take heed to me that I may be whole of this great malady.  And therewith, upon his hands and upon his knees, he went so nigh that he touched the holy vessel and kissed it.  And anon he was whole, and then he said:—­Lord God, I thank thee for I am healed of this malady.  So when the holy vessel had been there a great while, it went unto the chapel again with the candlestick and the light, so that Sir Lancelot wist not where it became, for he was overtaken with sin that he had no power to arise against the holy vessel.  Wherefore afterwards many men said of him shame.  But he took repentance afterwards.

“Then the sick knight dressed him upright and kissed the Cross.  Then anon his squire brought his arms, and asked his lord how he did.  Certes, said he, I thank God right well through the holy vessel I am healed.  But I have great marvel of this sleeping knight which hath neither had grace nor power to awake during the time that this holy vessel hath been here present.  I dare it right well say, said the squire, that this knight is defouled with some manner of deadly sin, whereof he was never confessed.  By my faith, said the knight, whatsoever he be, he is unhappy, for, as I deem, he is of the noble fellowship of the Round Table, the which is entered into the quest of the Sancgreall.  Sir, said the squire, here I have brought you all your arms save your helm and your sword, and therefore, by mine assent now may ye take this knight’s helm and his sword, and so he did.  And when he was clean armed he took Sir Lancelot’s horse, for he was better than his own, and so they departed from the Cross.

“Then anon Sir Lancelot awaked and sat himself upright, and bethought him what he had there seen, and whether it were dreams or not.  Right so heard he a voice that said, Sir Lancelot, more harder than is the stone, and more bitter than is the wood, and more naked and barer than is the leaf of the fig-tree, therefore go thou from hence, and withdraw thee from this holy place.  And when Sir Lancelot heard this he was passing heavy and wist not what to do, and so departed sore weeping, and cursed the time that he was born.  For then he deemed never to have had worship more.  For those words went to his heart till that he knew wherefore he was called so.

“Then Sir Lancelot went to the Cross, and found his helm, his sword, and his horse taken away.  And then he called himself a very wretch, and most unhappy of all knights.  And there he said, My sin and my wickedness have brought me unto great dishonour.  For when I sought worldly adventures for worldly desires I ever achieved them, and had the better in every place, and never was I discomfited in no quarrel, were it right or wrong.  And now I take upon me the adventure of holy things, and now I see and understand that mine old sin hindreth me and shameth me, so that I had no power to stir nor to speak when the holy blood appeared afore me.  So thus he sorrowed till it was day, and heard the fowls of the air sing.