Bab Bab 391 · Of the advision of Sir Ector, and how he jousted with Sir

. Of the advision of Sir Ector, and how he jousted with Sir

Uwaine les Avoutres, his sworn brother.

But to Ector de Maris befell another vision the contrary. For it seemed

him that his brother, Sir Launcelot, and he alighted out of a chair and

leapt upon two horses, and the one said to the other: Go we seek that

we shall not find. And him thought that a man beat Sir Launcelot, and

despoiled him, and clothed him in another array, the which was all full

of knots, and set him upon an ass, and so he rode till he came to the

fairest well that ever he saw; and Sir Launcelot alighted and would

have drunk of that well. And when he stooped to drink of the water the

water sank from him. And when Sir Launcelot saw that, he turned and

went thither as the head came from. And in the meanwhile he trowed that

himself and Sir Ector rode till that they came to a rich man’s house

where there was a wedding. And there he saw a king the which said: Sir

knight, here is no place for you. And then he turned again unto the

chair that he came from.

Thus within a while both Gawaine and Ector awaked, and either told

other of their advision, the which marvelled them greatly. Truly, said

Ector, I shall never be merry till I hear tidings of my brother

Launcelot. Now as they sat thus talking they saw an hand showing unto

the elbow, and was covered with red samite, and upon that hung a bridle

not right rich, and held within the fist a great candle which burned

right clear, and so passed afore them, and entered into the chapel, and

then vanished away and they wist not where. And anon came down a voice

which said: Knights of full evil faith and of poor belief, these two

things have failed you, and therefore ye may not come to the adventures

of the Sangreal.

Then first spake Gawaine and said: Ector, have ye heard these words?

Yea truly, said Sir Ector, I heard all. Now go we, said Sir Ector, unto

some hermit that will tell us of our advision, for it seemeth me we

labour all in vain. And so they departed and rode into a valley, and

there met with a squire which rode on an hackney, and they saluted him

fair. Sir, said Gawaine, can thou teach us to any hermit? Here is one

in a little mountain, but it is so rough there may no horse go thither,

and therefore ye must go upon foot; there shall ye find a poor house,

and there is Nacien the hermit, which is the holiest man in this

country. And so they departed either from other.

And then in a valley they met with a knight all armed, which proffered

them to joust as far as he saw them. In the name of God, said Sir

Gawaine, sith I departed from Camelot there was none proffered me to

joust but once. And now, sir, said Ector, let me joust with him. Nay,

said Gawaine, ye shall not but if I be beat; it shall not for-think me

then if ye go after me. And then either embraced other to joust and

came together as fast as their horses might run, and brast their

shields and the mails, and the one more than the other; and Gawaine was

wounded in the left side, but the other knight was smitten through the

breast, and the spear came out on the other side, and so they fell both

out of their saddles, and in the falling they brake both their spears.

Anon Gawaine arose and set his hand to his sword, and cast his shield

afore him. But all for naught was it, for the knight had no power to

arise against him. Then said Gawaine: Ye must yield you as an overcome

man, or else I may slay you. Ah, sir knight, said he, I am but dead,

for God’s sake and of your gentleness lead me here unto an abbey that I

may receive my Creator. Sir, said Gawaine, I know no house of religion

hereby. Sir, said the knight, set me on an horse to-fore you, and I

shall teach you. Gawaine set him up in the saddle, and he leapt up

behind him for to sustain him, and so came to an abbey where they were

well received; and anon he was unarmed, and received his Creator. Then

he prayed Gawaine to draw out the truncheon of the spear out of his

body. Then Gawaine asked him what he was, that knew him not. I am, said

he, of King Arthur’s court, and was a fellow of the Round Table, and we

were brethren sworn together; and now Sir Gawaine, thou hast slain me,

and my name is Uwaine les Avoutres, that sometime was son unto King

Uriens, and was in the quest of the Sangreal; and now forgive it thee

God, for it shall ever be said that the one sworn brother hath slain

the other.