_How Sir Launcelot was shriven, and what sorrow he made; and of the
good ensamples which were shewed him._
Then Sir Launcelot wept with heavy cheer, and said, Now I know well ye
say me sooth. Sir, said the good man, hide none old sin from me. Truly,
said Sir Launcelot, that were me full loth to discover. For this
fourteen years I never discovered one thing that I have used, and that
may I now blame my shame and my misadventure. And then he told there
that good man all his life, and how he had loved a queen unmeasurably,
and out of measure long;—and all my great deeds of arms that I have
done, I did the most part for the queen’s sake, and for her sake would
I do battle were it right or wrong, and never did I battle all only for
God’s sake, but for to win worship, and to cause me to be the better
beloved, and little or nought I thanked God of it. Then Sir Launcelot
said, I pray you counsel me. I will counsel you, said the hermit, if ye
will ensure me that ye will never come in that queen’s fellowship, as
much as ye may forbear. And then Sir Launcelot promised him he would
not, by the faith of his body. Look that your heart and your mouth
accord, said the good man, and I shall ensure you ye shall have more
worship than ever ye had. Holy father, said Sir Launcelot, I marvel of
the voice that said to me marvellous words, as ye have heard
toforehand. Have ye no marvel, said the good man, thereof; for it
seemeth well God loveth you; for men may understand a stone is hard of
kind, and namely one more than another, and that is to understand by
thee Sir Launcelot, for thou wilt not leave thy sin for no goodness
that God hath sent thee, therefore thou art more than any stone, and
never wouldest thou be made soft nor by water nor by fire, and that is,
the heat of the Holy Ghost may not enter in thee. Now take heed; in all
the world men shall not find one knight to whom our Lord hath given so
much of grace as He hath given you: for He hath given you fairness with
seemliness: He hath given thee wit, discretion to know good from evil:
He hath given thee prowess and hardiness; and given thee to work so
largely that thou hast had at all days the better wheresoever thou
camest. And now our Lord will suffer thee no longer, but that thou
shalt know Him, whether thou wilt or nilt. And why the voice called
thee bitterer than wood, for where overmuch sin dwelleth, there may be
but little sweetness, wherefore thou art likened to an old rotten tree.
Now have I shewed thee why thou art harder than the stone, and bitterer
than the tree. Now shall I shew thee why thou art more naked and barer
than the fig-tree. It befell that our Lord on Palm-Sunday preached in
Jerusalem, and there He found in the people that all hardness was
harboured in them, and there He found in all the town not one that
would harbour Him. And then He went without the town, and found in the
midst of the way a fig-tree, the which was right fair and well
garnished of leaves, but fruit had it none. Then our Lord cursed the
tree that bare no fruit; that betokeneth the fig-tree unto Jerusalem,
that had leaves and no fruit. So thou, Sir Launcelot, when the holy
Graile was brought afore thee, He found in thee no fruit, nor good
thought nor good will, and defouled with lechery. Certes, said Sir
Launcelot, all that ye have said is true, and from henceforward I cast
me by the grace of God never to be so wicked as I have been, but as to
follow knighthood, and to do feats of arms. Then the good man enjoined
Sir Launcelot such penance as he might do, and to sue knighthood, and
so he assoiled him and prayed Sir Launcelot to abide with him all that
day. I will well, said Sir Launcelot, for I have neither helm, nor
horse, nor sword. As for that, said the good man, I shall help you or
to-morn at even of an horse, and all that longeth unto you. And then
Sir Launcelot repented him greatly.
Here leueth of the history of syr launcelot. And here foloweth of syr
Percyuale de galys which is the xiiii. book.
The Fourteenth Book.