s 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 o