

child the which we have nourished, and we pray you to make him a

knight, for of a more worthier man’s hand may he not receive the order

of knighthood. Sir Launcelot beheld the young squire and saw him seemly

and demure as a dove, with all manner of good features, that he weened

of his age never to have seen so fair a man of form. Then said Sir

Launcelot: Cometh this desire of himself? He and all they said yea.

Then shall he, said Sir Launcelot, receive the high order of knighthood

as to-morn at the reverence of the high feast. That night Sir Launcelot

had passing good cheer; and on the morn at the hour of prime, at

Galahad’s desire, he made him knight and said: God make him a good man,

for of beauty faileth you not as any that liveth.