isguised. Right so Sir
Launcelot, his father, dressed his spear and brake it upon Sir Galahad,
and Galahad smote him so again that he smote down horse and man. And
then he drew his sword, and dressed him unto Sir Percivale, and smote
him so on the helm, that it rove to the coif of steel; and had not the
sword swerved Sir Percivale had been slain, and with the stroke he fell
out of his saddle. This jousts was done to-fore the hermitage where a
recluse dwelled. And when she saw Sir Galahad ride, she said: God be
with thee, best knight of the world. Ah certes, said she, all aloud that
Launcelot and Percivale might hear it: An yonder two knights had known
thee as well as I do they would not have encountered with thee. Then Sir
Galahad heard her say so he was adread to be known: therewith he smote
his horse with his spurs and rode a great pace froward them. Then
perceived they both that he was Galahad; and up they gat on their
horses, and rode fast after him, but in a while he was out of their
sight. And then they turned again with heavy cheer. Let us spere some
tidings, said Percivale, at yonder recluse. Do as ye list, said Sir
Launcelot.

When Sir Percivale came to the recluse she knew him well enough, and Sir
Launcelot both. But Sir Launcelot rode overthwart and endlong in a wild
forest, and held no path but as wild adventure led him. And at the last
he came to a stony cross which departed two ways in waste land; and by
the cross was a stone that was of marble, but it was so dark that Sir
Launcelot might not wit what it was. Then Sir Launcelot looked by him,
and saw an old chapel, and there he weened to have found people; and Sir
Launcelot tied his horse till a tree, and there he did off his shield
and hung it upon a tree, and then went to the chapel door, and found it
waste and broken. And within he found a fair altar, full richly arrayed
with cloth of clean silk, and there stood a fair clean candlestick,
which bare six great candles, and the candlestick was of silver. And
when Sir Launcelot saw this light he had great will for to enter into
the chapel, but he could find no place where he might enter; then was he
passing heavy and dismayed. Then he returned and came to his horse and
did off his saddle and bridle, and let him pasture, and unlaced his
helm, and ungirt his sword, and laid him down to sleep upon his shield
to-fore the cross.

CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Launcelot, half sleeping and half waking, saw a
sick m