{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart389.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart389.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart389.htm","text":"CHAPTER VI\nHow Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and\nhow she expounded it to him.\nAND then he told her altogether word by word, and the\ntruth how it befell him at the tournament. And after\ntold her his advision that he had had that night in his\nsleep, and prayed her to tell him what it might mean, for\nhe was not well content with it. Ah, Launcelot, said she,\nas long as ye were knight of earthly knighthood ye were\nthe most marvellous man of the world, and most adventurous.\nNow, said the lady, sithen ye be set among the\nknights of heavenly adventures, if adventure fell thee\ncontrary at that tournament have thou no marvel, for that\ntournament yesterday was but a tokening of Our Lord.\nAnd not for then there was none enchantment, for they\nat the tournament were earthly knights. The tournament\nwas a token to see who should have most knights, either\nEliazar, the son of King Pelles, or Argustus, the son of\nKing Harlon. But Eliazar was all clothed in white, and\nArgustus was covered in black, the which were [over]come.\nAll what this betokeneth I shall tell you. The day of\nPentecost, when King Arthur held his court, it befell that\nearthly kings and knights took a tournament together,\nthat is to say the quest of the Sangreal. The earthly\nknights were they the which were clothed all in black,\nand the covering betokeneth the sins whereof they be not\nconfessed. And they with the covering of white betokeneth\nvirginity, and they that chose chastity. And\nthus was the quest begun in them. Then thou beheld\nthe sinners and the good men, and when thou sawest the\nsinners overcome, thou inclinest to that party for bobaunce\nand pride of the world, and all that must be left in that\nquest, for in this quest thou shalt have many fellows and\nthy betters. For thou art so feeble of evil trust and good\nbelief, this made it when thou were there where they took\nthee and led thee into the forest. And anon there appeared\nthe Sangreal unto the white knights, but thou was so feeble\nof good belief and faith that thou mightest not abide it for\nall the teaching of the good man, but anon thou turnest\nto the sinners, and that caused thy misadventure that thou\nshould'st know good from evil and vain glory of the\nworld, the which is not worth a pear. And for great\npride thou madest great sorrow that thou hadst not\novercome all the white knights with the covering of white, by\nwhom was betokened virginity and chastity; and therefore\nGod was wroth with you, for God loveth no such deeds\nin this quest. And this advision signifieth that thou were\nof evil faith and of poor belief, the which will make thee\nto fall into the deep pit of hell if thou keep thee not.\nNow have I warned thee of thy vain glory and of thy\npride, that thou hast many times erred against thy Maker.\nBeware of everlasting pain, for of all earthly knights I\nhave most pity of thee, for I know well thou hast not thy\npeer of any earthly sinful man.\nAnd so she commended Sir Launcelot to dinner. And\nafter dinner he took his horse and commended her to God,\nand so rode into a deep valley, and there he saw a river\nand an high mountain. And through the water he must\nneeds pass, the which was hideous; and then in the name\nof God he took it with good heart. And when he came\nover he saw an armed knight, horse and man black as any\nbear; without any word he smote Sir Launcelot's horse to\nthe earth; and so he passed on, he wist not where he was\nbecome. And then he took his helm and his shield, and\nthanked God of his adventure.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XV CHAPTER VI","type":"page"}