And he rested that night at a hermitage, and when he was asleep, he heard a knocking at the door.  So he rose, and found a damsel there, who said, “Sir Galahad, I will that ye arm you, and mount upon your horse and follow me, for I will show you within these three days the highest adventure that ever any knight saw.”

Anon Sir Galahad armed him, and took his horse, and commended himself to God, and bade the gentlewoman go, and he would follow where she liked.

So they rode onwards to the sea as fast as their horses might gallop, and at night they came to a castle in a valley, inclosed by running water, and by strong and high walls, whereinto they entered and had great cheer, for the lady of the castle was the damsel’s mistress.

And when he was unarmed, the damsel said to her lady, “Madam, shall we abide here this night?”

“Nay,” said she, “but only till he hath dined and slept a little.”

So he ate and slept a while, till the maid called him, and armed him by torchlight; and when he had saluted the lady of the castle, the damsel and Sir Galahad rode on.

Anon they came to the seaside, and lo! the ship, wherein were Sir Percival and Sir Bors, abode by the shore.  Then they cried, “Welcome, Sir Galahad, for we have awaited thee long.”

Then they rejoiced to see each other, and told of all their adventures and temptations.  And the damsel went into the ship with them, and spake to Sir Percival:  “Sir Percival, know ye not who I am?”

And he replied, “Nay, certainly, I know thee not.”

Then said she, “I am thy sister, the daughter of King Pellinore, and am sent to help thee and these knights, thy fellows, to achieve the quest which ye all follow.”

So Sir Percival rejoiced to see his sister, and they departed from the shore.  And after a while they came upon a whirlpool, where their ship could not live.  Then saw they another greater ship hard by and went towards it, but saw neither man nor woman therein.  And on the end of it these words were written, “Thou who shalt enter me, beware that thou be in steadfast belief, for I am Faith; and if thou doubtest, I cannot help thee.”  Then were they all adread, but, commending themselves to God, they entered in.

As soon as they were on board they saw a fair bed; whereon lay a crown of silk, and at the foot was a fair and rich sword drawn from its scabbard half a foot and more.  The pommel was of precious stones of many colours, every colour having a different virtue, and the scales of the haft were of two ribs of different beasts.  The one was bone of a serpent from Calidone forest, named the serpent of the fiend; and its virtue saveth all men who hold it from weariness.  The other was of a fish that haunteth the floods of Euphrates, named Ertanax; and its virtue causeth whoever holdeth it to forget all other things, whether of joy or pain, save the thing he seeth before him.