When all had partaken of the royal banquet, King Arthur bade Sir
Galahad come with him to the river's brink; and showing him the
floating stone with the sword thrust through it, told him how his
knights had failed to draw forth the sword. "Sir," said Galahad, "it
is no marvel that they failed, for the adventure was meant for me, as
my empty scabbard shows." So saying, lightly he drew the sword from
the heart of the stone, and lightly he slid it into the scabbard at
his side. While all yet wondered at this adventure of the sword,
there came riding to them a lady on a white palfrey who, saluting King
Arthur, said: "Sir king, Nacien the hermit sends thee word that this
day shall great honor be shown to thee and all thine house; for the
Holy Grail shall appear in thy hall, and thou and all thy fellowship
shall be fed therefrom." And to Launcelot she said: "Sir knight, thou
hast ever been the best knight of all the world; but another has come
to whom thou must yield precedence. "Then Launcelot answered humbly:
"I know well I was never the best." "Ay, of a truth thou wast and art
still, of sinful men," said she, and rode away before any could
question her further.

So, that evening, when all were gathered about the Round Table, each
knight in his own siege, suddenly there was heard a crash of thunder,
so mighty that the hall trembled, and there flashed into the hall a
sunbeam, brighter far than any that had ever before been seen; and
then, draped all in white samite, there glided through the air what
none might see, yet what all knew to be the Holy Grail. And all the
air was filled with sweet odors, and on every one was shed a light in
which he looked fairer and nobler than ever before. So they sat in an
amazed silence, till presently King Arthur rose and gave thanks to God
for the grace given to him and to his court. Then up sprang Sir Gawain