Stories of King Arthur and His Knights: Retold from Malory's "Morte dArthur"Malory, Thomas, Sir
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Stories of King Arthur and His Knights: Retold from Malory's "Morte dArthur"
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthur, King -- Juvenile literature; Arthurian romances -- Adaptations; Knights and knighthood -- Juvenile literature
When he heard these words, he started up and saw great clearness about
him. Then he lifted up his hand in worship, and so took his arms, and
made him ready. 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, he felt the most sweetness that ever he felt, and he was filled
with a peace such as he had never known before. In this joy he laid
himself down on the ship's board, and slept till day.
So Sir Launcelot was a month and more on the ship, and if ye would ask
how he lived, as God fed the people of Israel with manna in the desert,
so was he fed. On a night he went to play him by the waterside, for he
was somewhat weary of the ship. And then he listened, and heard a
horse come, and one riding upon him. When he came nigh he seemed a
knight, and soon he saw that it was Galahad. And there was great joy
between them, for there is no tongue can tell the joy that they made
either of other; and there was many a friendly word spoken between
them, the which need not here be rehearsed. And there each told other
of the adventures and marvels that were befallen to them in many
journeys since they were departed from the court.
So dwelled Launcelot and Galahad within that ship half a year, and
served God daily and nightly with all their power. And often they
arrived in isles far from folk, where there repaired none but wild
beasts. There they found many strange adventures and perilous, which
they brought to an end. But because the adventures were with wild
beasts, and not in the quest of the Holy Grail, therefore the tale
maketh here no mention thereof, for it would be too long to tell of all
those adventures that befell them.
Thereafter it befell that they arrived in the edge of a forest tofore a
cross, and then saw they a knight, armed all in white and richly
horsed, leading in his right hand a white horse. He came to the ship
and saluted the two knights on the high Lord's behalf, and said,
"Galahad, sir, ye have been long enough with Launcelot. Come out of
the ship, and start upon this horse, and go where the adventures shall
lead thee in the quest of the Holy Grail."
So Galahad took sorrowful leave of Sir Launcelot, for they knew that
one should never see the other before the dreadful day of doom.
Galahad took his horse and entered into the forest, and the wind arose
and drove Launcelot more than a month throughout the sea, where he
slept little, but prayed to God that he might see some tidings of the
Holy Grail.
And it befell on a night, at midnight, he arrived afore a castle, on
the back side, which was rich and fair. There was a postern opened
towards the sea, and was open without any keeping, save two lions kept
the entry; and the moon shone clear. Anon Sir Launcelot heard a voice
that said, "Launcelot, go out of this ship, and enter into the castle,
where thou shalt see a great part of thy desire."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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