Bab Bab 389 · How Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and how she

. How Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and how she

expounded it to him.

And then he told her altogether word by word, and the truth how it

befell him at the tournament. And after told her his advision that he

had had that night in his sleep, and prayed her to tell him what it

might mean, for he was not well content with it. Ah, Launcelot, said

she, as long as ye were knight of earthly knighthood ye were the most

marvellous man of the world, and most adventurous. Now, said the lady,

sithen ye be set among the knights of heavenly adventures, if adventure

fell thee contrary at that tournament have thou no marvel, for that

tournament yesterday was but a tokening of Our Lord. And not for then

there was none enchantment, for they at the tournament were earthly

knights. The tournament was a token to see who should have most

knights, either Eliazar, the son of King Pelles, or Argustus, the son

of King Harlon. But Eliazar was all clothed in white, and Argustus was

covered in black, the which were [over]come.

All what this betokeneth I shall tell you. The day of Pentecost, when

King Arthur held his court, it befell that earthly kings and knights

took a tournament together, that is to say the quest of the Sangreal.

The earthly knights were they the which were clothed all in black, and

the covering betokeneth the sins whereof they be not confessed. And

they with the covering of white betokeneth virginity, and they that

chose chastity. And thus was the quest begun in them. Then thou beheld

the sinners and the good men, and when thou sawest the sinners

overcome, thou inclinest to that party for bobaunce and pride of the

world, and all that must be left in that quest, for in this quest thou

shalt have many fellows and thy betters. For thou art so feeble of evil

trust and good belief, this made it when thou were there where they

took thee and led thee into the forest. And anon there appeared the

Sangreal unto the white knights, but thou was so feeble of good belief

and faith that thou mightest not abide it for all the teaching of the

good man, but anon thou turnest to the sinners, and that caused thy

misadventure that thou should’st know good from evil and vain glory of

the world, the which is not worth a pear. And for great pride thou

madest great sorrow that thou hadst not overcome all the white knights

with the covering of white, by whom was betokened virginity and

chastity; and therefore God was wroth with you, for God loveth no such

deeds in this quest. And this advision signifieth that thou were of

evil faith and of poor belief, the which will make thee to fall into

the deep pit of hell if thou keep thee not. Now have I warned thee of

thy vain glory and of thy pride, that thou hast many times erred

against thy Maker. Beware of everlasting pain, for of all earthly

knights I have most pity of thee, for I know well thou hast not thy

peer of any earthly sinful man.

And so she commended Sir Launcelot to dinner. And after dinner he took

his horse and commended her to God, and so rode into a deep valley, and

there he saw a river and an high mountain. And through the water he

must needs pass, the which was hideous; and then in the name of God he

took it with good heart. And when he came over he saw an armed knight,

horse and man black as any bear; without any word he smote Sir

Launcelot’s horse to the earth; and so he passed on, he wist not where

he was become. And then he took his helm and his shield, and thanked

God of his adventure.

_Here leaveth off the story of Sir Launcelot, and speak we of Sir

Gawaine, the which is the sixteenth book._

BOOK XVI.