ws and thy betters. For thou art so feeble of evil trust and
good belief, this made it when thou were there where they took thee and
led thee into the forest. And anon there appeared the Sangreal unto the
white knights, but thou was so feeble of good belief and faith that thou
mightest not abide it for all the teaching of the good man, but anon
thou turnest to the sinners, and that caused thy misadventure that thou
should'st know good from evil and vain glory of the world, the which is
not worth a pear. And for great pride thou madest great sorrow that thou
hadst not overcome all the white knights with the covering of white, by
whom was betokened virginity and chastity; and therefore God was wroth
with you, for God loveth no such deeds in this quest. And this advision
signifieth that thou were of evil faith and of poor belief, the which
will make thee to fall into the deep pit of hell if thou keep thee not.
Now have I warned thee of thy vain glory and of thy pride, that thou
hast many times erred against thy Maker. Beware of everlasting pain, for
of all earthly knights I have most pity of thee, for I know well thou
hast not thy peer of any earthly sinful man.

And so she commended Sir Launcelot to dinner. And after dinner he took
his horse and commended her to God, and so rode into a deep valley, and
there he saw a river and an high mountain. And through the water he must
needs pass, the which was hideous; and then in the name of God he took
it with good heart. And when he came over he saw an armed knight, horse
and man black as any bear; without any word he smote Sir Launcelot's
horse to the earth; and so he passed on, he wist not where he was
become. And then he took his helm and his shield, and thanked God of his
adventure.

_Here leadeth off the story of Sir Launcelot, and speak we of Sir
Gawaine, the which is the sixteenth book._

BOOK XVI.

CHAPTER I. How Sir Gawaine was nigh weary of the quest of the Sangreal,
and of his marvellous dream.

WHEN Sir Gawaine was departed from his fellowship he rode long without
any adventure. For he found not the tenth part of adventure as he was
wont to do. For Sir Gawaine rode from Whitsuntide until Michaelmas and
found none adventure that pleased him. So on a day it befell Gawaine met
with Sir Ector de Maris, and either made great joy of other that it
were marvel to tell. And so they told everych other, and complained them
greatly that they could find none adv