Then they told him how he had lain there four-and-twenty days and nights.Then him thought it was punishment for the four-and-twenty years that he had been a sinner,wherefore Our Lord put him in penance four-and-twenty days and nights.Then looked Sir Launcelot afore him,and saw the hair which he had borne nigh a year,for that he for-thought him right much that he had broken his promise unto the hermit,which he had avowed to do.Then they asked how it stood with him.Forsooth,said he,I am whole of body,thanked be Our Lord;therefore,sirs,for God's love tell me where I am.Then said they all that he was in the castle of Carbonek.
Therewith came a gentlewoman and brought him a shirt of small linen cloth,but he changed not there,but took the hair to him again.Sir,said they,the quest of the Sangreal is achieved now right in you,that never shall ye see of the Sangreal no more than ye have seen.Now I thank God,said Launcelot,of His great mercy of that I have seen,for it sufficeth me;for as Isuppose no man in this world hath lived better than Ihave done to enchieve that I have done.And therewith he took the hair and clothed him in it,and above that he put a linen shirt,and after a robe of scarlet,fresh and new.And when he was so arrayed they marvelled all,for they knew him that he was Launcelot,the good knight.And then they said all:O my lord Sir Launcelot,be that ye?And he said:Truly I am he.
Then came word to King Pelles that the knight that had lain so long dead was Sir Launcelot.Then was the king right glad,and went to see him.And when Launcelot saw him come he dressed him against him,and there made the king great joy of him.And there the king told him tidings that his fair daughter was dead.Then Launcelot was right heavy of it,and said:Sir,me forthinketh the death of your daughter,for she was a full fair lady,fresh and young.And well I wot she bare the best knight that is now on the earth,or that ever was sith God was born.So the king held him there four days,and on the morrow he took his leave at King Pelles and at all the fellowship,and thanked them of their great labour.
Right so as they sat at their dinner in the chief salle,then was so befallen that the Sangreal had fulfilled the table with all manner of meats that any heart might think.So as they sat they saw all the doors and the windows of the place were shut without man's hand,whereof they were all abashed,and none wist what to do.
And then it happed suddenly a knight came to the chief door and knocked,and cried:Undo the door.But they would not.And ever he cried:Undo;but they would not.And at last it noyed them so much that the king himself arose and came to a window there where the knight called.Then he said:Sir knight,ye shall not enter at this time while the Sangreal is here,and therefore go into another;for certes ye be none of the knights of the quest,but one of them which hath served the fiend,and hast left the service of Our Lord:and he was passing wroth at the king's words.Sir knight,said the king,sith ye would so fain enter,say me of what country ye be.Sir,said he,I am of the realm of Logris,and my name is Ector de Maris,and brother unto my lord,Sir Launcelot.In the name of God,said the king,me for-thinketh of what I have said,for your brother is here within.And when Ector de Maris understood that his brother was there,for he was the man in the world that he most dread and loved,and then he said:Ah God,now doubleth my sorrow and shame.Full truly said the good man of the hill unto Gawaine and to me of our dreams.Then went he out of the court as fast as his horse might,and so throughout the castle.
CHAPTER XVII
How Sir Launcelot returned towards Logris,and of other adventures which he saw in the way.
THEN King Pelles came to Sir Launcelot and told him tidings of his brother,whereof he was sorry,that he wist not what to do.So Sir Launcelot departed,and took his arms,and said he would go see the realm of Logris,which I have not seen in twelve months.And there with he commended the king to God,and so rode through many realms.And at the last he came to a white abbey,and there they made him that night great cheer;and on the morn he rose and heard mass.And afore an altar he found a rich tomb,which was newly made;and then he took heed,and saw the sides written with gold which said:Here lieth King Bagdemagus of Gore,which King Arthur's nephew slew;and named him,Sir Gawaine.
Then was not he a little sorry,for Launcelot loved him much more than any other,and had it been any other than Gawaine he should not have escaped from death to life;and said to himself:Ah Lord God,this is a great hurt unto King Arthur's court,the loss of such a man.
And then he departed and came to the abbey where Galahad did the adventure of the tombs,and won the white shield with the red cross;and there had he great cheer all that night.
And on the morn he turned unto Camelot,where he found King Arthur and the queen.But many of the knights of the Round Table were slain and destroyed,more than half.And so three were come home,Ector,Gawaine,and Lionel,and many other that need not to be rehearsed.And all the court was passing glad of Sir Launcelot,and the king asked him many tidings of his son Galahad.And there Launcelot told the king of his adventures that had befallen him since he departed.And also he told him of the adventures of Galahad,Percivale,and Bors,which that he knew by the letter of the dead damosel,and as Galahad had told him.Now God would,said the king,that they were all three here.That shall never be,said Launcelot,for two of them shall ye never see,but one of them shall come again.
Now leave we this story and speak of Galahad.
CHAPTER XVIII
How Galahad came to King Mordrains,and of other matters and adventures.