{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart365.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart365.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart365.htm","text":"CHAPTER XII\nOf the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and heard in the\ntomb, and how he made Melias knight.\nNOW lead me thither, said Galahad. And so they did, all\narmed save his helm. Now, said the good man, go to\nthe tomb and lift it up. So he did, and heard a great\nnoise; and piteously he said, that all men might hear it:\nSir Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, come thou not\nnigh me, for thou shalt make me go again there where I\nhave been so long. But Galahad was nothing afraid, but\nlifted up the stone; and there came out so foul a smoke,\nand after he saw the foulest figure leap thereout that ever\nhe saw in the likeness of a man; and then he blessed him\nand wist well it was a fiend. Then heard he a voice say\nGalahad, I see there environ about thee so many angels\nthat my power may not dere thee{sic} Right so Sir Galahad\nsaw a body all armed lie in that tomb, and beside him a\nsword. Now, fair brother, said Galahad, let us remove\nthis body, for it is not worthy to lie in this churchyard,\nfor he was a false Christian man. And therewith they all\ndeparted and went to the abbey. And anon as he was\nunarmed a good man came and set him down by him and\nsaid: Sir, I shall tell you what betokeneth all that ye saw\nin the tomb; for that covered body betokeneth the\nduresse of the world, and the great sin that Our Lord\nfound in the world. For there was such wretchedness\nthat the father loved not the son, nor the son loved not\nthe father; and that was one of the causes that Our Lord\ntook flesh and blood of a clean maiden, for our sins were\nso great at that time that well-nigh all was wickedness.\nTruly, said Galahad, I believe you right well.\nSo Sir Galahad rested him there that night; and upon\nthe morn he made the squire knight, and asked him his\nname, and of what kindred he was come. Sir, said he,\nmen calleth me Melias de Lile, and I am the son of the\nKing of Denmark. Now, fair sir, said Galahad, sith\nthat ye be come of kings and queens, now look that\nknighthood be well set in you, for ye ought to be a mirror\nunto all chivalry. Sir, said Sir Melias, ye say sooth. But,\nsir, sithen ye have made me a knight ye must of right\ngrant me my first desire that is reasonable. Ye say sooth,\nsaid Galahad. Melias said: Then that ye will suffer me\nto ride with you in this quest of the Sangreal, till that some\nadventure depart us. I grant you, sir.\nThen men brought Sir Melias his armour and his spear\nand his horse, and so Sir Galahad and he rode forth all\nthat week or they found any adventure. And then upon a\nMonday in the morning, as they were departed from an\nabbey, they came to a cross which departed two ways, and\nin that cross were letters written that said thus: Now, ye\nknights errant, the which goeth to seek knights adventurous,\nsee here two ways; that one way defendeth thee that\nthou ne go that way, for he shall not go out of the way\nagain but if he be a good man and a worthy knight; and\nif thou go on the left hand, thou shalt not lightly there\nwin prowess, for thou shalt in this way be soon assayed.\nSir, said Melias to Galahad, if it like you to suffer me to\ntake the way on the left hand, tell me, for there I shall well\nprove my strength. It were better, said Galahad, ye rode\nnot that way, for I deem I should better escape in that way\nthan ye. Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have that\nadventure. Take it in God's name, said Galahad.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XIII CHAPTER XII","type":"page"}