ght
as all the torches of the world had been there.

So came he to the chamber door, and would have entered. And anon a voice
said to him: Flee, Launcelot, and enter not, for thou oughtest not to
do it; and if thou enter thou shalt for-think it. Then he withdrew him
aback right heavy. Then looked he up in the midst of the chamber, and
saw a table of silver, and the Holy Vessel, covered with red samite, and
many angels about it, whereof one held a candle of wax burning, and the
other held a cross, and the ornaments of an altar. And before the Holy
Vessel he saw a good man clothed as a priest. And it seemed that he was
at the sacring of the mass. And it seemed to Launcelot that above the
priest's hands were three men, whereof the two put the youngest by
likeness between the priest's hands; and so he lift it up right high,
and it seemed to show so to the people. And then Launcelot marvelled
not a little, for him thought the priest was so greatly charged of the
figure that him seemed that he should fall to the earth. And when he
saw none about him that would help him, then came he to the door a great
pace, and said: Fair Father Jesu Christ, ne take it for no sin though I
help the good man which hath great need of help.

Right so entered he into the chamber, and came toward the table of
silver; and when he came nigh he felt a breath, that him thought it was
intermeddled with fire, which smote him so sore in the visage that him
thought it brent his visage; and therewith he fell to the earth, and had
no power to arise, as he that was so araged, that had lost the power of
his body, and his hearing, and his seeing. Then felt he many hands about
him, which took him up and bare him out of the chamber door, without any
amending of his swoon, and left him there, seeming dead to all people.

So upon the morrow when it was fair day they within were arisen, and
found Launcelot lying afore the chamber door. All they marvelled how
that he came in, and so they looked upon him, and felt his pulse to wit
whether there were any life in him; and so they found life in him, but
he might not stand nor stir no member that he had. And so they took him
by every part of the body, and bare him into a chamber, and laid him
in a rich bed, far from all folk; and so he lay four days. Then the one
said he was alive, and the other said, Nay. In the name of God, said an
old man, for I do you verily to wit he is not dead, but he is so full of
life as the m