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Chapter XII
”
“WhyshouldInotpassoverthem?”saidhe,androdestraighton.
Anonhemetasquire,whosaid,“Sirknight,themastersofthiscastledefythee,andbidtheegonofurther,tillthoushowestthemthybusinesshere.”
“Fairfellow,”saidSirGalahad,“Iamcomeheretodestroytheirwickedcustoms.”
“Ifthatbethypurpose,”answeredhe,“thouwilthavemuchtodo.”
“Gothou,”saidGalahad,“andhastenwithmymessage.”
Inafewminutesafterrodeforthfuriouslyfromthegatewaysofthecastlesevenknights,allbrothers,andcryingout,“Knight,keepthee,”boredownallatonceuponSirGalahad.Butthrustingforthhisspear,hesmotetheforemosttotheearth,sothathisneckwasalmostbroken,andwardedwithhisshieldthespearsofalltheothers,whicheveryonebrakeofffromit,andshiveredintopieces.Thenhedrewouthissword,andsetuponthemhardandfiercely,andbyhiswondrousforcedravethembeforehim,andchasedthemtothecastlegate,andthereheslewthem.
Atthatcameouttohimanancientman,inpriest’svestments,saying,“Behold,sir,here,thekeysofthiscastle.”
Thenheunlockedthegates,andfoundwithinamultitudeofpeople,whocriedout,“Sirknight,yebewelcome,forlonghavewewaitedthydeliverance,”andtoldhimthatthesevenfelonshehadslainhadlongenslavedthepeopleroundabout,andkilledallknightswhopassedthatway,becausethemaidenwhomtheyhadrobbedofthecastlehadforetoldthatbyoneknighttheyshouldthemselvesbeoverthrown.
“Whereisthemaiden?”askedSirGalahad.
