{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart406.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart406.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart406.htm","text":"CHAPTER XVII\nHow there came a voice which charged Sir Bors to touch\nhim not, and of a cloud that came between them.\nAND then he heard a voice that said: Flee Bors, and\ntouch him not, or else thou shalt slay him. Right so\nalighted a cloud betwixt them in likeness of a fire and\na marvellous flame, that both their two shields brent.\nThen were they sore afraid, that they fell both to the\nearth, and lay there a great while in a swoon. And when\nthey came to themself, Bors saw that his brother had no\nharm; then he held up both his hands, for he dread God\nhad taken vengeance upon him. With that he heard a\nvoice say: Bors, go hence, and bear thy brother no longer\nfellowship, but take thy way anon right to the sea, for Sir\nPercivale abideth thee there. Then he said to his brother:\nFair sweet brother, forgive me for God's love all that I\nhave trespassed unto you. Then he answered: God forgive\nit thee and I do gladly.\nSo Sir Bors departed from him and rode the next way\nto the sea. And at the last by fortune he came to an\nabbey which was nigh the sea. That night Bors rested\nhim there; and in his sleep there came a voice to him\nand bade him go to the sea. Then he stert up and made\na sign of the cross in the midst of his forehead, and\ntook his harness, and made ready his horse, and mounted\nupon him; and at a broken wall he rode out, and rode so\nlong till that he came to the sea. And on the strand he\nfound a ship covered all with white samite, and he alighted,\nand betook him to Jesu Christ. And as soon as he entered\ninto the ship, the ship departed into the sea, and went so\nfast that him seemed the ship went flying, but it was soon\ndark so that he might know no man, and so he slept till\nit was day. Then he awaked, and saw in midst of the\nship a knight lie all armed save his helm. Then knew he\nthat it was Sir Percivale of Wales, and then he made of\nhim right great joy; but Sir Percivale was abashed of him,\nand he asked him what he was. Ah, fair sir, said Bors,\nknow ye me not? Certes, said he, I marvel how ye came\nhither, but if Our Lord brought ye hither Himself. Then\nSir Bors smiled and did off his helm. Then Percivale\nknew him, and either made great joy of other, that it was\nmarvel to hear. Then Bors told him how he came into\nthe ship, and by whose admonishment; and either told\nother of their temptations, as ye have heard to-forehand.\nSo went they downward in the sea, one while backward,\nanother while forward, and everych comforted other, and\noft were in their prayers. Then said Sir Percivale: We\nlack nothing but Galahad, the good knight.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVI CHAPTER XVII","type":"page"}