ightiest of you all; and therefore I counsel you that he be
well kept till God send him life again.

CHAPTER XVI. How Sir launcelot had lain four-and-twenty days and as many
nights as a dead man, and other divers matters.

IN such manner they kept Launcelot four-and-twenty days and all so many
nights, that ever he lay still as a dead man; and at the twenty-fifth
day befell him after midday that he opened his eyes. And when he saw
folk he made great sorrow, and said: Why have ye awaked me, for I was
more at ease than I am now. O Jesu Christ, who might be so blessed that
might see openly thy great marvels of secretness there where no sinner
may be! What have ye seen? said they about him. I have seen, said he,
so great marvels that no tongue may tell, and more than any heart can
think, and had not my son been here afore me I had seen much more.

Then they told him how he had lain there four-and-twenty days and
nights. Then him thought it was punishment for the four-and-twenty
years that he had been a sinner, wherefore Our Lord put him in penance
four-and-twenty days and nights. Then looked Sir Launcelot afore him,
and saw the hair which he had borne nigh a year, for that he for-thought
him right much that he had broken his promise unto the hermit, which he
had avowed to do. Then they asked how it stood with him. Forsooth, said
he, I am whole of body, thanked be Our Lord; therefore, sirs, for God's
love tell me where I am. Then said they all that he was in the castle of
Carbonek.

Therewith came a gentlewoman and brought him a shirt of small linen
cloth, but he changed not there, but took the hair to him again. Sir,
said they, the quest of the Sangreal is achieved now right in you, that
never shall ye see of the Sangreal no more than ye have seen. Now I
thank God, said Launcelot, of His great mercy of that I have seen, for
it sufficeth me; for as I suppose no man in this world hath lived better
than I have done to enchieve that I have done. And therewith he took
the hair and clothed him in it, and above that he put a linen shirt, and
after a robe of scarlet, fresh and new. And when he was so arrayed they
marvelled all, for they knew him that he was Launcelot, the good knight.
And then they said all: O my lord Sir Launcelot, be that ye? And he
said: Truly I am he.

Then came word to King Pelles that the knight that had lain so long dead
was Sir Launcelot. Then was the king right glad, and went to see him.
And when