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Chapter XII
Manygreatquestsandperilousadventureshaveyealltakenandachieved,butthishighquestheonlyshallattainwhohathcleanhandsandapureheart,andvalourandhardihoodbeyondallothermen.”
Whilethekingspoketherecameinsoftlyanoldmanrobedallinwhite,leadingwithhimayoungknightcladinredfromtoptotoe,butwithoutarmourorshield,andhavingbyhissideanemptyscabbard.
Theoldmanwentuptotheking,andsaid,“Lord,hereIbringtheethisyoungknightofroyallineage,andofthebloodofJosephofArimathea,bywhomthemarvelsofthycourtshallfullybeaccomplished.”
Thekingwasrightgladathiswords,andsaid,“Sir,yeberightheartilywelcome,andtheyoungknightalso.”
ThentheoldmanputonSirGalahad(foritwashe)acrimsonrobetrimmedwithfineermine,andtookhimbythehandandledhimtothePerilousSeat,andliftingupthesilkenclothwhichhunguponit,readthesewordswritteningoldletters,“ThisistheseatofSirGalahad,thegoodknight.”
“Sir,”saidtheoldman,“thisplaceisthine.”
ThensatSirGalahaddownfirmlyandsurely,andsaidtotheoldman,“Sir,yemaynowgoyourway,foryehavedonewellandtrulyallyewerecommanded,andcommendmetomygrandsire,KingPelles,andsaythatIshallseehimsoon.”Sotheoldmandepartedwitharetinueoftwentynoblesquires.
ButalltheknightsoftheRoundTablemarvelledatSirGalahad,andathistenderage,andathissittingtheresosurelyinthePerilousSeat.
ThenthekingledSirGalahadforthfromthepalace,toshowhimtheadventureofthefloatingstone.
