"The more of beauty and worth she hath in her," saith the hermit, "so
much the more blame hath she of that she doeth, and you likewise. For
of that which is of little worth is the loss not so great as of that
which is much worth. And this is a Queen, blessed and anointed, that
was thus, therefore, in her beginning vowed to God; yet now is she
given over to the Devil of her love for you, and you of your love for
her. Fair, sweet my friend," saith the hermit, "Let go this folly,
which is so cruel, that you have taken in hand, and be repentant of
these sins! So every day will I pray to the Saviour for you, that so
truly as He pardoned His death to him that smote Him with a lance in
His side, so may He pardon you of this sin that you have maintained,
and that so you be repentant and truly confessed thereof, I may take
the penance due thereunto upon myself!"
"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I thank you much, but I am not minded to
renounce it, nor have I no wish to speak aught wherewith my heart
accordeth not. I am willing enough to do penance as great as is
enjoined of this sin, but my lady the Queen will I serve so long as it
may be her pleasure, and I may have her good will. So dearly do I love
her that I wish not even that any will should come to me to renounce
her love, and God is so sweet and so full of right merciful mildness,
as good men bear witness, that He will have pity upon us, for never no
treason have I done toward her, nor she toward me."
"Ha, fair sweet friend," saith the hermit, "Nought may you avail you of
whatsoever I may say, wherefore God grant her such will and you also,
that you may be able to do the will of Our Saviour. But so much am I
fain to tell you, that and if you shall lie in the hostel of King
Fisherman, yet never may you behold the Graal for the mortal sin that
lieth at your heart."
"May our Lord God," saith Lancelot, "counsel me therein at His pleasure
and at His will!"
"So may He do!" saith the hermit, "For of a truth you may know thereof
am I right fain."