burned
right clear; and the hand passed into the chapel and vanished, they
knew not where. Then they heard a voice which said, 'Knights full of
evil faith and poor belief, these two things have failed you, and
therefore you may not come to the adventure of the Holy Graal.' And
this same told them a holy man to whom they confessed their sins,
'for,' said he, 'you have failed in three things, charity, fasting,
and truth, and have been great murderers. But sinful as Sir Lancelot
was, since he went into the quest he never slew man, nor shall, till
he come into Camelot again. For he has taken upon him to forsake sin.
And were he not so unstable, he should be the next to achieve it,
after Galahad his son. Yet shall he die an holy man, and in earthly
sinful men he has no fellow.'

'Sir,' said Gawaine, 'by your words it seems that our sins will not
let us labour in that quest?' 'Truly,' answered the hermit, 'there be
an hundred such as you to whom it will bring naught but shame.' So
Gawaine departed and followed Sir Ector, who had ridden on before.

VIII

THE ADVENTURE OF SIR BORS

When Sir Bors left Camelot on his quest he met a holy man riding on an
ass, and Sir Bors saluted him. Then the good man knew him to be one of
the Knights who were in quest of the Holy Graal. 'What are you?' said
he, and Sir Bors answered, 'I am a Knight that fain would be
counselled in the quest of the Graal, for he shall have much earthly
worship that brings it to an end.' 'That is true,' said the good man,
'for he will be the best Knight in the world, but know well that there
shall none attain it but by holiness and by confession of sin.' So
they rode together till they came to the hermitage, and the good man
led Sir Bors into the chapel, where he made confession of his sins,
and they ate bread and drank water together. 'Now,' said the hermit,
'I pray you that you eat none other till you sit at the table where
the Holy Graal shall be.' 'Sir,' answered Sir Bors, 'I agree thereto,
but how know you that I shall sit there?' 'That know I,' said the holy
man, 'but there will be but few of your fellows with you. Also instead
of a shirt you shall wear this garment until you have achieved your
quest,' and Sir Bors took off his clothes, and put on instead a
scarlet coat. Then the good man questioned him, and marvelled to find
him pure in life, and he armed him and bade him go. After this Sir
Bors rode through many lands, and had many adventures, an