waited not for the dawn, but, his sword gripped in his hand, sprang ashore, and then, right before him, he saw a postern where the gate stood open indeed, but two grisly lions kept the way.  And when Sir Launcelot would have rushed upon the great beasts with his sword, it was struck from his hand, and a voice said:  “Ah!  Launcelot, ever is thy trust in thy might rather than thy Maker!” Sore ashamed, Sir Launcelot took his sword and thrust it back into the sheath, and going forward, he passed unhurt through the gateway, the lions that kept it falling back from his path.  So without more adventure, Launcelot entered into the castle; and there he saw how every door stood open, save only one, and that was fast barred, nor, with all his force, might he open it.  Presently from the chamber within came the sound of a sweet voice in a holy chant, and then in his heart Launcelot knew that he was come to the Holy Grail.  So, kneeling humbly, he prayed that to him might be shown some vision of that he sought.  Forthwith the door flew open and from the chamber blazed a light such as he had never known before; but when he made to enter, a voice cried:  “Launcelot, forbear,” and sorrowfully he withdrew.  Then where he knelt, far even from the threshold of the wondrous room, he saw a silver table and, on it, covered with red samite, the Holy Grail.  At sight of that which he had sought so long, his joy became so great that, unmindful of the warning, he advanced into the room and drew nigh even to the Table itself.  Then on the instant there burst between him and it a blaze of light, and he fell to the ground.  There he lay, nor might he move nor utter any sound; only he was aware of hands busy about him which bore him away from the chamber.

For four-and-twenty days, Sir Launcelot lay as in a trance.  At the end of that time, he came to himself, and found those about him that had tended him in his swoon.  These, when they had given him fresh raiment, brought him to the aged King—­Pelles was his name—­that owned that castle.  The King entertained him right royally, for he knew of the fame of Sir Launcelot; and long he talked with him of his quest and of the other knights who followed it, for he was of a great age and knew much of men.  At the end of four days, he spoke to Sir Launcelot, bidding him return to Arthur’s court; “For,” said he, “your quest is ended here, and all that ye shall see of the Holy Grail, ye have seen.”  So Launcelot rode on his way, grieving for the sin that hindered him from the perfect vision of the Holy Grail, but thanking God for that which he had seen.  So in time he came to Camelot, and told to Arthur all that had befallen him.

CHAPTER XXIX

THE END OF THE QUEST