is set thick with precious stones." On hearing this, the king and all
his knights went forth to view the stone and found it as the squire
had said; moreover, looking closer, they read these words: "None shall
draw me hence, but only he by whose side I must hang; and he shall be
the best knight in all the world." Immediately, all bade Launcelot
draw forth the sword, but he refused, saying that the sword was not
for him. Then, at the king's command, Sir Gawain made the attempt and
failed, as did Sir Percivale after him. So the knights knew the
adventure was not for them, and returning to the hall, took their
places about the Round Table.

No sooner were they seated than an aged man, clothed all in white,
entered the hall, followed by a young knight in red armor, by whose
side hung an empty scabbard. The old man approached King Arthur, and
bowing low before him, said: "Sir, I bring you a young knight of the
house and lineage of Joseph of Arimathea, and through him shall great
glory be won for all the land of Britain." Greatly did King Arthur
rejoice to hear this, and welcomed the two right royally. Then when
the young knight had saluted the king, the old man led him to the
Siege Perilous and drew off its silken cover; and all the knights were
amazed, for they saw that where had been engraved the words, "The
Siege Perilous," was written now in shining gold: "This is the siege
of the noble prince, Sir Galahad." Straightway the young man seated
himself there where none other had ever sat without danger to his
life; and all who saw it said, one to another: "Surely this is he that
shall achieve the Holy Grail." Now the Holy Grail was the blessed dish
from which Our Lord had eaten the Last Supper, and it had been brought
to the land of Britain by Joseph of Arimathea; but because of men's
sinfulness, it had been withdrawn from human sight, only that, from
time to time, it appeared to the pure in heart.