roach that
shall do him ill, that cometh from shame to honour, for the honour
wherein he is found rescueth him to God, but blame may never rescue the
man that hath renounced honour for shame, for the shame and wickedness
wherein he is found declare him guilty."

VIII.

"Sir," saith King Arthur, "To amend me have I come hither, and to be
better counselled than I have been. Well do I see that the place is
most holy, and I beseech you that you pray God that He counsel me and I
will do my endeavour herein to amend me."

"God grant you may amend your life," saith the holy hermit, "in such
sort that you may help to do away the evil Law and to exalt the Law
that is made new by the crucifixion of the Holy Prophet. But a great
sorrow is befallen in the land of late through a young knight that was
harboured in the hostel of the rich King Fisherman, for that the most
Holy Graal appeared to him and the Lance whereof the point runneth of
blood, yet never asked he to whom was served thereof nor whence it
came, and for that he asked it not are all the lands commoved to war,
nor no knight meeteth other in the forest but he runneth upon him and
slayeth him and he may, and you yourself shall well perceive thereof or
ever you shall depart of this launde."

"Sir," saith King Arthur, "God defend me from the anguish of an evil
death and from wickedness, for hither have I come for none other thing
but to amend my life, and this will I do, so God bring me back in
safety."

"Truly," saith the hermit, "He that hath been bad for three years out
of forty, he hath not been wholly good."

"Sir," saith the King, "You speak truth."

The hermit departeth and so commendeth him to God. The King cometh to
his horse and mounteth the speediest that ever he may, and setteth his
shield on his neck, and taketh his spear in his hand and turneth him
back a great pace. Howbeit, he had not gone a bowshot's length when he
saw a knight coming disorderly against him, and he sate upon a great
black horse and he had a shield of the same and a spear. And the spear
was somewhat thick near the point and burned with a great flame, foul
and hideous, and the flame came down as far as over the knight's fist.
He setteth his spear in rest and thinketh to smite the King, but the
King swerveth aside and the other passeth beyond. "Sir knight,
wherefor hate you me?"

"Of right ought I not to love you," saith the knight.

"Wherefore?" saith the King.

"For this,