may never be recovered after it is once lost."

As he thus made his moan, he saw the same ship come from the Orient
that the good man was in the day before, and the noble knight was
ashamed with himself, and therewith he fell in a swoon. When he awoke
he went unto this good man weakly, and saluted him. Then he asked Sir
Percivale, "How hast thou done since I departed?"

"Sir," said he, "here was a gentlewoman that led me into deadly sin,"
and there he told him all his temptation.

"Knew ye not the maid?" said the good man.

"Sir," said he, "nay; but well I wot the fiend sent her hither to shame
me."

"Oh, good knight," said he, "that gentlewoman was the master fiend of
hell, the champion that thou foughtest withal, the which would have
overcome thee, had it not been for the grace of God. Now, beware, Sir
Percivale, and take this for an ensample."

Then the good man vanished away, and Sir Percivale took his arms, and
entered into the ship and so departed from thence.

CHAPTER XXX

THE VICTORY OF SIR BORS OVER HIMSELF

When Sir Bors was departed from Vagon, he met with a religious man
riding on an ass, and Sir Bors saluted him. Anon the good man knew him
to be one of the knights errant that was in the quest of the Holy Grail.

"What are ye?" said the good man.

"Sir," said he, "I am a knight that fain would be counselled in the
quest of the Holy Grail, for he shall have much earthly honour that may
bring it to an end."

"Verily," 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 ye
well, there shall none attain it but by cleanness of heart and of life."

So rode they together till they came to a hermitage, and there he
prayed Bors to dwell all that night with him. So he alighted and put
away his armour, and prayed him that he might be confessed. So they
went into the chapel, and there he was clean confessed; and they ate
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 Holy Grail shall be."

"Sir," said he, "I agree thereto; but how wit ye that I shall sit
there?"

"Yes," said the good man, "that know I, but there shall be few of your
fellowship with you."

"All is welcome," said Sir Bors, "that God sendeth me."

Also the good man in sign of chastisement put on him a scarlet coat,
instead of his shirt, and found him in