Now saith the history, that when Launcelot was come to the water of
Mortoise, as it is rehearsed before, he was in great peril, and so he
laid him down and slept, and took the adventure that God would send
him. So when he was asleep there came a vision unto him and said:
Launcelot, arise up and take thine armour, and enter into the first
ship that thou shalt find. And when he heard these words he start up
and saw great clearness about him. And then he lift up his hand and
blessed him, and so took his arms and made him ready; and so by
adventure he came by a strand, and found a ship the which was without
sail or oar. And as soon as he was within the ship there he felt the
most sweetness that ever he felt, and he was fulfilled with all thing
that he thought on or desired. Then he said: Fair sweet Father, Jesu
Christ, I wot not in what joy I am, for this joy passeth all earthly
joys that ever I was in. And so in this joy he laid him down to the
ship’s board, and slept till day. And when he awoke he found there a
fair bed, and therein lying a gentlewoman dead, the which was Sir
Percivale’s sister. And as Launcelot devised her, he espied in her
right hand a writ, the which he read, the which told him all the
adventures that ye have heard to-fore, and of what lineage she was
come. So with this gentlewoman Sir Launcelot was a month and more. If
ye would ask how he lived, He that fed the people of Israel with manna
in the desert, so was he fed; for every day when he had said his
prayers he was sustained with the grace of the Holy Ghost.
So on a night he went to play him by the water side, for he was
somewhat weary of the ship. And then he listened and heard an horse
come, and one riding upon him. And when he came nigh he seemed a
knight. And so he let him pass, and went thereas the ship was; and
there he alighted, and took the saddle and the bridle and put the horse
from him, and went into the ship. And then Launcelot dressed unto him,
and said: Ye be welcome. And he answered and saluted him again, and
asked him: What is your name? for much my heart giveth unto you. Truly,
said he, my name is Launcelot du Lake. Sir, said he, then be ye
welcome, for ye were the beginner of me in this world. Ah, said he, are
ye Galahad? Yea, forsooth, said he; and so he kneeled down and asked
him his blessing, and after took off his helm and kissed him. And there
was great joy between them, for there is no tongue can tell the joy
that they made either of other, and many a friendly word spoken
between, as kin would, the which is no need here to be rehearsed. And
there everych told other of their adventures and marvels that were
befallen to them in many journeys sith that they departed from the
court.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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