Le Morte d’Arthur: Book 15 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 1 Meanwhile Launcelot departs from the hermitage and sees a chapel, with an old man lying inside in a fine white shirt. Then a “good man” tells Launcelot that this old man should not be in such fine clothing, since he broke the oath of his order. They enter the chapel, and the good man makes an enchantment on the Bible, and they see a horrible fiend who says that the man who lies dead is saved: his nephew Aguarus fought against the Earl of Vale, and this man helped him take the earl and his lords.

Chapter 2 Then, the fiend continues, the earl and Aguarus made peace, but the earl sent his nephews to kill the man lying here. They put on the white shirt and cast him into the fire, but after a day he was not dead, and even now he does not look burnt. The fiend says that he is frightened by this man’s goodness.

The good man and Launcelot marvel at the story. When Launcelot tells the good man of his quest, he says that Launcelot will have no more power to see the Sangreal than a blind man can see a bright sword. The next day, after they bury the dead man, the good man tells Launcelot to take the man’s hair and put it next to his skin. He tells Launcelot also not to drink wine or eat meat. Launcelot departs and meets a maiden, who tells him he will soon find rest.

Chapter 3 Launcelot goes to sleep and has a vision of a man coming to him with a crown of gold, leading seven kings and two knights with him, all worshipping God. In the vision an old man then comes down from the clouds and gives everyone his blessing. Then he tells one of the two knights that he has betrayed him, preferring the pleasures of the world. When Launcelot wakes up he rides and meets the knight who had taken his horse. They joust, and Launcelot strikes him down and takes back his horse. He continues on and meets a hermit, whom he asks to counsel him about the vision he’s had.

Chapter 4 The hermit says that it has to do with Joseph of Arimathea’s battles. The kings are the rulers of various countries. One of the knights was Galahad, whom none will equal. The hermit counsels Launcelot to let it be known that Galahad is his son, and to never fight with him.

Chapter 5 Launcelot leaves the next day and rides into a plain next to a castle, where 500 knights are riding on horseback, half of them belonging to the castle and riding on black horses, and the other half on white horses. Launcelot decides to help those with black horses, since they seem weaker. He does many great deeds, but finally grows weary: his side is overcome. Ashamed, he continues on. He rests by an apple tree and sleeps. Then he dreams that an old man comes to him and asks why he slips so easily into sin. Launcelot awakens, and continues to a chapel where he sees a recluse who calls to Launcelot to enter.

Chapter 6 Launcelot tells the recluse of his vision and of the tournament. She tells him that he was the most marvelous man in the world for a long time. But at this tournament, the earthly knights were clothed in black, since they had secret sins, and the chaste, virgin knights were in white. Launcelot had inclined towards the sinful knights out of pride. God was angry with him for fighting against the good, white knights, so he sent this vision to signify that Launcelot was of evil faith and pride. They eat dinner, and then Launcelot rides over a mountain, and comes to an armed knight. Both the horse and the man are black, and this man strikes Launcelot’s horse to the earth.