they departed from the cross.
Anon Sir Launcelot awoke, and bethought him what he had seen there, and
whether it were a dream or not. Right so heard he a voice that said:
"Sir Launcelot, more hard than is stone, more bitter than is wood, and
more naked and barer than is the fig tree, go thou from hence, and
withdraw thee from this holy place."

When Sir Launcelot heard this he was passing heavy, and wist not what
to do. So he arose, sore weeping, and cursed the time when he was
born, for he thought never to have honour more. Then he went to the
cross, and found his helm, his sword, and his horse taken away. Then
he called himself a very wretch, and the most unhappy of all knights.
And he said: "My sin and my wickedness have brought me unto great
dishonour. When I sought worldly adventures from worldly desires, I
ever achieved them, and had the better in every place, and never was I
discomfited in any quarrel, were it right or wrong. But now when I
take upon me the adventures of holy things, I see and understand that
mine old sin hindereth and shameth me, so that I had no power to stir
or to speak when the Holy Grail appeared afore me."

Thus he sorrowed till it was day, and he heard the birds sing. Then
somewhat he was comforted, but, when he missed his horse and his
harness, he wist well God was displeased with him. He departed from
the cross on foot into a forest, and came to a hermitage, and a hermit
therein. There Launcelot kneeled down and cried on the Lord for mercy,
and begged the hermit for charity to hear his confession.

"With a good will," said the good man; "art thou of King Arthur's
court, and of the fellowship of the Round Table?"

"Yea, forsooth," was the answer, "and my name is Sir Launcelot of the
Lake, that hath been right well said of; but now my good fortune is
changed, for I am the worst wretch of the world."

The hermit beheld him, and had marvel how he was humbled.

"Sir," said he, "thou oughtest to thank God more than any knight
living, for He hath caused thee to have more worldly honour than any
other knight that now liveth. For thy presumption in taking upon thee,
while in deadly sin, to be in His presence through the sacred vessel,
that was the cause that thou mightest not see it with worldly eyes, for
He will not appear where such sinners be, unless to their great hurt
and shame. There is no knight living now that ought to give God so
great thanks as thou; for He hath given t