ere he might enter. Then was he
passing heavy and dismayed. He returned to his horse, took off his
saddle and bridle, and let him pasture. Then he unlaced his helm, and
ungirded his sword, and laid himself down to sleep upon his shield
tofore the cross.

[Illustration: Sir Launcelot at the Cross]

So he fell on sleep, and half waking and half sleeping he saw in a
vision two fair white palfreys come toward him, bearing in a litter a
sick knight. When he was nigh the cross he abode still, and Sir
Launcelot heard him say, "Oh, sweet Lord, when shall this sorrow leave
me? and when shall the holy vessel come by me, wherethrough I shall be
blessed? For I have endured thus long for little trespass."

A full great while lamented the knight thus, and always Sir Launcelot
heard it. Then he saw the candlestick with the six tapers come before
the cross, yet he saw nobody that brought it. Also there came a table
of silver, and the sacred vessel of the Holy Grail upon it.

Therewith the sick knight sat up, and, holding up both hands, he prayed
that he might be whole of his malady. Then on his hands and knees he
went so nigh that he touched the holy vessel, and kissed it, and anon
he was whole. Then he said, "Lord God, I thank thee, for I am healed
of this sickness."

When the holy vessel had been there a great while, it went unto the
chapel, with the candlestick and the light, so that Launcelot wist not
what became of it, for he was overtaken with a feeling of his sin, so
that he had no power to arise and follow the holy vessel.

Then the sick knight raised himself up, and kissed the cross. Anon his
squire brought him his arms, and asked his lord how he did. "Verily,"
said he, "I thank God, right well; through the holy vessel I am healed.
But I have great marvel of this sleeping knight, that had no power to
awake when the Holy Grail was brought hither."

"I dare right well say," said the squire, "that he dwelleth in some
deadly sin, whereof he has never repented."

"By my faith," said the knight, "whatsoever he be, he is unhappy, for,
as I deem, he is of the fellowship of the Round Table, the which is
entered into the quest of the Holy Grail."

"Sir," said the squire, "here I have brought you all your arms, save
your helm and your sword. By my assent now may ye take this knight's
helm and his sword."

So he did, and when he was clean armed, he took Sir Launcelot's horse,
for he was better than his own, and so