{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart360.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart360.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart360.htm","text":"CHAPTER VII\nHow the queen desired to see Galahad; and how after, all\nthe knights were replenished with the Holy Sangreal,\nand how they avowed the enquest of the same.\nTHEN the king, at the queen's request, made him to\nalight and to unlace his helm, that the queen might see\nhim in the visage. When she beheld him she said:\nSoothly I dare well say that Sir Launcelot begat him, for\nnever two men resembled more in likeness, therefore it nis\nno marvel though he be of great prowess. So a lady that\nstood by the queen said: Madam, for God's sake ought\nhe of right to be so good a knight? Yea, forsooth, said\nthe queen, for he is of all parties come of the best knights\nof the world and of the highest lineage; for Sir Launcelot\nis come but of the eighth degree from our Lord Jesu\nChrist, and Sir Galahad is of the ninth degree from our\nLord Jesu Christ, therefore I dare say they be the greatest\ngentlemen of the world.\nAnd then the king and all estates went home unto\nCamelot, and so went to evensong to the great minster,\nand so after upon that to supper, and every knight sat in\nhis own place as they were toforehand. Then anon they\nheard cracking and crying of thunder, that them thought\nthe place should all to-drive. In the midst of this blast\nentered a sunbeam more clearer by seven times than ever\nthey saw day, and all they were alighted of the grace of\nthe Holy Ghost. Then began every knight to behold\nother, and either saw other, by their seeming, fairer than\never they saw afore. Not for then there was no knight\nmight speak one word a great while, and so they looked\nevery man on other as they had been dumb. Then there\nentered into the hall the Holy Grail covered with white\nsamite, but there was none might see it, nor who bare it.\nAnd there was all the hall fulfilled with good odours, and\nevery knight had such meats and drinks as he best loved\nin this world. And when the Holy Grail had been borne\nthrough the hall, then the holy vessel departed suddenly,\nthat they wist not where it became: then had they all\nbreath to speak. And then the king yielded thankings\nto God, of His good grace that he had sent them. Certes,\nsaid the king, we ought to thank our Lord Jesu greatly\nfor that he hath shewed us this day, at the reverence of this\nhigh feast of Pentecost.\nNow, said Sir Gawaine, we have been served this day\nof what meats and drinks we thought on; but one thing\nbeguiled us, we might not see the Holy Grail, it was so\npreciously covered. Wherefore I will make here avow,\nthat to-morn, without longer abiding, I shall labour in the\nquest of the Sangreal, that I shall hold me out a twelvemonth\nand a day, or more if need be, and never shall I\nreturn again unto the court till I have seen it more openly\nthan it hath been seen here; and if I may not speed I\nshall return again as he that may not be against the will of\nour Lord Jesu Christ.\nWhen they of the Table Round heard Sir Gawaine say\nso, they arose up the most part and made such avows as\nSir Gawaine had made. Anon as King Arthur heard this\nhe was greatly displeased, for he wist well they might not\nagain-say their avows. Alas, said King Arthur unto\nSir Gawaine, ye have nigh slain me with the avow and\npromise that ye have made; for through you ye have\nbereft me the fairest fellowship and the truest of\nknighthood that ever were seen together in any realm of the\nworld; for when they depart from hence I am sure they\nall shall never meet more in this world, for they shall die\nmany in the quest. And so it forthinketh me a little, for\nI have loved them as well as my life, wherefore it shall\ngrieve me right sore, the departition of this fellowship:\nfor I have had an old custom to have them in my fellowship.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XIII CHAPTER VII","type":"page"}