Many times had the Feast of Pentecost come round, and many were the
knights that Arthur had made since first he founded the Order of the
Round Table; yet no knight had appeared who dared claim the seat named
by Merlin the Siege Perilous. At last, one vigil of the great feast, a
lady came to Arthur's court at Camelot and asked Sir Launcelot to ride
with her into the forest hard by, for a purpose not then to be
revealed. Launcelot consenting, they rode together until they came to
a nunnery hidden deep in the forest; and there the lady bade Launcelot
dismount, and led him into a great and stately room. Presently there
entered twelve nuns, and with them a youth, the fairest that Launcelot
had ever seen. "Sir," said the nuns, "we have brought up this child
in our midst, and now that he is grown to manhood, we pray you make
him knight, for of none worthier could he receive the honor." "Is this
thy own desire?" asked Launcelot of the young squire; and when he said
that so it was, Launcelot promised to make him knight after the great
festival had been celebrated in the church next day.

So on the morrow, after they had worshipped, Launcelot knighted
Galahad--for that was the youth's name--and asked him if he would ride
at once with him to the king's court; but the young knight excusing
himself, Sir Launcelot rode back alone to Camelot, where all rejoiced
that he was returned in time to keep the feast with the whole Order of
the Round Table.

Now, according to his custom, King Arthur was waiting for some marvel
to befall before he and his knights sat down to the banquet. Presently
a squire entered the hall and said: "Sir king, a great wonder has
appeared. There floats on the river a mighty stone, as it were a block
of red marble, and it is thrust through by a sword, the hilt of which