maimed
for ever. Ah sir, said King Bagdemagus, I shall it bear to-morrow for
to assay this adventure. In the name of God, said Sir Galahad. Sir, said
Bagdemagus, an I may not enchieve the adventure of this shield ye shall
take it upon you, for I am sure ye shall not fail. Sir, said Galahad, I
right well agree me thereto, for I have no shield. So on the morn they
arose and heard mass. Then Bagdemagus asked where the adventurous shield
was. Anon a monk led him behind an altar where the shield hung as white
as any snow, but in the midst was a red cross. Sir, said the monk,
this shield ought not to be hanged about no knight's neck but he be the
worthiest knight of the world;

[1] Omitted by Caxton, supplied from W. de Worde.

therefore I counsel you knights to be well advised. Well, said
Bagdemagus, I wot well that I am not the best knight of the world, but
yet I shall assay to bear it, and so bare it out of the minster. And
then he said unto Galahad: An it please you abide here still, till
ye wit how that I speed. I shall abide you, said Galahad. Then King
Bagdemagus took with him a good squire, to bring tidings unto Sir
Galahad how he sped.

Then when they had ridden a two mile and came to a fair valley afore an
hermitage, then they saw a knight come from that part in white armour,
horse and all; and he came as fast as his horse might run, and his spear
in his rest, and Bagdemagus dressed his spear against him and brake it
upon the white knight. But the other struck him so hard that he brast
the mails, and sheef him through the right shoulder, for the shield
covered him not as at that time; and so he bare him from his horse.
And therewith he alighted and took the white shield from him, saying:
Knight, thou hast done thyself great folly, for this shield ought not
to be borne but by him that shall have no peer that liveth. And then
he came to Bagdemagus' squire and said: Bear this shield unto the good
knight Sir Galahad, that thou left in the abbey, and greet him well by
me. Sir, said the squire, what is your name? Take thou no heed of my
name, said the knight, for it is not for thee to know nor for none
earthly man. Now, fair sir, said the squire, at the reverence of Jesu
Christ, tell me for what cause this shield may not be borne but if the
bearer thereof be mischieved. Now sith thou hast conjured me so, said
the knight, this shield behoveth unto no man but unto Galahad. And the
squire went unto Bagdemagus and asked w