{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart393.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart393.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart393.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVI CHAPTER IV\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK XVI\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER IV\n \n How the hermit expounded their advision.\n \n \n THEN spake Nacien unto Ector: Sooth it is that Launcelot\n and ye came down off one chair: the chair betokeneth\n mastership and lordship which ye came down from. But\n ye two knights, said the hermit, ye go to seek that ye shall\n never find, that is the Sangreal; for it is the secret thing of\n our Lord Jesu Christ. What is to mean that Sir Launcelot\n fell down off his horse: he hath left pride and taken him\n to humility, for he hath cried mercy loud for his sin, and\n sore repented him, and our Lord hath clothed him in his\n clothing which is full of knots, that is the hair that he\n weareth daily. And the ass that he rode upon is a beast\n of humility, for God would not ride upon no steed, nor\n upon no palfrey; so in ensample that an ass betokeneth\n meekness, that thou sawest Sir Launcelot ride on in thy\n sleep. And the well whereas the water sank from him\n when he should have taken thereof, and when he saw he\n might not have it, he returned thither from whence he\n came, for the well betokeneth the high grace of God, the\n more men desire it to take it, the more shall be their\n desire. So when he came nigh the Sangreal, he meeked\n him that he held him not a man worthy to be so nigh the\n Holy Vessel, for he had been so defouled in deadly sin by\n the space of many years; yet when he kneeled to drink of\n the well, there he saw great providence of the Sangreal.\n And for he had served so long the devil, he shall have\n vengeance four-and-twenty days long, for that he hath\n been the devil's servant four-and-twenty years. And\n then soon after he shall return unto Camelot out of this\n country, and he shall say a part of such things as he hath\n found.\n \n Now will I tell you what betokeneth the hand with the\n candle and the bridle: that is to understand the Holy\n Ghost where charity is ever, and the bridle signifieth\n abstinence. For when she is bridled in Christian man's\n heart she holdeth him so short that he falleth not in deadly\n sin. And the candle which sheweth clearness and sight\n signifieth the right way of Jesu Christ. And when he\n went and said: Knights of poor faith and of wicked\n belief, these three things failed, charity, abstinence, and\n truth; therefore ye may not attain that high adventure of\n the Sangreal.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVI CHAPTER IV","type":"page"}