_How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came to an hermitage to be confessed,
and how they told to the hermit their visions._
Alas, said Sir Gawaine, that ever this misadventure is befallen me. No
force, said Uwaine, sith I shall die this death, of a much more
worshipfuller man’s hands might I not die; but when ye come to the
court, recommand me unto my lord king Arthur, and all those that be
left onlive, and for old brotherhood think on me. Then began Gawaine to
weep, and Ector also. And then Uwaine himself, and Sir Gawaine, drew
out the truncheon of the spear; and anon departed the soul from the
body. Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector buried him, as men ought to bury a
king’s son, and made written upon his name, and by whom he was slain.
Then departed Gawaine and Ector, as heavy as they might for their
misadventure; and so rode till that they came unto the rough mountain,
and there they tied their horses, and went on foot to the hermitage.
And when they were come up, they saw a poor house, and beside the
chapel a little courtlage, where Nacien the hermit gathered worts, as
he which had tasted none other meat of a great while. And when he saw
the errant knights, he came toward them and saluted them, and they him
again. Fair lords, said he, what adventure brought you hither? Sir,
said Gawaine, to speak with you, for to be confessed. Sir, said the
hermit, I am ready. Then they told him so much that he wist well what
they were, and then he thought to counsel them if he might. Then began
Gawaine first, and told him of his vision that he had had in the
chapel: and Ector told him all as it is afore rehearsed. Sir, said the
hermit unto Sir Gawaine, the fair meadow and the rack therein ought to
be understood the Round Table, and by the meadow ought to be understood
humility and patience, those be the things which be always green and
quick; for men may no time overcome humility and patience, therefore
was the Round Table founded, and the chivalry hath been at all times,
so by the fraternity which was there that she might not be overcome.
For men said she was founded in patience and in humility. At the rack
ate an hundred and fifty bulls, but they ate not in the meadow, for
their hearts should be set in humility and patience, and the bulls were
proud and black, save only three. By the bulls is to understand the
fellowship of the Round Table, which for their sin and their wickedness
be black. Blackness is to say without good or virtuous works. And the
three bulls which were white, save only one which was spotted;—the two
white betoken Sir Galahad and Sir Percivale, for they be maidens clean
and without spot; and the third that had a spot signifieth Sir Bors de
Ganis, which trespassed but once in his virginity, but since he kept
himself so well in chastity that all is forgiven him, and his misdeeds.
And why those three were tied by the necks, they be three knights in
virginity and chastity, and there is no pride smitten in them. And the
black bulls which said, Go we hence, they were those which at
Pentecost, at the high feast, took upon them to go in the quest of the
Sancgreal without confession: they might not enter in the meadow of
humility and patience. And therefore they returned into waste
countries, that signifieth death, for there shall die many of them:
every each of them shall slay other for sin, and they that shall escape
shall be so lean that it shall be marvel to see them. And of the three
bulls without spot, the one shall come again, and the other two never.