had king by all the assent
of the holy city, and else they would have slain him. And when he was
come to behold the land, he let make above the table of silver a chest
of gold and of precious stones, that hilled the Holy Vessel. And every
day early the three fellows would come afore it, and make their prayers.

Now at the year's end, and the self day after Galahad had borne the
crown of gold, he arose up early and his fellows, and came to the
palace, and saw to-fore them the Holy Vessel, and a man kneeling on his
knees in likeness of a bishop, that had about him a great fellowship of
angels, as it had been Jesu Christ himself; and then he arose and began
a mass of Our Lady. And when he came to the sacrament of the mass,
and had done, anon he called Galahad, and said to him: Come forth the
servant of Jesu Christ, and thou shalt see that thou hast much desired
to see. And then he began to tremble right hard when the deadly flesh
began to behold the spiritual things. Then he held up his hands toward
heaven and said: Lord, I thank thee, for now I see that that hath been
my desire many a day. Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it
might please thee, Lord. And therewith the good man took Our Lord's body
betwixt his hands, and proffered it to Galahad, and he received it right
gladly and meekly. Now wottest thou what I am? said the good man. Nay,
said Galahad. I am Joseph of Aramathie, the which Our Lord hath sent
here to thee to bear thee fellowship; and wottest thou wherefore that
he hath sent me more than any other? For thou hast resembled me in two
things; in that thou hast seen the marvels of the Sangreal, in that thou
hast been a clean maiden, as I have been and am.

And when he had said these words Galahad went to Percivale and kissed
him, and commended him to God; and so he went to Sir Bors and kissed
him, and commended him to God, and said: Fair lord, salute me to my
lord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and as soon as ye see him, bid him
remember of this unstable world. And therewith he kneeled down to-fore
the table and made his prayers, and then suddenly his soul departed to
Jesu Christ, and a great multitude of angels bare his soul up to heaven,
that the two fellows might well behold it. Also the two fellows saw come
from heaven an hand, but they saw not the body. And then it came right
to the Vessel, and took it and the spear, and so bare it up to heaven.
Sithen was there never man so hardy to say that he had