Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVII CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV

How a knight brought unto Sir Galahad a horse, and bade
him come from his father, Sir Launcelot.

SO after, on a Monday, it befell that they arrived in the
edge of a forest to-fore a cross; and then saw they a
knight armed all in white, and was richly horsed, and led
in his right hand a white horse; and so 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 your father, come out of the ship, and start upon
this horse, and go where the adventures shall lead thee in
the quest of the Sangreal.  Then he went to his father
and kissed him sweetly, and said:  Fair sweet father, I wot
not when I shall see you more till I see the body of Jesu
Christ.  I pray you, said Launcelot, pray ye to the High
Father that He hold me in His service.  And so he took
his horse, and there they heard a voice that said:  Think
for to do well, for the one shall never see the other before
the dreadful day of doom.  Now, son Galahad, said
Launcelot, since we shall depart, and never see other, I
pray to the High Father to conserve me and you both.
Sir, said Galahad, no prayer availeth so much as yours
And therewith Galahad entered into the forest.

And the wind arose, and drove Launcelot more than a
month throughout the sea, where he slept but little, but
prayed to God that he might see some tidings of the
Sangreal.  So it befell on a night, at midnight, he arrived
afore a castle, on the back side, which was rich and fair,
and there was a postern opened toward 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.  Then he ran to his arms, and so armed him, and
so went to the gate and saw the lions.  Then set he hand
to his sword and drew it.  Then there came a dwarf
suddenly, and smote him on the arm so sore that the
sword fell out of his hand.  Then heard he a voice say:
O man of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore trowest
thou more on thy harness than in thy Maker, for He
might more avail thee than thine armour, in whose
service that thou art set.  Then said Launcelot:  Fair
Father Jesu Christ, I thank thee of Thy great mercy that
Thou reprovest me of my misdeed; now see I well that
ye hold me for your servant.  Then took he again his
sword and put it up in his sheath, and made a cross in his
forehead, and came to the lions, and they made semblaunt
to do him harm.  Notwithstanding he passed by them
without hurt, and entered into the castle to the chief
fortress, and there were they all at rest.  Then Launcelot
entered in so armed, for he found no gate nor door but it
was open.  And at the last he found a chamber whereof
the door was shut, and he set his hand thereto to have
opened it, but he might not.