inst the deep blue sky against which they stood. And the road whereon
they travelled went down beside the banks of a smooth and placid river,
very bright and shining like to polished silver; and there were willows
and aspens upon the one hand and smooth fields of ripening grain upon
the other.

Now at that time the Lady Elaine was suffering great pangs of sickness,
wherefore she said to those in attendance upon her: "Dear friends, it is
well that we have come hither to this place. For this is a house of
peace, and I am very sick. Wherefore I pray you let me rest here till
God shall have dealt with me in my travails in such a manner as He shall
see fit."

So spake the Lady Elaine, and upon that command they bare her to the
gates of the priory. And they bare her into the priory and laid her upon
a soft couch and there she had such ease in her sickness as they could
bring to her at that time.

* * * * *

Meantime Sir Launcelot abided at the court of the King, very heavy of
heart and very sorrowful of spirit. For his soul was dragged this way
and that way. And whether he had gone away from the court or whether he
had stayed as he did, in either case he would have been most unhappy.
Yet to his present unhappiness was added many pangs like to the pangs of
remorse. For he could not tell whether he did altogether ill or somewhat
well in remaining at the King's court as he did.

Yet ever his thoughts went out after the Lady Elaine and he said to
himself: "So soon as I can escape from this place with courtesy to the
Queen, I will follow after her." Wherefore had he wist that even then
she was lying so sick at the priory in the forest, it may well be
believed that he would not have tarried a single moment longer, but
would have flown to her upon the wings of the wind.

But Sir Launcelot knew not how it was with his lady, and so God was even
then preparing a great punishment for him for which he might never hope
to escape for as long as he should live.

PART VII

The Nativity of Galahad

_Here followeth the story of the nativity of Sir Galahad and of how Sir
Gawaine heard a miraculous prophecy concerning the Achievement of the
Holy Grail, and of how it was prophesied that Sir Galahad should achieve
that holy chalice. Also it shall be told how the infant Galahad was
confided to the care of Sir Bors de Ganis, who alone knew what then
became of him, until in due time he was manifested