Bab Bab 392 · How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came to an hermitage to be

. How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came to an hermitage to be

confessed, and how they told to the hermit their advisions.

Alas, said Gawaine, that ever this misadventure is befallen me. No

force, said Uwaine, sith I shall die this death, of a much more

worshipfuller man’s hand might I not die; but when ye come to the court

recommend me unto my lord, King Arthur, and all those that be left

alive, and for old brotherhood think on me. Then began Gawaine to weep,

and Ector also. And then Uwaine himself and Sir Gawaine drew out the

truncheon of the spear, and anon departed the soul from the body. Then

Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector buried him as men ought to bury a king’s son,

and made write upon his name, and by whom he was slain.

Then departed Gawaine and Ector, as heavy as they might for their

misadventure, and so rode till that they came to the rough mountain,

and there they tied their horses and went on foot to the hermitage. And

when they were come up they saw a poor house, and beside the chapel a

little courtelage, where Nacien the hermit gathered worts, as he which

had tasted none other meat of a great while. And when he saw the errant

knights he came toward them and saluted them, and they him again. Fair

lords, said he, what adventure brought you hither? Sir, said Gawaine,

to speak with you for to be confessed. Sir, said the hermit, I am

ready. Then they told him so much that he wist well what they were. And

then he thought to counsel them if he might.

Then began Gawaine first and told him of his advision that he had had

in the chapel, and Ector told him all as it is afore rehearsed. Sir,

said the hermit unto Sir Gawaine, the fair meadow and the rack therein

ought to be understood the Round Table, and by the meadow ought to be

understood humility and patience, those be the things which be always

green and quick; for men may no time overcome humility and patience,

therefore was the Round Table founded, and the chivalry hath been at

all times so by the fraternity which was there that she might not be

overcome; for men said she was founded in patience and in humility. At

the rack ate an hundred and fifty bulls; but they ate not in the

meadow, for their hearts should be set in humility and patience, and

the bulls were proud and black save only three. By the bulls is to

understand the fellowship of the Round Table, which for their sin and

their wickedness be black. Blackness is to say without good or virtuous

works. And the three bulls which were white save only one that was

spotted: the two white betoken Sir Galahad and Sir Percivale, for they

be maidens clean and without spot; and the third that had a spot

signifieth Sir Bors de Ganis, which trespassed but once in his

virginity, but sithen he kept himself so well in chastity that all is

forgiven him and his misdeeds. And why those three were tied by the

necks, they be three knights in virginity and chastity, and there is no

pride smitten in them. And the black bulls which said: Go we hence,

they were those which at Pentecost at the high feast took upon them to

go in the quest of the Sangreal without confession: they might not

enter in the meadow of humility and patience. And therefore they

returned into waste countries, that signifieth death, for there shall

die many of them: everych of them shall slay other for sin, and they

that shall escape shall be so lean that it shall be marvel to see them.

And of the three bulls without spot, the one shall come again, and the

other two never.