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Chapter XII
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“NowblessedbeGodandfortune,”saidSirGalahad,andhungtheshieldabouthisneck,andarmedhim,androdeforth.
AnonhemettheWhiteKnightbythehermitage,andeachsalutedcourteouslytheother.
“Sir,”saidSirGalahad,“thisshieldIbearhathsurelyafullmarvelloushistory.”
“Thousayestrightly,”answeredhe.“ThatshieldwasmadeinthedaysofJosephofArimathea,thegentleknightwhotookourLorddownfromthecross.He,whenheleftJerusalemwithhiskindred,cametothecountryofKingEvelake,whowarredcontinuallywithoneTollome;andwhen,bytheteachingofJoseph,KingEvelakebecameaChristian,thisshieldwasmadeforhiminourLord’sname;andthroughitsaidKingTollomewasdefeated.ForwhenKingEvelakemethimnextinbattle,hehiditinaveil,andsuddenlyuncoveringit,heshowedhisenemiesthefigureofableedingmannailedtoacross,atsightofwhichtheywerediscomfitedandfled.Presentlyafterthat,amanwhosehandwassmittenofftouchedthecrossupontheshield,andhadhishandrestoredtohim;andmanyothermiraclesitworked.Butsuddenlythecrossthatwasuponitvanishedaway.AnonbothJosephandKingEvelakecametoBritain,andbythepreachingofJosephthepeopleweremadeChristians.Andwhenatlengthhelayuponhisdeath-bed,KingEvelakebeggedofhimsometokenerehedied.
