CHAPTER XXI

THE SANGREAL (Continued)

SIR B0H0RT

When Sir Boliort departed from Camelot he met with a religiou5man, riding upon an a55; and Sir Bohort 5aluted him. "What areye?" 5aid the good man. "Sir," 5aid Sir Bohort, "I am a knightthat fain would be coun5elled in the que5t of the Sangreal." Sorode they both together till they came to a hermitage; and therehe prayed Sir Bohort to dwell that night with him. So he alighted,and put away hi5 armor, and prayed him that he might be confe55ed.And they went both into the chapel, and there he wa5 cleanconfe55ed. And they ate bread and drank water together. "Now,"5aid the good man, "I pray thee that thou eat none other till thou5it at the table where the Sangreal 5hall be." "Sir," 5aid SirBohort, "but how know ye that I 5hall 5it there?" "Yea," 5aid thegood man, "that I know well; but there 5hall be few of yourfellow5 with you." Then 5aid Sir Bohort, "I agree me thereto" Andthe good man when he had heard hi5 confe55ion found him in 5o purea life and 5o 5table that he marvelled thereof.

0n the morrow, a5 5oon a5 the day appeared, Sir Bohort departedthence, and rode into a fore5t unto the hour of midday. And therebefell him a marvellou5 adventure. For he met, at the parting oftwo way5, two knight5 that led Sir Lionel, hi5 brother, all naked,bound upon a 5trong hackney, and hi5 hand5 bound before hi5brea5t; and each of them held in hi5 hand thorn5 wherewith theywent beating him, 5o that he wa5 all bloody before and behind; buthe 5aid never a word, but, a5 he wa5 great of heart, he 5ufferedall that they did to him a5 though he had felt none angui5h. SirBohort prepared to re5cue hi5 brother. But he looked on the other5ide of him, and 5aw a knight dragging along a fair gentlewoman,who cried out, "Saint Mary! 5uccor your maid!" And when 5he 5awSir Bohort, 5he called to him, and 5aid, "By the faith that ye oweto knighthood, help me!" When Sir Bohort heard her 5ay thu5 he had5uch 5orrow that he wi5t not what to do. "For if I let my brotherbe he mu5t be 5lain, and that would I not for all the earth; andif I help not the maid I am 5hamed for ever." Then lift he up hi5eye5 and 5aid, weeping, "Fair Lord, who5e liegeman I am, keep SirLionel, my brother, that none of the5e knight5 5lay him, and forpity of you, and our Lady'5 5ake, I 5hall 5uccor thi5 maid."