_Of the vision of Sir Ector, and how he justed with Sir Uwaine les
Avoutres, his sworn brother._
But to Sir Ector de Maris befell another vision, the contrary. For it
seemed him that his brother Sir Launcelot and he alight out of a chair
and lept upon two horses, and the one said to the other, Go we seek
that we shall not find. And him thought that a man beat Sir Launcelot
and despoiled him, and clothed him in another array, the which was all
full of knots, and set him upon an ass. And so he rode till he came to
the fairest well that ever he saw, and Sir Launcelot alight, and would
have drunk of that well. And when he stooped to drink of the water, the
water sank from him. And when Sir Launcelot saw that, he turned and
went thither as the head came from. And in the meanwhile he trowed that
himself and Sir Ector rode till that they came to a rich man’s house,
where there was a wedding. And there he saw a king, the which said, Sir
knight, here is no place for you: and then he turned again unto the
chair that he came from. Thus within a while both Gawaine and Ector
awaked, and either told other of their vision, the which marvelled them
greatly. Truly, said Ector, I shall never be merry till I hear tidings
of my brother Launcelot.
Now as they sat thus talking, they saw an hand shewing unto the elbow,
and was covered with red samite, and upon that hung a bridle not rich,
and held within the fist a great candle which burnt right clear, and so
passed afore them, and entered into the chapel, and then vanished away,
and they wist not where. And anon came down a voice which said, Knights
full of evil faith and poor belief, these two things have failed you,
and therefore ye may not come to the adventures of the Sancgreal. Then
first spake Gawaine and said, Ector, have ye heard these words? Yea
truly, said Sir Ector, I heard all. Now go we, said Sir Ector, unto
some hermit that will tell us of our vision, for it seemeth me we
labour all in vain. And so they departed and rode into a valley, and
there met with a squire which rode on an hackney, and they saluted him
fair. Sir, said Gawaine, can thou teach us to any hermit? Here is one
in a little mountain, said the squire, but it is so rough that there
may no horse go thither; and therefore ye must go on foot: there shall
ye find a poor house, and there is Nacien the hermit, which is the
holiest man in this country. And so they departed either from other.
And then in a valley they met with a knight all armed, which proffered
them to just as far as he saw them. Truly, said Sir Gawaine, sith I
departed from Camelot there was none proffered me to just but once. And
now, sir, said Ector, let me just with him. Nay, said Gawaine, ye shall
not, but if I be beaten, it shall not forthink me then if ye go after
me. And then either enbraced other to just, and came together as fast
as their horses might run, and brast their shields and the mails, and
the one more than the other: and Gawaine was wounded in the left side,
but the other knight was smitten through the breast, and the spear came
out on the other side, and so they fell both out of their saddles, and
in the falling they brake both their spears. Anon Gawaine arose, and
set his hand to his sword, and cast his shield afore him. But all for
nought was it, for the knight had no power to arise against him. Then
said Gawaine, Ye must yield you as an overcome man, or else I may slay
you. Ah, sir knight, said he, I am but dead; for God’s sake, and of
your gentleness, lead me here unto an abbey, that I may receive my
Creator. Sir, said Gawaine, I know no house of religion hereby. Sir,
said the knight, set me on an horse tofore you, and I shall teach you.
Gawaine set him up in the saddle, and he lept up behind him for to
sustain him, and so came to an abbey, where they were well received;
and anon he was unarmed, and received his Creator. Then he prayed
Gawaine to draw the truncheon of the spear out of his body. Then
Gawaine asked him what he was, that knew him not? I am, said he, of
king Arthur’s court, and was a fellow of the Round Table, and we were
brethren sworn together, and now, Sir Gawaine, thou hast slain me, and
my name is Uwaine les Avoutres, that sometime was son unto king Uriens,
and was in the quest of the Sancgreal; and now forgive it thee God, for
it shall ever be said that the one sworn brother hath slain the other.