ey tied their horses and went on foot to the hermitage. And when
they were come up they saw a poor house, and beside the chapel a little
courtelage, where Nacien the hermit gathered worts, as he which had
tasted none other meat of a great while. And when he saw the errant
knights he came toward them and saluted them, and they him again. Fair
lords, said he, what adventure brought you hither? Sir, said Gawaine,
to speak with you for to be confessed. Sir, said the hermit, I am ready.
Then they told him so much that he wist well what they were. And then he
thought to counsel them if he might.

Then began Gawaine first and told him of his advision that he had had in
the chapel, and Ector told him all as it is afore rehearsed. Sir, said
the hermit unto Sir Gawaine, the fair meadow and the rack therein
ought to be understood the Round Table, and by the meadow ought to be
understood humility and patience, those be the things which be always
green and quick; for men may no time overcome humility and patience,
therefore was the Round Table founded, and the chivalry hath been at
all times so by the fraternity which was there that she might not be
overcome; for men said she was founded in patience and in humility. At
the rack ate an hundred and fifty bulls; but they ate not in the meadow,
for their hearts should be set in humility and patience, and the bulls
were proud and black save only three. By the bulls is to understand the
fellowship of the Round Table, which for their sin and their wickedness
be black. Blackness is to say without good or virtuous works. And the
three bulls which were white save only one that was spotted: the two
white betoken Sir Galahad and Sir Percivale, for they be maidens clean
and without spot; and the third that had a spot signifieth Sir Bors de
Ganis, which trespassed but once in his virginity, but sithen he kept
himself so well in chastity that all is forgiven him and his misdeeds.
And why those three were tied by the necks, they be three knights in
virginity and chastity, and there is no pride smitten in them. And the
black bulls which said: Go we hence, they were those which at Pentecost
at the high feast took upon them to go in the quest of the Sangreal
without confession: they might not enter in the meadow of humility
and patience. And therefore they returned into waste countries, that
signifieth death, for there shall die many of them: everych of them
shall slay other for sin, and they that shal