or more
if need be, and shall not return unto the court till I have seen it
more openly than it hath been seen here; and if I may not speed, I
shall return again at the end of the time as he that may not be against
the will of our Lord Jesu Christ."

When they of the Table Round heard Sir Gawaine say so, the most part of
them arose, and made such avows as Sir Gawaine had made. Anon as King
Arthur heard this he was greatly grieved, for he wist well that they
might not gainsay their avows, and he should be bereft of the fairest
fellowship and the truest knighthood that ever were seen together in
any realm of the world. For, when they departed from hence, they
should never all meet again in this world, and many of his true
fellowship of noble knights should die in the quest.

When the Queen also and all the court wist these tidings, they had such
sorrow and heaviness that there might no tongue tell it. Many of the
ladies would have gone with the knights that they loved, had not an old
man in religious clothing said on high that none in this quest should
lead wife with him. Moreover he warned the knights plainly that he
that was not clean of his sins should not see the mysteries of our Lord
Jesu Christ. Then they went to rest themselves, and in honour of the
highness of Galahad he was led into King Arthur's chamber, and there
rested in his own bed.

As soon as it was day the King arose, for he had no rest all that night
for sorrow. Then the King and the Queen went unto the minster, and all
the knights, armed fully save their shields and their helms, followed
them to hear the service.

Then after the service was done, the King would wit how many had taken
the quest of the Holy Grail, and found by tale there were an hundred
and fifty, all knights of the Round Table. Then they put on their
helms, and so mounted upon their horses, and rode through the streets
of Camelot. And there was weeping of rich and poor, and the King
turned away, and might not speak for weeping.

Within a while they came to a city and a castle called Vagon. The lord
of that castle was a good old man and set open the gates, and made them
all the good cheer that he might. On the morrow they were all accorded
that they should ride every each from other. Then they departed with
weeping and mourning cheer, and every knight took the way that him best
liked.

CHAPTER XXVI

HOW GALAHAD GAT HIM A SHIELD

Now Sir Galahad was yet without