บทที่ บทที่ 393 · How the hermit expounded their advision.

. How the hermit expounded their advision.

Then spake Nacien unto Ector: Sooth it is that Launcelot and ye came

down off one chair: the chair betokeneth mastership and lordship which

ye came down from. But ye two knights, said the hermit, ye go to seek

that ye shall never find, that is the Sangreal; for it is the secret

thing of our Lord Jesu Christ. What is to mean that Sir Launcelot fell

down off his horse: he hath left pride and taken him to humility, for

he hath cried mercy loud for his sin, and sore repented him, and our

Lord hath clothed him in his clothing which is full of knots, that is

the hair that he weareth daily. And the ass that he rode upon is a

beast of humility, for God would not ride upon no steed, nor upon no

palfrey; so in ensample that an ass betokeneth meekness, that thou

sawest Sir Launcelot ride on in thy sleep. And the well whereas the

water sank from him when he should have taken thereof, and when he saw

he might not have it, he returned thither from whence he came, for the

well betokeneth the high grace of God, the more men desire it to take

it, the more shall be their desire. So when he came nigh the Sangreal,

he meeked him that he held him not a man worthy to be so nigh the Holy

Vessel, for he had been so defouled in deadly sin by the space of many

years; yet when he kneeled to drink of the well, there he saw great

providence of the Sangreal. And for he had served so long the devil, he

shall have vengeance four-and-twenty days long, for that he hath been

the devil’s servant four-and-twenty years. And then soon after he shall

return unto Camelot out of this country, and he shall say a part of

such things as he hath found.

Now will I tell you what betokeneth the hand with the candle and the

bridle: that is to understand the Holy Ghost where charity is ever, and

the bridle signifieth abstinence. For when she is bridled in Christian

man’s heart she holdeth him so short that he falleth not in deadly sin.

And the candle which sheweth clearness and sight signifieth the right

way of Jesu Christ. And when he went and said: Knights of poor faith

and of wicked belief, these three things failed, charity, abstinence,

and truth; therefore ye may not attain that high adventure of the

Sangreal.