Now rideth Sir Galahad yet without shield, and so he rode four days
without any adventure. And at the fourth day after evensong he came to
a White Abbey, and there he was received with great reverence, and led
unto a chamber, and there was he unarmed; and then was he ware of two
knights of the Table Round, one was Sir Bagdemagus, and Sir Uwaine.
And when they saw him they went unto Galahad and made of him great
solace, and so they went unto 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 he be
mischieved outher dead within three days, or maimed for ever. Ah sir,
said King Bagdemagus, I shall it bear to-morrow for to assay this
adventure. In the name of God, said Sir Galahad. Sir, said Bagdemagus,
an I may not enchieve the adventure of this shield ye shall take it
upon you, for I am sure ye shall not fail. Sir, said Galahad, I right
well agree me thereto, for I have no shield. So on the morn they arose
and heard mass. Then Bagdemagus asked where the adventurous shield was.
Anon a monk led him behind an altar where the shield hung as white as
any snow, but in the midst was a red cross. Sir, said the monk, this
shield ought not to be hanged about no knight’s neck but he be the
worthiest knight of the world;
therefore I counsel you knights to be well advised. Well, said
Bagdemagus, I wot well that I am not the best knight of the world, but
yet I shall assay to bear it, and so bare it out of the minster. And
then he said unto Galahad: An it please you abide here still, till ye
wit how that I speed. I shall abide you, said Galahad. Then King
Bagdemagus took with him a good squire, to bring tidings unto Sir
Galahad how he sped.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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