cost after the four hundred and four and fifty year; and if it would please all parties, I would none of these letters were seen this day, till he be come that ought to achieve this adventure."

Then made they to ordain a cloth of silk for to cover these letters in the Siege Perilous. Then the king bade haste unto dinner. .

So as they stood speaking, in came a squire, and said unto the king, "Sir, I bring unto you marvellous tidings." "What be they?" said the king.

"Sir, there is here beneath at the river a great stone which I saw fleet1 above the water, and therein saw I sticking a sword."

The king said, "I will see this marvel."

So all the knights went with him, and when they came unto the river, they found there a stone fleeting, as it were of red marble, and therein stack a fair and a rich sword, and in the pommel thereof were precious stones, wrought with subtle letters of gold.

Then the barons read the letters, which said in this wise:

Never shall man take me hence but only he by whose side E ought to hang, and he shall be the best knight of the world.

When the king had seen these letters, he said unto Sir Launcelot, "Fair sir, this sword ought to be yours, for I am sure ye be the best knight of the world."

Then Sir Launcelot answered full soberly: "Certes, sir, it is not my sword: also, sir, wit3 ye well I have no hardiness to set my hand to it, for it longed not to hang by my side. Also who that assayeth to take that sword and faileth of it, he shall receive a wound by that sword, that 1 fleet, float. 2 Certes, in truth. 3 wit, know. 4 hardiness, boldness.

he shall not be whole long after. And I will that ye wit that this same day will the adventures of the Sangreal (that is called the holy vessel) begin."

How an Old Man brought Sir Galahad to the Siege Perilous and set him therein; and how King ARTHUR showed the Stone hoving1 on the water, to Galahad, and how he drew out the Sword.

So when they were served, and all sieges fulfilled, save only the Siege Perilous, anon there befell a marvellous adventure, that all the doors and the windows of the place shut by themselves, but nathless 2 the hall was not greatly darkened, and therewith they were all abashed both one and other.

Then king Arthur spake first, and said, "Fair fellows and lords, we have seen this day marvels, but or night I suppose we shall see greater marvels."

In the meanwhile came in a good old man, and an ancient, clothed all in white, and there was no knight knew from whence he came. And with him he brought a young knight, both on foot, in red arms, without sword or shield, save a scabbard hanging by his side. And these words he said, "Peace be with you, fair lords."

Then the old man said unto Arthur, "Sir, I bring here a young knight the which is of king's lineage, and of the kindred of Joseph of Arimathea whereby the marvels of this court and of strange realms shall be fully accomplished."

The king was right glad of his words, and said unto the good man, "Sir, ye be right welcome, and the young knight with you."

Then the old man made the and he was in a coat of red 1 hove, to rise, to swell or heave.

young man to unarm him; sendal, and bare a mantle

2 nathless, nevertheless.

upon his shoulder that was furred with ermine, and put that upon him. And the old knight said unto the young knight, "Sir, follow me."

And anon he led him unto the Siege Perilous, where beside sat Sir Launcelot, and the good man lift up the cloth, and found there letters that said thus:

This is the siege of Galahad the haut1 prince.

"Sir," said the old knight, "wit ye well that place is yours.' And then he set him down surely in that · siege.

Then all the knights of the Round Table marvelled them greatly of Sir Galahad, that he durst sit there in that Siege Perilous, and was so tender of age, and wist not from whence he came, and said, "This is he by whom the Sangreal shall be achieved, for there sat never none but he, but he were mischieved.2"

Then came King Arthur unto Galahad, and said, "Sir,. ye be welcome, for ye shall move many good knights to the quest of the Sangreal, and ye shall achieve that never knights might bring to an end.”

Then the king took him by the hand, and went down from the palace to shew Galahad the adventures of the stone. The queen heard thereof, and came after with many ladies, and shewed them the stone where it hoved on the water.

"Sir," said the king unto Sir Galahad, "here is a great marvel as ever I saw, and right good knights have assayed and failed."

"Sir," said Galahad, "that is no marvel, for this adventure is not theirs, but mine, and for the surety of this sword I brought none with me; for here by my side hangeth the 2 mischieved, injured.

1 haut, high.

scabbard." And anon he laid his hand on the sword, and lightly drew it out of the stone, and put it in the sheath, and said unto the king, "Now it goeth better than it did aforehand."

"Sir," said the king, "a shield God shall send you.'

How Galahad gat him a Shield, and how they sped' that
presumed to take down the said Shield.

shield, and so he

And at the fourth

Now rideth Sir Galahad yet without rode four days without any adventure. day after even-song he came to a white abbey, and there he was received with great reverence, and led to a chamber, and there he was unarmed, and then was he ware2 of two knights of the Round Table, one was King Bagdema'gus, and that other was Sir Uwaine. And when they saw him, they went unto him, and made of him great solace,3 and so they went to supper.

"Sirs," said Sir Galahad, "what adventure brought you hither?"

"Sir," said they, "it is told us that within this place is a shield that no man may bear about his neck but that if he be mischieved or dead within three days, or else maimed forever."

"Ah, sir," said King Bagdemagus, "I shall bear it to-morrow for to assay this strange adventure."

"In the name of God," said Sir Galahad.

"Sir," said Bagdemagus, "an I may not achieve the adventure of this shield, ye shall take it upon you, for I am sure ye shall not fail."

Sir," said Galahad, "I agree right well thereto, for I have no shield."

1

speed, to fare.

2

ware, aware.

3 solace, pleasure; delight.