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Chapter XII
Nowatthegateofthetowntheysawanoldcripplesitting,whomSirGalahadcalledtohelpthembeartheirweight.
“Truly,”saidtheoldman,“itistenyearssinceIhavegoneastepwithoutthesecrutches.”
“Careyenot,”saidSirGalahad;“risenowandshowgoodwill.”
Soheassayedtomove,andfoundhislimbsasstrongasanyman’smightbe,andrunningtothetablehelpedtocarryit.
Anonthererosearumourinthecitythatacripplehadbeenhealedbycertainmarvellousstrangeknights.
Buttheking,namedEstouranse,whowasaheathentyrant,whenheheardthereoftookSirGalahadandhisfellows,andputtheminprisoninadeephole.Thereintheyabodeagreatwhile,butevertheSangrealwaswiththemandfedthemwithmarvelloussweetfood,sothattheyfaintednot,buthadalljoyandcomforttheycouldwish.
Attheyear’sendthekingfellsickandfeltthatheshoulddie.Thensentheforthethreeknights,andwhentheycamebeforehimprayedtheirmercyforhistrespassesagainstthem.Sotheyforgavehimgladly,andanonhedied.
Thenthechiefmenofthecitytookcounseltogetherwhoshouldbekinginhisstead,andastheytalked,avoicecriedintheirmidst,“ChooseyetheyoungestofthethreeknightsKingEstouransecastintoprisonforyourking.”AtthattheysoughtSirGalahadandmadehimkingwiththeassentofallthecity,andelsetheywouldhaveslainhim
