there
he left his helm and his shield, and put his horse unto pasture. And
then he laid him down to sleep. And then him thought there came an old
man afore him, the which said: Ah, Launcelot of evil faith and poor
belief, wherefore is thy will turned so lightly toward thy deadly sin?
And when he had said thus he vanished away, and Launcelot wist not where
he was become. Then he took his horse, and armed him; and as he rode by
the way he saw a chapel where was a recluse, which had a window that she
might see up to the altar. And all aloud she called Launcelot, for that
he seemed a knight errant. And then he came, and she asked him what he
was, and of what place, and where about he went to seek.

CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and how she
expounded it to him.

AND then he told her altogether word by word, and the truth how it
befell him at the tournament. And after told her his advision that he
had had that night in his sleep, and prayed her to tell him what it
might mean, for he was not well content with it. Ah, Launcelot, said
she, as long as ye were knight of earthly knighthood ye were the most
marvellous man of the world, and most adventurous. Now, said the lady,
sithen ye be set among the knights of heavenly adventures, if adventure
fell thee contrary at that tournament have thou no marvel, for that
tournament yesterday was but a tokening of Our Lord. And not for then
there was none enchantment, for they at the tournament were earthly
knights. The tournament was a token to see who should have most knights,
either Eliazar, the son of King Pelles, or Argustus, the son of King
Harlon. But Eliazar was all clothed in white, and Argustus was covered
in black, the which were [over]come.

All what this betokeneth I shall tell you. The day of Pentecost, when
King Arthur held his court, it befell that earthly kings and knights
took a tournament together, that is to say the quest of the Sangreal.
The earthly knights were they the which were clothed all in black, and
the covering betokeneth the sins whereof they be not confessed. And they
with the covering of white betokeneth virginity, and they that chose
chastity. And thus was the quest begun in them. Then thou beheld the
sinners and the good men, and when thou sawest the sinners overcome,
thou inclinest to that party for bobaunce and pride of the world, and
all that must be left in that quest, for in this quest thou shalt have
many fello