CHAPTER II

Of the vision of sir Ector, and how he jousted with sir Uwaine les Avoutres, his sworn brother

But to Ector de Maris befell another vision the contrary.  For it seemed him that his brother, Sir Launcelot, and he alit out of a chair and leapt upon two horses, and the one said to the other:  Go we seek that we shall not find.  And him thought that a man beat Sir Launcelot, and despoiled him, and clothed him in another array, the which was all full of knots, and set him upon an ass, and so he rode till he came to the fairest well that ever he saw; and Sir Launcelot alit and would have drunk of that well.  And when he stooped to drink of the water the water sank from him.  And when Sir Launcelot saw that, he turned and went thither as the head came from.  And in the meanwhile he trowed that himself and Sir Ector rode till that they came to a rich man’s house where there was a wedding.  And there he saw a king the which said:  Sir knight, here is no place for you.  And then he turned again unto the chair that he came from.  Thus within a while both Gawaine and Ector awaked, and either told other of their advision, the which marvelled them greatly.  Truly, said Ector, I shall never be merry till I hear tidings of my brother Launcelot.  Now as they sat thus talking they saw an hand showing unto the elbow, and was covered with red samite, and upon that hung a bridle not right rich, and held within the fist a great candle which burned right clear, and so passed afore them, and entered into the chapel, and then vanished away and they wist not where.  And anon came down a voice which said:  Knights of full evil faith and of poor belief, these two things have failed you, and therefore ye may not come to the adventures of the Sangreal.  Then first spake Gawaine and said:  Ector, have ye heard these words?  Yea truly, said Sir Ector, I heard all.  Now go we, said Sir Ector, unto some hermit that will tell us of our advision, for it seemeth me we labour all in vain.  And so they departed and rode into a valley, and there met with a squire which rode on an hackney, and they saluted him fair.  Sir, said Gawaine, can thou teach us to any hermit?  Here is one in a little mountain, but it is so rough there may no horse go thither, and therefore ye must go upon foot; there shall ye find a poor house, and there is Nacien the hermit, which is the holiest man in this country.  And so they departed either from other.  And then in a valley they met with a knight all armed, which proffered them to joust as far as he saw them.  In the name of God, said Sir Gawaine, sith I departed from Camelot there was none proffered me to joust but once.  And now, sir, said Ector, let me joust with him.  Nay, said Gawaine, ye shall not but if I be beat; it shall not forethink me then if ye go after me.  And then either embraced