Bab Bab 425 · How Sir Percivale and Sir Bors met with Sir Galahad, and

. How Sir Percivale and Sir Bors met with Sir Galahad, and

how they came to the castle of Carbonek, and other matters.

So departed he from thence, and commended the brethren to God; and so

he rode five days till that he came to the Maimed King. And ever

followed Percivale the five days, asking where he had been; and so one

told him how the adventures of Logris were enchieved. So on a day it

befell that they came out of a great forest, and there they met at

traverse with Sir Bors, the which rode alone. It is none need to tell

if they were glad; and them he saluted, and they yielded him honour and

good adventure, and everych told other. Then said Bors: It is mo than a

year and an half that I ne lay ten times where men dwelled, but in wild

forests and in mountains, but God was ever my comfort.

Then rode they a great while till that they came to the castle of

Carbonek. And when they were entered within the castle King Pelles knew

them; then there was great joy, for they wist well by their coming that

they had fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal. Then Eliazar, King

Pelles’ son, brought to-fore them the broken sword wherewith Joseph was

stricken through the thigh. Then Bors set his hand thereto, if that he

might have soldered it again; but it would not be. Then he took it to

Percivale, but he had no more power thereto than he. Now have ye it

again, said Percivale to Galahad, for an it be ever enchieved by any

bodily man ye must do it. And then he took the pieces and set them

together, and they seemed that they had never been broken, and as well

as it had been first forged. And when they within espied that the

adventure of the sword was enchieved, then they gave the sword to Bors,

for it might not be better set; for he was a good knight and a worthy

man.

And a little afore even the sword arose great and marvellous, and was

full of great heat that many men fell for dread. And anon alighted a

voice among them, and said: They that ought not to sit at the table of

Jesu Christ arise, for now shall very knights be fed. So they went

thence, all save King Pelles and Eliazar, his son, the which were holy

men, and a maid which was his niece; and so these three fellows and

they three were there, no mo. Anon they saw knights all armed came in

at the hall door, and did off their helms and their arms, and said unto

Galahad: Sir, we have hied right much for to be with you at this table

where the holy meat shall be departed. Then said he: Ye be welcome, but

of whence be ye? So three of them said they were of Gaul, and other

three said they were of Ireland, and the other three said they were of

Denmark. So as they sat thus there came out a bed of tree, of a

chamber, the which four gentlewomen brought; and in the bed lay a good

man sick, and a crown of gold upon his head; and there in the midst of

the place they set him down, and went again their way. Then he lift up

his head, and said: Galahad, Knight, ye be welcome, for much have I

desired your coming, for in such pain and in such anguish I have been

long. But now I trust to God the term is come that my pain shall be

allayed, that I shall pass out of this world so as it was promised me

long ago. Therewith a voice said: There be two among you that be not in

the quest of the Sangreal, and therefore depart ye.