was asleep him befell a vision, that there came to him
two birds, the one as white as a swan, and the other was marvellous
black; but it was not so great as the other, but in the likeness of a
Raven. Then the white bird came to him, and said: An thou wouldst give
me meat and serve me I should give thee all the riches of the world,
and I shall make thee as fair and as white as I am. So the white bird
departed, and there came the black bird to him, and said: An thou wolt,
serve me to-morrow and have me in no despite though I be black, for wit
thou well that more availeth my blackness than the other's whiteness.
And then he departed.

And he had another vision: him thought that he came to a great place
which seemed a chapel, and there he found a chair set on the left side,
which was worm-eaten and feeble. And on the right hand were two flowers
like a lily, and the one would have benome the other's whiteness, but a
good man departed them that the one touched not the other; and then out
of every flower came out many flowers, and fruit great plenty. Then him
thought the good man said: Should not he do great folly that would let
these two flowers perish for to succour the rotten tree, that it fell
not to the earth? Sir, said he, it seemeth me that this wood might
not avail. Now keep thee, said the good man, that thou never see such
adventure befall thee.

Then he awaked and made a sign of the cross in midst of the forehead,
and so rose and clothed him. And there came the lady of the place, and
she saluted him, and he her again, and so went to a chapel and heard
their service. And there came a company of knights, that the lady had
sent for, to lead Sir Bors unto battle. Then asked he his arms. And when
he was armed she prayed him to take a little morsel to dine. Nay, madam,
said he, that shall I not do till I have done my battle, by the grace of
God. And so he leapt upon his horse, and departed, all the knights and
men with him. And as soon as these two ladies met together, she which
Bors should fight for complained her, and said: Madam, ye have done
me wrong to bereave me of my lands that King Aniause gave me, and full
loath I am there should be any battle. Ye shall not choose, said the
other lady, or else your knight withdraw him.

Then there was the cry made, which party had the better of the two
knights, that his lady should rejoice all the land. Now departed the one
knight here, and the other there. Then they came toget