Kabanata Kabanata 362 · How Galahad gat him a shield, and how they sped that

. How Galahad gat him a shield, and how they sped that

presumed to take down the said shield.

Now rideth Sir Galahad yet without shield, and so he rode four days

without any adventure. And at the fourth day after evensong he came to

a White Abbey, and there he was received with great reverence, and led

unto a chamber, and there was he unarmed; and then was he ware of two

knights of the Table Round, one was Sir Bagdemagus, and Sir Uwaine.

And when they saw him they went unto Galahad and made of him great

solace, and so they went unto supper. Sirs, said Sir Galahad, what

adventure brought you hither? Sir, said they, it is told us that within

this place is a shield that no man may bear about his neck but he be

mischieved outher dead within three days, or maimed for ever. Ah sir,

said King Bagdemagus, I shall it bear to-morrow for to assay this

adventure. In the name of God, said Sir Galahad. Sir, said Bagdemagus,

an I may not enchieve the adventure of this shield ye shall take it

upon you, for I am sure ye shall not fail. Sir, said Galahad, I right

well agree me thereto, for I have no shield. So on the morn they arose

and heard mass. Then Bagdemagus asked where the adventurous shield was.

Anon a monk led him behind an altar where the shield hung as white as

any snow, but in the midst was a red cross. Sir, said the monk, this

shield ought not to be hanged about no knight’s neck but he be the

worthiest knight of the world;

therefore I counsel you knights to be well advised. Well, said

Bagdemagus, I wot well that I am not the best knight of the world, but

yet I shall assay to bear it, and so bare it out of the minster. And

then he said unto Galahad: An it please you abide here still, till ye

wit how that I speed. I shall abide you, said Galahad. Then King

Bagdemagus took with him a good squire, to bring tidings unto Sir

Galahad how he sped.

Then when they had ridden a two mile and came to a fair valley afore an

hermitage, then they saw a knight come from that part in white armour,

horse and all; and he came as fast as his horse might run, and his

spear in his rest, and Bagdemagus dressed his spear against him and

brake it upon the white knight. But the other struck him so hard that

he brast the mails, and sheef him through the right shoulder, for the

shield covered him not as at that time; and so he bare him from his

horse. And therewith he alighted and took the white shield from him,

saying: Knight, thou hast done thyself great folly, for this shield

ought not to be borne but by him that shall have no peer that liveth.

And then he came to Bagdemagus’ squire and said: Bear this shield unto

the good knight Sir Galahad, that thou left in the abbey, and greet him

well by me. Sir, said the squire, what is your name? Take thou no heed

of my name, said the knight, for it is not for thee to know nor for

none earthly man. Now, fair sir, said the squire, at the reverence of

Jesu Christ, tell me for what cause this shield may not be borne but if

the bearer thereof be mischieved. Now sith thou hast conjured me so,

said the knight, this shield behoveth unto no man but unto Galahad. And

the squire went unto Bagdemagus and asked whether he were sore wounded

or not. Yea forsooth, said he, I shall escape hard from the death. Then

he fetched his horse, and brought him with great pain unto an abbey.

Then was he taken down softly and unarmed, and laid in a bed, and there

was looked to his wounds. And as the book telleth, he lay there long,

and escaped hard with the life.