Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVII CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XI

How Sir Percivale's sister bled a dish full of blood for to
heal a lady, wherefore she died; and how that the
body was put in a ship.

THERE is in this castle a gentlewoman which we and this
castle is hers, and many other.  So it befell many years
agone there fell upon her a malady; and when she had
lain a great while she fell unto a measle, and of no leech
she could have no remedy.  But at the last an old man
said an she might have a dish full of blood of a maid and
a clean virgin in will and in work, and a king's daughter,
that blood should be her health, and for to anoint her
withal; and for this thing was this custom made.  Now,
said Percivale's sister, fair knights, I see well that this
gentlewoman is but dead.  Certes, said Galahad, an ye
bleed so much ye may die.  Truly, said she, an I die for
to heal her I shall get me great worship and soul's health,
and worship to my lineage, and better is one harm than
twain.  And therefore there shall be no more battle, but
to-morn I shall yield you your custom of this castle.  And
then there was great joy more than there was to-fore, for
else had there been mortal war upon the morn; notwithstanding
she would none other, whether they wold or nold.

That night were the three fellows eased with the best;
and on the morn they heard mass, and Sir Percivale's
sister bade bring forth the sick lady.  So she was, the
which was evil at ease.  Then said she:  Who shall let
me blood?  So one came forth and let her blood, and she
bled so much that the dish was full.  Then she lift up
her hand and blessed her; and then she said to the lady:
Madam, I am come to the death for to make you whole,
for God's love pray for me.  With that she fell in a
swoon.  Then Galahad and his two fellows start up to
her, and lift her up and staunched her, but she had bled
so much that she might not live.  Then she said when
she was awaked:  Fair brother Percivale, I die for the
healing of this lady, so I require you that ye bury me
not in this country, but as soon as I am dead put me in
a boat at the next haven, and let me go as adventure will
lead me; and as soon as ye three come to the City of
Sarras, there to enchieve the Holy Grail, ye shall find me
under a tower arrived, and there bury me in the spiritual
place; for I say you so much, there Galahad shall be
buried, and ye also, in the same place.

Then Percivale understood these words, and granted
it her, weeping.  And then said a voice:  Lords and
fellows, to-morrow at the hour of prime ye three shall
depart everych from other, till the adventure bring you
to the Maimed King.  Then asked she her Saviour; and
as soon as she had received it the soul departed from the
body.  So the same day was the lady healed, when she
was anointed withal.  Then Sir Percivale made a letter of
all that she had holpen them as in strange adventures, and
put it in her right hand, and so laid her in a barge, and
covered it with black silk; and so the wind arose, and
drove the barge from the land, and all knights beheld it
till it was out of their sight.  Then they drew all to the
castle, and so forthwith there fell a sudden tempest and a
thunder, lightning, and rain, as all the earth would have
broken.  So half the castle turned up-so-down.  So it
passed evensong or the tempest was ceased.

Then they saw afore them a knight armed and
wounded hard in the body and in the head, that said:  O
God, succour me for now it is need.  After this knight
came another knight and a dwarf, which cried to them
afar:  Stand, ye may not escape.  Then the wounded knight
held up his hands to God that he should not die in such
tribulation.  Truly, said Galahad, I shall succour him for
His sake that he calleth upon.  Sir, said Bors, I shall do
it, for it is not for you, for he is but one knight.  Sir, said
he, I grant.  So Sir Bors took his horse, and commended
him to God, and rode after, to rescue the wounded knight.
Now turn we to the two fellows.