The two had not journeyed far before they saw a knight approach, armed all in white mail and mounted upon a white horse.  Immediately he laid his spear in rest and, charging King Bagdemagus, pierced him through the shoulder and bore him from his horse; and standing over the wounded knight, he said:  “Knight, thou hast shown great folly, for none shall bear this shield save the peerless knight, Sir Galahad.”  Then, taking the shield, he gave it to the squire and said:  “Bear this shield to the good Knight Galahad and greet him well from me.”  “What is your name?” asked the squire, “That is not for thee or any other to know.”  “One thing, I pray you,” said the squire; “why may this shield be borne by none but Sir Galahad without danger?” “Because it belongs to him only,” answered the stranger knight, and vanished.

Then the squire took the shield and, setting King Bagdemagus on his horse, bore him back to the abbey where he lay long, sick unto death.  To Galahad the squire gave the shield and told him all that had befallen.  So Galahad hung the shield about his neck and rode the way that Bagdemagus had gone the day before; and presently he met the White Knight, whom he greeted courteously, begging that he would make known to him the marvels of the red-cross shield.  “That will I gladly,” answered the White Knight.  “Ye must know, Sir Knight, that this shield was made and given by Joseph of Arimathea to the good King Evelake of Sarras, that, in the might of the holy symbol, he should overthrow the heathen who threatened his kingdom.  But afterwards, King Evelake followed Joseph to this land of Britain where they taught the true faith unto the people who before were heathen.  Then when Joseph lay dying, he bade King Evelake set the shield in the monastery where ye lay last night, and foretold that none should wear it without loss until that day when it should be taken by the knight, ninth and last in descent from him, who should come to that place the fifteenth day after receiving the degree of knighthood.  Even so has it been with you, Sir Knight.”  So saying, the unknown knight disappeared and Sir Galahad rode on his way.

CHAPTER XXV

THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PERCIVALE

After he had left his fellows, Sir Percivale rode long through the forest until, one evening, he reached a monastery where he sought shelter for the night.  The next morning, he went into the chapel to hear mass and there he espied the body of an old, old man, laid on a richly adorned couch.  At first it seemed as if the aged man were dead, but presently, raising himself in his bed, he took off his crown, and, delivering it to the priest, bade him place it on the altar.  So when the service was concluded, Sir Percivale asked who the aged king might be.  Then he was told that it was none other than King Evelake who accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to Britain.  And on a certain occasion, the King had approached the Holy Grail nigher than was reverent and, for his impiety, God had punished him with blindness.  Thereupon he repented and, entreating God earnestly, had obtained his petition that he should not die until he had seen the spotless knight who should be descended from him in the ninth degree. (This his desire was fulfilled later when Sir Galahad came thither; after which, he died and was buried by the good knight.)