King Arthur and the Knights of the Round TableMalory, Thomas, Sir
General
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthurian romances
Then Sir Galahad, Sir Percival, and Sir Bors started to lift her up and
staunch her blood, but she had lost too much to live. So when she came
to herself she said to Sir Percival, "Fair brother, I must die for the
healing of this lady, and now, I pray thee, bury me not here, but when I
am dead put me in a boat at the next haven and let me float at venture
on the sea. And when ye come to the city of Sarras, to achieve the
Sangreal, shall ye find me waiting by a tower, and there I pray thee
bury me, for there shall Sir Galahad and ye also be laid." Thus having
said, she died.
Then Sir Percival wrote all the story of her life and put it in her
right hand, and so laid her in a barge and covered it with silk. And
the wind arising drove the barge from land, and all the knights stood
watching it till it was out of sight.
Anon they returned to the castle, and forthwith fell a sudden tempest of
thunder and lightning and rain, as if the earth were broken up: and half
the castle was thrown down. Then came a voice to the three knights which
said, "Depart ye now asunder till ye meet again where the maimed king is
lying." So they parted and rode divers ways.
Now after Sir Lancelot had left the hermit, he rode a long while till he
knew not whither to turn, and so he lay down to sleep, if haply he might
dream whither to go.
And in his sleep a vision came to him saying, "Lancelot, rise up and
take thine armor, and enter the first ship that thou shalt find."
When he awoke he obeyed the vision, and rode till he came to the
sea-shore, and found there a ship without sails or oars, and as soon as
he was in it he smelt the sweetest savor he had ever known, and seemed
filled with all things he could think of or desire. And looking round he
saw a fair bed, and thereon a gentlewoman lying dead, who was Sir
Percival's sister. And as Sir Lancelot looked on her he spied the
writing in her right hand, and, taking it, he read therein her story.
And more than a month thereafter he abode in that ship and was nourished
by the grace of Heaven, as Israel was fed with manna in the desert.
And on a certain night he went ashore to pass the time, for he was
somewhat weary, and, listening, he heard a horse come towards him, from
which a knight alighted and went up into the ship; who, when he saw Sir
Lancelot, said, "Fair sir, ye be right welcome to mine eyes, for I am
thy son Galahad, and long time I have sought for thee." With that he
kneeled and asked his blessing, and took off his helm and kissed him,
and the great joy there was between them no tongue can tell.
Then for half a year they dwelt together in the ship, and served God
night and day with all their powers, and went to many unknown islands,
where none but wild beasts haunted, and there found many strange and
perilous adventures.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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