CHAPTER XII

Of the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and heard in the
tomb, and how he made Melias knight.


NOW lead me thither, said Galahad.  And so they did, all
armed save his helm.  Now, said the good man, go to
the tomb and lift it up.  So he did, and heard a great
noise; and piteously he said, that all men might hear it:
Sir Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, come thou not
nigh me, for thou shalt make me go again there where I
have been so long.  But Galahad was nothing afraid, but
lifted up the stone; and there came out so foul a smoke,
and after he saw the foulest figure leap thereout that ever
he saw in the likeness of a man; and then he blessed him
and wist well it was a fiend.  Then heard he a voice say
Galahad, I see there environ about thee so many angels
that my power may not dere thee{sic}  Right so Sir Galahad
saw a body all armed lie in that tomb, and beside him a
sword.  Now, fair brother, said Galahad, let us remove
this body, for it is not worthy to lie in this churchyard,
for he was a false Christian man.  And therewith they all
departed and went to the abbey.  And anon as he was
unarmed a good man came and set him down by him and
said:  Sir, I shall tell you what betokeneth all that ye saw
in the tomb; for that covered body betokeneth the
duresse of the world, and the great sin that Our Lord
found in the world.  For there was such wretchedness
that the father loved not the son, nor the son loved not
the father; and that was one of the causes that Our Lord
took flesh and blood of a clean maiden, for our sins were
so great at that time that well-nigh all was wickedness.
Truly, said Galahad, I believe you right well.

So Sir Galahad rested him there that night; and upon
the morn he made the squire knight, and asked him his
name, and of what kindred he was come.  Sir, said he,
men calleth me Melias de Lile, and I am the son of the
King of Denmark.  Now, fair sir, said Galahad, sith
that ye be come of kings and queens, now look that
knighthood be well set in you, for ye ought to be a mirror
unto all chivalry.  Sir, said Sir Melias, ye say sooth.  But,
sir, sithen ye have made me a knight ye must of right
grant me my first desire that is reasonable.  Ye say sooth,
said Galahad.  Melias said:  Then that ye will suffer me
to ride with you in this quest of the Sangreal, till that some
adventure depart us.  I grant you, sir.

Then men brought Sir Melias his armour and his spear
and his horse, and so Sir Galahad and he rode forth all
that week or they found any adventure.  And then upon a
Monday in the morning, as they were departed from an
abbey, they came to a cross which departed two ways, and
in that cross were letters written that said thus:  Now, ye
knights errant, the which goeth to seek knights adventurous,
see here two ways; that one way defendeth thee that
thou ne go that way, for he shall not go out of the way
again but if he be a good man and a worthy knight; and
if thou go on the left hand, thou shalt not lightly there
win prowess, for thou shalt in this way be soon assayed.
Sir, said Melias to Galahad, if it like you to suffer me to
take the way on the left hand, tell me, for there I shall well
prove my strength.  It were better, said Galahad, ye rode
not that way, for I deem I should better escape in that way
than ye.  Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have that
adventure.  Take it in God's name, said Galahad.