He and all they said, “Yea.”

“Then shall he,” said Sir Launcelot, “receive the high order of knighthood as to-morn at the reverence of the high feast.”

That night Sir Launcelot had passing good cheer; and on the morn at Galahad’s desire, he made him knight and said, “God make him a good man, for of beauty faileth you not as any that liveth.”

THE MARVELOUS SWORD

“Fair sir,” said Sir Launcelot, “will ye come with me unto the court of King Arthur?”

“Nay,” said he, “I will not go with you at this time.”

Then he departed from them and came to Camelot by the hour of underne[2] on Whitsunday.  By that time the King and Queen were gone to the minster to hear their service.

[Footnote 2:  Underne meant, according to ancient reckoning, nine o’clock in the morning.]

So when the King and all the knights were come from service, the barons espied in the sieges of the Round Table all about, written with golden letters:  “Here ought to sit he, and he ought to sit here."[3] And thus they went so long till they came to the Siege Perilous where they found letters newly written of gold which said:  “Four hundred winters and four and fifty accomplished after the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ ought this siege to be fulfilled.”

[Footnote 3:  That is, “Such a one should sit here, and such another one here.”]

Then all they said, “This is a marvelous thing and an adventurous.”

“In the name of God,” said Sir Launcelot; and then accounted the term of the writing from the birth of our Lord unto that day.  “It seemeth me,” said Sir Launcelot, “this siege ought to be fulfilled this same day, for this is the feast of Pentecost after the four hundred and four and fifty years; and if it would please all parties, I would none of these letters were seen this day, till he be come that ought to achieve this adventure.”

Then made they to ordain a cloth of silk, for to cover these letters on the Siege Perilous.  Then the King bade haste unto dinner.

So as they stood, in came a squire and said unto the King, “Sir, I bring unto you marvelous tidings.”

“What be they?” said the King.

“Sir, there is here beneath at the river a great stone which I saw fleet[4] above the water, and therein I saw sticking a sword.”

[Footnote 4:  Fleet here means float.]

The King said:  “I will see that marvel.”

So all the knights went with him, and when they came to the river they found there a stone fleeting, as it were of red marble, and therein stuck a fair rich sword, and in the pommel thereof were precious stones wrought with subtle letters of gold.  Then the barons read the letters which said in this wise:  “Never shall man take me hence, but only he by whose side I ought to hang, and he shall be the best knight in the world.”