ll
gladly go with you. So Sir Launcelot bade his squire saddle his horse
and bring his arms; and in all haste he did his commandment.

Then came the queen unto Launcelot, and said: Will ye leave us at this
high feast? Madam, said the gentlewoman, wit ye well he shall be with
you to-morn by dinner time. If I wist, said the queen, that he should
not be with us here to-morn he should not go with you by my good will.
Right so departed Sir Launcelot with the gentlewoman, and rode until
that he came into a forest and into a great valley, where they saw an
abbey of nuns; and there was a squire ready and opened the gates, and
so they entered and descended off their horses; and there came a fair
fellowship about Sir Launcelot, and welcomed him, and were passing
glad of his coming. And then they led him unto the Abbess's chamber
and unarmed him; and right so he was ware upon a bed lying two of his
cousins, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and then he waked them; and when they
saw him they made great joy. Sir, said Sir Bors unto Sir Launcelot, what
adventure hath brought you hither, for we weened to-morn to have found
you at Camelot? As God me help, said Sir Launcelot, a gentlewoman
brought me hither, but I know not the cause.

In the meanwhile that they thus stood talking together, therein came
twelve nuns that brought with them Galahad, the which was passing fair
and well made, that unnethe in the world men might not find his match:
and all those ladies wept. Sir, said they all, we bring you here this
child the which we have nourished, and we pray you to make him a knight,
for of a more worthier man's hand may he not receive the order of
knighthood. Sir Launcelot beheld the young squire and saw him seemly and
demure as a dove, with all manner of good features, that he weened
of his age never to have seen so fair a man of form. Then said Sir
Launcelot: Cometh this desire of himself? He and all they said yea. Then
shall he, said Sir Launcelot, receive the high order of knighthood as
to-morn at the reverence of the high feast. That night Sir Launcelot had
passing good cheer; and on the morn at the hour of prime, at Galahad's
desire, he made him knight and said: God make him a good man, for of
beauty faileth you not as any that liveth.

CHAPTER II. How the letters were found written in the Siege Perilous and
of the marvellous adventure of the sword in a stone.

NOW fair sir, said Sir Launcelot, will ye come with me unto the court o