"Bear this shield to the good knight Sir Galahad, whom you left in the abbey, and greet him from me."
"What shall I tell him is your name?"
"Take no heed of my name. That is not for you to know, nor for any earthly man. Content yourself with telling Sir Galahad that this shield is for him, and for no other man to wear. And may God aid him to bear it worthily and worshipfully."
But the squire went first to Bagdemagus and asked him if he were seriously wounded.
"Forsooth, I am," he said. "I shall scarce escape from death."
The squire then conveyed him in great pain to the hermitage, and left him in care of the hermit. And as the chronicle tells, he lay there long, and barely escaped with life.
Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1896 by Curtis and Cameron.
OATH OF KNIGHTHOOD.
"Sir Galahad," said the squire, when he had returned to the abbey, "King Bagdemagus has paid dearly for his venture. He lies at a hermitage sorely wounded. As for you, the knight that overthrew him sends you greeting, and bids you to bear this shield, through which marvellous adventures shall come to you."