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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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