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Chapter XII
Andontheendofitthesewordswerewritten,“Thouwhoshaltenterme,bewarethatthoubeinsteadfastbelief,forIamFaith;andifthoudoubtest,Icannothelpthee.”Thenweretheyalladread,but,commendingthemselvestoGod,theyenteredin.
Assoonastheywereonboardtheysawafairbed;whereonlayacrownofsilk,andatthefootwasafairandrichsworddrawnfromitsscabbardhalfafootandmore.Thepommelwasofpreciousstonesofmanycolours,everycolourhavingadifferentvirtue,andthescalesofthehaftwereoftworibsofdifferentbeasts.TheonewasboneofaserpentfromCalidoneforest,namedtheserpentofthefiend;anditsvirtuesavethallmenwhoholditfromweariness.TheotherwasofafishthathaunteththefloodsofEuphrates,namedErtanax;anditsvirtuecausethwhoeverholdethittoforgetallotherthings,whetherofjoyorpain,savethethingheseethbeforehim.
“InthenameofGod,”saidSirPercival,“Ishallassaytohandlethissword;”andsethishandtoit,butcouldnotgraspit.“Bymyfaith,”saidhe,“nowhaveIfailed.”
SirBorssethishandtoit,andfailedalso.
ThencameSirGalahad,andsawtheseletterswrittenredasblood,“Noneshalldrawmeforthsavethehardiestofallmen;buthethatdrawethmeshallneverbeshamedorwoundedtodeath.”“Bymyfaith,”saidSirGalahad,“Iwoulddrawitforth,butdarenottry.”
“Yemaytrysafely,”saidthegentlewoman,SirPercival’ssister,“forbeyewellassuredthedrawingofthisswordisforbidtoallbutyou.
