is; and so
departed they from the cross.

CHAPTER XIX. How a voice spake to Sir Launcelot, and how he found his
horse and his helm borne away, and after went afoot.

THEN anon Sir Launcelot waked, and set him up, and bethought him what he
had seen there, and whether it were dreams or not. Right so heard he a
voice that said: Sir Launcelot, more harder than is the stone, and more
bitter than is the wood, and more naked and barer than is the leaf of
the fig tree; therefore go thou from hence, and withdraw thee from this
holy place. And when Sir Launcelot heard this he was passing heavy and
wist not what to do, and so departed sore weeping, and cursed the time
that he was born. For then he deemed never to have had worship more. For
those words went to his heart, till that he knew wherefore he was called
so. Then Sir Launcelot went to the cross and found his helm, his sword,
and his horse taken away. And then he called himself a very wretch, and
most unhappy of all knights; and there he said: My sin and my wickedness
have brought me unto great dishonour. For when I sought worldly
adventures for worldly desires, I ever enchieved them and had the better
in every place, and never was I discomfit in no quarrel, were it right
or wrong. And now I take upon me the adventures of holy things, and now
I see and understand that mine old sin hindereth me and shameth me, so
that I had no power to stir nor speak when the holy blood appeared afore
me. So thus he sorrowed till it was day, and heard the fowls sing: then
somewhat he was comforted. But when Sir Launcelot missed his horse and
his harness then he wist well God was displeased with him.

Then he departed from the cross on foot into a forest; and so by prime
he came to an high hill, and found an hermitage and a hermit therein
which was going unto mass. And then Launcelot kneeled down and cried
on Our Lord mercy for his wicked works. So when mass was done Launcelot
called him, and prayed him for charity for to hear his life. With a good
will, said the good man. Sir, said he, be ye of King Arthur's court and
of the fellowship of the Round Table? Yea forsooth, and my name is Sir
Launcelot du Lake that hath been right well said of, and now my good
fortune is changed, for I am the most wretch of the world. The hermit
beheld him and had marvel how he was so abashed. Sir, said the hermit,
ye ought to thank God more than any knight living, for He hath caused
you to have more world