And then he asked Sir Melias how it stood with him.
Then he said he was turned unto helping,God be thanked.
CHAPTER XIV
How Sir Galahad departed,and how he was commanded to go to the Castle of Maidens to destroy the wicked custom.
NOW will I depart,said Galahad,for I have much on hand,for many good knights be full busy about it,and this knight and I were in the same quest of the Sangreal.Sir,said a good man,for his sin he was thus wounded;and I marvel,said the good man,how ye durst take upon you so rich a thing as the high order of knighthood without clean confession,and that was the cause ye were bitterly wounded.For the way on the right hand betokeneth the highway of our Lord Jesu Christ,and the way of a good true good liver.And the other way betokeneth the way of sinners and of misbelievers.And when the devil saw your pride and presumption,for to take you in the quest of the Sangreal,that made you to be overthrown,for it may not be enchieved but by virtuous living.Also,the writing on the cross was a signification of heavenly deeds,and of knightly deeds in God's works,and no knightly deeds in worldly works.And pride is head of all deadly sins,that caused this knight to depart from Galahad.And where thou tookest the crown of gold thou sinnest in covetise and in theft:all this were no knightly deeds.
And this Galahad,the holy knight,the which fought with the two knights,the two knights signify the two deadly sins which were wholly in this knight Melias;and they might not withstand you,for ye are without deadly sin.
Now departed Galahad from thence,and betaught them all unto God.Sir Melias said:My lord Galahad,as soon as I may ride I shall seek you.God send you health,said Galahad,and so took his horse and departed,and rode many journeys forward and backward,as adventure would lead him.And at the last it happened him to depart from a place or a castle the which was named Abblasoure;and he had heard no mass,the which he was wont ever to hear or ever he departed out of any castle or place,and kept that for a custom.Then Sir Galahad came unto a mountain where he found an old chapel,and found there nobody,for all,all was desolate;and there he kneeled to-fore the altar,and besought God of wholesome counsel.
So as he prayed he heard a voice that said:Go thou now,thou adventurous knight,to the Castle of Maidens,and there do thou away the wicked customs.
CHAPTER XV
How Sir Galahad fought with the knights of the castle,and destroyed the wicked custom.
WHEN Sir Galahad heard this he thanked God,and took his horse;and he had not ridden but half a mile,he saw in the valley afore him a strong castle with deep ditches,and there ran beside it a fair river that hight Severn;and there he met with a man of great age,and either saluted other,and Galahad asked him the castle's name.Fair sir,said he,it is the Castle of Maidens.That is a cursed castle,said Galahad,and all they that be conversant therein,for all pity is out thereof,and all hardiness and mischief is therein.Therefore,I counsel you,sir knight,to turn again.Sir,said Galahad,wit you well I shall not turn again.Then looked Sir Galahad on his arms that nothing failed him,and then he put his shield afore him;and anon there met him seven fair maidens,the which said unto him:Sir knight,ye ride here in a great folly,for ye have the water to pass over.Why should I not pass the water?
said Galahad.So rode he away from them and met with a squire that said:Knight,those knights in the castle defy you,and defenden you ye go no further till that they wit what ye would.Fair sir,said Galahad,I come for to destroy the wicked custom of this castle.Sir,an ye will abide by that ye shall have enough to do.Go you now,said Galahad,and haste my needs.
Then the squire entered into the castle.And anon after there came out of the castle seven knights,and all were brethren.And when they saw Galahad they cried:
Knight,keep thee,for we assure thee nothing but death.
Why,said Galahad,will ye all have ado with me at once?
Yea,said they,thereto mayst thou trust.Then Galahad put forth his spear and smote the foremost to the earth,that near he brake his neck.And therewithal the other smote him on his shield great strokes,so that their spears brake.Then Sir Galahad drew out his sword,and set upon them so hard that it was marvel to see it,and so through great force he made them to forsake the field;and Galahad chased them till they entered into the castle,and so passed through the castle at another gate.
And there met Sir Galahad an old man clothed in religious clothing,and said:Sir,have here the keys of this castle.Then Sir Galahad opened the gates,and saw so much people in the streets that he might not number them,and all said:Sir,ye be welcome,for long have we abiden here our deliverance.Then came to him a gentlewoman and said:These knights be fled,but they will come again this night,and here to begin again their evil custom.What will ye that I shall do?said Galahad.
Sir,said the gentlewoman,that ye send after all the knights hither that hold their lands of this castle,and make them to swear for to use the customs that were used heretofore of old time.I will well,said Galahad.And there she brought him an horn of ivory,bounden with gold richly,and said:Sir,blow this horn which will be heard two mile about this castle.When Sir Galahad had blown the horn he set him down upon a bed.
