him right much that he had broken his promise unto
the hermit, which he had avowed to do. Then they
asked how it stood with him. For sooth, said
he, I am whole of body, thanked be Our Lord; therefore,
sirs, for God’s love tell me where I am.
Then said they all that he was in the castle of Carbonek.
Therewith came a gentlewoman and brought him a shirt
of small linen cloth, but he changed not there, but
took the hair to him again. Sir, said they, the
quest of the Sangreal is achieved now right in you,
that never shall ye see of the Sangreal no more than
ye have seen. Now I thank God, said Launcelot,
of His great mercy of that I have seen, for it sufficeth
me; for as I suppose no man in this world hath lived
better than I have done to achieve that I have done.
And therewith he took the hair and clothed him in
it, and above that he put a linen shirt, and after
a robe of scarlet, fresh and new. And when he
was so arrayed they marvelled all, for they knew him
that he was Launcelot, the good knight. And then
they said all: O my lord Sir Launcelot, be that
ye? And he said: Truly I am he. Then
came word to King Pelles that the knight that had
lain so long dead was Sir Launcelot. Then was
the king right glad, and went to see him. And
when Launcelot saw him come he dressed him against
him, and there made the king great joy of him.
And there the king told him tidings that his fair
daughter was dead. Then Launcelot was right heavy
of it, and said: Sir, me forthinketh the death
of your daughter, for she was a full fair lady, fresh
and young. And well I wot she bare the best knight
that is now on the earth, or that ever was sith God
was born. So the king held him there four days,
and on the morrow he took his leave at King Pelles
and at all the fellowship, and thanked them of their
great labour. Right so as they sat at their dinner
in the chief hall, then was it so that the Sangreal
had fulfilled the table with all manner of meats that
any heart might think. So as they sat they saw
all the doors and the windows of the place were shut
without man’s hand, whereof they were all abashed,
and none wist what to do. And then it happened
suddenly that a knight came to the chief door and
knocked, and cried: Undo the door. But they
would not. And ever he cried: Undo; but they
would not. And at last it annoyed him so much
that the king himself arose and came to a window where
the knight called. Then he said: Sir knight,
ye shall not enter at this time while the Sangreal
is here, and therefore go into another; for certes
ye be none of the knights of the quest, but one of
them which hath served the fiend, and hast left the
service of Our Lord: and he was passing wroth
at the king’s words. Sir knight, said the
king, sith ye would so fain enter, say me of what country
ye be. Sir, said he, I am of the realm of Logris,
and my name is Ector de Maris, and brother unto my
lord, Sir Launcelot. In the name of God, said
the king, me forthinketh of what I have said, for your
brother is here within. And when Ector de Maris
understood that his brother was there, for he was
the man in the world that he most dread and loved,
and then he said: Ah God, now doubleth my sorrow
and shame. Full truly said the good man of the
hill unto Gawaine and to me of our dreams. Then
went he out of the court as fast as his horse might,
and so throughout the castle.