which I have not seen in twelve months. And there with
he commended the king to God, and so rode through many realms. And at
the last he came to a white abbey, and there they made him that night
great cheer; and on the morn he rose and heard mass. And afore an altar
he found a rich tomb, which was newly made; and then he took heed, and
saw the sides written with gold which said: Here lieth King Bagdemagus
of Gore, which King Arthur's nephew slew; and named him, Sir Gawaine.
Then was not he a little sorry, for Launcelot loved him much more than
any other, and had it been any other than Gawaine he should not have
escaped from death to life; and said to himself: Ah Lord God, this is a
great hurt unto King Arthur's court, the loss of such a man. And then
he departed and came to the abbey where Galahad did the adventure of
the tombs, and won the white shield with the red cross; and there had he
great cheer all that night.

And on the morn he turned unto Camelot, where he found King Arthur and
the queen. But many of the knights of the Round Table were slain and
destroyed, more than half. And so three were come home, Ector, Gawaine,
and Lionel, and many other that need not to be rehearsed. And all the
court was passing glad of Sir Launcelot, and the king asked him many
tidings of his son Galahad. And there Launcelot told the king of his
adventures that had befallen him since he departed. And also he told him
of the adventures of Galahad, Percivale, and Bors, which that he knew
by the letter of the dead damosel, and as Galahad had told him. Now God
would, said the king, that they were all three here. That shall never
be, said Launcelot, for two of them shall ye never see, but one of them
shall come again.

Now leave we this story and speak of Galahad.

CHAPTER XVIII. How Galahad came to King Mordrains, and of other matters
and adventures.

NOW, saith the story, Galahad rode many journeys in vain. And at the
last he came to the abbey where King Mordrains was, and when he heard
that, he thought he would abide to see him. And upon the morn, when he
had heard mass, Galahad came unto King Mordrains, and anon the king saw
him, which had lain blind of long time. And then he dressed him against
him, and said: Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, whose coming I have
abiden so long, now embrace me and let me rest on thy breast, so that
I may rest between thine arms, for thou art a clean virgin above all
knights, as the flower