and there He found in the people that all hardness was harboured in
them, and there He found in all the town not one that would harbour
Him. And then He went without the town, and found in the midst of the
way a fig tree, the which was right fair and well garnished of leaves,
but fruit had it none. Then our Lord cursed the tree that bare no
fruit; that likeneth the fig tree unto Jerusalem, that had leaves and
no fruit. So thou, Sir Launcelot, when the Holy Grail was brought
afore thee, He found in thee no fruit, nor good thought, nor good will,
and thou wert befouled with sin."

"Verily," said Sir Launcelot, "all that ye have said is true, and from
henceforward I undertake by the grace of God never to be so wicked as I
have been, but to follow knighthood and to do feats of arms."

Then the good man enjoined Sir Launcelot to such penance as he might
do, and to sue knighthood, and so blessed him, and prayed him to abide
there all that day. "I will well," said Sir Launcelot, "for I have
neither helm, nor horse, nor sword."

"As for that," said the good man, "I shall help you ere to-morn to a
horse and all that belongeth unto you." And so Sir Launcelot repented
him greatly.

CHAPTER XXIX

SIR PERCIVALE'S TEMPTATION

When Sir Percivale departed from the recluse to seek Sir Galahad, he
rode till the hour of noon, when he met in a valley about twenty men of
arms. As they saw him they asked him whence he was, and he answered,
"Of the court of King Arthur." Then they cried all at once, "Slay
him." Then Sir Percivale smote the first to the earth, and his horse
upon him. Thereupon seven of the knights smote upon his shield all at
once, and the remnant slew his horse, so that he fell to the earth.

So had they slain him or taken him, had not the good knight Sir
Galahad, with the red arms, come there by adventure into those parts.
And when he saw all those knights upon one knight, he cried, "Save me
that knight's life." Then he dressed him towards the twenty men of
arms as fast as his horse might drive, with his spear in the rest, and
smote the foremost horse and man to the earth. And when his spear was
broken he set his hand to his sword, and smote on the right hand and on
the left hand, that it was marvel to see. At every stroke he smote one
down, or put him to rebuke, so that they would fight no more, but fled
to a thick forest, and Sir Galahad followed them.

When Sir Percivale saw him chase them so,