as ye be that never shall prevail, but to have shame.  And when they had heard these voices they commended him unto God.  Then the good man called Gawaine, and said:  It is long time passed sith that ye were made knight, and never sithen thou servedst thy Maker, and now thou art so old a tree that in thee is neither life nor fruit; wherefore bethink thee that thou yield to Our Lord the bare rind, sith the fiend hath the leaves and the fruit.  Sir, said Gawaine, an I had leisure I would speak with you, but my fellow here, Sir Ector, is gone, and abideth me yonder beneath the hill.  Well, said the good man, thou were better to be counselled.  Then departed Gawaine and came to Ector, and so took their horses and rode till they came to a forester’s house, which harboured them right well.  And on the morn they departed from their host, and rode long or they could find any adventure.

CHAPTER VI

How sir Bors met with an hermit, and how he was confessed to him, and of his penance enjoined to him

When Bors was departed from Camelot he met with a religious man riding on an ass, and Sir Bors saluted him.  Anon the good man knew him that he was one of the knights errant that was in the quest of the Sangreal.  What are ye? said the good man.  Sir, said he, I am a knight that fain would be counselled in the quest of the Sangreal, for he shall have much earthly worship that may bring it to an end.  Certes, said the good man, that is sooth, for he shall be the best knight of the world, and the fairest of all the fellowship.  But wit you well there shall none attain it but by cleanness, that is pure confession.  So rode they together till that they came to an hermitage.  And there he prayed Bors to dwell all that night with him.  And so he alit and put away his armour, and prayed him that he might be confessed; and so they went into the chapel, and there he was clean confessed, and they ate bread and drank water together.  Now, said the good man, I pray thee that thou eat none other till that thou sit at the table where the Sangreal shall be.  Sir, said he, I agree me thereto, but how wit ye that I shall sit there.  Yes, said the good man, that know I, but there shall be but few of your fellows with you.  All is welcome, said Sir Bors, that God sendeth me.  Also, said the good man, instead of a shirt, and in sign of chastisement, ye shall wear a garment; therefore I pray you do off all your clothes and your shirt:  and so he did.  And then he took him a scarlet coat, so that should be instead of his shirt till he had fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal; and the good man found in him so marvellous a life and so stable, that he marvelled and felt that he was never corrupt in fleshly lusts, but in one time that he begat Elian le Blank.  Then he armed him, and took his leave, and so departed.