Right so as they sat at their dinner in the chief salle, then was so
befallen that the Sangreal had fulfilled the table with all manner of
meats that any heart might think. So as they sat they saw all the doors
and the windows of the place were shut without man’s hand, whereof they
were all abashed, and none wist what to do.
And then it happed suddenly a knight came to the chief door and
knocked, and cried: Undo the door. But they would not. And ever he
cried: Undo; but they would not. And at last it noyed them so much that
the king himself arose and came to a window there where the knight
called. Then he said: Sir knight, ye shall not enter at this time while
the Sangreal is here, and therefore go into another; for certes ye be
none of the knights of the quest, but one of them which hath served the
fiend, and hast left the service of Our Lord: and he was passing wroth
at the king’s words. Sir knight, said the king, sith ye would so fain
enter, say me of what country ye be. Sir, said he, I am of the realm of
Logris, and my name is Ector de Maris, and brother unto my lord, Sir
Launcelot. In the name of God, said the king, me for-thinketh of what I
have said, for your brother is here within. And when Ector de Maris
understood that his brother was there, for he was the man in the world
that he most dread and loved, and then he said: Ah God, now doubleth my
sorrow and shame. Full truly said the good man of the hill unto Gawaine
and to me of our dreams. Then went he out of the court as fast as his
horse might, and so throughout the castle.
CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot returned towards Logris, and of other
adventures which he saw in the way.
Then King Pelles came to Sir Launcelot and told him tidings of his
brother, whereof he was sorry, that he wist not what to do. So Sir
Launcelot departed, and took his arms, and said he would go see the
realm of Logris, which I have not seen in twelve months. And therewith
he commended the king to God, and so rode through many realms. And at
the last he came to a white abbey, and there they made him that night
great cheer; and on the morn he rose and heard mass. And afore an altar
he found a rich tomb, which was newly made; and then he took heed, and
saw the sides written with gold which said: Here lieth King Bagdemagus
of Gore, which King Arthur’s nephew slew; and named him, Sir Gawaine.
Then was not he a little sorry, for Launcelot loved him much more than
any other, and had it been any other than Gawaine he should not have
escaped from death to life; and said to himself: Ah Lord God, this is a
great hurt unto King Arthur’s court, the loss of such a man. And then
he departed and came to the abbey where Galahad did the adventure of
the tombs, and won the white shield with the red cross; and there had
he great cheer all that night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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