บทที่ บทที่ 386 · Of an advision that Sir Launcelot had, and how he told it

. Of an advision that Sir Launcelot had, and how he told it

to an hermit, and desired counsel of him.

And so he put his horse to pasture, and did off his helm and his

shield, and made his prayers unto the Cross that he never fall in

deadly sin again. And so he laid him down to sleep. And anon as he was

asleep it befell him there an advision, that there came a man afore him

all by compass of stars, and that man had a crown of gold on his head

and that man led in his fellowship seven kings and two knights. And all

these worshipped the Cross, kneeling upon their knees, holding up their

hands toward the heaven. And all they said: Fair sweet Father of heaven

come and visit us, and yield unto us everych as we have deserved.

Then looked Launcelot up to the heaven, and him seemed the clouds did

open, and an old man came down, with a company of angels, and alighted

among them, and gave unto everych his blessing, and called them his

servants, and good and true knights. And when this old man had said

thus he came to one of those knights, and said: I have lost all that I

have set in thee, for thou hast ruled thee against me as a warrior, and

used wrong wars with vain-glory, more for the pleasure of the world

than to please me, therefore thou shalt be confounded without thou

yield me my treasure. All this advision saw Sir Launcelot at the Cross.

And on the morn he took his horse and rode till mid-day; and there by

adventure he met with the same knight that took his horse, helm, and

his sword, when he slept when the Sangreal appeared afore the Cross.

When Sir Launcelot saw him he saluted hin not fair, but cried on high:

Knight, keep thee, for thou hast done to me great unkindness. And then

they put afore them their spears, and Sir Launcelot came so fiercely

upon him that he smote him and his horse down to the earth, that he had

nigh broken his neck. Then Sir Launcelot took the knight’s horse that

was his own aforehand, and descended from the horse he sat upon, and

mounted upon his own horse, and tied the knight’s own horse to a tree,

that he might find that horse when that he was arisen. Then Sir

Launcelot rode till night, and by adventure he met an hermit, and each

of them saluted other; and there he rested with that good man all

night, and gave his horse such as he might get. Then said the good man

unto Launcelot: Of whence be ye? Sir, said he, I am of Arthur’s court,

and my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake that am in the quest of the

Sangreal, and therefore I pray you to counsel me of a vision the which

I had at the Cross. And so he told him all.