Bab Bab 375 · How Merlin likened the Round Table to the world, and how

. How Merlin likened the Round Table to the world, and how

the knights that should achieve the Sangreal should be known.

Also Merlin made the Round Table in tokening of roundness of the world,

for by the Round Table is the world signified by right, for all the

world, Christian and heathen, repair unto the Round Table; and when

they are chosen to be of the fellowship of the Round Table they think

them more blessed and more in worship than if they had gotten half the

world; and ye have seen that they have lost their fathers and their

mothers, and all their kin, and their wives and their children, for to

be of your fellowship. It is well seen by you; for since ye have

departed from your mother ye would never see her, ye found such

fellowship at the Round Table. When Merlin had ordained the Round Table

he said, by them which should be fellows of the Round Table the truth

of the Sangreal should be well known. And men asked him how men might

know them that should best do and to enchieve the Sangreal? Then he

said there should be three white bulls that should enchieve it, and the

two should be maidens, and the third should be chaste. And that one of

the three should pass his father as much as the lion passeth the

leopard, both of strength and hardiness.

They that heard Merlin say so said thus unto Merlin: Sithen there shall

be such a knight, thou shouldest ordain by thy crafts a siege, that no

man should sit in it but he all only that shall pass all other knights.

Then Merlin answered that he would do so. And then he made the Siege

Perilous, in the which Galahad sat in at his meat on Whitsunday last

past. Now, madam, said Sir Percivale, so much have I heard of you that

by my good will I will never have ado with Sir Galahad but by way of

kindness; and for God’s love, fair aunt, can ye teach me some way where

I may find him? for much would I love the fellowship of him. Fair

nephew, said she, ye must ride unto a castle the which is called

Goothe, where he hath a cousin-germain, and there may ye be lodged this

night. And as he teacheth you, seweth after as fast as ye can; and if

he can tell you no tidings of him, ride straight unto the Castle of

Carbonek, where the maimed king is there lying, for there shall ye hear

true tidings of him.