tly darkened, and therewith they were amazed, both one and
other.

While they sat there in suspense as to what should happen, came in a
good old man, and an ancient, clothed all in white, and there was no
knight knew from whence he came. With him he brought a young knight in
red arms, without sword or shield, save a scabbard hanging by his side.
Then the old man said unto Arthur, "Sir, I bring here a young knight
the which is of king's lineage and of the kindred of Joseph of
Arimathea, whereby the marvels of this court and of strange realms
shall be fully accomplished."

The King was right glad of the good man's words, and bade him and the
young knight welcome. Then the old man made the young man unarm; and
he was in a coat of red silk, and bore a mantle upon his shoulder that
was furred with ermine. Anon the old knight led him unto the Siege
Perilous, where beside sat Sir Percivale and Sir Launcelot. The good
man lifted up the cloth, and found there letters that said thus: "This
is the siege of Galahad, the high prince." He set him down surely in
that siege, saying, "Wit ye well that place is yours," and then,
departed and went his way.

All the knights of the Table Round marvelled greatly that Sir Galahad
durst sit there in that Siege Perilous, and was so tender of age; for
never before had anyone sat therein but he was mischieved. And they
foresaw that Sir Galahad would come to great honour, and outdo them all
in knightly courtesy.

Then the King bade him welcome to the court, and taking him by the
hand, went down from the palace to show Galahad the adventures of the
stone. "Sir" said the King unto him, "here is a great marvel as ever I
saw, and right good knights have assayed and failed."

"Sir," said Galahad, "that is no marvel, for this adventure is not
theirs but mine, and for the surety of this sword I brought none with
me; for here by my side hangeth the scabbard."

Anon he laid his hand on the sword, and lightly drew it out of the
stone and put it in the sheath, saying, "Now it goeth better than it
did aforehand."

CHAPTER XXV

HOW THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL WAS BEGUN

The dish from which our Lord Jesu Christ ate the paschal lamb at His
last supper with His disciples men call the Holy Grail. Therein also
Joseph of Arimathea caught the last drops of sacred blood, and after
the passion of our Lord that gentle knight, the which took down the
body off the holy cross, at that time departe