{
  "meta": {
    "schema_version": "1.1",
    "endpoint": "/api/sources/grail-romances/high-history-of-the-holy-graal/07-the-high-history-of-the-holy-graal-branch-vi.json"
  },
  "work": {
    "slug": "high-history-of-the-holy-graal",
    "name": "High History of the Holy Graal"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "grail-romances",
      "name": "Holy Grail Romances",
      "url": "/sources/grail-romances/"
    }
  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 7,
    "slug": "07-the-high-history-of-the-holy-graal-branch-vi",
    "title": "The High History of the Holy Graal: Branch VI",
    "of": 36,
    "words": 10365,
    "text": "## The High History of the Holy Graal: Branch VI\n\n\nINCIPIT.\n\nAnother branch that Josephus telleth us recounteth and witnesseth\nof the Holy Graal, and here beginneth for us in the name of the\nFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.\n\nTITLE I.\n\nMessire Gawain rode until he came to a forest, and seeth a land\nright fair and rich in a great enclosure of wall, and round the\nland and country-side within, the wall stretched right far away.\nThitherward he cometh and seeth but one entrance thereinto, and\nhe seeth the fairest land that ever he beheld and the best\ngarnished and the fairest orchards. The country was not more\nthan four leagues Welsh in length, and in the midst thereof was a\ntower on a high rock. And on the top was a crane that kept watch\nover it and cried when any strange man came into the country.\nMessire Gawain rode amidst the land and the crane cried out so\nloud that the King of Wales heard it, that was lord of the land.\nThereupon, behold you, two knights that come after Messire Gawain\nand say to him: \"Hold, Sir knight, and come speak with the king\nof this country, for no strange knight passeth through his land\nbut he seeth him.\"\n\n\"Lords,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I knew not of the custom.\nWillingly will I go.\"\n\nThey led him thither to the hall where the King was, and Messire\nGawain alighteth and setteth his shield and his spear leaning\nagainst a mounting stage and goeth up into the hall. The King\nmaketh great joy of him and asketh him whither he would go?\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Into a country where I was never.\"\n\n\"Well I know,\" saith the king, \"where it is, for that you are\npassing through my land. You are going to the country of King\nGurgalain to conquer the sword wherewith S. John was beheaded.\"\n\nII.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"You say true. God grant me that I\nmay have it!\"\n\n\"That may not be so hastily,\" saith the King, \"For you shall not\ngo forth of my land before a year.\"\n\n\"Ha, Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"For God's sake, mercy!\"\n\n\"None other mercy is here,\" saith the King. Straightway he\nmaketh Messire Gawain be disarmed and afterward maketh bring a\nrobe wherewith to apparel him, and showeth him much honour. But\nill is he at ease, wherefore he saith to him: \"Sir, wherefore are\nyou fain to hold me here within so long?\"\n\n\"For this, that I know well you will have the sword and will not\nreturn by me.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I pledge you my word that, so God\ngive me to conquer it, I will return by you.\"\n\n\"And I will allow you to depart from me at your will. For nought\nis there that I so much desire to see.\"\n\nHe lay the night therewithin, and on the morrow departed thence\nand issued forth of the land right glad and joyful. And he goeth\ntoward the land of King Gurgalain. And he entereth into a\nnoisome forest at the lower part and findeth at the right hour of\nnoon a fountain that was enclosed of marble, and it was\novershadowed of the forest like as it were with leaves down\nbelow, and it had rich pillars of marble all round about with\nfillets of gold and set with precious stones. Against the\nmaster-pillar hung a vessel of gold by a silver chain, and in the\nmidst of the fountain was an image so deftly wrought as if it had\nbeen alive. When Messire appeared at the fountain, the image set\nitself in the water and was hidden therewith. Messire Gawain\ngoeth down, and would fain have taken hold on the vessel of gold\nwhen a voice crieth out to him: \"You are not the Good Knight unto\nwhom is served thereof and who thereby is made whole.\"\n\nMessire Gawain draweth him back and seeth a clerk come to the\nfountain that was young of age and clad in white garments, and\nhe had a stole on his arm and held a little square vessel of\ngold, and cometh to the little vessel that was hanging on the\nmarble pillar and looketh therein, and then rinseth out the other\nlittle golden vessel that he held, and then setteth the one that\nhe held in the place of the other. Therewithal, behold, three\ndamsels that come of right great beauty, and they had white\ngarments and their heads were covered with white cloths, and they\ncarried, one, bread in a little golden vessel, and the other wine\nin a little ivory vessel, and the third flesh in one of silver.\nAnd they come to the vessel of gold that hung against the pillar\nand set therein that which they have brought, and afterward they\nmake the sign of the cross over the pillar and come back again.\nBut on their going back, it seemed to Messire Gawain that only\none was there. Messire Gawain much marvelled him of this\nmiracle. He goeth after the clerk that carried the other vessel\nof gold, and saith unto him: \"Fair Sir, speak to me.\"\n\n\"What is your pleasure?\" saith the clerk.\n\n\"Whither carry you this golden vessel and that which is therein?\"\n\n\"To the hermits,\" saith he, \"that are in this forest, and to the\nGood knight that lieth sick in the house of his uncle King\nHermit.\"\n\n\"Is it far from hence?\" saith Messire Gawain.\n\n\"Yea, Sir,\" saith the clerk, \"to yourself. But I shall be there\nsooner than will you.\"\n\n\"By God,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I would fain I were there now,\nso that I might see him and speak to him.\"\n\n\"That believe I well,\" saith the clerk, \"But now is the place not\nhere.\"\n\nMessire Gawain taketh leave and goeth his way and rideth until he\nfindeth a hermitage and seeth the hermit therewithout. He was\nold and bald and of good life.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he to Messire Gawain, \"Whither go you?\"\n\n\"To the land of King Gurgalain, Sir; is this the way?\"\n\n\"Yea,\" saith the hermit, \"But many knights have passed hereby\nthat hither have never returned.\"\n\n\"Is it far?\" saith he.\n\n\"He and his land are hard by, but far away is the castle wherein\nis the sword.\"\n\nMessire Gawain lay the night therewithin. On the morrow when he\nhad heard mass, he departed and rode until he cometh to the land\nof King Gurgalain, and heareth the folk of the land making dole\nright sore. And he meeteth a knight that cometh a great pace to\na castle.\n\nIV.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Wherefore make the folk of this\ncastle such dole, and they of all this land and all this country?\nFor I hear them weep and beat their palms together on every\nside.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"I will tell you. King Gurgalain had one only\nson of whom he hath been bereft by a Giant that hath done him\nmany mischiefs and wasted much of his land. Now hath the King\nlet everywhere be cried that to him that shall bring back his son\nand slay the Giant he will give the fairest sword of the world,\nthe which sword he hath, and of all his treasure so much as he\nmay be fain to take. As at this time, he findeth no knight so\nhardy that he durst go; and much more blameth he his own law than\nthe law of the Christians, and he saith that if any Christian\nshould come into his land, he would receive him.\"\n\nRight joyous is Messire Gawain of these tidings, and departeth\nfrom the castle and rideth on until he cometh to the castle of\nKing Gurgalain. The tidings come to the King that there is a\nChristian come into his castle. The King maketh great joy\nthereof, and maketh him come before him and asketh him of his\nname and of what land he is.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"My name is Gawain and I am of the land of King\nArthur.\"\n\n\"You are,\" saith he, \"of the land of the Good Knight. But of\nmine own land may I find none that durst give counsel in a matter\nI have on hand. But if you be of such valour that you be willing\nto undertake to counsel me herein, right well will I reward you.\nA Giant hath carried off my son whom I loved greatly, and so you\nbe willing to set your body in jeopardy for my son, I will give\nyou the richest sword that was ever forged, whereby the head of\nS. John was cut off. Every day at right noon is it bloody, for\nthat at that hour the good man had his head cut off.\"\n\nThe King made fetch him the sword, and in the first place showeth\nhim the scabbard that was loaded of precious stones and the\nmountings were of silk with buttons of gold, and the hilt in\nlikewise, and the pommel of a most holy sacred stone that Enax, a\nhigh emperor of Rome, made be set thereon. Then the King draweth\nit forth of the scabbard, and the sword came forth thereof all\nbloody, for it was the hour of noon. And he made hold it before\nMessire Gawain until the hour was past, and thereafter the sword\nbecometh as clear as an emerald and as green. And Messire\nlooketh at it and coveteth it much more than ever he did before,\nand he seeth that it is as long as another sword, albeit, when it\nis sheathed in the scabbard, neither scabbard nor sword seemeth\nof two spans length.\n\nV.\n\n\"Sir Knight,\" saith the King, \"This sword will I give you, and\nanother thing will I do whereof you shall have joy.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"And I will do your need, if God\nplease and His sweet Mother.\"\n\nThereupon he teacheth him the way whereby the Giant went, and the\nplace where he had his repair, and Messire Gawain goeth his way\nthitherward and commendeth himself to God. The country folk pray\nfor him according to their belief that he may back repair with\nlife and health, for that he goeth in great peril. He hath\nridden until that he cometh to a great high mountain that lay\nround about a land that the Giant had all laid waste, and the\nenclosure of the mountain went round about for a good three\nleagues Welsh, and therewithin was the Giant, so great and cruel\nand horrible that he feared no man in the world, and for a long\ntime had he not been sought out by any knight, for none durst won\nin that quarter. And the pass of the mountain whereby he went to\nhis hold was so strait that no horse might get through; wherefore\nbehoveth Messire Gawain leave his horse and his shield and spear\nand to pass beyond the mountain by sheer force, for the way was\nlike a cut between sharp rocks. He is come to level ground and\nlooketh before him and seeth a hold that the Giant had on the top\nof a rock, and espieth the Giant and the lad where they were\nsitting on the level ground under a tree. Messire Gawain was\narmed and had his sword girt on, and goeth his way thitherward.\nAnd the Giant seeth him coming and leapeth up and taketh in hand\na great axe that was at his side, and cometh toward Messire\nGawain all girded for the fight and thinketh to smite him a\ntwo-handed stroke right amidst the head. But Messire Gawain\nswerveth aside and bestirreth him with his sword and dealeth him\na blow such that he cut off his arm, axe and all. And the Giant\nreturneth backward when he feeleth himself wounded, and taketh\nthe King's son by the neck with his other hand and grippeth him\nso straitly that he strangleth and slayeth him. Then he cometh\nback to Messire Gawain and falleth upon him and grippeth him sore\nstrait by the flanks, and lifteth him three foot high off the\nground and thinketh to carry him to his hold that was within the\nrock. And as he goeth thither he falleth, Messire Gawain and\nall, and he lieth undermost. Howbeit, he thinketh to rise, but\ncannot, for Messire Gawain sendeth him his sword right through\nhis heart and beyond. Afterward, he cut off the head and cometh\nthere where the King's child lay dead, whereof is he right\nsorrowful. And he beareth him on his neck, and taketh the\nGiant's head in his hand and returneth there where he had left\nhis horse and shield and spear, and mounteth and cometh back and\nbringeth the King's son before the King and the head of the Giant\nhanging.\n\nVI.\n\nThe King and all they of the castle come to meet him with right\ngreat joy, but when they see the young man dead, their great joy\nis turned into right great dole thereby. And Messire Gawain\nalighteth before the castle and presenteth to the King his son\nand the head of the Giant.\n\n\"Certes,\" said he, \"might I have presented him to you on live,\nmuch more joyful should I have been thereof.\"\n\n\"This believe I well,\" saith the King, \"Howbeit, of so much as\nyou have done am I well pleased, and your guerdon shall you\nhave.\"\n\nAnd he looketh at his son and lamenteth him right sweetly, and\nall they of the castle after him. Thereafter he maketh light a\ngreat show of torches in the midst of the city, and causeth a\ngreat fire to be made, and his son be set thereon in a brazen\nvessel all full of water, and maketh him be cooked and sodden\nover this fire, and maketh the Giant's head be hanged at the\ngate.\n\nVII.\n\nWhen his son was well cooked, he maketh him be cut up as small as\nhe may, and biddeth send for all the high men of his land and\ngiveth thereof to each so long as there was any left. After that\nhe maketh bring the sword and giveth it to Messire Gawain, and\nMessire Gawain thanketh him much thereof.\n\n\"More yet will I do for you,\" saith the King. He biddeth send\nfor all the men of his land to come to his hall and castle.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"I am fain to baptize me.\"\n\n\"God be praised thereof,\" saith Messire Gawain. The King biddeth\nsend for a hermit of the forest, and maketh himself be baptized,\nand he had the name of Archis in right baptism; and of all them\nthat were not willing to believe in God, he commanded Messire\nGawain that he should cut off their heads.\n\nVIII.\n\nIn such wise was this King baptized that was the lord of Albanie,\nby the miracle of God and the knighthood of Messire Gawain, that\ndeparteth from the castle with right great joy and rideth until\nhe has come into the land of the King of Wales and bethought him\nhe would go fulfil his pledge. He alighted before the hall, and\nthe King made right great cheer when he saw him come. And\nMessire Gawain hath told him: \"I come to redeem my pledge.\nBehold, here is the sword.\"\n\nAnd the King taketh it in his hand and looketh thereon right\nfainly, and afterward maketh great joy thereof and setteth it in\nhis treasury and saith: \"Now have I done my desire.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Then have you betrayed me.\"\n\n\"By my head,\" saith the King, \"That have I not, for I am of the\nlineage of him that beheaded S. John, wherefore have I better\nright to it than you.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" say the knights to the King, \"Right loyal and courteous\nknight is Messire Gawain, wherefore yield him that which he hath\nconquered, for sore blame will you have of evil-treating him.\"\n\n\"I will yield it,\" saith the King \"on such condition that\nthe first damsel that maketh request of him, what thing soever\nshe may require and whatsoever it be shall not be denied of him.\"\n\nAnd Messire Gawain agreeth thereto, and of this agreement\nthereafter did he suffer much shame and anguish and was blamed of\nmany knights. And the King yielded him the Sword. He lay the\nnight therewithin, and on the morrow so soon as he might, he\ndeparted and rode until he came without the city where the\nburgess gave him the horse in exchange for his own. And he\nremembered him of his covenant, and abideth a long space and\nleaneth him on the hilt of his sword until the burgess cometh.\nTherewithal made they great joy the one of the other, and Messire\nshoweth him the sword, and the burgess taketh it and smiteth his\nhorse with his spurs and goeth a great gallop toward the city.\nAnd Messire Gawain goeth after a great pace and crieth out that\nhe doth great treachery.\n\n\"Come not after me into the city,\" saith the burgess, \"for the\nfolk have a commune.\"\n\nHowbeit, he followeth after into the city for that he might not\novertake him before, and therein he meeteth a great procession of\npriests and clerks that bore crosses and censers. And Messire\nGawain alighteth on account of the procession, and seeth the\nburgess that hath gone into the church and the procession after.\n\n\"Lords,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Make yield me the sword whereof\nthis burgess that hath entered your church hath plundered me.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" say the priests, \"Well know we that it is the sword\nwherewith S. John was beheaded, wherefore the burgess hath\nbrought it to us to set with our hallows in yonder, and saith\nthat it was given him.\"\n\n\"Ha, lords!\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Not so! I have but shown it\nto him to fulfil my pledge. And he hath carried it off by\ntreachery.\"\n\nAfterward he telleth them as it had befallen him, and the priests\nmake the burgess give it up, and with great joy Messire Gawain\ndeparteth and remounteth his horse and issueth forth of the city.\nHe hath scarce gone far before he meeteth a knight that came all\narmed, as fast as his horse could carry him, spear in rest.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he to Messire Gawain, \"I have come to help you. We\nwere told that you had been evil-entreated in the city, and I am\nof the castle that succoureth all strange knights that pass\nhereby whensoever they have need thereof.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Blessed be the castle! I plain me\nnot of the trespass for that right hath been done me. And how is\nthe castle named?\"\n\n\"Sir, they call it the Castle of the Ball. Will you return back\nthither with me, since you are delivered, and lodge there the\nnight with Messire, that is a right worshipful man, and of good\nconditions?\"\n\nTherewith they go together to the castle, that was right fair and\nwell-seeming. They enter in, and when they were within, the\nLord, that sate on a mounting-stage of marble, had two right fair\ndaughters, and he made them play before him with a ball of gold,\nand looked at them right fainly. He seeth Messire Gawain alight\nand cometh to meet him and maketh him great cheer. Afterward, he\nbiddeth his two daughters lead him into the hall.\n\nIX.\n\nWhen he was disarmed, the one brought him a right rich robe, and\nafter meat the two maidens sit beside him and make him right\ngreat cheer. Thereupon behold you, a dwarf that issueth forth of\na chamber, and he holdeth a scourge. And he cometh to the\ndamsels and smiteth them over their faces and their heads.\n\n\"Rise up,\" saith he, \"ye fools, ill-taught! Ye make cheer unto\nhim whom you ought to hate! For this is Messire Gawain, King\nArthur's nephew, by whom was your uncle slain!\"\n\nThereupon they rise, all ashamed, and go into the chamber, and\nMessire Gawain remaineth there sore abashed. But their father\ncomforteth him and saith: \"Sir, be not troubled for aught that he\nsaith, for the dwarf is our master: he chastiseth and teacheth my\ndaughters, and he is wroth for that you have slain his brother,\nwhom you slew the day that Marin slew his wife on your account,\nwhereof we are right sorrowful in this castle.\"\n\n\"So also am I,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"But no blame of her death\nhave I nor she, as God knoweth of very truth.\"\n\nX.\n\nMessire Gawain lay the night at the castle, and departed on the\nmorrow, and rode on his journeys until he cometh to the castle at\nthe entrance to the land of the rich King Fisherman, where he\nseeth that the lion is not at the entrance nor were the serjeants\nof copper shooting. And he seeth in great procession the priests\nand them of the castle coming to meet him, and he alighteth, and\na squire was apparelled ready, that took his armour and his\nhorse, and he showeth the sword to them that were come to meet\nhim. It was the hour of noon. He draweth the sword, and seeth\nit all bloody, and they bow down and worship it, and sing `Te\nDeum laudamus'. With such joy was Messire Gawain received at the\ncastle, and he set the sword back in his scabbard, and kept it\nright anigh him, and made it not known in all the places where he\nlodged that it was such. The priests and knights of the castle\nmake right great joy, and pray him right instantly that so God\nshould lead him to the castle of King Fisherman, and the Graal\nshould appear before him, he would not be so forgetful as the\nother knights. And he made answer that he would do that which\nGod should teach him.\n\nXI.\n\n\"Messire Gawain,\" saith the master of the priests, that was right\nancient: \"Great need have you to take rest, for meseemeth you\nhave had much travail.\"\n\n\"Sir, many things have I seen whereof I am sore abashed, nor know\nI what castle this may be.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the priest, \"This Castle is the Castle of Inquest,\nfor nought you shall ask whereof it shall not tell you the\nmeaning, by the witness of Joseph, the good clerk and good hermit\nthrough whom we have it, and he knoweth it by annunciation of the\nHoly Ghost.\"\n\n\"By my faith,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I am much abashed of the\nthree damsels that were at the court of King Arthur. Two of them\ncarried, the one the head of a king and the other of a queen, and\nthey had in a car an hundred and fifty heads of knights whereof\nsome were sealed in gold, other in silver, and the rest in lead.\"\n\n\"True,\" saith the priest, \"For as by the queen was the king\nbetrayed and killed, and the knights whereof the heads were in\nthe car, so saith she truth as Joseph witnesseth to us, for he\nsaith of remembrance that by envy was Adam betrayed, and all the\npeople that were after him and the people that are yet to come\nshall have dole thereof for ever more. And for that Adam was the\nfirst man is he called King, for he was our earthly father, and\nhis wife Queen. And the heads of the knights sealed in gold\nsignify the new law, and the heads sealed in silver the old, and\nthe heads sealed in lead the false law of the Sarrazins. Of\nthese three manner of folk is the world stablished.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I marvel of the castle of the Black\nHermit, there where the heads were all taken from her, and the\nDamsel told me that the Good Knight should cast them all forth\nwhen he should come. And the other folk that are therewithin are\nlonging for him.\"\n\n\"Well know you,\" saith the priest, \"that on account of the apple\nthat Eve gave Adam to eat, all went to hell alike, the good as\nwell as the evil, and to cast His people forth from hell did God\nbecome man, and cast these souls forth from hell of His bounty\nand of His puissance. And to this doth Joseph make us allusion\nby the castle or the Black Hermit which signifieth hell, and the\nGood Knight that shall thence cast forth them that are within.\nAnd I tell you that the Black Hermit is Lucifer, that is Lord of\nhell in like manner as he fain would have been Lord of Paradise.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the priest, \"By this significance is he fain to draw\nthe good hermits on behalt of the new law wherein the most part\nare not well learned, wherefore he would fain make allusion by\nensample.\"\n\n\"By God,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I marvel much of the Damsel that\nwas all bald, and said that never should she have her hair again\nuntil such time as the Good Knight should have achieved the Holy\nGraal.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the good man, \"Each day full bald behoveth her to\nbe, ever since bald she became when the good King fell into\nlanguishment on account of the knight whom he harboured that made\nnot the demand. The bald damsel signifieth Joseu Josephus, that\nwas bald before the crucifixion of Our Lord, nor never had his\nhair again until such time as He had redeemed His people by His\nblood and by His death. The car that she leadeth after her\nsignifieth the wheel of fortune, for like as the car goeth on the\nwheels, doth she lay the burden of the world on the two damsels\nthat follow her; and this you may see well, for the fairest\nfolloweth afoot and the other was on a sorry hackney, and they\nwere poorly clad, whereas the third had costlier attire. The\nshield whereon was the red cross, that she left at the court of\nKing Arthur, signifieth the most holy shield of the rood that\nnever none durst lift save God alone.\"\n\nMessire Gawain heareth these significances and much pleaseth him\nthereof, and thinketh him that none durst set his hand to nor\nlift the shield that hung in the King's hall, as he had heard\ntell in many places; wherefore day by day were they waiting for\nthe Good Knight that should come for the shield.\n\nXII.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"By this that you tell me you do me\nto wit that whereof I was abashed, but I have been right\nsorrowful of a lady that a knight slew on my account albeit no\nblame had she therein, nor had I.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the priest, \"Right great significance was there in\nher death, for Josephus witnesseth us that the old law was\ndestroyed by the stroke of a sword without recover, and to\ndestroy the old law did Our Lord suffer Himself to be smitten in\nthe side of a spear. By this stroke was the old law destroyed,\nand by His crucifixion. The lady signifieth the old law. Would\nyou ask more of me?\" saith the priest.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I met a knight in the forest that\nrode behind before and carried his arms upside down. And he said\nthat he was the Knight Coward, and his habergeon carried he on\nhis neck, and so soon as he saw me he set his arms to rights and\nrode like any other knight.\"\n\n\"The law was turned to the worse,\" saith the priest, \"before Our\nLord's crucifixion, and so soon as He was crucified, was again\nrestored to right.\"\n\n\"Even yet have I not asked you of all,\" saith Messire Gawain,\n\"For a knight came and jousted with me party of black and white,\nand challenged me of the death of the lady on behalf of her\nhusband, and told me and I should vanquish him that he and his\nmen would be my men. I did vanquish him and he did me homage.\"\n\n\"It is right,\" saith the priest, \"On account of the old law that\nwas destroyed were all they that remained therein made subject,\nand shall be for ever more. Wish you to enquire of aught\nfurther?\" saith the priest.\n\n\"I marvel me right sore,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"of a child that\nrode a lion in a hermitage, and none durst come nigh the lion\nsave the child only, and he was not of more than six years, and\nthe lion was right fell. The child was the son of the lady that\nwas slain on my account.\"\n\n\"Right well have you spoken,\" saith the priest, \"in reminding me\nthereof. The child signifieth the Saviour of the world that was\nborn under the old law and was circumcised, and the lion whereon\nhe rode signifieth the world and the people that are therein, and\nbeasts and birds that none may govern save by virtue of Him\nalone.\"\n\n\"God!\" saith Messire Gawain, \"How great joy have I at heart of\nthat you tell me! Sir, I found a fountain in a forest, the\nfairest that was ever seen, and an image had it within that hid\nitself when it saw me, and a clerk brought a golden vessel and\ntook another golden vessel that hung at the column that was\nthere, and set his own in place thereof. Afterward, came three\ndamsels and filled the vessel with that they had brought thither,\nand straightway meseemed that but one was there.\"\n\n\"Sir, saith the priest, \"I will tell you no more thereof than you\nhave heard, and therewithal ought you to hold yourself well\napaid, for behoveth not discover the secrets of the Saviour, and\nthem also to whom they are committed behoveth keep them\ncovertly.\"\n\nXIII.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I would fain ask you of a King.\nWhen I had brought him his son back dead, he made him be cooked\nand thereafter made him be eaten of all the folk of his land.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the priest, \"Already had he leant his heart upon\nJesus Christ, and would fain make sacrifice of his flesh and\nblood to Our Lord, and for this did he make all those of his land\neat thereof, and would fain that their thoughts should be even\nsuch as his own. And therefore was all evil belief uprooted from\nhis land, so that none remained therein.\"\n\n\"Blessed be the hour,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"that I came\nherewithin!\"\n\n\"Mine be it!\" saith the priest.\n\nMessire Gawain lay therewithin the night, and right well lodged\nwas he. The morrow, when he had heard mass, he departed and went\nforth of the castle when he had taken leave. And he findeth the\nfairest land of the world and the fairest meadow-grounds that\nwere ever seen, and the fairest rivers and forests garnished of\nwild deer and hermitages. And he rideth until he cometh one day\nas evening was about to draw on, to the house of a hermit, and\nthe house was so low that his horse might not enter therein. And\nhis chapel was scarce taller, and the good man had never issued\ntherefrom of forty years past. The Hermit putteth his head out\nof the window when he seeth Messire Gawain and saith, \"Sir,\nwelcome may you be,\" saith he.\n\n\"Sir, God give you joy, Will you give me lodging to-night?\" saith\nMessire Gawain.\n\n\"Sir, herewithin none harboureth save the Lord God alone, for\nearthly man hath never entered herewithin but me this forty year,\nbut see, here in front is the castle wherein the good knights are\nlodged.\"\n\n\"What is the castle?\"\n\n\"Sir, the good King Fisherman's, that is surrounded with great\nwaters and plenteous in all things good, so the lord were in joy.\nBut behoveth them harbour none there save good knights only.\"\n\n\"God grant,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"that I may come therein.\"\n\nXIV.\n\nWhen he knoweth that he is nigh the castle, he alighteth and\nconfesseth him to the hermit, and avoweth all his sins and\nrepenteth him thereof right truly.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the hermit, \"Now forget not, so God be willing to\nallow you, to ask that which the other knight forgat, and be not\nafeard for ought you may see at the entrance of the castle, but\nride on without misgiving and adore the holy chapel you will see\nappear in the castle, there where the flame of the Holy Spirit\ndescendeth each day for the most Holy Graal and the point of the\nlance that is served there.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"God teach me to do His will!\"\n\nHe taketh leave, and goeth his way and rideth until the valley\nappeareth wherein the castle is seated garnished of all things\ngood, and he seeth appear the most holy chapel. He alighteth,\nand then setteth him on his knees and boweth him down and adoreth\nright sweetly. Thereafter he remounteth and rideth until he\nfindeth a sepulchre right rich, and it had a cover over, and it\nlay very nigh the castle, and it seemed to be within a little\nburial-ground that was enclosed all round about, nor were any\nother tombs therein. A voice crieth to him as he passeth the\nburial-ground: \"Touch not the sepulchre, for you are not the Good\nKnight through whom shall it be known who lieth therein.\"\n\nMessire Gawain passeth beyond when he had heard the voice and\ndraweth nigh the entrance of the castle, and seeth that three\nbridges are there, right great and right horrible to pass. And\nthree great waters run below, and him seemeth that the first\nbridge is a bowshot in length and in breadth not more than a\nfoot. Strait seemeth the bridge and the water deep and swift and\nwide. He knoweth not what he may do, for it seemeth him that\nnone may pass it, neither afoot nor on horse.\n\nXV.\n\nThereupon, lo you, a knight that issueth forth of the castle and\ncometh as far as the head of the bridge, that was called the\nBridge of the Eel, and shouteth aloud: \"Sir Knight, pass quickly\nbefore it shall be already night, for they of the castle are\nawaiting us.\"\n\n\"Ha,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Fair sir, but teach me how I may\npass hereby.\"\n\n\"Certes, Sir Knight, no passage know I to this entrance other\nthan this, and if you desire to come to the castle, pass on\nwithout misgiving.\"\n\nMessire Gawain hath shame for that he hath stayed so long, and\nforthinketh him of this that the Hermit told him, that of no\nmortal thing need he be troubled at the entrance of the castle,\nand therewithal that he is truly confessed of his sins, wherefore\nbehoveth him be the less adread of death. He crosseth and\nblesseth himself and commendeth himself to God as he that\nthinketh to die, and so smiteth his horse with his spurs and\nfindeth the bridge wide and large as soon as he goeth forward,\nfor by this passing were proven most of the knights that were\nfain to enter therein. Much marvelled he that he found the\nbridge so wide that had seemed him so narrow. And when he had\npassed beyond, the bridge, that was a drawbridge, lifted itself\nby engine behind him, for the water below ran too swiftly for\nother bridge to be made. The knight draweth himself back beyond\nthe great bridge and Messire Gawain cometh nigh to pass it, and\nthis seemed him as long as the other. And he seeth the water\nbelow, that was not less swift nor less deep, and, so far as he\ncould judge, the bridge was of ice, feeble and thin, and of a\ngreat height above the water, and he looked at it with much\nmarvelling, yet natheless not for that would he any the more hold\nback from passing on toward the entrance. He goeth forward and\ncommendeth himself to God, and cometh in the midst thereof and\nseeth that the bridge was the fairest and richest and strongest\nhe had ever beheld, and the abutments thereof were all full of\nimages. When he was beyond the bridge, it lifted itself up\nbehind him as the other had done, and he looketh before him and\nseeth not the knight, and is come to the third bridge and nought\nwas he adread for anything he might see. And it was not less\nrich than the other, and had columns of marble all round about,\nand upon each a knop so rich that it seemed to be of gold. After\nthat, he beholdeth the gate over against him, and seeth Our Lord\nthere figured even as He was set upon the rood, and His Mother of\nthe one side and S. John of the other, whereof the images were\nall of gold, with rich precious stones that flashed like fire.\nAnd on the right hand he seeth an angel, passing fair, that\npointed with his finger to the chapel where was the Holy Graal,\nand on his breast had he a precious stone, and letters written\nabove his head that told how the lord of the castle was the like\npure and clean of all evil-seeming as was this stone.\n\nXVI.\n\nThereafter at the entrance of the gate he seeth a lion right\ngreat and horrible, and he was upright upon his feet. So soon as\nhe seeth Messire Gawain, he croucheth to the ground, and Messire\nGawain passeth the entrance without gainsay and cometh to the\ncastle, and alighteth afoot, and setteth his shield and his spear\nagainst the wall of the hall, and mounteth up a flight of marble\nsteps and cometh into a hall right fair and rich, and here and\nthere in divers places was it painted with golden images. In the\nmidst thereof he findeth a couch right fair and rich and high,\nand at the foot of this couch was a chess-board right fair and\nrich, with an orle of gold all full of precious stones, and the\npieces were of gold and silver and were not upon the board.\nMeanwhile, as Messire Gawain was looking at the beauty of the\nchess-board and the hall, behold you two knights that issue forth\nof a chamber and come to him.\n\n\"Sir,\" say the knights, \"Welcome may you be.\"\n\n\"God give you joy and good. adventure,\" saith Messire Gawain.\n\nThey make him sit upon the couch and after that make him be\ndisarmed. They bring him, in two basins of gold, water to wash\nhis face and hands. After that, come two damsels that bring him\na rich robe of silk and cloth of gold. Then they make him do on\nthe same. Then say the two damsels to him, \"Take in good part\nwhatsoever may be done to you therewithin, for this is the hostel\nof good knights and loyal.\"\n\n\"Damsels,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"So will I do. Gramercy of your\nservice.\"\n\nHe seeth well that albeit the night were dark, within was so\ngreat brightness of light without candles that it was marvel.\nAnd it seemed him the sun shone there. Wherefore marvelled he\nright sore whence so great light should come.\n\nXVII.\n\nWhen Messire Gawain was clad in the rich robe, right comely was\nhe to behold, and well seemed he to be a knight of great valour.\n\"Sir,\" say the knights, \"May it please you come see the lord of\nthis castle?\"\n\n\"Right gladly will I see him,\" saith he, \"For I would fain\npresent him with a rich sword.\"\n\nThey lead him into the chamber where lay King Fisherman, and it\nseemed as it were all strown and sprinkled of balm, and it was\nall strown with green herbs and reeds. And King Fisherman lay on\na bed hung on cords whereof the stavs were of ivory; and therein\nwas a mattress of straw whereon he lay, and above a coverlid of\nsables whereof the cloth was right rich. And he had a cap of\nsables on his head covered with a red samite of silk, and a\ngolden cross, and under his head was a pillow all smelling sweet\nof balm, and at the four corners of the pillow were four stones\nthat gave out a right great brightness of light; and over against\nhim was a pillar of copper whereon sate an eagle that held a\ncross of gold wherein was a piece of the true cross whereon God\nwas set, as long as was the cross itself; the which the good man\nadored. And in four tall candle sticks of gold were four tall\nwax tapers set as often as was need. Messire Gawain cometh\nbefore the King and saluteth him. And the King maketh him right\ngreat cheer, and biddeth him be welcome.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, I present you with the sword whereof\nJohn was beheaded.\"\n\n\"Gramercy.\" saith the King: \"Certes, I knew well that you would\nbring it, for neither you nor other might have come in hither\nwithout the sword, and if you had not been of great valour you\nwould not have conquered it.\"\n\nHe taketh the sword and setteth it to his mouth and so kisseth it\nright sweetly and maketh right great joy thereof. And a damsel\ncometh to sit at the head of the bed, to whom he giveth the sword\nin keeping. Two others sit at his feet that look at him right\nsweetly.\n\n\"What is your name?\" saith the King.\n\n\"Sir, my name is Gawain.\"\n\n\"Ha, Messire Gawain,\" saith he, \"This brightness of light that\nshineth there within cometh to us of God for love of you. For\nevery time that a knight cometh hither to harbour within this\ncastle it appeareth as brightly as you see it now. And greater\ncheer would I make you than I do were I able to help myself, but\nI am fallen into languishment from the hour that the knight of\nwhom you have heard tell harboured herewithin. On account of\none single word he delayed to speak, did this languishment come\nupon me. Wherefore I pray you for God's sake that you remember\nto speak it, for right glad should you be and you may restore me\nmy health. And see here is the daughter of my sister that hath\nbeen plundered of her land and disinherited in such wise that\nnever can she have it again save through her brother only whom\nshe goeth to seek; and we have been told that he is the Best\nKnight of the world, but we can learn no true tidings of him.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the damsel to her uncle the King, \"Thank Messire\nGawain of the honour he did to my lady-mother when he came to her\nhostel. He stablished our land again in peace, and conquered the\nkeeping of the castle for a year, and set my lady-mother's\nfive knights there with us to keep it. The year hath now passed,\nwherefore will the war be now renewed against us and God succour\nus not, and I find not my brother whom we have lost so long.\"\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"I helped you so far as I might,\nand so would I again and I were there. And fainer am I to see\nyour brother than all the knights of the world. But no true\ntidings may I hear of him, save so much, that I was at a\nhermitage where was a King hermit and he bade me make no noise\nfor that the Best Knight of the world lay sick therewithin, and\nhe told me that name was Par-lui-fet. I saw his horse being led\nby a squire before the chapel, and his arms and shield whereon\nwas a sun figured.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the damsel, \"My brother's name is not Par-lui-fet,\nbut Perlesvax in right baptism, and it is said of them that have\nseen him that never comelier knight was known.\"\n\n\"Certes,\" saith the King, \"Never saw I comelier than he that came\nin hither nor better like to be good knight, and I know of a\ntruth that such he is, for otherwise never might he have entered\nhereinto. But good reward of harbouring him had I not, for I may\nhelp neither myself nor other. For God's sake, Messire Gawain,\nhold me in remembrance this night, for great affiance have I in\nyour valour.\"\n\n\"Certes, Sir, please God, nought will I do within yonder, whereof\nI may be blamed of right.\"\n\nXVIII.\n\nThereupon Messire Gawain was led into the hall and findeth twelve\nancient knights, all bald, albeit they seemed not to be so old as\nthey were, for each was of a hundred year of age or more and yet\nnone of them seemed as though he were forty. They have set\nMessire Gawain to eat at a right rich table of ivory and seat\nthemselves all round about him.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the Master of the Knights, \"Remember you of that the\ngood King hath prayed of you and told you this night as you have\nheard.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"God remember it!\"\n\nWith that bring they larded meats of venison and wild-boar's\nflesh and other in great plenty, and on the table was rich array\nof vessels of silver and great cups of gold with their covers,\nand the rich candlesticks where the great candles were burning,\nalbeit their brightness was hidden of the great light that\nappeared within.\n\nXIX.\n\nThereon, lo you, two damsels that issue forth of a chapel,\nwhereof the one holdeth in her hands the most Holy Graal, and the\nother the Lance whereof the point bleedeth thereinto. And the\none goeth beside the other in the midst of the hall where the\nknights and Messire Gawain sat at meat, and so sweet a smell and\nso holy came to them therefrom that they forgat to eat. Messire\nGawain looketh at the Graal, and it seemed him that a chalice was\ntherein, albeit none there was as at this time, and he seeth the\npoint of the lance whence the red blood ran thereinto, and it\nseemeth him he seeth two angels that bear two candlesticks of\ngold filled with candles. And the damsels pass before Messire\nGawain, and go into another chapel. And Messire Gawain is\nthoughtful, and so great a joy cometh to him that nought\nremembereth he in his thinking save of God only. The knights are\nall daunted and sorrowful in their hearts, and look at Messire\nGawain. Thereupon behold you the damsels that issue forth of the\nchamber and come again before Messire Gawain, and him seemeth\nthat he seeth three there where before he had seen\nbut two, and seemeth him that in the midst of the Graal he seeth\nthe figure of a child. The Master of the Knights beckoneth to\nMessire Gawain. Messire Gawain looketh before him and seeth\nthree drops of blood fall upon the table. He was all abashed to\nlook at them and spake no word.\n\nXX.\n\nTherewith the damsels pass forth and the knights are all adread\nand look one at the other. Howbeit Messire Gawain may not\nwithdraw his eyes from the three drops of blood, and when he\nwould fain kiss them they vanish away, whereof he is right\nsorrowful, for he may not set his hand nor aught that of him is\nto touch thereof. Therewithal behold you the two damsels that\ncome again before the table and seemeth to Messire Gawain that\nthere are three, and he looketh up and it seemeth him to be the\nGraal all in flesh, grid he seeth above, as him thinketh, a King\ncrowned, nailed upon a rood, and the spear was still fast in his\nside. Messire Gawain seeth it and hath great pity thereof, and\nof nought doth he remember him save of the pain that this King\nsuffereth. And the Master of the Knights summoneth him again by\nword of mouth, and telleth him that if he delayeth longer, never\nmore will he recover it. Messire Gawain is silent, as he that\nheareth not the knight speak, and looketh upward. But the\ndamsels go back into the chapel and carry back the most Holy\nGraal and the Lance, and the knights make the tablecloths be\ntaken away and rise from meat and go into another hall and leave\nMessire Gawain all alone. And he looketh all around and seeth\nthe doors all shut and made fast, and looketh to the foot of the\nhall and seeth two candlesticks with many candles burning round\nabout the chessboard, and he seeth that the pieces are set,\nwhereof the one sort are silver and the other gold. Messire\nGawain sitteth at the game, and they of gold played against him\nand mated him twice. At the third time, when he thought to\nrevenge himself and saw that he had the worse, he swept the\npieces off the board. And the damsel issued forth of a chamber\nand made a squire take the chess-board and the pieces and so\ncarry them away. And Messire Gawain, that was way-worn of his\nwanderings to come thither where he now hath come, slept upon the\ncouch until the morrow when it was day, and he heard a horn sound\nright shrill.\n\nXXI.\n\nThereupon he armeth him and would fain go to take leave of King\nFisherman, but he findeth the doors bolted so that he may not get\nforth. And right fair service seeth he done in a chapel, and\nright sorrowful is he for that he may not hear the mass. A\ndamsel cometh into the hall and saith to him: \"Sir, now may you\nhear the service and the joy that is made on account of the sword\nyou presented to the good King, and right glad at heart ought you\nto have been if you had been within the chapel. But you lost\nentering therein on account of a right little word. For the\nplace of the chapel is so hallowed of the holy relics that are\ntherein that man nor priest may never enter therein from the\nSaturday at noon until the Monday after mass.\"\n\nAnd he heard the sweetest voices and the fairest services that\nwere ever done in chapel. Messire Gawain answereth her not a\nword so is he abashed. Howbeit the damsel saith to him: \"Sir,\nGod be guardian of your body, for methinketh that it was not of\nyour own default that you would not speak the word whereof this\ncastle would have been in joy.\"\n\nWith that the damsel departeth and Messire Gawain heareth the\nhorn sound a second time and a voice warning him aloud: \"He that\nis from without, let him go hence! for the bridges are lowered\nand the gate open, and the lion is in his den. And thereafter\nbehoveth the bridge be lifted again on account of the King of the\nCastle Mortal, that warreth against this castle, and therefore\nof this thing shall he die.\"\n\nXXII.\n\nThereupon Messire Gawain issueth forth of the hall and findeth\nhis horse all made ready at the mounting-stage, together with his\narms. He goeth forth and findeth the bridges broad and long, and\ngoeth his way a great pace beside a great river that runneth in\nthe midst of the valley. And he seeth in a great forest a mighty\nrain and tempest, and so strong a thunderstorm ariseth in the\nforest that it seemeth like all the trees should be uprooted. So\ngreat is the rain and the tempest that it compelleth him set his\nshield over his horse's head lest he be drowned of the abundance\nof rain. In this mis-ease rideth he down beside the river that\nrunneth in the forest until he seeth in a launde across the river\na knight and a damsel right gaily appointed riding at pleasure,\nand the knight carrieth a bird on his fist, and the damsel hath a\ngarland of flowers on her head. Two brachets follow the knight.\nThe sun shineth right fair on the meadow and the air is right\nclear and fresh. Messire Gawain marvelleth much of this, that it\nraineth so heavily on his way, whereas, in the meadow where the\nknight and the damsel are riding, the sun shineth clear and the\nweather is bright and calm. And he seeth them ride joyously. He\ncan ask them naught for they are too far away. Messire Gawain\nlooketh about and seeth on the other side the river a squire\nnearer to him than is the knight.\n\n\"Fair friend\" saith Messire Gawain, \"How is this that it raineth\nupon me on this side the river, but on the other raineth it not\nat all?\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the squire, \"This have you deserved, for such is the\ncustom of the forest.\"\n\n\"Will this tempest that is over me last for ever?\" saith Messire\nGawain.\n\n\"At the first bridge you come to will it be stayed upon you,\"\nsaith the squire.\n\nXXIII.\n\nTherewith the squire departeth, and the tempest rageth\nincontinent until he is come to the bridge; and he rideth beyond\nand cometh to the meadow, and the storm is stayed so that he\nsetteth his shield to rights again upon his neck. And he seeth\nbefore him a castle where was a great company of folk that were\nmaking great cheer. He rideth until he cometh to the castle and\nseeth right great throng of folk, knights and dames and damsels.\nMessire Gawain alighteth, but findeth in the castle none that is\nwilling to take his reins, so busied are they making merry.\nMessire Gawain presenteth himself on the one side and the other,\nbut all of them avoid him, and he seeth that he maketh but an ill\nstay therewithin for himself, wherefore he departeth from the\ncastle and meeteth a knight at the gate.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"What castle is this?\"\n\n\"And see you not,\" saith the knight, \"that it is a castle of\njoy?\"\n\n\"By my faith\" saith Messire Gawain, \"They of the castle be not\nover-courteous, for all this time hath none come to take my\nreins.\"\n\n\"Not for this lose they their courtesy,\" saith the knight, \"For\nthis is no more than you have deserved. They take you to be as\nslothful of deed as you are of word, and they saw that you were\ncome through the Forest Perilous whereby pass all the\ndiscomfited, as well appeareth by your arms and your horse.\"\n\nTherewith the knight departeth, and Messire Gawain hath ridden a\ngreat space sorrowful and sore abashed, until he cometh to a land\nparched and poor and barren of all comfort, and therein findeth\nhe a poor castle, whereinto he cometh and seeth it much wasted,\nbut that within was there a hall that seemed haunted of folk.\nAnd Messire Gawain cometh thitherward and alighteth, and a knight\ncometh down the steps of the hall right poorly clad.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the knight to Messire Gawain, \"Welcome may you be!\"\n\nAfter that, he taketh him by the hand and leadeth him upward to\nthe hall, that was all waste. Therewithal issue two damsels from\na chamber, right poorly clad, that were of passing great beauty,\nand make great cheer to Messire Gawain. So, when he was fain to\ndisarm, behold you thereupon a knight that entereth into the\nhall, and he was smitten with the broken end of a lance through\nhis body. He seeth Messire Gawain, whom he knoweth.\n\n\"Now haste!\" saith he, \"and disarm you not! Right joyful am I\nthat I have found you! I come from this forest wherein have I\nleft Lancelot fighting with four knights, whereof one is dead,\nand they think that it is you, and they are of kindred to the\nknight that you slew at the tent where you destroyed the evil\ncustom. I was fain to help Lancelot, when one of the knights\nsmote me as you may see.\"\n\nMessire Gawain goeth down from the hall and mounteth all armed\nupon his horse.\n\nXXIV.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the knight of the hall, \"I would go help you to my\npower, but I may not issue forth of the castle until such time as\nit be replenished of the folk that are wont to come therein and\nuntil my land be again given up to me through the valour of the\nGood Knight.\"\n\nMessire Gawain departeth from the castle as fast as horse may\ncarry him, and entereth the forest and followeth the track of the\nblood along the way the knight had come, and rideth so far in the\nforest as that he heareth the noise of swords, and seeth in the\nmidst of the launde Lancelot and the three knights, and the\nfourth dead on the ground. But one of the knights had drawn him\naback, for he might abide the combat no longer, for the knight\nthat brought the tidings to Messire Gawain had sore wounded him.\nThe two knights beset Lancelot full sore, and right weary was he\nof the buffets that he had given and received. Messire Gawain\ncometh to one of the knights and smiteth him right through the\nbody and maketh him and his horse roll over all of a heap.\n\nXXV.\n\nWhen Lancelot perceiveth Messire Gawain, much joy maketh he\nthereof. In the meanwhile as the one held the other, the fourth\nknight fled full speed through the midst of the forest, and he\nthat the knight had wounded fell dead. They take their horses,\nand Messire Gawain telleth Lancelot he hath the most poverty-\nstricken host that ever he hath seen, and the fairest damsels\nknown, but that right poorly are they clad. \"Shall we therefore\ntake them of our booty?\"\n\n\"I agree,\" saith Lancelot, \"But sore grieveth me of the knight\nthat hath thus escaped us.\"\n\n\"Take no heed,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"We shall do well enough\nherein.\"\n\nThereupon they return back toward the poor knight's hostel and\nalight before the hall, and the Poor Knight cometh to meet them,\nand the two damsels, and they deliver to them the three horses of\nthe three knights that were dead. The knight hath great joy\nthereof, and telleth them that now is he a rich man and that\nbetimes will his sisters be better clad than are they now, as\nwell as himself.\n\nXXVI.\n\nThereupon come they into the hall. The knight maketh one of his\nown squires stable the horses and the two damsels help disarm\nLancelot and Messire Gawain.\n\n\"Lords,\" saith the knight, \"So God help me, nought have I to lend\nyou wherewith to clothe you, for robe have I none save mine own\njerkin.\"\n\nLancelot hath great pity thereof and Messire Gawain, and the two\ndamsels take off their kirtles that were made like surcoats of\ncloth that covered their poor shirts, and their jackets that,\nwere all to-torn and ragged and worn, and present them to the\nknights to clothe them. They were fain not to refuse, lest the\ndamsels should think they held them not in honour, and did on the\ntwo kirtles right poor as they were. The damsels had great joy\nthereof that so good knights should deign wear garments so poor.\n\n\"Lords,\" saith the Poor Knight, \"The knight that brought the\ntidings hither, and was stricken through of a lance-shaft, is\ndead and lieth on a bier in a chapel within the castle, and he\nconfessed himself right well to a hermit and bade salute you\nboth, and was right fain you should see him after that he were\ndead, and he prayed me instantly that I would ask you to be\nto-morrow at his burial, for better knights than be ye might not\nbe thereat, so he told me.\"\n\n\"Certes,\" saith Lancelot, \"A good knight was he, and much\nmischief is it of his death; and sore grieveth me that I know not\nhis name nor of what country he was.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"He said that you should yet know it\nwell.\"\n\nThe two good knights lay the night at the castle, and the Poor\nKnight lodged them as well as he might. When it cometh to\nmorning, they go to the chapel to hear mass and to be at the\nburial of the body. After that they take leave of the Poor\nKnight and the two damsels and depart from the castle all armed.\n\n\"Messire Gawain,\" saith Lancelot, \"They know not at court what\nhath become of you, and they hold you for dead as they suppose.\"\n\n\"By my faith,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"thitherward will I go, for\nI have had sore travail, and there will I abide until some will\nshall come to me to go seek adventure.\"\n\nHe recounteth to Lancelot how the Graal hath appeared to him at\nthe court of King Fisherman: \"And even as it was there before me,\nI forgat to ask how it served and of what?\"\n\n\"Ha, Sir,\" saith Lancelot, \"Have you then been there?\"\n\n\"Yea,\" saith he, \"And thereof am I right sorry and glad: glad for\nthe great holiness I have seen, sorry for that I asked not that\nwhereof King Fisherman prayed me right sweetly.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Lancelot, \"Right sorely ill have you wrought, nor is\nthere not whereof I have so great desire as I have to go to his\ncastle.\"\n\n\"By my faith,\" saith Messire Gawain, \"Much shamed was I there,\nbut this doth somewhat recomfort me, that the Best Knight was\nthere before me that gat blame thereof in like manner as I.\"\n\nLancelot departeth from Messire Gawain, and they take leave\neither of other. They issue forth of a forest, and each taketh\nhis own way without saying a word.",
    "project_translation": false,
    "license": null,
    "methodology_url": null
  }
}