_How Sir Launcelot told his vision unto a woman, and how she expounded
it to him._
And then he told her altogether word by word, and the truth how it
befel him at the tournament. And after told her his vision, that he had
had that night in his sleep, and prayed her to tell him what it might
mean, for he was not well content with it. Ah, Launcelot, said she, as
long as ye were knight of earthly knighthood, ye were the most
marvellous man of the world, and most adventurous. Now, said the lady,
since ye be set among the knights of heavenly adventures, if adventure
fell the contrary at that tournament, have thou no marvel; for that
tournament yesterday was but a tokening of our Lord. And not for then
there was none enchantment, for they at the tournament were earthly
knights. The tournament was a token for to see who should have most
knights, either Eliazar the son of king Pelles, or Argustus the son of
king Harlon; but Eliazar was all clothed in white, and Argustus was
covered in black, the which were come. All what this betokeneth I shall
tell you. The day of Pentecost, when king Arthur held his court, it
befell that earthly kings and knights took a tournament together, that
is to say, the quest of the Sancgreal. The earthly knights were they,
the which were clothed all in black, and the covering betokeneth the
sins whereof they be not confessed. And they with the covering of white
betokeneth virginity, and they that chosen chastity. And thus was the
quest begun in them. Then thou beheld the sinners and the good men, and
when thou sawest the sinners overcome, thou inclinedst to that party,
for boasting and pride of the world, and all that must be left in that
quest. For in this quest thou shalt have many fellows and thy betters,
for thou art so feeble of evil trust and good belief, this made it when
thou were there where they took thee, and led thee into the forest. And
anon there appeared the Sancgreal unto the white knights, but thou was
so feeble of good belief and faith, that thou might not abide it, for
all the teaching of the good man, but anon thou turnedst unto the
sinners; and that caused thy misadventure, that thou shouldest know
good from evil and vain glory of the world, the which is not worth a
pear. And for great pride thou madest great sorrow that thou hadst not
overcome all the white knights with the covering of white, by whom was
betokened virginity and chastity, and therefore God was wroth with you,
for God loveth no such deeds in this quest; and this vision signifieth
that thou were of evil faith and of poor belief, the which will make
thee to fall into the deep pit of hell, if thou keep thee not. Now have
I warned thee of thy vain glory and of thy pride, that thou hast many
times erred against thy Maker. Beware of everlasting pain, for of all
earthly knights I have most pity of thee, for I know well thou hast not
thy peer of any earthly sinful man. And so she commanded Sir Launcelot
to dinner; and after dinner he took his horse and commended her to God,
and so rode into a deep valley, and there he saw a river and an high
mountain. And through the water he must needs pass, the which was
hideous; and then in the name of God he took it with good heart. And
when he came over he saw an armed knight, horse and man black as any
bear: without any word he smote Sir Launcelot’s horse to the earth, and
so he passed on: he wist not where he was become. And then he took his
helm and his shield, and thanked God of his adventure.
Here leueth of the story of syr launcelot. And speke we of sir Gawayne,
the whiche is the xvi. book.
The Sixteenth Book.