upon Sir Bors and Sir Gawaine came close to the couch upon
which the Lady Elaine lay. So when they had come nigh, Sir Lavaine
lifted the coverlet very softly and they beheld that a new-born babe lay
beside the lady upon that couch. Then they wist that that babe was the
child of Sir Launcelot of the Lake and the Lady Elaine; and they wist
that this was the babe of whom Merlin had spoken in his prophecy. For
the child was very wonderfully beautiful, and it was as though a certain
clear radiance of light shone forth from its face; and it lay so
perfectly still that it was like as though it did not live. So Sir Bors
and Sir Gawaine knew because of these and several other things that this
must indeed be that very child whom they had come to find. Yea, it was
as though a voice from a distance said: "Behold! this is that one who
shall achieve the Quest of the Holy Grail according to the prophecy of
Merlin."

So Sir Bors and Sir Gawaine kneeled down beside the bed and set their
palms together, and Sir Lavaine stood near them, and for a while all was
very silent in that place. Then suddenly the Lady Elaine spake in that
silence in a voice very faint and remote but very clear, and as she
spake she turned not her eyes toward any one of them, but gazed ever
straight before her. And she said, "Sir Bors, art thou there?" and Sir
Bors said, "Yea, Lady."

[Sidenote: _The Lady Elaine bespeaketh Sir Bors._]

Then she said: "Behold this child and look you upon him, for this is he
who shall achieve the Quest of the Holy Grail and shall bring it back to
the earth again. So he shall become the greatest knight that ever the
world beheld. But though he shall be the greatest champion at arms that
ever lived, yet also he shall be gentle and meek and without sin,
innocent like to a little child. And because he is to be so high in
chivalry and so pure of life, therefore his name shall be called
Galahad." And she said again, "Sir Bors, art thou there?" and he said,
"Yea, Lady."

She said: "My time draweth near, for even now I behold the shining gates
of Paradise, though it yet is that I behold them faintly, as through a
vapor of mist. Yet anon that mist shall pass, and I shall behold those
gates very near by and shining in glory; for soon I shall quit this
troubled world for that bright and beautiful country. Nevertheless, I
shall leave behind me this child who lieth beside me, and his life shall
enlighten that world from which I am withdrawing