Practical Jokes in King Arthur's Day
December 02, 2014Sir Galahad |
Sir Thomas Malory (d.
1471). The Holy Grail.
Vol. 35, pp. 128-134 of
The Harvard Classics
Attacked in fun by
two masked knights, Sir Galahad smote one so that both horse and
rider went down. Turning on the other jester, he slashed open his
helmet.
The
Thirteenth Book
Chapter
XVII
How Sir
Galahad Met with Sir Launcelot and Sir Percivale, and Smote Them
Down, and Departed from Them
SO when Sir Galahad was departed from the Castle of Maidens he rode
till he came to a waste forest, and there he met with Sir Launcelot
and Sir Percivale, but they know him not, for he was new disguised.
Right so Sir Launcelot, his father, dressed his spear and brake it
upon Sir Galahad, and Galahad smote him so again that he smote down
horse and man. And then he drew his sword, and dressed him unto Sir
Percivale, and smote him so on the helm, that it rove to the coif of
steel; and had not the sword swerved Sir Percivale had been slain,
and with the stroke he fell out of his saddle. This jousts was done
tofore the hermitage where a recluse dwelled. And when she saw Sir
Galahad ride, she said: God be with thee, best knight of the world.
Ah certes, said she, all aloud that Launcelot and Percivale might
hear it: An yonder two knights had known thee as well as I do they
would not have encountered with thee. When Sir Galahad heard her say
so he was adread to be known: therewith he smote his horse with his
spurs and rode a great pace froward them. Then perceived they both
that he was Galahad; and up they gat on their horses, and rode fast
after him, but in a while he was out of their sight. And then they
turned again with heavy cheer. Let us spere some tidings, said
Percivale, at yonder recluse. Do as ye list, said Sir Launcelot. When
Sir Percivale came to the recluse she knew him well enough, and Sir
Launcelot both. But Sir Launcelot rode overthwart and endlong in a
wild forest, and held no path but as wild adventure led him. And at
the last he came to a stony cross which departed two ways in waste
land; and by the cross was a stone that was of marble, but it was so
dark that Sir Launcelot might not wit what it was. Then Sir Launcelot
looked by him, and saw an old chapel, and there he weened to have
found people; and Sir Launcelot tied his horse till a tree, and there
he did off his shield and hung it upon a tree. And then he went to
the chapel door, and found it waste and broken. And within he found a
fair altar, full richly arrayed with cloth of clene silk, and there
stood a fair clean candlestick, which bare six great candles, and the
candlestick was of silver. And when Sir Launcelot saw this light he
had great will for to enter into the chapel, but he could find no
place where he might enter; then was he passing heavy and dismayed.
Then he returned and came to his horse and did off his saddle and
bridle, and let him pasture, and unlaced his helm, and ungirt his
sword, and laid him down to sleep upon his shield tofore the cross.
Chapter
XVIII
How Sir
Launcelot, Half Sleeping and Half Waking, Saw a Sick Man Born in a
Litter, and How He Was Healed with the Sangreal
AND so he fell on sleep; and half waking and sleeping he saw come by
him two palfreys all fair and white, the which bare a litter, therein
lying a sick knight. And when he was nigh the cross he there abode
still. All this Sir Launcelot saw and beheld, for he slept not
verily; and he heard him say: O sweet Lord, when shall this sorrow
leave me? and when shall the holy vessel come by me, where-through I
shall be blessed? For I have endured thus long, for little trespass.
A full great while complained the knight thus, and always Sir
Launcelot heard it. With that Sir Launcelot saw the candlestick with
the six tapers come before the cross, and he saw nobody that brought
it. Also there came a table of silver, and the holy vessel of the
Sangreal, which Launcelot had seen aforetime in King Pescheour’s
house. And therewith the sick knight set him up, and held up both his
hands, and said: Fair sweet Lord, which is here within this holy
vessel; take heed unto me that I may be whole of this malady. And
therewith on his hands and on his knees he went so nigh that he
touched the holy vessel and kissed it, and anon he was whole; and
then he said: Lord God, I thank thee, for I am healed of this
sickness. So when the holy vessel had been there a great while it
went unto the chapel with the chandelier and the light, so that
Launcelot wist not where it was become; for he was overtaken with sin
that he had no power to rise ageyne the holy vessel; wherefore after
that many men said of him shame, but he took repentance after that.
Then the sick knight dressed him up and kissed the cross; anon his
squire brought him his arms, and asked his lord how he did. Certes,
said he, I thank God right well, through the holy vessel I am healed.
But I have marvel of this sleeping knight that had no power to awake
when this holy vessel was brought hither. I dare right well say, said
the squire, that he dwelleth in some deadly sin whereof he was never
confessed. By my faith, said the knight, whatsomever he be he is
unhappy, for as I deem he is of the fellowship of the Round Table,
the which is entered into the quest of the Sangreal. Sir, said the
squire, here I have brought you all your arms save your helm and your
sword, and therefore by mine assent now may ye take this knight’s
helm and his sword: and so he did. And when he was clene armed he
took Sir Launcelot’s horse, for he was better than his; and so
departed they from the Cross.
Chapter
XIX
How a
Voice Spake to Sir Launcelot, and How He Found His Horse and His Helm
Borne Away, and after Went Afoot
THEN anon Sir Launcelot waked, and set him up, and bethought him what
he had seen there, and whether it were dreams or not. Right so heard
he a voice that said: Sir Launcelot, more harder than is the stone,
and more bitter than is the wood, and more naked and barer than is
the leaf of the fig tree; therefore go thou from hence, and withdraw
thee from this holy place. And when Sir Launcelot heard this he was
passing heavy and wist not what to do, and so departed sore weeping,
and cursed the time that he was born. For then he deemed never to
have had worship more. For those words went to his heart, till that
he knew wherefore he was called so. Then Sir Launcelot went to the
cross and found his helm, his sword, and his horse taken away. And
then he called himself a very wretch, and most unhappy of all
knights; and there he said: My sin and my wickedness have brought me
unto great dishonour. For when I sought worldly adventures for
worldly desires, I ever achieved them and had the better in every
place, and never was I discomfit in no quarrel, were it right or
wrong. And now I take upon me the adventures of holy things, and now
I see and understand that mine old sin hindereth me and shameth me,
so that I had no power to stir nor speak when the holy blood appeared
afore me. So thus he sorrowed till it was day, and heard the fowls
sing: then somewhat he was comforted. But when Sir Launcelot missed
his horse and his harness then he wist well God was displeased with
him. Then he departed from the cross on foot into a forest; and so by
prime he came to an high hill, and found an hermitage and a hermit
therein which was going unto mass. And then Launcelot kneeled down
and cried on Our Lord mercy for his wicked works. So when mass was
done Launcelot called him, and prayed him for charity for to hear his
life. With a good will, said the good man. Sir, said he, be ye of
King Arthur’s court and of the fellowship of the Round Table? Yea
forsooth, and my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake that hath been right
well said of, and now my good fortune is changed, for I am the most
wretch of the world. The hermit beheld him and had marvel how he was
so abashed. Sir, said the hermit, ye ought to thank God more than any
knight living, for He hath caused you to have more wordly worship
than any knight that now liveth. And for your presumption to take
upon you in deadly sin for to be in His presence, where His flesh and
His blood was, that caused you ye might not see it with worldly eyes;
for He will not appear where such sinners be, but if it be unto their
great hurt and unto their great shame; and there is no knight living
now that ought to give God so great thank as ye, for He hath given
you beauty, seemliness, and great strength above all other knights;
and therefore ye are the more beholding unto God than any other man,
to love Him and dread Him, for your strength and manhood will little
avail you an God be against you.
Chapter
XX
How Sir
Launcelot Was Shriven, and What Sorrow He Made, and of the Good
Ensamples Which Were Shewed Him
THEN Sir Launcelot wept with heavy cheer, and said: Now I know well
ye say me sooth. Sir, said the good man, hide none old sin from me.
Truly, said Sir Launcelot, that were me full loth to discover. For
this fourteen year I never discovered one thing that I have used, and
that may I now wyte my shame and my misadventure. And then he told
there that good man all his life. And how he had loved a queen
unmeasurably and out of measure long. And all my great deeds of arms
that I have done, I did for the most part for the queen’s sake, and
for her sake would I do battle were it right or wrong; and never did
I battle all only for God’s sake, but for to win worship and to
cause me to be the better beloved, and little or nought I thanked God
of it. Then Sir Launcelot said: I pray you counsel me. I will counsel
you, said the hermit, if ye will ensure me that ye will never come in
that queen’s fellowship as much as ye may forbear. And then Sir
Launcelot promised him he nold, by the faith of his body. Look that
your heart and your mouth accord, said the good man, and I shall
ensure you ye shall have more worship then ever ye had. Holy father,
said Sir Launcelot, I marvel of the voice that said to me marvellous
words, as ye have heard toforehand. Have ye no marvel, said the good
man, thereof, for it seemeth well God loveth you; for men may
understand a stone is hard of kind, and namely one more than another;
and that is to understand by thee, Sir Launcelot, for thou wilt not
leave thy sin for no goodness that God hath sent thee; therefore thou
art more than any stone, and never wouldst thou be made neysshe nor
by water nor by fire, and that is the hete of the Holy Ghost may not
enter in thee. Now take heed, in all the world men shall not find one
knight to whom Our Lord hath given so much of grace as He hath given
you, for He hath given you fairness with seemliness, He hath given
thee wit, discretion to know good from evil. He hath given thee
prowess and hardiness, and given thee to work so largely that thou
hast had at all days the better wheresomever thou came; and now Our
Lord will suffer thee no longer, but that thou shalt know Him whether
thou wilt or nylt. And why the voice called thee bitterer than wood,
for where overmuch sin dwelleth, there may be but little sweetness,
wherefore thou art likened to an old rotten tree. Now have I shewed
thee why thou art harder than the stone and bitterer than the tree.
Now shall I shew thee why thou art more naked and barer than the fig
tree. It befel that Our Lord on Palm Sunday preached in Jerusalem,
and there He found in the people that all hardness was harboured in
them, and there He found in all the town not one that would harbour
him. And then He went without the town, and found in the middes of
the way a fig tree, the which was right fair and well garnished of
leaves, but fruit had it none. Then Our Lord cursed the tree that
bare no fruit; that betokeneth the fig tree unto Jerusalem, that had
leaves and no fruit. So thou, Sir Launcelot, when the Holy Grail was
brought afore thee, He found in thee no fruit, nor good thought nor
good will, and defouled with lechery. Certes, said Sir Launcelot, all
that you have said is true, and from henceforward I cast me, by the
grace of God, never to be so wicked as I have been, but as to follow
knighthood and to do feats of arms. Then the good man enjoined Sir
Launcelot such penance as he might do and to pursue knighthood, and
so assoiled him, and prayed Sir Launcelot to abide with him all that
day. I will well, said Sir Launcelot, for I have neither helm, nor
horse, nor sword. As for that, said the good man, I shall help you or
tomorn at even of an horse, and all that longed unto you. And then
Sir Launcelot repented him greatly.
Here leaveth off the history of Syr Launcelot.
And here followeth of Sir Percivale
de Galis which is the fourteenth
book.
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