to-fore.And when they came to the board they found in the midst the table of silver which they had left with the Maimed King,and the Sangreal which was covered with red samite.Then were they glad to have such things in their fellowship;and so they entered and made great reverence thereto;and Galahad fell in his prayer long time to Our Lord,that at what time he asked,that he should pass out of this world.So much he prayed till a voice said to him:Galahad,thou shalt have thy request;and when thou askest the death of thy body thou shalt have it,and then shalt thou find the life of the soul.Percivale heard this,and prayed him,of fellowship that was between them,to tell him wherefore he asked such things.That shall I tell you,said Galahad;the other day when we saw a part of the adventures of the Sangreal I was in such a joy of heart,that I trow never man was that was earthly.And therefore I wot well,when my body is dead my soul shall be in great joy to see the blessed Trinity every day,and the majesty of Our Lord,Jesu Christ.
So long were they in the ship that they said to Galahad:
Sir,in this bed ought ye to lie,for so saith the scripture.
And so he laid him down and slept a great while;and when he awaked he looked afore him and saw the city of Sarras.And as they would have landed they saw the ship wherein Percivale had put his sister in.Truly,said Percivale,in the name of God,well hath my sister holden us covenant.Then took they out of the ship the table of silver,and he took it to Percivale and to Bors,to go to-fore,and Galahad came behind.And right so they went to the city,and at the gate of the city they saw an old man crooked.Then Galahad called him and bade him help to bear this heavy thing.Truly,said the old man,it is ten year ago that I might not go but with crutches.Care thou not,said Galahad,and arise up and shew thy good will.
And so he assayed,and found himself as whole as ever he was.Than ran he to the table,and took one part against Galahad.And anon arose there great noise in the city,that a cripple was made whole by knights marvellous that entered into the city.
Then anon after,the three knights went to the water,and brought up into the palace Percivale's sister,and buried her as richly as a king's daughter ought to be.And when the king of the city,which was cleped Estorause,saw the fellowship,he asked them of whence they were,and what thing it was that they had brought upon the table of silver.
And they told him the truth of the Sangreal,and the power which that God had sent there.Then the king was a tyrant,and was come of the line of paynims,and took them and put them in prison in a deep hole.
CHAPTER XXII
How they were fed with the Sangreal while they were in prison,and how Galahad was made king.
BUT as soon as they were there Our Lord sent them the Sangreal,through whose grace they were always fulfilled while that they were in prison.So at the year's end it befell that this King Estorause lay sick,and felt that he should die.Then he sent for the three knights,and they came afore him;and he cried them mercy of that he had done to them,and they forgave it him goodly;and he died anon.When the king was dead all the city was dismayed,and wist not who might be their king.Right so as they were in counsel there came a voice among them,and bade them choose the youngest knight of them three to be their king:For he shall well maintain you and all yours.So they made Galahad king by all the assent of the holy city,and else they would have slain him.And when he was come to behold the land,he let make above the table of silver a chest of gold and of precious stones,that hilled the Holy Vessel.And every day early the three fellows would come afore it,and make their prayers.
