Le Morte Darthur, Chapter 373 summary

What happens

1. Sir Launcelot admits that fourteen years pass without confession and tells the hermit about his love for a queen.
2. He acknowledges that his military deeds seek the queen’s favor and personal honor rather than service to God.
3. The hermit requires a promise to avoid the queen and explains the comparisons to stone, rotten wood, and a fruitless tree.
4. Sir Launcelot accepts the rebuke, resolves to change, and receives penance and absolution.
5. The hermit invites him to stay and promises replacement equipment by the following evening.
6. The closing announcement shifts the story from Sir Launcelot to Sir Percivale de Galis.

In this chapter

What to notice

The hermit insists that Launcelot’s promise requires inward commitment, not merely speech. This makes sincerity central to his repentance.

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