The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights eBook

James Knowles
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 332 pages of information about The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights.

The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights eBook

James Knowles
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 332 pages of information about The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights.

At that Sir Galahad walked to the bleeding spear, and therefrom anointing his fingers went out straightway to the maimed King Pelles, and touched his wound.  Then suddenly he uprose from his bed as whole a man as ever he was, and praised God passing thankfully with all his heart.

Then Sir Galahad, Sir Bors, and Sir Percival departed as they had been told; and when they had ridden three days they came to the sea-shore, and found the ship awaiting them.  Therein they entered, and saw in the midst the silver table and the vessel of the Sangreal, covered with red samite.  Then were they passing glad, and made great reverence thereto.  And Sir Galahad prayed that now he might leave the world and pass to God.  And presently, the while he prayed, a voice said to him, “Galahad, thy prayer is heard, and when thou asketh the death of the body thou shalt have it, and find the life of thy soul.”

But while they prayed and slept the ship sailed on, and when they woke they saw the city of Sarras before them, and the other ship wherein was Sir Percival’s sister.  Then the three knights took up the holy table and the Sangreal and went into the city; and there, in a chapel, they buried Sir Percival’s sister right solemnly.

Now at the gate of the town they saw an old cripple sitting, whom Sir Galahad called to help them bear their weight.

“Truly,” said the old man, “it is ten years since I have gone a step without these crutches.”

“Care ye not,” said Sir Galahad; “rise now and show goodwill.”

So he assayed to move, and found his limbs as strong as any man’s might be, and running to the table helped to carry it.

Anon there rose a rumour in the city that a cripple had been healed by certain marvellous strange knights.

But the king, named Estouranse, who was a heathen tyrant, when he heard thereof took Sir Galahad and his fellows, and put them in prison in a deep hole.  Therein they abode a great while, but ever the Sangreal was with them and fed them with marvellous sweet food, so that they fainted not, but had all joy and comfort they could wish.

At the year’s end the king fell sick and felt that he should die.  Then sent he for the three knights, and when they came before him prayed their mercy for his trespasses against them.  So they forgave him gladly, and anon he died.

Then the chief men of the city took counsel together who should be king in his stead, and as they talked, a voice cried in their midst, “Choose ye the youngest of the three knights King Estouranse cast into prison for your king.”  At that they sought Sir Galahad and made him king with the assent of all the city, and else they would have slain him.

But within a twelvemonth came to him, upon a certain day, as he prayed before the Sangreal, a man in likeness of a bishop, with a great company of angels round about him, who offered mass, and afterwards called to Sir Galahad, “Come forth, thou servant of the Lord, for the time hath come thou hast desired so long.”

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The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.