_Of a vision 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 a vision, 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 towards the heaven; and all they said, Fair sweet Father of
heaven, come and visit us, and yield unto us every each 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
alight among them, and gave unto every each 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 vision 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,
his helm, and his sword, when he slept when the Sancgreal appeared
afore the cross. When Sir Launcelot saw him he saluted him 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 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 Sancgreal. And therefore I pray you to counsel me of a vision, the
which I had at the cross. And so he told him all.