any knight living, for He hath caused you to have more worldly worship than any knight that now liveth.  And for your presumption to take upon you in deadly sin for to be in His presence, where His flesh and His blood was, that caused you ye might not see it with worldly eyes; for He will not appear where such sinners be, but if it be unto their great hurt and unto their great shame; and there is no knight living now that ought to give God so great thank as ye, for He hath given you beauty, seemliness, and great strength above all other knights; and therefore ye are the more beholding unto God than any other man, to love Him and dread Him, for your strength and manhood will little avail you an God be against you.

CHAPTER XX

How sir launcelot was shriven, and what sorrow he made, and of the good ENSAMPLES which were shewed him

Then Sir Launcelot wept with heavy cheer, and said:  Now I know well ye say me sooth.  Sir, said the good man, hide none old sin from me.  Truly, said Sir Launcelot, that were me full loth to discover.  For this fourteen year I never discovered one thing that I have used, and that may I now wyte my shame and my misadventure.  And then he told there that good man all his life.  And how he had loved a queen immeasurably and out of measure long.  And all my great deeds of arms that I have done, I did for the most part for the queen’s sake, and for her sake would I do battle were it right or wrong; and never did I battle all only for God’s sake, but for to win worship and to cause me to be the better beloved, and little or nought I thanked God of it.  Then Sir Launcelot said:  I pray you counsel me.  I will counsel you, said the hermit, if ye will ensure me that ye will never come in that queen’s fellowship as much as ye may forbear.  And then Sir Launcelot promised him he nold, by the faith of his body.  Look that your heart and your mouth accord, said the good man, and I shall ensure you ye shall have more worship than ever ye had.  Holy father, said Sir Launcelot, I marvel of the voice that said to me marvellous words, as ye have heard toforehand.  Have ye no marvel, said the good man, thereof, for it seemeth well God loveth you; for men may understand a stone is hard of kind, and namely one more than another; and that is to understand by thee, Sir Launcelot, for thou wilt not leave thy sin for no goodness that God hath sent thee; therefore thou art more than any stone, and never wouldst thou be made neysshe nor by water nor by fire, and that is the hete of the Holy Ghost may not enter in thee, Now take heed, in all the world men shall not find one knight to whom Our Lord hath given so much of grace as He hath given you, for He hath given you fairness with seemliness, He hath given thee wit, discretion to know good from evil.  He hath given thee prowess and hardiness,