Then they made both great dole out of measure. This will not avail,
said Sir Percivale. And then he kneeled down and made his prayer
devoutly unto Almighty Jesu, for he was one of the best knights of the
world that at that time was, in whom the very faith stood most in.
Right so there came by the holy vessel of the Sangreal with all manner
of sweetness and savour; but they could not readily see who that bare
that vessel, but Sir Percivale had a glimmering of the vessel and of
the maiden that bare it, for he was a perfect clean maiden; and
forthwithal they both were as whole of hide and limb as ever they were
in their life-days: then they gave thankings to God with great
mildness. O Jesu, said Sir Percivale, what may this mean, that we be
thus healed, and right now we were at the point of dying? I wot full
well, said Sir Ector, what it is; it is an holy vessel that is borne by
a maiden, and therein is part of the holy blood of our Lord Jesu
Christ, blessed mote he be. But it may not be seen, said Sir Ector, but
if it be by a perfect man. So God me help, said Sir Percivale, I saw a
damosel, as me thought, all in white, with a vessel in both her hands,
and forthwithal I was whole.
So then they took their horses and their harness, and amended their
harness as well as they might that was broken; and so they mounted upon
their horses, and rode talking together. And there Sir Ector de Maris
told Sir Percivale how he had sought his brother, Sir Launcelot, long,
and never could hear witting of him: In many strange adventures have I
been in this quest. And so either told other of their adventures.
_Here endeth the eleventh book. And here followeth the twelfth book._
BOOK XII.
CHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot in his madness took a sword and fought
with a knight, and leapt in a bed.
And now leave we of a while of Sir Ector and of Sir Percivale, and
speak we of Sir Launcelot that suffered and endured many sharp showers,
that ever ran wild wood from place to place, and lived by fruit and
such as he might get, and drank water two year; and other clothing had
he but little but his shirt and his breech. Thus as Sir Launcelot
wandered here and there he came in a fair meadow where he found a
pavilion; and there by, upon a tree, there hung a white shield, and two
swords hung thereby, and two spears leaned there by a tree. And when
Sir Launcelot saw the swords, anon he leapt to the one sword, and took
it in his hand, and drew it out. And then he lashed at the shield, that
all the meadow rang of the dints, that he gave such a noise as ten
knights had foughten together.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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