"Long has my daughter Elaine been dead," he said. "But happy she lived in having been loved by you, and in the grace of her n.o.ble son Galahad."
"I was but cold to her," answered Lancelot, "for she was a lovable lady.
But in truth I have been held from love and life"s delights, for my fate has not been my own to control."
For four days he abode at the castle, and then took his armor and horse, saying that now his quest of the Sangreal was done, and duty bade him return to Camelot.
Back through many realms he rode, and in time came to the abbey where Galahad had won the white shield. Here he spent the night, and the next day rode into Camelot, where he was received with untold joy by Arthur and the queen.
For of the Knights of the Round Table who had set out on that perilous quest more than half had perished, and small was the tale of that gallant fellowship that could now be mustered. So the coming of Lancelot filled all hearts with joy.
Great was the marvel of the king when Lancelot told him of what he had seen and done, and of the adventures of Galahad, Percivale, and Bors.
"G.o.d send that they were all here again," said the king.
"That shall never be," said Lancelot. "One of them shall come again, but two you shall never see."
[Ill.u.s.tration: From the painting by George Frederick Watts.
SIR GALAHAD"S QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.]
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DEEDS OF THE THREE CHOSEN KNIGHTS.
After Galahad left the ship and his father Lancelot, he rode far and had many adventures, righting many wrongs and achieving many marvels. Among these he came to the abbey where was the ancient King Evelake, who had laid blind three hundred years, as we have elsewhere told.
The old king knew well that his deliverance had come, and begged to be embraced by the pious youth. No sooner had he been clasped in his arms than his sight returned, and his flesh grew whole and young.
"Now, sweet Saviour, my destiny is fulfilled; receive thou my soul," he prayed.
As he said these words the soul left his body, and the miracle of his fate was achieved.
Many days after this Galahad met Percivale, and soon the two came upon Bors, as he rode out of a great forest, that extended many days" journey through the land.
And so they rode in glad companionship, with many a tale of marvel to tell, till in time they came to the castle of Carbonek, where they were gladly received, for those in the castle knew that the quest of the Sangreal was now wellnigh achieved.
When evening approached, and the table for supper was set, the mysterious voice that so often had guided these knights spoke again.
"They that are not worthy to sit at the table of Jesus Christ arise," it said; "for now shall the worthiest be fed."
Then all arose save Eliazar, the son of King Pellam, and a maid who was his niece, and the three knights. But as they sat at supper nine other knights, in full armor, entered at the hall door, and took off their helmets and armor, and said to Galahad,--
"Sir, we have come far and in haste to be with you at this table, where the holy meat shall be served."
"If you are worthy, you are welcome," said Galahad. "Whence come you?"
Three of them answered that they were from Gaul, three from Ireland, and three from Denmark, and that they had come thither at the bidding of the strange voice.
So they all sat at table. But ere they began to eat, four gentlewomen bore into the hall a bed, whereon lay a man sick, with a crown of gold on his head. Setting him down, they went away.
"Galahad, holy knight, you are welcome," said he who lay in the bed, raising his head feebly. "Long have I waited your coming, in pain and anguish, since Balin, the good knight, struck me the dolorous stroke. To you I look for aid and release from my long suffering."
Then spoke the voice again: "There be those here who are not in the quest of the Sangreal; let them depart." And the son and niece of the king rose and left the room.
Then there came suddenly four angels, and a man who bore a cross and wore the dress of a bishop, whom the angels placed in a chair before the silver table of the Sangreal. In his forehead were letters which said, "This is Joseph, the first bishop of Christendom."
Next opened the chamber door, and angels entered, two bearing wax candles, the third a towel, and the fourth a spear that bled, the blood drops falling into a silver vessel which he held in his other hand. The candles were set on the table, the towel spread upon the vessel, and the spear set upright on this.
The bishop then said ma.s.s, at which other strange signs were seen; for a figure like a child, with a face that shone like flame, entered into the bread of the sacrament. Then the bishop kissed Galahad, and bade him kiss his fellows. This done, he said,--
"Servants of Jesus Christ, ye shall here be fed on such meats as never knights tasted;" and with these words he vanished.
But as they knelt in prayer before the table, they saw come out of the holy vessel a man who bore all the signs of the pa.s.sion of Jesus Christ.
And he took up the vessel and bore it to Galahad and to the other knights, who kneeled to receive the sacrament; and so sweet was it that their hearts marvelled and were filled with joy.
"Now have you tasted of Christ"s own food," he said, "and seen what you highly and holily desired. But more openly shall you see it in the city of Sarras, in the spiritual place. Therefore you must go hence, for this night the holy vessel will leave this realm, and will never more be seen here. To-morrow you three shall go to the sea, where a ship awaits you; and you must take with you the sword with the strange girdle."
"Shall not these good knights go also?" asked Galahad.
"Not so. They have seen all that is fitting to them. As for you, two of you shall die in my service, and the third shall return and tell what he has seen."
Then he gave them his blessing, and vanished from out their midst.
When they had somewhat recovered from the weight of these marvels, Galahad went to the spear that lay on the table, and touched the blood with his fingers, and with it anointed the wounds of the maimed king.
And at this touch he started up whole and strong, thanking G.o.d fervently for his healing.
But he went not into the world again, but to a monastery of white monks, where he became a man of holy renown.
At midnight came a voice to the nine knights, which said,--
"My sons, and not my chieftains; my friends, and not my warriors; go ye hence, and do well what comes to you, in my service."
"Lord," they replied, "wilt thou vouchsafe also to call us thy sinners?
Thy servants we shall be henceforth."
And they arose, armed, and departed, bidding a solemn adieu to the three knights. When morning dawned these three rose also, and rode till they came to the sea. Here awaited them the ship wherein they had found the sword and the three magic spindles, and to their wonder and delight they beheld in its midst the table of silver and the Sangreal, which was covered with red samite.
It was a joyous company that sailed over the sea in that magical ship, and at the wish of his comrades Galahad slept in the bed where the sword had lain, and Bors and Percivale on the deck beside him.
And so they went by day and by night, and at length came to the city of Sarras. Here, as they would have landed, they saw beside them, just come to sh.o.r.e, the ship that bore the corpse of Percivale"s sister, and this as fair and as fresh as when first placed within it.
Then they took up the silver table and bore it to the city, at whose gate sat an old and crooked cripple.
"Come hither, and help us carry this heavy thing," said Galahad.