Launcelot, go out of this ship and enter into the castle, where thou shalt see a great part of thy desire.  Then he ran to his arms, and so armed him, and so went to the gate and saw the lions.  Then set he hand to his sword and drew it.  Then there came a dwarf suddenly, and smote him on the arm so sore that the sword fell out of his hand.  Then heard he a voice say:  O man of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore trowest thou more on thy harness than in thy Maker, for He might more avail thee than thine armour, in whose service that thou art set.  Then said Launcelot:  Fair Father Jesu Christ, I thank thee of Thy great mercy that Thou reprovest me of my misdeed; now see I well that ye hold me for your servant.  Then took he again his sword and put it up in his sheath, and made a cross in his forehead, and came to the lions, and they made semblant to do him harm.  Notwithstanding he passed by them without hurt, and entered into the castle to the chief fortress, and there were they all at rest.  Then Launcelot entered in so armed, for he found no gate nor door but it was open.  And at the last he found a chamber whereof the door was shut, and he set his hand thereto to have opened it, but he might not.

CHAPTER XV

How sir launcelot was afore the door of the chamber wherein the holy Sangreal was

Then he enforced him mickle to undo the door.  Then he listened and heard a voice which sang so sweetly that it seemed none earthly thing; and him thought the voice said:  Joy and honour be to the Father of Heaven.  Then Launcelot kneeled down tofore the chamber, for well wist he that there was the Sangreal within that chamber.  Then said he:  Fair sweet Father, Jesu Christ, if ever I did thing that pleased Thee, Lord for Thy pity never have me not in despite for my sins done aforetime, and that Thou show me something of that I seek.  And with that he saw the chamber door open, and there came out a great clereness, that the house was as bright 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 forethink it.  Then he withdrew him aback right heavy.  Then looked he up in the middes 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