I
ensure you of this gentlewoman ye shall fail while that I live. So God
me help, said Percivale, I had liefer be slain. And I also, said Sir
Bors. By my troth, said the knight, then shall ye die, for ye may not
endure against us though ye were the best knights of the world.

Then let they run each to other, and the three fellows beat the ten
knights, and then set their hands to their swords and beat them down
and slew them. Then there came out of the castle a three score knights
armed. Fair lords, said the three fellows, have mercy on yourself and
have not ado with us. Nay, fair lords, said the knights of the castle,
we counsel you to withdraw you, for ye be the best knights of the world,
and therefore do no more, for ye have done enough. We will let you go
with this harm, but we must needs have the custom. Certes, said Galahad,
for nought speak ye. Well, said they, will ye die? We be not yet come
thereto, said Galahad. Then began they to meddle together, and Galahad,
with the strange girdles, drew his sword, and smote on the right hand
and on the left hand, and slew what that ever abode him, and did such
marvels that there was none that saw him but weened he had been none
earthly man, but a monster. And his two fellows halp him passing well,
and so they held the journey everych in like hard till it was night:
then must they needs depart.

So came in a good knight, and said to the three fellows: If ye will come
in to-night and take such harbour as here is ye shall be right welcome,
and we shall ensure you by the faith of our bodies, and as we be true
knights, to leave you in such estate to-morrow as we find you, without
any falsehood. And as soon as ye know of the custom we dare say ye will
accord therefore. For God's love, said the gentlewoman, go thither and
spare not for me. Go we, said Galahad; and so they entered into the
chapel. And when they were alighted they made great joy of them. So
within a while the three knights asked the custom of the castle and
wherefore it was. What it is, said they, we will say you sooth.

CHAPTER XI. How Sir Percivale's sister bled a dish full of blood for
to heal a lady, wherefore she died; and how that the body was put in a
ship.

THERE is in this castle a gentlewoman which we and this castle is hers,
and many other. So it befell many years agone there fell upon her a
malady; and when she had lain a great while she fell unto a measle, and
of no leech she could have no re