Bab Bab 373 · How Sir Launcelot was shriven, and what sorrow he made and

. How Sir Launcelot was shriven, and what sorrow he made and

of the good ensamples which were shewed him.

Then Sir Launcelot wept with heavy cheer, and said: Now I know well ye

say me sooth. Sir, said the good man, hide none old sin from me. Truly,

said Sir Launcelot, that were me full loath to discover. For this

fourteen year I never discovered one thing that I have used, and that

may I now wite my shame and my disadventure. And then he told there

that good man all his life. And how he had loved a queen unmeasurably

and out of measure long. And all my great deeds of arms that I have

done, I did for the most part for the queen’s sake, and for her sake

would I do battle were it right or wrong, and never did I battle all

only for God’s sake, but for to win worship and to cause me to be the

better beloved and little or nought I thanked God of it. Then Sir

Launcelot said: I pray you counsel me. I will counsel you, said the

hermit, if ye will ensure me that ye will never come in that queen’s

fellowship as much as ye may forbear. And then Sir Launcelot promised

him he nold, by the faith of his body. Look that your heart and your

mouth accord, said the good man, and I shall ensure you ye shall have

more worship than ever ye had.

Holy father, said Sir Launcelot, I marvel of the voice that said to me

marvellous words, as ye have heard to-forehand. Have ye no marvel, said

the good man thereof, for it seemeth well God loveth you; for men may

understand a stone is hard of kind, and namely one more than another;

and that is to understand by thee, Sir Launcelot, for thou wilt not

leave thy sin for no goodness that God hath sent thee; therefore thou

art more than any stone, and never wouldst thou be made nesh nor by

water nor by fire, and that is the heat of the Holy Ghost may not enter

in thee. Now take heed, in all the world men shall not find one knight

to whom Our Lord hath given so much of grace as He hath given you, for

He hath given you fairness with seemliness, He hath given thee wit,

discretion to know good from evil, He hath given thee prowess and

hardiness, and given thee to work so largely that thou hast had at all

days the better wheresomever thou came; and now Our Lord will suffer

thee no longer, but that thou shalt know Him whether thou wilt or nylt.

And why the voice called thee bitterer than wood, for where overmuch

sin dwelleth, there may be but little sweetness, wherefore thou art

likened to an old rotten tree.

Now have I shewed thee why thou art harder than the stone and bitterer

than the tree. Now shall I shew thee why thou art more naked and barer

than the fig tree. It befell that Our Lord on Palm Sunday preached in

Jerusalem, and there He found in the people that all hardness was

harboured in them, and there He found in all the town not one that

would harbour him. And then He went without the town, and found in

midst of the way a fig tree, the which was right fair and well

garnished of leaves, but fruit had it none. Then Our Lord cursed the

tree that bare no fruit; that betokeneth the fig tree unto Jerusalem,

that had leaves and no fruit. So thou, Sir Launcelot, when the Holy

Grail was brought afore thee, He found in thee no fruit, nor good

thought nor good will, and defouled with lechery. Certes, said Sir

Launcelot, all that you have said is true, and from henceforward I cast

me, by the grace of God, never to be so wicked as I have been, but as

to follow knighthood and to do feats of arms.

Then the good man enjoined Sir Launcelot such penance as he might do

and to sewe knighthood, and so assoiled him, and prayed Sir Launcelot

to abide with him all that day. I will well, said Sir Launcelot, for I

have neither helm, nor horse, nor sword. As for that, said the good

man, I shall help you or to-morn at even of an horse, and all that

longed unto you. And then Sir Launcelot repented him greatly.

_Here endeth off the history of Sir Launcelot. And here followeth of

Sir Percivale de Galis, which is the fourteenth book._

BOOK XIV.