Chương Chương 387 · How the hermit expounded to Sir Launcelot his advision, and

. How the hermit expounded to Sir Launcelot his advision, and

told him that Sir Galahad was his son.

Lo, Sir Launcelot, said the good man, there thou mightest understand

the high lineage that thou art come of, and thine advision betokeneth.

After the passion of Jesu Christ forty year, Joseph of Aramathie

preached the victory of King Evelake, that he had in the battles the

better of his enemies. And of the seven kings and the two knights: the

first of them is called Nappus, an holy man; and the second hight

Nacien, in remembrance of his grandsire, and in him dwelled our Lord

Jesu Christ; and the third was called Helias le Grose; and the fourth

hight Lisais; and the fifth hight Jonas, he departed out of his country

and went into Wales, and took there the daughter of Manuel, whereby he

had the land of Gaul, and he came to dwell in this country. And of him

came King Launcelot thy grandsire, the which there wedded the king’s

daughter of Ireland, and he was as worthy a man as thou art, and of him

came King Ban, thy father, the which was the last of the seven kings.

And by thee, Sir Launcelot, it signifieth that the angels said thou

were none of the seven fellowships. And the last was the ninth knight,

he was signified to a lion, for he should pass all manner of earthly

knights, that is Sir Galahad, the which thou gat on King Pelles’

daughter; and thou ought to thank God more than any other man living,

for of a sinner earthly thou hast no peer as in knighthood, nor never

shall be. But little thank hast thou given to God for all the great

virtues that God hath lent thee. Sir, said Launcelot, ye say that that

good knight is my son. That oughtest thou to know and no man better,

said the good man, for thou knewest the daughter of King Pelles

fleshly, and on her thou begattest Galahad, and that was he that at the

feast of Pentecost sat in the Siege Perilous; and therefore make thou

it known openly that he is one of thy begetting on King Pelles’

daughter, for that will be your worship and honour, and to all thy

kindred. And I counsel you in no place press not upon him to have ado

with him. Well, said Launcelot, meseemeth that good knight should pray

for me unto the High Father, that I fall not to sin again. Trust thou

well, said the good man, thou farest mickle the better for his prayer;

but the son shall not bear the wickedness of the father, nor the father

shall not bear the wickedness of the son, but everych shall bear his

own burden. And therefore beseek thou only God, and He will help thee

in all thy needs. And then Sir Launcelot and he went to supper, and so

laid him to rest, and the hair pricked so Sir Launcelot’s skin which

grieved him full sore, but he took it meekly, and suffered the pain.

And so on the morn he heard his mass and took his arms, and so took his

leave.