cy of Merlin._]

"The Sacred Grail that has been lost to the earth for so long shall be
brought back to that earth again. Yea, the time draweth nigh and now is
when he who shall achieve the Quest of that Holy Chalice is about to be
born into the world."

And the voice from out of the cloud continued, saying:

"When that babe is born into the world he shall be taken away by that
knight who is most worthy to handle him, and after he hath been taken
away he shall be hidden by that knight from the eyes of man until his
time hath come.

"You, who are a sinful man, may not have that babe in your keeping, but
there is one who hath but little of sin and he may do so. So do you
according to the ordination of this command:

"Follow that golden-winged thing that hath conducted you hither and it
will lead you to where you may become purified of your enchantment.
After that you shall follow that golden bird still farther and it will
lead you to where you shall find Sir Bors de Ganis. He it is who is most
worthy in all of the world at this present for to handle that babe, and
so he shall care for him and shall hide him in a place of safety until
his time shall be come.

"Bid Sir Bors to follow that golden bird along with you and it shall
bring you both to where you shall find that wonderful infant aforesaid.

"Thereafter, when that babe shall have been taken away by Sir Bors, go
you forth and proclaim to all men that when eighteen years have passed,
then shall the Knights of the Round Table depart in quest of the Holy
Grail. And do you proclaim this prophecy: that when that Grail hath been
recovered, then soon after shall come the end of the Round Table, and so
shall end the days of all this chivalry that shall forever be remembered
to all the world.

"And this is the prophecy of the Grail which you have been brought
hither to hear, so go you forth and declare it abroad so that all good
worthy knights may know that this prophecy hath been uttered."

So spake that voice, and then it ceased and Sir Gawaine listened for a
while, but still it spake no more. Then Sir Gawaine cried out aloud:
"Merlin, what may I do to free thee from the enchantment that lieth upon
thee?" And he waited for a reply, but no reply was vouchsafed him. And
he cried out again, "Merlin, what may I do to free thee from where thou
liest?" but still no answer was given to him.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine striveth to enter the cloud of mist._]

Then Sir Gawa