Reading Notes King Arthur Part B

Galahad comes across two knights. He asked the knights what brought them there. The knights replied that there is a shield that no one can put on his neck without it killing him in three days. They hear mass and then a monk leads them to an altar with a shield behind it. The monk said "this shield can be hung around no knights neck unless he be the worthiest knight in the world."

King Bagdemagus bared the shield even though he knew he wasn't worthy. He told Galahad to wait there to see what happens to him. Bagdemagus rode two miles before he ran into a strange knight who injured him with a spear. The knight took the shield and gave it to his squire. He told his squire to give the shield to Sir Galahad.

The squire asks Bagdemagus if he is wounded. Bagdemagus said he is and that he will "hardly escape from death." The squire brought him to a monastery and treated his wounds. Then the squire went to Galahad and told him that he is the one who has to bare the shied. Galahad bares the shield and they head out to the White Knight.

Galahad returns to the monks. They have him investigate a tomb that is making strange noises. Galahad opens the tomb and smoke comes out. A foul figure appears and told Galahad that he sees so many angels around him that he won't dare to touch him. The monks and Galahad removed a body from the tomb because it wasn't a true christian.

The sick knight arose and saw Lancelot at his feet with his eyes shut. "I marvel greatly at this sleeping Knight," he said to his squire, "that he had no power to wake when the Holy Vessel was brought hither."

The Shield from Wikipedia

Bibliography:
King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang, illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).