Kabanata Kabanata 411 · How King Pelles was smitten through both thighs because he

. How King Pelles was smitten through both thighs because he

drew the sword, and other marvellous histories.

Sir, said she, there was a king that hight Pelles, the maimed king. And

while he might ride he supported much Christendom and Holy Church. So

upon a day he hunted in a wood of his which lasted unto the sea; and at

the last he lost his hounds and his knights save only one: and there he

and his knight went till that they came toward Ireland, and there he

found the ship. And when he saw the letters and understood them, yet he

entered, for he was right perfect of his life, but his knight had none

hardiness to enter; and there found he this sword, and drew it out as

much as ye may see. So therewith entered a spear wherewith he was

smitten him through both the thighs, and never sith might he be healed,

nor nought shall to-fore we come to him. Thus, said she, was not King

Pelles, your grandsire, maimed for his hardiness? In the name of God,

damosel, said Galahad.

So they went toward the bed to behold all about it, and above the head

there hung two swords. Also there were two spindles which were as white

as any snow, and other that were as red as blood, and other above green

as any emerald: of these three colours were the spindles, and of

natural colour within, and without any painting. These spindles, said

the damosel, were when sinful Eve came to gather fruit, for which Adam

and she were put out of paradise, she took with her the bough on which

the apple hung on. Then perceived she that the branch was fair and

green, and she remembered her the loss which came from the tree. Then

she thought to keep the branch as long as she might. And for she had no

coffer to keep it in, she put it in the earth. So by the will of Our

Lord the branch grew to a great tree within a little while, and was as

white as any snow, branches, boughs, and leaves: that was a token a

maiden planted it. But after God came to Adam, and bade him know his

wife fleshly as nature required. So lay Adam with his wife under the

same tree; and anon the tree which was white was full green as any

grass, and all that came out of it; and in the same time that they

medled together there was Abel begotten: thus was the tree long of

green colour. And so it befell many days after, under the same tree

Caym slew Abel, whereof befell great marvel. For anon as Abel had

received the death under the green tree, it lost the green colour and

became red; and that was in tokening of the blood. And anon all the

plants died thereof, but the tree grew and waxed marvellously fair, and

it was the fairest tree and the most delectable that any man might

behold and see; and so died the plants that grew out of it to-fore that

Abel was slain under it. So long dured the tree till that Solomon, King

David’s son, reigned, and held the land after his father. This Solomon

was wise and knew all the virtues of stones and trees, and so he knew

the course of the stars, and many other divers things. This Solomon had

an evil wife, wherethrough he weened that there had been no good woman,

and so he despised them in his books. So answered a voice him once:

Solomon, if heaviness come to a man by a woman, ne reck thou never; for

yet shall there come a woman whereof there shall come greater joy to

man an hundred times more than this heaviness giveth sorrow; and that

woman shall be born of thy lineage. Tho when Solomon heard these words

he held himself but a fool, and the truth he perceived by old books.

Also the Holy Ghost showed him the coming of the glorious Virgin Mary.

Then asked he of the voice, if it should be in the yerde of his

lineage. Nay, said the voice, but there shall come a man which shall be

a maid, and the last of your blood, and he shall be as good a knight as

Duke Josua, thy brother-in-law.