s battle: For an it befell, fair brother, that I slew you or
ye me, we should be dead of that sin. Never God me help but if I have on
you mercy, an I may have the better hand. Then drew Bors his sword,
all weeping, and said: Fair brother, God knoweth mine intent. Ah, fair
brother, ye have done full evil this day to slay such an holy priest the
which never trespassed. Also ye have slain a gentle knight, and one of
our fellows. And well wot ye that I am not afeard of you greatly, but I
dread the wrath of God, and this is an unkindly war, therefore God show
miracle upon us both. Now God have mercy upon me though I defend my
life against my brother: with that Bors lift up his hand and would have
smitten his brother.

CHAPTER XVII. How there came a voice which charged Sir Bors to touch him
not, and of a cloud that came between them.

AND then he heard a voice that said: Flee Bors, and touch him not, or
else thou shalt slay him. Right so alighted a cloud betwixt them in
likeness of a fire and a marvellous flame, that both their two shields
brent. Then were they sore afraid, that they fell both to the earth, and
lay there a great while in a swoon. And when they came to themself, Bors
saw that his brother had no harm; then he held up both his hands, for he
dread God had taken vengeance upon him. With that he heard a voice say:
Bors, go hence, and bear thy brother no longer fellowship, but take thy
way anon right to the sea, for Sir Percivale abideth thee there. Then he
said to his brother: Fair sweet brother, forgive me for God's love all
that I have trespassed unto you. Then he answered: God forgive it thee
and I do gladly.

So Sir Bors departed from him and rode the next way to the sea. And at
the last by fortune he came to an abbey which was nigh the sea. That
night Bors rested him there; and in his sleep there came a voice to
him and bade him go to the sea. Then he stert up and made a sign of the
cross in the midst of his forehead, and took his harness, and made ready
his horse, and mounted upon him; and at a broken wall he rode out, and
rode so long till that he came to the sea. And on the strand he found a
ship covered all with white samite, and he alighted, and betook him to
Jesu Christ. And as soon as he entered into the ship, the ship departed
into the sea, and went so fast that him seemed the ship went flying, but
it was soon dark so that he might know no man, and so he slept till it
was day. Then he awaked, a