win for ourselves
great honour, and much more than if we had died in any other wise,
since die we must.' But the King would not be comforted, and the Queen
and all the Court were troubled also for the love which they had to
these Knights. Then the Queen came to Sir Galahad, who was sitting
among those Knights though younger he was than any of them, and asked
him whence he came, and of what country, and if he was son to Sir
Lancelot. And King Arthur did him great honour, and he rested him in
his own bed. And next morning the King and Queen went into the
Minster, and the Knights followed them, dressed all in armour, save
only their shields and their helmets. When the service was finished
the King would know how many of the fellowship had sworn to undertake
the quest of the Graal, and they were counted, and found to number a
hundred and fifty. They bade farewell, and mounted their horses, and
rode through the streets of Camelot, and there was weeping of both
rich and poor, and the King could not speak for weeping. And at
sunrise they all parted company with each other, and every Knight took
the way he best liked.

III

THE ADVENTURE OF SIR GALAHAD

Now Sir Galahad had as yet no shield, and he rode four days without
meeting any adventure, till at last he came to a White Abbey, where he
dismounted and asked if he might sleep there that night. The brethren
received him with great reverence, and led him to a chamber, where he
took off his armour, and then saw that he was in the presence of two
Knights. 'Sirs,' said Sir Galahad, 'what adventure brought you
hither?' 'Sir,' replied they, 'we heard that within this Abbey is a
shield that no man may hang round his neck without being dead within
three days, or some mischief befalling him. And if we fail in the
adventure, you shall take it upon you.' 'Sirs,' replied Sir Galahad,
'I agree well thereto, for as yet I have no shield.'

So on the morn they arose and heard Mass, and then a monk led them
behind an altar where hung a shield white as snow, with a red cross in
the middle of it. 'Sirs,' said the monk, 'this shield cannot be hung
round no Knight's neck, unless he be the worthiest Knight in the
world, and therefore I counsel you to be well advised.'

'Well,' answered one of the Knights, whose name was King Bagdemagus,
'I know truly that I am not the best Knight in the world, but yet
shall I try to bear it,' and he bare it out of the Abbey. Then he said
to Sir Galahad,