Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVII CHAPTER XIX

CHAPTER XIX

How Sir Percivale and Sir Bors met with Sir Galahad,
and how they came to the castle of Carbonek, and other
matters.

SO departed he from thence, and commended the brethren
to God; and so he rode five days till that he came to the
Maimed King.  And ever followed Percivale the five days,
asking where he had been; and so one told him how the
adventures of Logris were enchieved.  So on a day it befell
that they came out of a great forest, and there they met at
traverse with Sir Bors, the which rode alone.  It is none
need to tell if they were glad; and them he saluted, and
they yielded him honour and good adventure, and everych
told other.  Then said Bors:  It is mo than a year and
an half that I ne lay ten times where men dwelled, but in
wild forests and in mountains, but God was ever my
comfort.

Then rode they a great while till that they came to the
castle of Carbonek.  And when they were entered within
the castle King Pelles knew them; then there was great
joy, for they wist well by their coming that they had
fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal.  Then Eliazar, King
Pelles' son, brought to-fore them the broken sword
wherewith Joseph was stricken through the thigh.  Then
Bors set his hand thereto, if that he might have soldered
it again; but it would not be.  Then he took it to Percivale,
but he had no more power thereto than he.  Now
have ye it again, said Percivale to Galahad, for an it be ever
enchieved by any bodily man ye must do it.  And then he
took the pieces and set them together, and they seemed
that they had never been broken, and as well as it had
been first forged.  And when they within espied that the
adventure of the sword was enchieved, then they gave the
sword to Bors, for it might not be better set; for he was
a good knight and a worthy man.

And a little afore even the sword arose great and
marvellous, and was full of great heat that many men fell
for dread.  And anon alighted a voice among them, and
said:  They that ought not to sit at the table of Jesu
Christ arise, for now shall very knights be fed.  So they
went thence, all save King Pelles and Eliazar, his son, the
which were holy men, and a maid which was his niece;
and so these three fellows and they three were there, no
mo.  Anon they saw knights all armed came in at the
hall door, and did off their helms and their arms, and said
unto Galahad:  Sir, we have hied right much for to be
with you at this table where the holy meat shall be
departed.  Then said he:  Ye be welcome, but of whence
be ye?  So three of them said they were of Gaul, and
other three said they were of Ireland, and the other three
said they were of Denmark.  So as they sat thus there
came out a bed of tree, of a chamber, the which four
gentlewomen brought; and in the bed lay a good man
sick, and a crown of gold upon his head; and there in the
midst of the place they set him down, and went again
their way.  Then he lift up his head, and said:  Galahad,
Knight, ye be welcome, for much have I desired your
coming, for in such pain and in such anguish I have been
long.  But now I trust to God the term is come that my
pain shall be allayed, that I shall pass out of this world so
as it was promised me long ago.  Therewith a voice said:
There be two among you that be not in the quest of the
Sangreal, and therefore depart ye.