Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVII CHAPTER XXIII

CHAPTER XXIII

Of the sorrow that Percivale and Bors made when Galahad
was dead: and of Percivale how he died, and other
matters.


WHEN Percivale and Bors saw Galahad dead they made
as much sorrow as ever did two men.  And if they had
not been good men they might lightly have fallen in
despair.  And the people of the country and of the city
were right heavy.  And then he was buried; and as soon
as he was buried Sir Percivale yielded him to an hermitage
out of the city, and took a religious clothing.  And Bors
was alway with him, but never changed he his secular
clothing, for that he purposed him to go again into the
realm of Logris.  Thus a year and two months lived Sir
Percivale in the hermitage a full holy life, and then passed
out of this world; and Bors let bury him by his sister and
by Galahad in the spiritualities.

When Bors saw that he was in so far countries as in the
parts of Babylon he departed from Sarras, and armed him
and came to the sea, and entered into a ship; and so it
befell him in good adventure he came into the realm of
Logris; and he rode so fast till he came to Camelot where
the king was.  And then was there great joy made of him
in the court, for they weened all he had been dead,
forasmuch as he had been so long out of the country.  And
when they had eaten, the king made great clerks to come
afore him, that they should chronicle of the high adventures
of the good knights.  When Bors had told him of
the adventures of the Sangreal, such as had befallen him
and his three fellows, that was Launcelot, Percivale,
Galahad, and himself, there Launcelot told the adventures of
the Sangreal that he had seen.  All this was made in great
books, and put up in almeries at Salisbury.  And anon Sir
Bors said to Sir Launcelot: Galahad, your own son,
saluted you by me, and after you King Arthur and all the
court, and so did Sir Percivale, for I buried them with
mine own hands in the city of Sarras.  Also, Sir Launcelot,
Galahad prayed you to remember of this unsiker world as
ye behight him when ye were together more than half a
year.  This is true, said Launcelot; now I trust to God
his prayer shall avail me.

Then Launcelot took Sir Bors in his arms, and said:
Gentle cousin, ye are right welcome to me, and all that
ever I may do for you and for yours ye shall find my poor
body ready at all times, while the spirit is in it, and that I
promise you faithfully, and never to fail.  And wit ye well,
gentle cousin, Sir Bors, that ye and I will never depart
asunder whilst our lives may last.  Sir, said he, I will as
ye will.