Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XV CHAPTER III

CHAPTER III

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.