บทที่ บทที่ 424 · How Galahad came to King Mordrains, and of other matters

. How Galahad came to King Mordrains, and of other matters

and adventures.

Now, saith the story, Galahad rode many journeys in vain. And at the

last he came to the abbey where King Mordrains was, and when he heard

that, he thought he would abide to see him. And upon the morn, when he

had heard mass, Galahad came unto King Mordrains, and anon the king saw

him, which had lain blind of long time. And then he dressed him against

him, and said: Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, whose coming I have

abiden so long, now embrace me and let me rest on thy breast, so that I

may rest between thine arms, for thou art a clean virgin above all

knights, as the flower of the lily in whom virginity is signified, and

thou art the rose the which is the flower of all good virtues, and in

colour of fire. For the fire of the Holy Ghost is taken so in thee that

my flesh which was all dead of oldness is become young again. Then

Galahad heard his words, then he embraced him and all his body. Then

said he: Fair Lord Jesu Christ, now I have my will. Now I require thee,

in this point that I am in, thou come and visit me. And anon Our Lord

heard his prayer: therewith the soul departed from the body.

And then Galahad put him in the earth as a king ought to be, and so

departed and so came into a perilous forest where he found the well the

which boileth with great waves, as the tale telleth to-fore. And as

soon as Galahad set his hand thereto it ceased, so that it brent no

more, and the heat departed. For that it brent it was a sign of

lechery, the which was that time much used. But that heat might not

abide his pure virginity. And this was taken in the country for a

miracle. And so ever after was it called Galahad’s well.

Then by adventure he came into the country of Gore, and into the abbey

where Launcelot had been to-forehand, and found the tomb of King

Bagdemagus, but he was founder thereof, Joseph of Aramathie’s son; and

the tomb of Simeon where Launcelot had failed. Then he looked into a

croft under the minster, and there he saw a tomb which brent full

marvellously. Then asked he the brethren what it was. Sir, said they, a

marvellous adventure that may not be brought unto none end but by him

that passeth of bounty and of knighthood all them of the Round Table. I

would, said Galahad, that ye would lead me thereto. Gladly, said they,

and so led him till a cave. And he went down upon greses, and came nigh

the tomb. And then the flaming failed, and the fire staunched, the

which many a day had been great. Then came there a voice that said:

Much are ye beholden to thank Our Lord, the which hath given you a good

hour, that ye may draw out the souls of earthly pain, and to put them

into the joys of paradise. I am of your kindred, the which hath dwelled

in this heat this three hundred winter and four-and-fifty to be purged

of the sin that I did against Joseph of Aramathie. Then Galahad took

the body in his arms and bare it into the minster. And that night lay

Galahad in the abbey; and on the morn he gave him service, and put him

in the earth afore the high altar.