the right fair hermitage. Thitherward goeth he and
alighteth, and it seemeth him that the hermit is apparelled to sing the
mass. He reineth up his horse to the bough of a tree by the side of
the chapel and thinketh to enter thereinto, but, had it been to conquer
all the kingdoms of the world, thereinto might he not enter, albeit
there was none made him denial thereof, for the door was open and none
saw he that might forbid him. Sore ashamed is the King thereof.
Howbeit, he beholdeth an image of Our Lord that was there within and
crieth Him of mercy right sweetly, and looketh toward the altar. And
he looketh at the holy hermit that was robed to sing mass and said his
"Confiteor", and seeth at his right hand the fairest Child that ever he
had seen, and He was clad in an alb and had a golden crown on his head
loaded with precious stones that gave out a full great brightness of
light. On the left hand side, was a Lady so fair that all the beauties
of the world might not compare them with her beauty. When the holy
hermit had said his "Confiteor" and went to the altar, the Lady also
took her Son and went to sit on the right hand side towards the altar
upon a right rich chair and set her Son upon her knees and began to
kiss Him full sweetly and saith: "Sir," saith she, "You are my Father
and my Son and my Lord, and guardian of me and of all the world."

King Arthur heareth the words and seeth the beauty of the Lady and of
the Child, and marvelleth much of this that She should call Him her
Father and her Son. He looketh at a window behind the altar and seeth
a flame come through at the very instant that mass was begun, clearer
than any ray of sun nor moon nor star, and evermore it threw forth a
brightness of light such that and all the lights in the world had been
together it would not have been the like. And it is come down upon the
altar. King Arthur seeth it who marvelleth him much thereof. But sore
it irketh him of this that he may not enter therewithin, and he
heareth, there where the holy hermit was singing the mass, right fair
responses, and they seem him to be the responses of angels. And when
the Holy Gospel was read, King Arthur looked toward the altar and saw
that the Lady took her Child and offered Him into the hands of the holy
hermit, but of this King Arthur made much marvel, that the holy hermit
washed not his hands when he had received the offering. Right sore did
King Arthur marvel him thereof, but