_How Sir Bors met with an hermit, and how he was confessed to him, and
of his penance enjoined to him._
When Bors was departed from Camelot, he met with a religious man riding
on an ass, and Sir Bors saluted him. Anon the good man knew him that he
was one of the knights errant that was in the quest of the Sancgreal.
What are ye? said the good man. Sir, said he, I am a knight that fain
would be counselled in the quest of the Sancgreal: for he shall have
much earthly worship that may bring it to an end. Certes, said the good
man, that is sooth, for he shall be the best knight of the world, and
the fairest of all the fellowship. But wit you well, there shall none
attain it but by cleanness, that is, pure confession. So rode they
together till that they came to an hermitage. And there he prayed Bors
to dwell all that night with him: and so he alight, and put away his
armour, and prayed him that he might be confessed; and so they went
into the chapel, and there he was clean confessed: and they eat bread,
and drank water, together. Now, said the good man, I pray thee that
thou eat none other, till that thou sit at the table where the
Sancgreal shall be. Sir, said he, I agree me thereto; but how wit ye
that I shall sit there? Yes, said the good man, that know I, but there
shall be but few of your fellows with you. All is welcome, said Sir
Bors, that God sendeth me. Also, said the good man, instead of a shirt,
and in sign of chastisement, ye shall wear a garment; thereof I pray
you do off all your clothes and your shirt, and so he did. And then he
took him a scarlet coat, so that should be instead of his shirt, till
he had fulfilled the quest of the Sancgreal. And the good man found him
in so marvellous a life, and so stable, that he marvelled, and felt
that he was never corrupt in fleshly lusts, but in one time that he
begat Elian le Blank. Then he armed him, and took his leave, and so
departed. And so a little from thence he looked up into a tree, and
there he saw a passing great bird upon an old tree, and it was passing
dry, without leaves, and the bird sat above, and had birds, the which
were dead for hunger. So smote he himself with his beak, the which was
great and sharp. And so the great bird bled till that he died among his
birds. And the young birds took the life by the blood of the great
bird. When Bors saw this, he wist well it was great tokening. For when
he saw the great bird arose not, then he took his horse and went his
way. So by evensong, by adventure he came to a strong tower, and an
high, and there was he lodged gladly.