"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "By this that you tell me you do me to wit
that whereof I was abashed, but I have been right sorrowful of a lady
that a knight slew on my account albeit no blame had she therein, nor
had I."
"Sir," saith the priest, "Right great significance was there in her
death, for Josephus witnesseth us that the old law was destroyed by the
stroke of a sword without recover, and to destroy the old law did Our
Lord suffer Himself to be smitten in the side of a spear. By this
stroke was the old law destroyed, and by His crucifixion. The lady
signifieth the old law. Would you ask more of me?" saith the priest.
"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "I met a knight in the forest that rode
behind before and carried his arms upside down. And he said that he
was the Knight Coward, and his habergeon carried he on his neck, and so
soon as he saw me he set his arms to rights and rode like any other
knight."
"The law was turned to the worse," saith the priest, "before Our Lord's
crucifixion, and so soon as He was crucified, was again restored to
right."
"Even yet have I not asked you of all," saith Messire Gawain, "For a
knight came and jousted with me party of black and white, and
challenged me of the death of the lady on behalf of her husband, and
told me and I should vanquish him that he and his men would be my men.
I did vanquish him and he did me homage."
"It is right," saith the priest, "On account of the old law that was
destroyed were all they that remained therein made subject, and shall
be for ever more. Wish you to enquire of aught further?" saith the
priest.
"I marvel me right sore," saith Messire Gawain, "of a child that rode a
lion in a hermitage, and none durst come nigh the lion save the child
only, and he was not of more than six years, and the lion was right
fell. The child was the son of the lady that was slain on my account."
"Right well have you spoken," saith the priest, "in reminding me
thereof. The child signifieth the Saviour of the world that was born
under the old law and was circumcised, and the lion whereon he rode
signifieth the world and the people that are therein, and beasts and
birds that none may govern save by virtue of Him alone."
"God!" saith Messire Gawain, "How great joy have I at heart of that you
tell me! Sir, I found a fountain in a forest, the fairest that was
ever seen, and an image had it within that hid itself when it saw me,
and a clerk brought a golden vessel and took another golden vessel that
hung at the column that was there, and set his own in place thereof.
Afterward, came three damsels and filled the vessel with that they had
brought thither, and straightway meseemed that but one was there."
"Sir," saith the priest, "I will tell you no more thereof than you have
heard, and therewithal ought you to hold yourself well apaid, for
behoveth not discover the secrets of the Saviour, and them also to whom
they are committed behoveth keep them covertly."