Chương Chương 367 · How Sir Galahad departed, and how he was commanded to go

. How Sir Galahad departed, and how he was commanded to go

to the Castle of Maidens to destroy the wicked custom.

Now will I depart, said Galahad, for I have much on hand, for many good

knights be full busy about it, and this knight and I were in the same

quest of the Sangreal. Sir, said a good man, for his sin he was thus

wounded; and I marvel, said the good man, how ye durst take upon you so

rich a thing as the high order of knighthood without clean confession,

and that was the cause ye were bitterly wounded. For the way on the

right hand betokeneth the highway of our Lord Jesu Christ, and the way

of a good true good liver. And the other way betokeneth the way of

sinners and of misbelievers. And when the devil saw your pride and

presumption, for to take you in the quest of the Sangreal, that made

you to be overthrown, for it may not be enchieved but by virtuous

living. Also, the writing on the cross was a signification of heavenly

deeds, and of knightly deeds in God’s works, and no knightly deeds in

worldly works. And pride is head of all deadly sins, that caused this

knight to depart from Galahad. And where thou tookest the crown of gold

thou sinnest in covetise and in theft: all this were no knightly deeds.

And this Galahad, the holy knight, the which fought with the two

knights, the two knights signify the two deadly sins which were wholly

in this knight Melias; and they might not withstand you, for ye are

without deadly sin.

Now departed Galahad from thence, and betaught them all unto God. Sir

Melias said: My lord Galahad, as soon as I may ride I shall seek you.

God send you health, said Galahad, and so took his horse and departed,

and rode many journeys forward and backward, as adventure would lead

him. And at the last it happened him to depart from a place or a castle

the which was named Abblasoure; and he had heard no mass, the which he

was wont ever to hear or ever he departed out of any castle or place,

and kept that for a custom. Then Sir Galahad came unto a mountain where

he found an old chapel, and found there nobody, for all, all was

desolate; and there he kneeled to-fore the altar, and besought God of

wholesome counsel. So as he prayed he heard a voice that said: Go thou

now, thou adventurous knight, to the Castle of Maidens, and there do

thou away the wicked customs.