第 四百一十九 章 · How Sir Launcelot entered into the ship where Sir

. How Sir Launcelot entered into the ship where Sir

Percivale’s sister lay dead, and how he met with Sir Galahad, his son.

Now saith the history, that when Launcelot was come to the water of

Mortoise, as it is rehearsed before, he was in great peril, and so he

laid him down and slept, and took the adventure that God would send

him. So when he was asleep there came a vision unto him and said:

Launcelot, arise up and take thine armour, and enter into the first

ship that thou shalt find. And when he heard these words he start up

and saw great clearness about him. And then he lift up his hand and

blessed him, and so took his arms and made him ready; and so by

adventure he came by a strand, and found a ship the which was without

sail or oar. And as soon as he was within the ship there he felt the

most sweetness that ever he felt, and he was fulfilled with all thing

that he thought on or desired. Then he said: Fair sweet Father, Jesu

Christ, I wot not in what joy I am, for this joy passeth all earthly

joys that ever I was in. And so in this joy he laid him down to the

ship’s board, and slept till day. And when he awoke he found there a

fair bed, and therein lying a gentlewoman dead, the which was Sir

Percivale’s sister. And as Launcelot devised her, he espied in her

right hand a writ, the which he read, the which told him all the

adventures that ye have heard to-fore, and of what lineage she was

come. So with this gentlewoman Sir Launcelot was a month and more. If

ye would ask how he lived, He that fed the people of Israel with manna

in the desert, so was he fed; for every day when he had said his

prayers he was sustained with the grace of the Holy Ghost.

So on a night he went to play him by the water side, for he was

somewhat weary of the ship. And then he listened and heard an horse

come, and one riding upon him. And when he came nigh he seemed a

knight. And so he let him pass, and went thereas the ship was; and

there he alighted, and took the saddle and the bridle and put the horse

from him, and went into the ship. And then Launcelot dressed unto him,

and said: Ye be welcome. And he answered and saluted him again, and

asked him: What is your name? for much my heart giveth unto you. Truly,

said he, my name is Launcelot du Lake. Sir, said he, then be ye

welcome, for ye were the beginner of me in this world. Ah, said he, are

ye Galahad? Yea, forsooth, said he; and so he kneeled down and asked

him his blessing, and after took off his helm and kissed him. And there

was great joy between them, for there is no tongue can tell the joy

that they made either of other, and many a friendly word spoken

between, as kin would, the which is no need here to be rehearsed. And

there everych told other of their adventures and marvels that were

befallen to them in many journeys sith that they departed from the

court.

Anon, as Galahad saw the gentlewoman dead in the bed, he knew her well

enough, and told great worship of her, that she was the best maid

living, and it was great pity of her death. But when Launcelot heard

how the marvellous sword was gotten, and who made it, and all the

marvels rehearsed afore, then he prayed Galahad, his son, that he would

show him the sword, and so he did; and anon he kissed the pommel, and

the hilt, and the scabbard. Truly, said Launcelot, never erst knew I of

so high adventures done, and so marvellous and strange. So dwelt

Launcelot and Galahad within that ship half a year, and served God

daily and nightly with all their power; and often they arrived in isles

far from folk, where there repaired none but wild beasts, and there

they found many strange adventures and perilous, which they brought to

an end; but for those adventures were with wild beasts, and not in the

quest of the Sangreal, therefore the tale maketh here no mention

thereof, for it would be too long to tell of all those adventures that

befell them.