Chương Chương 368 · How Sir Galahad fought with the knights of the castle, and

. How Sir Galahad fought with the knights of the castle, and

destroyed the wicked custom.

When Sir Galahad heard this he thanked God, and took his horse; and he

had not ridden but half a mile, he saw in the valley afore him a strong

castle with deep ditches, and there ran beside it a fair river that

hight Severn; and there he met with a man of great age, and either

saluted other, and Galahad asked him the castle’s name. Fair sir, said

he, it is the Castle of Maidens. That is a cursed castle, said Galahad,

and all they that be conversant therein, for all pity is out thereof,

and all hardiness and mischief is therein. Therefore, I counsel you,

sir knight, to turn again. Sir, said Galahad, wit you well I shall not

turn again. Then looked Sir Galahad on his arms that nothing failed

him, and then he put his shield afore him; and anon there met him seven

fair maidens, the which said unto him: Sir knight, ye ride here in a

great folly, for ye have the water to pass over. Why should I not pass

the water? said Galahad. So rode he away from them and met with a

squire that said: Knight, those knights in the castle defy you, and

defenden you ye go no further till that they wit what ye would. Fair

sir, said Galahad, I come for to destroy the wicked custom of this

castle. Sir, an ye will abide by that ye shall have enough to do. Go

you now, said Galahad, and haste my needs.

Then the squire entered into the castle. And anon after there came out

of the castle seven knights, and all were brethren. And when they saw

Galahad they cried: Knight, keep thee, for we assure thee nothing but

death. Why, said Galahad, will ye all have ado with me at once? Yea,

said they, thereto mayst thou trust. Then Galahad put forth his spear

and smote the foremost to the earth, that near he brake his neck. And

therewithal the other smote him on his shield great strokes, so that

their spears brake. Then Sir Galahad drew out his sword, and set upon

them so hard that it was marvel to see it, and so through great force

he made them to forsake the field; and Galahad chased them till they

entered into the castle, and so passed through the castle at another

gate.

And there met Sir Galahad an old man clothed in religious clothing, and

said: Sir, have here the keys of this castle. Then Sir Galahad opened

the gates, and saw so much people in the streets that he might not

number them, and all said: Sir, ye be welcome, for long have we abiden

here our deliverance. Then came to him a gentlewoman and said: These

knights be fled, but they will come again this night, and here to begin

again their evil custom. What will ye that I shall do? said Galahad.

Sir, said the gentlewoman, that ye send after all the knights hither

that hold their lands of this castle, and make them to swear for to use

the customs that were used heretofore of old time. I will well, said

Galahad. And there she brought him an horn of ivory, bounden with gold

richly, and said: Sir, blow this horn which will be heard two mile

about this castle. When Sir Galahad had blown the horn he set him down

upon a bed.

Then came a priest to Galahad, and said: Sir, it is past a seven year

agone that these seven brethren came into this castle, and harboured

with the lord of this castle that hight the Duke Lianour, and he was

lord of all this country. And when they espied the duke’s daughter,

that was a full fair woman, then by their false covin they made debate

betwixt themself, and the duke of his goodness would have departed

them, and there they slew him and his eldest son. And then they took

the maiden and the treasure of the castle. And then by great force they

held all the knights of this castle against their will under their

obeissance, and in great service and truage, robbing and pilling the

poor common people of all that they had. So it happened on a day the

duke’s daughter said: Ye have done unto me great wrong to slay mine own

father, and my brother, and thus to hold our lands: not for then, she

said, ye shall not hold this castle for many years, for by one knight

ye shall be overcome. Thus she prophesied seven years agone. Well, said

the seven knights, sithen ye say so, there shall never lady nor knight

pass this castle but they shall abide maugre their heads, or die

therefore, till that knight be come by whom we shall lose this castle.

And therefore is it called the Maidens’ Castle, for they have devoured

many maidens. Now, said Galahad, is she here for whom this castle was

lost? Nay sir, said the priest, she was dead within these three nights

after that she was thus enforced; and sithen have they kept her younger

sister, which endureth great pains with mo other ladies.

By this were the knights of the country come, and then he made them do

homage and fealty to the king’s daughter, and set them in great ease of

heart. And in the morn there came one to Galahad and told him how that

Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine, had slain the seven brethren. I suppose

well, said Sir Galahad, and took his armour and his horse, and

commended them unto God.