Le Morte D'Arthur Volume 2 by Thomas Malory

Author:Thomas Malory
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 1969-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16: How Sir Gawain came to the abbey for to follow Galahad, and how he was shriven to an hermit

Now, saith the tale, after Sir Gawain departed, he rode many journeys, both toward and froward. And at the last he came to the abbey where Sir Galahad had the white shield, and there Sir Gawain learned the way to sue after Sir Galahad; and so he rode to the abbey where Melias lay sick and there Sir Melias told Sir Gawain of the marvellous adventures that Sir Galahad did.

‘Certes’ said Sir Gawain, ‘I am not happy that I took not the way that he went, for and I may meet with him I will not depart from him lightly, for all marvellous adventures Sir Galahad achieveth.’

‘Sir,’ said one of the monks, ‘he will not of your fellowship.’

‘Why?’ said Sir Gawain.

‘Sir,’ said he, ‘for ye be wicked and sinful, and he is full blessed.’

Right as they thus stood talking there came in riding Sir Gareth. And then they made joy either of other. And on the morn they heard mass, and so departed.

And by the way they met with Sir Uwain les Avoutres, and there Sir Uwain told Sir Gawain how he had met with none adventure sith he departed from the court.

‘Nor we,’ said Sir Gawain. And either promised other of those three knights not to depart while they were in that quest, but if fortune caused it.

So they departed and rode by fortune till that they came by the Castle of Maidens; and there the seven brethren espied the three knights, and said, ‘sithen we be flemed by one knight from this castle, we shall destroy all the knights of King Arthur’s that we may overcome, for the love of Sir Galahad.’

And therewith the seven knights set upon the three knights, and by fortune Sir Gawain slew one of the brethren, and each one of his fellows slew another, and so slew the remnant. And then they took the way under the castle, and there they lost the way that Sir Galahad rode, and there every each of them departed from other.

And Sir Gawain rode till he came to an hermitage, and there he found the good man saying his evensong of Our Lady; and there Sir Gawain asked harbour for charity, and the good man granted it him gladly. Then the good man asked him what he was.

‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I am a knight of King Arthur’s that am in the quest of the Sangrail, and my name is Sir Gawain.’

‘Sir,’ said the good man, ‘I would wit how it standeth betwixt God and you.’

‘Sir,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘I will with a good will show you my life if it please you.’ And there he told the hermit how ‘a monk of an abbey called me wicked knight.’

‘He might well say it,’ said the hermit, ‘for when ye were first made knight you should have taken you to knightly deeds and virtuous living, and ye have done

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