And then Sir Launcelot made great sorrow, For never or now was I never
at tournament nor jousts but I had the best, and now I am shamed; and
then he said: Now I am sure that I am more sinfuller than ever I was.
Thus he rode sorrowing, and half a day he was out of despair, till that
he came into a deep valley. And when Sir Launcelot saw he might not
ride up into the mountain, he there alighted under an apple tree, and
there he left his helm and his shield, and put his horse unto pasture.
And then he laid him down to sleep. And then him thought there came an
old man afore him, the which said: Ah, Launcelot of evil faith and poor
belief, wherefore is thy will turned so lightly toward thy deadly sin?
And when he had said thus he vanished away, and Launcelot wist not
where he was become. Then he took his horse, and armed him; and as he
rode by the way he saw a chapel where was a recluse, which had a window
that she might see up to the altar. And all aloud she called Launcelot,
for that he seemed a knight errant. And then he came, and she asked him
what he was, and of what place, and where about he went to seek.
CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and how she
expounded it to him.
And then he told her altogether word by word, and the truth how it
befell him at the tournament. And after told her his advision that he
had had that night in his sleep, and prayed her to tell him what it
might mean, for he was not well content with it. Ah, Launcelot, said
she, as long as ye were knight of earthly knighthood ye were the most
marvellous man of the world, and most adventurous. Now, said the lady,
sithen ye be set among the knights of heavenly adventures, if adventure
fell thee contrary at that tournament have thou no marvel, for that
tournament yesterday was but a tokening of Our Lord. And not for then
there was none enchantment, for they at the tournament were earthly
knights. The tournament was a token to see who should have most
knights, either Eliazar, the son of King Pelles, or Argustus, the son
of King Harlon. But Eliazar was all clothed in white, and Argustus was
covered in black, the which were [over]come.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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