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@@ -0,0 +1,17427 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of High History of the Holy Graal, by Unknown + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: High History of the Holy Graal + +Author: Unknown + +Posting Date: August 16, 2008 [EBook #750] +Release Date: December, 1996 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIGH HISTORY OF THE HOLY GRAAL *** + + + + +Produced by Douglas B. Killings. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + +Originally written in Old French, sometime in the early half of the +13th Century A.D., as a continuation of Chretien DeTroyes' unfinished +work "Perceval, or the Knight of the Grail". Author unknown. + +Translation by Sebastian Evans, 1898. + + + + + +The High History of the Holy Graal + + + + + +SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: + +ORIGINAL TEXT-- + +Potvin, Ch. (Ed.): "Perceval le Gallois ou le conte du Graal", Vol. I +(Soc. Bibl. Belges., Mons., 1866). + +RECOMMENDED READING-- + +Anonymous (Trans. P.M. Matarasso): "The Quest for the Holy Graal" +(Penguin Classics, London, 1969). + +DeTroyes, Chretien (Trans. William W. Kibler & Carleton W. Carroll): +"Arthurian Romances" (Penguin Classics, London, 1991). Contains the +unfinished work "Perceval". + +Eschenbach, Wolfram von (Trans. A.T. Hatto): "Parzival" (Penguin +Classics, London, 1980). + +Malory, Sir Thomas (Ed. Janet Cowen): "Le Morte D'Arthur", Vol. I & II +(Penguin Classics, London, 1969). + +***************************************************************** + +INTRODUCTION + +This book is translated from the first volume of "Perceval le Gallois +ou le conte du Graal"; edited by M. Ch. Potvin for 'La Societe des +Bibliophiles Belges' in 1866, (1) from the MS. numbered 11,145 in the +library of the Dukes of Burgundy at Brussels. This MS. I find thus +described in M. F. J. Marchal's catalogue of that priceless collection: +'"Le Roman de Saint Graal", beginning "Ores lestoires", in the French +language; date, first third of the sixteenth century; with ornamental +capitals.' (2) Written three centuries later than the original +romance, and full as it is of faults of the scribe, this manuscript is +by far the most complete known copy of the "Book of the Graal" in +existence, being defective only in Branch XXI. Titles 8 and 9, the +substance of which is fortunately preserved elsewhere. Large +fragments, however, amounting in all to nearly one-seventh of the +whole, of a copy in handwriting of the thirteenth century, are +preserved in six consecutive leaves and one detached leaf bound up with +a number of other works in a MS. numbered 113 in the City Library at +Berne. The volume is in folio on vellum closely written in three +columns to the page, and the seven leaves follow the last poem +contained in it, entitled "Duremart le Gallois". The manuscript is well +known, having been lent to M. de Sainte Palaye for use in the Monuments +of French History issued by the Benedictines of the Congregation of St +Maur. Selections from the poems it contains are given in Sinner's +"Extraits de Poesie du XIII. Siecle", (3) and it is described, +unfortunately without any reference to these particular leaves, by the +same learned librarian in the "Catalogus Codicum MSS. Bibl. Bernensis", +J.R. Sinner. (4) + +M. Potvin has carefully collated for his edition all that is preserved +of the Romance in this manuscript, comprising all the beginning of the +work as far as Branch III. Title 8, about the middle, and from Branch +XIX. Title 23, near the beginning, to Branch XXX. Title 5, in the +middle. Making allowance for variations of spelling and sundry minor +differences of reading, by no means always in favour of the earlier +scribe, the Berne fragments are identical with the corresponding +portions of the Brussels manuscript, and it is therefore safe to assume +that the latter is on the whole an accurate transcript of the entire +original Romance. + +The only note of time in the book itself is contained in the +declaration at the end. From this it appears that it was written by +order of the Seingnor of Cambrein for Messire Jehan the Seingnor of +Neele. M. Potvin, without giving any reason for so doing, assumes that +this Lord of Cambrein is none other than the Bishop of Cambrai. If +this assumption be correct, the person referred to was probably either +John of Berhune, who held the see from 1200 till July 27, 1219, or his +successor Godfrey of Fontaines (Conde), who held it till 1237. To me, +however, it seems more likely that the personage intended was in +reality the 'Seingnor' of Cambrin, the chef-lieu of a canton of the +same name, on a small hill overlooking the peat-marshes of Bethune, +albeit I can find no other record of any such landed proprietor's +existence. + +Be this as it may, the Messire Jehan, Seingnor of Neele, can hardly be +other than the John de Nesle who was present at the battle of Bouvines +in 1214, and who in 1225 sold the lordship of Bruges to Joan of +Flanders. (5) These dates therefore may be regarded as defining that +of the original Romance within fairly narrow limits. + +This conclusion is confirmed by other evidence. An early Welsh +translation of the story was published with an English version and a +glossary by the Rev. Robert Williams in the first volume of his +"Selections from the Hengwrt MSS". (6) The first volume of this work +is entitled "Y Seint Greal, being the adventures of King Arthur's +knights of the Round Table, in the quest of the Holy Grail, and on +other occasions. Originally written about the year 1200". The volume, +following the manuscript now in the library of W.W.E. Wynne, Esq., at +Peniarth, is divided into two parts. The first, fol. 1-109 of the +manuscript, represents the thirteenth to the seventeenth book of Sir +Thomas Malory's "Morte d'Arthur". Of the second, which represents the +Romance here translated, Mr Williams writes: "The second portion of the +Welsh Greal, folios 110-280, contains the adventures of Gwalchmei +Peredur and Lancelot, and of the knights of the Round Table; but these +are not found in the "Morte d'Arthur". The Peniarth MS. is beautifully +written on vellum, and in perfect preservation, and its date is that of +Henry VI., the early part of the fifteenth century. The orthography +and style of writing agrees literally with that of the "Mabinogion of +the Llyvr Coch Hergest", which is of that date. This, of course, is a +transcript of an earlier copy; but there is no certainty when it was +first translated into Welsh, though Aneurin Owen in his "Catalogue of +the Hengwrt MSS." assigns it to the sixth year of Henry I. It is +mentioned by Davydd ab Gwilym, who died in 1368." + +Whatever may be the date of the Welsh version, the translator had no +great mastery of French, and is often at fault as to the meaning both +of words and sentences, and when in a difficulty is only too apt to cut +the knot by omitting the passage bodily. The book itself, moreover, is +not entire. On page 275, all between Branch IX. Title 16 and Branch +XI. Title 2, twenty-two chapters in all, is missing. Again, on page +355, Titles 10-16 in Branch XXI. are left out, while the whole of the +last Branch, containing 28 Titles, is crumpled up into one little +chapter, from which it would seem that the Welshman had read the +French, but thought it waste of pains to translate it. In all, not to +speak of other defects, there are fifty-six whole chapters in the +present book, of which there is not a word in the Welsh. + +In one matter, however, Mr Williams' English translation has stood me +in good stead. In Branch XXI., as I have said, the French manuscript +makes default of two Titles, but almost the whole of their substance is +supplied by the Welsh version. By an unlucky accident, before the +hiatus in the French is fully filled up, the Welsh version itself +becomes defective, though the gap thus left open can hardly extend +beyond a very few words. Without this supplement, incomplete as it is, +it would have been impossible to give the full drift of one of the +Romancer's best stories, which is equally unintelligible in both the +French and Welsh texts in their present state. + +As the Welsh version gives a number of names both of persons and places +widely differing from those in the French, it may be useful here to +note the principal changes made. Perceval in the Welsh is called +Peredur, which is said to mean "steel suit". The Welshman, however, +adds that the name in French is "Peneffresvo Galief", which, unless it +be a misreading or miswriting for Perceval le Galois, is to me wholly +unintelligible. Perceval's father, Alain li Gros, is in the Welsh Earl +Evrawg, and his sister Dindrane, Danbrann. King Arthur is Emperor +Arthur, his Queen Guenievre, Gwenhwyvar, and their son Lohot, Lohawt or +Llacheu. Messire Gawain is Gwalchmei; Chaus, son of Ywain li Aoutres, +Gawns, son of Owein Vrych; Messire Kay or Kex is Kei the Long; Ahuret +the Bastard, Anores; Ygerne, wife of Uther Pendragon, Eigyr; Queen +Jandree, Landyr; and King Fisherman for the most part King Peleur. Of +places, Cardoil is Caerlleon on Usk, Pannenoisance, Penvoisins; +Tintagel, Tindagoyl; and Avalon, Avallach. + +By a double stroke of ill-luck, the complete and wholly independent +Romance here translated has thus been printed by its two former editors +as if it were only a part of some other story. M. Potvin describes it +as the "First Part, the Romance in Prose," of his "Perceval le +Gallois", and Mr Williams accepts it as the "Second Portion" of his "Y +Seint Greal". This unhappy collocation has led not a few of M. +Potvin's readers to neglect his First Part, under the impression that +the story is retold in the other volumes containing the Romance in +verse; while not a few of Mr Williams' readers have neglected his +Second Portion under the impression that there could be nothing of any +special importance in an adjunct referred to by the Editor in so +perfunctory a manner. In very truth, however, the Story of the Holy +Graal here told is not only the most coherent and poetic of all the +many versions of the Legend, but is also the first and most authentic. + +This seems to be proved beyond doubt by a passage in the History of +Fulke Fitz-Warine, originally written apparently between the years 1256 +and 1264. The passage occurs at the end of the History, and is printed +in verse of which I give a literal prose translation: + + "Merlin saith that in Britain the Great a Wolf shall come + from the White Launde. Twelve sharp teeth shall he have, + six below and six above. He shall have so fierce a look + that he shall chase the Leopard forth of the White Launde, + so much force shall he have and great virtue. We now know + that Merlin said this for Fulke the son of Waryn, for each + of you ought to understand of a surety how in the time of + the King Arthur that was called the White Launde which is + now named the White Town. For in this country was the + chapel of S. Austin that was fair, where Kahuz, the son of + Ywein, dreamed that he carried off the candlestick and that + he met a man who hurt him with a knife and wounded him in + the side. And he, on sleep, cried out so loud that King + Arthur hath heard him and awakened from sleep. And when + Kahuz was awake, he put his hand to his side. There hath he + found the knife that had smitten him through. SO TELLETH US + THE GRAAL, THE BOOK OF THE HOLY VESSEL. There the King + Arthur recovered his bounty and his valour when he had lost + all his chivalry and his virtue. From this country issued + forth the Wolf as saith Merlin the Wise, and the twelve + sharp teeth have we known by his shield. He bore a shield + indented as the heralds have devised. In the shield are + twelve teeth of gules and argent. By the Leopard may be + known and well understood King John, for he bore in his + shield the leopards of beaten gold." (7) + +The story of Kahuz or Chaus here indicated by the historian is told at +length in the opening chapters of the present work and, so far as is +known, nowhere else. The inference is therefore unavoidable that we +have here "The Graal, the Book of the Holy Vessel" to which the +biographer of Fulke refers. The use, moreover, of the definite article +shows that the writer held this book to be conclusive authority on the +subject. By the time he retold the story of Fulke, a whole library of +Romances about Perceval and the Holy Graal had been written, with some +of which it is hard to believe that any historian of the time was +unacquainted. He nevertheless distinguishes this particular story as +"The Graal", a way of speaking he would scarce have adopted had he +known of any other "Graals" of equal or nearly equal authority. + +Several years later, about 1280, the trouveur Sarrazin also cites "The +Graal" ("li Graaus") in the same manner, in superfluous verification of +the then-accepted truism that King Arthur was at one time Lord of Great +Britain. This appeal to "The Graal" as the authority for a general +belief shows that it was at that time recognised as a well-spring of +authentic knowledge; while the fact that the trouveur was not +confounding "The Graal" with the later version of the story is further +shown by his going on presently to speak of "the Romance that Chrestien +telleth so fairly of Perceval the adventures of the Graal." (8) + +Perhaps, however, the most striking testimony to the fact that this +work is none other than the original "Book of the Graal" is to be found +in the "Chronicle of Helinand", well known at the time the Romance was +written not only as a historian but as a troubadour at one time in high +favour at the court of Philip Augustus, and in later years as one of +the most ardent preachers of the Albigensian Crusade. The passage, a +part of which has been often quoted, is inserted in the Chronicle under +the year 720, and runs in English thus: + + "At this time a certain marvellous vision was revealed by an + angel to a certain hermit in Britain concerning S. Joseph, + the decurion who deposed from the cross the Body of Our + Lord, as well as concerning the paten or dish in the which + Our Lord supped with His disciples, whereof the history was + written out by the said hermit and is called "Of the Graal" + (de Gradali). Now, a platter, broad and somewhat deep, is + called in French "gradalis" or "gradale", wherein costly + meats with their sauce are wont to be set before rich folk + by degrees ("gradatim") one morsel after another in divers + orders, and in the vulgar speech it is called "graalz", for + that it is grateful and acceptable to him that eateth + therein, as well for that which containeth the victual, for + that haply it is of silver or other precious material, as + for the contents thereof, to wit, the manifold courses of + costly meats. I have not been able to find this history + written in Latin, but it is in the possession of certain + noblemen written in French only, nor, as they say, can it + easily be found complete. This, however, I have not + hitherto been able to obtain from any person so as to read + it with attention. As soon as I can do so, I will translate + into Latin such passages as are more useful and more likely + to be true." (9) + +A comparison of this passage with the Introduction to the present work +(10) leaves no doubt that Helinand here refers to this "Book of the +Graal", which cannot therefore be of a later date than that at which he +made this entry in his "Chronicle". At the same time, the difficulty +he experienced in obtaining even the loan of the volume shows that the +work had at that time been only lately written, as in the course of a +few years, copies of a book so widely popular must have been +comparatively common. The date, therefore, at which Helinand's +"Chronicle" was written determines approximately that of the "Book of +the Graal". + +In its present state, the "Chronicle" comes to an end with a notice of +the capture of Constantinople by the French in 1204, and it has been +hastily assumed that Helinand's labours as a chronicler must have +closed in that year. As a matter of fact they had not then even begun. +At that time Helinand was still a courtly troubadour, and had not yet +entered on the monastic career during which his "Chronicle" was +compiled. He was certainly living as late as 1229, and preached a +sermon, which assuredly shows no signs of mental decrepitude, in that +year at a synod in Toulouse. (11) + +Fortunately a passage in the "Speculum Historiale" of Vincent of +Beauvais, himself a younger contemporary and probably a personal +acquaintance of Helinand, throws considerable light on the real date of +Helinand's "Chronicle". After recounting certain matters connected +with the early years of the thirteenth century, the last date mentioned +being 1209, Vincent proceeds:-- + + "In those times, in the diocese of Beauvais, was Helinand + monk of Froid-mont, a man religious and distinguished for + his eloquence, who also composed those verses on Death in + our vulgar tongue which are publicly read, so elegantly and + so usefully that the subject is laid open clearer than the + light. He also diligently digested into a certain huge + volume a Chronicle from the beginning of the world down to + his own time. But in truth this work was dissipated and + dispersed in such sort that it is nowhere to be found + entire. For it is reported that the said Helinand lent + certain sheets of the said work to one of his familiars, to + wit, Guarin, Lord Bishop of Senlis of good memory, and thus, + whether through forgetfulness or negligence or some other + cause, lost them altogether. From this work, however, as + far as I have been able to find it, I have inserted many + passages in this work of mine own also." + +It will thus be seen that about 1209, Helinand became a monk at +Froid-mont, and it is exceedingly improbable that any portion of his +"Chronicle" was written before that date. On the other hand, his +'familiar' Guarin only became Bishop of Senlis in 1214, and died in +1227, (12) so that it is certain Helinand wrote the last part of his +"Chronicle" not later than the last-mentioned year. The limits of time, +therefore, between which the "Chronicle" was written are clearly +circumscribed; and if it is impossible to define the exact year in +which this particular entry was made, it is not, I fancy, beyond the +legitimate bounds of critical conjecture. + +On the first page of the Romance, Helinand read that an Angel had +appeared to a certain hermit in Britain and revealed to him the history +of the Holy Graal. In transferring the record of this event to his +"Chronicle", he was compelled by the exigencies of his system, which +required the insertion of every event recorded under some particular +year, to assign a date to the occurrence. A vague "five hundred years +ago" would be likely to suggest itself as an appropriate time at which +the occurrence might be supposed to have taken place; and if he were +writing in 1220, the revelation to the hermit would thus naturally be +relegated to the year 720, the year under which the entry actually +appears. This, of course, is pure guesswork, but the fact remains that +the "Chronicle" was written in or about 1220, and the "Book of the +Graal" not long before it. + +The name of the author is nowhere recorded. He may possibly be +referred to in the "Elucidation" prefixed to the rhymed version of +"Percival le Gallois" under the name of "Master Blihis", but this vague +and tantalising pseudonym affords no hint of his real identity. (13) +Whoever he may have been; I hope that I am not misled by a translator's +natural partiality for the author he translates in assigning him a +foremost rank among the masters of medieval prose romance. + +With these testimonies to its age and genuineness, I commend the "Book +of the Graal" to all who love to read of King Arthur and his knights of +the Table Round. They will find here printed in English for the first +time what I take to be in all good faith the original story of Sir +Perceval and the Holy Graal, whole and incorrupt as it left the hands +of its first author. + +--Sebastian Evans, + Coombe Lea, Bickley, Kent + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) 6 vols. 8vo. Mons, 1866-1871. + +(2) Marchal "Cat.", 2 vols. Brussels, 1842. Vol i.p. 223. + +(3) Lausanne, 1759. + +(4) 3 vols. 8vo. Berne, 1770, etc. Vol. ii., Introduc. viii. + and p. 389 et seq. + +(5) Rigord. "Chron." 196, p. 288. Wm. le Breton, "Phil." xi. + 547. See also Birch-Hirschfeld, "Die Gralsage", p. 143. + +(6) 2 vols. 8vo. London, Richards, 1876-1892. + +(7) "L'histoire de Foulkes Fitz-Warin". Ed. F. Michel, Paris, + 1840; p. 110. Ed. T. Wright (Warton Club), London, 1855; p. + 179. Ed. J. Stevenson ("Roll, Pub. Chron." of R. + Coggeshall), London, 1875; p. 412. The MS. containing the + history (MS. Reg. 12. c. XII.) was first privately printed + for the late Sir T. Duffus Hardy from a transcript by A. + Berbrugger. + +(8) "Le Roman de Ham", in the Appendix to F. Michel's "Histoire + des Ducs de Normandie". Soc. de l'Hist. de France, 1840, + pp. 225, 230. + +(9) Helinandi Op. Ed. Migne. "Patrol." Vol. ccxii. col. 814. + The former part of the passage is quoted with due + acknowledgment by Vincent of Beauvais, "Spec. Hist." B. + xxiii. c. 147. Vincent, however, spells the French word + "grail", and, by turning Helinand's "nec" into "nune", makes + him say that the French work can now easily be found + complete. Vincent finished his "Speculum Historialz in 1244" + B. xxi. c. 105. + +(10) Vol. i. p. 1, etc. + +(11) Sermon xxvi., printed in Minge, u.s. col. 692. It has been + doubted whether this sermon, preached in the church of S. + Jacques, was addressed to the Council held at Toulouse in + 1219, or to the one held in 1229, but a perusal of the + sermon itself decides the question. It is wholly irrelevant + to the topics discussed at the former gathering, while it is + one continued commentary on the business transacted at the + latter. See also Dom Brial, "Hist. Litt. de la France", + xviii. 92. + +(12) "De Mas Latrie. Tres. de Chron.", col. 1488. + +(13) Cf. Potvin, "P. le G." ii. 1 and 7, with vol. i. p. 131 and + vol. ii. p. 112 of the present work (See also the + Proceedings of the "Hon. Soc. of Cymmrodorion", 1908-9. Ed.) + + + +THE HIGH HISTORY OF THE HOLY GRAAL + + + +BRANCH I. + + +INCIPIT. + +Hear ye the history of the most holy vessel that is called Graal, +wherein the precious blood of the Saviour was received on the day that +He was put on rood and crucified in order that He might redeem His +people from the pains of hell. Josephus set it in remembrance by +annunciation of the voice of an angel, for that the truth might be +known by his writing of good knights, and good worshipful men how they +were willing to suffer pain and to travail for the setting forward of +the Law of Jesus Christ, that He willed to make new by His death and by +His crucifixion. + + +TITLE I. + +The High Book of the Graal beginneth in the name of the Father and of +the Son and of the Holy Ghost. These three Persons are one substance, +which is God, and of God moveth the High Story of the Graal. And all +they that hear it ought to understand it, and to forget all the +wickednesses that they have in their hearts. For right profitable shall +it be to all them that shall hear it of the heart. For the sake of the +worshipful men and good knights of whose deeds shall remembrance be +made, doth Josephus recount this holy history, for the sake of the +lineage of the Good Knight that was after the crucifixion of Our Lord. +Good Knight was he without fail, for he was chaste and virgin of his +body and hardy of heart and puissant, and so were his conditions +without wickedness. Not boastful was he of speech, and it seemed not +by his cheer that he had so great courage; Natheless, of one little +word that he delayed to speak came to pass so sore mischances in +Greater Britain, that all the islands and all the lands fell thereby +into much sorrow, albeit thereafter he put them back into gladness by +the authority of his good knighthood. Good knight was he of right, for +he was of the lineage of Joseph of Abarimacie. And this Joseph was his +mother's uncle, that had been a soldier of Pilate's seven years, nor +asked he of him none other guerdon of his service but only to take down +the body of Our Saviour from hanging on the cross. The boon him seemed +full great when it was granted him, and full little to Pilate seemed +the guerdon; for right well had Joseph served him, and had he asked to +have gold or land thereof, willingly would he have given it to him. +And for this did Pilate make him a gift of the Saviour's body, for he +supposed that Joseph should have dragged the same shamefully through +the city of Jerusalem when it had been taken down from the cross, and +should have left it without the city in some mean place. But the Good +Soldier had no mind thereto, but rather honoured the body the most he +might, rather laid it along in the Holy Sepulchre and kept safe the +lance whereof He was smitten in the side and the most Holy Vessel +wherein they that believed on Him received with awe the blood that ran +down from His wounds when He was set upon the rood. Of this lineage +was the Good Knight for whose sake is this High History treated. +Yglais was his mother's name: King Fisherman was his uncle, and the +King of the Lower Folk that was named Pelles, and the King that was +named of the Castle Mortal, in whom was there as much bad as there was +good in the other twain, and much good was there in them; and these +three were his uncles on the side of his mother Yglais, that was a +right good Lady and a loyal; and the Good Knight had one sister, that +hight Dindrane. He that was head of the lineage on his father's side +was named Nichodemus. Gais li Gros of the Hermit's Cross was father of +Alain li Gros. This Alain had eleven brethren, right good knights, +like as he was himself. And none of them all lived in his knighthood +but twelve years, and they all died in arms for their great hardiment +in setting forward of the Law that was made new. There were twelve +brethren. Alain li Gros was the eldest; Gorgalians was next; Bruns +Brandnils was the third; Bertholez li Chauz the fourth; Brandalus of +Wales was the fifth; Elinant of Escavalon was the sixth; Calobrutus was +the seventh; Meralis of the Palace Meadow was the eighth; Fortunes of +the Red Launde was ninth; Melaarmaus of Abanie was the tenth; Galians +of the White Tower the eleventh; Alibans of the Waste City was the +twelfth. All these died in arms in the service of the Holy Prophet that +had renewed the Law by His death, and smote His enemies to the +uttermost of their power. Of these two manner of folk, whose names and +records you have heard, Josephus the good clerk telleth us was come the +Good Knight of whom you shall well hear the name and the manner +presently. + + +II. + +The authority of the scripture telleth us that after the crucifixion of +Our Lord, no earthly King set forward the Law of Jesus Christ so much +as did King Arthur of Britain, both by himself and by the good knights +that made repair to his court. Good King Arthur after the crucifixion +of Our Lord, was such as I tell you, and was a puissant King, and one +that well believed in God, and many were the good adventures that befel +at his court. And he had in his court the Table Round that was +garnished of the best knights in the world. King Arthur after the +death of his father led the highest life and most gracious that ever +king led, in such sort that all the princes and all the barons took +ensample of him in well-doing. For ten years was King Arthur in such +estate as I have told you, nor never was earthly king so praised as he, +until that a slothful will came upon him and he began to lose the +pleasure in doing largesse that he wont to have, nor was he minded to +hold court neither at Christmas-tide nor at Easter nor at Pentecost. +The knights of the Table Round when they saw his well-doing wax slack +departed thence and began to hold aloof from his court, insomuch as +that of three hundred and three-score knights and six that he wont to +have of his household, there were now not more than a five-and-twenty +at most, nor did no adventure befal any more at his court. All the +other princes had slackened of their well-doing for that they saw King +Arthur maintain so feebly. Queen Guenievre was so sorrowful thereof +that she knew not what counsel to take with herself, nor how she might +so deal as to amend matters so God amended them not. From this time +beginneth the history. + + +III. + +It was one Ascension Day that the King was at Cardoil. He was risen +from meat and went through the hall from one end to the other, and +looked and saw the Queen that was seated at a window. The King went to +sit beside her, and looked at her in the face and saw that the tears +were falling from her eyes. + +"Lady," saith the King, "What aileth you, and wherefore do you weep?" + +"Sir," saith she, "And I weep, good right have I; and you yourself have +little right to make joy." + +"Certes, Lady, I do not." + +"Sir," saith she, "You are right. I have seen on this high day, or on +other days that were not less high than this, when you have had such +throng of knights at your court that right uneath might any number +them. Now every day are so few therein that much shame have I thereof, +nor no more do no adventures befal therein. Wherefore great fear have I +lest God hath put you into forgetfulness." + +"Certes, Lady," saith the King, "No will have I to do largesse nor +aught that turneth to honour. Rather is my desire changed into +feebleness of heart. And by this know I well that I lose my knights +and the love of my friends." + +"Sir," saith the Queen, "And were you to go to the chapel of S. +Augustine, that is in the White Forest, that may not be found save by +adventure only, methinketh that on your back-repair you would again +have your desire of well-doing, for never yet did none discounselled +ask counsel of God but he would give it for love of him so he asked it +of a good heart." + +"Lady," saith the King, "And willingly will I go, forasmuch as that you +say have I heard well witnessed in many places where I have been." + +"Sir," saith she, "The place is right perilous and the chapel right +adventurous. But the most worshipful hermit that is in the Kingdom of +Wales hath his dwelling beside the chapel, nor liveth he now any longer +for nought save only the glory of God." + +"Lady," saith the King, "It will behove me go thither all armed and +without knights." + +"Sir," saith she, "You may well take with you one knight and a squire." + +"Lady," saith the King, "That durst not I, for the place is perilous, +and the more folk one should take thither, the fewer adventures there +should he find." + +"Sir," saith she, "One squire shall you take by my good will nor shall +nought betide you thereof save good only, please God!" + +"Lady," saith the King, "At your pleasure be it, but much dread I that +nought shall come of it save evil only." + +Thereupon the King riseth up from beside the Queen, and looketh before +him and seeth a youth tall and strong and comely and young, that was +hight Chaus, and he was the son of Ywain li Aoutres. + +"Lady," saith he to the Queen, "This one will I take with me and you +think well." + +"Sir," saith she, "It pleaseth me well, for I have heard much witness +to his valour." + +The King calleth the squire, and he cometh and kneeleth down before +him. The King maketh him rise and saith unto him, "Chaus," saith he, +"You shall lie within to-night, in this hall, and take heed that my +horse be saddled at break of day and mine arms ready. For I would be +moving at the time I tell you, and yourself with me without more +company." + +"Sir," saith the squire, "At your pleasure." + +And the evening drew on, and the King and Queen go to bed. When they +had eaten in hall, the knights went to their hostels. The squire +remained in the hall, but he would not do off his clothes nor his +shoon, for the night seemed him to be too short, and for that he would +fain be ready in the morning at the King's commandment. The squire was +lying down in such sort as I have told you, and in the first sleep that +he slept, seemed him the King had gone without him. The squire was +sore scared thereat, and came to his hackney and set the saddle and +bridle upon him, and did on his spurs and girt on his sword, as it +seemed him in his sleep, and issued forth of the castle a great pace +after the King. And when he had ridden a long space he entered into a +great forest and looked in the way before him and saw the slot of the +King's horse and followed the track a long space, until that he came to +a launde of the forest whereat he thought that the King had alighted. +The squire thought that the hoof-marks on the way had come to an end +and so thought that the King had alighted there or hard by there. He +looketh to the right hand and seeth a chapel in the midst of the +launde, and he seeth about it a great graveyard wherein were many +coffins, as it seemed him. He thought in his heart that he would go +towards the chapel, for he supposed that the King would have entered to +pray there. He went thitherward and alighted. When the squire was +alighted, he tied up his hackney and entered into the chapel. None did +he see there in one part nor another, save a knight that lay dead in +the midst of the chapel upon a bier, and he was covered of a rich cloth +of silk, and had around him waxen tapers burning that were fixed in +four candlesticks of gold. This squire marvelled much how this body +was left there so lonely, insomuch that none were about him save only +the images, and yet more marvelled he of the King that he found him +not, for he knew not in what part to seek him. He taketh out one of +the tall tapers, and layeth hand on the golden candlestick, and setteth +it betwixt his hose and his thigh and issueth forth of the chapel, and +remounteth on his hackney and goeth his way back and passeth beyond the +grave-yard and issueth forth of the launde and entereth into the forest +and thinketh that he will not cease until he hath found the King. + + +IV. + +So, as he entereth into a grassy lane in the wood, he seeth come before +him a man black and foul-favoured, and he was somewhat taller afoot +than was himself a-horseback. And he held a great sharp knife in his +hand with two edges as it seemed him. The squire cometh over against +him a great pace and saith unto him, "You, that come there, have you +met King Arthur in this forest?" + +"In no wise," saith the messenger, "But you have I met, whereof am I +right glad at heart, for you have departed from the chapel as a thief +and a traitor. For you are carrying off thence the candlestick of gold +that was in honour of the knight that lieth in the chapel dead. +Wherefore I will that you yield it up to me and so will I carry it +back, otherwise, and you do not this, you do I defy!" + +"By my faith," saith the squire, "Never will I yield it you! rather +will I carry it off and make a present thereof to King Arthur." + +"By my faith," saith the other, "Right dearly shall you pay for it, and +you yield it not up forthwith." + +Howbeit, the squire smiteth with his spurs and thinketh to pass him by, +but the other hasteth him, and smiteth the squire in the left side with +the knife and thrusteth it into his body up to the haft. The squire, +that lay in the hall at Cardoil, and had dreamed this, awoke and cried +in a loud voice: "Holy Mary! The priest! Help! Help, for I am a dead +man!" + +The King and the Queen heard the cry, and the chamberlain leapt up and +said to the King: "sir, you may well be moving, for it is day!" + +The King made him be clad and shod. And the squire crieth with such +strength as he hath: "Fetch me the priest, for I die!" + +The King goeth thither as fast as he may, and the Queen and the +chamberlain carry great torches and candles. The King asketh him what +aileth him, and he telleth him all in such wise as he had dreamed it. +"Ha," saith the King, "Is it then a dream?" + +"Yea, sir," saith he, "But a right foul dream it is for me, for right +foully hath it come true!" He lifted his left arm. "Sir," saith he, +"Look you there! Lo, here is the knife that was run into my side up to +the haft!" After that, he setteth his hand to his hose where the +candlestick was. He draweth it forth and showeth it to the King. +"Sir," saith he, "For this candlestick that I present to you, am I +wounded to the death!" + +The King taketh the candlestick, and looketh thereat in wonderment for +none so rich had he never seen tofore. The King showeth it to the +Queen. "Sir," saith the squire, "Draw not forth the knife of my body +until that I be shriven." + +The King sent for one of his own chaplains that made the squire confess +and do his houselling right well. The King himself draweth forth the +knife of the body, and the soul departed forthwith. The King made do +his service right richly and his shrouding and burial. Ywain li +Aoutres that was father to the squire was right sorrowful of the death +of his son. King Arthur, with the good will of Ywain his father, gave +the candlestick to S. Paul in London, for the church was newly founded, +and the King wished that this marvellous adventure should everywhere be +known, and that prayer should be made in the church for the soul of the +squire that was slain on account of the candlestick. + + +V. + +King Arthur armed himself in the morning, as I told you and began to +tell, to go to the chapel of S. Augustine. Said the Queen to him. +"Whom will you take with you?" + +"Lady," saith he, "No company will I have thither, save God only, for +well may you understand by this adventure that hath befallen, that God +will not allow I should have none with me." + +"Sir," saith she, "God be guard of your body, and grant you return +safely so as that you may have the will to do well, whereby shall your +praise be lifted up that is now sore cast down." + +"Lady," saith he, "May God remember it." + +His destrier was brought to the mounting-stage, and the King mounted +thereon all armed. Messire Ywain li Aoutres lent him his shield and +spear. When the King had hung the shield at his neck and held the +spear in his hand, sword-girt, on the tall destrier armed, well seemed +he in the make of his body and in his bearing to be a knight of great +pith and hardiment. He planteth himself so stiffly in the stirrups +that he maketh the saddlebows creak again and the destrier stagger +under him that was right stout and swift, and he smiteth him of his +spurs, and the horse maketh answer with a great leap. The Queen was at +the windows of the hall, and as many as five-and-twenty knights were +all come to the mounting-stage. When the King departed, "Lords," saith +the Queen, "How seemeth you of the King? Seemeth he not a goodly man?" + +"Yea, certes, Lady, and sore loss is it to the world that he followeth +not out his good beginning, for no king nor prince is known better +learned of all courtesy nor of all largesse than he, so he would do +like as he was wont." With that the knights hold their peace, and King +Arthur goeth away a great pace. And he entereth into a great forest +adventurous, and rideth the day long until he cometh about evensong +into the thick of the forest. And he espied a little house beside a +little chapel, and it well seemed him to be a hermitage. King Arthur +rode thitherward and alighteth before this little house, and entereth +thereinto and draweth his horse after him, that had much pains to enter +in at the door, and laid his spear down on the ground and leant his +shield against the wall, and hath ungirded his sword and unlaced his +ventail. He looked before him and saw barley and provender, and so led +his horse thither and smote off his bridle, and afterwards hath shut +the door of the little house and locked it. And it seemed him that +there was a strife in the chapel. The ones were weeping so tenderly +and sweetly as it were angels, and the other spake so harshly as it +were fiends. The King heard such voices in the chapel and marvelled +much what it might be. He findeth a door in the little house that +openeth on a little cloister whereby one goeth to the chapel. The King +is gone thither and entereth into the little minster, and looketh +everywhere but seeth nought there, save the images and the crucifixes. +And he supposeth not that the strife of these voices cometh of them. +The voices ceased as soon as he was within. He marvelleth how it came +that this house and hermitage were solitary, and what had become of the +hermit that dwelt therein. He drew nigh the altar of the chapel and +beheld in front thereof a coffin all discovered, and he saw the hermit +lying therein all clad in his vestments, and seeth the long beard down +to his girdle, and his hands crossed upon his breast. There was a +cross above him, whereof the image came as far as his mouth, and he had +life in him yet, but he was nigh his end, being at the point of death. +The King was before the coffin a long space, and looked right fainly on +the hermit, for well it seemed him that he had been of a good life. +The night was fully come, but within was a brightness of light as if a +score of candles were lighted. He had a mind to abide there until that +the good man should have passed away. He would fain have sate him down +before the coffin, when a voice warned him right horribly to begone +thence, for that it was desired to make a judgment within there, that +might not be made so long as he were there. The King departed, that +would willingly have remained there, and so returned back into the +little house, and sate him down on a seat whereon the hermit wont to +sir. And he heareth the strife and the noise begin again within the +chapel, and the ones he heareth speaking high and the others low, and +he knoweth well by the voices, that the ones are angels and the others +devils. And he heareth that the devils are distraining on the hermit's +soul, and that judgment will presently be given in their favour, +whereof make they great joy. King Arthur is grieved in his heart when +he heareth that the angels' voices are stilled. The King is so heavy, +that no desire hath he neither to eat nor to drink. And while he +sitteth thus, stooping his head toward the ground, full of vexation and +discontent, he heareth in the chapel the voice of a Lady that spake so +sweet and clear, that no man in this earthly world, were his grief and +heaviness never so sore, but and he had heard the sweet voice of her +pleading would again have been in joy. She saith to the devils: +"Begone from hence, for no right have ye over the soul of this good +man, whatsoever he may have done aforetime, for in my Son's service and +mine own is he taken, and his penance hath he done in this hermitage of +the sins that he hath done." + +"True, Lady," say the devils, "But longer had he served us than he hath +served you and your Son. For forty years or more hath he been a +murderer and robber in this forest, whereas in this hermitage but five +years hath he been. And now you Wish to thieve him from us." + +"I do not. No wish have I to take him from you by theft, for had he +been taken in your service in suchwise as he hath been taken in mine, +yours would he have been, all quit." + +The devils go their way all discomfit and aggrieved; and the sweet +Mother of our Lord God taketh the soul of the hermit, that was departed +of his body, and so commendeth it to the angels and archangels that +they make present thereof to Her dear Son in Paradise. And the angels +take it and begin to sing for joy "Te Deum laudamus". And the Holy +Lady leadeth them and goeth her way along with them. Josephus maketh +remembrance of this history and telleth us that this worthy man was +named Calixtus. + + +VI. + +King Arthur was in the little house beside the chapel, and had heard +the voice of the sweet Mother of God and the angels. Great joy had he, +and was right glad of the good man's soul that was borne thence into +Paradise. The King had slept right little the night and was all armed. +He saw the day break clear and fair, and goeth his way toward the +chapel to cry God mercy, thinking to find the coffin discovered there +where the hermit lay; but so did he not! Rather, was it covered of the +richest tomb-stone that any might ever see, and had on the top a red +cross, and seemed it that the chapel was all incensed. When the King +had made his orison therein, he cometh back again and setteth on his +bridle and saddle and mounteth, and taketh his shield and spear and +departeth from the little house and entereth into the forest and rideth +a great pace, until he cometh at right hour of tierce to one of the +fairest laundes that ever a man might see. And he seeth at the +entrance a spear set bar-wise, and looketh to the right or ever he +should enter therein, and seeth a damsel sitting under a great leafy +tree, and she held the reins of her mule in her hand. The damsel was +of great beauty and full seemly clad. The King turneth thitherward and +so saluteth her and saith: "Damsel," saith he, "God give you joy and +good adventure." + +"Sir," saith she, "So may He do to you!" + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Is there no hold in this launde?" + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "No hold is there save a most holy chapel and +a hermit that is beside S. Augustine's chapel." + +"Is this then S. Augustine's chapel?" saith the King. + +"Yea, Sir, I tell it you for true, but the launde and the forest about +is so perilous that no knight returneth thence but he be dead or +wounded; but the place of the chapel is of so great worthiness that +none goeth thither, be he never so discounselled, but he cometh back +counselled, so he may thence return on live. And Lord God be guard of +your body, for never yet saw I none aforetime that seemed more like to +be good knight, and sore pity would it be and you were not, and never +more shall I depart me hence and I shall have seen your end." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Please God, you shall see me repair back +thence." + +"Certes," saith the damsel, "Thereof should I be! right fain, for then +should I ask you tidings at leisure of him that I am seeking." + +The King goeth to the bar whereby one entereth into the launde, and +looketh to the right into a combe of the forest and seeth the chapel of +S. Augustine and the right fair hermitage. Thitherward goeth he and +alighteth, and it seemeth him that the hermit is apparelled to sing the +mass. He reineth up his horse to the bough of a tree by the side of +the chapel and thinketh to enter thereinto, but, had it been to conquer +all the kingdoms of the world, thereinto might he not enter, albeit +there was none made him denial thereof, for the door was open and none +saw he that might forbid him. Sore ashamed is the King thereof. +Howbeit, he beholdeth an image of Our Lord that was there within and +crieth Him of mercy right sweetly, and looketh toward the altar. And +he looketh at the holy hermit that was robed to sing mass and said his +"Confiteor", and seeth at his right hand the fairest Child that ever he +had seen, and He was clad in an alb and had a golden crown on his head +loaded with precious stones that gave out a full great brightness of +light. On the left hand side, was a Lady so fair that all the beauties +of the world might not compare them with her beauty. When the holy +hermit had said his "Confiteor" and went to the altar, the Lady also +took her Son and went to sit on the right hand side towards the altar +upon a right rich chair and set her Son upon her knees and began to +kiss Him full sweetly and saith: "Sir," saith she, "You are my Father +and my Son and my Lord, and guardian of me and of all the world." + +King Arthur heareth the words and seeth the beauty of the Lady and of +the Child, and marvelleth much of this that She should call Him her +Father and her Son. He looketh at a window behind the altar and seeth +a flame come through at the very instant that mass was begun, clearer +than any ray of sun nor moon nor star, and evermore it threw forth a +brightness of light such that and all the lights in the world had been +together it would not have been the like. And it is come down upon the +altar. King Arthur seeth it who marvelleth him much thereof. But sore +it irketh him of this that he may not enter therewithin, and he +heareth, there where the holy hermit was singing the mass, right fair +responses, and they seem him to be the responses of angels. And when +the Holy Gospel was read, King Arthur looked toward the altar and saw +that the Lady took her Child and offered Him into the hands of the holy +hermit, but of this King Arthur made much marvel, that the holy hermit +washed not his hands when he had received the offering. Right sore did +King Arthur marvel him thereof, but little right would he have had to +marvel had he known the reason. And when the Child was offered him, he +set Him upon the altar and thereafter began his sacrament. And King +Arthur set him on his knees before the chapel and began to pray to God +and to beat his breast. And he looked toward the altar after the +preface, and it seemed him that the holy hermit held between his hands +a man bleeding from His side and in His palms and in His feet, and +crowned with thorns, and he seeth Him in His own figure. And when he +had looked on Him so long and knoweth not what is become of Him, the +King hath pity of Him in his heart of this that he had seen, and the +tears of his heart come into his eyes. And he looketh toward the altar +and thinketh to see the figure of the man, and seeth that it is changed +into the shape of the Child that he had seen tofore. + + +VII. + +When the mass was sung, the voice of a holy angel said "Ite, missa +est". The Son took the Mother by the hand, and they evanished forth of +the chapel with the greatest company and the fairest that might ever be +seen. The flame that was come down through the window went away with +this company. When the hermit had done his service and was divested of +the arms of God, he went to King Arthur that was still without the +chapel. "Sir," saith he to the King, "Now may you well enter herein +and well might you have been joyous in your heart had you deserved so +much as that you might have come in at the beginning of the mass." + +King Arthur entered into the chapel without any hindrance. "Sir," saith +the hermit to the King, "I know you well, as did I also King Uther +Pendragon your father. On account of your sins and your deserts might +you not enter here while mass was being sung. Nor will you to-morrow, +save you shall first have made amends of that you have misdone towards +God and towards the saint that is worshipped herewithin. For you are +the richest King of the world and the most adventurous, wherefore ought +all the world to take ensample of you in well-doing and in largesse and +in honour; whereas you are now an ensample of evil-doing to all rich +worshipful men that be now in the world. Wherefore shall right sore +mishap betide you and you set nor back your doing to the point whereat +you began. For your court was the sovran of all courts and the most +adventurous, whereas now is it least of worth. Well may he be sorry +that goeth from honour to shame, but never may he have reproach that +shall do him ill, that cometh from shame to honour, for the honour +wherein he is found rescueth him to God, but blame may never rescue the +man that hath renounced honour for shame, for the shame and wickedness +wherein he is found declare him guilty." + + +VIII. + +"Sir," saith King Arthur, "To amend me have I come hither, and to be +better counselled than I have been. Well do I see that the place is +most holy, and I beseech you that you pray God that He counsel me and I +will do my endeavour herein to amend me." + +"God grant you may amend your life," saith the holy hermit, "in such +sort that you may help to do away the evil Law and to exalt the Law +that is made new by the crucifixion of the Holy Prophet. But a great +sorrow is befallen in the land of late through a young knight that was +harboured in the hostel of the rich King Fisherman, for that the most +Holy Graal appeared to him and the Lance whereof the point runneth of +blood, yet never asked he to whom was served thereof nor whence it +came, and for that he asked it not are all the lands commoved to war, +nor no knight meeteth other in the forest but he runneth upon him and +slayeth him and he may, and you yourself shall well perceive thereof or +ever you shall depart of this launde." + +"Sir," saith King Arthur, "God defend me from the anguish of an evil +death and from wickedness, for hither have I come for none other thing +but to amend my life, and this will I do, so God bring me back in +safety." + +"Truly," saith the hermit, "He that hath been bad for three years out +of forty, he hath not been wholly good." + +"Sir," saith the King, "You speak truth." + +The hermit departeth and so commendeth him to God. The King cometh to +his horse and mounteth the speediest that ever he may, and setteth his +shield on his neck, and taketh his spear in his hand and turneth him +back a great pace. Howbeit, he had not gone a bowshot's length when he +saw a knight coming disorderly against him, and he sate upon a great +black horse and he had a shield of the same and a spear. And the spear +was somewhat thick near the point and burned with a great flame, foul +and hideous, and the flame came down as far as over the knight's fist. +He setteth his spear in rest and thinketh to smite the King, but the +King swerveth aside and the other passeth beyond. "Sir knight, +wherefor hate you me?" + +"Of right ought I not to love you," saith the knight. + +"Wherefore?" saith the King. + +"For this, that you have had my brother's candlestick that was foully +stolen from him!" + +"Know you then who I am?" saith the King. + +"Yea," saith the knight; "You are the King Arthur that aforetime were +good and now are evil. Wherefore I defy you as my mortal enemy." + +He draweth him back so that his onset may be the weightier. The King +seeth that he may not depart without a stour. He setteth his spear in +rest when he seeth the other come towards him with his own spear all +burning. The King smiteth his horse with his spurs as hard as he may, +and meeteth the knight with his spear and the knight him. And they +melled together so stoutly that the spears bent without breaking, and +both twain are shifted in their saddles and lose their stirrups. They +hurtle so strongly either against other of their bodies and their +horses that their eyes sparkle as of stars in their heads and the blood +rayeth out of King Arthur by mouth and nose. Either draweth away from +other and they take their breath. The King looketh at the Black +Knight's spear that burneth, and marvelleth him right sore that it is +not snapped in flinders of the great buffet he had received thereof, +and him thinketh rather that it is a devil and a fiend. The Black +Knight is not minded to let King Arthur go so soon, but rather cometh +toward him a great career. The King seeth him come toward him and so +covereth him of his shield for fear of the flame. The King receiveth +him on the point of his spear and smiteth him with so sore a shock that +he maketh him bend backward over his horse croup. The other, that was +of great might, leapeth back into the saddle-bows and smiteth the King +upon the boss of his shield so that the burning point pierceth the +shield and the sleeve of his habergeon and runneth the sharp iron into +his arm. The King feeleth the wound and the heat, whereof is he filled +with great wrath, and the knight draweth back his spear to him, and +hath great joy at heart when he feeleth the King wounded. The King was +rejoiced not a whit, and looked at the spear that was quenched thereof +and burned no longer. + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I cry you mercy. Never would my spear have +been quenched of its burning, save it were bathed in your blood." + +"Now may never God help me," saith King Arthur, "whenever I shall have +mercy on you, and I may achieve!" + +He pricketh towards him a great run, and smiteth him in the broad of +the breast and thrusted his spear half an ell into his body, and +beareth him to the ground, both him and his horse all in a heap, and +draweth his spear back to him and looketh at the knight that lay as +dead and leaveth him in the launde, and draweth him towards the issue +incontinent. And so as the King went, he heard a great clashing of +knights coming right amidst the forest, so as it seemed there were a +good score or more of them, and he seeth them enter the launde from the +forest, armed and well horsed. And they come with great ado toward the +knight that lay dead in the midst of the launde. King Arthur was about +to issue forth, when the damsel that he had left under the tree cometh +forward to meet him. + +"Sir," saith she, "For God's sake, return back and fetch me the head of +the knight that lieth there dead." + +The King looketh back, and seeth the great peril and the multitude of +knights that are there all armed. "Ha, damsel," saith he, "You are +minded to slay me." + +"Certes, Sir, that I am not, but sore need will there be that I should +have it, nor never did knight refuse to do the thing I asked nor deny +me any boon I demanded of him. Now God grant you be not the most +churlish." + +"Ha, damsel, I am right sore wounded in the arm whereon I hold my +shield." + +"Sir," saith she, "I know it well, nor never may you be heal thereof +save you bring me the head of the knight." + +"Damsel," he saith, "I will essay it whatsoever may befal me thereof." + + +IX. + +King Arthur looketh amidst the launde and seeth that they that have +come thither have cut the knight to pieces limb by limb, and that each +is carrying off a foot or a thigh or an arm or a hand and are +dispersing them through the forest. And he seeth that the last knight +beareth on the point of his spear the head. The King goeth after him a +great gallop and crieth out to him: "Ha, Sir knight, abide and speak to +me!" + +"What is your pleasure?" saith the knight. + +"Fair Sir," saith the King, "I beseech you of all loves that you deign +to give me the head of this knight that you are carrying on the point +of your lance." + +"I will give it you," saith the knight, "on condition." + +"What condition?" saith the King. + +"That you tell me who slew the knight whose head I carry that you ask +of me." + +"May I not otherwise have it?" saith the King. + +"In no wise," saith he. + +"Then will I tell you," saith the King. "Know of a very truth that +King Arthur slew him." + +"And where is he?" saith the knight. + +"Seek him until you shall have found him," saith King Arthur, "For I +have told you the truth thereof. Give me the head." + +"Willingly," saith the knight. He lowereth his spear and the King +taketh the head. The knight had a horn at his neck. He setteth it to +his mouth and soundeth a blast right loud. The knights that were set +within the forest hear the horn and return back a great gallop, and +King Arthur goeth his way toward the oak-tree at the issue of the +launde where the damsel is awaiting him. And the knights come +presently to him that had given the head to the King and ask him +wherefore he hath sounded the horn. + +"For this," saith he, "That this knight that is going away yonder hath +told me that King Arthur slew the Black Knight, and I was minded you +should know it that we may follow him." + +"We will not follow him," say the knights, "For it is King Arthur +himself that is carrying off the head, and no power have we to do evil +to him nor other sith that he hath passed the bar. But you shall aby +it that let him go when he was so nigh you!" + +They rush in upon him and slay him and cut him up, and each one +carrieth off his piece the same as they had done with the other. King +Arthur is issued forth of the bar, and cometh to the maiden that is +waiting for him and presenteth her the head. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "Gramercy." + +"Damsel," saith he, "With a good will!" + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "You may well alight, for nought have you to +fear on this side the bar." With that, the King alighteth. + +"Sir," saith she, "Do off your habergeon heedfully and I will bind up +the wound in your arm, for of none may you be made whole save of me +only." + +The King doeth off his habergeon, and the damsel taketh of the blood of +the knight's head that still ran all warm, and therewith washeth King +Arthur his wound, and thereafter maketh him do on his habergeon again. + +"Sir," saith she, "Never would you have been whole save by the blood of +this Black Knight. And for this carried they off the body piecemeal +and the head, for that they well knew you were wounded; and of the head +shall I have right sore need, for thereby shall a castle be yielded up +to me that was reft from me by treason, so I may find the knight that I +go seek, through whom it ought to be yielded up to me." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "And who is the knight?" + +"Sir," saith she, "He was the son of Alain li Gros of the Valleys of +Camelot, and is named Perlesvax." + +"Wherefore Perlesvax?" saith the King. + +"Sir," saith she, "When he was born, his father was asked how he should +be named in right baptism, and he said that he would he should have the +name Perlesvax, for the Lord of the Moors had reft him of the greater +part of the Valleys of Camelot, and therefore he would that his son +should by this name be reminded thereof, and God should so multiply him +as that he should be knight. The lad was right comely and right gentle +and began to go by the forests and launch his javelins, Welsh-fashion, +at hart and hind. His father and his mother loved him much, and one +day they were come forth of their hold, whereunto the forest was close +anigh, to enjoy them. Now, there was between the hold and the forest, +an exceeding small chapel that stood upon four columns of marble; and +it was roofed of timber and had a little altar within, and before the +altar a right fair coffin, and thereupon was the figure of a man +graven. Sir," saith the damsel to the King, "The lad asked his father +and mother what man lay within the coffin. The father answered: 'Fair +son,' saith he, 'Certes, I know not to tell you, for the tomb hath been +here or ever that my father's father was born, and never have I heard +tell of none that might know who it is therein, save only that the +letters that are on the coffin say that when the Best Knight in the +world shall come hither the coffin will open and the joinings all fall +asunder, and then will it be seen who it is that lieth therein.'" + + +X. + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Have many knights passed thereby sithence +that the coffin was set there?" + +"Yea, sir, so many that neither I nor none other may tell the number. +Yet natheless hath not the coffin removed itself for none. When the +lad heareth his father and mother talking thus, he asketh what a knight +may be? 'Fair son,' saith his mother, 'Of right ought you well to know +by your lineage.' She telleth the lad that he had eleven uncles on his +father's side that had all been slain in arms, and not one of them +lived knight but twelve years. Sir," saith she to the King, "The lad +made answer that this was nor that he had asked, but how knights were +made? And the father answered that they were such as had more valour +than any other in the world. After that he said, 'Fair son, they are +clad in habergeons of iron to protect their bodies, and helms laced +upon their heads, and shields and spears and swords girded wherewithal +to defend their bodies.'" + + +XI. + +"Sir," saith the damsel to the King, "When that the father had thus +spoken to the lad, they returned together to the castle. When the +morrow morning came, the lad arose and heard the birds sing and +bethought him that he would go for disport into the forest for the day +sith that it was fair. So he mounted on one of his father's horses of +the chase and carried his javelins Welshman-fashion and went into the +forest and found a stag and followed him a good four leagues Welsh, +until that he came into a launde and found two knights all armed that +were there doing battle, and the one had a red shield and the other a +white. He left of tracking the stag to look on at the melly and saw +that the Red Knight was conquering the White. He launched one of his +javelins at the Red Knight so hard that he pierced his habergeon and +made it pass through the heart. The knight fell dead. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "The knight of the white shield made great joy +thereof, and the lad asked him, 'were knights so easy to slay? +Methought,' saith the lad, 'that none might never pierce nor damage a +knight's armour, otherwise would I not have run him through with my +javelin,' saith the lad. Sir, the lad brought the destrier home to his +father and mother, and right grieved were they when they heard the +tidings of the knight he had slain. And right were they, for thereof +did sore trouble come to them thereafter. Sir, the squire departed +from the house of his father and mother and came to the court of King +Arthur. Right gladly did the King make him knight when he knew his +will, and afterward he departed from the land and went to seek +adventure in every kingdom. Now is he the Best Knight that is in the +world. So go I to seek him, and full great joy shall I have at heart +and I may find him. Sir, and you should meet him by any adventure in +any of these forests, he beareth a red shield with a white hart. And +so tell him that his father is dead, and that his mother will lose all +her land so he come not to succour her; and that the brother of the +knight of the Red shield that he slew in the forest with his javelin +warreth upon her with the Lord of the Moors." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "And God grant me to meet him, right fain +shall I be thereof, and right well will I set forth your message." + +"Sir," saith she, "Now that I have told you him that I seek, it is your +turn to tell me your name." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Willingly. They that know me call me +Arthur." + +"Arthur? Have you indeed such name?" + +"Yea, damsel," saith he. + +"So help me God," saith she, "Now am I sorrier for you than tofore, for +you have the name of the worst King in the world, and I would that he +were here in such sort as you are now. But never again will he move +from Cardoil, do what he may, such dread hath the Queen lest any should +take him from her, according as I have heard witness, for never saw I +neither the one nor the other. I was moved to go to his court, but I +have met full a score knights one after other, of whom I asked +concerning him, and one told me the same tale as another, for each told +me that the court of King Arthur is the vilest in the world, and that +all the knights of the Table Round have renounced it for the badness +thereof." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Hereof may he well be sorry, but at the +beginning I have heard say he did right well." + +"And who careth," saith the damsel, "for his good beginning when the +end is bad? And much it misliketh me that so seemly knight and so +worshipful man as are you should have the name of so evil a king." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "A man is not good by his name, but by his +heart." + +"You say true," saith the damsel, "But for the King's name have I +despite of yours. And whitherward are you going?" + +"I shall go to Cardoil, where I shall find King Arthur when I shall +come thither." + +"Go to, then, and bestir!" saith she. + +"One bad man with another! No better hope have I of you, sith that you +go thither!" + +"Damsel, you may say your pleasure, for thither I go! God be with you!" + +"And may never God guide you," saith she, "and you go the court of King +Arthur!" + + +XII. + +With that the King mounted again and departed, and left the damsel +under the tree and entered into the deep forest and rode with much ado +as fast as he might to come to Cardoil. And he had ridden a good ten +leagues Welsh when he heard a Voice in the thick of the forest that +began to cry aloud: "King Arthur of Great Britain, right glad at heart +mayst thou be of this that God hath sent me hither unto thee. And so +He biddeth thee that thou hold court at the earliest thou mayst, for +the world, that is now made worse of thee and of thy slackness in +well-doing, shall thereof be greatly amended!" + +With that the Voice is silent, and the King was right joyous in his +heart of that he had heard. The story speaketh no more here of other +adventure that befel King Arthur in his returning nor on his arriving. +Anyway, he hath ridden so long that he is come back to Cardoil. The +Queen and the knights made great feast of him and great joy. The King +was alighted on the mounting-stage and went up into the hall and made +him be disarmed. And he showed the Queen the wound that he had on his +arm, that had been right great and painful, but it was healing full +fairly. The King goeth into the chamber and the Queen with him, and +doeth the King be apparelled in a robe of cloth of silk all furred of +ermine, with coat, surcoat and mantle. + +"Sir," saith the Queen, "Sore pain and travail have you had." + +"Lady, in such wise behoveth worshipful man to suffer in order that he +may have honour, for hardly shall none without travail come to honour." +He recounteth to the Queen all the adventures that have befallen him +sithence that he was departed, and in what manner he was wounded in the +arm, and of the damsel that had so blamed him of his name. + +"Sir," saith the queen, "Now may you well know how meet it is that a +man high and rich and puissant should have great shame of himself when +he becometh evil." + +"Lady," saith the King, "So much did the damsel do me well to wot, but +greatly did a Voice recomfort me that I heard in the forest, for it +told me that God bade me hold court presently, and that I shall see +there the fairest adventure befal that ever I may see." + +"Sir," saith she, "Right joyous ought you to be that your Saviour hath +had you in remembrance. Now, therefore, fulfil His commandment." + +"Certes, Lady, so will I do. For never had none better desire of +well-doing than have I as at this time, nor of honour nor of largesse." + +"Sir," saith she, "God be praised thereof." + + + +BRANCH II. + +Now beginneth here the second branch of the Holy Graal the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. + + +TITLE I + +King Arthur was at Cardoil with the Queen and right few knights. By +God's pleasure, the wish and the will had come back to him to win +honour and to do largesse as most he might. He made seal his letters +and sent them throughout all his lands and all the islands, and gave +notice to the barons and knights that he would hold court at +Pannenoisance, that is situate the sea of Wales, at the feast of S. +John after Whitsuntide. And he was minded to put it off until that +day, for that suntide was already too nigh, and they that should be +thereat might not all come by the earlier day. The tidings went +through all lands, so that knights come in great plenty thereunto, for +well-doing had so waxed feeble in all the kingdoms, that every one had +avoided King Arthur as one that should do nought more for ever. +Wherefore all began now to marvel whence his new desire had come. The +knights of the Table Round that were scattered through the lands and +the forests, by God's will learnt the tidings and right great joy had +they thereof, and came back to the court with great ado. But neither +Messire Gawain nor Lancelot came thither on that day. But all the +other came that were then on live. S. John's day came, and the knights +were come from all parts, marvelling much that the King had not held +the court at Whitsuntide, but they knew not the occasion thereof. The +day was fair and clear and the air fresh, and the hall was wide and +high and garnished of good knights in great plenty. The cloths were +spread on the tables whereof were great plenty in the hall. The King +and the Queen had washen and went to sit at the head of one table and +the other knights sate them down, whereof were full five score and five +as the story telleth. Kay the Seneschal and Messire Ywain the son of +King Urien served that day at the tables at meat, and five-and-twenty +knights beside. And Lucan the Butler served the golden cup before the +King. The sun shone through the windows everywhere amidst the hall +that was strown of flowers and rushes and sweet herbs and gave out a +smell like as had it been sprinkled of balm. And straightway after the +first meat had been served, and while they were yet awaiting the +second, behold you three damsels where they enter into the hall! She +that came first sate upon a mule white as driven snow and had a golden +bridle and a saddle with a bow of ivory banded with precious stones and +a saddle-cloth of a red samite dropped of gold. The damsel that was +seated on the mule was right seemly of body but scarce so fair of face, +and she was robed in a rich cloth of silk and gold and had a right rich +hat that covered all her head. And it was all loaded of costly stones +that flamed like fire. And great need had she that her head were +covered, for she was all bald without hair, and carried on her neck her +right arm slung in a stole of cloth of gold. And her arm lay on a +pillow, the richest that ever might be seen, and it was all charged of +little golden bells, and in this hand held she the head of a King +sealed in silver and crowned with gold. The other damsel that came +behind rode after the fashion of a squire, and carried a pack trussed +behind her with a brachet thereupon, and at her neck she bore a shield +banded argent and azure with a red cross, and the boss was of gold all +set with precious stones. The third damsel came afoot with her kirtle +tucked up like a running footman; and she had in her hand a whip +wherewith she drove the two steeds. Each of these twain was fairer +than the first, but the one afoot surpassed both the others in beauty. +The first cometh before the King, there where he sitteth at meat with +the Queen. + +"Sir," saith she, "The Saviour of the world grant you honour and joy +and good adventure and my Lady the Queen and all them of this hall for +love of you! Hold it not churlishness and I alight not, for there +where knights be may I not alight, nor ought I until such time as the +Graal be achieved." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Gladly would I have it so." + +"Sir," saith she, "That know I well, and may it not mislike you to hear +the errand whereon I am come." + +"It shall not mislike me," saith the King, "say your pleasure!" + +"Sir," saith she, "The shield that this damsel beareth belonged to +Joseph, the good soldier knight that took down Our Lord of hanging on +the rood. I make you a present thereof in such wise as I shall tell +you, to wit, that you keep the shield for a knight that shall come +hither for the same, and you shall make hang it on this column in the +midst of your hall, and guard it in such wise as that none may take it +and hang at his neck save he only. And of this shield shall he achieve +the Graal, and another shield shall he leave here in the hall, red, +with a white hart; and the brachet that the damsel carrieth shall here +remain, and little joy will the brachet make until the knight shall +come." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "The shield and the brachet will we keep full +safely, and right heartily we thank you that you have deigned to bring +them hither." + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "I have not yet told you all that I have in +charge to deliver. The best King that liveth on earth and the most +loyal and the most righteous, sendeth you greeting; of whom is sore +sorrow for that he hath fallen into a grievous languishment." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Sore pity is it and it be so as you say; and +I pray you tell me who is the King?" + +"Sir," saith she, "It is rich King Fisherman, of whom is great grief." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "You say true; and God grant him his heart's +desire!" + +"Sir," saith she, "Know you wherefore he hath fallen into languishment?" + +"Nay, I know not at all, but gladly would I learn." + +"And I will tell you," saith she. "This languishment is come upon him +through one that harboured in his hostel, to whom the most Holy Graal +appeared. And, for that he would not ask unto whom one served thereof, +were all the lands commoved to war thereby, nor never thereafter might +knight meet other but he should fight with him in arms without none +other occasion. You yourself may well perceive the same, for your +well-doing hath greatly slackened, whereof have you had much blame, and +all the other barons that by you have taken ensample, for you are the +mirror of the world alike in well-doing and in evil-doing. Sir, I +myself have good right to plain me of the knight, and I will show you +wherefore." + +She lifteth the rich hat from her head and showeth the King and Queen +and the knights in the hall her head all bald without hair. + +"Sir," saith she, "My head was right seemly garnished of hair plaited +in rich tresses of gold at such time as the knight came to the hostel +of the rich King Fisherman, but I became bald for that he made not the +demand, nor never again shall I have my hair until such time as a +knight shall go thither that shall ask the question better than did he, +or the knight that shall achieve the Graal. Sir, even yet have you not +seen the sore mischief that hath befallen thereof. There is without +this hall a car that three white harts have drawn hither, and lightly +may you send to see how rich it is. I tell you that the traces are of +silk and the axletrees of gold, and the timber of the car is ebony. +The car is covered above with a black samite, and below is a cross of +gold the whole length, and under the coverlid of the car are the heads +of an hundred and fifty knights whereof some be sealed in gold, other +some in silver and the third in lead. King Fisherman sendeth you word +that this loss I hath befallen of him that demanded not unto whom one +serveth of the Graal. Sir, the damsel that beareth the shield holdeth +in her hand the head of a Queen that is sealed in lead and crowned with +copper, and I tell you that by the Queen whose head you here behold was +the King betrayed whose head I bear, and the three manner of knights +whose heads are within the car. Sir, send without to see the +costliness and fashion of the car." + +The King sent Kay the Seneschal to see. He looked straitly thereat +within and without and thereafter returned to the King. "Sir," saith +he, "Never beheld I car so rich, and there be three harts withal that +draw the car, the tallest and fattest one might ever see. But and you +will be guided by me, you will take the foremost, for he is scarce so +far, and so might you bid make right good collops thereof." + +"Avoid there, Kay!" saith the King. "Foul churlishness have you +spoken! I would not such a deed were done for another such kingdom as +is this of Logres!" + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "He that hath been wont to do churlishness +doth right grudgingly withdraw himself therefrom. Messire Kay may say +whatsoever him pleaseth, but well know I that you will pay no heed to +his talk. Sir," saith the damsel, "Command that the shield be hung on +this column and that the brachet be put in the Queen's chamber with the +maidens. We will go on our way, for here have we been long enough." + +Messire Ywain laid hold on the shield and took it off the damsel's neck +by leave of the King, and hung it on the column in the midst of the +hall, and one of the Queen's maidens taketh the brachet and carrieth +him to the Queen's chamber. And the damsel taketh her leave and +turneth again, and the King commendeth her to God. When the King eaten +in hall, the Queen with the King and the knights go to lean at the +windows to look at the three damsels and the three white harts that +draw the car, and the more part said that the damsel afoot that went +after the two that were mounted should have the most misease. The bald +damsel went before, and set not her hat on her head until such time as +behoved her enter into the forest; and the knights that were at the +windows might see them no longer. Then set she her hat again upon her +head. The King, the Queen, and the knights when they might see them no +more, came down from the windows, and certain of them said that never +until this time had they seen bald-headed damsel save this one only. + + +II. + +Hereupon the story is silent of King Arthur, and turneth again to speak +of the three damsels and the car that was drawn by the three white +harts. They are entered into the forest and ride on right busily. +When they had left the castle some seven leagues Welsh behind them, +they saw a knight coming toward them on the way they had to go. The +knight sat on a tall horse, lean and bony. His habergeon was all rusty +and his shield pierced in more than a dozen places, and the colour +thereon was so fretted away that none might make out the cognizance +thereof. And a right thick spear bore he in his hand. When he came +anigh the damsel, he saluted her right nobly. + +"Fair welcome, damsel, to you and your company." + +"Sir," saith she, "God grant you joy and good adventure!" + +"Damsel," saith the knight, "Whence come you?" + +"Sir, from a court high-plenary that King Arthur holdeth at +Pannenoisance. Go you thither, sir knight," saith the damsel, "to see +the King and the Queen and the knights that are there?" + +"Nay, not so!" saith he. "Many a time have I seen them, but right glad +am I of King Arthur that he hath again taken up his well-doing, for +many a time hath he been accustomed thereof." + +"Whitherward have you now emprised your way?" saith the damsel. + +"To the land of King Fisherman, and God allow me." + +"Sir," saith she, "Tell me your name and bide awhile beside me." + +The knight draweth bridle and the damsels and the car come to a stay. +"Damsel," saith he, "Well behoveth me tell you my name. Messire Gawain +am I called, King Arthur's nephew." + +"What? are you Messire Gawain? my heart well told me as much." + +"Yea, damsel," saith he, "Gawain am I." + +"God be praised thereof, for so good knight as are you may well go see +the rich King Fisherman. Now am I fain to pray you of the valour that +is in you and the courtesy, that you return with me and convoy me +beyond a certain castle that is in this forest whereof is some small +peril." + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Willingly, at your pleasure." + +He returneth with the damsel through the midst of the forest that was +tall and leafy and little haunted of folk. The damsel relateth to him +the adventure of the heads that she carried and that were in the car, +like as she did at the court of King Arthur, and of the shield and the +brachet she had left there, but much it misliked Messire Gawain of the +damsel that was afoot behind them. "Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, +"Wherefore doth not this damsel that goeth afoot mount upon the car?" + +"Sir," saith she, "This shall she not, for behoveth her go not +otherwise than afoot. But and you be so good knight as men say, +betimes will she have done her penance." + +"How so?" saith Gawain. + +"I will tell you," saith she. "And it shall so be that God bring you +to the hostel of rich King Fisherman, and the most Holy Graal appear +before you and you demand unto whom is served thereof, then will she +have done her penance, and I, that am bald, shall receive again my +hair. And so you also make not demand thereof, then will it behove us +suffer sore annoy until such time as the Good knight shall come and +shall have achieved the Graal. For on account of him that first was +there and made not the demand, are all the lands in sorrow and warfare, +and the good King Fisherman is yet in languishment." + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "God grant me courage and will herein +that I may come to do this thing according to your wish, whereof may I +win worship both of God and of the world." + + +III. + +Messire Gawain and the damsels go on their way a great pace through the +high forest, green and leafy, where the birds are singing, and enter +into the most hideous forest and most horrible that any might ever see, +and seemed it that no greenery never there had been, so bare and dry +were all the branches and all the trees black and burnt as it had been +by fire, and the ground all parched and black atop with no green, and +full of great cracks. + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Right loathly is this forest and right +hideous. Goeth it on far like this?" + +"Sir." saith she, "For nine leagues Welsh goeth it on the same, but we +shall pass not through the whole thereof." + +Messire Gawain looketh from time to time on the damsel that cometh +arbor, and sore it irketh him that he may not amend her estate. They +ride on until that they come to a great valley and Messire Gawain +looketh along the bottom and seeth appear a black castle that was +enclosed within a girdle of wall, foul and evilseeming. The nigher he +draweth to the castle the more hideous it seemeth him, and he seeth +great halls appear that were right foully mis-shapen, and the forest +about it he seeth to be like as he had found it behind. He seeth a +water come down from the head of a mountain, foul and horrible and +black, that went amidst the castle roaring so loud that it seemed to be +thunder. Messire Gawain seeth the entrance of the gateway foul and +horrible like as it had been hell, and within the castle heard he great +outcries and lamentations, and the most part heard he saying: "Ha, God! +What hath become of the Good Knight, and when will he come?" + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "What is this castle here that is so +foul and hideous, wherein is such dolour suffered and such weary +longing for the coming of the Good Knight?" + +"Sir, this is the castle of the Black Hermit. Wherefore am I fain to +pray you that you meddle not herein for nought that they within may do +to me, for otherwise it may well be that your death is at hand, for +against them will you have no might nor power." + +They come anigh the castle as it were a couple of bow-shots, and +behold, through the gateway come knights armed on black horses and +their arms all black and their shields and spears, and there were a +hundred and fifty and two, right parlous to behold. And they come a +great gallop toward the damsel, and toward the car, and take the +hundred and fifty-two heads, each one his own, and set them upon their +spears and so enter into the castle again with great joy. Messire +Gawain seeth the insolence that the knights have wrought, and right +great shame hath he of himself that he hath not moved withal. + +"Messire Gawain," saith the damsel, "Now may you know how little would +your force have availed you herein." + +"Damsel, an evil castle is this where folk are robbed on such wise." + +"Sir, never may this mischief be amended, nor this outrage be done +away, nor the evil-doer therein be stricken down, nor they that cry and +lament within the prison there be set free until such time as the Good +Knight shall come for whom are they yearning as you have heard but now." + +"Damsel, right glad may the knight be that by his valour and his +hardiment shall destroy so many evil folk!" + +"Sir, therefore is he the Best Knight in the world, and he is yet young +enough of age, but right sorrowful am I at heart that I know not true +tidings of him; for better will have I to see him than any man on live." + +"Damsel, so also have I," saith Messire Gawain, "For then by your leave +would I turn me again." + +"Not so, sir, but and you shall come beyond the castle, then will I +teach you the way whereby you ought to go." + + +IV. + +With that they go toward the castle all together. Just as they were +about to pass beyond the castle wall, behold you where a knight cometh +forth of a privy postern of the castle, and he was sitting upon a tall +horse, his spear in his fist, and at his neck had he a red shield +whereon was figured a golden eagle. "Sir knight," saith he to Messire +Gawain, "I pray you bide." + +"What is your pleasure?" + +"You must needs joust with me," saith he "and conquer this shield, or +otherwise I shall conquer you. And full precious is the shield, +insomuch as that great pains ought you to take to have it and conquer +it, for it belonged to the best knight of his faith that was ever, and +the most puissant and the wisest." + +"Who, then, was he?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Judas Machabee was he, and he it was that first wrought how by one +bird to take another." + +"You say true," saith Messire Gawain; "A good knight was he." + +"Therefore right joyful may you be," saith he, "and you may conquer the +same, for your own is the poorest and most battered that ever saw I +borne by knight. For hardly may a man know the colour thereof." + +"Thereby may you well see," saith the damsel to the knight, "that his +own shield hath not been idle, nor hath the horse whereon he sitteth +been stabled so well as yours." + +"Damsel," saith the knight, "No need is here of long pleading. Needs +must he joust with me, for him do I defy." + +Saith Messire Gawain, "I hear well that you say." + +He draweth him back and taketh his career and the knight likewise, and +they come together as fast as their horses may carry them, spear in +rest. The knight smiteth Messire Gawain on the shield whereof he had +no great defence, and passeth beyond, and in the by-pass the knight +to-brake his spear; and Messire Gawain smiteth him with his spear in +the midst of his breast and beareth him to the ground over the croup of +his horse, all pinned upon his spear, whereof he had a good full hand's +breadth in his breast. He draweth his spear back to him, and when the +knight felt himself unpinned, he leaped to his feet and came straight +to his horse and would fain set his foot in the stirrup when the damsel +of the car crieth out: "Messire Gawain, hinder the knight! for and he +were mounted again, too sore travail would it be to conquer him!" + +When the knight heard name Messire Gawain, he draweth him back: "How?" +saith he; "Is this then the good Gawain, King Arthur's nephew?" + +"Yea," saith the damsel, "He it is without fail!" + +"Sir," saith the knight to Messire Gawain, "Are you he?" + +"Yea," saith he, "Gawain I am!" + +"Sir, so please you," saith he, "I hold me conquered, and right sorry +am I that I knew you not or ever I had ado with you." + +He taketh the shield from his neck and holdeth it to him. "Sir," saith +he, "Take the shield that belonged to the best knight that was in his +time of his faith, for none know I of whom it shall be better employed +than of you. And of this shield were vanquished all they that be in +prison in this castle." Messire Gawain taketh the shield that was +right fair and rich. + +"Sir," saith the knight, "Now give me yours, for you will not bear two +shields." + +"You say true," saith Messire Gawain. + +He taketh the guige from his neck and would have given him the shield, +when the damsel afoot: "Hold, sir knight, you that are named Messire +Gawain! What would you do? And he bear your shield into the castle +there, they of the castle will hold you recreant and conquered, and +will come forth thence and carry you into the castle by force, and +there will you be cast into his grievous prison; for no shield is borne +thereinto save of a vanquished knight only." + +"Sir knight," saith Messire Gawain, "No good you wish me, according to +that this damsel saith." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I cry you mercy, and a second time I hold me +conquered, and right glad should I have been might I have borne your +shield within yonder, and right great worship should I have had +thereof, for never yet hath entered there the shield of knight so good. +And now ought I to be right well pleased of your coming, sith that you +have set me free of the sorest trouble that ever knight had." + +"What is the trouble?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir," saith he, "I will tell you. Heretofore many a time hath there +been a passing by of knights both of hardy and of coward, and it was my +business to contend and joust with them and do battle, and I made them +present of the shield as did I you. The more part found I hardy and +well able to defend themselves, that wounded me in many places, but +never was knight so felled me to the ground nor dealt me so sore a +buffet as have you. And sith that you are carrying away the shield and +I am conquered, never here-after shall knight that passeth before this +castle have no dread of me nor of no knight that is herein." + +"By my head," saith Messire Gawain, "Now am I gladder of my conquest +than I was before." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "By your leave will I go my way, for, and I +may hide not my shame in the castle, needs must I show it openly +abroad." + +"God grant you do well!" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Messire Gawain," saith the Damsel of the Car, "give me your shield +that the knight would fain have carried off." + +"Willingly, damsel," saith he. The damsel that went afoot taketh the +shield and setteth it in the car. Howbeit, the knight that was +conquered mounted again upon his horse, and entered again into the +castle, and when he was come thereinto, arose a noise and great outcry +so loud that all the forest and all the valley began to resound +thereof. "Messire Gawain," saith the Damsel of the Car, "the knight is +shamed and there cast in prison another time. Now haste, Messire +Gawain! for now may you go!" + +With that they all set forward again upon their way together, and leave +the castle an English league behind. "Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, +"When it shall please you, I shall have your leave to go." + +"Sir," saith she, "God be guard of your body, and right great thanks of +your convoy." + +"Lady," saith he, "My service is always ready at your command." + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "Gramercy, and your own way see you there by +yonder great cross at the entrance of yonder forest. And beyond that, +will you find the fairest forest and most delightsome when you shall +have passed through this that sore is wearisome." + +Messire Gawain turneth him to go, and the damsel afoot crieth out to +him: "Sir, not so heedful are you as I supposed." + +Messire Gawain turneth his horse's head as he that was startled: +"Wherefore say you so, damsel?" saith he. + +"For this," saith she, "That you have never asked of my Damsel +wherefore she carrieth her arm slung at her neck in this golden stole, +nor what may be the rich pillow whereon the arm lieth. And no greater +heed will you take at the court of the rich King Fisherman." + +"Sweet, my friend," saith the Damsel of the Car, "blame not Messire +Gawain only, but King Arthur before him and all the knights that were +in the court. For not one of them all that were there was so heedful +as to ask me. Go your ways, Messire Gawain, for in vain would you now +demand it, for I will tell you not, nor shall you never know it save +only by the most coward knight in the world, that is mine own knight +and goeth to seek me and knoweth not where to find me." + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "I durst not press you further." + +With that the Damsel departeth, and Messire Gawain setteth him forward +again on the way that she had taught him. + + + +BRANCH III. + +INCIPIT. + +Here beginneth another branch of the Graal in the name of the Father, +and in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Ghost. + + +TITLE I + +Here is the story silent of the three damsels and the Car and saith +that Messire Gawain hath passed throughout the evil forest and is +entered into the forest passing fair, the broad, the high, the +plenteous of venison. And he rideth a great pace, but sore abashed is +he of that the damsel had said to him, and misdoubteth him but he shall +have blame thereof in many places. He rode hard the day long till that +it was evensong and the sun was about to set. And he looketh before +him and seeth the house of a hermit and the chapel in the thick of the +forest; and a spring flowed forth in front of the chapel right clear +and fresh, and above it was a tree full broad and tall that threw a +shadow over the spring. A damsel sate under the tree and held a mule +by the reins and at the saddle-bow had she the head of a knight +hanging. And Messire Gawain cometh thitherward and alighteth. + +"Damsel," saith he, "God give you good adventure!" + +"Sir," saith she, "And you always." + +When she was risen up over against him, "Damsel," saith he, "For whom +are you a-waiting here?" + +"Sir," saith she, "I am waiting for the hermit of this holy chapel, +that is gone into the forest, and I would fain ask him tidings of a +knight." + +"Think you he will tell you them and he knoweth any?" + +"Yea, sir, I think so, according to that I have been told." + +Therewithal behold you the hermit that was coming, and saluteth the +damsel and Messire Gawain and openeth the door of the house and setteth +the two steeds within and striketh off the bridles and giveth them +green-meat first and barley after, and fain would he have taken off the +saddles when Messire Gawain leapeth before: "Sir," saith he, "Do not +so! This business is not for you!" + +"Hermit though I be," saith he, "yet well know I how to deal withal, +for at the court of King Uther Pendragon have I been squire and knight +two-score years, and a score or mort have I been in this hermitage." + +And Messire Gawain looketh at him in wonderment. "Sir," saith he, +"Meseemeth you are not of more than forty years." + +"That know I well of a truth," saith the hermit, and Messire Gawain +taketh off the saddles and bethinketh him more of the damsel's mule +than of his own horse. And the hermit taketh Messire Gawain by the +hand and the damsel and leadeth them into the chapel. And the place +was right fair. + +"Sir," saith the hermit to Messire Gawain, "You will disarm you not," +saith he, "for this forest is passing adventurous, and no worshipful +man behoveth be disgarnished." + +He goeth for his spear and for his shield and setteth them within the +chapel. He setteth before them such meat as he hath, and when they +have eaten giveth them to drink of the spring. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "Of a knight that I go seek am I come to ask +you tidings." + +"Who is the knight?" saith the hermit. + +"Sir, he is the Chaste Knight of most holy lineage. He hath a heart of +gold, the look of a lion, the navel of a virgin maid, a heart of steel, +the body of an elephant, and without wickedness are all his conditions." + +"Damsel," saith the hermit, "Nought will I tell you concerning him, for +I know not of a certainty where he is, save this, that he hath lain in +this chapel twice, not once only, within this twelvemonth." + +"Sir," saith she, "Will you tell me no more of him, nor none other +witting?" + +"In no wise," saith the hermit. + +"And you, Messire Gawain?" saith she. + +"Damsel," saith he, "As fainly would I see him as you, but none find I +that may tell me tidings of him." + +"And the damsel of the Car, Sir, have you seen her?" + +"Yea, lady," saith he, "It is but just now sithence that I left her." + +"Carried she still her arm slung at her neck?" + +"Yea," saith Messire Gawain, "in such wise she carried it." + +"Of a long while," saith the damsel, "hath she borne it thus." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "how are you named?" + +"Sir," saith he, "Gawain am I called, King Arthur's nephew." + +"Thereof I love you the better," saith the hermit. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "You are of kindred to the worst King that is." + +"Of what King speak you?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"I speak," saith she, "of King Arthur, through whom is all the world +made worser, for he began doing well and now hath become evil. For +hatred of him hate I a knight that found me nigh S. Augustine's Chapel, +and yet was he the comeliest knight that saw I ever. He slew a knight +within the bar right hardily. I asked him for the head of the knight +and he went back for the same and set himself in sore peril. He +brought it me, and I made him great joy, but when he told me his name +was Arthur I had no fainness of the bounty he had done me, for that he +had the name of that evil King." + + +II. + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "You may say your pleasure. I tell you +that King Arthur hath held the richest court that he hath held ever, +and these evil conditions whereof you blame him is he minded to put +away for evermore, and more will he do of good and more of largesse +than was ever known aforetime so long as he shall live; nor know I none +other knight that beareth his name." + +"You are right," saith the damsel, "to come to his rescue, for that he +is your uncle, but your rescue will scarce avail him and he deliver not +himself." + +"Sir," saith the hermit to Messire Gawain, "The damsel will say her +pleasure. May God defend King Arthur, for his father made me knight. +Now am I priest, and in this hermitage ever sithence that I came hither +have I served King Fisherman by the will of Our Lord and His +commandment, and all they that serve him do well partake of his reward, +for the place of his most holy service is a refuge so sweet that unto +him that hath been there a year, it seemeth to have been but a month +for the holiness of the place and of himself, and for the sweetness of +his castle wherein have I oftentimes done service in the chapel where +the Holy Graal appeareth. Therefore is it that I and all that serve +him are so youthful of seeming." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "By what way may a man go to his castle?" + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "None may teach you the way, save the will of +God lead you therein. And would you fain go thither?" + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "It is the most wish that I have." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "Now God give you grace and courage to ask the +question that the others to whom the Graal hath appeared would ask not, +whereof have many mischances sithence befallen much people." + + +III. + +With that, they left of talking, and the hermit led Messire Gawain into +his house to rest, and the damsel abode still in the chapel. On the +morrow when dawn appeared, Messire Gawain that had lain all armed, +arose and found his saddle ready and the damsel, and the bridles set +on, and cometh to the chapel and findeth the hermit that was apparelled +to sing mass, and seeth the damsel kneeling before an image of Our +Lady, and she prayed God and the sweet Lady that they would counsel her +that whereof she had need, and wept right tenderly so that the tears +ran down her face. And when she had prayed of a long space she +ariseth, and Messire Gawain biddeth her God give her good day, and she +returneth his salute. + +"Damsel," saith he, "Meseemeth you are not over joyous." + +"Sir," saith she, "I have right, for now am I nigh unto my desolation, +sith that I may not find the Good Knight. Now must I needs go to the +castle of the Black Hermit, and bear thither the head that hangeth at +my saddle-bow, for otherwise shall I not be able to pass through the +forest but my body should there be cast in prison or shamed, and this +shall be the quittance for my passing. Then will I seek the Damsel of +the Car and so shall I go in safer through the forest." + +With that the hermit had begun the mass and Messire Gawain and the +damsel heard it. When mass was sung, Messire Gawain took leave of the +hermit and the damsel also. And Messire Gawain goeth one way and the +damsel the other, and either biddeth other to God. + + +IV. + +Hereupon the story is now silent of the damsel, and saith that Messire +Gawain goeth through the high forest and rideth a great pace, and +prayeth God right sweetly that He will set him in such way as that +thereby he may go to the land of the rich King Fisherman. And he +rideth until the hour of noon, and cometh into the fulness of the +forest and seeth under a tree a squire alighted of a horse of the +chase. Messire Gawain saluteth him, and the squire saith: "Sir, right +welcome may you be!" + +"Fair sweet friend," saith Messire Gawain, "Whither go you?" + +"Sir, I go to seek the lord of this forest." + +"Whose is the forest?" saith Messire Gawain. "Sir, it belongeth to the +best knight in the world." + +"Can you tell me tidings of him?" + +"He ought to bear a shield banded azure and argent with a red cross +thereon and a boss of gold. I say that he is good knight, but little +call have I to praise him, for he slew my father in this forest with a +javelin. The Good Knight was squire what time he slew him, and fain +would I avenge my father upon him and I may find him, for he reft me of +the best knight that was in the realm of Logres when he slew my father. +Well did he bereave me of him what time he slew him with his javelin +without defiance, nor shall I never be at ease nor at rest until I +shall have avenged him." + +"Fair sweet friend," saith Messire Gawain, "Sith that he is knight so +good take heed you increase not your wrong of your own act, and I would +fain that you had found him, so as that no evil had befallen him +thereof." + + +V. + +"So would not I," saith the squire, "for never shall I see him in this +place but I shall run upon him as my mortal enemy!" + +"Fair sweet friend," saith Messire Gawain, "you may say your pleasure, +but tell me is there no hold in this forest wherein I may harbour me +the night?" + +"Sir," saith the squire, "No hold know I within twenty league of your +way in any quarter. Wherefore no leisure have you to tarry, for it is +high noon already." + +So Messire Gawain saluteth the squire and goeth a great pace as he that +knoweth neither highway nor byway save only as adventure may lead him. +And the forest pleaseth him well for that it is so fair and that he +seeth the deer pass by before him in great herds. He rode on until it +drew toward evensong at a corner of the forest. The evening was fair +and calm and the sun was about to set. And a score league Welsh had he +ridden sithence that he parted from the squire, and sore he misdoubted +him that he should find no hold. He found the fairest meadow-land in +the world, and looked before him when he had ridden a couple of +bow-shot lengths and saw a castle appear nigh the forest on a mountain. +And it was enclosed of high walls with battlements, and within were +fair halls whereof the windows showed in the outer walls, and in the +midst was an ancient tower that was compassed round of great waters and +broad meadow-lands. Thitherward Messire Gawain draweth him and looketh +toward the gateway of the castle and seeth a squire issue forth a great +pace upon a hackney, and he came the way that Messire Gawain was +coming. And when the squire seeth him, and hath drawn somewhat anigh, +he saluteth him right nobly. + + +VI. + +"Sir, right welcome may you be!" + +"Good adventure may you have!" saith Messire Gawain. "Fair sweet +friend, what is this castle here, sir?" + +"Sir, it is the castle of the Widow Lady." + +"What is the name thereof;" + +"Camelot; and it belonged to Alain li Gros, that was a right loyal +knight and worshipful man. He is dead this long time, and my Lady hath +remained without succour and without counsel. Wherefore is the castle +warred upon of them that would fain reave her thereof by force. The +Lord of the Moors and another knight are they that war upon her and +would fain reave her of this castle as they have reft her of seven +other already. Greatly desireth she the return of her son, for no +counsel hath she save only of her one daughter and of five old knights +that help her to guard the castle. Sir," saith he, "The door is made +fast and the bridge drawn up, for they guard the castle closely, but, +so please you, you will tell me your name and I will go before and make +the bridge be lowered and the gate unfastened, and will say that you +will lodge within to-night." + +"Gramercy," saith Messire Gawain, "right well shall my name be known or +ever I depart from the castle." + +The squire goeth his way a great pace, and Messire Gawain tided softly +at a walk for he had yet a long way to go. And he found a chapel that +stood between the forest and the castle, and it was builded upon four +columns of marble and within was a right fair sepulchre. The chapel +had no fence of any kind about it so that he seeth the coffin within +full clearly, and Messire Gawain bideth awhile to look thereon. And +the squire entered into the castle and hath made the bridge be lowered +and the door opened. He alighteth and is come into the hall when was +the Widow Lady and her daughter. Saith the Lady to the squire: +"Wherefore have you returned from doing my message? Lady, for the +comeliest knight that I have seen ever, and fain would he harbour +within to-night, and he is garnished of all arms and rideth without +company." + +"And what name hath he?" saith the Lady. + +"Lady, he told me you should know it well or ever he depart from this +castle." + +Therewithal the Lady gan weep for joy and her daughter also, and, +lifting her hands towards heaven, "Fair Lord God!" saith the Widow +Lady, "And this be indeed my son, never before have I had joy that +might be likened to this! Now shall I not be disherited of mine +honour, neither shall I lose my castle whereof they would fain reave me +by wrong, for that no Lord nor champion have I!" + + +VII. + +Thereupon the Widow Lady ariseth up and her daughter likewise, and they +go over the bridge of the castle and see Messire Gawain that was yet +looking on the coffin within the chapel. + +"Now haste!" saith the Lady; "At the tomb shall we be well able to see +whether it be he!" + +They go to the chapel right speedily, and Messire Gawain seeth them +coming and alighteth. "Lady," saith he, "Welcome may you be, you and +your company." + +The Lady answereth never a word until that they are come to the tomb. +When she findeth it not open she falleth down in a swoon. And Messire +Gawain is sore afraid when he seeth it. The Lady cometh back out of +her swoon and breaketh out into great lamentation. + +"Sir," saith the damsel to Messire Gawain, "Welcome may you be! But now +sithence my mother supposed that you had been her son and made great +joy thereof, and now seeth she plainly that you are not he, whereof is +she sore sorrowful, for so soon as he shall return, this coffin +behoveth open, nor until that hour shall none know who it is that lieth +therein." + +The Lady riseth up and taketh Messire Gawain by the hand. "Sir," saith +she, "What is your name?" + +"Lady," saith he, "I am called Gawain, King Arthur's nephew." + +"Sir," saith she, "You shall be he that is welcome both for the sake of +my son and for your own sake." + +The Lady biddeth a squire lead his horse into the castle and carry his +shield and spear. Then they enter into the castle and lead Messire +Gawain into the hall, and make disarm him. After that, they fetch him +water to wash his hands and his face, for he was distained of the rust +of his habergeon. The Lady maketh apparel him in a rich robe of silk +and gold, and furred of ermine. The Widow Lady cometh forth of her +chamber and maketh Messire Gawain sit beside her. "Sir," saith she, +"Can you tell me any tidings of my son that I have not seen of this +long time past, and of whom at this present am I sore in need?" + + +VIII. + +"Lady," saith he, "No tidings of him know I to tell you, and right +heavy am I thereof, for he is the knight of the world that fainest I +would see and he be your son as I am told. What name hath he?" + +"Sir," saith she, "His name in right baptism is Perceval, and a right +comely squire was he when he departed hence. Now as at this time is it +said that he is the comeliest knight on live and the most hardy and the +cleanest of all wickedness. And sore need have I of his hardiment, for +what time that he departed hence he left me in the midst of a great +warfare on behalf of the Knight of the Red Shield that he slew. Within +the se'nnight thereafter he went away, nor never once have I seen him +sithence, albeit a full seven year hath passed already. And now the +brother of the knight that he slew and the Lord of the Moors are +warring upon me and are fain to reave me of my castle and God counsel +me not. For my brothers are too far away from me, and King Pelles of +the Lower Folk hath renounced his land for God's sake and entered into +a hermitage. But the King of Castle Mortal hath in him as much of +wickedness and felony as these twain have in them of good, and enough +thereof have they. But neither succour nor help may they give me, for +the King of Castle Mortal challengeth my Lord King Fisherman both of +the most Holy Graal and of the Lance whereof the point bleedeth every +day, albeit God forbid he should ever have them." + + +IX. + +"Lady," saith Messire Gawain, "There was at the hostel of King +Fisherman a knight before whom the Holy Graal appeared three times, yet +never once would he ask whereof it served nor whom it honoured." + +"Sir," saith the Widow Lady's daughter, "You say true, and the Best +Knight is he of the world. This say I for love of my brother, and I +love all knights for the love of him, but by the foolish wit of the +knight hath mine uncle King Fisherman fallen into languishment." + +"Sir," saith the Lady, "Behoveth all good knights go see the rich King +Fisherman. Will you not therefore go?" + +"Lady," saith Messire Gawain, "Yea, that will I, so speedily as I may, +for not elsewhither have I emprised my way." + +"Sir," saith she, "Then are you going to see my son, wherefore tell my +son, and you see him, of mine evil plight and my misease, and King +Fisherman my brother. But take heed, Messire Gawain, that you be +better mindful than was the knight." + +"Lady," saith Messire Gawain, "I shall do as God shall teach me." + +In the meanwhile as they were speaking thus together, behold you +therewithal the Widow Lady's five knights that were come in from the +forest and make bring harts and hinds and wild swine. So they alighted +and made great joy of Messire Gawain when they knew who he was. + + +X. + +When the meat was ready they sate to eat, and full plenteously were +they provided and right well were they served. Thereupon, behold, +cometh the squire that had opened the door for Messire Gawain, and +kneeleth before the Widow Lady. + +"And what tidings?" saith she. + +"Lady, there is to be a right great assembly of tourney in the valleys +that aforetime were ours. Already have they spread the Welsh booths, +and thither are come these two that are warring upon you and great +store other knights. And they have ordained that he which shall do +best at the assembly shall undertake the garrison of this castle in +such sort as that he shall hold it for his own alone against all other." + +The Widow Lady beginneth to weep: "Sir," saith she to Messire Gawain, +"Now may you understand that the castle is not mine own, sith that +these knights say it is theirs as you hear." + +"Certes, Lady," saith he, "Herein do they great dishonour and a sin." + + +XI. + +When the table was removed the damsel fell at Messire Gawain's feet, +weeping. He raiseth her forthwith and saith to her, "Damsel, herein do +you ill." + +"For God's sake, Sir, take pity on my Lady mother and me!" + +"Certes, damsel, great pity have I of you." + +"Sir, now shall it be seen in this strait whether you be good knight, +for good is the knighthood that doeth well for God's sake." + +The Widow Lady and her daughter go into the chamber, and Messire +Gawain's bed was made in the midst of the hall. So he went and lay +down as did also the five knights. All the night was Messire Gawain in +much thought. The morrow, when he was risen, he went to hear mass in a +chapel that was within and ate thereafter three sops in wine and then +armed him, and at the same time asked the five knights that were there +in the hall whether they would go see the assembly. + +"Yea, Sir," say they, "and you be going thither." + +"In faith, thither verily will I go!" saith Messire Gawain. + +The knights are armed forthwith, and their horses brought and Messire +Gawain's, and he goeth to take leave of the Widow Lady and her +daughter. But great joy make they of this that they have heard say +that he will go with their knights to the assembly. + + +XII. + +Messire Gawain and the five knights mounted and issued forth of the +castle and rode a great gallop before a forest. Messire Gawain looketh +before him about the foreclose of the forest, and seeth the fairest +purlieus that he had seen ever, and so broad they be that he may not +see nor know the fourth part thereof. They are garnished of tall +forests on one hand and on the other, and there are high rocks in the +midst with wild deer among. + +"Sir," say the knights, "Lo, these be the Valleys of Camelot whereof my +Lady and her daughter have been bereft, and bereft also hath she been +of the richest castles that be in Wales to the number of seven." + +"A wrong is it and a sin!" saith Messire Gawain. + +So far have they ridden that they see the ensigns and the shields there +where the assembly is to be held, and they see already mounted the more +part of the knights all armed and running their horses down the +meadow-land. And they see the tents stretched on the one hand and on +another. And Messire Gawain bideth, and the five knights under a tree, +and see the knights assembling on one hand and on another. One of the +five knights that were with him gave him witting of the Lord of the +Moors and the brother of the knight of the Red Shield that had to name +Chaos the Red. So soon as the tournament was assembled, Messire Gawain +and the knights come to the assembly, and Messire Gawain goeth to a +Welsh knight and beareth him to the ground, both him and his horse, all +in a heap. And the five come after at a great gallop and each +overthroweth his own, and greatly pride they themselves of Messire +Gawain. Chaos the Red seeth Messire Gawain but knoweth him not. He +goeth toward him a full career, and Messire Gawain receiveth him on the +point of his spear and hurtleth against him so sore that he all +to-brast his collarbone and maketh the spear fly from his fist. And +Messire Gawain searcheth the fellowships of one part and the other, and +findeth not nor encountereth no knight before him in his way but he +putteth him off his horse or woundeth him, either by himself or by one +of the five knights, that make right great joy of that they see him do. +They show him the Lord of the Moors that was coming with a full great +fellowship of folk. He goeth thitherward a great gallop. They mell +together either upon other of their spears that they bent and all +to-brast in flinders, and hurtle together so stoutly both of their +horses and their bodies that the Lord of the Moors loseth his stirrups +and hath the hinder saddlebow to-frushed, and falleth down to the +ground over his horse croup in such sort that the peak of his helm +dinteth a full palm's breadth into the turf. And Messire Gawain taketh +the horse that was right rich and good, maugre all of his fellowship, +and giveth it to one of the five knights that maketh it be led to +Camelot of a squire. Messire Gawain searcheth the ranks on the one +hand and on the other, and doeth such feats of arms as never no knight +might do the same again. The five knights also showed great hardiment, +and did more of arms that day than ever had they done tofore, for not +one of them but had overthrown at least a single knight and won his +horse. The Lord of the Moors was mounted again on another rich horse +and had great shame for that Messire Gawain had overthrown him. He +espieth Messire Gawain and goeth toward him a great gallop and thinketh +to avenge his shame. They come together either on other with a great +shock, and Messire Gawain smiteth him with the truncheon of his spear +that he had still left, in the midst of his breast, so that it was all +to-splintered. The Lord of the Moors likewise again to-brast his spear +upon him. Messire Gawain draweth his sword and flingeth the truncheon +to the ground. The Lord of the Moors doth likewise and commandeth his +folk not to mell betwixt them twain, for never yet had he found no +knight that he had not conquered. They deal them great buffets on the +helms, either upon other, in such sort that the sparks fly thereout and +their swords are blunted. The buffets of Messire Gawain are heavier +than the other's, for he dealeth them so mighty and horrible that the +blood rayeth out from the Lord of the Moors by the mouth and the nose +so that his habergeon is all bloody thereof and he may no more endure. +Thereupon he yieldeth him prisoner to Messire Gawain, that is right +glad thereof and his five knights likewise. The Lord of the Moors +goeth to his tent to alight, and Messire Gawain with him and alighteth. +And Messire Gawain taketh the horse and saith to one of the knights, +"Keep this for me." + +And all the knights are repaired to their tents, and with one accord +say they all that the knight of the Red Shield with the eagle of gold +thereon hath done better than we, and they ask the Lord of the Moors +whether he accordeth with them, and he saith "Aye." + +"Sir," saith he to Messire Gawain, "You, then, are the warden of this +castle of Camelot." + +"Gramercy, lord!" saith Messire Gawain. He calleth the five knights +and saith unto them: "Lords, my will is that you be there on my behalf +and that you shall safeguard the same by consent of the knights that +are here present." + +"Sir, right gladly do we agree thereto." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain to the Lord of the Moors, "I give you +moreover as my prisoner to the Widow Lady that harboured me last night." + +"Sir," saith he, "This have you no right to do. Assembly of tourney is +not war. Hence have you no right to imprison my body in castle, for +well am I able to pay my ransom here. But tell me, what is your name?" + +"I am called Gawain." + +"Ha, Messire Gawain, many a time have I heard tell of you albeit never +tofore have I seen you. But sith that the castle of Camelot is in your +keeping, I promise you loyally that before a year and a day neither the +castle nor none of the Lady's land need fear nought from me nor from +any other so far forth as I may hinder him, and hereto do I pledge me +in the presence of all these knights that are here. And, so you would +have of me gold or silver, thereof will I give you at your will." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Gramercy! I consent freely to as much as +you have said." + +Messire Gawain taketh leave and turneth him again toward the castle of +Camelot, and sendeth by a squire the horse of the Lord of the Moors to +the daughter of the Widow Lady, that made great joy thereof. And the +five knights drive before them the horses they have taken booty. +Whereof great also was the joy. No need to wonder whether Messire +Gawain were well harboured that night at the castle. He recounted to +the Lady how the castle was in the keeping of these knights. When it +came to morning-tide, Messire Gawain took leave and departed from the +castle, but not before he had heard mass, for such was his custom. The +Widow Lady and her daughter commend him to God, and the castle +remaineth in better keeping than he had found it. + + + +BRANCH IV. + + +INCIPIT. + +Here beginneth another branch of the Graal in the name of the Father, +and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. + + +TITLE I. + +And the story is silent here of the mother of the Good Knight, and +saith that Messire Gawain goeth so as God and adventure lead him toward +the land of the rich King Fisherman. And he entereth into a great +forest, all armed, his shield at his neck and his spear in his hand. +And he prayeth Our Lord that He counsel him of this holy errand he hath +emprised so as that he may honourably achieve it. He rode until that +he came at evensong to a hold that was in the midst of the forest. And +it was compassed about of a great water, and had about it great clumps +of trees so as that scarce with much pains might he espy the hall, that +was right large. The river that compassed it about was water royal, +for it lost not its right name nor its body as far as the sea. And +Messire Gawain bethought him that it was the hold of a worshipful man, +and draweth him thitherward to lodge. And as he drew anigh the bridge +of the hold, he looketh and seeth a dwarf sitting on a high bench. He +leapeth up: "Messire Gawain," saith he, "Welcome may you be!" + +"Fair, sweet friend," saith Messire Gawain, "God give you good +adventure! You know me, then?" saith he. + +"Well do I know you," saith the dwarf, "For I saw you at the +tournament. At a better moment could you not have come hither, for my +lord is not here. But you will find my lady, the fairest and most +gentle and most courteous in the realm of Logres, and as yet is she not +of twenty years." + +"Fair friend," saith Messire Gawain, "What name hath the lord of the +hold?" + +"Sir, he is called of Little Gomeret. I will go tell my lady that +Messire Gawain is come, the good knight, and bid her make great joy." + +Howbeit, Messire Gawain marvelleth much that the dwarf should make him +such cheer, for many knaveries hath he found in many places within the +bodies of many dwarfs. The dwarf is come into the chamber where the +lady was. + +"Now, haste, Lady!" saith he, "Make great joy, for Messire Gawain is +come to harbour with you." + +"Certes," saith she, "Of this am I right glad and right sorry; glad, +for that the good knight will lie here to-night, sorry, for that he is +the knight that my lord most hateth in the world. Wherefore he warneth +me against him for love of him, for oftentimes hath he told me that +never did Messire Gawain keep faith with dame nor damsel but he would +have his will of them." + +"Lady," saith the dwarf, "It is not true albeit it is so said." + + +II. + +Thereupon Messire Gawain entereth into the courtyard and alighteth, and +the lady cometh to meet him and saith to him: "May you be come to joy +and good adventure." + +"Lady," saith he, "May you also have honour and good adventure." + +The lady taketh him by the hand and leadeth him into the hall and +maketh him be seated on a cushion of straw. And a squire leadeth his +horse to stable. And the dwarf summoneth two other squires and doeth +Messire Gawain be disarmed, and helpeth them right busily, and maketh +fetch water to wash his hands and his face. + +"Sir," saith the dwarf, "Your fists are still all swollen of the +buffets you gave and received at the tournament." + +Messire Gawain answered him nought. And the dwarf entereth into the +chamber and bringeth a scarlet robe furred of ermine and maketh it be +done on Messire Gawain. And meat was made ready and the table set, and +the lady sate to eat. Many a time looked he upon the lady by reason of +her great beauty, and, had he been minded to trust to his heart and his +eyes, he would have all to-changed his purpose; but so straitly was his +heart bound up, and so quenched the desires thereof, that nought would +he allow himself to think upon that might turn to wickedness, for the +sake of the high pilgrimage he had emprised. Rather 'gan he withdraw +his eyes from looking at the lady, that was held to be of passing great +beauty. After meat Messire Gawain's bed was made, and he apparelled +himself to lie down. The lady bade him God give him good adventure, +and he made answer the like. When the lady was in her chamber, the +dwarf said to Messire Gawain: "Sir, I will lie before you, so as to +keep you company until you be asleep." + +"Gramercy," saith he, "And God allow me at some time to reward you of +the service." + +The dwarf laid himself down on a mattress before Messire Gawain, and +when he saw that he slept, he ariseth as quickly as he may, and cometh +to a boat that was on the river that ran behind the hall, and entereth +thereinto and roweth up-stream of the river. And he cometh to a +fishery, where was a right fair hall on a little eyot enclosed by a +marshy arm of the river. The jealous knight was come thither for +disport, and lay in the midst of the hall upon a couch. The dwarf +cometh forth of his boat thereinto, and lighteth a great candle in his +fist and cometh before the couch. "What ho, there!" saith the dwarf, +"Are you sleeping?" + +And the other waketh up sore startled, and asketh what is the matter +and wherefore is he come? + +"In God's name," saith he, "You sleep not so much at your ease as doth +Messire Gawain!" + +"How know you that?" saith he. + +"Well know I," saith the dwarf, "For I left him but now in your hall, +and methinketh he and your lady are abed together arm to arm." + +"How?" saith he, "I forbade her she should ever harbour Messire Gawain." + +"In faith," said the dwarf, "She hath made him greater cheer than ever +saw I her make to none other! But haste you and come, for great fear +have I lest he carry her away!" + +"By my head!" saith the knight; "I will go not, howsoever it be! But +she shall pay for it, even though she go!" + +"Then of wrong will it be!" saith the dwarf, "as methinketh!" + + +III. + +Messire Gawain lay in the hall that was ware of nought of this. He +seeth that day hath broken fair and clear, and ariseth up. The lady +cometh to the door of the hall and seeth not the dwarf, whereby well +she understandeth his treachery. She saith to Messire Gawain, "Sir, +for God's sake have pity upon me, for the dwarf hath betrayed me! And +you withdraw yourself forth of our forest and help not to rescue me +from the smart that my lord will make me suffer, great sin will you +have thereof. For well know you, that of right ought I not to be held +guilty toward my lord nor toward any other, for aught that you have +done toward me or I toward you." + +"You say true," saith Messire Gawain. Thereupon is he armed, and +taketh leave of the lady and issueth forth of the fair hold and setteth +him in an ambush in the forest nigh thereby. Straightway behold the +jealous knight where he cometh, he and his dwarf. He entereth into the +hall. The lady cometh to meet him. + +"Sir," saith she, "Welcome may you be!" + +"And you," saith he, "Shame and evil adventure may you have, as the +most disloyal dame on live, for that this night have you harboured in +my hostel and in my bed him that most have I warned you against!" + +"Sir," saith she, "In your hostel did I harbour him, but never hath +your bed been shamed by me, nor never shall be!" + +"You lie!" saith he, "like a false woman!" + +He armeth himself all incontinent and maketh his horse be armed, then +maketh the lady go down and despoil her to her shirt, that crieth him +mercy right sweetly and weepeth. He mounteth his horse and taketh his +shield and his spear, and maketh the lady be taken of the dwarf by her +tresses and maketh her be led before him into the forest. And he +bideth above a pool where was a spring, and maketh her enter into the +water that flowed forth full cold, and gathereth saplings in the forest +for rods and beginneth to smite and beat her across upon her back and +her breast in such sort that the stream from the spring was all bloody +therewithal. And she began to cry out right loud, until at last +Messire Gawain heareth her and draweth forth of the ambush wherein he +was, and cometh thitherward a great gallop. + +"By my faith," saith the dwarf, "Look you here where Messire Gawain +cometh!" + +"By my faith," saith the knight, "Now know I well that nought is there +here but treachery, and that the matter is well proven!" + +By this time, Messire Gawain is come, and saith: "Avoid, Sir knight! +Wherefore slay you the best lady and most loyal that ever have I seen? +Never tofore have I found lady that hath done me so much honour, and +this ought you to be well pleased to know, for neither in her bearing, +nor in her speech, nor in herself found I nought save all goodness +only. Wherefore I pray you of franchise and of love that you forbear +your wrath and that you set her forth of the water. And so will I +swear on all the sacred hallows in this chapel that never did I beseech +her of evil nor wantonness nor never had I no desire thereof." + +The knight was full of great wrath when he saw that Messire Gawain had +not gone his way thence, and an anguish of jealousy burneth him heart +and body and overburdeneth him of folly and outrage, and Messire Gawain +that is still before him moveth him to yet further transgression. +Natheless, for the fear that he hath of him he speaketh to him: +"Messire Gawain," saith he, "I will set her forth thence on one +condition, that you joust at me and I at you, and, so you conquer me, +quit shall she be of misdoing and of blame, but and if I shall conquer +you, she shall be held guilty herein. Such shall be the judgment in +this matter." + +"I ask no better," saith Messire Gawain. + + +IV. + +Thereupon, the knight biddeth the dwarf make set the lady forth of the +pool of the spring and make her sit in a launde whereas they were to +joust. The knight draweth him back the better to take his career, and +Messire Gawain cometh as fast as his horse may carry him toward Marin +the Jealous. And when Marin seeth him coming, he avoideth his buffet +and lowereth his spear and cometh to his wife that was right sore +distraught, and wept as she that suffered blameless, and smote her +through, out the body and slew her, and then turneth him again so fast +as his horse might carry him toward his hold. Messire Gawain seeth the +damsel dead and the dwarf that fleeth full speed after his lord. He +overtaketh him and trampleth him under his horses feet so that he +bursteth his belly in the midst. Then goeth he toward the hold, for he +thinketh to enter therein. But he found the bridge shut up and the +gate barred. And Marin crieth out upon him. + +"This shame and misadventure hath befallen me along of you, but you +shall pay for it yet and I may live." + +Messire Gawain hath no mind to argue with him, but rather draweth him +back and cometh again to where the lady lay dead, and setteth her on +the neck of his horse all bleeding, and then beareth her to a chapel +that was without the entrance of the hold. Then he alighted and laid +her within the chapel as fairly as most he might, as he that was sore +grieved and wrathful thereof. After that, he shut the door of the +chapel again as he that was afeared of the body for the wild beasts, +and bethought him that one should come thither to set her in her shroud +and bury her after that he was departed. + + +V. + +Thereupon Messire Gawain departeth, sore an-angered, for it seemed him +that never had no thing tofore befallen him that weighed so heavy on +his heart. And he rideth thoughtful and down-cast through the forest, +and seeth a knight coming along the way he came. And in strange +fashion came he. He bestrode his horse backwards in right outlandish +guise, face to tail, and he had his horse's reins right across his +breast and the base of his shield bore he topmost and the chief +bottommost, and his spear upside down and his habergeon and chausses of +iron trussed about his neck. He seeth Messire Gawain coming beside the +forest, that hath great wonderment of him when he seeth him. +Natheless, when they draw nigh, he turneth him not to look at Messire +Gawain, but crieth to him aloud: "Gentle knight, you that come there, +for God's sake do me no hurt, for I am the Knight Coward." + +"By God," saith Messire Gawain, "You look not like a man to whom any +ought to do hurt!" And, but for the heaviness of his heart and the +sore wrath that he had, he would have laughed at his bearing with a +right good will. + +"Sir Knight," saith Messire Gawain, "nought have you to be afeard of +from me!" + +With that he draweth anigh and looketh on him in the face and the +Knight Coward on him. "Sir," saith he, "Welcome may you be!" + +"And you likewise!" saith Messire Gawain. "And whose man are you, Sir +knight?" + +"The Damsel's man of the Car." + +"Thereof I love you the better," saith Messire Gawain. + +"God be praised thereof," saith the Knight Coward, "For now shall I +have no fear of you." + +"Nay, truly," saith Messire Gawain, "Thereof be well assured!" + +The Knight Coward seeth Messire Gawain's shield and knoweth it. "Ha, +Sir," saith he, "Now know I well who you are. Now will I alight and +ride the right way and set my arms to rights. For you are Messire +Gawain, nor hath none the right to claim this shield but only you." + +The knight alighteth and setteth his armour to rights, and prayeth +Messire Gawain abide until he be armed. So he abideth right willingly, +and helpeth him withal. Thereupon behold you a knight where he cometh +a great gallop athwart the forest like a tempest, and he had a shield +party black and white. "Abide, Messire Gawain!" saith he, "For on +behalf of Marin the Jealous do I defy you, that hath slain his wife on +your account." + +"Sir knight," saith Messire Gawain, "Thereof am I right heavy of heart, +for death had she not deserved." + +"That availeth nor," saith the Party Knight, "For I hold you to answer +for the death. So I conquer you, the wrong is yours; but, and you +conquer me, my lord holdeth his blame and shame for known and will hold +you to forfeit and you allow me to escape hence on live." + +"To this will I not agree," saith Messire Gawain, "For God well knoweth +that no blame have I herein." + +"Ha, Messire Gawain," saith the Knight Coward, "Fight him not as having +affiance in me, for of me will you have neither succour nor help!" + +"Heretofore," saith Messire Gawain, "have I achieved adventures without +you, and this also, and God help me, will I yet achieve." + +They come together a full career and break their lances on their +shields, and Messire Gawain hurtleth against the horse and passeth +beyond and overthroweth him and his horse together. Then draweth he +his sword and runneth upon him. And the knight crieth out: "Hold, +Messire Gawain! Are you minded to slay me? I yield me conquered, for +no mind have I to die for another's folly, and so I cry you mercy +hereof." + +Messire Gawain thinketh that he will do him no further harm, for that +of right behoveth him do his lord's bidding. Messire Gawain holdeth +his hands, and he doth him homage on behalf of his lord for his hold +and all of his land and becometh his man. + + +VI. + +Thereupon the knight departeth and Messire Gawain remaineth there. + +"Sir," saith the Knight Coward to Messire Gawain, "I have no mind to be +so hardy as are you; for, so God help me, had he defied me in such-wise +as he defied you, should have fled away forthwith, or elsewise I should +hay fallen at his feet and cried him of mercy." + +"You wish for nought but peace," saith Messire Gawain. + +"By S. James," saith the Coward, "Therein are you quite right, for of +war cometh nought but evil; nor never have I had no hurt nor wound saw +some branch of a tree or the like gave it me, and I see your face all +seamed and scarred in many places. So God help me, of such hardiesse +make I but small account, and every day I pray God that He defend me. +And so to God I commend you, for I am going after my Damsel of the Car." + +"Not thus shall you go," saith Messire Gawain, "save you tell me first +wherefore your Damsel of the Car beareth her arm slung to her neck in +such-wise." + +"Sir, this may I well tell you. With this hand serve she of the most +Holy-Graal the knight that was in the hostel of King Fisherman that +would not ask whereof the Graal served; for that she held therein the +precious vessel whereinto the glorious blood fell drop by drop from the +point of the lance, so that none other thing is she minded to hold +therein until such time as she shall come back to the holy place where +it is. Sir," saith the Knight Coward, "Now, so please you, may I well +go hence, and see, here is my spear that I give you, for nought is +there that I have to do therewithal." + +Messire Gawain taketh it, for his own was broken short, and departeth +from the knight and commendeth him to God. And he goeth his way a +great pace, and Messire Gawain also goeth amidst the forest, and full +weary is he and forspent with travail. And he rode until the sun was +due to set. And he meeteth a knight that was coming athwart the forest +and came toward Messire Gawain a great gallop like as he were smitten +through the body, and crieth over all the forest: "What is your name, +Sir knight?" + +"My name is Gawain." + +"Ha, Messire Gawain," saith the other, "In your service am I wounded +thus!" + +"How in my service?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir, I was minded to bury the damsel that you bare into the chapel, +and Marin the Jealous ran upon me and wounded me in many places in such +manner as you see. And I had already dug a grave with my sword to bury +the body when he seized it from me and abandoned it to the wild beasts. +Now go I hence yonder to the chapel of a hermit that is in this forest +to confess me, for well know I that I have not long to live for that +the wound lieth me so nigh my heart. But I shall die the more easily +now that I have found you and shown you the hurt that hath been done me +for your sake." + +"Certes," saith Messire Gawain, "this grieveth me." + + +VII. + +Therewithal the knights depart asunder, and Messire Gawain rode on +until he found in the forest a castle right fair and rich, and met an +ancient knight that was issued forth of the castle for disport, and +held a bird on his fist. He saluteth Messire Gawain and he him again, +and he asked him what castle is this that he seeth show so fair? And +he telleth him it is the castle of the Proud Maiden that never deigned +ask a knight his name. + +"And we, that are her men, durst not do it on her behalf. But right +well will you be lodged in the castle, for right courteous is she +otherwise and the fairest that ever any may know. Nor never hath she +had any lord, nor deigned to love no knight save she heard tell that he +was the best knight in the world. And I will go to her with you of +courtesy." + +"Gramercy, Sir," saith Messire Gawain. They enter into the castle both +twain together, and alight at the mounting-stage before the hall. The +knight taketh Messire Gawain by the hand and leadeth him up, and maketh +disarm him, and bringeth him a surcoat of scarlet purfled of vair and +maketh him do it on. Then leadeth he the lady of the castle to Messire +Gawain, and he riseth up to meet her. + +"Lady," saith he "Welcome may you be!" + +"And you, Sir, be welcome!" saith she, "Will you see my chapel?" + +"Damsel," saith he, "At your pleasure." + +And she leadeth him and taketh Messire Gawain by the hand, and he +looketh at the chapel and it well seemeth him that never before had he +come into none so fair nor so rich, and he seeth four tombs within, the +fairest that he had seen ever. And on the right hand side of the +chapel were three narrow openings in the wall that were wrought all +about with gold and precious stones, and beyond the three openings he +seeth great circlets of lighted candles that were before three coffers +of hallows that were there, and the smell thereof was sweeter than balm. + +"Sir knight," saith the damsel, "See you these tombs?" + +"Yea, damsel," saith Messire Gawain. + +"These three are made for the three best knights in the world and the +fourth for me. The one hath for name Messire Gawain and the second +Lancelot of the Lake. Each of them do I love for love's sake, by my +faith! And the third hath for name Perceval. Him love I better than +the other two. And within these three openings are the hallows set for +love of them. And behold what I would do to them and their three heads +were therein; and so I might not do it to the three together, yet would +I do it to two, or even to one only." + +She setteth her hand toward the openings and draweth forth a pin that +was fastened into the wall, and a cutting blade of steel droppeth down, +of steel sharper than any razor, and closeth up the three openings. + +"Even thus will I cut off their heads when they shall set them into +those three openings thinking to adore the hallows that are beyond. +Afterward will I make take the bodies and set them in the three +coffins, and do them be honoured and enshrouded right richly, for joy +of them in their life may I never have. And when the end of my life +shall be come as God will, even so will I make set me in the fourth +coffin, and so shall I have company of the three good knights." + +Messire Gawain heard the word, whereof he marvelled right sore, and +would right fain that the night were overpassed. They issue forth of +the chapel. The damsel maketh Messire Gawain be greatly honoured that +night, and there was great company of knights within that served him +and helped guard the castle. They show Messire Gawain much worship, +but they knew not that it was he, nor did none ask him, for such was +the custom of the castle. But well she knew that he oftentimes passed +to and fro amidst the forest, and four of the knights that watched the +forest and the passers-by had she commanded that and if any of these +three knights should pass they should bring him to her without gainsay, +and she would increase the land of each for so doing. + + +VIII. + +Messire Gawain was in the castle that night until the morrow, and went +to hear mass in the chapel or ever he removed thence. Afterward, when +he had heard mass and was armed, he took leave of the damsel and issued +forth of the castle as he that had no desire to abide there longer. +And he entereth into the forest and rideth a long league Welsh and +findeth two knights sitting by a narrow path in the forest. And when +they see him coming they leap up on their horses all armed and come +against Messire Gawain, shields on sides and spears in fists. + +"Bide, Sir knight!" say they, "And tell us your name without leasing!" + +"Lords," saith he, "Right willingly! never hath my name been +withholden when it hath been asked for. I am called Gawain, King +Arthur's nephew." + +"Nay, then, Sir, welcome may you be! One other demand have we to make +of you. Will you come with us to the lady in the world who most +desireth you, and will make much joy of you at Castle Orguelleux where +she is?" + +"Lord," saith Messire Gawain, "No leisure have I at this time, for I +have emprised my way else-whither." + +"Sir," say they, "Needs must you come thither without fail, for in such +wise hath she commanded us that we shall take you thither by force an +you come not of your own good-will." + +"I have told you plainly that thither will I not go," saith Messire +Gawain. With that, they leap forward and take him by the bridle, +thinking to lead him away by force. And Messire Gawain hath shame +thereof, and draweth his sword and smiteth one of them in such wrath +that he cutteth off his arm. And the other letteth the bridle go and +turneth him full speed; and his fellow with him that was maimed. And +away go they toward Castle Orguelleux and the Proud Maiden of the +castle and show her the mischief that hath befallen them. + +"Who hath mis-handled you thus?" saith she. + +"Certes, lady, Messire Gawain." + +"Where found you him?" + +"Lady," say they, "In the forest, where he came toward us a full +gallop, and was minded to pass by the narrows of the way, when we bade +him abide and come to you. But come he would not. We offered him +force, and he smote my fellow's arm off." + +She biddeth a horn be sounded incontinent, and the knights of the +castle arm, and she commandeth them follow Messire Gawain, and saith +that she will increase the land and the charge of him that shall bring +him to her. They were a good fifteen knights armed. Just as they were +about to issue out of the castle, behold you forthwith two keepers of +the forest where they come, both twain of them smitten through the +body. The damsel and the knights ask who hath done this to them, and +they say it was Messire Gawain that did it, for that they would have +brought him to the castle. + +"Is he far away?" saith the damsel. + +"Yea," say they, "Four great leagues Welsh." + +"Wherefore the greater folly would it be to follow him," saith one of +the sixteen knights, "For nought should we increase thereby save only +our own shame and hurt, and my Lady hath lost him through her own +default, for well know we that he it was that lay within, for that he +beareth a shield sinople with a golden eagle." + +"Yea," saith the wounded knight, "Without fail." + +"Is this then he?" saith the damsel. "I know him well now that I have +lost him by my pride and by my outrage; nor never more will knight lie +in my hostel sith that he will be estranged for that I ask not his +name. But it is too late! Herein have I failed of this one for ever +and ever save God bring him back to me, and through this one shall I +lose the other two!" + + +IX. + +Herewithal cometh to a stay the pursuit of Messire Gawain, that goeth +his way and prayeth God that He send him true counsel of that he hath +emprised, and that He allow him to come into some place where he may +hear true witting of the hostel of King Fisherman. And while he was +thus thinking, he heareth a brachet questing, and he cometh toward him +a great pace. When he is come anigh Messire Gawain he setteth his nose +to the ground and findeth a track of blood through a grassy way in the +forest, and when Messire Gawain was minded to leave the way where the +track of blood was, the brachet came over against him and quested. +Messire Gawain is minded not to abandon the track, wherefore he +followeth the brachet a great pace until he cometh to a marish in the +midst of the forest, and seeth there in the marish a house, ancient and +decayed. He passeth with the brachet over the bridge, that was right +feeble, and there was a great water under it, and cometh to the hall, +that was wasted and old. And the brachet leaveth of his questing. +Messire Gawain seeth in the midst of house a knight that was stricken +right through the breast unto the heart and there lay dead. A damsel +was issuing forth of the chamber and bare the winding-sheet wherein to +enshroud him. + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Good adventure may you have!" + +The damsel that was weeping right tenderly, saith to him: "Sir, I will +answer you not." + +She cometh toward the dead knight, thinking that his wounds should have +begun to bleed afresh, but they did not. + +"Sir," saith she to Messire Gawain, "Welcome may you be!" + +"Damsel," saith he. "God grant you greater joy than you have!" + +And the damsel saith to the brachet: "It was not this one I sent you +back to fetch, but him that slew this knight." + +"Know you then, damsel, who hath slain him?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Yea," saith she, "well! Lancelot of the Lake slew him in this forest, +on whom God grant me vengeance, and on all them of King Arthur's court, +for sore mischief and great hurt have they wrought us! But, please +God, right well shall this knight yet be avenged, for a right fair son +hath he whose sister am I, and so hath he many good friends withal." + +"Damsel, to God I commend you!" saith Messire Gawain. With that, he +issueth forth of the Waste Manor and betaketh him back to the way he +had abandoned, and prayeth God grant he may find Lancelot of the Lake. + + + +BRANCH V. + +INCIPIT. + +Here beginneth again another branch of the Graal in the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. + + +TITLE I. + +Messire Gawain goeth his way and evening draweth on; and on his right +hand was there a narrow pathway that seemed him to be haunted of folk. +Thitherward goeth he, for that he seeth the sun waxeth low, and findeth +in the thick of the forest a great chapel, and without was a right fair +manor. Before the chapel was an orchard enclosed of a wooden fence +that was scarce so high as a tall man. A hermit that seemed him a +right worshipful man was leaning against the fence, and looked into the +orchard and made great cheer from time to time. He seeth Messire +Gawain, and cometh to meet him, and Messire Gawain alighteth. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "Welcome may you be." + +"God grant you the joy of Paradise," saith Messire Gawain. The hermit +maketh his horse be stabled of a squire, and then taketh him by the +hand and maketh him sit beside him to look on the orchard. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "Now may you see that whereof I was making +cheer." + +Messire Gawain looketh therewithin and seeth two damsels and a squire +and a child that were guarding a lion. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "Here see my joy, which is this child. Saw you +ever so fair a child his age?" + +"Never," saith Messire Gawain. They go into the orchard to sit, for +the evening was fair and calm. He maketh disarm him, and thereupon the +damsel bringeth him a surcoat of right rich silk furred of ermine. And +Messire Gawain looketh at the child that rode upon the lion right +fainly. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "None durst guard him or be master over him +save this child only, and yet the lad is not more than six years of +age. Sir, he is of right noble lineage, albeit he is the son of the +most cruel man and most felon that is. Marin the Jealous is his +father, that slew his wife on account of Messire Gawain. Never +sithence that his mother was dead would not the lad be with his father, +for well knoweth he that he slew her of wrong. And I am his uncle, so +I make him be tended here of these damsels and these two squires, but +no one thing is there that he so much desireth to see as Messire +Gawain. For after his father's death ought he of right to be Messire +Gawain's man. Sir, if any tidings you know of him, tell us them." + +"By my faith, Sir," saith he, "Tidings true can I give you. Lo, there +is his shield and his spear, and himself shall you have this night for +guest." + +"Fair sir, are you he?" saith the hermit. + +"So men call me," saith Messire Gawain, "And the lady saw I slain in +the forest, whereof was I sore an-angered." + + +II. + +"Fair nephew," saith the hermit, "See here your desire. Come to him +and make him cheer." + +The lad alighteth of the lion and smiteth him with a whip and leadeth +him to the den and maketh the door so that he may not issue forth, and +cometh to Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain receiveth him between his +arms. "Sir," saith the child, "Welcome may you be!" + +"God give you growth of honour!" saith Messire Gawain. He kisseth him +and maketh cheer with him right sweetly. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "He will be of right your man, wherefore ought +you to counsel him and help him, for through you came his mother by her +death, and right sore need will he have of your succour." The child +kneeleth before him and holdeth up his joined hands. + +"Look, Sir," saith the hermit, "Is he not right pitiful? He offereth +you his homage." + +And Messire Gawain setteth his hands within his own: "Certes," saith +Messire Gawain, "Both your honour and your homage receive I gladly, and +my succour and my counsel shall you have so often as you shall have +need thereof. But fain would I know your name?" + +"Sir, I am called Meliot of Logres." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "He saith true, for his mother was daughter of +a rich earl of the kingdom of Logres." + + +III. + +Messire Gawain was well harboured the night and lay in a right fair +house and right rich. In the morning, when Messire Gawain had heard +mass, the hermit asked him, "Whitherward go you?" and he said, "Toward +the land of King Fisherman, and God allow me." + +"Messire Gawain," saith the hermit, "Now God grant you speed your +business better than did the other knight that was there before you, +through whom are all the lands fallen into sorrow, and the good King +Fisherman languisheth thereof." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "God grant me herein to do His pleasure." + +Thereupon he taketh his leave and goeth his way, and the hermit +commendeth him to God. And Messire Gawain rideth on his journeys until +he hath left far behind the forest of the hermitage, and findeth the +fairest land in the world and the fairest meadowlands that ever had he +seen, and it lasted a good couple of great leagues Welsh. And he seeth +a high forest before him, and meeteth a squire that came from that +quarter, and seeth that he is sore downcast and right simple. + +"Fair friend," saith Messire Gawain, "Whence come you?" + +"Sir," saith he, "I come from yonder forest down below." + +"Whose man are you?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"I belong to the worshipful man that owneth the forest." + +"You seem not over joyful," saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir, I have right to be otherwise," saith the squire, "For he that +loseth his good lord ought not to be joyful." + +"And who is your lord?" + +"The best in the world." + +"Is he dead?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Nay, of a truth, for that would be right sore grief to the world, but +in joy hath he not been this long time past." + +"And what name hath he?" + +"They call him Parlui there where he is." + +"And where then, is he, may I know?" + +"In no wise, Sir, of me; but so much may I well tell you that he is in +this forest, but I ought not to learn you of the place more at large, +nor ought I to do any one thing that may be against my master's will." + +Messire Gawain seeth that the squire is of passing comeliness and seeth +him forthwith bow his head toward the ground and the tears fall from +his eyes. Thereupon he asketh what aileth him. + +"Sir," saith he, "Never may I have joy until such time as I be entered +into a hermitage to save my soul. For the greatest sin that any man +may do have I wrought; for I have slain my mother that was a Queen, for +this only that she told me I should not be King after my father's +death, for that she would make me monk or clerk, and that my other +brother, who is younger-born than I, should have the kingdom. When my +father knew that I had slain my mother, he withdrew himself into this +forest, and made a hermitage and renounced his kingdom. I have no will +to hold the land for the great disloyalty that I have wrought, and +therefore am I resolved that it is meeter I should set my body in +banishment than my father." + +"And what is your name?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir, my name is Joseus, and I am of the lineage of Joseph of +Abarimacie. King Pelles is my father, that is in this forest, and King +Fisherman mine uncle, and the King of Castle Mortal, and the Widow Lady +of Camelot my aunt, and the Good Knight Par-lui-fet is of this lineage +as near akin as I." + + +IV. + +With that, the squire departeth and taketh leave of Messire Gawain, and +he commendeth him to God and hath great pity of him, and entereth into +the forest and goeth great pace, and findeth the stream of a spring +that ran with a great rushing, and nigh thereunto was a way that was +much haunted. He abandoneth his high-way, and goeth all along the +stream from the spring that lasteth a long league plenary, until that +he espieth a right fair house and right fair chapel well enclosed +within a hedge of wood. He looketh from without the entrance under a +little tree and seeth there sitting one of the seemliest men that he +had ever seen of his age. And he was clad as a hermit, his head white +and no hair on his face, and he held his hand to his chin, and made a +squire hold a destrier right fair and strong and tail, and a shield +with a sun thereon; and he was looking at a habergeon and chausses of +iron that he had made bring before him. And when he seeth Messire +Gawain he dresseth him over against him and saith: "Fair sir," saith +he, "Ride gently and make no noise, for no need have we of worse than +that we have." + +And Messire Gawain draweth rein, and the worshipful man saith to him: +"Sir, for God's sake take it not of discourtesy; for right fainly would +I have besought you to harbour had I not good cause to excuse me, but a +knight lieth within yonder sick, that is held for the best knight in +the world. Wherefore fain would I he should have no knight come within +this close, for and if he should rise, as sick as he is, none might +prevent him nor hold him back, but presently he should arm him and +mount on his horse and joust at you or any other; and so he were here, +well might we be the worse thereof. And therefore do I keep him so +close and quiet within yonder, for that I would not have him see you +nor none other, for and he were so soon to die, sore loss would it be +to the world." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "What name hath he?" + +"Sir," saith he, "He hath made him of himself, and therefore do I call +him Par-lui-fer, of dearness and love." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "May it not be in any wise that I may see +him?" + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "I have told you plainly that nowise may it +not be. No strange man shall not see him within yonder until such time +as he be whole and of good cheer." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Will you in nowise do nought for me +whatsoever I may say?" + +"Certes, sir, no one thing is there in the world that I would tell him, +save he spake first to me." + +Hereof is Messire Gawain right sorrowful that he may not speak to the +knight. "Sir," saith he to the hermit, "Of what age is the knight, and +of what lineage?" + +"Of the lineage of Joseph of Abarimacie the Good Soldier." + + +V. + +Thereupon behold you a damsel that cometh to the door of the chapel and +calleth very low to the hermit, and the hermit riseth up and taketh +leave of Messire Gawain, and shutteth the door of the chapel; and the +squire leadeth away the destrier and beareth the arms within door and +shutteth the postern door of the house. And Messire abideth without and +knoweth not of a truth whether it be the son of the Widow Lady, for +many good men there be of one lineage. He departeth all abashed and +entereth again into the forest. The history telleth not all the +journeys that he made. Rather, I tell you in brief words that he +wandered so far by lands and kingdoms that he found a right fair land +and a rich, and a castle seated in the midst thereof. Thitherward +goeth he and draweth nigh the castle and seeth it compassed about of +high walls, and he seeth the entrance of the castle far without. He +looketh and seeth a lion chained that lay in the midst of the entrance +to the gate, and the chain was fixed in the wall. And on either side +of the gate he seeth two serjeants of beaten copper that were fixed to +the wall, and by engine shot forth quarrels from their cross-bows with +great force and great wrath. Messire Gawain durst not come anigh the +gate for that he seeth the lion and these folk. He looketh above on +the top of the wall and seeth a sort of folk that seemed him to be of +holy life, and saw there priests clad in albs and knights bald and +ancient that were clad in ancient seeming garments. And in each crenel +of the wall was a cross and a chapel. Above the wall, hard by an issue +from a great hall that was in the castle, was another chapel, and above +the chapel was a tall cross, and on either side of this cross another +that was somewhat lower, and on the top of each cross was a golden +eagle. The priests and the knights were upon the walls and knelt +toward this chapel, and looked up to heaven and made great joy, and +well it seemed him that they beheld God in Heaven with His Mother. +Messire Gawain looketh at them from afar, for he durst not come anigh +the castle for these that shoot their arrows so strongly that none +armour might defend him. Way seeth he none to right nor left save he +go back again. He knoweth not what to do. He looketh before him and +seeth a priest issue forth of the gateway. "Fair sir," saith Messire +Gawain, "Welcome may you be!" + +"Good adventure to you also," saith the good man, "What is your +pleasure?" + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "So please you, I would fain ask you to +tell me what castle is this?" + +"It is," saith he, "the entrance to the land of the rich King +Fisherman, and within yonder are they beginning the service of the Most +Holy Graal." + +"Allow me then," saith Messire Gawain, "that I may pass on further, for +toward the land of King Fisherman have I emprised my way." + +"Sir," saith the priest, "I tell you of a truth that you may not enter +the castle nor come nigher unto the Holy Graal, save you bring the +sword wherewith S. John was beheaded." + +"What?" saith Messire Gawain, "Shall I be evilly entreated and I bring +it not?" + +"So much may you well believe me herein," saith the priest, "And I tell +you moreover that he who hath it is the fellest misbelieving King that +lives. But so you bring the Sword, this entrance will be free to you, +and great joy will be made of you in all places wherein King Fisherman +hath power." + +"Then must I needs go back again," saith Messire Gawain, "Whereof I +have right to be sore sorrowful." + +"So ought you not to be," saith the priest, "For, so you bring the +sword and conquer it for us, then will it be well known that you are +worthy to behold the Holy Graal. But take heed you remember him who +would not ask whereof it served." + +Thereupon Messire Gawain departeth so sorrowful and full of thought +that he remembereth not to ask in what land he may find the sword nor +the name of the King that hath it. But he will know tidings thereof +when God pleaseth. + + +VI. + +The history telleth us and witnesseth that he rode so far that he came +to the side of a little hill, and the day was right fair and clear. He +looketh in front of him before a chapel and seeth a tall burgess +sitting on a great destrier that was right rich and fair. The burgess +espieth Messire Gawain and cometh over against him, and saluteth him +right courteously and Messire Gawain him. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "God give you joy." + +"Sir," saith the goodman, "Right sorrowful am I of this that you have a +horse so lean and spare of flesh. Better would it become so worshipful +man as you seem to be that he were better horsed." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "I may not now amend it, whereof am I +sorry; another shall I have when it shall please God." + +"Fair sir," saith the burgess, "Whither are you bound to go?" + +"I go seek the sword wherewith the head of S. John Baptist was cut off." + +"Ha, sir," saith the burgess, "You are running too sore a peril. A King +hath it that believeth not in God, and is sore fell and cruel. He is +named Gurgalain, and many knights have passed hereby that went thither +for the sword, but never thence have they returned. But, and you are +willing to pledge me your word that so God grant you to conquer the +sword, you will return hither and show it me on your return, I will +give you this destrier, which is right rich, for your own." + +"Will you?" saith Messire Gawain, "Then are you right courteous, for +you know me not." + +"Certes, sir," saith he, "So worshipful man seem you to be, that you +will hold well to this that you have covenanted with me." + +"And to this do I pledge you my word," saith Messire Gawain, "that, so +God allow me to conquer it, I will show it to you on my return." + + +VII. + +Thereupon the burgess alighteth and mounteth upon Messire Gawain's +horse, and Messire Gawain upon his, and taketh leave of the burgess and +goeth his way and entereth into a right great forest beyond the city, +and rideth until sundown and findeth neither castle nor city. And he +findeth a meadow in the midst of the forest, right broad, and it ran on +beyond, like as there were the stream of a spring in the midst. He +looketh toward the foot of the meadow close by the forest, and seeth a +right large tent, whereof the cords were of silk and the pegs of ivory +fixed in the ground, and the tops of the poles of gold and upon each +was a golden eagle. The tent was white round about, and the hanging +above was of the richest silk, the same as red samite. Thitherward +goeth Messire Gawain and alighteth before the door of the tent, and +smiteth off the bridle of his horse, and letteth him feed on the grass, +and leaneth his spear and his shield without the tent, and looketh +narrowly within and seeth a right rich couch of silk and gold, and +below was a cloth unfolded as it were a feather-bed, and above a +coverlid of ermine and vair without any gold, and at the head of the +couch two pillows so rich that fairer none ever saw, and such sweet +smell gave they forth that it seemed the tent was sprinkled of balm. +And round about the couch were rich silken cloths spread on the ground. +And at the head of the couch on the one side and the other were two +seats of ivory, and upon them were two cushions stuffed with straw, +right rich, and at the foot of the couch, above the bed, two +candlesticks of gold wherein were two tall waxen tapers. A table was +set in the midst of the tent, that was all of ivory banded of gold, +with rich precious stones, and upon the table was the napkin spread and +the basin of silver and the knife with an ivory handle and the rich set +of golden vessels. Messire Gawain seeth the rich couch and setteth him +down thereon all armed in the midst, and marvelleth him wherefore the +tent is so richly apparelled and yet more that therein he seeth not a +soul. Howbeit, he was minded to disarm him. + + +VIII. + +Thereupon, behold you, saluteth a dwarf that entereth the tent and +saluteth Messire Gawain. Then he kneeleth before him and would fain +disarm him. Then Messire Gawain remembereth him of the dwarf through +whom the lady was slain. + +"Fair sweet friend, withdraw yourself further from me, for as at this +time I have no mind to disarm." + +"Sir," saith the dwarf, "Without misgiving may you do so, for until +to-morrow have you no occasion to be on your guard, and never were you +more richly lodged than to-night you shall be, nor more honourably." + +With that Messire Gawain began to disarm him, and the dwarf helpeth +him. And when he was disarmed, he setteth his arms nigh the couch and +his spear and sword and shield lying within the tent, and the dwarf +taketh a basin of silver and a white napkin, and maketh Messire Gawain +wash his hands and his face. Afterward, he unfasteneth a right fair +coffer, and draweth forth a robe of cloth of gold furred of ermine and +maketh Messire Gawain be clad therewithal. + +"Sir," saith the dwarf, "Be not troubled as touching your destrier, for +you will have him again when you rise in the morning. I will lead him +close hereby to be better at ease, and then will I return to you." + +And Messire Gawain giveth him leave. Thereupon, behold you, two +squires that bear in the wine and set the meats upon the table and make +Messire Gawain sit to eat, and they have great torches lighted on a +tall cresset of gold and depart swiftly. Whilst Messire Gawain was +eating, behold you, thereupon, two damsels that come into the tent and +salute him right courteously. And he maketh answer, the fairest he may. + +"Sir," say the damsels, "God grant you force and power tomorrow to +destroy the evil custom of this tent." + +"Is there then any evil custom herein, damsel?" saith he. + +"Yea, sir, a right foul custom, whereof much it grieveth me, but well +meseemeth that you are the knight to amend it by the help of God." + + +IX. + +Therewith he riseth from the table, and one of the squires was +apparelled to take away the cloths. And the two damsels take him by +the hand and lead him without the tent, and they set them down in the +midst of the meadow. "Sir," saith the elder damsel, "What is your +name?" + +"Damsel," saith he, "Gawain is my name." + +"Thereof do we love you the better, for well we know that the evil +custom of the tent shall be done away on condition that you choose +to-night the one of us two that most shall please you." + +"Damsel, gramercy," saith he. Thereupon he riseth up, for he was +weary, and draweth him toward the couch, and the damsels help him and +wait upon his going to bed. And when he was lien down, they seated +themselves before him and lighted the taper and leant over the couch +and prospered him much service. Messire Gawain answered them naught +save "Gramercy," for he was minded to sleep and take his rest. + +"By God," saith the one to the other, "And this were Messire Gawain, +King Arthur's nephew, he would speak to us after another sort, and more +of disport should we find in him than in this one. But this is a +counterfeit Gawain, and the honour we have done him hath been ill +bestowed. Who careth? To-morrow shall he pay his reckoning." + + +X. + +Thereupon, lo you, the dwarf where he cometh. "Fair friend," say they, +"Keep good watch over this knight that he flee not away, for he goeth +a-cadging from, hostel to hostel and maketh him be called Messire +Gawain, but Messire Gawain meseemeth is he not. For, and it were he, +and we had been minded to watch with him two nights, he would have +wished it to be three or four." + +"Damsel," saith the dwarf, "He may not flee away save he go afoot, for +his horse is in my keeping." + +And Messire Gawain heareth well enough that which the damsels say, but +he answereth them never a word. Thereupon they depart, and say: God +give him an ill night, for an evil knight and a vanquished and +recreant, and command the dwarf that he move not on any occasion. +Messire Gawain slept right little the night, and so soon as he saw the +day, arose and found his arms ready and his horse that had been led all +ready saddled before the tent. He armed himself as swiftly as he might, +and the dwarf helpeth him and saith to him: "Sir, you have not done +service to our damsels as they would fain you should, wherefore they +make sore complaint of you." + +"That grieveth me," saith Messire Gawain, "if that I have deserved it." + +"It is great pity," saith the dwarf, "when knight so comely as be you +is so churlish as they say." + +"They may say their pleasure," saith he, "for it is their right. I know +not to whom to render thanks for the good lodging that I have had save +to God, and if I shall see the lord of the tent or the lady I shall con +them much thanks thereof." + + +XI. + +Thereupon, lo you, where two knights come in front of the tent on their +horses, all armed, and see Messire Gawain that was mounted and had his +shield on his neck and his spear in his fist, as he that thinketh to go +without doing aught further. And the knights come before him: "Sir," +say they, "Pay for your lodging! Last night did we put ourselves to +misease on your account and left you the tent and all that is therein +at your pleasure, and now you are fain to go in this fashion." + +"What pleaseth it you that I should do?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"It is meet I should requite you of my victual and the honour of the +tent." + +Thereupon, lo you, where the two damsels come that were of right great +beauty. "Sir Knight," say they, "Now shall we see whether you be King +Arthur's nephew!" + +"By my faith," saith the dwarf, "Methinketh this is not he that shall +do away the evil custom whereby we lose the coming hither of knights! +Albeit if he may do it, I will forego mine ill will toward him." + +Messire Gawain thus heard himself mocked by day as well as by night and +had great shame thereof. He seeth that he may not depart without a +fight. One of the knights drew to backward and was alighted; the other +was upon his horse all armed, his shield on his neck and grasping his +spear in his fist. And he cometh toward Messire Gawain full career and +Messire Gawain toward him, and smiteth him so wrathfully that he +pierceth his shield and pinneth his shield to his arm and his arm to +his rib and thrusteth his spear into his body, and hurtleth against him +so sore that he beareth him to the ground, him and his horse together +at the first blow. + +"By my head! Look at Messire Gawain the counterfeit! Better doth he +to-day than he did last night!" + +He draweth back his spear, and pulleth forth his sword and runneth upon +him, when the knight crieth him mercy and saith that he holdeth himself +vanquished. Messire Gawain bethinketh him what he shall do and whether +the damsels are looking at him. + +"Sir knight," saith the elder, "Need you not fear the other knight +until such time as this one be slain, nor will the evil custom be done +away so long as this one is on live. For he is the lord of the other +and because of the shameful custom hath no knight come hither this +right long space." + +"Hearken now," saith the knight, "the great disloyalty of her! Nought +in the world is there she loved so well in seeming as did she me, and +now hath she adjudged me my death!" + +"Again I tell you plainly," saith she, "that never will it be done away +unless he slay you." + +Thereupon Messire Gawain lifteth the skirt of his habergeon and +thrusteth his sword into his body. Thereupon, lo you, the other +knight, right angry and sorrowful and full of wrath for his fellow that +he seeth dead, and cometh in great rage to Messire Gawain and Messire +Gawain to him, and so stoutly they mell together that they pierce the +shields and pierce the habergeons and break the flesh of the ribs with +the points of their spears, and the bodies of the knights and their +horses hurtle together so stiffly that saddle-bows are to-frushed and +stirrups loosened and girths to-brast and fewtres splintered and spears +snapped short, and the knights drop to the ground with such a shock +that the blood rayeth forth at mouth and nose. In the fall that the +knight made, Messire Gawain brake his collar-bone in the hurtle. +Thereupon the dwarf crieth out: "Damsel, your counterfeit Gawain doth +it well!" + +"Our Gawain shall he be," say they, "so none take him from us!" + +Messire Gawain draweth from over the knight and cometh toward his +horse, and right fain would he have let the knight live had it not been +for the damsels. For the knight crieth him mercy and Messire Gawain +had right great pity of him. Howbeit the damsels cry to him; "And you +slay him not, the evil custom will not be overthrown." + +"Sir," saith the younger damsel, "And you would slay him, smite him in +the sole of his foot with your sword, otherwise will he not die yet." + +"Damsel," saith the knight, "Your love of me is turned to shame! Never +more ought knight to set affiance nor love on damsel. But God keep the +other that they be not such as you!" + +Messire Gawain marvelleth at this that the damsel saith to him, and +draweth him back, and hath great pity of the knight, and cometh to the +other side whither the horses were gone, and taketh the saddle of the +knight that was dead and setteth it on his own horse and draweth him +away. And the wounded knight was remounted, for the dwarf had helped +him, and fleeth toward the forest a great gallop. And the damsels cry +out, "Messire Gawain, your pity will be our death this day! For the +Knight without Pity is gone for succour, and if he escape, we shall be +dead and you also!" + + +XII. + +Thereupon Messire Gawain leapeth on his horse and taketh a spear that +was leaning against the tent and followeth the knight in such sort that +he smiteth him to the ground. Afterward he saith to him: "No further +may you go!" + +"That grieveth me," saith the knight, "For before night should I have +been avenged of you and of the damsels." + +And Messire Gawain draweth his sword and thrusteth it into the sole of +his foot a full palm's breadth, and the knight stretcheth himself forth +and dieth. And Messire Gawain returneth back, and the damsels make +great joy of him and tell him that never otherwise could the evil +custom have been done away. For, and he had gone his way, all would +have been to begin over again, for he is of such kind seeing that he +was of the kindred of Achilles, and that all his ancestors might never +otherwise die. And Messire Gawain alighteth, and the damsels would +have searched the wound in his side, and he telleth them that he taketh +no heed thereof. + +"Sir," say they, "Again do we proffer you our service, for well we know +that you are a good knight. Take for your lady-love which of us you +will." + +"Gramercy, damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Your love do I refuse not +and to God do I commend you." + +"How?" say the damsels, "Will you go your way thus? Certes, meeter +were it to-day for you to sojourn in this tent and be at ease." + +"It may not be," saith he, "for leisure have I none to abide here." + +"Let him go!" saith the younger, "for the falsest knight is he of the +world." + +"By my head," saith the elder, "it grieveth me that he goeth, for stay +would have pleased me well." + +Therewithal Messire Gawain departeth and is remounted on his horse. +Then he entereth into the forest. + + + +BRANCH VI. + +INCIPIT. + +Another branch that Josephus telleth us recounteth and witnesseth of +the Holy Graal, and here beginneth for us in the name of the Father, +and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. + + +TITLE I. + +Messire Gawain rode until he came to a forest, and seeth a land right +fair and rich in a great enclosure of wall, and round the land and +country-side within, the wall stretched right far away. Thitherward he +cometh and seeth but one entrance thereinto, and he seeth the fairest +land that ever he beheld and the best garnished and the fairest +orchards. The country was not more than four leagues Welsh in length, +and in the midst thereof was a tower on a high rock. And on the top +was a crane that kept watch over it and cried when any strange man came +into the country. Messire Gawain rode amidst the land and the crane +cried out so loud that the King of Wales heard it, that was lord of the +land. Thereupon, behold you, two knights that come after Messire Gawain +and say to him: "Hold, Sir knight, and come speak with the king of this +country, for no strange knight passeth through his land but he seeth +him." + +"Lords," saith Messire Gawain, "I knew not of the custom. Willingly +will I go." + +They led him thither to the hall where the King was, and Messire Gawain +alighteth and setteth his shield and his spear leaning against a +mounting stage and goeth up into the hall. The King maketh great joy +of him and asketh him whither he would go? + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Into a country where I was never." + +"Well I know," saith the king, "where it is, for that you are passing +through my land. You are going to the country of King Gurgalain to +conquer the sword wherewith S. John was beheaded." + + +II. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "You say true. God grant me that I may +have it!" + +"That may not be so hastily," saith the King, "For you shall not go +forth of my land before a year." + +"Ha, Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "For God's sake, mercy!" + +"None other mercy is here," saith the King. Straightway he maketh +Messire Gawain be disarmed and afterward maketh bring a robe wherewith +to apparel him, and showeth him much honour. But ill is he at ease, +wherefore he saith to him: "Sir, wherefore are you fain to hold me here +within so long?" + +"For this, that I know well you will have the sword and will not return +by me." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "I pledge you my word that, so God give me +to conquer it, I will return by you." + +"And I will allow you to depart from me at your will. For nought is +there that I so much desire to see." + +He lay the night therewithin, and on the morrow departed thence and +issued forth of the land right glad and joyful. And he goeth toward +the land of King Gurgalain. And he entereth into a noisome forest at +the lower part and findeth at the right hour of noon a fountain that +was enclosed of marble, and it was overshadowed of the forest like as +it were with leaves down below, and it had rich pillars of marble all +round about with fillets of gold and set with precious stones. Against +the master-pillar hung a vessel of gold by a silver chain, and in the +midst of the fountain was an image so deftly wrought as if it had been +alive. When Messire appeared at the fountain, the image set itself in +the water and was hidden therewith. Messire Gawain goeth down, and +would fain have taken hold on the vessel of gold when a voice crieth +out to him: "You are not the Good Knight unto whom is served thereof +and who thereby is made whole." + +Messire Gawain draweth him back and seeth a clerk come to the fountain +that was young of age and clad in white garments, and he had a stole on +his arm and held a little square vessel of gold, and cometh to the +little vessel that was hanging on the marble pillar and looketh +therein, and then rinseth out the other little golden vessel that he +held, and then setteth the one that he held in the place of the other. +Therewithal, behold, three damsels that come of right great beauty, and +they had white garments and their heads were covered with white cloths, +and they carried, one, bread in a little golden vessel, and the other +wine in a little ivory vessel, and the third flesh in one of silver. +And they come to the vessel of gold that hung against the pillar and +set therein that which they have brought, and afterward they make the +sign of the cross over the pillar and come back again. But on their +going back, it seemed to Messire Gawain that only one was there. +Messire Gawain much marvelled him of this miracle. He goeth after the +clerk that carried the other vessel of gold, and saith unto him: "Fair +Sir, speak to me." + +"What is your pleasure?" saith the clerk. + +"Whither carry you this golden vessel and that which is therein?" + +"To the hermits," saith he, "that are in this forest, and to the Good +knight that lieth sick in the house of his uncle King Hermit." + +"Is it far from hence?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Yea, Sir," saith the clerk, "to yourself. But I shall be there sooner +than will you." + +"By God," saith Messire Gawain, "I would fain I were there now, so that +I might see him and speak to him." + +"That believe I well," saith the clerk, "But now is the place not here." + +Messire Gawain taketh leave and goeth his way and rideth until he +findeth a hermitage and seeth the hermit therewithout. He was old and +bald and of good life. + +"Sir," saith he to Messire Gawain, "Whither go you?" + +"To the land of King Gurgalain, Sir; is this the way?" + +"Yea," saith the hermit, "But many knights have passed hereby that +hither have never returned." + +"Is it far?" saith he. + +"He and his land are hard by, but far away is the castle wherein is the +sword." + +Messire Gawain lay the night therewithin. On the morrow when he had +heard mass, he departed and rode until he cometh to the land of King +Gurgalain, and heareth the folk of the land making dole right sore. +And he meeteth a knight that cometh a great pace to a castle. + + +IV. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Wherefore make the folk of this castle +such dole, and they of all this land and all this country? For I hear +them weep and beat their palms together on every side." + +"Sir," saith he, "I will tell you. King Gurgalain had one only son of +whom he hath been bereft by a Giant that hath done him many mischiefs +and wasted much of his land. Now hath the King let everywhere be cried +that to him that shall bring back his son and slay the Giant he will +give the fairest sword of the world, the which sword he hath, and of +all his treasure so much as he may be fain to take. As at this time, +he findeth no knight so hardy that he durst go; and much more blameth +he his own law than the law of the Christians, and he saith that if any +Christian should come into his land, he would receive him." + +Right joyous is Messire Gawain of these tidings, and departeth from the +castle and rideth on until he cometh to the castle of King Gurgalain. +The tidings come to the King that there is a Christian come into his +castle. The King maketh great joy thereof, and maketh him come before +him and asketh him of his name and of what land he is. + +"Sir," saith he, "My name is Gawain and I am of the land of King +Arthur." + +"You are," saith he, "of the land of the Good Knight. But of mine own +land may I find none that durst give counsel in a matter I have on +hand. But if you be of such valour that you be willing to undertake to +counsel me herein, right well will I reward you. A Giant hath carried +off my son whom I loved greatly, and so you be willing to set your body +in jeopardy for my son, I will give you the richest sword that was ever +forged, whereby the head of S. John was cut off. Every day at right +noon is it bloody, for that at that hour the good man had his head cut +off." + +The King made fetch him the sword, and in the first place showeth him +the scabbard that was loaded of precious stones and the mountings were +of silk with buttons of gold, and the hilt in likewise, and the pommel +of a most holy sacred stone that Enax, a high emperor of Rome, made be +set thereon. Then the King draweth it forth of the scabbard, and the +sword came forth thereof all bloody, for it was the hour of noon. And +he made hold it before Messire Gawain until the hour was past, and +thereafter the sword becometh as clear as an emerald and as green. And +Messire looketh at it and coveteth it much more than ever he did +before, and he seeth that it is as long as another sword, albeit, when +it is sheathed in the scabbard, neither scabbard nor sword seemeth of +two spans length. + + +V. + +"Sir Knight," saith the King, "This sword will I give you, and another +thing will I do whereof you shall have joy." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "And I will do your need, if God please +and His sweet Mother." + +Thereupon he teacheth him the way whereby the Giant went, and the place +where he had his repair, and Messire Gawain goeth his way thitherward +and commendeth himself to God. The country folk pray for him according +to their belief that he may back repair with life and health, for that +he goeth in great peril. He hath ridden until that he cometh to a +great high mountain that lay round about a land that the Giant had all +laid waste, and the enclosure of the mountain went round about for a +good three leagues Welsh, and therewithin was the Giant, so great and +cruel and horrible that he feared no man in the world, and for a long +time had he not been sought out by any knight, for none durst won in +that quarter. And the pass of the mountain whereby he went to his hold +was so strait that no horse might get through; wherefore behoveth +Messire Gawain leave his horse and his shield and spear and to pass +beyond the mountain by sheer force, for the way was like a cut between +sharp rocks. He is come to level ground and looketh before him and +seeth a hold that the Giant had on the top of a rock, and espieth the +Giant and the lad where they were sitting on the level ground under a +tree. Messire Gawain was armed and had his sword girt on, and goeth +his way thitherward. And the Giant seeth him coming and leapeth up and +taketh in hand a great axe that was at his side, and cometh toward +Messire Gawain all girded for the fight and thinketh to smite him a +two-handed stroke right amidst the head. But Messire Gawain swerveth +aside and bestirreth him with his sword and dealeth him a blow such +that he cut off his arm, axe and all. And the Giant returneth backward +when he feeleth himself wounded, and taketh the King's son by the neck +with his other hand and grippeth him so straitly that he strangleth and +slayeth him. Then he cometh back to Messire Gawain and falleth upon +him and grippeth him sore strait by the flanks, and lifteth him three +foot high off the ground and thinketh to carry him to his hold that was +within the rock. And as he goeth thither he falleth, Messire Gawain +and all, and he lieth undermost. Howbeit, he thinketh to rise, but +cannot, for Messire Gawain sendeth him his sword right through his +heart and beyond. Afterward, he cut off the head and cometh there +where the King's child lay dead, whereof is he right sorrowful. And he +beareth him on his neck, and taketh the Giant's head in his hand and +returneth there where he had left his horse and shield and spear, and +mounteth and cometh back and bringeth the King's son before the King +and the head of the Giant hanging. + + +VI. + +The King and all they of the castle come to meet him with right great +joy, but when they see the young man dead, their great joy is turned +into right great dole thereby. And Messire Gawain alighteth before the +castle and presenteth to the King his son and the head of the Giant. + +"Certes," said he, "might I have presented him to you on live, much +more joyful should I have been thereof." + +"This believe I well," saith the King, "Howbeit, of so much as you have +done am I well pleased, and your guerdon shall you have." + +And he looketh at his son and lamenteth him right sweetly, and all they +of the castle after him. Thereafter he maketh light a great show of +torches in the midst of the city, and causeth a great fire to be made, +and his son be set thereon in a brazen vessel all full of water, and +maketh him be cooked and sodden over this fire, and maketh the Giant's +head be hanged at the gate. + + +VII. + +When his son was well cooked, he maketh him be cut up as small as he +may, and biddeth send for all the high men of his land and giveth +thereof to each so long as there was any left. After that he maketh +bring the sword and giveth it to Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain +thanketh him much thereof. + +"More yet will I do for you," saith the King. He biddeth send for all +the men of his land to come to his hall and castle. + +"Sir," saith he, "I am fain to baptize me." + +"God be praised thereof," saith Messire Gawain. The King biddeth send +for a hermit of the forest, and maketh himself be baptized, and he had +the name of Archis in right baptism; and of all them that were not +willing to believe in God, he commanded Messire Gawain that he should +cut off their heads. + + +VIII. + +In such wise was this King baptized that was the lord of Albanie, by +the miracle of God and the knighthood of Messire Gawain, that departeth +from the castle with right great joy and rideth until he has come into +the land of the King of Wales and bethought him he would go fulfil his +pledge. He alighted before the hall, and the King made right great +cheer when he saw him come. And Messire Gawain hath told him: "I come +to redeem my pledge. Behold, here is the sword." + +And the King taketh it in his hand and looketh thereon right fainly, +and afterward maketh great joy thereof and setteth it in his treasury +and saith: "Now have I done my desire." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Then have you betrayed me." + +"By my head," saith the King, "That have I not, for I am of the lineage +of him that beheaded S. John, wherefore have I better right to it than +you." + +"Sir," say the knights to the King, "Right loyal and courteous knight +is Messire Gawain, wherefore yield him that which he hath conquered, +for sore blame will you have of evil-treating him." + +"I will yield it," saith the King "on such condition that the first +damsel that maketh request of him, what thing soever she may require +and whatsoever it be shall not be denied of him." + +And Messire Gawain agreeth thereto, and of this agreement thereafter +did he suffer much shame and anguish and was blamed of many knights. +And the King yielded him the Sword. He lay the night therewithin, and +on the morrow so soon as he might, he departed and rode until he came +without the city where the burgess gave him the horse in exchange for +his own. And he remembered him of his covenant, and abideth a long +space and leaneth him on the hilt of his sword until the burgess +cometh. Therewithal made they great joy the one of the other, and +Messire showeth him the sword, and the burgess taketh it and smiteth +his horse with his spurs and goeth a great gallop toward the city. And +Messire Gawain goeth after a great pace and crieth out that he doth +great treachery. + +"Come not after me into the city," saith the burgess, "for the folk +have a commune." + +Howbeit, he followeth after into the city for that he might not +overtake him before, and therein he meeteth a great procession of +priests and clerks that bore crosses and censers. And Messire Gawain +alighteth on account of the procession, and seeth the burgess that hath +gone into the church and the procession after. + +"Lords," saith Messire Gawain, "Make yield me the sword whereof this +burgess that hath entered your church hath plundered me." + +"Sir," say the priests, "Well know we that it is the sword wherewith S. +John was beheaded, wherefore the burgess hath brought it to us to set +with our hallows in yonder, and saith that it was given him." + +"Ha, lords!" saith Messire Gawain, "Not so! I have but shown it to him +to fulfil my pledge. And he hath carried it off by treachery." + +Afterward he telleth them as it had befallen him, and the priests make +the burgess give it up, and with great joy Messire Gawain departeth and +remounteth his horse and issueth forth of the city. He hath scarce gone +far before he meeteth a knight that came all armed, as fast as his +horse could carry him, spear in rest. + +"Sir," saith he to Messire Gawain, "I have come to help you. We were +told that you had been evil-entreated in the city, and I am of the +castle that succoureth all strange knights that pass hereby whensoever +they have need thereof." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Blessed be the castle! I plain me not of +the trespass for that right hath been done me. And how is the castle +named?" + +"Sir, they call it the Castle of the Ball. Will you return back +thither with me, since you are delivered, and lodge there the night +with Messire, that is a right worshipful man, and of good conditions?" + +Therewith they go together to the castle, that was right fair and +well-seeming. They enter in, and when they were within, the Lord, that +sate on a mounting-stage of marble, had two right fair daughters, and +he made them play before him with a ball of gold, and looked at them +right fainly. He seeth Messire Gawain alight and cometh to meet him +and maketh him great cheer. Afterward, he biddeth his two daughters +lead him into the hall. + + +IX. + +When he was disarmed, the one brought him a right rich robe, and after +meat the two maidens sit beside him and make him right great cheer. +Thereupon behold you, a dwarf that issueth forth of a chamber, and he +holdeth a scourge. And he cometh to the damsels and smiteth them over +their faces and their heads. + +"Rise up," saith he, "ye fools, ill-taught! Ye make cheer unto him +whom you ought to hate! For this is Messire Gawain, King Arthur's +nephew, by whom was your uncle slain!" + +Thereupon they rise, all ashamed, and go into the chamber, and Messire +Gawain remaineth there sore abashed. But their father comforteth him +and saith: "Sir, be not troubled for aught that he saith, for the dwarf +is our master: he chastiseth and teacheth my daughters, and he is wroth +for that you have slain his brother, whom you slew the day that Marin +slew his wife on your account, whereof we are right sorrowful in this +castle." + +"So also am I," saith Messire Gawain, "But no blame of her death have I +nor she, as God knoweth of very truth." + + +X. + +Messire Gawain lay the night at the castle, and departed on the morrow, +and rode on his journeys until he cometh to the castle at the entrance +to the land of the rich King Fisherman, where he seeth that the lion is +not at the entrance nor were the serjeants of copper shooting. And he +seeth in great procession the priests and them of the castle coming to +meet him, and he alighteth, and a squire was apparelled ready, that +took his armour and his horse, and he showeth the sword to them that +were come to meet him. It was the hour of noon. He draweth the sword, +and seeth it all bloody, and they bow down and worship it, and sing 'Te +Deum laudamus'. With such joy was Messire Gawain received at the +castle, and he set the sword back in his scabbard, and kept it right +anigh him, and made it not known in all the places where he lodged that +it was such. The priests and knights of the castle make right great +joy, and pray him right instantly that so God should lead him to the +castle of King Fisherman, and the Graal should appear before him, he +would not be so forgetful as the other knights. And he made answer +that he would do that which God should teach him. + + +XI. + +"Messire Gawain," saith the master of the priests, that was right +ancient: "Great need have you to take rest, for meseemeth you have had +much travail." + +"Sir, many things have I seen whereof I am sore abashed, nor know I +what castle this may be." + +"Sir," saith the priest, "This Castle is the Castle of Inquest, for +nought you shall ask whereof it shall not tell you the meaning, by the +witness of Joseph, the good clerk and good hermit through whom we have +it, and he knoweth it by annunciation of the Holy Ghost." + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "I am much abashed of the three +damsels that were at the court of King Arthur. Two of them carried, +the one the head of a king and the other of a queen, and they had in a +car an hundred and fifty heads of knights whereof some were sealed in +gold, other in silver, and the rest in lead." + +"True," saith the priest, "For as by the queen was the king betrayed +and killed, and the knights whereof the heads were in the car, so saith +she truth as Joseph witnesseth to us, for he saith of remembrance that +by envy was Adam betrayed, and all the people that were after him and +the people that are yet to come shall have dole thereof for ever more. +And for that Adam was the first man is he called King, for he was our +earthly father, and his wife Queen. And the heads of the knights +sealed in gold signify the new law, and the heads sealed in silver the +old, and the heads sealed in lead the false law of the Sarrazins. Of +these three manner of folk is the world stablished." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "I marvel of the castle of the Black +Hermit, there where the heads were all taken from her, and the Damsel +told me that the Good Knight should cast them all forth when he should +come. And the other folk that are therewithin are longing for him." + +"Well know you," saith the priest, "that on account of the apple that +Eve gave Adam to eat, all went to hell alike, the good as well as the +evil, and to cast His people forth from hell did God become man, and +cast these souls forth from hell of His bounty and of His puissance. +And to this doth Joseph make us allusion by the castle or the Black +Hermit which signifieth hell, and the Good Knight that shall thence +cast forth them that are within. And I tell you that the Black Hermit +is Lucifer, that is Lord of hell in like manner as he fain would have +been Lord of Paradise." + +"Sir," saith the priest, "By this significance is he fain to draw the +good hermits on behalt of the new law wherein the most part are not +well learned, wherefore he would fain make allusion by ensample." + +"By God," saith Messire Gawain, "I marvel much of the Damsel that was +all bald, and said that never should she have her hair again until such +time as the Good Knight should have achieved the Holy Graal." + +"Sir," saith the good man, "Each day full bald behoveth her to be, ever +since bald she became when the good King fell into languishment on +account of the knight whom he harboured that made not the demand. The +bald damsel signifieth Joseu Josephus, that was bald before the +crucifixion of Our Lord, nor never had his hair again until such time +as He had redeemed His people by His blood and by His death. The car +that she leadeth after her signifieth the wheel of fortune, for like as +the car goeth on the wheels, doth she lay the burden of the world on +the two damsels that follow her; and this you may see well, for the +fairest followeth afoot and the other was on a sorry hackney, and they +were poorly clad, whereas the third had costlier attire. The shield +whereon was the red cross, that she left at the court of King Arthur, +signifieth the most holy shield of the rood that never none durst lift +save God alone." + +Messire Gawain heareth these significances and much pleaseth him +thereof, and thinketh him that none durst set his hand to nor lift the +shield that hung in the King's hall, as he had heard tell in many +places; wherefore day by day were they waiting for the Good Knight that +should come for the shield. + + +XII. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "By this that you tell me you do me to wit +that whereof I was abashed, but I have been right sorrowful of a lady +that a knight slew on my account albeit no blame had she therein, nor +had I." + +"Sir," saith the priest, "Right great significance was there in her +death, for Josephus witnesseth us that the old law was destroyed by the +stroke of a sword without recover, and to destroy the old law did Our +Lord suffer Himself to be smitten in the side of a spear. By this +stroke was the old law destroyed, and by His crucifixion. The lady +signifieth the old law. Would you ask more of me?" saith the priest. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "I met a knight in the forest that rode +behind before and carried his arms upside down. And he said that he +was the Knight Coward, and his habergeon carried he on his neck, and so +soon as he saw me he set his arms to rights and rode like any other +knight." + +"The law was turned to the worse," saith the priest, "before Our Lord's +crucifixion, and so soon as He was crucified, was again restored to +right." + +"Even yet have I not asked you of all," saith Messire Gawain, "For a +knight came and jousted with me party of black and white, and +challenged me of the death of the lady on behalf of her husband, and +told me and I should vanquish him that he and his men would be my men. +I did vanquish him and he did me homage." + +"It is right," saith the priest, "On account of the old law that was +destroyed were all they that remained therein made subject, and shall +be for ever more. Wish you to enquire of aught further?" saith the +priest. + +"I marvel me right sore," saith Messire Gawain, "of a child that rode a +lion in a hermitage, and none durst come nigh the lion save the child +only, and he was not of more than six years, and the lion was right +fell. The child was the son of the lady that was slain on my account." + +"Right well have you spoken," saith the priest, "in reminding me +thereof. The child signifieth the Saviour of the world that was born +under the old law and was circumcised, and the lion whereon he rode +signifieth the world and the people that are therein, and beasts and +birds that none may govern save by virtue of Him alone." + +"God!" saith Messire Gawain, "How great joy have I at heart of that you +tell me! Sir, I found a fountain in a forest, the fairest that was +ever seen, and an image had it within that hid itself when it saw me, +and a clerk brought a golden vessel and took another golden vessel that +hung at the column that was there, and set his own in place thereof. +Afterward, came three damsels and filled the vessel with that they had +brought thither, and straightway meseemed that but one was there." + +"Sir," saith the priest, "I will tell you no more thereof than you have +heard, and therewithal ought you to hold yourself well apaid, for +behoveth not discover the secrets of the Saviour, and them also to whom +they are committed behoveth keep them covertly." + + +XIII. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "I would fain ask you of a King. When I +had brought him his son back dead, he made him be cooked and thereafter +made him be eaten of all the folk of his land." + +"Sir," saith the priest, "Already had he leant his heart upon Jesus +Christ, and would fain make sacrifice of his flesh and blood to Our +Lord, and for this did he make all those of his land eat thereof, and +would fain that their thoughts should be even such as his own. And +therefore was all evil belief uprooted from his land, so that none +remained therein." + +"Blessed be the hour," saith Messire Gawain, "that I came herewithin!" + +"Mine be it!" saith the priest. + +Messire Gawain lay therewithin the night, and right well lodged was he. +The morrow, when he had heard mass, he departed and went forth of the +castle when he had taken leave. And he findeth the fairest land of the +world and the fairest meadow-grounds that were ever seen, and the +fairest rivers and forests garnished of wild deer and hermitages. And +he rideth until he cometh one day as evening was about to draw on, to +the house of a hermit, and the house was so low that his horse might +not enter therein. And his chapel was scarce taller, and the good man +had never issued therefrom of forty years past. The Hermit putteth his +head out of the window when he seeth Messire Gawain and saith, "Sir, +welcome may you be," saith he. + +"Sir, God give you joy, Will you give me lodging to-night?" saith +Messire Gawain. + +"Sir, herewithin none harboureth save the Lord God alone, for earthly +man hath never entered herewithin but me this forty year, but see, here +in front is the castle wherein the good knights are lodged." + +"What is the castle?" + +"Sir, the good King Fisherman's, that is surrounded with great waters +and plenteous in all things good, so the lord were in joy. But behoveth +them harbour none there save good knights only." + +"God grant," saith Messire Gawain, "that I may come therein." + + +XIV. + +When he knoweth that he is nigh the castle, he alighteth and confesseth +him to the hermit, and avoweth all his sins and repenteth him thereof +right truly. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "Now forget not, so God be willing to allow +you, to ask that which the other knight forgat, and be not afeard for +ought you may see at the entrance of the castle, but ride on without +misgiving and adore the holy chapel you will see appear in the castle, +there where the flame of the Holy Spirit descendeth each day for the +most Holy Graal and the point of the lance that is served there." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "God teach me to do His will!" + +He taketh leave, and goeth his way and rideth until the valley +appeareth wherein the castle is seated garnished of all things good, +and he seeth appear the most holy chapel. He alighteth, and then +setteth him on his knees and boweth him down and adoreth right sweetly. +Thereafter he remounteth and rideth until he findeth a sepulchre right +rich, and it had a cover over, and it lay very nigh the castle, and it +seemed to be within a little burial-ground that was enclosed all round +about, nor were any other tombs therein. A voice crieth to him as he +passeth the burial-ground: "Touch not the sepulchre, for you are not +the Good Knight through whom shall it be known who lieth therein." + +Messire Gawain passeth beyond when he had heard the voice and draweth +nigh the entrance of the castle, and seeth that three bridges are +there, right great and right horrible to pass. And three great waters +run below, and him seemeth that the first bridge is a bowshot in length +and in breadth not more than a foot. Strait seemeth the bridge and the +water deep and swift and wide. He knoweth not what he may do, for it +seemeth him that none may pass it, neither afoot nor on horse. + + +XV. + +Thereupon, lo you, a knight that issueth forth of the castle and cometh +as far as the head of the bridge, that was called the Bridge of the +Eel, and shouteth aloud: "Sir Knight, pass quickly before it shall be +already night, for they of the castle are awaiting us." + +"Ha," saith Messire Gawain, "Fair sir, but teach me how I may pass +hereby." + +"Certes, Sir Knight, no passage know I to this entrance other than +this, and if you desire to come to the castle, pass on without +misgiving." + +Messire Gawain hath shame for that he hath stayed so long, and +forthinketh him of this that the Hermit told him, that of no mortal +thing need he be troubled at the entrance of the castle, and +therewithal that he is truly confessed of his sins, wherefore behoveth +him be the less adread of death. He crosseth and blesseth himself and +commendeth himself to God as he that thinketh to die, and so smiteth +his horse with his spurs and findeth the bridge wide and large as soon +as he goeth forward, for by this passing were proven most of the +knights that were fain to enter therein. Much marvelled he that he +found the bridge so wide that had seemed him so narrow. And when he +had passed beyond, the bridge, that was a drawbridge, lifted itself by +engine behind him, for the water below ran too swiftly for other bridge +to be made. The knight draweth himself back beyond the great bridge +and Messire Gawain cometh nigh to pass it, and this seemed him as long +as the other. And he seeth the water below, that was not less swift +nor less deep, and, so far as he could judge, the bridge was of ice, +feeble and thin, and of a great height above the water, and he looked +at it with much marvelling, yet natheless not for that would he any the +more hold back from passing on toward the entrance. He goeth forward +and commendeth himself to God, and cometh in the midst thereof and +seeth that the bridge was the fairest and richest and strongest he had +ever beheld, and the abutments thereof were all full of images. When +he was beyond the bridge, it lifted itself up behind him as the other +had done, and he looketh before him and seeth not the knight, and is +come to the third bridge and nought was he adread for anything he might +see. And it was not less rich than the other, and had columns of +marble all round about, and upon each a knop so rich that it seemed to +be of gold. After that, he beholdeth the gate over against him, and +seeth Our Lord there figured even as He was set upon the rood, and His +Mother of the one side and S. John of the other, whereof the images +were all of gold, with rich precious stones that flashed like fire. And +on the right hand he seeth an angel, passing fair, that pointed with +his finger to the chapel where was the Holy Graal, and on his breast +had he a precious stone, and letters written above his head that told +how the lord of the castle was the like pure and clean of all +evil-seeming as was this stone. + + +XVI. + +Thereafter at the entrance of the gate he seeth a lion right great and +horrible, and he was upright upon his feet. So soon as he seeth +Messire Gawain, he croucheth to the ground, and Messire Gawain passeth +the entrance without gainsay and cometh to the castle, and alighteth +afoot, and setteth his shield and his spear against the wall of the +hall, and mounteth up a flight of marble steps and cometh into a hall +right fair and rich, and here and there in divers places was it painted +with golden images. In the midst thereof he findeth a couch right fair +and rich and high, and at the foot of this couch was a chess-board +right fair and rich, with an orle of gold all full of precious stones, +and the pieces were of gold and silver and were not upon the board. +Meanwhile, as Messire Gawain was looking at the beauty of the +chess-board and the hall, behold you two knights that issue forth of a +chamber and come to him. + +"Sir," say the knights, "Welcome may you be." + +"God give you joy and good adventure," saith Messire Gawain. + +They make him sit upon the couch and after that make him be disarmed. +They bring him, in two basins of gold, water to wash his face and +hands. After that, come two damsels that bring him a rich robe of silk +and cloth of gold. Then they make him do on the same. Then say the +two damsels to him, "Take in good part whatsoever may be done to you +therewithin, for this is the hostel of good knights and loyal." + +"Damsels," saith Messire Gawain, "So will I do. Gramercy of your +service." + +He seeth well that albeit the night were dark, within was so great +brightness of light without candles that it was marvel. And it seemed +him the sun shone there. Wherefore marvelled he right sore whence so +great light should come. + + +XVII. + +When Messire Gawain was clad in the rich robe, right comely was he to +behold, and well seemed he to be a knight of great valour. "Sir," say +the knights, "May it please you come see the lord of this castle?" + +"Right gladly will I see him," saith he, "For I would fain present him +with a rich sword." + +They lead him into the chamber where lay King Fisherman, and it seemed +as it were all strown and sprinkled of balm, and it was all strown with +green herbs and reeds. And King Fisherman lay on a bed hung on cords +whereof the stavs were of ivory; and therein was a mattress of straw +whereon he lay, and above a coverlid of sables whereof the cloth was +right rich. And he had a cap of sables on his head covered with a red +samite of silk, and a golden cross, and under his head was a pillow all +smelling sweet of balm, and at the four corners of the pillow were four +stones that gave out a right great brightness of light; and over +against him was a pillar of copper whereon sate an eagle that held a +cross of gold wherein was a piece of the true cross whereon God was +set, as long as was the cross itself; the which the good man adored. +And in four tall candle sticks of gold were four tall wax tapers set as +often as was need. Messire Gawain cometh before the King and saluteth +him. And the King maketh him right great cheer, and biddeth him be +welcome. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "I present you with the sword whereof John +was beheaded." + +"Gramercy." saith the King: "Certes, I knew well that you would bring +it, for neither you nor other might have come in hither without the +sword, and if you had not been of great valour you would not have +conquered it." + +He taketh the sword and setteth it to his mouth and so kisseth it right +sweetly and maketh right great joy thereof. And a damsel cometh to sit +at the head of the bed, to whom he giveth the sword in keeping. Two +others sit at his feet that look at him right sweetly. + +"What is your name?" saith the King. + +"Sir, my name is Gawain." + +"Ha, Messire Gawain," saith he, "This brightness of light that shineth +there within cometh to us of God for love of you. For every time that +a knight cometh hither to harbour within this castle it appeareth as +brightly as you see it now. And greater cheer would I make you than I +do were I able to help myself, but I am fallen into languishment from +the hour that the knight of whom you have heard tell harboured +herewithin. On account of one single word he delayed to speak, did +this languishment come upon me. Wherefore I pray you for God's sake +that you remember to speak it, for right glad should you be and you may +restore me my health. And see here is the daughter of my sister that +hath been plundered of her land and disinherited in such wise that +never can she have it again save through her brother only whom she +goeth to seek; and we have been told that he is the Best Knight of the +world, but we can learn no true tidings of him." + +"Sir," saith the damsel to her uncle the King, "Thank Messire Gawain of +the honour he did to my lady-mother when he came to her hostel. He +stablished our land again in peace, and conquered the keeping of the +castle for a year, and set my lady-mother's five knights there with us +to keep it. The year hath now passed, wherefore will the war be now +renewed against us and God succour us not, and I find not my brother +whom we have lost so long." + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "I helped you so far as I might, and so +would I again and I were there. And fainer am I to see your brother +than all the knights of the world. But no true tidings may I hear of +him, save so much, that I was at a hermitage where was a King hermit +and he bade me make no noise for that the Best Knight of the world lay +sick therewithin, and he told me that name was Par-lui-fet. I saw his +horse being led by a squire before the chapel, and his arms and shield +whereon was a sun figured." + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "My brother's name is not Par-lui-fet, but +Perlesvax in right baptism, and it is said of them that have seen him +that never comelier knight was known." + +"Certes," saith the King, "Never saw I comelier than he that came in +hither nor better like to be good knight, and I know of a truth that +such he is, for otherwise never might he have entered hereinto. But +good reward of harbouring him had I not, for I may help neither myself +nor other. For God's sake, Messire Gawain, hold me in remembrance this +night, for great affiance have I in your valour." + +"Certes, Sir, please God, nought will I do within yonder, whereof I may +be blamed of right." + + +XVIII. + +Thereupon Messire Gawain was led into the hall and findeth twelve +ancient knights, all bald, albeit they seemed not to be so old as they +were, for each was of a hundred year of age or more and yet none of +them seemed as though he were forty. They have set Messire Gawain to +eat at a right rich table of ivory and seat themselves all round about +him. + +"Sir," saith the Master of the Knights, "Remember you of that the good +King hath prayed of you and told you this night as you have heard." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "God remember it!" + +With that bring they larded meats of venison and wild-boar's flesh and +other in great plenty, and on the table was rich array of vessels of +silver and great cups of gold with their covers, and the rich +candlesticks where the great candles were burning, albeit their +brightness was hidden of the great light that appeared within. + + +XIX. + +Thereon, lo you, two damsels that issue forth of a chapel, whereof the +one holdeth in her hands the most Holy Graal, and the other the Lance +whereof the point bleedeth thereinto. And the one goeth beside the +other in the midst of the hall where the knights and Messire Gawain sat +at meat, and so sweet a smell and so holy came to them therefrom that +they forgat to eat. Messire Gawain looketh at the Graal, and it seemed +him that a chalice was therein, albeit none there was as at this time, +and he seeth the point of the lance whence the red blood ran thereinto, +and it seemeth him he seeth two angels that bear two candlesticks of +gold filled with candles. And the damsels pass before Messire Gawain, +and go into another chapel. And Messire Gawain is thoughtful, and so +great a joy cometh to him that nought remembereth he in his thinking +save of God only. The knights are all daunted and sorrowful in their +hearts, and look at Messire Gawain. Thereupon behold you the damsels +that issue forth of the chamber and come again before Messire Gawain, +and him seemeth that he seeth three there where before he had seen but +two, and seemeth him that in the midst of the Graal he seeth the figure +of a child. The Master of the Knights beckoneth to Messire Gawain. +Messire Gawain looketh before him and seeth three drops of blood fall +upon the table. He was all abashed to look at them and spake no word. + + +XX. + +Therewith the damsels pass forth and the knights are all adread and +look one at the other. Howbeit Messire Gawain may not withdraw his +eyes from the three drops of blood, and when he would fain kiss them +they vanish away, whereof he is right sorrowful, for he may not set his +hand nor aught that of him is to touch thereof. Therewithal behold you +the two damsels that come again before the table and seemeth to Messire +Gawain that there are three, and he looketh up and it seemeth him to be +the Graal all in flesh, grid he seeth above, as him thinketh, a King +crowned, nailed upon a rood, and the spear was still fast in his side. +Messire Gawain seeth it and hath great pity thereof, and of nought doth +he remember him save of the pain that this King suffereth. And the +Master of the Knights summoneth him again by word of mouth, and telleth +him that if he delayeth longer, never more will he recover it. Messire +Gawain is silent, as he that heareth not the knight speak, and looketh +upward. But the damsels go back into the chapel and carry back the +most Holy Graal and the Lance, and the knights make the tablecloths be +taken away and rise from meat and go into another hall and leave +Messire Gawain all alone. And he looketh all around and seeth the +doors all shut and made fast, and looketh to the foot of the hall and +seeth two candlesticks with many candles burning round about the +chessboard, and he seeth that the pieces are set, whereof the one sort +are silver and the other gold. Messire Gawain sitteth at the game, and +they of gold played against him and mated him twice. At the third +time, when he thought to revenge himself and saw that he had the worse, +he swept the pieces off the board. And the damsel issued forth of a +chamber and made a squire take the chess-board and the pieces and so +carry them away. And Messire Gawain, that was way-worn of his +wanderings to come thither where he now hath come, slept upon the couch +until the morrow when it was day, and he heard a horn sound right +shrill. + + +XXI. + +Thereupon he armeth him and would fain go to take leave of King +Fisherman, but he findeth the doors bolted so that he may not get +forth. And right fair service seeth he done in a chapel, and right +sorrowful is he for that he may not hear the mass. A damsel cometh +into the hall and saith to him: "Sir, now may you hear the service and +the joy that is made on account of the sword you presented to the good +King, and right glad at heart ought you to have been if you had been +within the chapel. But you lost entering therein on account of a right +little word. For the place of the chapel is so hallowed of the holy +relics that are therein that man nor priest may never enter therein +from the Saturday at noon until the Monday after mass." + +And he heard the sweetest voices and the fairest services that were +ever done in chapel. Messire Gawain answereth her not a word so is he +abashed. Howbeit the damsel saith to him: "Sir, God be guardian of +your body, for methinketh that it was not of your own default that you +would not speak the word whereof this castle would have been in joy." + +With that the damsel departeth and Messire Gawain heareth the horn +sound a second time and a voice warning him aloud: "He that is from +without, let him go hence! for the bridges are lowered and the gate +open, and the lion is in his den. And thereafter behoveth the bridge +be lifted again on account of the King of the Castle Mortal, that +warreth against this castle, and therefore of this thing shall he die." + + +XXII. + +Thereupon Messire Gawain issueth forth of the hall and findeth his +horse all made ready at the mounting-stage, together with his arms. He +goeth forth and findeth the bridges broad and long, and goeth his way a +great pace beside a great river that runneth in the midst of the +valley. And he seeth in a great forest a mighty rain and tempest, and +so strong a thunderstorm ariseth in the forest that it seemeth like all +the trees should be uprooted. So great is the rain and the tempest +that it compelleth him set his shield over his horse's head lest he be +drowned of the abundance of rain. In this mis-ease rideth he down +beside the river that runneth in the forest until he seeth in a launde +across the river a knight and a damsel right gaily appointed riding at +pleasure, and the knight carrieth a bird on his fist, and the damsel +hath a garland of flowers on her head. Two brachets follow the knight. +The sun shineth right fair on the meadow and the air is right clear and +fresh. Messire Gawain marvelleth much of this, that it raineth so +heavily on his way, whereas, in the meadow where the knight and the +damsel are riding, the sun shineth clear and the weather is bright and +calm. And he seeth them ride joyously. He can ask them naught for +they are too far away. Messire Gawain looketh about and seeth on the +other side the river a squire nearer to him than is the knight. + +"Fair friend" saith Messire Gawain, "How is this that it raineth upon +me on this side the river, but on the other raineth it not at all?" + +"Sir," saith the squire, "This have you deserved, for such is the +custom of the forest." + +"Will this tempest that is over me last for ever?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"At the first bridge you come to will it be stayed upon you," saith the +squire. + + +XXIII. + +Therewith the squire departeth, and the tempest rageth incontinent +until he is come to the bridge; and he rideth beyond and cometh to the +meadow, and the storm is stayed so that he setteth his shield to rights +again upon his neck. And he seeth before him a castle where was a +great company of folk that were making great cheer. He rideth until he +cometh to the castle and seeth right great throng of folk, knights and +dames and damsels. Messire Gawain alighteth, but findeth in the castle +none that is willing to take his reins, so busied are they making +merry. Messire Gawain presenteth himself on the one side and the other, +but all of them avoid him, and he seeth that he maketh but an ill stay +therewithin for himself, wherefore he departeth from the castle and +meeteth a knight at the gate. + +"Sir," saith he, "What castle is this?" + +"And see you not," saith the knight, "that it is a castle of joy?" + +"By my faith" saith Messire Gawain, "They of the castle be not +over-courteous, for all this time hath none come to take my reins." + +"Not for this lose they their courtesy," saith the knight, "For this is +no more than you have deserved. They take you to be as slothful of +deed as you are of word, and they saw that you were come through the +Forest Perilous whereby pass all the discomfited, as well appeareth by +your arms and your horse." + +Therewith the knight departeth, and Messire Gawain hath ridden a great +space sorrowful and sore abashed, until he cometh to a land parched and +poor and barren of all comfort, and therein findeth he a poor castle, +whereinto he cometh and seeth it much wasted, but that within was there +a hall that seemed haunted of folk. And Messire Gawain cometh +thitherward and alighteth, and a knight cometh down the steps of the +hall right poorly clad. + +"Sir," saith the knight to Messire Gawain, "Welcome may you be!" + +After that, he taketh him by the hand and leadeth him upward to the +hall, that was all waste. Therewithal issue two damsels from a +chamber, right poorly clad, that were of passing great beauty, and make +great cheer to Messire Gawain. So, when he was fain to disarm, behold +you thereupon a knight that entereth into the hall, and he was smitten +with the broken end of a lance through his body. He seeth Messire +Gawain, whom he knoweth. + +"Now haste!" saith he, "and disarm you not! Right joyful am I that I +have found you! I come from this forest wherein have I left Lancelot +fighting with four knights, whereof one is dead, and they think that it +is you, and they are of kindred to the knight that you slew at the tent +where you destroyed the evil custom. I was fain to help Lancelot, when +one of the knights smote me as you may see." + +Messire Gawain goeth down from the hall and mounteth all armed upon his +horse. + + +XXIV. + +"Sir," saith the knight of the hall, "I would go help you to my power, +but I may not issue forth of the castle until such time as it be +replenished of the folk that are wont to come therein and until my land +be again given up to me through the valour of the Good Knight." + +Messire Gawain departeth from the castle as fast as horse may carry +him, and entereth the forest and followeth the track of the blood along +the way the knight had come, and rideth so far in the forest as that he +heareth the noise of swords, and seeth in the midst of the launde +Lancelot and the three knights, and the fourth dead on the ground. But +one of the knights had drawn him aback, for he might abide the combat +no longer, for the knight that brought the tidings to Messire Gawain +had sore wounded him. The two knights beset Lancelot full sore, and +right weary was he of the buffets that he had given and received. +Messire Gawain cometh to one of the knights and smiteth him right +through the body and maketh him and his horse roll over all of a heap. + + +XXV. + +When Lancelot perceiveth Messire Gawain, much joy maketh he thereof. +In the meanwhile as the one held the other, the fourth knight fled full +speed through the midst of the forest, and he that the knight had +wounded fell dead. They take their horses, and Messire Gawain telleth +Lancelot he hath the most poverty-stricken host that ever he hath seen, +and the fairest damsels known, but that right poorly are they clad. +"Shall we therefore take them of our booty?" + +"I agree," saith Lancelot, "But sore grieveth me of the knight that +hath thus escaped us." + +"Take no heed," saith Messire Gawain, "We shall do well enough herein." + +Thereupon they return back toward the poor knight's hostel and alight +before the hall, and the Poor Knight cometh to meet them, and the two +damsels, and they deliver to them the three horses of the three knights +that were dead. The knight hath great joy thereof, and telleth them +that now is he a rich man and that betimes will his sisters be better +clad than are they now, as well as himself. + + +XXVI. + +Thereupon come they into the hall. The knight maketh one of his own +squires stable the horses and the two damsels help disarm Lancelot and +Messire Gawain. + +"Lords," saith the knight, "So God help me, nought have I to lend you +wherewith to clothe you, for robe have I none save mine own jerkin." + +Lancelot hath great pity thereof and Messire Gawain, and the two +damsels take off their kirtles that were made like surcoats of cloth +that covered their poor shirts, and their jackets that, were all +to-torn and ragged and worn, and present them to the knights to clothe +them. They were fain not to refuse, lest the damsels should think they +held them not in honour, and did on the two kirtles right poor as they +were. The damsels had great joy thereof that so good knights should +deign wear garments so poor. + +"Lords," saith the Poor Knight, "The knight that brought the tidings +hither, and was stricken through of a lance-shaft, is dead and lieth on +a bier in a chapel within the castle, and he confessed himself right +well to a hermit and bade salute you both, and was right fain you +should see him after that he were dead, and he prayed me instantly that +I would ask you to be to-morrow at his burial, for better knights than +be ye might not be thereat, so he told me." + +"Certes," saith Lancelot, "A good knight was he, and much mischief is +it of his death; and sore grieveth me that I know not his name nor of +what country he was." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "He said that you should yet know it well." + +The two good knights lay the night at the castle, and the Poor Knight +lodged them as well as he might. When it cometh to morning, they go to +the chapel to hear mass and to be at the burial of the body. After +that they take leave of the Poor Knight and the two damsels and depart +from the castle all armed. + +"Messire Gawain," saith Lancelot, "They know not at court what hath +become of you, and they hold you for dead as they suppose." + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "thitherward will I go, for I have +had sore travail, and there will I abide until some will shall come to +me to go seek adventure." + +He recounteth to Lancelot how the Graal hath appeared to him at the +court of King Fisherman: "And even as it was there before me, I forgat +to ask how it served and of what?" + +"Ha, Sir," saith Lancelot, "Have you then been there?" + +"Yea," saith he, "And thereof am I right sorry and glad: glad for the +great holiness I have seen, sorry for that I asked not that whereof +King Fisherman prayed me right sweetly." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Right sorely ill have you wrought, nor is there +not whereof I have so great desire as I have to go to his castle." + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "Much shamed was I there, but this +doth somewhat recomfort me, that the Best Knight was there before me +that gat blame thereof in like manner as I." + +Lancelot departeth from Messire Gawain, and they take leave either of +other. They issue forth of a forest, and each taketh his own way +without saying a word. + + + +BRANCH VII. + +TITLE I. + +Here the story is silent of Messire Gawain and beginneth to speak of +Lancelot, that entereth into a forest and rideth with right great ado +and meeteth a knight in the midst of the forest that was coming full +speed and was armed of all arms. + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Whence come you?" + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I come from the neighbourhood of King Arthur's +Court." + +"Ha, Sir, can you tell me tidings of a knight that beareth a green +shield such as I bear? If so, he is my brother." + +"What name hath he?" saith Lancelot. + +"Sir," saith he, "His name is Gladoens, and he is a good knight and a +hardy, and he hath a white horse right strong and swift." + +"Be there other knights in your country that bear such arms as your +shield and his besides you and he?" + +"Certes, Sir, none." + +"And wherefore do you ask?" saith Lancelot. + +"For this, that a certain man hath reft him of one of his castles for +that he was not there. Howbeit, I know well that he will have it again +through his good knighthood." + +"Is he so good knight?" saith Lancelot. + +"Certes, Sir, yea! He is the best of the Isles of the Moors." + +"Sir, of your mercy, lower your coif." + +He quickly thereon lowereth his coif, and Lancelot looketh at him in +the face. "Certes, Sir Knight," saith he, "you very much resemble him." + +"Ha, Sir," saith the knight, "Know you then any tidings of him?" + +"Certes, Sir," saith he, "Yea! and true tidings may I well say, for he +rode at my side five leagues Welsh, nor never saw I one man so like +another as are you to him." + +"Good right hath he to resemble me," saith the knight, "for we are +twins, but he was born first and hath more sense and knighthood than I; +nor in all the Isles of the Moors is there damsel that hath so much +worth and beauty as she of whom he is loved of right true love, and +more she desireth to see him than aught else that liveth, for she hath +not seen him of more than a year, wherefore hath she gone seek her +prize, my brother, by all the forests of the world. Sir," saith the +knight, "Let me go seek my brother, and tell me where I may find him." + +"Certes," saith Lancelot, "I will tell you though it grieve me sore." + +"Wherefore?" saith the knight, "Hath he done you any mis-deed?" + +"In no wise," saith Lancelot, "Rather hath he done so much for me that +I love you thereof and offer you my service." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I am going my way, but for God's sake tell me +where I shall find my brother." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I will tell you. This morning did I bid his +body farewell and help to bury him." + +"Ha, Sir," saith the knight, "Do you tell me true?" + +"Certes," saith Lancelot, "True it is that I tell you." + +"Is he slain then, my brother?" saith the knight. + +"Yea, and of succouring me," saith Lancelot. + +"Ha, sir," saith the knight, "For God's sake tell me nought that is not +right." + +"By God, Sir," saith he, "Sore grieved am I to tell it you, for never +loved I knight so much in so brief a time as I loved him. He helped to +save me from death, and therefore will I do for you according to that +he did for me." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "If he be dead, a great grief is it to myself, +for I have lost my comfort and my life and my land without recovery." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "He helped me to save my life, and yours will I +help to save henceforth for ever and so be that I shall know of your +jeopardy." + +The knight heareth that his brother is dead and well believeth +Lancelot, and beginneth to make dole thereof the greatest that was ever +heard. And Lancelot saith to him, "Sir Knight, let be this dole, for +none recovery is there; but my body do I offer you and my knighthood in +any place you please, where I may save your honour." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "With good will receive I your help and your +love, sith that you deign to offer me the same, and now have I sorer +need of them than ever. Sir," saith the knight, "Sith that my brother +is dead, I will return back and bear with my wrong, though well would +he have amended it had he been on live." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "I will go with you, that so may I reward +you of that he hath done for me. He delivered his body to the death +for me, and in like manner freely would I fain set mine own in jeopardy +for love of you and of him." + + +II. + +"Sir," saith the knight, "Right good will do I owe you of this that you +say to me, so your deeds be but the same herein." + +"Yea, so help me God," saith Lancelot, "The same shall they be, if God +lend me the power." + +With that, they go on their way together, and the knight comforteth him +much of that which Lancelot hath said to him, but of the death of his +brother was he right sorrowful. And they ride until they come to the +land of the Moors; then espy they a castle upon a rock, and below was a +broad meadow-land. + +"Sir," saith the Knight of the Green Shield to Lancelot, "This castle +was my brother's and is now mine, and much it misliketh me that it hath +fallen to me on this wise. And the knight that reft it of my brother +is of so great hardihood that he feareth no knight on live, and you +will presently see him issue forth of this castle so soon as he shall +perceive you." + +Lancelot and the knight ride until they draw nigh the castle. And the +knight looketh in the way before him, and seeth a squire coming on a +hackney, that was carrying before him a wild boar dead. The Knight of +the Green Shield asketh him whose man he is, and the squire maketh +answer: "I am man of the Lord of the Rock Gladoens, that cometh there +behind, and my lord cometh all armed, he and others, for the brother of +Gladoens hath defied him on behalf of his brother, but right little +recketh my lord of his defiance." + + +III. + +Lancelot heareth how he that is coming is the enemy of him to whom had +he been alive, his love most was due. The Knight of the Green Shield +pointed him out so soon as he saw him. + +"Sir," saith he to Lancelot, "Behold him by whom I am disherited, and +yet worse would he do to me and he knew that my brother were dead." + +Lancelot, without saving more, so soon as he had espied the Knight of +the Rock, smiteth his horse with his spurs and cometh toward him. The +Lord of the Rock, that was proud and hardy, seeth Lancelot coming and +smiteth with his spurs the horse whereon he sitteth. They come with so +swift an onset either upon other that they break their spears upon +their shields, and hurtle together so sore that the Knight of the Rock +Gladoens falleth over the croup of his horse. Lancelot draweth his +sword and cometh above him, and he crieth him mercy and asketh him +wherefore he wisheth to slay him? Lancelot saith for the sake of +Gladoens from whom he hath reft his land and his castle. "And what is +that to you?" saith the knight. "Behoveth his brother challenge me +thereof." + +"As much it behoveth me as his brother," saith Lancelot. + +"Wherefore you?" + +"For this," saith Lancelot, "That as much as he did for me will I do to +you." + +He cutteth off his head and giveth it incontinent to the Knight of the +Green Shield. + +"Now tell me," saith Lancelot, "Sith that he is dead, is he purged of +that whereof you appeached him?" + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I hold him rightly quit thereof, for, sith +that he is dead, all claim on behalf of his kindred is abated by his +death." + +"And I pledge you my faith loyally," saith Lancelot, "as I am a knight, +that never shall you be in peril nor in jeopardy of aught wherein I may +help you, so I be in place and free, but my help shall you have for +evermore, for that your brother staked his life to help me." + + +IV. + +Lancelot and the knight lay the night at the Rock Gladoens, and the +Knight of the Green Shield had his land at his pleasure, and all were +obedient to him. And the upright and loyal were right glad, albeit +when they heard the tidings of Gladoens' death they were right +sorrowful thereof. Lancelot departed from the castle on the morrow, +and the knight remained therein, sorrowful for his brother that he had +lost, and glad for the land that he had gotten again. Lancelot goeth +back right amidst the forest and rideth the day long, and meeteth a +knight that was coming, groaning sore. And he was stooping over the +fore saddle-bow for the pain that he had. He meeteth Lancelot and +saith to him: "Sir, for God's sake, turn back, for you will find there +the most cruel pass in the world there where I have been wounded +through the body. Wherefore I beseech you not go thither." + +"What pass is it then?" saith Lancelot. + +"Sir," saith he, "It is the pass of the Castle of Beards, and it hath +the name of this, that every knight that passeth thereby must either +leave his beard there or challenge the same, and in such sort have I +challenged my beard that meseemeth I shall die thereof." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "I hold not this of cowardize, sith that +you were hardy to set your life in jeopardy to challenge your beard, +but now would you argue me of cowardize when you would have me turn +back. Rather would I be smitten through the body with honour, so and I +had not my death thereof, than lose with shame a single hair of my +beard." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "May God preserve you, for the castle is far +more cruel than you think, and God guide the knight that may destroy +the evil custom of the castle, for right shameful is the custom to +strange knights that pass thereby." + + +V. + +Lancelot departeth from the knight and cometh toward the castle. Just +as he had passed over a great bridge, he looketh about and seeth two +knights come all armed to the entrance of the castle, and they made +hold their horses before them, and their shields and spears are before +them leaning against the wall. Lancelot looketh at the gateway of the +castle and seeth the great door all covered with beards fastened +thereon, and heads of knights in great plenty hung thereby. So, as he +was about to enter the gate, two knights issue therefrom over against +him. + +"Sir," saith the one, "Abide and pay your toll!" + +"Do knights, then, pay toll here?" saith Lancelot. + +"Yea!" say the knights, "All they that have beards, and they that have +none are quit. Sir, now pay us yours, for a right great beard it is, +and thereof have we sore need." + +"For what?" saith Lancelot. + +"I will tell you," saith the knight. "There be hermits in this forest +that make hair-shirts thereof." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "Never shall they have hair-shirt of +mine, so I may help it." + +"That shall they," say the knights, "Of yours as of the other, or +dearly shall you pay therefor!" + + +VI. + +Right wroth waxeth Sir Lancelot, and cometh to the knight, and smiteth +him with his spear amidst the breast with such a thrust that it passeth +half an ell beyond, and overthroweth him and his horse together. The +other knight seeth his fellow wounded to the death, and cometh towards +him with a great sweep and breaketh his spear upon his shield. +Howbeit, Lancelot beareth him to the ground right over his horse-croup +and maketh him fall so heavily that he breaketh one of his legs. The +tidings are come to the Lady of the Castle that a knight hath come to +the pass that hath slain one of her knights and wounded the other. The +Lady is come thither, and bringeth two of her damsels with her. She +seeth Lancelot that is fain to slay the knight that lieth wounded on +the ground. + +"Sir," saith the Lady to Lancelot, "Withdraw yourself back and slay him +not, but alight and speak to me in safety." + +"Lady," saith one of the maidens, "I know him well. This is Lancelot +of the Lake, the most courteous knight that is in the court of King +Arthur." + +He alighteth and cometh before the Lady. "Lady," saith he, "what is +your pleasure?" + +"I desire," saith she, "that you come to my hostel to harbour, and that +you make me amends of the shame you have done me." + + +VII. + +"Lady," saith Lancelot, "Shame have I never done you nor shall do, but +the knights took in hand too shameful a business when they were minded +to take the beards of stranger knights by force." + +"Sir," saith she, "I will forego mine ill-will on condition that you +harbour herewithin to-night." + +"Lady," saith Lancelot, "I desire not your ill-will, wherefore will I +gladly do your pleasure." + +He setteth him within the castle and maketh his horse be led in after +him, and the Lady hath the dead knight brought into the chapel and +buried. The other she biddeth be disarmed and clothed and commandeth +that his wounds be searched. Then maketh she Lancelot be disarmed and +clad right richly in a good robe, and telleth him that she knoweth well +who he is. + +"Lady," saith Lancelot, "It is well for me." + +Thereupon they sit to eat, and the first course is brought in by +knights in chains that had their noses cut off; the second by knights +in chains that had their eyes put out; wherefore they were led in by +squires. The third course was brought in by knights that had but one +hand and were in chains. After that, came other knights that had each +but one foot and brought in the fourth course. At the fifth course +came knights right fair and tall, and each brought a naked sword in his +hand and presented their heads to the Lady. + + +VIII. + +Lancelot beheld the martyrdom of these knights, and sore misliking had +he of the services of such folk. They are risen from meat and the lady +goeth to her chamber and sitteth on a couch. + +"Lancelot," saith the Lady, "you have seen the justice and the lordship +of my castle. All these knights have been conquered at the passing of +my door." + +"Lady," saith Lancelot, "foul mischance hath befallen them." + +"The like mischance would have befallen you had you not been knight so +good. And greatly have I desired to see you this long time past. And +I will make you lord of this castle and myself." + +"Lady," saith he, "the lordship of this castle hold I of yourself +without mesne, and to you have I neither wish nor right to refuse it. +Rather am I willing to be at your service." + +"Then," saith she, "you will abide with me in this castle, for more do +I love you than any other knight that liveth." + +"Lady," saith Lancelot, "Gramercy, but in no castle may I abide more +than one night until I have been thither whither behoveth me to go." + +"Whither are you bound?" saith she. + +"Lady," saith he, "to the Castle of Souls." + +"Well know I the castle," saith she. "The King hath the name Fisherman, +and lieth in languishment on account of two knights that have been at +his castle and made not good demand. Would you fain go thither?" saith +the Lady. + +"Yea," saith Lancelot. + +"Then pledge me your faith that you will return by me to speak to me, +so the Graal shall appear to you and you ask whereof it serveth." + +"Yea, truly," saith Lancelot, "were you beyond sea!" + +"Sir," saith one of the damsels, "So much may you well promise, for the +Graal appeareth not to no knight so wanton as be ye. For you love the +Queen Guenievre, the wife of your lord, King Arthur, nor so long as +this love lieth at your heart may you never behold the Graal." + + +IX. + +Lancelot heard the damsel and blushed of despite. + +"Ha, Lancelot," saith the Lady, "Love you other than me?" + +"Lady," saith he, "the damsel may say her pleasure." + +Lancelot lay the night at the castle, and right wroth was he of the +damsel that calleth the love of him and the Queen disloyal. And the +morrow when he had heard mass, he took leave of the Lady of the Castle, +and she besought him over and over to keep his covenant, and he said +that so would he do without fail. Therewithal he issueth forth of the +castle and entereth into a tall and ancient forest, and rideth the day +long until he cometh to the outskirt of the forest, and seeth a tall +cross at the entrance of a burying-ground enclosed all round about with +a hedge of thorns. And the way lay through the burying ground. +Lancelot entered therein and the night was come. He seeth the +graveyard full of tombs and sepulchres. He looketh behind and seeth a +chapel wherein were candles burning. Thitherward goeth he, and passeth +beyond without saying aught more by the side of a dwarf that was +digging a grave in the ground. + +"Lancelot," saith the dwarf, "you are right not to salute me, for you +are the man of all the world that most I hate; and God grant me +vengeance of your body. So will He what time you are stricken down +here within!" + +Lancelot heard the dwarf, but deigned not to answer him of nought. He +is come to the chapel, and alighteth and maketh fast the bridle of his +horse to a tree, and leaneth his shield and spear without. After that +he entereth into the chapel, and findeth a damsel laying out a knight +in his winding-sheen. As soon as Lancelot was entered therewithin the +wounds of the knight were swollen up and began to bleed afresh. + +"Ha, Sir Knight, now see I plainly that you slew him that I am wrapping +in his windingsheet!" + + +X. + +Thereupon, behold you, two knights that are carrying other two knights +dead. They alight and then set them in the chapel. And the dwarf +crieth out to them: "Now shall it be seen how you avenge your friends +of the enemy that fell upon you!" + +The knight that had fled from the forest when Messire Gawain came +thither where the three lay dead, was come therewithin and knew +Lancelot, whereupon saith he: "Our mortal enemy are you, for by you +were these three knights slain." + +"Well had they deserved it," saith Lancelot, "and in this chapel am I +in no peril of you, wherefore as at this time will I depart not hence, +for I know not the ways of the forest." + +He was in the chapel until the day broke, when he issued forth thereof, +and sore it weighed upon him that his horse was still fasting. He +taketh his arms and is mounted. The dwarf crieth out aloud: "What +aileth you?" saith he to the two knights, "Will you let your mortal +enemy go thus?" + +With that the two knights mount their horses and go to the two issues +of the grave-yard, thinking that Lancelot is fain to flee therefrom; +but no desire hath he thereof, wherefore he cometh to the knight that +was guarding the entrance whereby he had to issue out, and smiteth him +so stiffly that he thrusteth the point of his spear right through his +body. The other knight that was guarding the other entrance, that had +fled out of the forest before, had no mind to avenge his fellow, and +fled incontinent so fast as he might. And Lancelot taketh the horse of +the knight he had slain and driveth him before him, for he thinketh +that some knight may haply have need thereof. He rideth on until he +cometh to a hermitage in the forest where he alighteth and hath his +horses stabled, and the Hermit giveth them of the best he hath. And +Lancelot heard mass, and afterward are a little and fell on sleep. +Thereafter, behold you, a knight that cometh to the Hermit and seeth +Lancelot that was about to mount. + +"Sir," saith he, "Whither go you?" + +"Sir Knight," saith Lancelot, "thither shall I go where God may please; +but you, whitherward are you bound to go?" + +"Sir, I go to see one of my brethren and my two sisters, for I have +been told that he hath fallen on such mishap as that he is called the +Poor Knight, whereof am I sore sorrowful." + +"Certes," saith Lancelot, "poor he is, the more the pity! Howbeit, will +you do him a message from me?" + +"Sir," saith the knight, "Right willingly!" + +"Will you present him with this horse on my behalf, and tell him how +Lancelot that harboured with him hath sent it?" + +"Sir," saith the knight, "Right great thanks, and blessed may you be, +for he that doth a kindness to a worshipful man loseth it not." + +"Salute the two damsels for me," saith Lancelot. + +"Sir, right willingly!" + +The knight delivereth the horse to his squire, and taketh leave of +Lancelot. + + +XI. + +Thereupon, Lancelot departeth from the hermitage and rideth on until he +cometh forth of the forest, and findeth a waste land, a country broad +and long wherein wonned neither beast nor bird, for the land was so +poor and parched that no victual was to be found therein. Lancelot +looketh before him and seeth a city appear far away. Thither rideth he +full speed and seeth that the city is so great that it seemeth him to +encompass a whole country. He seeth the walls that are falling all +around, and the gates ruined with age. He entereth within and findeth +the city all void of folk, and seeth the great palaces fallen down and +waste, and the great grave-yards full of sepulchres, and the tall +churches all lying waste, and the markets and exchanges all empty. He +rideth amidst the streets, and findeth a great palace that seemeth him +to be better and more ancient than all the others. He bideth awhile +before it and heareth within how knights and ladies are making great +dole. And they say to a knight: "Ha, God, sore grief and pity is this +of you, that you must needs die in such manner, and that your death may +not be respited! Sore hatred ought we to bear toward him that hath +adjudged you such a death." + +The knights and ladies swoon over him as he departeth. Lancelot hath +heard all this and much marvelleth he thereof, but nought thereof may +he see. + + +XII. + +Thereupon, lo you, the knight that cometh down into the midst of the +hall, clad in a short red jerkin; and he was girt with a rich girdle of +gold, and had a rich clasp at his neck wherein were many rich stones, +and on his head had he a great cap of gold, and he held great axe. The +knight was of great comeliness and young of age. Lancelot seeth him +coming, and looketh upon him right fainly when he seeth him appear. +And the knight saith to him, "Sir, alight!" + +"Certes," saith Lancelot, "Willingly." + +He alighteth and maketh his horse fast to a ring of silver that was on +the mounting-stage, and putteth his shield from his neck and his spear +from his hand. + +"Sir," saith he to the knight, "What is your pleasure?" + +"Sir, needs must you cut me off my head with this axe, for of this +weapon hath my death been adjudged, but and you will not, I will cut +off your own therewith." + +"Hold, Sir," saith Lancelot, "What is this you tell me?" + +"Sir," saith the knight, "you must needs do even as I say, sith that +you are come into this city." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Right foolish were he that in such a jeopardy +should not do the best for himself, but blamed shall I be thereof and I +shall slay you when you have done me no wrong." + +"Certes," saith the Knight, "In no otherwise may you go hence." + +"Fair Sir," saith Lancelot, "So gentle are you and so well nurtured, +how cometh it that you take your death so graciously? You know well +that I shall kill you before you shall kill me, sith that so it is." + +"This know I well for true," saith the Knight, "But you will promise me +before I die, that you will return into this city within a year from +this, and that you will set your head in the same jeopardy without +challenge, as I have set mine." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "Needeth no argument that I shall choose +respite of death to dying here on the spot. But I marvel me of this +that you are so fairly apparelled to receive your death." + + +XIII. + +"Sir," saith the Knight, "He that would go before the Saviour of the +World ought of right to apparel him as fairly as he may. I am by +confession purged of all wickedness and of all the misdeeds that ever I +have committed, and do repent me truly thereof, wherefore at this +moment am I fain to die." + +Therewithal he holdeth forth the axe, and Lancelot taketh it and seeth +that it is right keen and well whetted. + +"Sir," saith the Knight, "Hold up your hand toward the minster that you +see yonder." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Willingly." + +"Thus, then, will you swear to me upon the holy relics that are within +this minster, that on this day year at the hour that you shall have +slain me, or before, you yourself will come back here and place your +head in the very same peril as I shall have placed mine, without +default?" + +"Thus," saith Lancelot, "do I swear and give you thereto my pledge." + +With that, the Knight kneeleth and stretcheth his neck as much as he +may, and Lancelot taketh the axe in his hands, and then saith to him, +"Sir Knight, for God's sake, have mercy on yourself!" + +"Let cut off my head!" saith the Knight, "For otherwise may I not have +mercy upon you!" + +"In God's name," saith Lancelot, "fain would I deny you!" + +With that, he swingeth the axe and cutteth off the head with such a +sweep that he maketh it fly seven foot high from the body. The Knight +fell to the ground when his head was cut off, and Lancelot flung down +the axe, and thinketh that he will make but an ill stay there for +himself. He cometh to his horse, and taketh his arms and mounteth and +looketh behind him, but seeth neither the body of the Knight nor the +head, neither knoweth he what hath become of them all, save only that +he heard much dole and a great cry far off in the city of knights and +ladies, saying that he shall be avenged, please God, at the term set, +or before. Lancelot hath heard and understood all that the knights say +and the ladies, and issueth forth of the city. + + + +BRANCH VIII. + +Of the most Holy Graal here beginneth another branch in such wise as +the authority witnesseth and Joseph that made recoverance thereof, in +the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. + + +TITLE I. + +This high history and profitable witnesseth us that the son of the +Widow Lady sojourned still with his uncle King Pelles in the hermitage, +and through distress of the evil that he had had since he came forth of +the house of King Fisherman, was he confessed to his uncle and told him +of what lineage he was, and that his name was Perceval. But the good +Hermit the good King had given him the name of Parluifet, for that he +was made of himself. King Hermit was one day gone into the forest, and +the good knight Parluifet felt himself sounder of health and lustier +than he wont to be. He heard the birds sing in the forest, and his +heart began to swell of knighthood, and he minded him of the adventures +he wont to find in the forest and of the damsels and knights that he +wont to meet, and never was he so fain of arms as was he at that time, +for that he had been sojourning so long within doors. He felt courage +in his heart and lustiness in his limbs and fainness in his thought. +Right soon armeth he himself and setteth the saddle on his horse and +mounteth forthwith. He prayeth God give him adventure that he may meet +good knight, setteth himself forth of his uncle's hermitage and +entereth into the forest that was broad and shady. He rideth until he +cometh into a launde that was right spacious, and seeth a leafy tree +that was at the head of the launde. He alighteth in the shadow, and +thinketh to himself that two knights might joust on this bit of ground +fair and well, for the place was right broad. And, even as he was +thinking on this wise, he heard a horse neigh full loud in the forest +three times, and right glad was he thereof and said: "Ha, God, of your +sweetness grant that there be a knight with that horse, so may I prove +whether there be any force or valour or knighthood in me. For I know +not now what strength I may have, nor even whether my heart be sound +and my limbs whole. For on a knight that hath neither hardihood nor +valour in himself, may not another knight that hath more force in him +reasonably prove his mettle, for many a time have I heard say that one +is better than other. And for this pray I to the Saviour and this be a +knight that cometh there, that he may have strength and hardihood and +mettle to defend his body against mine own, for great desire have I to +run upon him. Grant now that he slay me not, nor I him!" + + +II. + +Therewithal, he looketh before him, and seeth the knight issue from the +forest and enter into the launde. The knight was armed and had at his +neck a white shield with a cross of gold. He carried his lance low, +and sate upon a great destrier and rode at a swift pace. As soon as +Perceval seeth him, he steadieth him in his stirrups and setteth spear +in rest and smiteth his horse with his spurs, right joyous, and goeth +toward the knight a great gallop. Then he crieth: "Sir Knight, cover +you of your shield to guard you as I do of mine to defend my body, for +you do I defy on this side slaying, and our Lord God grant that I find +you so good knight as shall try what hardihood of heart I may have, for +I am not such as I have been aforetime, and better may one learn of a +good knight than of a bad." + +With that he smiteth the knight upon his shield with such a sweep that +he maketh him lose one of his stirrups and pierceth his shield above +the boss, and passeth beyond full speed. And the knight marvelleth +much, and maketh demand, saying, "Fair Sir, what misdeed have I done +you?" + +Perceval is silent, and hath no great joy of this that he hath not +overthrown the knight, but not so easy was he to overthrow, for he was +one of the knights of the world that could most of defence of arms. He +goeth toward Perceval as fast as his horse may carry him and Perceval +toward him. They mell together upon their shields right stiffly, so +that they pierce and batter them with the points of their spears. And +Perceval thrusteth his spear into the flesh two finger-breadths, and +the knight doth not amiss, for he passeth his spear right through his +arm so that the shafts of the lances were splintered. They hurtle +together either against other at the passing so mightily, that the +flinders of iron from the mail of their habergeons stick into their +foreheads and faces, and the blood leapeth forth by mouth and nose so +that their habergeons were all bloody. They drew their swords with a +right great sweep. The knight of the white shield holdeth Perceval's +rein and saith: "Gladly would I know who you are and wherefore you hate +me, for you have wounded me right sore, and sturdy knight have I found +you and of great strength." + +Perceval saith not a word to him and runneth again upon him sword +drawn, and the knight upon him, and right great buffets either giveth +other on the helm, so that their eyes all sparkle of stars and the +forest resoundeth of the clashing of their swords. Right tough was the +battle and right horrible, for good knights were both twain. But the +blood that ran down from their wounds at last slackened their sinews, +albeit the passing great wrath that the one had against the other, and +the passing great heat of their will, had so enchafed them they scarce +remembered the wounds that they had, and still dealt each other great +buffets without sparing. + + +III. + +King Hermit cometh from labouring in the forest and findeth not his +nephew in the hermitage, whereof is he right sorrowful, and he mounteth +on a white mule that he had therewithin. She was starred in the midst +of her forehead with a red cross. Josephus the good clerk witnesseth +us that this same mule had belonged to Joseph of Abarimacie at the time +he was Pilate's soldier, and that he bequeathed her to King Pelles. +King Hermit departeth from the hermitage and prayeth God grant him to +find his nephew. He goeth through the forest and rideth until he +draweth nigh the launde where the two knights were. He heareth the +strokes of the swords, and cometh towards them full speed and setteth +him between the twain to forbid them. + +"Ha, sir," saith he to the Knight of the White Shield, "Right great ill +do you to combat against this knight that hath lain sick this long time +in this forest, and fight sorely have you wounded him." + +"Sir," saith the-knight, "As much hath he done by me, and never would I +have run upon him now had he not challenged me, and he is not minded to +tell me who he is nor whence ariseth his hatred of me." + +"Fair Sir," saith the Hermit, "And you, who are you?" + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I will tell you. I am the son of King Ban of +Benoic." + +"Ha, fair nephew," saith King Hermit to Perceval, "See here your +cousin, for King Ban of Benoic was your father's cousin-german. Make +him right great cheer!" + +He maketh them take off their helmets and lower their ventails, and +then kiss one another, afterward he leadeth them to his hermitage. +They alight together. He calleth his own squire that waited upon him, +and made them be disarmed right tenderly. There was a damsel within +that was cousin-german to King Pelles and had tended Perceval within in +his sickness. She washeth their wounds right sweetly and cleanseth +them of the blood. And they see that Lancelot is sorer wounded than +Perceval. + +"Damsel," saith the Hermit, "How seemeth you?" + +"Sir," saith she, "Needs must this knight sojourn here, for his wound +is in a right perilous place." + +"Hath he danger of death?" + +"Sir," saith she, "In no wise of this wound, but behoveth him take good +heed thereto." + +"God be praised!" saith he, "and of my nephew how seemeth you?" + +"Sir, the wound that he hath will be soon healed. He will have none +ill thereof." + + +IV. + +The damsel, that was right cunning of leech-craft, tended the wounds of +the knights, and made them whole as best she might, and King Hermit +himself gave counsel therein. But and Perceval had borne his shield +that was there within, of sinople with a white hart, Lancelot would +have known him well, nor would there have been any quarrel between +them, for he had heard tell of this shield at the court of King Arthur. +The authority of this story recordeth that the two knights are in +hermitage, and that Perceval is well-nigh whole; but Lancelot hath sore +pain of his wound and is still far from his healing. + + + +BRANCH IX. + +TITLE I. + +Now the story is silent about the two knights for a little time, and +speaketh of the squire that Messire Gawain meeteth in the midst of the +forest, that told him he went seek the son of the Widow Lady that had +slain his father. And the squire saith that he will go to avenge him, +wherefore cometh he to the court of King Arthur, for that he had heard +tell how all good knights repaired thither. And he seeth the shield +hang on the column in the midst of the hall that the Damsel of the Car +had brought thither. The squire knoweth it well, and kneeleth before +the King and saluteth him, and the King returneth his salute and asketh +who he is. + +"Sir," saith he, "I am the son of the Knight of the Red Shield of the +Forest of Shadows, that was slain of the Knight that ought to bear the +shield that hangeth on this column, wherefore would I right gladly hear +tidings of him." + +"As gladly would I," saith the King, "so that no evil came to him +thereof, for he is the knight of the world that I most desire." + +"Sir," saith the Squire, "Well behoveth me to hate him for that he slew +my father. He that ought to bear this shield was squire when he slew +him, wherefore am I the more sorrowful for that I thought to be avenged +upon him squire. But this I may not do, wherefore I pray you for God's +sake that you will make me knight, for the like favour are you +accustomed to grant unto others." + +"What is your name, fair friend?" saith the King. + +"Sir," saith he, "I am called Clamados of the Shadows." + +Messire Gawain that had repaired to court, was in the hall, and said to +the King: "If this squire be enemy of the Good Knight that ought to +bear this shield, behoveth you not set forward his mortal enemy but +rather set him back, for he is the Best Knight of the world and the +most chaste that liveth in the world and of the most holy lineage, and +therefore have you sojourned right long time in this castle to await +his coming. I say not this for the hindering of the squire's +advancement, but that you may do nought whereof the Good Knight may +have cause of complaint against you." + +"Messire Gawain," saith Queen Guenievre, "well know I that you love my +Lord's honour, but sore blame will he have if he make not this one +knight, for so much hath he never refused to do for any; nor yet will +the Good Knight have any misliking thereof, for greater shame should he +have, and greater despite of the hatred of a squire than of a knight; +for never yet was good knight that was not prudent and well-advised and +slow to take offence. Wherefore I tell you that he will assuredly +listen to reason, and I commend my Lord the rather that he make him +knight, for much blame would he have of gainsaying him." + +"Lady," saith Messire Gawain, "So you are content, I am happy." + +The King made him knight right richly, and when he was clad in the +robes, they of the court declare and witness that never this long time +past had they seen at the court knight of greater comeliness. He +sojourned therein long time, and was much honoured of the King and all +the barons. He was every day on the watch for the Good Knight that +should come for the shield, but the hour and the place were not as yet. + + +II. + +When he saw that he did not come, he took leave of the King and the +Queen and all them of the court, and departed, thinking him that he +would go prove his knighthood in some place until he should have heard +tidings of his mortal enemy. He rideth amidst the great forests +bearing a red shield like as did his father, and he was all armed as +for defending of his body. And a long space of time he rideth, until +one day he cometh to the head of a forest, and he espied his way that +ran between two mountains and saw that he had to pass along the midst +of the valley that lay at a great depth. He looketh before him and +seeth a tree far away from him, and underneath were three damsels +alighted, and one prayed God right heartily aloud that He would send +them betimes a knight that durst convoy them through this strait pass. + + +III. + +Clamodos heareth the damsel and cometh thitherward. When they espied +him, great joy have they thereof and rise up to meet him. "Sir," say +they, "Welcome may you be!" + +"Damsels," saith he, "Good adventure may you have! And whom await you +here?" saith he. + +"We await," saith the Mistress of the damsels, "some knight that shall +clear this pass, for no knight durst pass hereby." + +"What is the pass; then, damsel?" saith he. + +"It is the one of a lion, and a lion, moreover, so fell and horrible +that never was none seen more cruel. And there is a knight with the +lion between the two mountains that is right good knight and hardy and +comely. Howbeit none durst pass without great company of folk. But +the knight that hath repair with the lion is seldom there, for so he +were there we need fear no danger, for much courtesy is there in him +and valour." + +And the knight looketh and seeth in the shadow of the forest three fair +stags harnessed to a car. + +"Ha," saith he, "you are the Damsel of the Car, wherefore may you well +tell me tidings of the knight of whom I am in quest." + +"Who is he?" saith the Damsel. + +"It is he that should bear a shield banded argent and azure with a red +cross." + +"Of him am I likewise in quest," saith the Damsel; "please God, we +shall hear tidings of him betimes." + +"Damsel" saith the knight, "that would I. And for that you are in +quest of him as am I likewise, I will convoy you beyond this pass." + +The Damsel maketh her Car go on before, and the damsels go before the +knight; and so enter they into the field of the lion, and right fair +land found they therewithin. Clamados looketh and seeth the hall +within an enclosure and seeth the lion that lay at the entrance of the +gateway. As soon as he espieth Clamados and the damsels, he cometh +toward them full speed, mouth open and ears pricked up. + +"Sir," saith the Damsel, "and you defend not your horse on foot, he is +dead at the first onset." + + +IV. + +Clamados is alighted to his feet, by her counsel, and holdeth his spear +in his fist, and the lion rampeth toward him all in a fury. Clamados +receiveth him on the point of his spear, and smiteth him therewith so +stoutly that it passeth a fathom beyond his neck. He draweth back his +spear without breaking it, and thinketh to smite him again. But the +lion cheateth him, and arising himself on his two hinder feet, setteth +his fore feet on his shoulders, then huggeth him toward him like as one +man doth another. But the grip was sore grievous, for he rendeth his +habergeon in twain and so teareth away as much flesh as he can claw +hold on. + + +V. + +When Clamados felt himself wounded, he redoubled his hardihood, and +grippeth the lion so straitly to him that he wringeth a huge roar out +of him, and then flingeth him to the ground beneath him. Then he +draweth his sword and thrusteth it to the heart right through the +breast. The lion roareth so loud that all the mountains resound +thereof. Clamados cutteth off his head and goeth to hang it at the +door of the hall. Then he cometh back to his horse and mounteth the +best he may. And the Damsel saith to him, "Sir, you are sore wounded." + +"Damsel," said he, "please God, I shall take no hurt thereof." + +Thereupon, behold you a squire that issueth forth of the hall and +cometh after him full speed. "Hold, Sir Knight," saith he; "Foul wrong +have you wrought, for you have slain the lion of the most courteous +knight that may be known, and the fairest and most valiant of this +kingdom, and in his despite have you hung the head at his door! Right +passing great outrage have you done hereby!" + +"Fair sweet friend," saith Clamados, "it may well be that the lord is +right courteous, but the lion was rascal and would have slain me and +them that were passing by. And your lord loved him so much he should +have chained him up, for better liketh me that I slew him than that he +should slay me." + +"Sir," saith the squire, "there is no road this way, for it is a +forbidden land whereof certain would fain reave my lord, and it was +against the coming of his enemies that the lion was allowed forth +unchained." + +"And what name hath your lord, fair friend?" saith Clamados. + +"Sir, he is called Meliot of Logres, and he is gone in quest of Messire +Gawain, of whom he holdeth the land, for right dear is he to him." + +"Messire Gawain," saith Clamados, "left I at the court of King Arthur, +but behoveth him depart thence or ever I return thither." + +"By my head," saith the squire, "faith would I you might meet them both +twain, if only my lord knew that you had slain him his lion." + +"Fair friend," saith Clamados, "and he be as courteous as you say, no +misliking will he have of me thereof, for I slew him in defending mine +own body, and God forbid I should meet any that would do me evil +therefor." + + +VI. + +Thereupon the knight and the damsels depart and pass the narrow strait +in the lion's field, and ride on until they draw nigh a right rich +castle seated in a meadowland surrounded of great waters and high +forests, and the castle was always void of folk. And they were fain to +turn thitherward, but they met a squire that told them that in the +castle was not a soul, albeit and they would ride forward they would +find great plenty of folk. So far forward have they ridden that they +are come to the head of a forest and see great foison of tents +stretched right in the midst of a launde, and they were compassed round +of a great white sheet that seemed from afar to be a long white wall +with crenels, and it was a good league Welsh in length. They came to +the entrance of the tents and heard great joy within, and when they had +entered they saw dames and damsels, whereof was great plenty, and of +right passing great beauty were they. Clamados alighteth, that was +right sore wounded. The Damsel of the Car was received with right +great joy. Two of the damsels come to Clamados, of whom make they +right great joy. Afterward they lead him to a tent and made disarm +him. Then they washed his wounds right sweetly and tenderly. Then +they brought him a right rich robe and made him be apparelled therein, +and led him before the ladies of the tents, that made right great joy +of him. + + +VII. + +"Lady," saith the Damsel of the Car, "This knight hath saved my life, +for he hath slain the lion on account of which many folk durst not come +to you, wherefore make great joy of him." + +"Greater joy may I not make, than I do, nor the damsels that are +herein, for we await the coming of the Good Knight that is healed, from +day to day. And now is there nought in the world I more desire to see." + +"Lady," saith Clamados, "Who is this Good Knight?" + +"The son of the Widow Lady of the Valleys of Camelot," saith she. + +"Tell me, Lady, do you say that he will come hither presently?" + +"So methinketh," saith she. + +"Lady, I also shall have great joy thereof, and God grant he come +betimes!" + +"Sir Knight," saith she, "What is your name?" + +"Lady" saith he, "I am called Clamados, and I am son of the lord of the +Forest of Shadows." + +She throweth her arms on his neck and kisseth and embraceth him right +sweetly, and saith: "Marvel not that I make you joy thereof, for you +are the son of my sister-in-law, nor have I any friend nor +blood-kindred so nigh as are you, and fain would I you should be lord +of all my land and of me, as is right and reason." + +The damsels of the tents make right great joy of him when they know the +tidings that he is so nigh of kin to the Lady of the Tents. And he +sojourned therewithin until that he was whole and heal, awaiting the +coming of the knight of whom he had heard the tidings. And the damsels +marvel them much that he cometh not, for the damsel that had tended him +was therewithin and telleth them that he was healed of his arm, but +that Lancelot is not yet whole, wherefore he is still within the +hermitage. + + +VIII. + +This high history witnesseth us and recordeth that Joseph, who maketh +remembrance thereof, was the first priest that sacrificed the body of +Our Lord, and forsomuch ought one to believe the words that come of +him. You have heard tell how Perceval was of the lineage of Joseph of +Abarimacie, whom God so greatly loved for that he took down His body +hanging on the cross, which he would not should lie in the prison there +where Pilate had set it. For the highness of the lineage whereof the +Good Knight was descended ought one willingly to hear brought to mind +and recorded the words that are of him. The story telleth us that he +was departed of the hermitage all sound and whole, albeit he hath left +Lancelot, for that his wound was not yet healed, but he hath promised +him that he will come back to him so soon as he may. He rideth amidst +a forest, all armed, and cometh toward evensong to the issue of the +forest and seeth a castle before him right fair and well seated, and +goeth thitherward for lodging, for the sun was set. He entereth into +the castle and alighteth. The lord cometh to meet him that was a tall +knight and a red, and had a felon look, and his face scarred in many +places; and knight was there none therewithin save only himself and his +household. + + +IX. + +When he seeth Perceval alighted, he runneth to bar the door, and +Perceval cometh over against him. For all greeting, the knight +saluteth him thus: "Now shall you have," saith he, "such guerdon as you +have deserved. Never again shall you depart hence, for my mortal enemy +are you, and right hardy are you thus to throw yourself upon me, for +you slew my brother the Lord of the Shadows, and Chaos the Red am I +that war upon your mother, and this castle have I reft of her. In like +manner will I wring the life out of you or ever you depart hence!" + +"Already," saith Perceval, "have I thrown myself on this your hostel to +lodge with you, wherefore to blame would you be to do me evil. But +lodge me this night as behoveth one knight do for another, and on the +morrow at departing let each do the best he may." + +"By my head!" saith Chaos the Red, "mortal enemy of mine will I never +harbour here save I harbour him dead." + +He runneth to the hall above, and armeth himself as swiftly as he may, +and taketh his sword all naked in his hand and cometh back to the place +where Perceval was, right full of anguish of heart for this that he +said, that he would war upon his mother and had reft her of this +castle. He flung his spear to the ground, and goeth toward him on foot +and dealeth him a huge buffet above the helmet upon the coif of his +habergeon, such that he cleaveth the mail and cutteth off two +fingers'-breadth of the flesh in such sort that he made him reel three +times round. + + +X. + +When Chaos the Red felt himself wounded, he was sore grieved thereof, +and cometh toward Perceval and striketh him a great buffet above in the +midst of his helmet, so that he made the sparks fly and his neck stoop +and his eyes sparkle of stars. And the blow slippeth down on to the +shield, so that it is cleft right down to the boss. Perceval felt his +neck stiff and heavy, and feeleth that the knight is sturdy and of +great might. He cometh back towards him, and thinketh to strike him +above in the midst of his head, but Chaos swerved aside from him; +howbeit Perceval reached him and caught his right arm and cutteth it +sheer from his side, sword and all, and sendeth it flying to the +ground, and Chaos runneth upon him, thinking to grapple him with his +left arm, but his force was waning; nathless right gladly would he have +avenged himself and he might. Howbeit, Perceval setteth on him again +that loved him not in his heart, and smiteth him again above on the +head, and dealeth him such a buffet as maketh his brains be all +to-scattered abroad. His household and servants were at the windows of +the hall. When they see that their lord is nigh to the death, they cry +to Perceval: "Sir, you have slain the hardiest knight in the kingdom of +Logres, and him that was most redoubted of his enemies; but we can do +no otherwise; we know well that this castle is your mother's and ought +to be yours. We challenge it not; wherefore may you do your will of +whatsoever there is in the castle; but allow us to go to our lord that +there lieth dead, and take away the body and set it in some seemly +place for the sake of his good knighthood, and for that it behoveth us +so to do." + +"Readily do I grant it you," saith Perceval. + +They bear the body to a chapel, then they disarm him and wind him in +his shroud. After that they lead Perceval into the hall and disarm him +and say to him: "Sir, you may be well assured that there be none but us +twain herewithin and two damsels, and the doors are barred, and behold, +here are the keys which we deliver up to you." + +"And I command you," saith Perceval, "that you go straightway to my +mother, and tell her that she shall see me betimes and I may get done, +and so salute her and tell her I am sound and whole. And what is the +name of this castle?" + +"Sir, it hath for name the Key of Wales, for it is the gateway of the +land." + + +XI. + +Perceval lay the night in the castle he had reconquered for his mother, +and the morrow, when he was armed, he departed. These promised that +they would keep the castle loyally and would deliver it up to his +mother at her will. He rode until he came to the tents where the +damsels were, and drew rein and listened. But there was not so great +joy as when the damsel that rode like a knight and led the Car came +thither with Clamados. Great dole heard he that was made, and beating +of palms. Wherefore he bethought him what folk they might be. +Natheless he was not minded to draw back without entering. He alighted +in the midst of the tents and set down his shield and his spear, and +seeth the damsels wringing their hands and tearing their hair, and much +marvelleth he wherefore it may be. A damsel cometh forward that had +set forth from the castle where he had slain the knight: "Sir, to your +shame and ill adventure may you have come hither!" + +Perceval looketh at her and marvelleth much of that she saith, and she +crieth out: "Lady, behold here him that hath slain the best knight of +your lineage! And you, Clamados, that are within there, he hath slain +your father and your uncle! Now shall it be seen what you will do!" + +The Damsel of the Car cometh thitherward and knoweth Perceval by the +shield that he bare of sinople with a white hart. + +"Sir," saith she, "welcome may you be! Let who will make dole, I will +make joy of your coming!" + + +XII. + +Therewith the Damsel leadeth him into a tent and maketh him sit on a +right rich couch; afterward she maketh him be disarmed of her two +damsels and clad in a right rich robe. Then she leadeth him to the +Queen of the Tents that was still making great dole. + +"Lady," saith the Damsel of the Car, "Stint your sorrow, for behold, +here is the Good Knight on whose account were the tents here pitched, +and on whose account no less have you been making this great joy right +up to this very day!" + +"Ha," saith she, "Is this then the son of the Widow Lady?" + +"Yea, certes," saith the Damsel. + +"Ha," saith the Lady, "He hath slain me the best knight of all my kin, +and the one that protected me from mine enemies." + +"Lady," saith the Damsel, "this one will be better able to protect and +defend us, for the Best Knight is he of the world and the comeliest." + +The Queen taketh him by the hand and maketh him sit beside her. "Sir," +saith she, "Howsoever the adventure may have befallen, my heart biddeth +me make joy of your coming." + +"Lady," saith he, "Gramercy! Chaos would fain have slain me within his +castle, and I defended myself to my power." + +The Queen looketh at him amidst his face, and is taken with a love of +him so passing strong and fervent that she goeth nigh to fall upon him. +"Sir," saith she, "and you will grant me your love, I will pardon you +of all the death of Chaos the Red." + +"Lady," saith he, "your love am I right fain to deserve, and mine you +have." + +"Sir," saith she, "How may I perceive that you love me?" + +"Lady," saith he, "I will tell you. There is no knight in the world +that shall desire to do you a wrong, but I will help you against him to +my power." + +"Such love," saith she, "is the common love that knight ought to bear +to lady. Would you do as much for another?" + +"Lady," saith he, "It well may be, but more readily shall a man give +help in one place than in another." + +The Queen would fain that Perceval should pledge himself to her further +than he did, and the more she looketh at him the better he pleaseth +her, and the more is she taken with him and the more desirous of his +love. But Perceval never once thought of loving her or another in such +wise. He was glad to look upon her, for that she was of passing great +beauty, but never spake he nought to her whereby she might perceive +that he loved her of inward love. But in no wise might she refrain her +heart, nor withdraw her eyes, nor lose her desire. The damsels looked +upon her with wonder that so soon had she forgotten her mourning. + + +XIII. + +Thereupon, behold you Clamados, that had been told that this was the +knight that, as yet only squire, had slain his father and put Chaos his +uncle to death. He cometh into the tent and seeth him sitting beside +the Queen, that looked at him right sweetly. + +"Lady," saith he, "Great shame do you to yourself, in that you have +seated at your side your own mortal enemy and mine. Never again +henceforth ought any to have affiance in your love nor in your help." + +"Clamados," saith the Queen, "the knight hath thrown himself upon me +suddenly. Wherefore ought I do him no evil, rather behoveth me lodge +him and keep his body in safety. Nought, moreover, hath he done +whereof he might be adjudged of murder nor of treason." + +"Lady," saith Clamados, "He slew my father in the Lonely Forest without +defiance, and treacherously cast a javelin at him and smote him through +the body, wherefore shall I never be at ease until I have avenged him. +Therefore do I appeal and pray you to do me my right, not as being of +your kindred, but as stranger. For right willing am I that kinship +shall avail me nought herein." + +Perceval looketh at the knight and seeth that he is of right goodly +complexion of body and right comely of face. "Fair Sir," saith he, "as +of treason I would that you hold me quit, for never toward your father +nor toward other have had I never a mind to do treason, and God defend +me from such shame, and grant me strength to clear myself of any blame +thereof." + +Clamados cometh forward to proffer his gage. + +"By my head," saith the Queen, "not this day shall gage be received +herein. But to-morrow will come day, and counsel therewith, and then +shall fight be done to each." + +Clamados is moved of right great wrath, but the Queen of the Tents +showeth Perceval the most honour she may, whereof is Clamados right +heavy, and saith that never ought any to put his trust in woman. But +wrongly he blameth her therein, for she did it of the passing great +love she hath for Perceval, inasmuch as well she knoweth that he is the +Best Knight of the world and the comeliest. But it only irketh her the +more that she may not find in him any sign of special liking toward +herself neither in deed nor word, whereof is she beyond measure +sorrowful. The knights and damsels lay the night in the tents until +the morrow, and went to hear mass in a chapel that was in the midst of +the tents. + + +XIV. + +When mass was sung, straightway behold you, a knight that cometh all +armed, bearing a white shield at his neck. He alighteth in the midst +of the tents and cometh before the Queen all armed, and saith: "Lady, I +plain me of a knight that is there within that hath slain my lion, and +if you do me not right herein, I will harass you as much or more than I +will him, and will harm you in every wise I may. Wherefore I pray and +require you, for the love of Messire Gawain, whose man I am, that you +do me right herein." + +"What is the knight's name?" saith the Queen. + +"Lady," saith he, "He is called Clamados of the Shadows, and methinketh +I see him yonder, for I knew him when he was squire." + +"And what is your name?" saith the Queen. + +"Lady, I am called Melior of Logres." + +"Clamados," saith the Queen, "Hear you what this knight saith?" + +"Yea, Lady," saith he; "But again I require that you do me right of the +knight that slew my father and my uncle." + +"Lady," saith Melior, "I would fain go. I know not toward whom the +knight proffereth his gage, but him do I appeal of felony for my lion +that he hath slain." He taketh in his hand the skirt of his habergeon: +"Lady, behold here the gage I offer you." + + +XV. + +"Clamados," saith the Queen, "Hear you then not that which this knight +saith?" + +"Lady," saith he, "I hear him well. Truth it is that I slew his lion, +but not until after he had fallen upon me, and made the wounds whereof +I have been healed herewithin. But well you know that the knight who +came hither last night hath done me greater wrong than have I done this +other. Wherefore would I pray you that I may take vengeance of him +first." + +"You hear," saith she, "how this knight that hath come hither all armed +is fain to go back forthwith. Quit you, therefore, of him first, and +then will we take thought of the other." + +"Lady, gramercy!" saith Meliot, "and Messire Gawain will take it in +right good part, for this knight hath slain my lion that defended me +from all my enemies. Nor is it true that the entrance to your tent was +deserted on account of my lion; and in despite of me hath he hung the +head at my gate." + +"As of the lion," saith the Queen, "you have no quarrel against him and +he slew him in defending his body, but as of the despite he did you as +you say, when in nought had you done him any wrong, it shall not be +that right shalt be denied you in my court, and if you desire to +deliver battle, no blame shall you have thereof." + + +XVI. + +Clamados maketh arm him and mounteth on his horse, and he seemeth right +hardy of his arms and valorous. He cometh right in the midst of the +tent, where the ground was fair and level, and found Meilot of Logres +all armed upon his horse, and a right comely knight was he and a +deliver. And the ladies and damsels were round about the +tilting-ground. + +"Sir," saith the Queen to Perceval, "I will that you keep the field for +these knights." + +"Lady," saith he, "At your pleasure." + +Meliot moveth toward Clamados right swiftly and Clamados toward him, +and they melled together on their shields in such sort that they +pierced them and cleft the mail of their habergeons asunder with the +points of their spears, and the twain are both wounded so that the +blood rayeth forth of their bodies. The knights draw asunder to take +their career, for their spears were broken short, and they come back +the one toward the other with a great rush, and smite each other on the +breast with their spears so stiffly that there is none but should have +been pierced within the flesh, for the habergeons might protect them +not. They hurtle against each other so strongly that knights and +horses fall together to the ground all in a heap. The Queen and the +damsels have great pity of the two knights, for they see that they are +both so passing sore wounded. The two knights rise to their feet and +hold their swords naked and run the one on the other right wrathfully, +with such force as they had left. + +"Sir," saith the Queen to Perceval, "Go part these two knights asunder +that one slay not the other, for they are sore wounded." + +Perceval goeth to part them and cometh to Meliot of Logres. "Sir," +saith he, "Withdraw yourself back; you have done enough." + +Clamados felt that he was sore wounded in two places, and that the +wound he had in his breast was right great. He draweth himself back. +The Queen is come thither. "Fair nephew," saith she, "Are you badly +wounded?" + +"Yea, Lady," saith Clamados. + +"Certes," saith the Queen, "this grieveth me, but never yet saw I +knight and he were desirous of fighting, but came at some time by +mischance. A man may not always stand on all his rights." + +She made him be carried on his shield into a tent, and made search his +wounds, and saw that of one had he no need to fear, but that the other +was right sore perilous. + + +XVII. + +"Lady," saith Clamados, "Once more do I pray and require you that you +allow not the knight that slew my father to issue forth from hence, +save he deliver good hostage that he will come back when I shall be +healed." + +"So will I do, sith that it is your pleasure." + +The Queen cometh to the other knight that was wounded, for that he +declareth himself Messire Gawain's man, and maketh search his wounds, +and they say that he hath not been hurt so sore as is Clamados. She +commandeth them to tend him and wait upon him right well-willingly, +"Sir," saith she to Perceval, "Behoveth you abide here until such time +as my nephew be heal, for you know well that whereof he plaineth +against you, nor would I that you should depart hence without clearing +you of the blame." + +"Lady, no wish have I to depart without your leave, but rather shall I +be ready to clear myself of blame whensoever and wheresoever time and +place may be. But herewithin may I make not so long sojourn. +Natheless to this will I pledge my word, that I will return thither +within a term of fifteen days from the time he shall be whole." + +"Sir," saith the Damsel of the Car, "I will remain here in hostage for +you." + +"But do you pray him," saith the Queen, "that he remain herewithin with +us." + + +XVIII. + +"Lady," saith Perceval, "I may not, for I left Lancelot wounded right +sore in my uncle's hermitage." + +"Sir," saith the Queen, "I would fain that remaining here might have +pleased you as well as it would me." + +"Lady," saith he, "none ought it to displease to be with you, but every +man behoveth keep his word as well as he may, and none ought to lie to +so good a knight as he." + +"You promise me, then," saith the Queen, "that you will return hither +the soonest you may, or at the least, within the term appointed after +you shall have learnt that Clamados is healed, to defend you of the +treason that he layeth upon you?" + +"Lady," saith he, "and if he die shall I be quit?" + +"Yea, truly, Sir, and so be that you have no will to come for love of +me. For right well should I love your coming." + +"Lady," saith he, "never shall be the day my services shall fail you, +so I be in place, and you in need thereof." + +He taketh leave and departeth, armed. The Damsel of the Car commendeth +him to God, and Perceval departeth full speed and rideth so far on his +journeys that he cometh to his uncle's hermitage and entereth in, +thinking to find Lancelot. But his uncle telleth him that he hath +departed all sound and all heal of his wound, as of all other malady, +as him thinketh. + + + +BRANCH X. + +INCIPIT. + +Another branch of the Graal again beginneth in the name of the Father, +and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. + + +TITLE I. + +And the story is here silent of Perceval, and saith that Lancelot goeth +his way and rideth by a forest until he findeth a castle amidst his way +at the head of a launde, and seeth at the gateway of the castle an old +knight and two damsels sitting on a bridge. Thitherward goeth he, and +the knight and damsels rise up to meet him, and Lancelot alighteth. + +"Sir," saith the Vavasour, "Welcome may you be." + +The damsels make great joy of him and lead him into the castle. "Sir," +saith the Vavasour, "Sore need had we of your coming." + +He maketh him go up into the hall above and be disarmed of his arms. +"Sir," saith the Vavasour, "Now may you see great pity of these two +damsels that are my daughters. A certain man would reave them of this +castle for that no aid nor succour have they save of me alone. And +little enough can I do, for I am old and feeble, and my kin also are of +no avail, insomuch that hitherto have I been able to find no knight +that durst defend me from the knight that is fain to reave this castle +from me. And you seem to be of so great valiance that you will defend +me well herein to-morrow, for the truce cometh to an end to-night." + +"How?" saith Lancelot, "I have but scarce come in hither to lodge, and +you desire me so soon already to engage myself in battle?" + +"Sir," saith the Vavasour, "Herein may it well be proven whether there +be within you as much valour as there seemeth from without to be. For, +and you make good the claim of these two damsels that are my daughters +to the fiefs that are of right their own, you will win thereby the love +of God as well as praise of the world." + +They fall at his feet weeping, and pray him of mercy that they may not +be disherited. And he raiseth them forthwith, as one that hath great +pity thereof. + +"Damsels," saith he, "I will aid you to my power. But I would fain +that the term be not long." + +"Sir," say they, "to-morrow is the day, and to-morrow, so we have no +knight to meet him that challengeth this castle, we shall have lost it. +And our father is an old knight, and hath no longer lustihood nor force +whereby he might defend it for us, and all of our lineage are fallen +and decayed. This hatred hath fallen on us on account of Messire +Gawain, whom we harboured." + +Lancelot lay there the night within the castle and was right well +lodged and worshipfully entreated. And on the morrow he armed himself +when he had heard mass, and leant at the windows of the hall and seeth +the gate shut and barred, and heareth a horn sound without the gate +three times right loud. + +"Sir," saith the Vavasour, "the knight is come, and thinketh that +within here is no defence." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "but there is, please God!" + +The knight bloweth another blast of his horn. + +"Hearken, Sir," saith the Vavasour, "It is nigh noon, and he thinketh +him that none will issue hence to meet him." + + +II. + +Lancelot cometh down below and findeth his horse saddled and is mounted +as soon. The damsels are at his stirrup, and pray him for God's sake +remember to defend the honour that is theirs of the castle, for, save +only he so doth, they must flee like beggars into other lands. +Thereupon the Knight soundeth his horn again. Lancelot, when he +heareth the blast, hath no mind to abide longer, and forthwith issueth +out of the castle all armed, lance in hand and shield at his neck. He +seeth the knight at the head of the bridge, all armed under a tree. +Thitherward cometh Lancelot full speed. The knight seeth him coming, +and crieth to him. + +"Sir Knight," saith he, "What demand you? Come you hither to do me +evil?" + +"Yea," saith Lancelot, "for that evil are you fain to do to this +castle; wherefore on behalf of the Vavasour and his daughters do I defy +you." + +He moveth against the knight and smiteth him on the shield with his +spear and the knight him. But Lancelot pierceth his shield for him +with his sword, and smiteth him so stiffly that he pinneth his arm to +his side, and hurtleth against him so passing stoutly that he thrusteth +him to the ground, him and his horse, and runneth over him, sword drawn. + +"Ha," saith the knight to Lancelot, "withdraw a little from over me, +and slay me not, and tell me your name, of your mercy." + +"What have you to do with my name?" saith Lancelot. + +"Sir," saith he, "Gladly would I know it, for a right good knight seem +you to be, and so have I well proven in the first encounter." + +"Sir" saith he, "I am called Lancelot of the Lake. And what is your +name?" + +"Sir." saith he, "I am called Marin of the castle of Gomeret. So am +I--father of Meliot of Logres. I pray you, by that you most love in +the world, that you slay me not." + +"So will I do," saith Lancelot, "and you renounce not your feud against +this castle." + +"By my faith," saith the knight, "thus do I renounce it, and I pledge +myself that thenceforth for ever shall it have no disturbance of me." + +"Your pledge," saith Lancelot, "will I not accept save you come in +thither." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "You have sore wounded me in such sort that I +cannot mount but with right great pain." + +Lancelot helpeth him until he was mounted again on his horse, and +leadeth him into the castle with him, and maketh him present his sword +to the Vavasour and his daughters, and yield up his shield and his +arms, and afterward swear upon hallows that never again will he make +war upon them. Lancelot thereupon receiveth his pledge to forego all +claim to the castle and Marin turneth him back to Gomeret. The +Vavasour and his daughters abide in great joy. + + +III. + +The story saith that Lancelot went his way by strange lands and by +forests to seek adventure, and rode until he found a plain land lying +without a city that seemed to be of right great lordship. As he was +riding by the plain land, he looketh toward the forest and seeth the +plain fair and wide and the land right level. He rideth all the plain, +and looketh toward the city and seeth great plenty of folk issuing +forth thereof. And with them was there much noise of bag-pipes and +flutes and viols and many instruments of music, and they came along the +way wherein was Lancelot riding. When the foremost came up to him, +they halted and redoubled their joy. + +"Sir," say they, "Welcome may you be!" + +"Lords," saith Lancelot, "Whom come ye to meet with such joy?" + +"Sir," say they, "they that come behind there will tell you clearly +that whereof we are in need." + + +IV. + +Thereupon behold you the provosts and the lords of the city, and they +come over against Lancelot. + +"Sir," say they, "All this joy is made along of you, and all these +instruments of music are moved to joy and sound of gladness for your +coming." + +"But wherefore for me," saith Lancelot. + +"That shall you know well betimes," say they. "This city began to burn +and to melt in one of the houses from the very same hour that our king +was dead, nor might the fire be quenched, nor never will be quenched +until such time as we have a king that shall be lord of the city and of +the honour thereunto belonging, and on New Year's Day behoveth him to +be crowned in the midst of the fire, and then shall the fire be +quenched, for otherwise may it never be put out nor extinguished. +Wherefore have we come to meet you to give you the royalty, for we have +been told that you are a good knight." + +"Lords," saith Lancelot, "Of such a kingdom have I no need, and God +defend me from it." + +"Sir," they say, "You may not be defended thereof, for you come into +this land at hazard, and great grief would it be that so good land as +you see this is were burnt and melted away by the default of one single +man, and the lordship is right great, and this will be right great +worship to yourself, that on New Year's Day you should be crowned in +the fire and thus save this city and this great people, and thereof +shall you have great praise." + + +V. + +Much marvelleth Lancelot of this that they say. They come round about +him on all sides and lead him into the city. The ladies and damsels +are mounted to the windows of the great houses and make great joy, and +say the one to another, "Look at the new king here that they are +leading in. Now will he quench the fire on New Year's Day." + +"Lord!" say the most part, "What great pity is it of so comely a knight +that he shall end on such-wise!" + +"Be still!" say the others. "Rather should there be great joy that so +fair city as is this should be saved by his death, for prayer will be +made throughout all the kingdom for his soul for ever!" + +Therewith they lead him to the palace with right great joy and say that +they will crown him. Lancelot found the palace all strown with rushes +and hung about with curtains of rich cloths of silk, and the lords of +the city all apparelled to do him homage. But he refuseth right +stoutly, and saith that their king nor their lord will he never be in +no such sort. Thereupon behold you a dwarf that entereth into the +city, leading one of the fairest dames that be in any kingdom, and +asketh whereof this joy and this murmuring may be. They tell him they +are fain to make the knight king, but that he is not minded to allow +them, and they tell him the whole manner of the fire. + + +VI. + +The dwarf and the damsel are alighted, then they mount up to the +palace. The dwarf calleth the provosts of the city and the greater +lords. + +"Lords," saith he, "sith that this knight is not willing to be king, I +will be so willingly, and I will govern the city at your pleasure and +do whatsoever you have devised to do." + +"In faith, sith that the knight refuseth this honour and you desire to +have it, willingly will we grant it you, and he may go his way and his +road, for herein do we declare him wholly quit." + +Therewithal they set the crown on the dwarf's head, and Lancelot maketh +great joy thereof. He taketh his leave, and they command him to God, +and so remounteth he on his horse and goeth his way through the midst +of the city all armed. The dames and damsels say that he would not be +king for that he had no mind to die so soon. When he came forth of the +city right well pleased was he. He entereth a great forest and rideth +on till daylight began to fall, and seeth before him a hermitage newly +stablished, for the house and the chapel were all builded new. He +cometh thitherward and alighteth to lodge. The hermit, that was young +without beard or other hair on his face, issued from his chapel. + +"Sir," saith he to Lancelot, "you are he that is welcome." + +"And you, sir, good adventure to you," saith Lancelot. "Never have I +seen hermit so young as you." + +"Sir, of this only do I repent me, that I came not hither ere now." + + +VII. + +Therewith he maketh his horse be stabled, and leadeth him into his +hermitage, and so maketh disarm him and setteth him at ease as much as +he may. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "Can you tell me any tidings of a knight that +hath lain sick of a long time in the house of a hermit?" + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "it is no long time agone sithence I saw him in +the house of the good King Hermit, that hath tended me and healed me +right sweetly of the wounds that the knight gave me." + +"And is the knight healed, then?" saith the hermit. + +"Yea, Sir," saith Lancelot, "Whereof is right great joy. And wherefore +do you ask me?" + +"Well ought I to ask it," saith the hermit, "For my father is King +Pelles, and his mother is my father's own sister." + +"Ha, Sir, then is the King Hermit your father?" + +"Yea, Sir, certes." + +"Thereof do I love you the better," saith Lancelot, "For never found I +any man that hath done me so much of love as hath he. And what, Sir, is +your name?" + +"Sir," saith he, "My name is Joseus, and yours, what?" + +"Sir," saith he, "I am called Lancelot of the Lake." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "Right close are we akin, I and you." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "Hereof am I right glad at heart." + +Lancelot looketh and seeth in the hermit's house shield and spear, +javelins and habergeon. "Sir," saith Lancelot, "What do you with these +arms?" + +"Sir," saith he, "this forest is right lonely, and this hermitage is +far from any folk, and none are there here-within save me and my +squire. So, when robbers come hither, we defend ourselves therewith." + +"But hermits, methought, never assaulted nor wounded nor slew." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "God forbid I should wound any man or slay!" + +"And how, then, do you defend yourselves?" saith Lancelot. + +"Sir, I will tell you thereof. When robbers come to us, we arm +ourselves accordingly. If I may catch hold of any in my hands, he +cannot escape me. Our squire is so well-grown and hardy that he +slayeth him forthwith or handleth him in such sort that he may never +help himself after." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "Were you not hermit, you would be +valiant throughout." + +"By my head," saith the squire. "You say true, for methinketh there is +none so strong nor so hardy as he in all the kingdom of Logres." + +The lodged Lancelot the night the best he could. + + +VIII. + +When as they were in their first sleep, come four robber-knights of the +forest that knew how a knight was lodged therewithin, and had coveted +his horse and his arms. The hermit that was in his chapel saw them +first, and awoke his squire and made him bring his arms all secretly; +then he made his squire arm. "Sir," saith the squire, "Shall I waken +the knight?" + +"In nowise," saith the hermit, "until such time as we shall know +wherefore." + +He maketh open the door of the chapel and taketh a great coil of rope, +and they issue forth, he and his squire, and they perceived the robbers +in the stable where Lancelot's horse was. The hermit crieth out: the +squire cometh forward and thereupon beareth one to the ground with his +spear. The hermit seizeth him and bindeth him to a tree so strait that +he may not move. The other three think to defend them and to rescue +their fellow. Lancelot leapeth up all startled when he heareth the +noise and armeth himself as quickly as he may, albeit not so quickly +but that or ever he come, the hermit hath taken the other three and +bound them with the fourth. But of them were some that were wounded +right sore. + +"Sir," saith the hermit to Lancelot, "It grieveth me that you have been +awakened." + +"Rather," saith Lancelot, "have you done me great wrong for that you +ought to have awakened me sooner." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "We have assaults such as this often enough." + +The four robbers cry mercy of Lancelot that he will pray the hermit to +have pity upon them. And Lancelot saith God help not him that shall +have pity on thieves! As soon as it was daylight, Lancelot and the +squire led them into the forest, their hands all tied behind their +backs, and have hanged them in a waste place far away from the +hermitage. Lancelot cometh back again and taketh leave of Joseus the +young hermit, and saith it is great loss to the world that he is not +knight. + +"Sir," saith the squire, "to me is it great joy, for many a man should +suffer thereby." + +Lancelot is mounted, and Joseus commendeth him to God, praying him much +that he salute his father and cousin on his behalf, and Messire Gawain +likewise that he met in the forest what time he came all weeping to the +hermitage. + + +IX. + +Lancelot hath set him forth again upon his way, and rideth by the high +forests and findeth holds and hermitages enough, but the story maketh +not remembrance of all the hostels wherein he harboured him. So far +hath he ridden that he is come forth of the forest and findeth a right +fair meadow-land all loaded with flowers, and a river ran in the midst +there of that was right fair and broad, and there was forest upon the +one side and the other, and the meadow lands were wide and far betwixt +the river and the forest. Lancelot looketh on the river before him and +seeth a man rowing a great boat, and seeth within the boat two knights, +white and bald, and a damsel, as it seemed him, that held in her lap +the head of a knight that lay upon a mattress of straw and was covered +with a coverlid of marten's fur, and another damsel sate at his feet. +There was a knight within in the midst of the boat that was fishing +with an angle, the rod whereof seemeth of gold, and right great fish he +took. A little cock-boat followed the boat, wherein he set the fish he +took. Lancelot cometh anigh the bank the swiftest he may, and so +saluteth the knights and damsels, and they return his salute right +sweetly. + +"Lords," saith Lancelot, "is there no castle nigh at hand nor no +harbour?" + +"Yea, Sir," say they, "Beyond that mountain, right fair and rich, and +this river runneth thither all round about it." + +"Lords, whose castle is it?" + +"Sir," say they, "It is King Fisherman's, and the good knights lodge +there when he is in this country; but such knights have been harboured +there as that the lord of the land hath had good right to plain him +thereof." + +The knights go rowing along the river, and Lancelot rideth until he +cometh to the foot of the mountain and findeth a hermitage beside a +spring, and bethinketh him, since it behoveth him to go to so high a +hostel and so rich, where the Holy Graal appeareth, he will confess him +to the good man. He alighteth and confesseth to the good man, and +rehearseth all his sins, and saith that of all thereof doth he repent +him save only one, and the hermit asketh him what it is whereof he is +unwilling to repent. + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "it seemeth to me the fairest sin and the +sweetest that ever I committed." + +"Fair Sir," saith the hermit, "Sin is sweet to do, but right bitter be +the wages thereof; neither is there any sin that is fair nor seemly, +albeit there be some sins more dreadfuller than other." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "this sin will I reveal to you of my lips, but +of my heart may I never repent me thereof. I love my Lady, which is +the Queen, more than aught else that liveth, and albeit one of the best +Kings on live hath her to wife. The affection seemeth me so good and +so high that I cannot let go thereof, for, so rooted is it in my heart +that thence may it nevermore depart, and the best knighthood that is in +me cometh to me only of her affection." + +"Alas!" saith the hermit, "Sinner of mortal sin, what is this that you +have spoken? Never may no knighthood come of such wantonness that +shall not cost you right dear! A traitor are you toward our earthly +lord, and a murderer toward Our Saviour. Of the seven deadly sins, you +are labouring under the one whereof the delights are the falsest of +any, wherefore dearly shall you aby thereof, save you repent you +forthwith." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "never the more do I desire to cast it from me." + +"As much," saith the hermit, "is that as to say that you ought long +since to have cast it from you and renounced it. For so long as you +maintain it, so long are you an enemy of the Saviour!" + +"Ha, Sir," saith Lancelot, "She hath in her such beauty and worth and +wisdom and courtesy and nobleness that never ought she to be forgotten +of any that hath loved her!" + + +X. + +"The more of beauty and worth she hath in her," saith the hermit, "so +much the more blame hath she of that she doeth, and you likewise. For +of that which is of little worth is the loss not so great as of that +which is much worth. And this is a Queen, blessed and anointed, that +was thus, therefore, in her beginning vowed to God; yet now is she +given over to the Devil of her love for you, and you of your love for +her. Fair, sweet my friend," saith the hermit, "Let go this folly, +which is so cruel, that you have taken in hand, and be repentant of +these sins! So every day will I pray to the Saviour for you, that so +truly as He pardoned His death to him that smote Him with a lance in +His side, so may He pardon you of this sin that you have maintained, +and that so you be repentant and truly confessed thereof, I may take +the penance due thereunto upon myself!" + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I thank you much, but I am not minded to +renounce it, nor have I no wish to speak aught wherewith my heart +accordeth not. I am willing enough to do penance as great as is +enjoined of this sin, but my lady the Queen will I serve so long as it +may be her pleasure, and I may have her good will. So dearly do I love +her that I wish not even that any will should come to me to renounce +her love, and God is so sweet and so full of right merciful mildness, +as good men bear witness, that He will have pity upon us, for never no +treason have I done toward her, nor she toward me." + +"Ha, fair sweet friend," saith the hermit, "Nought may you avail you of +whatsoever I may say, wherefore God grant her such will and you also, +that you may be able to do the will of Our Saviour. But so much am I +fain to tell you, that and if you shall lie in the hostel of King +Fisherman, yet never may you behold the Graal for the mortal sin that +lieth at your heart." + +"May our Lord God," saith Lancelot, "counsel me therein at His pleasure +and at His will!" + +"So may He do!" saith the hermit, "For of a truth you may know thereof +am I right fain." + + +XI. + +Lancelot taketh leave of the hermit, and is mounted forthwith and +departeth from the hermitage. And evening draweth on, and he seeth +that it is time to lodge him. And he espieth before him the castle of +the rich King Fisherman. He seeth the bridges, broad and long, but +they seem not to him the same as they had seemed to Messire Gawain. He +beholdeth the rich entrance of the gateway there where Our Lord God was +figured as He was set upon the rood, and seeth two lions that guard the +entrance of the gate. Lancelot thinketh that sith Messire Gawain had +passed through amidst the lions, he would do likewise. He goeth toward +the gateway, and the lions that were unchained prick up their ears and +look at him. Howbeit Lancelot goeth his way between them without +heeding them, and neither of them was fain to do him any hurt. He +alighteth before the master-palace, and mounteth upward all armed. Two +other knights come to meet him and receive him with right great joy, +then they make him be seated on a couch in the midst of the hall and be +disarmed of two servants. Two damsels bring him a right rich robe and +make him be apparelled therewithal. Lancelot beholdeth the richness of +the hall and seeth nought figured there save images of saints, men or +women, and he seeth the hall hung about with cloths of silk in many +places. The knights lead him before King Fisherman in a chamber where +he lay right richly. He findeth the King, that lieth on a bed so rich +and so fair apparelled as never was seen a better, and one damsel was +at his head and another at his feet. Lancelot saluteth him right +nobly, and the King answereth him full fairly as one that is a right +worshipful man. And such a brightness of light was there in the +chamber as that it seemed the sun were beaming on all sides, and albeit +the night was dark, no candles, so far as Lancelot might espy, were +lighted therewithin. + +"Sir," saith King Fisherman, "Can you tell me tidings of my sister's +son, that was son of Alain li Gros of the Valleys of Camelot, whom they +call Perceval?" + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I saw him not long time sithence in the house +of King Hermit, his uncle." + +"Sir," saith the King, "They tell me he is a right good knight?" + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "He is the best knight of the world. I myself +have felt the goodness of his knighthood and his valour, for right +sorely did he wound me or ever I knew him or he me." + +"And what is your name?" saith the King. + +"Sir, I am called Lancelot of the Lake, King Ban's son of Benoic." + +"Ha," saith the King, "you are nigh of our lineage, you ought to be +good knight of right, and so are you as I have heard witness, +Lancelot," saith the King. "Behold there the chapel where the most +Holy Graal taketh his rest, that appeared to two knights that have been +herewithin. I know not what was the name of the first, but never saw I +any so gentle and quiet, nor had better likelihood to be good knight. +It was through him that I have fallen into languishment. The second +was Messire Gawain." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "the first was Perceval your nephew." + +"Ha!" saith King Fisherman, "take heed that you speak true!" + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I ought to know him well!" + +"Ha, God!" saith the King, "Wherefore then did I know him not? Through +him have I fallen into this languishment, and had I only known then +that it was he, should I now be all whole of my limbs and of my body, +and right instantly do I pray you, when you shall see him, that he come +to see me or ever I die, and that he be fain to succour and help his +mother, whose men have been slain, and whose land hath been reaved in +such sort that never may she have it again save by him alone. And his +sister hath gone in quest of him throughout all kingdoms." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "This will I tell him gladly, if ever I may find +him in any place, but it is great adventure of finding him, for +oft-times will he change his cognizance in divers fashion and conceal +his name in many places." + + +XII. + +King Fisherman is right joyous of the tidings he hath heard of his +nephew, wherefore he maketh Lancelot be honoured greatly. The knights +seat them in the hall at a table of ivory at meat, and the King +remaineth in his chamber. When they had washen, the table was dight of +rich sets of vessels of gold and silver, and they were served of rich +meats of venison of hart and wild boar. But the story witnesseth that +the Graal appeared not at this feast. It held not aloof for that +Lancelot was not one of the three knights of the world of the most +renown and mightiest valour, but for his great sin as touching the +Queen, whom he loved without repenting him thereof, for of nought did +he think so much as of her, nor never might he remove his heart +therefrom. When they had eaten they rose from the tables. Two damsels +waited on Lancelot at his going to bed, and he lay on a right rich +couch, nor were they willing to depart until such time as he was +asleep. He rose on the morrow as soon as he saw the day, and went to +hear mass. Then he took leave of King Fisherman and the knights and +damsels, and issued forth of the castle between the two lions, and +prayeth God that He allow him to see the Queen again betimes, for this +is his most desire. He rideth until he hath left the castle far behind +and entereth the forest, and is in right great desire to see Perceval, +but the tidings of him were right far away. He looketh before him in +the forest and seeth come right amidst the launde a knight, and a +damsel clad in the richest robe of gold and silk that ever he had seen +tofore. + + +XIII. + +The damsel came weeping by the side of the knight and prayed him +oftentimes that he would have mercy upon her. The knight is still and +holdeth his peace, and saith never a word. + +"Ha, Sir," saith the damsel to Lancelot, "Be pleased to beseech this +knight on my behalf." + +"In what manner?" saith Lancelot. + +"Sir," saith she, "I will tell you. He hath shown me semblance of love +for more than a year, and had me in covenant that he would take me to +wife, and I apparelled myself in the richest garments that I had to +come to him. But my father is of greater power and riches than is he, +and therefore was not willing to allow the marriage. Wherefore come I +with him in this manner, for I love him better than ever another knight +beside. Now will he do nought of that he had me in covenant to do, for +he loveth another, better, methinketh, than me. And this hath he done, +as I surmise, to do shame to my friends and to me." + +Lancelot seeth the damsel of right great beauty and weeping tenderly, +whereof hath he passing great pity. + +"Hold, Sir!" saith Lancelot to the knight, "this shall you not do! You +shall not do such shame to so fair a damsel as that you shall fail to +keep covenant with her. For not a knight is there in the kingdom of +Logres nor in that of Wales but ought to be right well pleased to have +so fair a damsel to wife, and I pray and require that you do to the +damsel that whereof you held her in covenant. This will be a right +worshipful deed, and I pray and beseech that you do it, and thereof +shall I be much beholden unto you." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I have no will thereunto, nor for no man will +I do it, for ill would it beseem me." + +"By my head, then," saith Lancelot, "the basest knight are you that +ever have I seen, nor ought dame nor damsel ever hereafter put trust in +you, sith that you are minded to put such disgrace upon this lady." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "a worthier lover have I than this, and one +that I more value; wherefore as touching this damsel will I do nought +more than I have said." + +"And whither, then, mean you to take her?" saith Lancelot. + +"I mean to take her to a hold of mine own that is in this forest, and +to give her in charge to a dwarf of mine that looketh after my house, +and I will marry her to some knight or some other man." + +"Now never God help me," saith Lancelot, "but this is foul churlishness +you tell me, and, so you do not her will, it shall betide you ill of me +myself, and, had you been armed as I am, you should have felt my first +onset already." + +"Ha," saith the damsel to Lancelot, "Be not so ready to do him any +hurt, for nought love I so well as I love his body, whatsoever he do +unto me. But for God's sake pray him that he do me the honour he hath +promised me." + +"Willingly," saith Lancelot. "Sir Knight, will you do this whereof you +had the damsel in covenant?" + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I have told you plainly that I will not." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "you shall do it, or otherwise sentence +of death hath passed upon you, and this not so much for the sake of the +damsel only, but for the churlishness that hath taken possession of +you, that it be not a reproach to other knights. For promise that +knight maketh to dame or damsel behoveth him to keep. And you, as you +tell me, are knight, and no knight ought to do churlishly to his +knowledge, and this churlishness is so far greater than another, that +for no prayer that the damsel may make will I suffer that it shall be +done, but that if you do not that whereof you held her in covenant, I +shall slay you, for that I will not have this churlishness made a +reproach unto other knights." + +He draweth his sword and would have come toward him, when the knight +cometh over against him and saith to him: "Slay me not. Tell me rather +what you would have me do?" + +"I would," saith he, "that you take the damsel to wife without denial." + +"Sir," saith he, "it pleaseth me better to take her than to die. Sir, I +will do your will." + +"I thank you much therefor," saith Lancelot. "Damsel, is this your +pleasure also?" + +"Yea, Sir, but, so please you, take not your departure from us until +such time as he shall have done that which you tell him." + +"I will, well that so it be," saith Lancelot, "for love of you." + +They ride together right through the forest, until they came to a +chapel at a hermitage, and the hermit wedded them and made much joy +thereof. When it cometh to after-mass, Lancelot would fain depart, but +the damsel prayeth him right sweetly that he should come right to her +father's house to witness that the knight had wedded her. + + +XIV. + +"Sir," saith she, "My father's hold is not far away." + +"Lady," saith Lancelot, "Willingly will I go sith that you beseech me +thereof." + +They ride so long right amidst the forest, that presently they come to +the castle of the Vavasour, that was sitting on the bridge of his +castle, right sorrowful and troubled because of his daughter. Lancelot +is gone on before and alighteth. The Vavasour riseth up to meet him, +and Lancelot recounteth unto him how his daughter hath been wedded, and +that he hath been at the wedding. Thereof the Vavasour maketh right +great joy. Therewithal, behold you, the knight and the Vavasour's +daughter that are straightway alighted, and the Vavasour thanketh +Lancelot much of the honour he hath done his daughter. Therewith he +departeth from the castle and rideth amidst the forest the day long, +and meeteth a damsel and a dwarf that came a great gallop. + +"Sir," saith the damsel to Lancelot, "From whence come you?" + +"Damsel," saith he, "I come from the Vavasour's castle that is in this +forest." + +"Did you meet," saith she, "a knight and a damsel on your way?" + +"Yea," saith Lancelot, "He hath wedded her." + +"Say you true?" saith she. + +"I tell you true," saith Lancelot, "But had I not been there, he would +not have wedded her." + +"Shame and ill adventure may you have thereof, for you have reft me of +the thing in the world that most I loved. And know you well of a truth +that joy of him shall she never have, and if the knight had been armed +as are you, never would he have done your will, but his own. And this +is not the first harm you have done me; you and Messire Gawain between +you have slain my uncle and my two cousins-german in the forest, whom +behoved me bury in the chapel where you were, there where my dwarf that +you see here was making the graves in the burial-ground." + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "true it is that I was there, but I departed +from the grave-yard, honour safe." + +"True," saith the dwarf, "For the knights that were there were craven, +and failed." + +"Fair friend," saith Lancelot, "Rather would I they should be coward +toward me than hardy." + +"Lancelot," saith the damsel, "Much outrage have you done, for you slew +the Knight of the Waste House, there whither the brachet led Messire +Gawain, but had he there been known, he would not have departed so +soon, for he was scarce better loved than you, and God grant you may +find a knight that may abate the outrages that are in your heart and in +his; for great rejoicing would there be thereof, for many a good knight +have you slain, and I myself will bring about trouble for you, so +quickly as I may." + + +XV. + +Thereupon the dwarf smiteth the mule with his whip, and she departeth. +Lancelot would answer none of her reviling, wherefore he departed +forthwith, and rideth so long on his journeys that he is come back to +the house of the good King Hermit, that maketh right great joy of him. +And he telleth him that he hath been unto the house of King Fisherman, +his brother that lieth in languishment, and telleth him also how he +hath been honoured in his hostel, and of the salutations that he sent +him. King Hermit is right joyous thereof, and asketh him of his +nephew, and he telleth him he hath seen him not since he departed +thence. King Hermit asketh him whether he hath seen the Graal, and he +telleth him he hath seen it not at all. + +"I know well," saith the King, "wherefore this was so. And you had had +the like desire to see the Graal that you have to see the Queen, the +Graal would you have seen." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "The Queen do I desire to see for the sake of +her good intent, her wisdom, courtesy and worth, and so ought every +knight to do. For in herself hath she all honourable conditions that a +lady may have." + +"God grant you good issue therein," saith King Hermit, "and that you do +nought whereof He may visit you with His wrath at the Day of Judgment." + +Lancelot lay the night in the hermitage, and on the morrow departed +thence and took leave when he had heard mass, and cometh back as +straight as he may to Pannenoisance on the sea of Wales, where were the +King and Queen with great plenty of knights and barons. + + + +BRANCH XI. + +TITLE I. + +This High History witnesseth whereof this account cometh, and saith +that Perceval is in the kingdom of Logres, and came great pace toward +the land of the Queen of the Tents to release the Damsel of the Car, +that he had left in hostage on account of Clamados, that had put upon +him the treason whereof behoved him to defend himself. But, or ever he +entered into the land of the Queen of the Tents, he met the Damsel of +the Car that was coming thence. She made right great joy of him, and +told him that Clamados was dead of the wound that Meliot of Logres had +dealt him, and that Meliot of Logres was heal. + +"Sir," saith she, "The tents and the awnings are taken down, and the +Queen hath withdrawn herself to the castle with her maidens, and by my +coming back from thence may you well know that you are altogether quit. +Wherefore I tell you that your sister goeth in quest of you, and that +never had your mother so sore need of help as now she hath, nor never +again shall your sister have joy at heart until such time as she shall +have found you. She goeth seeking for you by all the kingdoms and +strange countries in sore mis-ease, nor may she find any to tell her +tidings of you." + +Therewith Perceval departeth from the Damsel, without saying more, and +rideth until he cometh into the kingdom of Wales to a castle that is +seated above the sea upon a high rock, and it was called the Castle of +Tallages. He seeth a knight issue from the castle and asketh whose +hold it is, and he telleth him that it belonged to the Queen of the +Maidens. He entereth into the first baby of the castle, and alighteth +at the mounting-stage and setteth down his shield and his spear, and +looketh toward the steps whereby one goeth up to the higher hall, and +seeth upon them row upon row of knights and damsels. He cometh +thitherward, but never a knight nor dame was there that gave him +greeting of any kind. So he saluted them at large. He went his way +right amidst them toward the door of the great hall, which he findeth +shut, and rattled the ring so loud that it made the whole hall resound +thereof. A knight cometh to open it and he entereth in. + +"Sir Knight, welcome may you be!" + +"Good adventure may you have!" saith Perceval. + +He lowereth his ventail and taketh off his helm. The knight leadeth +him to the Queen's chamber, and she riseth to meet him, and maketh +great joy of him, and maketh him sit beside her all armed. + + +II. + +With that, cometh a damsel and kneeleth before the Queen and saith: +"Lady, behold here the knight that was first at the Graal. I saw him in +the court of the Queen of the Tents, there where he was appeached of +treason and murder." + +"Now haste," saith the Queen to the knight, "Let sound the ivory horn +upon the castle." + +The knights and damsels that were sitting on the steps leapt up, and +make right great joy, and the other knights likewise. They say that +now they know well that they have done their penance. Thereupon they +enter into the hall, and the Lady issueth from her chamber and taketh +Perceval by the hand and goeth to meet them. + +"Behold here," saith she, "the knight through whom you have had the +pain and travail, and by whom you are now released therefrom!" + +"Ha!" say the knights and dames, "welcome may he be!" + +"By my head," saith the Queen, "so is he, for he is the knight of the +world that I had most desire to see." + +She maketh disarm him, and bring the rich robe of cloth of silk to +apparel him. "Sir," saith the Queen, "Four knights and three damsels +have been under the steps at the entrance of the hall ever since such +time as you were at the hostel of King Fisherman, there where you +forgot to ask whereof the Graal might serve, nor never since have they +had none other house nor hold wherein to eat nor to drink nor to lie, +nor never since have they had no heart to make joy, nor would not now +and you had not come hither. Wherefore ought you not to marvel that +they make joy of your coming. Howbeit, on the other hand, sore need +have we in this castle of your coming, for a knight warreth upon me +that is brother of King Fisherman, and his name is the King of Castle +Mortal." + +"Lady," saith he, "He is my uncle, albeit I knew it not of a long time, +nor of the good King Fisherman either, and the good King Hermit is my +uncle also. But I tell you of a very truth, the King of Castle Mortal +is the most fell and cruel that liveth, wherefore ought none to love +him for the felony that is in him, for he hath begun to war upon King +Fisherman my uncle, and challengeth him his castle, and would fain have +the Lance and the Graal." + +"Sir," saith the Queen, "in like sort challengeth he my castle of me +for that I am in aid of King Fisherman, and every week cometh he to an +island that is in this sea, and oft-times cometh plundering before this +castle and hath slain many of my knights and damsels, whereof God grant +us vengeance upon him." + +She taketh Perceval by the hand and leadeth him to the windows of the +hall that were nighest the sea. "Sir," saith she, "Now may you see the +island, there, whereunto your uncle cometh in a galley, and in this +island sojourneth he until he hath seen where to aim his blow and laid +his plans. And here below, see, are my gallies that defend us thereof." + + +III. + +Perceval, as the history telleth, was much honoured at the castle of +the Queen of the Maidens, that was right passing fair. The Queen loved +him of a passing great love, but well she knew that she should never +have her desire, nor any dame nor damsel that might set her intent +thereon, for chaste was he and in chastity was fain to die. So long +was he at the castle as that he heard tell his uncle was arrived at the +island whither he wont to come. Perceval maketh arm him forthwith and +entereth into a galley below the hall, and maketh him be rowed toward +his uncle, that much marvelleth when he seeth him coming, for never +aforetime durst no knight issue out alone from this castle to meet him, +nor to come there where he was, body to body. But had he known that it +was Perceval, he would not have marvelled. Thereupon the galley taketh +the ground and Perceval is issued forth. The Queen and the knights and +her maidens are come to the windows of the castle to behold the bearing +of the nephew and the uncle. The Queen would have sent over some of +her knights with him, but Perceval would not. The King of Castle +Mortal was tall and strong and hardy. He seeth his nephew come all +armed, but knoweth him not. But Perceval knew him well, and kept his +sword drawn and his shield on his arm, and sought out his uncle with +right passing wrathfulness, and dealeth him a heavy buffet above upon +his helm that he maketh him stoop withal. Howbeit, the King spareth +him not, but smiteth him so passing stoutly that he had his helm all +dinted in thereby. But Perceval attacketh him again, thinking to +strike him above on the head, but the King swerveth aside and the blow +falleth on the shield and cleaveth it right down as far as the boss. +The King of Castle Mortal draweth him backward and hath great shame +within himself for that Perceval should thus fettle him, for he +searcheth him with his sword in every part, and dealeth him great +buffets in such sort that, and his habergeon had not been so strong and +tough, he would have wounded him in many places. + + +IV. + +The King himself giveth him blows so heavy that the Queen and all they +that were at the windows marvelled how Perceval might abide such +buffets. The King took witting of the shield that Perceval bare, and +looketh on it of a long space. + +"Knight," saith he, "who gave you this shield, and on behalf of whom do +you bear such an one?" + +"I bear it on behalf of my father," saith he. + +"Did your father, then, bear a red shield with a white hart?" + +"Yea," saith Perceval, "Many a day." + +"Was your father, then, King Alain of the Valleys of Camelot?" + +"My father was he without fail. No blame ought I to have of him, for a +good knight was he and a loyal." + +"Are you the son of Yglais my sister, that was his wife?" + +"Yea!" saith Perceval. + +"Then are you my nephew," saith the King of Castle Mortal, "For she was +my sister." + +"That misliketh me," saith Perceval, "For thereof have I neither +worship nor honour, for the most disloyal are you of all my kindred, +and I knew well when I came hither that it was you, and, for the great +disloyalty that is in you, you war upon the best King that liveth and +the most worshipful man, and upon the Lady of this castle for that she +aideth him in all that she may. But, please God, henceforward she +shall have no need to guard her to the best of her power against so +evil a man as are you, nor shall her castle never be obedient to you, +nor the sacred hallows that the good King hath in his keeping. For God +loveth not you so much as He doth him, and so long as you war upon him, +you do I defy and hold you as mine enemy." + +The King wotteth well that his nephew holdeth him not over dear, and +that he is eager to do him a hurt, and that he holdeth his sword in his +fist and that he is well roofed-in of his helmet, and that he is raging +like a lion. He misdoubteth him sore of his strength and his great +hardiment. He hath well proven and essayed that he is the Best Knight +of the world. He durst no longer abide his blows, but rather he +turneth him full speed toward his galley, and leapeth thereinto +forthwith. He pusheth out from the shore incontinent, and Perceval +followeth him right to the beach, full heavy that he hath gotten him +away. Then he crieth after him: "Evil King, tell me not that I am of +your kindred! Never yet did knight of my mother's lineage flee from +other knight, save you alone! Now have I conquered this island, and +never on no day hereafter be you so over-hardy as be seen therein +again!" + +The King goeth his way as he that hath no mind to return, and Perceval +cometh back again in his galley to the Queen's castle, and all they of +the palace come forth to meet him with great joy. The Queen asketh him +how it is with him and whether he is wounded? + +"Lady," saith he, "Not at all, thank God." + +She maketh disarm him, and honoureth him at her pleasure, and +commandeth that all be obedient to him, and do his commandment so long +as he shall please to be there. Now feel they safer in the castle for +that the king hath so meanly departed thence, and it well seemeth them +that never will he dare come back for dread of his nephew more than of +any other, whereof make they much joy in common. + + + +BRANCH XII. + +TITLE I. + +Now is the story silent about Perceval, and saith that King Arthur is +at Pannenoisance in Wales with great plenty of knights. Lancelot and +Messire Gawain are repaired thither, whereof all the folk make great +joy. The King asketh of Messire Gawain and Lancelot whether they have +seen Lohot his son in none of these islands nor in none of these +forests, and they answer him that they have seen him nowhere. + +"I marvel much," saith the King, "what hath become of him, for no +tidings have I heard of him beyond these, that Kay the Seneschal slew +Logrin the giant, whose head he brought me, whereof I made great joy, +and right willingly did I make Kay's lands the broader thereof, and +well ought I to do him such favour, for he avenged me of him that did +my land more hurt than any other, wherefore I love him greatly." + +But, and the King had only known how Kay had wrought against him, he +would not have so highly honoured his chivalry and his hardiment. The +King sate one day at meat and Queen Guenievre at his side. Thereupon +behold you, a damsel that alighteth before the palace, then mounteth +the steps of the hall and is come before the King and the Queen. + +"Sir, I salute you as the sorest dismayed and most discounselled damsel +that ever you have seen! Wherefore am I come to demand a boon of you +for the nobleness and valour of your heart." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "God counsel you of His will and pleasure, +and I myself am full fain to partake therein." + +The damsel looketh at the shield that hangeth in the midst of the hall. + +"Sir," saith she, "I beseech you that you deign grant me the aid of the +knight that shall bear this shield from hence. For sorer need have I +thereof than ever another of them that are discounselled." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Full well shall I be pleased, so the knight +be also fain to do as you say." + +"Sir," saith she, "And he be so good knight as he is reported, never +will he refuse your prayer, nor would he mine, if only I were here at +such time as he shall come. For, had I been able to find my brother +that I have been seeking this long time, then well should I have been +succoured long agone! But I have sought him in many lands, nor never +could I learn where he is. Therefore to my sorrow, behoveth me to ride +all lonely by the strange islands and put my body in jeopardy of death, +whereof ought these knights to have great pity." + + +II. + +"Damsel," saith the King, "For this reason do I refuse you nought of +that you wish, and right willingly will I put myself to trouble herein." + +"Sir," saith she, "much thanks to God thereof!" + +He maketh her be set at meat, and much honour be done her. When the +cloths were drawn, the Queen leadeth her into her chamber with the +maidens, and maketh much joy of her. The brachet that was brought +thither with the shield was lying on a couch of straw. He would not +know the Queen nor her damsels nor the knights that were in the court, +but so soon as ever he heard the damsel he cometh to her and maketh +greater joy of her than ever was brachet seen to make before. The +Queen and her damsels marvelled much thereof, as did the damsel herself +to whom the brachet made such joy, for never since that he was brought +into the hall had they seen him rejoice of any. The Queen asked her +whether she knew him. + +"Certes, Lady, no, for never, so far as I know, have I seen him before." + +The brachet will not leave her, but will be always on her lap, nor can +she move anywhither but he followeth her. The damsel is long time in +the court in this manner, albeit as she that had sore need of succour +she remained in the chapel every day after that the Queen was come +forth, and wept right tenderly before the image of the Saviour, and +prayed right sweetly that His Mother would counsel her, for that she +had been left in sore peril of losing her castle. The Queen asked her +one day who her brother was. + +"Lady," saith she, "one of the best knights of the world, whereof have +I heard witness. But he departed from my father's and mother's hostel +a right young squire. My father is since dead, and my Lady mother is +left without help and without counsel, wherefore hath a certain man +reaved her of her land and her castles and slain her men. The very +castle wherein she hath her hold would he have seized long agone had it +not been for Messire Gawain that made it be safe-guarded against her +enemies for a year. The term is now ended and my Lady mother is in +dread lest she shall lose her castle, for none other hold hath she. +Wherefore is it that she hath sent me to seek for my brother, for she +hath been told that he is a good knight, and for that I may not find +him am I come to this court to beseech of King Arthur succour of the +knight that shall bear away the shield, for I have heard tell that he +is the Best knight of the world; and, for the bounty that is in him +will he therefore have pity on me." + +"Damsel," saith the Queen, "Would that you had found him, for great joy +would it be unto me that your mother were succoured, and God grant that +he that ought to bear the shield come quickly, and grant him courage +that he be fain to succour your mother." + +"So shall he be, please God, for never was good knight that was without +pity." + + +III. + +The Queen hath much pity of the damsel, for she was of right great +beauty, and well might it be seen by her cheer and her semblant that no +joy had she. She had told the Queen her name and the name of her +father and mother, and the Queen told her that many a time had she +heard tell of Alain li Gros, and that he was said to be a worshipful +man and good knight. The King lay one night beside the Queen, and was +awoke from his first sleep so that he might not go to sleep again. He +rose and did on a great grey cape and issueth forth of the chamber and +cometh to the windows of the hall that opened toward the sea, calm and +untroubled, so that much pleasure had he of looking thereat and leaning +at the windows. When he had been there of a long space, he looked out +to sea and saw coming afar off as it were the shining of a candle in +the midst of the sea. Much he marvelled what it might be. He looked +at it until he espied what seemed him to be a ship wherein was the +light, and he was minded not to move until such time as he should know +whether a ship it were or something other. The longer he looketh at +it, the better perceiveth he that it is a ship, and that it was coming +with great rushing toward the castle as fast as it might. The King +espieth it nigh at hand, but none seeth he within nor without save one +old man, ancient and bald, of right passing seemliness that held the +rudder of the ship. The ship was covered of a right rich cloth in the +midst and the sail was lowered, for the sea was calm and quiet. The +ship was arrived under the palace and was quite still. When the ship +had taken ground, the King looketh thereat with much marvelling, and +knoweth not who is there within, for not a soul heareth he speak. Him +thinketh that he will go see what is within the ship, and he issueth +forth of the hall, and cometh thither where the ship was arrived, but +he might not come anigh for the flowing of the sea. + +"Sir," saith he that held the rudder, "Allow me a little!" + +He launcheth forth of the ship a little boat, and the King entereth +thereinto, and so cometh into the great ship, and findeth a knight that +lay all armed upon a table of ivory, and had set his shield at his +head. At the head of his bed had he two tall twisted links of wax in +two candlesticks of gold, and the like at his feet, and his hands were +crossed upon his breast. The King draweth nigh toward him and so +looketh at him, and seemed him that never had he seen so comely a +knight. + + +IV. + +"Sir," saith the master of the ship, "For God's sake draw you back and +let the knight rest, for thereof hath he sore need." + +"Sir," saith the King, "who is the knight?" + +"Sir, this would he well tell you were he willing, but of me may you +know it not." + +"Will he depart forthwith from hence?" saith the King. + +"Sir," saith the master, "Not before he hath been in this hall, but he +hath had sore travail and therefore he taketh rest." + +When the King heard say that he would come into his palace, thereof had +he great joy. He cometh to the Queen's chamber and telleth her how the +ship is arrived. The Queen riseth and two of her damsels with her, and +apparelleth her of a kirtle of cloth of silk, furred of ermine, and +cometh into the midst of the hall. Thereupon behold you, the knight +that cometh all armed and the master of the ship before him bearing the +twisted link of wax in the candlestick of gold in front of him, and the +knight held his sword all naked. + +"Sir," saith the Queen, "Well may you be welcome!" + +"Lady," saith he, "God grant you joy and good adventure." + +"Sir," saith she, "Please God we have nought to fear of you?" + +"Lady," saith he, "No fear ought you to have!" + +The King seeth that he beareth the red shield with the white hart +whereof he had heard tell. The brachet that was in the hall heareth +the knight. He cometh racing toward him and leapeth about his legs and +maketh great joy of him. And the knight playeth with him, then taketh +the shield that hung at the column, and hangeth the other there, and +cometh back thereafter toward the door of the hall. + +"Lady," saith the King, "Pray the knight that he go not so hastily." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "No leisure have I to abide, but at some time +shall you see me again." + +The knights also say as much, and the King and Queen are right heavy of +his departure, but they durst not press him beyond his will. He is +entered into the ship, and the brachet with him. The master draweth the +boat within, and so they depart and leave the castle behind. King +Arthur abideth at Pannenoisance, and is right sorrowful of the knight, +that he hath gone his way so soon. The knights arose throughout the +castle when the day waxed light, and learnt the tidings of the knight +that had borne the shield thence, and were right grieved for that they +had not seen him. The damsel that had asked the boon cometh to the King. + +"Sir," saith she, "Did you speak of my business to the knight?" + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Never a whit! to my sorrow, for he hath +departed sooner than I would!" + +"Sir," saith she, "You have done a wrong and a sin, but, please God, so +good a King as are you shall not fail of his covenants to damsel so +forlorn as am I." + +The King was right sorrowful for that he had remembered not the damsel. +She departeth from the court, and taketh leave of the King and Queen, +and saith that she herself will go seek the knight, and that, so she +may find him, she will hold the King quit of his covenant. Messire +Gawain and Lancelot are returned to the court, and have heard the +tidings of the knight that hath carried away the shield, and are right +grieved that they have not seen him, and Messire Gawain more than +enough, for that he had lien in his mother's house. Lancelot seeth the +shield that he had left on the column, and knoweth it well, and saith, +"Now know I well that Perceval hath been here, for this shield was he +wont to bear, and the like also his father bore." + +"Ha," saith Messire Gawain, "What ill-chance have I that I may not see +the Good Knight!" + +"Messire Gawain," saith Lancelot, "So nigh did I see him that methought +he would have killed me, for never before did I essay onset so stout +nor so cruel of force of arms, and I myself wounded him, and when he +knew me he made right great joy of me. And I was with him at the house +of King Hermit a long space until that I was healed." + +"Lancelot," saith Messire Gawain, "I would that he had wounded me, so I +were not too sore harmed thereof, so that I might have been with him so +long time as were you." + +"Lords," saith the King, "Behoveth you go on quest of him or I will go, +for I am bound to beseech his aid on behalf of a damsel that asked me +thereof, but she told me that, so she might find him first, I should be +quit of her request." + +"Sir," saith the Queen, "You will do a right great service and you may +counsel her herein, for sore discounselled is she. She hath told me +that she was daughter of Alain li Gros of the Valleys of Camelot, and +that her mother's name is Yglais, and her own Dindrane." + +"Ha, Lady," saith Messire Gawain, "She is sister to the knight that +hath borne away the shield, for I lay at her mother's house wherein I +was right well lodged." + +"By my head," saith the Queen, "it may well be, for so soon as she came +in hither, the brachet that would have acquaintance with none, made her +great joy, and when the knight came to seek the shield, the brachet, +that had remained in the hall, played gladly with him and went." + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "I will go in quest of the knight, +for right great desire have I to see him." + +"And I," saith Lancelot, "Never so glad have I been to see him +aforetime as I should be now." + +"Howsoever it be," saith the King, "I pray you so speed my business +that the damsel shall not be able to plain her of me." + + +V. + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "We will tell him and we may find him, that his +sister is gone in quest of him, and that she hath been at your court." + +The two knights depart from the court to enter on the quest of the Good +Knight, and leave the castle far behind them and ride in the midst of a +high forest until they find a cross in the midst of a launde, there +where all the roads of the forest join together. + +"Lancelot," saith Messire Gawain, "Choose which road soever you will, +and so let each go by himself, so that we may the sooner hear tidings +of the Good Knight, and let us meet together again at this cross at the +end of a year and let either tell other how he hath sped, for please +God in one place or another we shall hear tidings of him." + +Lancelot taketh the way to the right, and Messire Gawain to the left. +Therewithal they depart and commend them one another to God. + + + +BRANCH XIII. + +TITLE I. + +Here the story is silent of Lancelot, and saith that Messire Gawain +goeth a great pace riding, and prayeth God that He will so counsel him +that he may find the knight. He rideth until the day cometh to +decline, and he lay in the house of a hermit in the forest, that lodged +him well. + +"Sir," saith the hermit to Messire Gawain, "Whom do you go seek?" + +"Sir," saith he, "I am in quest of a knight that I would see right +gladly." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "In this neighbourhood will you find no +knight." + +"Wherefore not?" saith Messire Gawain, "Be there no knights in this +country?" + +"There was wont to be plenty," saith the hermit, "But now no longer are +there any, save one all alone in a castle and one all alone on the sea +that have chased away and slain all the others." + +"And who is the one of the sea?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "I know not who he is, save only that the sea +is hard by here, where the ship runneth oftentimes wherein the knight +is, and he repaireth to an island that is under the castle of the Queen +of the Maidens, from whence he chased an uncle of his that warred upon +the castle, and the other knights that he had chased thence and slain +were helping his uncle, so that now the castle is made sure. And the +knights that might flee from this forest and this kingdom durst not +repair thither for the knight, for they dread his hardiment and his +great might, sith that they know well they might not long endure +against him." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Is it so long a space sithence that he +hath haunted the sea?" + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "It is scarce more than a twelvemonth." + +"And how nigh is this to the sea?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "It is not more than two leagues Welsh. When I +have gone forth to my toil, many a time have I seen the ship run close +by me, and the knight, all armed, within, and meseemed he was of right +great comeliness, and had as passing proud a look as any lion. But I +can well tell you never was knight so dreaded in this kingdom as is he. +The Queen of the Maidens would have lost her castle ere now but for +him. Nor never sithence that he hath chased his uncle from the island, +hath he entered the Queen's castle even once, but from that time forth +hath rather rowed about the sea and searched all the islands and +stricken down all the proud in such sort that he is dreaded and warily +avoided throughout all the kingdoms. The Queen of the Maidens is right +sorrowful for that he cometh not to her castle, for so dear she holdeth +him of very love, that and he should come and she might keep him so +that he should never issue forth again, she would sooner lock him up +with her there safe within." + +"Know you." saith Messire Gawain, "what shield the knight beareth?" + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "I know not now to blazon it, for nought know +I of arms. Three score years and more have I been in this hermitage, +yet never saw I this kingdom before so dismayed as is it now." + +Messire Gawain lay the night therewithin, and departed when he had +heard mass. He draweth him as nigh the sea as he may, and rideth along +beside the shore and many a time draweth rein to look forth if he might +see the knight's ship. But nowhere might he espy it. He hath ridden +until he cometh to the castle of the Queen of the Maidens. When she +knew that it was Messire Gawain, she made thereof great joy, and +pointed him out the island whither Perceval had repaired, and from +whence he had driven his uncle. + +"Sir," saith she to Messire Gawain, "I plain me much of him, for never +hath he been fain to enter herewithin, save the one time that he did +battle with his uncle, but ever sithence hath he made repair to this +island and rowed about this sea." + +"Lady," saith Messire Gawain, "and whereabout may he be now?" + +"Sir, God help me," saith she, "I know not, for I have not seen him now +of a long space, and no earthly man may know his intent nor his desire, +nor whitherward he may turn." + +Messire Gawain is right sorrowful for that he knoweth not where to seek +him albeit he hath so late tidings of him. He lay at the castle and +was greatly honoured, and on the morrow he heard mass and took leave of +the Queen, and rideth all armed beside the seashore, for that the +hermit had told him, and the Queen herself, that he goeth oftener by +sea than by land. He entereth into a forest that was nigh the sea, and +seeth a knight coming a great gallop as if one were chasing him to slay +him. + +"Sir knight," saith Messire Gawain, "Whither away so fast?" + +"Sir, I am fleeing from the knight that hath slain all the others." + +"And who is the knight?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"I know not who he is," saith the knight, "But and you go forward you +are sure to find him." + +"Meseemeth," saith Messire Gawain, "that I have seen you aforetime." + +"Sir," saith he, "So have you! I am the Knight Coward that you met in +the forest there where you conquered the knight of the shield party +black and white, and I am man of the Damsel of the Car. Wherefore I +pray you for God's sake that you do me no hurt, for the knight that I +found down yonder hath a look so fierce that I thought I was dead when +I saw it." + +"Need you fear nought of me," saith Messire Gawain, "For I love your +damsel well." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I would that all the other knights would say +as much in respect of me, for no fear have I save for myself alone." + + +II. + +Messire Gawain departeth from the knight, and goeth his way amidst the +forest that overshadowed the land as far as the seashore, and looketh +forth from the top of a sand-hill, and seeth a knight armed on a tall +destrier, and he had a shield of gold with a green cross. + +"Ha, God," saith Messire Gawain, "Grant that this knight may be able to +tell me tidings of him I seek!" + +Thitherward goeth he a great gallop, and saluteth him worshipfully and +he him again. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Can you tell me tidings of a knight that +beareth a shield banded of argent and azure with a red cross?" + +"Yea, Sir," saith the knight, "That can I well. At the assembly of the +knights may you find him within forty days." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Where will the assembly be?" + +"In the Red Launde, where will be many a good knight. There shall you +find him without fail." + +Thereof hath Messire Gawain right great joy, and so departeth from the +knight and the knight from him, and goeth back toward the sea a great +gallop. But Messire Gawain saw not the ship whereinto he entered, for +that it was anchored underneath the cliff. The knight entered +thereinto and put out to sea as he had wont to do. Howbeit Messire +Gawain goeth his way toward the Red Launde where the assembly was to +be, and desireth much the day that it shall be. He rideth until he +cometh one eventide nigh to a castle that was of right fair seeming. +He met a damsel that was following after a dead knight that two other +knights bare upon a horse-bier, and she rode a great pace right amidst +the forest. And Messire Gawain cometh to meet her and saluteth her, +and she returned the salute as fairly as she might. + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Who lieth in this bier?" + +"Sir, a knight that a certain man hath slain by great outrage." + +"And whither shall you ride this day?" + +"Sir, I would fain be in the Red Launde, and thither will I take this +knight, that was a right worshipful man for his age." + +"And wherefore will you take him there?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"For that he that shall do best at the assembly of knights shall avenge +this knight's death." + + +III. + +The damsel goeth her way thereupon. And Messire Gawain goeth to the +castle that he had seen, and found none within save only one solitary +knight, old and feeble, and a squire that waited upon him. Howbeit, +Messire Gawain alighteth at the castle. The Vavasour lodged him well +and willingly, and made his door be well shut fast and Messire Gawain +be disarmed, and that night he showed him honour as well as he might. +And when it came to the morrow and Messire Gawain was minded to depart +thence, the Vavasour saith to him, "Sir you may not depart thus, for +this door hath not been opened this long while save only yesterday, +when I made it be opened before you, to the intent that you should meet +on my behalf a certain knight that is fain to slay me, for that the +King of Castle Mortal hath had his hold herewithin, he that warreth on +the Queen of the Maidens. Wherefore I pray you that you help me to +defend it against the knight." + +"What shield beareth he?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"He beareth a golden shield with a green cross." + +"And what sort of knight is he?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir," saith the Vavasour, "A good knight and a hardy and a sure." + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "And you can tell me tidings of +another knight whereof I am in quest, I will protect you against this +one to the best I may, and if he will do nought for my prayer, I will +safeguard you of my force." + +"What knight, then, do you seek?" saith the Vavasour. + +"Sir, a knight that is called Perceval, and he hath carried away from +the court of King Arthur a shield banded argent and azure with a red +cross on a band of gold. He will be at the assembly in the Red Launde. +These tidings had I of the knight you dread so much." + + +IV. + +Thereupon, whilst Messire Gawain was thus speaking to the Vavasour, +behold you the Knight of the Golden Shield, that draweth rein in the +midst of a launde that was betwixt the castle and the forest. The +Vavasour seeth him from the windows of the hall, and pointeth him out +to Messire Gawain. Messire Gawain goeth and mounteth on his destrier, +his shield at his neck and his spear in his fist, all armed, and +issueth forth of the door when it had been unfastened, and cometh +toward the knight, that awaited him on his horse. He seeth Messire +Gawain coming, but moveth not, and Messire Gawain marvelleth much that +the knight cometh not toward him, for him thinketh well that the +Vavasour had told him true. But he had not, for never had the knight +come thither to do the Vavasour any hurt, but on account of the knights +that passed by that way that went to seek adventure, for right glad was +he to see them albeit he was not minded to make himself known unto any. +Messire Gawain looketh before him and behind him and seeth that the +door was made fast and the bridge drawn up so soon as he was departed +thence, whereof he marvelled much and saith to the knight, "Sir, is +your intent nought but good only?" + +"By my head," saith he, "Nought at all, and readily will I tell it you." + +Thereupon, behold you a damsel that cometh a great pace, and held a +whip wherewith she hurrieth her mule onward, and she draweth rein there +where the two knights were. + +"Ha, God!" saith she, "shall I ever find one to wreak me vengeance of +the traitor Vavasour that dwelleth in this castle?" + +"Is he then traitor?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Yea, Sir, the most traitor you saw ever! He lodged my brother the day +before yesterday, and bore him on hand at night that a certain knight +was warring upon him for that the way whereby the knights pass is here +in front of this place, and lied to him so much as that my brother held +him in covenant that he would assault a certain knight that he should +point out to him, for love of him. This knight came passing hereby, +that had no thought to do hurt neither to the Vavasour nor to my +brother. The knight was right strong and hardy, and was born at the +castle of Escavalon. My brother issued forth of the castle filled with +fool-hardiness for the leasing of the Vavasour, and ran upon the knight +without a word. The knight could do no less than avenge himself. They +hurtled together so sore that their horses fell under them and their +spears passed either through other's heart. Thus were both twain killed +on this very piece of ground." + + +V. + +"The Vavasour took the arms and the horses and put them in safe keeping +in his castle, and the bodies of the knights he left to the wild +beasts, that would have devoured them had I not chanced to come thither +with two knights that helped me bury them by yonder cross at the +entrance of the forest." + +"By my head," saith Messire Gawain, "In like manner would he have +wrought me mischief had I been minded to trust him; for he bore me in +hand that this knight was warring upon him, and besought me that I +should safeguard him against him. But our Lord God so helped me that I +intermeddled not therein, for lightly might I have wrought folly." + +"By the name of God," saith the other, "Meseemeth it clear that the +Vavasour would fain that knights should kill each other." + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "You say true; it is of his covetise of +harness and horses that he entreateth the knights on this-wise." + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Whither go you?" + +"Sir," saith she, "After a knight that I have made be carried in a +litter for the dead." + +"I saw him," saith he, "pass by here last night, full late last night." + +The knight taketh leave of Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain saith +that he holdeth himself a churl in that he hath not asked him of his +name. But the knight said, "Fair Sir, I pray you of love that you ask +not my name until such time as I shall ask you of yours." + + +VI. + +Messire Gawain would ask nought further of the knight, and the knight +entered into the Lonely Forest and Messire Gawain goeth on his way. He +meeteth neither knight nor damsel to whom he telleth not whom he goeth +to seek, and they all say that he will be in the Red Launde. He lodged +the night with a hermit. At night, the hermit asked Messire Gawain +whence he came? + +"Sir, from the land of the Queen of the Maidens." + +"Have you seen Perceval, the Good Knight that took the shield in King +Arthur's court and left another there?" + +"No, certes," saith Messire Gawain, "Whereof am I right sorrowful. But +a knight with a shield of gold and a green cross thereon told me that +he would be at the Red Launde." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "you say true, for it was he himself to whom +you spake. Tonight is the third night since he lay within yonder, and +see here the bracket he brought from King Arthur's court, which he hath +commanded me to convey to his uncle, King Hermit." + +"Alas!" saith Messire Gawain, "What ill chance is mine if this be true!" + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "I ought not to lie, neither to you nor other. +By the brachet may you well know that this is true." + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Of custom beareth he no such shield." + +"I know well," saith the hermit, "what shield he ought to bear, and +what shield he will bear hereafter. But this doth he that he may not +be known, and this shield took he in the hermitage of Joseus, the son +of King Hermit, there where Lancelot was lodged, where he hanged the +four thieves that would have broken into the hermitage by night. And +within there hath remained the shield he brought from King Arthur's +court, with Joseus the son of my sister, and they are as brother and +sister between the twain, and you may know of very truth that albeit +Joseus be hermit, no knight is there in Great Britain of his heart and +hardiment." + + +VII. + +"Certes," saith Messire Gawain, "It was sore mischance for me that I +should see him yesterday before the castle where the knights pass by, +and speak to him and ask him his name, but he besought me that I should +not ask him his name until such time as he should ask me mine; and with +that he departed from me and entered into the forest, and I came +hitherward. Now am I so sorrowful that I know not what I may do for +the best, for King Arthur sendeth me in quest of him, and Lancelot hath +also gone to seek him in another part of the kingdom of Logres. But +now hath too great mischance befallen me of this quest, for twice have +I seen him and found him and spoken to him, and now have I lost him +again." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "He is so close and wary a knight, that he is +fain never to waste a word, neither will he make false semblant to any +nor speak word that he would not should be heard, nor do shame of his +body to his knowledge, nor carnal sin, for virgin and chaste is he and +doth never outrage to any." + +"I know well," saith Messire Gawain, "that all the valours and all the +cleannesses that ought to be in a knight are in him, and therefore am I +the more sorrowful that I am not of them that he knoweth, for a man is +worth the more that hath acquaintance with a good knight." + + +VIII. + +Messire Gawain lay the night in the hermit's house, right sorrowful, +and in the morning departed when he had heard mass. Josephus the good +clerk witnesseth us in this high history that this hermit had to name +Josuias, and was a knight of great worship and valour, but he renounced +all for the love of God, and was fain to set his body in banishment for +Him. And all these adventures that you hear in this high record came +to pass, Josephus telleth us, for the setting forward the law of the +Saviour. All of them could he not record, but only these whereof he +best remembered him, and whereof he knew for certain all the adventures +by virtue of the Holy Spirit. This high record saith that Messire +Gawain hath wandered so far that he is come into the Red Launde whereas +the assembly of knights should be held. He looketh and seeth the tents +pitched and the knights coming from all quarters. The most part were +already armed within and before their tents. Messire Gawain looketh +everywhere, thinking to see the knight he seeketh, but seemeth him he +seeth him not, for no such shield seeth he as he beareth. All abashed +is he thereof, for he hath seen all the tents and looked at all the +arms. But the knight is not easy to recognise, for he hath changed his +arms, and nigh enough is he to Messire Gawain, albeit you may well +understand that he knoweth it not. And the tournament assembleth from +all parts, and the divers fellowships come the one against other, and +the melly of either upon other as they come together waxeth sore and +marvellous. And Messire Gawain searcheth the ranks to find the knight, +albeit when he meeteth knight in his way he cannot choose but do +whatsoever a knight may do of arms, and yet more would he have done but +for his fainness to seek out the knight. The damsel is at the head of +the tournament, for that she would fain know the one that shall have +the mastery and the prize therein. + +The knight that Messire Gawain seeketh is not at the head of the +fellowships, but in the thickest of the press, and such feats of arms +doth he that more may no knight do, and smiteth down the knights about +him, that flee from him even as the deer-hound fleeth from the lion. + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "sith that they have lied to me +about the knight, I will seek him no more this day, but forget my +discontent as best I may until evening." + +He seeth the knight, but knoweth him not, for he had a white shield and +cognisances of the same. And Messire Gawain cometh to him as fast as +his horse may carry him, and the knight toward Messire Gawain. So +passing stoutly they come together that they pierce their shields below +the boss. Their spears were so tough that they break not, and they +draw them forth and come together again so strongly that the spears +wherewith they smote each other amidst the breast were bended so that +they unriveted the holdfasts of their shields, and they lost their +stirrups, and the reins fly from their fists, and they stagger against +the back saddlebows, and the horses stumbled so as that they all but +fell. They straighten them in saddle and stirrup, and catch hold upon +their reins, and then come together again, burning with wrath and fury +like lions, and either smiteth on other with their spears that may +endure no longer, for the shafts are all to-frushed as far as the fists +in such sort that they that look on marvel them much how it came to +pass that the points had not pierced their bodies. But God would not +that the good knights should slay each other, rather would He that the +one should know the true worth of the other. The habergeons +safeguarded not their bodies, but the might of God in whom they +believed, for in them had they all the valour that knight should have; +and never did Messire Gawain depart from hostel wherein he had lien, +but he first heard mass before he went if so he might, nor never found +he dame nor damsel discounselled whereof he had not pity, nor did he +ever churlishness to other knight, nor said nor thought it, and he +came, as you have heard, of the most holy lineage of Josephus and the +good King Fisherman. + + +IX. + +The good knights were in the midst of the assembly, and right wrathful +was the one against the other, and they held their swords naked and +their shields on their arms and dealt each other huge buffets right in +the midst of the helms. The most part of the knights come to them and +tell them that the assembly waiteth for them to come thereunto. They +have much pains to part them asunder, and then the melly beginneth +again on all sides, and the evening cometh on that parteth them at +last. And on this wise the assembly lasted for two days. The damsel +that brought the knight on a bier in a coffin, dead, prayed the +assembly of all the knights to declare which one of all the knights had +done the best, for the knight that she made be carried might not be +buried until such time as he were avenged. And they say that the +knight of the white shield and the other with the shield sinople and +the golden eagle had done better than all the other, but, for that the +knight of the white shield had joined in the melly before the other, +they therefore would give him the prize; but they judged that for the +time that Messire Gawain had joined therein he had not done worse than +the other knight. The damsel seeketh the knight of the white shield +among the knights and throughout all the tents, but cannot find him, +for already hath he departed. She cometh to Messire Gawain and saith: +"Sir, sith that I find not the knight of the white shield, you are he +that behoveth avenge the knight that lieth dead in the litter." + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Do me not this shame, for it hath been +declared that the other knight hath better done herein than I." + + +X. + +"Damsel, well you know that no honour should I have thereof, were I to +emprise to do that whereof you beseech me, for you have said that +behoveth none to avenge him, save only that hath borne him best at this +assembly, and that is he of the white shield, and, so God help me, this +have I well felt and proven." + + +XI. + +The damsel well understandeth that Messire Gawain speaketh reason. + +"Ha, Sir," saith she, "He hath already departed hence and gone into the +forest, and the most divers-seeming knight is he and the best that +liveth, and great pains shall I have or ever I find him again." + +"The best?" saith Messire Gawain; "How know you that?" + +"I know it well," saith she, "for that in the house of King Fisherman +did the Graal appear unto him for the goodness of his knighthood and +the goodness of his heart and for the chastity of his body. But he +forgat to ask that one should serve thereof, whence hath sore harm +befallen the land. He came to the court of King Arthur, where he took +a shield that none ought to bear save he alone. Up to this time have I +well known his coming and going, but nought shall I know thereof +hereafter for that he hath changed the cognisance of his shield and +arms. And now am I entered into sore pain and travail to seek him, for +I shall not have found him of a long space, and I came not to this +assembly save for him alone." + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "You have told me tidings such as no +gladness have I thereof, for I also am seeking him, but I know not how +I may ever recognise him, for he willeth not to tell me his name, and +too often changeth he his shield, and well I know that so I shall ever +come in place where he hath changed his cognisance, and he shall come +against me and I against him, I shall only know him by the buffets that +he knoweth how to deal, for never in arms have I made acquaintance with +so cruel a knight. But again would I suffer sorer blows than I have +suffered yet, so only I might be where he is." + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "What is your name?" + +"Damsel," saith he, "I am called Gawain." + +With that he commendeth the damsel to God, and goeth his way in one +direction and the damsel in another, and saith to herself that Perceval +is the most marvellous knight of the world, that so often he +discogniseth himself. For when one seeth him one may recognise him +not. Messire Gawain rideth amidst the forest, and prayeth the Saviour +lead him into such place as that he may find Perceval openly, in such +sort that he may have his acquaintance and his love that so greatly he +desireth. + + + +BRANCH XIV. + +TITLE I. + +Herewithal the story is silent of Messire Gawain, and saith that +Lancelot seeketh Perceval in like manner as did Messire Gawain, and +rideth until that he cometh to the hermitage where he hanged the +thieves. Joseus made right great joy of him. He asked him whether he +knew any tidings of the son of the Widow Lady. + +"I have seen him sithence that he came from King Arthur's court but +once only, and whither he is gone I know not." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I would see him right fain. King Arthur +sendeth for him by me." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "I know not when I may see him again, for when +once he departeth hence he is not easy to find." + +Lancelot entereth the chapel with the hermit, and seeth the shield that +Perceval brought from King Arthur's court beside the altar. + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I see his shield yonder. Hide him not from me." + +"I will not do so," saith the hermit. "This shield, truly, is his, but +he took with him another from hence, of gold with a green cross." + +"And know you no tidings of Messire Gawain?" + +"I have not seen Messire Gawain sithence tofore I entered into this +hermitage. But you have fallen into sore hatred on account of the four +robbers that were knights whom you hanged. For their kinsmen are +searching for you in this forest and in other, and are thieves like as +were the others, and they have their hold in this forest, wherein they +bestow their robberies and plunder. Wherefore I pray you greatly be on +your guard against them." + +"So will I," saith Lancelot, "please God." + +He lay the night in the hermitage, and departeth on the morrow after +that he hath heard mass and prayeth God grant he may find Perceval or +Messire Gawain. He goeth his way amidst the strange forests until that +he cometh to a strong castle that was builded right seemly. He Looketh +before him and seeth a knight that was issued thereout, and was riding +a great pace on a strong destrier, and carded a bird on his fist toward +the forest. + + +II. + +When he saw Lancelot coming he drew up. "Sir," saith he, "Be welcome." + +"Good adventure to you," saith Lancelot. "What castle is this?" + +"Sir, it is the Castle of the Golden Circlet. And I go to meet the +knights and dames that come to the castle, for this day is the day +ordained for the adoration of the Golden Circlet." + +"What is the Golden Circlet?" saith Lancelot. + +"Sir, it is the Crown of Thorns," saith the knight, "that the Saviour +of the world had on His head when He was set upon the Rood. Wherefore +the Queen of this castle hath set it in gold and precious stones in +such sort that the knights and dames of this kingdom come to behold it +once in the year. But it is said that the knight that was first at the +Graal shall conquer it, and therefore is no strange knight allowed to +enter. But, so please you, I will lead you to mine own hold that is in +this forest." + +"Right great thanks," saith Lancelot, "But as yet it is not time to +take lodging." + +He taketh leave of the knight, and so departeth and looketh at the +castle, and saith that in right great worship should the knight be held +that by the valour of his chivalry shall conquer so noble a hallow as +is the Golden Circlet when it is kept safe in a place so strong. He +goeth his way right amidst the forest, and looketh forth before him and +seeth coming the damsel that hath the knight carried in the litter for +the dead. + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Be welcome." + +"Sir, God give you good adventure! Sir," saith the damsel, "Greatly +ought I to hate the knight that slew this knight, for that he hath +forced me thus to lead him in this wise by fell and forest. So also +ought I to mislike me much of the knight that it standeth upon to +avenge him, whom I may not find." + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Who slew this knight?" + +"Sir," saith she, "The Lord of the Burning Dragon." + +"And who ought of right to avenge him?" + +"Sir," saith she, "The knight that was in the Red Launde at the +assembly, that jousted with Messire Gawain, and had the prize of the +tournament." + +"Did he better than Messire Gawain?" saith Lancelot. + +"Sir, so did they adjudge him; for that he was a longer time in the +assembly." + +"A good knight was he, then," saith Lancelot, "sith that he did better +than Messire Gawain!" + +"By my head," saith the damsel, "You say true, for he is the Best +Knight of the World." + +"And what shield beareth he?" saith Lancelot. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "At the assembly he bore white arms, but +before that, he had arms of another semblance, and one shield that he +had was green, and one gold with a green cross." + +"Damsel," saith he, "Did Messire Gawain know him?" + +"Sir, not at all, whereof is he right sorrowful." + +"Is he, then," saith he, "Perceval, the son of the Widow Lady?" + +"By my head, you say true!" + +"Ha, God!" saith Lancelot, "the more am I mazed how Messire Gawain knew +him not. Damsel," saith he, "And know you whitherward they are gone?" + +"Sir," saith she, "I know not whither, nor have I any tidings, neither +or the one nor the other." + +He departeth from the damsel and rideth until the sun was set. He found +the rocks darkling and the forest right deep and perilous of seeming. +He rode on, troubled in thought, and weary and full of vexation. Many +a time Looketh he to right and to left, and he may see any place where +he may lodge. A dwarf espied him, but Lancelot saw him not. The dwarf +goeth right along a by-way that is in the forest, and goeth to a little +hold of robber-knights that lay out of the way, where was a damsel that +kept watch over the hold. The robbers had another hold where was the +damsel where the passing knights are deceived and entrapped. The dwarf +cometh forthright to the damsel, and saith: "Now shall we see what you +will do, for see, here cometh the knight that hanged your uncle grid +your three cousins german." + +"Now shall I have the best of him," saith she, "as for mine own share +in this matter, but take heed that you be garnished ready to boot." + +"By my head," saith the dwarf, "that will I, for, please God, he shall +not escape us again, save he be dead." + +The damsel was of passing great beauty and was clad right seemingly, +but right treacherous was she of heart, nor no marvel was it thereof, +for she came of the lineage of robbers and was nurtured on theft and +robbery, and she herself had helped to murder many a knight. She is +come upon the way, so that Lancelot hath to pass her, without her +kerchief. She meeteth Lancelot and saluteth him and maketh him right +great joy, of semblant. + +"Sir," saith she, "Follow this path that goeth into the forest, and you +will find a hold that my forefathers stablished for harbouring of such +knights as might be passing through the forest. The night is dark +already, and if you pass on further no hold will you find nearer than a +score leagues Welsh." + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Gramercy heartily of this that it pleaseth +you to say, for right gladly will I harbour me here, for it is more +than time to take lodging, and with you more willingly than another." + + +III. + +On this wise they go their way talking, as far as the hold. There was +none therewithin save only the dwarf, for the five robber knights were +in their hold at the lower end of the forest. The dwarf took Lancelot's +horse, and stabled him, then went up into the hall above, and gave +himself up wholly to serving him. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "Allow yourself to be disarmed, and have full +assurance of safety." + +"Damsel," saith he, "Small trouble is it for me to wear mine arms, and +lightly may I abide it." + +"Sir," saith she, "Please God, you shall nor lie armed within yonder. +Never yet did knight so that harboured therein." + +But the more the damsel presseth him to disarm, the more it misliketh +him, for the place seemeth him right dark and foul-seeming, wherefore +will he not disarm nor disgarnish himself. + +"Sir," saith she, "Meseemeth you are suspicious of something, but no +call have you to misdoubt of aught here within, for the place is quite +safe. I know not whether you have enemies?" + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Never yet knew I knight that was loved of +everybody, yet sometimes might none tell the reason thereof." + + +IV. + +Lancelot, so saith the story, would not disarm him, wherefore he made +the table be set, and sate thereat beside the damsel at meat. He made +his shield and his helmet and spear be brought into the hall. He leant +back upon a rich couch that was therewithin, with his sword by his +side, all armed. He was weary and the bed was soft, so he went to +sleep. Howbeit, the dwarf mounteth on his horse that he had left still +saddled, and goeth his way to the other hold where the robbers were, +all five, that were Lancelot's mortal enemies. The damsel remained all +alone with him that she hated of a right deadly hate. She thought to +herself that gladly would she slay him, and that, so she might compass +it, she would be thereof held in greater worship of all the world, for +well she knew that he was a good knight, and that one so good she had +never slain. She filched away the sword that was at his side, then +drew it from the scabbard, then looketh to see where she may lightliest +smite him to slay him. She seeth that his head is so covered of armour +that nought appeareth thereof save only the face, and she bethinketh +her that one stroke nor two on the helmet would scarce hurt him +greatly, but that and she might lift the skirt of his habergeon without +awakening him she might well slay him, for so might she thrust the +sword right through his heart. Meanwhile, as she was searching thus, +Lancelot, that was sleeping and took no heed thereof, saw, so it seemed +him, a little cur-dog come therewithin, and brought with him sundry +great mongrel ban-dogs that ran upon him on all sides, and the little +cur bit at him likewise among the others. The ban-dogs held him so +fast that he might not get away from them. He seeth that a greyhound +bitch had hold of his sword, and she had hands like a woman, and was +fain to slay him. And it seemed him that he snatched the sword from +her and slew the greyhound bitch and the biggest and most masterful of +the ban-dogs and the little cur. He was scared of the dream and +started up and awoke, and felt the scabbard of his sword by his side, +that the damsel had left there all empty, the which he perceived not, +and soon thereafter he fell on sleep again. The dwarf that had stolen +his horse cometh to the robber knights, and crieth to them, "Up, Sirs, +and haste you to come and avenge you of your mortal enemy that sent the +best of your kindred out of the world with such shame! See, here is +his horse that I bring you for a token!" He alighteth of the horse, and +giveth him up to them. Right joyous are the robbers of the tidings he +telleth them. The dwarf bringeth them all armed to the hold. + + +V. + +Lancelot was awake, all scared of the dream he had dreamed. He seeth +them enter within all armed, and the damsel crieth to them: "Now will +it appear," saith she, "what you will do!" + +Lancelot hath leapt up, thinking to take his sword, but findeth the +scabbard all empty. The damsel that held the sword was the first of +all to run upon him, and the five knights and the dwarf set upon him +from every side. He perceived that it was his own sword the damsel +held, the one he prized above all other. He taketh his lance that was +at his bed's head and cometh toward the master of the knights at a +great sweep, and smiteth him so fiercely that he thrusteth him right +through the body so that the lance passeth a fathom beyond, and beareth +him to the ground dead. His spear broke as he drew it back. He +runneth to the damsel that held the sword, and wresteth it forth of her +hands and holdeth it fast with his arm right against his flank and +grippeth it to him right strait; albeit she would fain snatch it again +from him by force, whereat Lancelot much marvelled. He swingeth it +above him, and the four knights come back upon him. He thinketh to +smite one with the sword, when the damsel leapeth in between them, +thinking to hold Lancelot fast, and thereby the blow that should have +fallen on one of the knights caught the damsel right through the head +and slew her, whereof he was right sorrowful, howsoever she might have +wrought against him. + + +VI. + +When the four knights saw the damsel dead, right grieved were they +thereof. And the dwarf crieth out to them: "Lords, now shall it be +seen how you will avenge the sore mischief done you. So help me God, +great shame may you have and you cannot conquer a single knight." + +They run upon him again on all sides, but maugre all their heads he +goeth thither where he thinketh to find his horse; but him findeth he +not. Thereby well knoweth he that the dwarf hath made away with him, +wherefore he redoubled his hardiment and his wrath waxed more and more. +And the knights were not to be lightly apaid when they saw their lord +dead and the damsel that was their cousin. Sore buffets they dealt him +of their swords the while he defended himself as best he might. He +caught the dwarf that was edging them on to do him hurt, and clave him +as far as the shoulders, and wounded two of the knights right badly, +and he himself was hurt in two places; but he might not depart from the +house, nor was his horse there within, nor was there but a single +entrance into the hall. The knights set themselves without the door +and guard the issue, and Lancelot was within with them that were dead. +He sate himself down at the top of the hall to rest him, for he was +sore spent with the blows he had given and received. When he had +rested himself awhile, he riseth to his feet and seeth that they have +sate them down in the entrance to the hall. He mounteth up to the +windows and flingeth them down them that were dead within through the +windows. Just then the day appeared, fair and clear, and the birds +began to sing amidst the forest, whereof the hall was overshadowed. He +maketh fast the door of the hall and barreth it and shutteth the +knights without; and they say one to the other and swear it, that they +will not depart thence until they have taken him or famished him to +death. Little had Lancelot recked of their threats and he might have +had his horse at will, but he was not so sure of his stroke afoot as +a-horseback, as no knight never is. Him thinketh he may well abide the +siege as long as God shall please, for the hall was well garnished of +meat in right great joints. He is there within all alone, and the four +knights without that keep watch that he goeth not, but neither wish nor +will hath he to go forth afoot; but, and he had had his horse, the +great hardiment that he hath in him would have made that he should go +forth honourably, howsoever they without might have taken it and what +grievance soever they might have had thereof. + + + +BRANCH XV. + +TITLE I. + +Here the story is silent of Lancelot, and talketh of Messire Gawain +that goeth to seek Perceval, and is right heavy for that twice hath he +found him when he knew him not. He cometh back again to the cross +whereas he told Lancelot he would await him so he should come thither +before him. He went and came to and fro by the forest more than eight +days to wait for him, but could hear no tidings. He would not return +to King Arthur's court, for had he gone thither in such case, he would +have had blame thereof. He goeth back upon the quest and saith that he +will never stint therein until he shall have found both Lancelot and +Perceval. He cometh to the hermitage of Joseus, and alighted of his +horse and found the young hermit Joseus, that received him well and +made full great joy of him. He harboured the night therewithin. +Messire Gawain asked him tidings of Perceval, and the hermit telleth +him he hath not seen him since before the assembly of the Red Launde. + +"And can you tell me where I may find him?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Not I," saith the hermit, "I cannot tell you whereabout he is." + +While they were talking on this wise, straightway behold you a knight +coming that hath arms of azure, and alighteth at the hermitage to lodge +there. The hermit receiveth him right gladly. Messire Gawain asketh +him if he saw a knight with white arms ride amidst the forest. + +"By my faith," saith the knight, "I have seen him this day and spoken +with him, and he asked me and I could tell him tidings of a knight that +beareth a shield of sinople with a golden eagle, and I told him, no. +Afterward, I enquired wherefore he asked it, and he made answer that he +had jousted at him in the Red Launde, nor never before had he found so +sturdy assault of any knight, wherefore he was right sorrowful for that +he was not acquainted with him, for the sake of his good knighthood." + +"By my faith," saith Gawain, "The knight is more sorrowful than he, for +nought is there in the world he would gladlier see than him." + +The knight espieth Messire Gawain's shield and saith, "Ha, Sir, +methinketh you are he." + +"Certes," saith Messire Gawain, "you say true. I am he against whom he +jousted, and right glad am I that so good a knight smote upon my +shield, and right sorrowful for that I knew him not; but tell me where +I may find him?" + + +II. + +"Sir," saith Joseus the Hermit, "He will not have gone forth from this +forest, for this is the place wherein he wonneth most willingly, and +the shield that he brought from King Arthur's court is in this chapel." + +So he showeth the shield to Messire Gawain that maketh great joy +thereof. + +"Ha, Sir," saith the knight of the white arms, "Is your name Messire +Gawain?" + +"Fair Sir," saith he, "Gawain am I called." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I have not ceased to seek you for a long +while past. Meliot of Logres, that is your man, the son of the lady +that was slain on your account, sendeth you word that Nabigant of the +Rock hath slain his father on your account; wherefore he challengeth +the land that hath fallen to him; and hereof he prayeth you that you +will come to succour him as behoveth lord to do to his liege man." + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "Behoveth me not fail him therein, +wherefore tell him I will succour him so soon as I may; but tell him I +have emprised a business that I cannot leave but with loss of honour +until such time as it be achieved." + +They lay the night at the hermitage until after mass was sung on the +morrow. + + +III. + +The knight departed and Messire Gawain remained. So when he was +apparelled to mount, he looketh before him at the issue of the forest +toward the hermitage, and seeth coming a knight on a tall horse, full +speed and all armed, and he bore a shield like the one he saw Perceval +bearing the first time. + +"Sir," saith he, "Know you this knight that cometh there!" + +"Truly, Sir, well do I know him. This is Perceval whom you seek, whom +you so much desire to see!" + +"God be praised thereof!" saith Messire Gawain, "Inasmuch as he cometh +hither." + +He goeth afoot to meet him, and Perceval alighteth so soon as he seeth +him. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Right welcome may you be!" + +"Good joy may you have," saith Perceval. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "Make great joy of him! this is Messire +Gawain, King Arthur's nephew." + +"Thereof do I love him the better!" saith he. "Honour and joy ought all +they to do him that know him!" + +He throweth his arms on his neck, and so maketh him great joy. + +"Sir," saith he, "Can you tell me tidings of a knight that was in the +Red Launde at the assembly of knights?" + +"What shield beareth he?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"A red shield with a golden eagle," saith Perceval. "And more by +token, never made I acquaintance with any so sturdy in battle as are he +and Lancelot." + +"Fair sir, it pleaseth you to say so," saith Messire Gawain. "In the +Red Launde was I at the assembly, and such arms bore I as these you +blazon, and I jousted against a knight in white arms, of whom I know +this, that all of knighthood that may be lodged in the body of a man is +in him." + +"Sir," saith Perceval to Messire Gawain, "You know not how to blame any +man." + +So they hold one another by the hands, and go into the hermitage. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "When you were in the court of King Arthur +for the shield that is within yonder, your sister was also there, and +prayed and besought the help of the knight that should bear away the +shield, as being the most discounselled damsel in the world. The King +granted it her, and you bore away the shield. She asked your aid of +the King as she that deemed not you were her brother, and said that if +the King failed of his covenant, he would do great sin, whereof would +he have much blame. The King was fain to do all he might to seek you, +to make good that he had said, and sent us forth in quest of you, so +that the quest lieth between me and Lancelot. He himself would have +come had we been unwilling to go. Sir, I have found you three times +without knowing you, albeit great desire had I to see you. This is the +fourth time and I know you now, whereof I make myself right joyous; and +much am I beholden to you of the fair lodging your mother gave me at +Camelot; but right sore pity have I of her, for a right worshipful +woman is she, and a widow lady and ancient, and fallen into much war +without aid nor comfort, through the evil folk that harass her and +reave her of her castles. She prayed me, weeping the while right +sweetly, that and if I should find you that are her son, I should tell +you of her plight, that your father is dead, and that she hath no +succour nor aid to look for save from you alone, and if you succour her +not shortly, she will lose her own one castle that she holdeth, and +must needs become a beggar, for of the fifteen castles she wont to have +in your father's time, she hath now only that of Camelot, nor of all +her knights hath she but five to guard the castle. Wherefore I pray +you on her behalf and for your own honour, that you will grant her +herein of your counsel and your valour and your might, for of no +chivalry that you may do may you rise to greater worship. And so sore +need hath she herein as you hear me tell, nor would I that she should +lose aught by default of message, for thereof should I have sin and she +harm, and you yourself also, that have the power to amend it and ought +of right so to do!" + +"Well have you delivered yourself herein," saith Perceval, "And betimes +will I succour her and our Lord God will." + +"You will do honour to yourself," saith Messire Gawain. "Thereof will +you have praise with God and worship with the world." + +"Well know I," saith Perceval, "that in me ought she to have aid and +counsel as of right, and that so I do not accordingly, I ought to have +reproach and be blamed as recreant before the world." + + +IV. + +"In God's name," saith the hermit, "you speak according to the +scripture, for he that honoureth not his father and mother neither +believeth in God nor loveth Him." + +"All this know I well," saith Perceval, "And well pleased am I to be +reminded thereof, and well know I also mine intent herein, albeit I +tell it to none. But if any can tell me tidings of Lancelot, right +willingly shall I hear them, and take it kindly of the teller thereof." + +"Sir," saith Joseus, "It is but just now since he lay here within, and +asked me tidings of Messire Gawain, and I told him such as I knew. +Another time before that, he lay here when the robbers assailed us that +he hanged in the forest, and so hated is he thereof of their kinsfolk +that and they may meet him, so they have the might, he is like to pay +for it right dear, and in this forest won they rather than in any +other. I told him as much, but he made light thereof in semblant, even +as he will in deed also if their force be not too great." + +"By my head," saith Perceval, "I will not depart forth of this forest +until I know tidings of him, if Messire Gawain will pledge himself +thereto." + +And Messire saith he desireth nothing better, sith that he hath found +Perceval, for he may not be at ease until such time as he shall know +tidings of Lancelot, for he hath great misgiving sith that he hath +enemies in the forest. + + +V. + +Perceval and Messire Gawain sojourned that day in the forest in the +hermitage, and the morrow Perceval took his shield that he brought from +King Arthur's court, and left that which he brought with him, and +Messire Gawain along with him that made himself right joyous of his +company. They ride amidst the forest both twain, all armed, and at the +right hour of noon they meet a knight that was coming a great gallop as +though he were all scared. Perceval asketh him whence he cometh, that +he seemeth so a-dread. + +"Sir, I come from the forest of the robbers that won in this forest +wherethrough you have to pass. They have chased me a full league Welsh +to slay me, but they would not follow me further for a knight that they +have beset in one of their holds, that hath done them right sore +mischief, for he hath hanged four of their knights and slain one, as +well as the fairest damsel that was in the kingdom. But right well had +she deserved the death for that she harboured knights with fair +semblant and showed them much honour, and afterward brought about their +death and destruction, between herself and a dwarf that she hath, that +slew the knights." + +"And know you who is the knight?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir," saith the knight, "Not I, for no leisure had I to ask him, for +sorer need had I to flee than to stay. But I tell you that on account +of the meat that failed him in the hold wherein they beset him, he +issued forth raging like a lion, nor would he have suffered himself be +shut up so long but for two wounds that he had upon his body; for he +cared not to issue forth of the house until such time as they were +healed, and also for that he had no horse. And so soon as he felt +himself whole, he ventured himself against the four knights, that were +so a-dread of him that they durst not come a-nigh. And moreover he +deigneth not to go a-foot, wherefore if they now come a-nigh, it may +not be but he shall have one at least out of their four horses, but +they hold them heedfully aloof." + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "Gramercy of these tidings." + +They were fain to depart from the knight, but said he: "Ha, Lords, +allow me so much as to see the destruction of this evil folk that have +wrought such mischief in this forest! Sir" saith he to Messire Gawain, +"I am cousin to the Poor Knight of the Waste Forest that hath the two +poor damsels to sister, there where you and Lancelot jousted between +you, and when the knight that brought you tidings thereof died in the +night." + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "These tidings know I well, for +you say true, and your company hold I right dear for the love of the +Poor Knight, for never yet saw I more courteous knight, nor more +courteous damsels, nor better nurtured, and our Lord God grant them as +much good as I would they should have." + +Messire Gawain made the knight go before, for well knew he the robbers' +hold, but loath enough had he been to go thither, had the knights not +followed him behind. Lancelot was issued forth of the hold sword in +hand, all armed, angry as a lion. The four knights were upon their +horses all armed, but no mind had they come a-nigh him, for sore +dreaded they the huge buffets he dealt, and his hardiment. One of them +came forward before the others, and it seemed him shame that they might +not vanquish one single knight. He goeth to smite Lancelot a great +stroke of his sword above in the midst of his head, nor did Lancelot's +sword fail of its stroke, for before he could draw back, Lancelot dealt +him such a blow as smote oft all of his leg at the thigh, so that he +made him leave the saddlebows empty. Lancelot leapt up on the +destrier, and now seemed him he was safer than before. The three +robber-knights that yet remained whole ran upon him on all sides and +began to press him of their swords in right sore wrath. Thereupon +behold you, the knight cometh to the way that goeth to the hold and +saith to Messire Gawain and Perceval, "Now may you hear the dashing of +swords and the melly." + +Therewithal the two good knights smite horse with spur and come thither +where the three robber-knights were assailing Lancelot. Each of the +twain smiteth his own so wrathfully that they thrust their spears right +through their bodies and bear them to the ground dead. Howbeit the +third knight was fain to flee, but the knight that had come to show +Messire Gawain the way took heart and hardiment from the confidence of +the good knights, and smote him as he fled so sore that he pierced him +with his spear to the heart and toppled him to the ground dead. And +the one whose leg Lancelot had lopped off was so trampled underfoot of +the knights that he had no life in him. + + +VI. + +When Lancelot knew Perceval and Messire Gawain he made great joy of +them and they of him. + +"Lancelot," saith Messire Gawain, "This knight that led us hither to +save your life is cousin to the Poor Knight of the Waste Castle, the +brother of the two poor damsels that lodged us so well. We will send +him these horses, one for the knight that shall be the messenger, and +the two to the lord of the Waste Castle, and this hold that we have +taken shall be for the two damsels, and so shall we make them safe all +the days of their life. This, methinketh, will be well." + +"Certes," saith Perceval, "you speak of great courtesy." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Messire Gawain hath said, and right willingly +will I grant him all his wish." + +"Lords," saith the knight, "They have in this forest a hold wherein the +knights did bestow their plunder, for the sake whereof they murdered +the passers by. If the goods remain there they will be lost, for +therein is so great store as might be of much worth to many folk that +are poverty-stricken for want thereof." + +They go to the hold and find right great treasure in a cave +underground, and rich sets of vessels and rich ornaments of cloth and +armours for horses, that they had thrown the one over another into a +pit that was right broad. + +"Certes," saith he, "Right well hath it been done to this evil folk +that is destroyed!" + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "in like manner would they have dealt with me +and killed me if they might; whereof no sorrow have I save of the +damsel that I slew, that was one of the fairest dames of the world. +But I slew her not knowingly, for I meant rather to strike the knight, +but she leapt between us, like the hardiest dame that saw I ever." + +"Sirs," saith the knight, "Perceval and Lancelot, by the counsel of +Messire Gawain, granted the treasure to the two damsels, sisters to the +Poor Knight of the Waste Castle, whereupon let them send for Joseus the +Hermit and bid him guard the treasure until they shall come hither." + +And Joseus said that he would do so, and is right glad that the robbers +of the forest are made away withal, that had so often made assault upon +him. He guarded the treasure and the hold right safely in the forest; +but the dread and the renown of the good knights that had freed the +forest went far and wide. The knight that led the three destriers was +right joyfully received at the Waste Castle; and when he told the +message wherewith he was charged by Messire Gawain, the Poor Knight and +two damsels made great joy thereof. Perceval taketh leave of Messire +Gawain and Lancelot, and saith that never will he rest again until he +shall have found his sister and his widow mother. They durst not +gainsay him, for they know well that he is right, and he prayeth them +right sweetly that they salute the King and Queen and all the good +knights of the court, for, please God, he will go see them at an early +day. But first he was fain to fulfil the promise King Arthur made to +his sister, for he would not that the King should be blamed in any +place as concerning him, nor by his default; and he himself would have +the greater blame therein and he succoured her not, for the matter +touched him nearer than it did King Arthur. + + +VII. + +With that the Good Knight departeth, and they commend him to God, and +he them in like sort. Messire Gawain and Lancelot go their way back +toward the court of King Arthur, and Perceval goeth amidst strange +forests until he cometh to a forest far away, wherein, so it seemed +him, he had never been before. And he passed through a land that +seemed him to have been laid waste, for it was all void of folk. Wild +beast only seeth he there, that ran through the open country. He +entered into a forest in this waste country, and found a hermitage in +the combe of a mountain. He alighted without and heard that the hermit +was singing the service of the dead, and had begun the mass with a +requiem betwixt him and his clerk. He looketh and seeth a pall spread +upon the ground before the altar as though it were over a corpse. He +would not enter the chapel armed, wherefore he hearkened to the mass +from without right reverently, and showed great devotion as he that +loved God much and was a-dread. When the mass was sung, and the hermit +was disarmed of the armour of Our Lord, he cometh to Perceval and +saluteth him and Perceval him again. + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "For whom have you done such service? meseemed +that the corpse lay therewithin for whom the service was ordained." + +"You say truth," saith the hermit. "I have done it for Lohot, King +Arthur's son, that lieth buried under this pall." + +"Who, then, hath slain him?" saith Perceval. + +"That will I tell you plainly," saith the hermit. + + +VIII. + +"This wasted land about this forest wherethrough you have come is the +beginning of the kingdom of Logres. There wont to be therein a Giant +so big and horrible and cruel that none durst won within half a league +round about, and he destroyed the land and wasted it in such sort as +you see. Lohot was departed from the land and the court of King Arthur +his father in quest of adventure, and by the will of God arrived at +this forest, and fought against Logrin, right cruel as he was, and +Logrin against him. As it pleased God, Lohot vanquished him; but Lohot +had a marvellous custom: when he had slain a man, he slept upon him. A +knight of King Arthur's court, that is called Kay the Seneschal, was +come peradventure into this forest of Logres. He heard the Giant roar +when Lohot dealt him the mortal blow. Thither came he as fist as he +might, and found the King's son sleeping upon Logrin. He drew his +sword and therewith cut off Lohot's head, and took the head and the +body and set them in a coffin of stone. After that he hacked his +shield to pieces with his sword, that he should not be recognised; then +came he to the Giant that lay dead, and so cut oft his head, that was +right huge and hideous, and hung it at his fore saddle-bow. Then went +he to the court of King Arthur and presented it to him. The King made +great joy thereof and all they of the court, and the King made broad +his lands right freely for that he believed Kay had spoken true. I +went," saith the hermit, "on the morrow to the piece of land where the +Giant lay dead, as a damsel came within here to tell me with right +great joy. I found the corpse of the Giant so big that I durst not +come a-nigh it. The damsel led me to the coffin where the King's son +was lying. She asked the head of me as her guerdon, and I granted it +to her willingly. She set it forthwith in a coffer laden with precious +stones that was all garnished within of balsams. After that, she +helped me carry the body into this chapel and enshroud and bury it. + + +IX. + +"Afterwards the damsel departed, nor have I never heard talk of her +since, nor do I make remembrance hereof for that I would King Arthur +should know it, nor for aught that I say thereof that he should do evil +to the knight; for right sore sin should I have thereof, but deadly +treason and disloyalty hath he wrought." + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "This is sore pity of the King's son, that he is +dead in such manner, for I have heard witness that he ever waxed more +and more in great chivalry, and, so the King knew thereof, Kay the +Seneschal, that is not well-loved of all folk, would lose the court for +ever more, or his life, so he might be taken, and this would be only +right and just." + +Perceval lay the night in the hermitage, and departed on the morrow +when he had heard mass. He rideth through the forest as he that right +gladly would hear tidings of his mother, nor never before hath he been +so desirous thereof as is he now. He heard, at right hour of noon, a +damsel under a tree that made greater dole than ever heard he damsel +make before. She held her mule by the reins and was alighted a-foot +and set herself on her knees toward the East. She stretched her hands +up toward heaven and prayed right sweetly the Saviour of the World and +His sweet Mother that they would send her succour betimes, for that the +most discounselled damsel of the world was she, and never was alms +given to damsel to counsel her so well bestowed as it would be upon +her, for that needs must she go to the most perilous place that is in +the world, and that, save she might bring some one with her, never +would that she had to do be done. + + +X. + +Perceval drew himself up when he heard the damsel bemoaning thus. He +was in the shadow of the forest so that she saw him not. The damsel +cried out all weeping, "Ha, King Arthur, great sin did you in +forgetting to speak of my business to the knight that bare away the +shield from your court, by whom would my mother have been succoured, +that now must lose her castle presently save God grant counsel herein; +and so unhappy am I, that I have gone through all the lands of Great +Britain, yet may I hear no tidings of my brother, albeit they say that +he is the Best Knight of the world. But what availeth us his +knighthood, when we have neither aid nor succour thereof? So much the +greater shame ought he to have of himself, if he love his mother, as +she, that is the most gentle lady that liveth and the most loyal, hath +hope that, and he knew, he would come thither. Either he is dead or he +is in lands so far away that none may hear tidings of him. Ha, sweet +Lady, Mother of Our Saviour, aid us when we may have no aid of any +other! for if my lady mother loseth her castle, needs must we be +forlorn wanderers in strange lands, for so have her brothers been long +time; he that had the most power and valour lieth in languishment, the +good King Fisherman that the King of Castle Mortal warreth on, albeit +he also is my uncle, my mother's brother, and would fain reave my +uncle, that is his brother, of his castle by his felony. Of a man so +evil my lady mother looketh for neither aid nor succour. And the good +King Pelles hath renounced his kingdom for the love of his Saviour, and +hath entered into a hermitage. He likewise is brother of my mother, +and behoveth him make war upon none, for the most worshipful hermit is +he of the world. And all they on my father's side have died in arms. +Eleven were there of them, and my father was the twelfth. Had they +remained on live, well able would they have been to succour us, but the +knight that was first at the Graal hath undone us, for through him our +uncle fell in languishment, in whom should have been our surest +succour." + + +XI. + +At this word Perceval rode forward, and the damsel heareth him. She +riseth up, and looketh backward and seeth the knight come, the shield +at his neck banded argent and azure, with a red cross. She clasped her +two hands toward heaven, and saith, "Ha, sweet Lady that didst bear the +Saviour of the World, you have not forgotten me, nor never may be +discounselled he nor she that calleth upon you with the heart. Here +see I the knight come of whom we shall have aid and succour, and our +Lord God grant him will to do His pleasure, and lend him courage and +strength to protect us!" + +She goeth to meet him, and holdeth his stirrup and would have kissed +his foot, but he avoideth it and crieth to her: "Ill do you herein, +damsel!" And therewith she melteth in tears of weeping and prayeth him +right sweetly. + +"Sir," saith she, "Of such pity as God had of His most sweet Mother on +that day He took His death, when He beheld Her at the foot of the +cross, have pity and mercy of my lady mother and of me. For, and your +aid fail us, we know not to whom to fly for rescue, for I have been +told that you are the Best Knight of the world. And for obtaining of +your help went I to King Arthur's court. Wherefore succour us for +pity's sake and God's and for nought beside, for, so please you, it is +your duty so to do, albeit, had you been my brother that is also such a +knight as you, whom I cannot find, I might have called upon you of a +greater right. Sir," saith she, "Do you remember you of the brachet +you had at the court waiting for you until such time as you should come +for the shield, and that went away with you, how he would never make +joy nor know any save me alone? By this know I well that if you knew +the soreness of our need you would succour us. But King Arthur, that +should have prayed you thereof, forgat it." + +"Damsel," saith he, "so much hath he done that he hath not failed of +his covenant with you, for he sent for me by the two best knights of +his court, and, so I may speed, so much will I do herein as that God +and he shall be well pleased thereof." + + +XII. + +The damsel had right great joy of the knight that he should grant her +his aid, but she knew not he was her brother, or otherwise she would +have doubled her joy. Perceval knoweth well that she is his sister, +but he would not yet discover himself and manifest his pity outwardly. +He helpeth the damsel to mount again and they rode on together. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "Needs must I go to-night by myself to the +Grave-yard Perilous." + +"Wherefore go you thither?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir," saith she, "I have made vow thereof, and moreover a holy hermit +hath told me that the knight that warreth upon us may not be overcome +of no knight, save I bring him not some of the cloth wherewith the +altar in the chapel of the Grave-yard Perilous is covered. The cloth +is of the most holiest, for our Lord God was covered therewith in the +Holy Sepulchre, on the third day when He came back from death to life. +Nor none may enter the holy grave-yard that bringeth another with him, +wherefore behoveth me go by myself, and may God save my life this +night, for the place is sore perilous, and so ought I greatly to hate +him that hath procured me this dolour and travail. Sir," saith she, +"You will go your way toward the castle of Camelot: there is the Widow +Lady my mother, that awaiteth the return and the succour of the Good +Knight, and may you remember to succour and aid us when you shall see +how sore is our need of succour. + + +XIII. + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "So God allow me I will aid you to the utmost +of my power." + +"Sir," saith she, "See, this is my way, that is but little frequented, +for I tell you that no knight durst tread therein without great peril +and great dread. And our Lord God have your body in keeping, for mine +own this night shall be in sore jeopardy and hazard." + +Perceval departeth from the damsel, his sister, and hath right great +pity for that she goeth in so perilous place all alone. Natheless would +he nor forbid her, for he knew well that she might not go thither with +him nor with other, sith that such was the custom of the grave-yard +that twain might not pass the entrance, wherefore needs must one remain +without. Perceval was not willing that his sister should break her +vow, for never none of his lineage did at any time disloyalty nor base +deed knowingly, nor failed of nought that they had in covenant, save +only the King of Castle Mortal, from whom he had as much evil as he had +good of the others. + + +XIV. + +The damsel goeth her way all alone and all forlorn toward the +grave-yard and the deep of the forest, all dark and shadowy. She hath +ridden until the sun was set and the night draweth nigh. She looketh +before her and seeth a cross, high and wide and thick. And on this +cross was the figure of Our Lord graven, whereof is she greatly +comforted. She draweth nigh the cross, and so kisseth and adoreth it, +and prayeth the Saviour of the world that was nailed on Holy Rood that +He would bring her forth of the burial-ground with honour. The cross +was at the entrance of the grave-yard, that was right spacious, for, +from such time as the land was first peopled of folk, and that knights +began to seek adventure by the forest, not a knight had died in the +forest, that was full great of breadth and length, but his body was +borne thither, nor might never knight there be buried that had not +received baptism and had repented him not of his sins at his death. + + +XV. + +Thereinto entered the damsel all alone, and found great multitude of +tombs and coffins. Nor none need wonder whether she had shuddering and +fear, for such place must needs be dreadful to a lonely damsel, there +where lay so many knights that had been slain in arms. Josephus the +good clerk witnesseth us that within the grave-yard might no evil +spirit meddle, for that Saint Andrew the apostle had blessed it with +his hand. But never might no hermit remain within for the evil things +that appeared each night all round about, that took the shapes of the +knights that were dead in the forest, wherof the bodies lay not in the +blessed burial-ground. + + +XVI. + +The damsel beholdeth their sepulchres all round about the graveyard +whereinto she was come. She seeth them surrounded of knights, all +black, and spears had they withal, and came one against another, and +made such uproar and alarm as it seemed all the forest resounded +thereof. The most part held swords all red as of fire, and ran either +upon other, and gashed one another's hands and feet and nose and face. +And great was the clashing they made, but they could not come a-nigh +the grave-yard. The damsel seeth them, and hath such affright thereof +that she nigh fell to the ground in a swoon. The mule whereon she sate +draweth wide his nostrils and goeth in much fear. The damsel signeth +her of the cross and commendeth her to the Saviour and to His sweet +Mother. She looketh before her to the head of the grave-yard, and +seeth the chapel, small and ancient. She smiteth her mule with her +whip, and cometh thitherward and alighteth. She entered therewithin +and found a great brightness of light. Within was an image of Our +Lady, to whom she prayeth right sweetly that She will preserve her +senses and her life and enable her to depart in safety from this +perilous place. She seeth above the altar the most holy cloth for the +which she was come thither, that was right ancient, and a smell came +thereof so sweet and glorious that no sweetness of the world might +equal it. The damsel cometh toward the altar thinking to take the +cloth, but it goeth up into the air as if the wind had lifted it, and +was so high that she might not reach it above an ancient crucifix that +was there within. + +"Ha, God!" saith the damsel, "It is for my sin and my disloyalty that +this most holy cloth thus draweth itself away from me!" + + +XVII. + +"Fair Father God, never did I evil to none, nor never did I shame nor +sinned deadly in myself, nor never wrought against your will, so far as +in me lay, but rather do I serve you and love and fear you and your +sweet Mother; and all the tribulation I receive, accept I in patience +for your love, for well I know that such is your pleasure, nor have I +no will to set myself against nought that pleaseth you. + + +XVIII. + +"When it shall please you, you will release me and my mother of the +grief and tribulation wherein we are. For well you know that they have +reaved her of her castles by wrong, and of her land, for that she is a +Widow Lady without help. Lord, you who have all the world at your +mercy and do your commandment in all things, grant me betimes to hear +tidings of my brother and he be on live, for sore need have we of him. +And so lend force to the knight and power against all our enemies, that +for your love and for pity is fain to succour and aid my mother that is +sore discounselled. Lord, well might it beseem you to remember of your +pity and the sweetness that is in you, and of compassion that she hath +been unrighteously disherited, and that no succour nor aid nor counsel +hath she, save of you alone. You are her affiance and her succour, and +therefore ought you to remember that the good knight Joseph of +Abarimacie, that took down your Body when it hung upon the rood, was +her own uncle. Better loved he to take down your Body than all the +gold and all the fee that Pilate might give him. Lord, good right of +very truth had he so to do, for he took you in his arms beside the +rood, and laid your Body in the holy sepulchre, wherein were you +covered of the sovran cloth for the which have I come in hither. Lord, +grant it be your pleasure that I may have it, for love of the knight by +whom it was set in this chapel; sith that I am of his lineage it ought +well to manifest itself in this sore need, so it come according to your +pleasure." + +Forthwith the cloth came down above the altar, and she straightway +found taken away therefrom as much as it pleased Our Lord she should +have. Josephus telleth us of a truth, that never did none enter into +the chapel that might touch the cloth save only this one damsel. She +set her face to it and her mouth or ever the cloth removed. + + +XIX. + +Thereafter, she took the piece that God would and set it near herself +full worshipfully, but still the stout went on of the evil spirits +round about the church-yard, and they dealt one another blows so sore +that all the forest resounded thereof, and it seemed that it was all +set on fire of the flame that issued from them. Great fear would the +damsel have had of them, had she not comforted herself in God and in +His dear, sweet Mother, and the most holy cloth that was within there. +A Voice appeared upon the stroke of midnight from above the chapel, and +speaketh to the souls whereof the bodies lie within the grave-yard: +"How sore loss hath befallen you of late, and all other whose bodies +lie in other hallowed church-yards by the forests of this kingdom! For +the good King Fisherman is dead that made every day our service be done +in the most holy chapel there where the most Holy Graal every day +appeared, and where the Mother of God abode from the Saturday until the +Monday that the service was finished. And now hath the King of Castle +Mortal seized the castle in such sort that never sithence hath the Holy +Graal appeared, and all the other hallows are hidden, so that none +knoweth what hath become of the priests that served in the chapel, nor +the twelve ancient knights, nor the damsels that were therein. And +you, damsel, that are within, have no affiance in the aid of strange +knight in this need, for succoured may you never be save of your +brother only!" + + +XX. + +With that the Voice is still, and a wailing and a lamentation goeth up +from the bodies that lay in the church-yard, so dolorous that no man is +there in the world but should have pity thereof, and all the evil +spirits that were without departed groaning and making so mighty uproar +at their going away that it seemed the earth trembled. The damsel +heard the tidings of her uncle that was dead, and fell on the ground in +a swoon, and when she raised herself, took on to lament and cried: "Ha, +God! Now have we lost the most comfort and the best friend that we +had, and hereof am I again discomforted that I may not be succoured in +this my next need by the Good Knight of whom I thought to have succour +and aid, and that was so fain to render it. Now shall I know not what +to ask of him, for he would grant it right willingly, and may God be as +pleased with him thereof as if he had done it." + +The damsel was in sore misdoubting and dismay, for she knew not who the +knight was, and great misgiving had she of her uncle's death and right +sore sorrow. She was in the chapel until it was day, and then +commended herself to God and departed and mounted on her mule and +issued forth of the church-yard full speed, all alone. + + +XXI. + +The story saith that the damsel went her way toward her mother's castle +as straight as she might, but sore dismayed was she of the Voice that +had told her she might not be succoured save of her brother alone. She +hath ridden so far of her journeys that she is come to the Valley of +Camelot, and seeth her mother's castle that was surrounded of great +rivers, and seeth Perceval, that was alighted under the shadow of a +tree at the top of the forest in order that he might behold his +mother's castle, whence he went forth squire what time he slew the +Knight of the Red Shield. When he had looked well at the castle and the +country round about, much pleasure had he thereof, and mounted again +forthwith. Thereupon, behold you, the damsel cometh. + +"Sir," saith she, "In sore travail and jeopardy have I been sithence +that last I saw you, and tidings have I heard as bad as may be, and +right grievous for my mother and myself. For King Fisherman mine uncle +is dead, and another of my uncles, the King of Castle Mortal, hath +seized his castle, albeit my lady mother ought rather to have it, or I, +or my brother." + +"Is it true," saith Perceval, "that he is dead?" + +"Yea, certes, Sir, I know it of a truth." + +"So help me God!" saith he, "This misliketh me right sore. I thought +not that he would die so soon, for I have not been to see him of a long +time." + + +XXII. + +"Sir," saith she, "I am much discomforted as concerning you, for I have +likewise been told that no force nor aid of any knight may avail to +succour nor aid me from this day forward save my brother's help alone. +Wherefore, and it be so, we have lost all, for my lady mother hath +respite to be in her castle only until the fifteenth day from to-day, +and I know not where to seek my brother, and the day is so nigh as you +hear. Now behoveth us do the best we may and abandon this castle +betimes, nor know I any refuge that we now may have save only King +Pelles in the hermitage. I would fain that my lady mother were there, +for he would not fail us." + +Perceval is silent, and hath great pity in his heart of this that the +damsel saith. She followeth him weeping, and pointeth out to him the +Valleys of Camelot and the castles that were shut in by combes and +mountains, and the broad meadow-lands and the forest that girded them +about. + +"Sir," saith she, "All this hath the Lord of the Moors reaved of my +lady mother, and nought coveteth he so much as to have this castle, and +have it he will, betimes." + + +XXIII. + +When they had ridden until that they drew nigh the castle, the Lady was +at the windows of the hall and knew her daughter. + +"Ha, God!" saith the Lady, "I see there my daughter coming, and a +knight with her. Fair Father God, grant of your pleasure that it be my +son, for and it be not he, I have lost my castle and mine heirs are +disherited." + +Perceval cometh nigh the castle in company with his sister, and knoweth +again the chapel that stood upon four columns of marble between the +forest and the castle, there where his father told him how much ought +he to love good knights, and that none earthly thing might be of +greater worth, and how none might know yet who lay in the coffin until +such time as the Best Knight of the world should come thither, but that +then should it be known. Perceval would fain have passed by the +chapel, but the damsel saith to him: "Sir, no knight passeth hereby +save he go first to see the coffin within the chapel." + +He alighteth and setteth the damsel to the ground, and layeth down his +spear and shield and cometh toward the tomb, that was right fair and +rich. He set his hand above it. So soon as he came nigh, the +sepulchre openeth on one side, so that one saw him that was within the +coffin. The damsel falleth at his feet for joy. The Lady had a custom +such that every time a knight stopped at the coffin she made the five +ancient knights that she had with her in the castle accompany her, +wherein they would never fail her, and bring her as far as the chapel. +So soon as she saw the coffin open and the joy her daughter made, she +knew that it was her son, and ran to him and embraced him and kissed +him and began to make the greatest joy that ever lady made. + + +XXIV. + +"Now know I well," saith she, "that our Lord God hath not forgotten me. +Sith that I have my son again, the tribulations and the wrongs that +have been done me grieve me not any more. Sir," saith she to her son, +"Now is it well known and proven that you are the Best Knight of the +world! For otherwise never would the coffin have opened, nor would any +have known who he is that you now see openly." + +She maketh her chaplain take certain letters that were sealed with gold +in the coffin. He looketh thereat and readeth, and then saith that +these letters witness of him that lieth in the coffin that he was one +of them that helped to un-nail Our Lord from the cross. They looked +beside him and found the pincers all bloody wherewith the nails were +drawn, but they might not take them away, nor the body, nor the coffin, +according as Josephus telleth us, for as soon as Perceval was forth of +the chapel, the coffin closed again and joined together even as it was +before. The Widow Lady led her son with right great joy into her +castle, and recounted to him all the shame that had been done her, and +also how Messire Gawain had made safe the castle for a year by his good +knighthood. + + +XXV. + +"Fair son," saith she, "Now is the term drawn nigh when I should have +lost my castle and you had not come. But now know I well that it shall +be safe-guarded of you. He that coveteth this castle is one of the +most outrageous knights on live. And he hath reaved me of my land and +the Valleys of Camelot without reasonable occasion. But, please God, +you shall well repair the harm he hath done you, for nought claim I any +longer of the land since you are come. But so avenge your shame as to +increase your honour, for none ought to allow his right to be minished +of an evil man, and the mischiefs that have been done me for that I had +no aid, let them not wax cold in you, for a shame done to one valiant +and strong ought not to wax cold in him, but rankle and prick in him, +so ought he to have his enemies in remembrance without making semblant, +but so much as he shall show in his cheer and making semblant and his +menaces, so much ought he to make good in deed when he shall come in +place. For one cannot do too much hurt to an enemy, save only one is +willing to let him be for God's sake. But truth it is that the +scripture saith, that one ought not to do evil to one's enemies, but +pray God that He amend them. I would fain that our enemies were such +that they might amend toward us, and that they would do as much good to +us without harming themselves as they have done evil, on condition that +mine anger and yours were foregone against them. Mine own anger I +freely forbear against them so far forth as concerneth myself, for no +need have I to wish evil to none, and Solomon telleth how the sinner +that curseth other sinner curseth himself likewise. + + +XXVI. + +"Fair son, this castle is yours, and this land round about whereof I +have been reft ought to be yours of right, for it falleth to you on +behalf of your father and me. Wherefore send to the Lord of the Moors +that hath reft it from me, that he render it to you. I make no further +claim, for I pass it on to you; for nought have I now to do with any +land save only so much as will be enough wherein to bury my body when I +die, nor shall I now live much longer since King Fisherman my brother +is dead, whereof right sorrowful am I at heart, and still more +sorrowful should I be were it not for your coming. And, son, I tell +you plainly that you have great blame of his death, for you are the +knight through whom he fell first into languishment, for now at last I +know well that and if you had afterwards gone back and so made the +demand that you made not at the first, he would have come back to +health. But our Lord God willed it so to be, wherefore well beseemeth +us to yield to His will and pleasure." + + +XXVII. + +Perceval hath heard his mother, but right little hath he answered her, +albeit greatly is he pleased with whatsoever she hath said. His face is +to-flushed of hardiment, and courage hath taken hold on him. His +mother looketh at him right fainly, and hath him disarmed and +apparelled in a right rich robe. So comely a knight was he that in all +the world might not be found one of better seeming nor better shapen of +body. The Lord of the Moors, that made full certain of having his +mother's castle, knew of Perceval's coming. He was not at all dismayed +in semblant, nor would he stint to ride by fell nor forest, and every +day he weened in his pride that the castle should be his own at the +hour and the term he had set thereof. One of the five knights of the +Widow Lady was one day gone into the Lonely Forest after hart and hind, +and had taken thereof at his will. He was returning back to the castle +and the huntsmen with him, when the Lord of the Moors met him and told +him he had done great hardiment in shooting with the bow in the forest, +and the knight made answer that the forest was not his of right, but +the Lady's of Camelot and her son's that had repaired thither. + + +XXVIII. + +The Lord of the Moors waxed wroth. He held a sword in his hand and +thrust him therewith through the body and slew him. The knight was +borne dead to the castle of Camelot before the Widow Lady and her son. + +"Fair son," saith the Widow Lady, "More presents of such-like kind the +Lord of the Moors sendeth me than I would. Never may he be satisfied +of harming my land and shedding the blood of the bodies of my knights. +Now may you well know how many a hurt he hath done me sithence that +your father hath been dead and you were no longer at the castle, sith +that this hath he done me even now that you are here. You have the +name of Perceval on this account, that tofore you were born, he had +begun to reave your father of the Valleys of Camelot, for your father +was an old knight and all his brethren were dead, and therefore he gave +you this name in baptism, for that he would remind you of the mischief +done to him and to you, and that you might help to retrieve it and you +should have the power." + +The Dame maketh shroud the knight, for whom she is full sorrowful, and +on the morrow hath mass sung and burieth him. Perceval made arm two of +the old knights with him, then issued forth of the castle and entered +the great dark forest. He rode until he came before a castle, and met +five knights that issued forth all armed. He asked whose men they +were. They answer, the Lord's of the Moors, and that he goeth seek the +son of the Widow Lady that is in the forest. + +"If we may deliver him up to our lord, good guerdon shal we have +thereof." + +"By my faith," saith Perceval, "You have not far to seek. I am here!" + + +XXIX. + +Perceval smiteth his horse of his spurs and cometh to the first in such +sort that he passeth his spear right through his body and beareth him +to the ground dead. The other two knights each smote his man so that +they wounded them in the body right sore. The other two would fain +have fled, but Perceval preventeth them, and they gave themselves up +prisoners for fear of death. He bringeth all four to the castle of +Camelot and presenteth them to his lady mother. + +"Lady," saith he, "see here the quittance for your knight that was +slain, and the fifth also remaineth lying on the piece of ground shent +in like manner as was your own." + +"Fair son," saith she, "I should have better loved peace after another +sort, and so it might be." + +"Lady," saith he, "Thus is it now. One ought to make war against the +warrior, and be at peace with the peaceable." + +The knights are put in prison. The tidings are come to the Lord of the +Moors that the son of the Widow Lady hath slain one of his knights and +carried off four to prison. Thereof hath he right great wrath at +heart, and sweareth and standeth to it that never will he be at rest +until he shall have either taken or slain him, and that, so there were +any knight in his land that would deliver him up, he would give him one +of the best castles in his country. The more part are keen to take +Perceval. Eight came for that intent before him all armed in the +forest of Camelot, and hunted and drove wild deer in the purlieus of +the forest so that they of the castle saw them. + + +XXX. + +Perceval was in his mother's chapel, where he heard mass; and when the +mass was sung, his sister said: "Fair brother, see here the most holy +cloth that I brought from the chapel of the Grave-yard Perilous. Kiss +it and touch it with your face, for a holy hermit told me that never +should our land be conquered back until such time as you should have +hereof." + +Perceval kisseth it, then toucheth his eyes and face therewith. +Afterward he goeth to arm him, and the four knights with him; then he +issueth forth of the chamber and mounteth on his horse, then goeth out +of the gateway like a lion unchained. He sitteth on a tall horse all +covered. He cometh nigh the eight knights that were all armed, man and +horse, and asketh them what folk they be and what they seek, and they +say that they are enemies of the Widow Lady and her son. + +"Then you do I defy!" saith Perceval. + +He cometh to them a great run, and the four knights with him, and each +one overthroweth his own man so roughly that either he is wounded in +his body or maimed of arm or leg. The rest held the melly to the +utmost they might endure. Perceval made take them and bring to the +castle, and the other five that they had overthrown. The Lord of the +Moors was come to shoot with a bow, and he heard the noise of the +knights, and cometh thitherward a great gallop all armed. + +"Sir," saith one of the old knights to Perceval, "Look! here is the +Lord of the Moors coming, that hath reft your mother of her land and +slain her men. Of him will it be good to take vengeance. See, how +boldly he cometh." + +Perceval looketh on him as he that loveth him not, and cometh toward +him as hard as his horse may carry him, and smiteth him right through +the breast so strongly that he beareth to the ground him and his horse +together all in a heap. He alighteth to the ground and draweth his +sword. + +"How?" saith the Lord of the Moors, "Would you then slay me and put me +in worse plight than I am?" + +"By my head," saith Perceval, "No, nor so swiftly, but I will slay you +enough, betimes!" + +"So it seemeth you," saith the Lord of the Moors, "But it shall not be +yet!" + +He leapeth up on his feet and runneth on Perceval, sword drawn, as one +that fain would harm him if he might. But Perceval defendeth himself +as good knight should, and giveth such a buffet at the outset as +smiteth off his arm together with his sword. The knights that came +after fled back all discomfited when they saw their lord wounded. And +Perceval made lift him on a horse and carry him to the castle and +presenteth him to his mother. + +"Lady," saith he, "See here the Lord of the Moors! Well might you +expect him eftsoons, sith that you were to have yielded him up your +castle the day after to-morrow!" + + +XXXI. + +"Lady," saith the Lord of the Moors, "Your son hath wounded me and +taken my knights and myself likewise. I will yield you up your castle +albeit I hold it mine as of right, on condition you cry me quit." + +"And who shall repay her," saith Perceval, "for the shame that you have +done her, for her knights that you have slain, whereof never had you +pity? Now, so help me God, if she have mercy or pity upon you, never +hereafter will I trouble to come to her aid how sore soever may be her +need. Such pity and none other as you have had for her and my sister +will I have for you. Our Lord God commanded in both the Old Law and +the New, that justice should be done upon man-slayers and traitors, and +justice will I do upon you that His commandment be not transgressed." + +He hath a great vat made ready in the midst of the court, and maketh +the eleven knights be brought. H e maketh their heads be stricken off +into the vat and bleed therein as much blood as might come from them, +and then made the heads and the bodies be drawn forth so that nought +was there but blood in the vat. After that, he made disarm the Lord of +the Moors and be brought before the vat wherein was great abundance of +blood. He made bind his feet and his hands right strait, and after +that saith: "Never might you be satisfied of the blood of the knights +of my lady mother, now will I satisfy you of the blood of your own +knights!" + +He maketh hang him by the feet in the vat, so that his head were in the +blood as far as the shoulders, and so maketh him be held there until +that he was drowned and quenched. After that, he made carry his body +and the bodies of the other knights and their heads, and made them be +cast into an ancient charnel that was beside an old chapel in the +forest, and the vat together with the blood made he be cast into the +river, so that the water thereof was all bloody. The tidings came to +the castles that the son of the Widow Lady had slain the Lord of the +Moors and the best of his knights. Thereof were they in sore +misgiving, and the most part said that the like also would he do to +them save they held themselves at his commandment. They brought him +the keys of all the castles that had been reft of his mother, and all +the knights that had before renounced their allegiance returned +thereunto and pledged themselves to be at his will for dread of death. +All the land was assured in safety, nor was there nought to trouble the +Lady's joy save only that King Fisherman her brother was dead, whereof +she was right sorrowful and sore afflicted. + + +XXXII. + +One day the Widow Lady sate at meat, and there was great plenty of +knights in the hall. Perceval sate him beside his sister. Thereupon, +behold you the Damsel of the Car that came with the other two damsels +before the Widow Lady and her son, and saluted them right nobly. + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Good adventure may you have!" + +"Sir," saith she, "You have speeded right well of your business here, +now go speed it elsewhere, for thereof is the need right sore. King +Hermit, that is your mother's brother, sendeth you word that, and you +come not with haste into the land that was King Fisherman's your uncle, +the New Law that God hath stablished will be sore brought low. For the +King of Castle Mortal, that hath seized the land and castle, hath made +be cried throughout all the country how all they that would fain +maintain the Old Law and abandon the New shall have protection of him +and counsel and aid, and they that will not shall be destroyed and +outlawed." + +"Ha, fair son," saith the Widow Lady, "Now have you heard the great +disloyalty of the evil man that is my brother, whereof am I right +sorrowful, for that he is of my kindred." + +"Lady," saith Perceval, "Your brother nor my uncle is he no longer, +sith that he denieth God! Rather is he our mortal enemy that we ought +of right to hate more than any stranger!" + + +XXXIII. + +"Fair son," saith the Widow Lady, "I pray and beseech you that the Law +of the Saviour be not set aside in forgetfulness and neglect there +where you may exalt it, for better Lord in no wise may you serve, nor +one that better knoweth how to bestow fair guerdon. Fair son, none may +be good knight that serveth Him not and loveth Him. Take heed that you +be swift in His service nor delay not for no intent, but be ever at His +commandment alike at eventide as in the morning, so shall you not bely +your lineage. And the Lord God grant you good intent therein and good +will to go on even as you have begun." + +The Widow Lady, that much loved her son, riseth up from the tables, and +all the other knights, and seemeth it that she is Lady of her land in +such sort as that never was she better. But full often doth she give +thanks to the Saviour of the World with her whole heart, and prayeth +Him of His pleasure grant her son length of life for the amendment both +of soul and body. Perceval was with his mother of a long space, and +with his sister, and was much feared and honoured of all the knights of +the land, alike for his great wisdom and great pains-taking, as well as +for the valour of his knighthood. + + + +BRANCH XVI. + +TITLE I. + +This High History saith that Messire Gawain and Lancelot were repaired +to the court of King Arthur from the quest they had achieved. The King +made great joy thereof and the Queen. King Arthur sate one day at meat +by the side of the Queen, and they had been served of the first meats. +Thereupon come two knights all armed, and each bore a dead knight +before him, and the knights were still armed as they had been when +their bodies were alive. + +"Sir," say the knights, "This shame and this mischief is yours. In like +manner will you lose all your knights betimes and God love you not well +enough to give counsel herein forthwith of his mercy." + +"Lords," saith the King, "How came these knights to be in so evil case?" + +"Sir," say they, "It is of good right you ought to know. The Knight of +the Fiery Dragon is entered into the head of your land, and is +destroying knights and castles and whatsoever he may lay hands on, in +such sort that none durst contend against him, for he is taller by a +foot than any knight ever you had, and of grisly cheer, and so is his +sword three times bigger than the sword of ever another knight, and his +spear is well as heavy as a man may carry. Two knights might lightly +cover them of his shield, and it hath on the outer side the head of a +dragon that casteth forth fire and flame whensoever he will, so eager +and biting that none may long endure his encounter." + + +II. + +"None other, how strong soever he be, may stand against him, and, even +as you see, hath he burnt and evil-entreated all other knights that +have withstood him." + +"From what land hath come such manner of man?" + +"Sir," say the knights, "He is come from the Giant's castle, and he +warreth upon you for the love of Logrin the Giant, whose head Messire +Kay brought you into your court, nor never, saith he, will he have joy +until such time as he shall have avenged him on your body or upon the +knight that you love best." + +"Our Lord God," saith the King, "Will defend us from so evil a man." + +He is risen from the table, all scared, and maketh carry the two dead +knights to be buried, and the others turn back again when they have +told their message. The King calleth Messire Gawain and Lancelot and +asketh them what he shall do of this knight that is entered into his +land? + +"By my head, I know not what to say, save you give counsel herein." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "We will go against him, so please you, I and +Messire Gawain between us." + +"By my head," saith the King, "I would not let you go for a kingdom, +for such man as is this is no knight but a devil and a fiend that hath +issued from the borders of Hell. I say not but that it were great +worship and prize to slay and conquer him, but he that should go +against him should set his own life in right sore jeopardy and run +great hazard of being in as bad plight as these two knights I have +seen." + +The King was in such dismay that he knew not neither what to say nor to +do, and so was all the court likewise in such sort as no knight neither +one nor another was minded to go to battle with him, and so remained +the court in great dismay. + + + +BRANCH XVII. + +INCIPIT. + +Here beginneth one of the master branches of the Graal in the name of +the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. + + +TITLE I. + +Perceval had been with his mother as long as it pleased him. He hath +departed with her good will and the good will of his sister, and +telleth them he will return into the land as speedily as he may. He +entereth into the great Lonely Forest, and rideth so far on his +journeys that he cometh one day at the right hour of noon into a +passing fair launde, and seeth a forest. He looketh amidst the launde +and seeth a red cross. He looketh to the head of the launde and seeth +a right comely knight sitting in the shadow of the forest, and he was +clad in white garments and held a vessel of gold in his hand. At the +other end of the launde he seeth a damsel likewise sitting, young and +gentle and of passing great beauty, and she was clad in a white samite +dropped of gold. Josephus telleth us by the divine scripture that out +of the forest issued a beast, white as driven snow, and it was bigger +than a fox and less than a hare. The beast came into the launde all +scared, for she had twelve hounds in her belly, that quested within +like as it were hounds in a wood, and she fled adown the launde for +fear of the hounds, the questing whereof she had within her. Perceval +rested on the shaft of his spear to look at the marvel of this beast, +whereof he had right great pity, so gentle was she of semblance, and of +so passing beauty, and by her eyes it might seem that they were two +emeralds. She runneth to the knight, all affrighted, and when she hath +been there awhile and the hounds rend her again, she runneth to the +damsel, but neither there may she stay long time, for the hounds that +are within her cease not of their questing, whereof is she sore adread. + + +II. + +She durst not venture herself in the forest. She seeth Perceval and so +cometh toward him for protection. She maketh as though she would lie +down on his horse's neck, and he holdeth forth his hands to receive her +there so as that she might not hurt herself, and evermore the hounds +quested. Howbeit the knight crieth out to him, "Sir Knight, let the +beast go and hold her not, for this belongeth neither to you nor to +other, but let her dree her weird." + +The beast seeth that no protection hath she. She goeth to the cross, +and forthwith might the hounds no longer be in her, but issued forth +all as it were live hounds, but nought had they of her gentleness nor +her beauty. She humbled herself much among them and crouched on the +ground and made semblant as though she would have cried them mercy, and +gat herself as nigh the cross as she might. The hounds had compassed +her round about and ran in upon her upon all sides and tore her all to +pieces with their teeth, but no power had they to devour her flesh, nor +to remove it away from the cross. + + +III. + +When the hounds had all to-mangled the beast, they fled away into the +wood as had they been raging mad. The knight and the damsel came there +where the beast lay in pieces at the cross, and so taketh each his part +and setteth the same on their golden vessels, and took the blood that +lay upon the earth in like manner as the flesh, and kiss the place, and +adore the cross, and then betake them into the forest. Perceval +alighteth and setteth him on his knees before the cross and so hisseth +and adoreth it, and the place where the beast was slain, in like manner +as he had seen the knight and damsel do; and there came to him a smell +so sweet of the cross and of the place, such as no sweetness may be +compared therewith. He looketh and seeth coming from the forest two +priests all afoot; and the first shouteth to him: "Sir Knight, withdraw +yourself away from the cross, for no right have you to come nigh it.": +Perceval draweth him back, and the priest kneeleth before the cross and +adoreth it and boweth down and kisseth it more than a score times, and +manifesteth the most joy in the world. And the other priest cometh +after, and bringeth a great rod, and setteth the first priest aside by +force, and beateth the cross with the rod in every part, and weepeth +right passing sore. + + +IV. + +Perceval beholdeth him with right great wonderment, and saith unto him, +"Sir, herein seem you to be no priest! wherefore do you so great +shame?" + +"Sir," saith the priest, "It nought concerneth you of whatsoever we may +do, nor nought shall you know thereof for us!" + +Had he not been a priest, Perceval would have been right wroth with +him, but he had no will to do him any hurt. Therewithal he departeth +and mounteth his horse and entereth the forest again, all armed, but +scarce had he ridden away in such sort or ever he met the Knight +Coward, that cried out to him as far as he could see him, "Sir, for +God's sake, take heed to yourself!" + +"What manner man are you?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir," saith he, "My name is the Knight Coward, and I am man of the +Damsel of the Car. Wherefore I pray you for God's sake and for your +own valour that you touch me not." + +Perceval looketh on him and seeth him tall and comely and well-shapen +and adroit and all armed upon his horse, so he saith to him, "Sith that +you are so coward, wherefore are you armed thus?" + +"Sir," saith he, "Against the evil intent of any knight of whom I am +adread, for such an one might haply meet me as would slay me forthwith." + + +V. + +"Are you so coward as you say?" saith Perceval. + +"Yea," saith he, "And much more." + +"By my head," saith he, "I will make you hardy. Come now along with +me, for sore pity is it that cowardize should harbour in so comely a +knight. I am fain that your name be changed speedily, for such name +beseemeth no knight." + +"Ha, Sir, for God's sake, mercy! Now know I well that you desire to +slay me! No will have I to change neither my courage nor my name!" + +"By my head," saith Perceval, "Then will you die therefor, betimes!" + +He maketh him go before him, will he or nill he; and the knight goeth +accordingly with right sore grudging. They had scarce ridden away, +when he heard in the forest off the way, two damsels that bewailed them +right sore, and prayed our Lord God send them succour betimes. + + +VI. + +Perceval cometh towards them, he and the knight he driveth before him +perforce, and seeth a tall knight all armed that leadeth the damsels +all dishevelled, and smiteth them from time to time with a great rod, +so that the blood ran down their faces. + +"Ha, Sir Knight," saith Perceval, "What ask you of these two damsels +that you entreat so churlishly?" + +"Sir," saith he, "They have disherited me of mine own hold in this +forest that Messire Gawain gave them." + +"Sir," say they to Perceval, "This knight is a robber, and none other +but he now wonneth in this forest, for the other robber-knights were +slain by Messire Gawain and Lancelot and another knight that came with +them, and, for the sore suffering and poverty that Messire Gawain and +Lancelot saw in us aforetime, and in the house of my brother in whose +castle they lay, were they fain to give us this hold and the treasure +they conquered from the robber-knights, and for this doth he now lead +us away to slay and destroy us, and as much would he do for you and all +other knights, so only he had the power." + +"Sir Knight," saith Perceval, "Let be these damsels, for well I know +that they say true, for that I was there when the hold was given them." + +"Then you helped to slay my kindred," saith the knight, "And therefore +you do I defy!" + +"Ha," saith the Knight Coward to Perceval, "Take no heed of that he +saith, and wax not wroth, but go your way!" + +"Certes," saith Perceval, "This will I not do: Rather will I help to +challenge the honour of the damsels." + + +VII. + +"Ha, Sir," saith the Knight Coward, "Never shall it be challenged of +me!" + +Perceval draweth him back. "Sir," saith he, "See here my champion that +I set in my place." + +The robber knight moveth toward him, and smiteth him so sore on the +shield that he breaketh his spear, but he might not unseat the Coward +Knight, that sate still upright as aforehand in the saddle-bows. He +looketh at the other knight that hath drawn his sword. The Knight +Coward looketh on the one side and the other, and would fain have fled +and he durst. But Perceval crieth to him: "Knight, do your endeavour +to save my honour and your own life and the honour of these two +damsels!" + +And the robber-knight dealeth him a great buffet of his sword so as +that it went nigh to stun him altogether. Howbeit the Coward Knight +moveth not. Perceval looketh at him in wonderment and thinketh him +that he hath set too craven a knight in his place, and now at last +knoweth well that he spake truth. The robber-knight smiteth him all +over his body and giveth him so many buffets that the knight seeth his +own blood. + +"By my head," saith he, "You have wounded me, but you shall pay +therefor, for I supposed not that you were minded to slay me!" + +He draweth his sword, that was sharp and strong, and smiteth his horse +right sore hard of his spurs, and catcheth the knight with his sword +right in the midst of his breast with a sweep so strong that he beareth +him to the ground beside his horse. He alighteth over him, unlaceth +his ventail and smiteth down his coif, then striketh off his head and +presenteth it to Perceval. + +"Sir," saith he, "Here give I you of my first joust." + +"By my head," said Perceval, "Right dearly love I this present! Now +take heed that you never again fall back into the cowardize wherein you +have been. For it is too sore shame to a knight!" + +"Sir," saith he, "I will not, but never should I have believed that one +could become hardy so speedily, or otherwise long ago would I have +become so, and so should I have had worship and honour thereof, for +many a knight hath held me in contempt herein, that elsewise would have +honoured me." + +Perceval answereth that right and reason it is that worshipful men +should be more honoured than the other. + +"I commend these two damsels to your protection, and lead them to their +hold in safety, and be at their pleasure and their will, and so say +everywhere that you have for name the Knight Hardy, for more of +courtesy hath this name than the other." + +"Sir," saith he, "You say true, and you have I to thank for the name." + +The damsels give great thanks to Perceval, and take leave of him, and +so go their way with right good will toward the knight that goeth with +them on account of the knight he had slain, so that thereof called they +him the Knight Hardy. + + +VIII. + +Perceval departeth from the place where the knight lieth dead, and +rideth until that he draweth nigh to Cardoil where King Arthur was, and +findeth the country round in sore terror and dismay. Much he +marvelleth wherefore it may be, and demandeth of some of the meaner +sort wherefore they are in so sore affright. + +"Doth the King, then, live no longer?" + +"Sir," say the most part, "Yea, he is there within in this castle, but +never was he so destroyed nor so scared as he is at this present. For +a knight warreth upon him against whom no knight in the world may +endure." + +Perceval rideth on until he cometh before the master hall, and is +alighted on the mounting-stage. Lancelot and Messire Gawain come to +meet him and make much joy of him, as do the King and Queen and all +they of the court; and they made disarm him and do upon him a right +rich robe. They that had never seen him before looked upon him right +fainly for the worship and valour of his knighthood. The court also +was rejoiced because of him, for sore troubled had it been. So as the +King sate one day at meat, there came four knights into the hall, and +each one of them bore before him a dead knight. And their feet and +arms had been stricken off, but their bodies were still all armed, and +the habergeons thereon were all black as though they had been blasted +of lightning. They laid the knights in the midst of the hall. + +"Sir," say they to the King, "Once more is made manifest this shame +that is done you that is not yet amended. The Knight of the Dragon +destroyeth you your land and slayeth your men and cometh as nigh us as +he may, and saith that in your court shall never be found knight so +hardy as that he durst abide him or assault him." + +Right sore shame hath the King of these tidings, and Messire Gawain and +Lancelot likewise. Right sorrowful are they of heart for that the King +would not allow them to go thither. The four knights turn back again +and leave the dead knights in the hall, but the King maketh them be +buried with the others. + + +IX. + +A great murmuring ariseth amongst the knights in the hall, and the most +part say plainly that they never heard tell of none that slew knights +in such cruel sort, nor so many as did he; and that neither Messire +Gawain nor Lancelot ought to be blamed for that they went not thither, +for no knight in the world might conquer such a man and our Lord God +did not, for he casteth forth fire and flame from his shield whensoever +him listeth. And while this murmur was going on between the knights +all round about the hall, behold you therewithal the Damsel that made +bear the knight in the horse-bier and cometh before the King. + +"Sir," saith she, "I pray and beseech you that you do me right in your +court. See, here is Messire Gawain that was at the assembly in the Red +Launde where were many knights, and among them was the son of the Widow +Lady, that I see sitting beside you. He and Messire Gawain were they +that won the most prize of the assembly. This knight had white arms, +and they of the assembly said that he had better done than Messire +Gawain, for that he had been first in the assembly. It had been +granted me, before the assembly began, that he that should do best +thereat, should avenge the knight. Sir, I have sought for him until I +have now found him at your court. Wherefore I pray and beseech you +that you bid him do so much herein as that he be not blamed, for +Messire Gawain well knoweth that I have spoken true. But the knight +departed so soon from the assembly, that I knew not what had become of +him, and Messire Gawain was right heavy for that he had departed, for +he was in quest of him, but knew him not." + + +X. + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Truth it is that he it was that did +best at the assembly in the Red Launde, and moreover, please God, well +will he fulfil his covenant towards you." + +"Messire Gawain," saith Perceval, "Meseemeth you did best above all +other." + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "You speak of your courtesy, but +howsoever I or other may have done, you had the prize therein by the +judgment of the knights. Of so much may I well call upon the damsel to +bear witness." + +"Sir," saith she, "Gramercy! He ought not to deny me that I require of +him. For the knight that I have so long followed about and borne on a +bier was son of his uncle Elinant of Escavalon." + + +XI. + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Take heed that you speak truth. I know well +that Elinant of Escavalon was mine uncle on my father's side, but of +his son know I nought." + +"Sir," saith she, "Of his deeds well deserved he to be known, for by +his great valour and hardiment came he by his death, and he had to name +Alein of Escavalon. The Damsel of the Circlet of Gold loved him of +passing great love with all her might. The comeliest knight that was +ever seen of his age was he, and had he lived longer would have been +one of the best knights known, and of the great love she had in him +made she his body be embalmed when the Knight of the Dragon had slain +him, he that is so cruel and maketh desolate all the lands and all the +islands. The Damsel of the Circlet of Gold hath he defied in such sort +that already hath he slain great part of her knights, and she is held +fast in her castle, so that she durst not issue forth, insomuch that +all the knights that are there say, and the Lady of the castle also, +that he that shall avenge this knight shall have the Circlet of Gold, +that never before was she willing to part withal, and the fairest +guerdon will that be that any knight may have." + + +XII. + +"Sir," saith she, "Well behoveth you therefore, to do your best +endeavour to avenge your uncle's son, and to win the Circlet of Gold, +for, and you slay the knight, you will have saved the land of King +Arthur that he threateneth to make desolate, and all the lands that +march with his own, for no King hateth he so much as King Arthur on +account of the head of the Giant whereof he made such joy at his court." + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Where is the Knight of the Dragon?" + +"Sir," saith she, "He is in the isles of the Elephants that wont to be +the fairest land and the richest in the world. Now hath he made it all +desolate, they say, in such sort that none durst inhabit there, and the +island wherein he abideth is over against the castle of the Damsel of +the Golden Circlet, so that every day she seeth him carry knights off +bodily from the forest that he slayeth and smiteth limb from limb, +whereof hath she right sore grief at heart." + + +XIII. + +Perceval heareth this that the damsel telleth him, and marvelleth much +thereat, and taketh thought within himself, sith that the adventure is +thus thrown upon him, that great blame will he have thereof and he +achieveth it not. He taketh leave of the King and Queen, and so goeth +his way and departeth from the Court. Messire Gawain departeth and +Lancelot with him, and say they will bear him company to the piece of +ground, and they may go thither. Perceval holdeth their fellowship +right dear. The King and Queen have great pity of Perceval, and say +all that never until now no knight went into jeopardy so sore, and that +sore loss to the world will it be if there he should die. They send to +all the hermits and worshipful men in the forest of Cardoil and bid +them pray for Perceval that God defend him from this enemy with whom he +goeth forth to do battle. Lancelot and Messire Gawain go with him by +the strange forests and by the islands, and found the forests all void +and desolate and wasted in place after place. The Damsel followeth them +together with the dead knight. And so far have they wandered that they +come into the plain country before the forest. So they looked before +them and saw a castle that was seated in the plain without the forest, +and they saw that it was set in a right fair meadow-land, and was +surrounded of great running waters and girdled of high walls, and had +within great halls with windows. They draw nigh the castle and see +that it turneth all about faster than the wind may run, and it had at +the top the archers of crossbows of copper that draw their shafts so +strong that no armour in the world might avail against the stroke +thereof. Together with them were men of copper that turned and sounded +their horns so passing loud that the ground all seemed to quake. And +under the gateway were lions and bears chained, that roared with so +passing great might and fury that all the ground and the valley +resounded thereof. The knights draw rein and look at this marvel. + +"Lords," saith the damsel, "Now may you see the Castle of Great +Endeavour. Messire Gawain and Lancelot, draw you back, and come not +nigher the archers, for otherwise ye be but dead men. And you, sir," +saith she to Perceval, "And you would enter into this castle, lend me +your spear and shield, and so will I bear them before for warranty, and +you come after me and make such countenance as good knight should, and +so shall you pass through into the castle. But your fellows may well +draw back, for now is not the hour for them to pass. None may pass +thither save only he that goeth to vanquish the knight and win the +Golden Circlet and the Graal, and do away the false law with its horns +of copper." + + +XIV. + +Perceval is right sorrowful when he heareth the damsel say that Messire +Gawain and Lancelot may not pass in thither with him albeit they be the +best knights in the world. He taketh leave of them full sorrowfully, +and they also depart sore grudgingly; but they pray him right sweetly, +so Lord God allow him escape alive from the place whither he goeth, +that he will meet them again at some time and place, and at ease, in +such sort as that they may see him without discognisance. They wait +awhile to watch the Good Knight, that hath yielded his shield and spear +to the damsel. She hath set his shield on the bier in front, then +pointeth out to them of the castle all openly the shield that belonged +to the Good Soldier; after that she maketh sign that it belongeth to +the knight that is there waiting behind her. Perceval was without +shield in the saddle-bows, and holdeth his sword drawn and planteth him +stiffly in the stirrups after such sort as maketh them creak again and +his horse's chine swerve awry. After that, he looketh at Lancelot and +Messire Gawain. + +"Lords," saith he, "To the Saviour of the World commend I you." + +And they answer, "May He that endured pain of His body on the Holy True +Cross protect him in his body and his soul and his life." + +With that he smiteth with his spurs and goeth his way to the castle as +fast as his horse may carry him,--toward the Turning Castle. He +smiteth with his sword at the gate so passing strongly that he cut a +good three fingers into a shaft of marble. The lions and the beast that +were chained to guard the gate slink away into their dens, and the +castle stoppeth at once. The archers cease to shoot. There were three +bridges before the castle that uplifted themselves so soon as he was +beyond. + + +XV. + +Lancelot and Messire Gawain departed thence when they had beholden the +marvel, but they were fain to go toward the castle when they saw it +stop turning. But a knight cried out to them from the battlements, +"Lords, and you come forward, the archers will shoot and the castle +will turn, and the bridges be lowered again, wherefore you would be +deceived herein." + +They draw back, and hear made within the greatest joy that ever was +heard, and they hear how the most part therewithin say that now is he +come of whom they shall be saved in twofold wise, saved as of life, and +saved as of soul, so God grant him to vanquish the knight that beareth +the spirit of the devil. Lancelot and Messire Gawain turn them back +thoughtful and all heavy for that they may not pass into the castle, +for none other passage might they see than this. So they ride on, +until that they draw nigh the Waste City where Lancelot slew the knight. + +"Ha," saith he to Messire Gawain, "Now is the time at hand that +behoveth me to die in this Waste City, and God grant not counsel +herein." + +He told Messire Gawain all the truth of that which had befallen him +therein. So, even as he would have taken leave of him, behold you, the +Poor Knight of the Waste Castle! + + +XVI. + +"Sir," saith he to Lancelot, "I have taken respite of you in the city +within there, of the knight that you slew, until forty days after that +the Graal shall be achieved, nor have I issued forth of the castle +wherein you harboured you until now, nor should I now have come forth +had I not seen you come for fulfilling of your pledge, nor never shall +I come forth again until such time as you shall return hither on the +day I have named to you. And so, gramercy to you and Messire Gawain +for the horses you sent me, that were a right great help to us, and for +the treasure and the hold you have given to my sisters that were sore +poverty-stricken. But I may not do otherwise than abide in my present +poverty until such time as you shall be returned, on the day whereunto +I have taken respite for you, sore against the will of your enemies, +for the benefits you have done me. Wherefore I pray yon forget me not, +for the saving of your loyalty." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "That will I not, and gramercy for having +put off the day for love of me." + +They depart from the knight and come back again toward Cardoil where +King Arthur was. + + + +BRANCH XVIII. + +TITLE I. + +Here the story is silent of Lancelot and Messire Gawain, and saith that +Perceval is in the Turning Castle, whereof Joseus recounteth the truth, +to wit, that Virgil founded it in the air by his wisdom in such +fashion, when the philosophers went on the Quest of the Earthly +Paradise, and it was prophesied that the castle should not cease +turning until such time as the Knight should come thither that should +have a head of gold, the look of a lion, a heart of steel, the navel of +a virgin maiden, conditions without wickedness, the valour of a man and +faith and belief of God; and that this knight should bear the shield of +the Good Soldier that took down the Saviour of the World from hanging +on the rood. It was prophesied, moreover, that all they of the castle +and all other castles whereof this one was the guardian should hold the +old law until such time as the Good Knight should come, by whom their +souls should be saved and their death respited. For, so soon as he +should be come, they should run to be baptized, and should firmly +believe the new law. Wherefore was the joy great in the castle for +that their death should now be respited, and that they should be +released of all terror of the knight that was their foe, whom they +dreaded even to the death, and of the sin of the false law whereof they +had heretofore been attaint. + + +II. + +Right glad is Perceval when he seeth the people of the castle turn them +to the holy faith of the Saviour, and the damsel saith to him, "Sir, +right well have you speeded thus far on your way; nought is there now +to be done save to finish that which remaineth. For never may they +that are within issue forth so long as the Knight of the Dragon is on +live. Here may you not tarry, for the longer you tarry, the more lands +will be desolate and the more folk will he slay. Perceval taketh leave +of them of the castle, that make much joy of him, but sore misgiving +have they of him on account of the knight with whom he goeth to do +battle, and they say that if he shall conquer him, never yet befell +knight so fair adventure. They have heard mass before that he +departeth, and made rich offerings for him in honour of the Saviour and +His sweet Mother. The damsel goeth before, for that she knew the place +where the evil knight had his repair. They ride until they come into +the Island of Elephants. The Knight was alighted under an olive tree, +and had but now since slain four knights that were of the castle of the +Queen of the Golden Circlet. She was at the windows of her castle and +saw her Knights dead, whereof made she great dole. + +"Ha, God," saith she, "Shall I never see none that may avenge me of +this evildoer that slayeth my men and destroyeth my land on this wise?" + +She looketh up and seeth Perceval come and the damsel. + +"Sir Knight, and you have not force and help and valour in you more +than is in four knights, come not nigh this devil! Howbeit, and you +feel that you may so do battle as to overcome and vanquish him, I will +give you the Golden Circlet that is within, and will hold with the New +Law that hath been of late established. For I see well by your shield +that you are a Christian, and, so you may conquer him, then ought I at +last to be assured that your law availeth more than doth ours, and that +God was born of the Virgin." + + +III. + +Right joyous is Perceval of this that he heareth her say. He crosseth +and blesseth him, and commendeth him to God and His sweet Mother; and +is pricked of wrath and hardiment like a lion. He seeth the Knight of +the Dragon mounted, and looketh at him in wonderment, for that he was +so big that never had he seen any man so big of his body. He seeth the +shield at his neck, that was right black and huge and hideous. He +seeth the Dragon's head in the midst thereof, that casteth out fire and +flame in great plenty, so foul and hideous and horrible that all the +field stank thereof. The damsel draweth her toward the castle and +leaveth the knight on the horsesaith. + + +IV. + +"Sir," saith she to Perceval, "On this level plot was slain your +uncle's son whom here I leave, for I have brought him far enough. Now +avenge him as best you may, I render and give him over to you, for so +much have I done herein as that none have right to blame me." + +With that she departeth. The Knight of the Dragon removeth and seeth +Perceval coming all alone, wherefore hath he great scorn of him and +deigneth not to take his spear, but rather cometh at him with his drawn +sword, that was right long and red as a burning brand. Perceval seeth +him coming and goeth against him, spear in rest, as hard as his horse +may carry him, thinking to smite him through the breast. But the +Knight setteth his shield between, and the flame that issued from the +Dragon burnt the shaft thereof even to his hand. And the Knight +smiteth him on the top of his helmet, but Perceval covereth him of his +shield, whereof had he great affiance that the sword of the foeman +knight might not harm it. Josephus witnesseth us that Joseph of +Abarimacie had made be sealed in the boss of the shield some of the +blood of Our Lord and a piece of His garment. + + +V. + +When the Knight seeth that he hath not hurt Perceval's shield, great +marvel hath he thereof, for never aforetime had he smitten knight but +he had dealt him his death-blow. He turneth the head of the Dragon +towards Perceval's shield, but the flame that issued from the Dragon's +head turned back again as it had been blown of the wind, so that it +might not come nigh him. The Knight is right wroth thereof, and +passeth beyond and cometh to the bier of the dead knight and turneth +his shield with the dragon's head against him. He scorcheth and +burneth all to ashes the bodies of the knight and the horses. + +Saith he to Perceval, "Are you quit as for this knight's burial?" + +"Certes," saith Perceval, "You say true, and much misliketh me thereof, +but please God I shall amend it." + + +VI. + +The damsel that had brought the knight was at the windows of the palace +beside the Queen. She crieth out. "Perceval, fair sir," saith the +damsel, "Now is the shame the greater and the harm the greater, and you +amend them not." + +Right sorrowful is Perceval of his cousin that is all burnt to a +cinder, and he seeth the Knight that beareth the devil with him, but +knoweth not how he may do vengeance upon him. He cometh to him +sword-drawn, and dealeth him a great blow on the shield in such sort +that he cleaveth it right to the midst thereof where the dragon's head +was, and the flame leapeth forth so burning hot on his sword that it +waxed red-hot like as was the Knight's sword. + +And the damsel crieth to him: "Now is your sword of the like power as +his; now shall it be seen what you will do! I have been told of a +truth that the Knight may not be vanquished save by one only and at one +blow, but how this is I may not tell, whereof irketh me." + +Perceval looketh and seeth that his sword is all in a flame of fire, +whereof much he marvelleth. He smiteth the Knight so passing sore that +he maketh his head stoop down over the fore saddle-bow. The Knight +righteth him again, sore wrath that he may not put him to the worse. +He smiteth him with his sword a blow so heavy that he cleaveth the +habergeon and his right shoulder so that he cutteth and burneth the +flesh to the bone. As he draweth back his blow, Perceval catcheth him +and striketh him with such passing strength that he smiteth off his +hand, sword and all. The Knight gave a great roar, and the Queen was +right joyous thereof. The Knight natheless made no semblant that he +was yet conquered, but turneth back toward Perceval at a right great +gallop and launched his flame against his shield, but it availeth him +nought, for he might not harm it. Perceval seeth the dragon's head, +that was broad and long and horrible, and aimeth with his sword and +thrusteth it up to the hilt into his gullet as straight as ever he may, +and the head of the dragon hurleth forth a cry so huge that forest and +fell resound thereof as far as two leagues Welsh. + + +VII. + +The dragon's head turneth it toward his lord in great wrath, and +scorcheth him and burneth him to dust, and thereafter departed up into +the sky like lightning. The Queen cometh to Perceval, and all the +knights, and see that he is sore hurt in his right shoulder. And the +damsel telleth him that never will he be healed thereof save he setteth +thereon of the dust of the knight that is dead. And they lead him up +to the castle with right great joy. Then they make him be disarmed, +and have his wound washed and tended and some of the knight's dust that +was dead set thereon that it might have healing. She maketh send to +all the knights of her land: "Lords," saith she, "See here the knight +that hath saved my land for me and protected your lives. You know well +how it hath been prophesied that the knight with head of gold should +come, and through him should you be saved. And now, behold, hath he +come hither. The prophecy may not be belied. I will that you do his +commandment." + +And they said that so would they do right willingly. She bringeth him +there where the Circlet of Gold is, and she herself setteth it on his +head. After that, she bringeth his sword and delivereth it unto him, +wherewith he had slain the giant devil, both the knight that bare the +devil, and the devil that the knight bare in his shield. + + +VIII. + +"Sir," saith she, "May all they that will not go to be baptized, nor +accept your New Law, be slain of this your sword, and hereof I make you +the gift." + +She herself made her be held up and baptized first, and all the other +after. Josephus maketh record that in right baptism she had for name +Elysa, and a good life she led and right holy, and she died a virgin. +Her body still lieth in the kingdom of Ireland, where she is highly +honoured. Perceval was within the castle until that he was heal. The +tidings spread throughout the lands that the Knight of the Golden +Circlet had slain the Knight of the Dragon, and great everywhere was +the joy thereof. It was known at the court of King Arthur, but much +marvelled they that it was said the Knight of the Golden Circlet had +slain him, for they knew not who was the Knight of the Golden Circlet. + + +IX. + +When Perceval was whole, he departed from the castle of the Queen of +the Golden Circlet, all of whose land was at his commandment. The Queen +told him that she would keep the Golden Circlet until he should will +otherwise, and in such sort he left it there, for he would not carry it +with him, sith that he knew not whitherward he might turn. The history +telleth us that he rode on until one day he came to the Castle of +Copper. Within the castle were a number of folk that worshipped the +bull of copper and believed not in any other God. The bull of copper +was in the midst of the castle upon four columns of copper, and +bellowed so loud at all hours of the day that it was heard for a league +all round about, and there was an evil spirit within that gave answers +concerning whatsoever any should ask of it. + + +X. + +At the entrance to the gateway of the castle were two men made of +copper by art of nicromancy, and they held two great mallets of iron, +and they busied themselves striking the one after the other, and so +strongly they struck that nought mortal is there in the world that +might pass through amongst their blows but should be all to-crushed +thereby. And on the other side was the castle so fast enclosed about +that nought might enter thereinto. + + +XI. + +Perceval beholdeth the fortress of the castle, and the entrance that +was so perilous, whereof he marvelleth much. He passeth a bridge that +was within the entry, and cometh nigh them that guard the gate. A +Voice began to cry aloud above the gate that he might go forward +safely, and that he need have no care for the men of copper that +guarded the gate nor be affrighted of their blows, for no power had +they to harm such a knight as was he. He comforteth himself much of +that the Voice saith to him. He cometh anigh the serjeants of copper, +and they cease to strike at once, and hold their iron mallets quite +still. And he entereth into the castle, where he findeth within great +plenty of folk that all were misbelievers and of feeble belief. He +seeth the bull of copper in the midst of the castle right big and +horrible, that was surrounded on all sides by folk that all did worship +thereunto together round about. + + +XII. + +The bull bellowed so passing loud that right uneath was it to hear +aught else within the castle besides. Perceval was therewithin, but +none was there that spake unto him, for, so intent were they upon +adoring the bull that, and any had been minded to slay them what time +they were yet worshipping the same, they would have allowed him so to +do, and would have thought that they were saved thereby; and save this +had they none other believe in the world. It was not of custom within +there to be armed, for the entrance of the fortress was so strong that +none might enter but by their will and commandment, save it were the +pleasure of our Lord God. And the devil that had deceived them, and in +whom they believed, gave them such great abundance therewithin of +everything they could desire, that nought in the world was there +whereof they lacked. When he perceived that they held no discourse +with him, he draweth himself on one side by a great hall, and so called +them around him. The more part came thither, but some of them came +not. The Voice warneth him that he make them all pass through the +entrance of the gateway there where the men with the iron mallets are, +for there may he well prove which of them are willing to believe in God +and which not. The Good Knight draweth his sword and surroundeth them +all and maketh them all go in common before him, would they or nould +they. And they that would not go willingly and kindly might be sure +that they should receive their death. He made them pass through the +entrance there where the serjeants of copper were striking great blows +with their iron mallets. Of one thousand five hundred that there were, +scarce but thirteen were not all slain and brained of the iron mallets. +But the thirteen had firmly bound their belief in Our Lord, wherefore +the serjeants took no heed of them. + + +XIII. + +The evil spirit that was in the bull of copper issued forth thereof as +it had been lightning from heaven, and the bull of copper melted all in +a heap so as that nought remained in that place thereof. Then the +thirteen that remained sent for a hermit of the forest and so made +themselves be held up and baptized. After that, they took the bodies of +the misbelievers and made cast them into a water that is called the +River of Hell. This water runneth into the sea, so say many that have +seen it, and there where it spendeth itself in the sea is it most foul +and most horrible, so that scarce may ship pass that is not wrecked. + + +XIV. + +Josephus maketh record that the hermit that baptized the thirteen had +the name of Denis, and that the castle was named the Castle of the +Trial. They lived within there until the New Law was assured and +believed in throughout all the kingdoms, and a right good life led they +and a holy. Nor never might none enter with them thereinto but was +slain and crushed save he firmly believed in God. When the thirteen +that were baptized in the castle issued forth thereof they scattered +themselves on every side among strange forests, and made hermitages and +buildings, and put their bodies to penance for the false law they had +maintained and to win the love of the Saviour of the World. + + +XV. + +Perceval, as you may hear, was soldier of Our Lord, and well did God +show him how He loved his knighthood, for the Good Knight had much pain +and sore travail and pleased Him greatly. He was come one day to the +house of King Hermit that much desired to see him, and made much joy of +him when he saw him, and rejoiced greatly of his courage. Perceval +relateth to him all the greater adventures that have befallen him at +many times and in many places sithence that he departed from him, and +King Hermit much marvelleth him of many. + +"Uncle," saith Perceval, "I marvel me much of an adventure that befell +me at the outlet of a forest; for I saw a little white beast that I +found in the launde of the forest, and twelve hounds had she in her +belly, that bayed aloud and quested within her. At last they issued +forth of her and slew her beside the cross that was at the outlet of +the forest, but they might not eat of her flesh. A knight and a +damsel, whereof one was at one end of the launde and the other at the +other, came thither and took the flesh and the blood, and set them in +two vessels of gold. And the hounds that were born of her fled away +into the forest." + +"Fair nephew," saith the Hermit, "I know well that God loveth you sith +that such things appear to you, for His valour and yours and for the +chastity that is in your body. The beast, that was kindly and gentle +and sweet, signifieth Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the twelve dogs that +yelped within her signify the people of the Old Law that God created +and made in His own likeness, and after that He had made and created +them He desired to prove how much they loved Him. He sent them forty +years into the wilderness, where their garments never wasted, and sent +them manna from heaven that served them whatsoever they would to eat +and to drink, and they were without evil and without trouble and +without sickness, and such joy and pleasance had they as they would. +And they held one day their council, and the master of them said that +and God should wax wroth with them and withhold this manna, they would +have nought to eat, and that it might not last always albeit that God +sent it in so passing great plenty. Wherefore they purposed to set +aside great part thereof in store, so that if the Lord God should wax +wroth they might take of that which was stored and so save themselves +for a long space. They agreed among themselves and did thereafter as +they had purposed and determined amongst them. + + +XVI. + +"God, that seeth and knoweth all things, knew well their thought. He +withdrew from them the manna from heaven that had come to them in such +abundance, and which they had bestowed in caverns underground, thinking +to find there the manna they had set aside, but it was changed by the +will of God into efts and adders and worms and vermin, and when they +saw that they had done evil, they scattered themselves over strange +lands. Fair, sweet nephew," saith the Hermit, "These twelve hounds +that bayed in the beast are the Jews that God had fed, and that were +born in the Law that He established, nor never would they believe on +Him, nor love Him, but rather crucified Him and tore His Body after the +shamefullest sort they might, but in no wise might they destroy His +flesh. The knight and damsel that set the pieces of flesh in vessels +of gold signify the divinity of the Father, which would not that His +flesh should be minished. The hounds fled to the forest and became +savage what time they had torn the beast to pieces, so in like manner +are the Jews that were and ever shall be savage, subject to them of the +New Law henceforth for ever." + + +XVII. + +"Fair uncle," saith Perceval, "Good right and reason is it that they +should have shame and tribulation and evil reward sith that they slew +and crucified Him that had created and made them and deigned to be born +as a man in their Law. But two priests came after, whereof the one +kissed the cross and worshipped it right heartily and made great joy +thereof, and the other did violence thereunto and bear it with a great +rod, and wept right sore and made the greatest dole in the world. With +this last was I right sore wrath, and willingly would I have run upon +him had he not been a priest." + +"Fair nephew," saith the Hermit, "He that beat it believed in God +equally as well as he that adored, for that the holy flesh of the +Saviour of the World was set thereon, that abhorred not the pains of +death. One smiled and made great joy for that He redeemed His souls +from the pains of hell that would otherwise have been therein for +evermore; and for this made he yet greater joy, that he knew He was God +and Man everlastingly in His nature, for he that hath not this in +remembrance shall never believe aright. Fair nephew, the other priest +bear the cross and wept for the passing great anguish and torment and +dolour that our Lord God suffered thereon, for so sore was the anguish +as might have melted the rock, nor no tongue of man may tell the sorrow +He felt upon the cross. And therefore did he bear it and revile it for +that He was crucified thereon, even as I might hate a spear or sword +wherewith you had been slain. For nought else did he thus, and ever, +so often as he remembereth the pain that God suffered thereon, cometh +he to the cross in such manner as you saw. Both twain are hermits and +dwell in the forest, and he is named Jonas that kissed and adored the +cross, and he that beat and reviled it is named Alexis." + + +XVIII. + +Willingly heareth Perceval this that his uncle telleth and recordeth +him. He relateth how he did battle with the devil-knight that bare in +his shield the head of a dragon that cast forth fire and flame, and how +the dragon burnt up his lord at the last. + +"Fair nephew," saith the hermit, "Right glad am I of these tidings that +you tell me, for I have been borne on hand that the Knight of the +Golden Circlet had slain him." + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "It may well be, but never at any time saw I +knight so big and horrible." + +"Fair nephew," saith the Hermit, "None might overcome him save the Good +Knight only, for all true worshipful men behoveth do battle with the +Devil, nor never may he be worshipful man that fighteth not against +him. And even as the devil withal that was figured on his shield slew +and burnt up his master, even so doth one devil torment and molest +other in the world to come; and greater evil might not the Knight of +the Devil do you than burn the body of your uncle's son that he had +killed, as I have heard tell. Power had he over his body, but, please +God, not over his soul to burn it." + +"Fair uncle," saith Perceval, "I went thither by a Turning Castle, +where were archers of copper that shot bolts, and bears and lions +chained at the entrance of the gateway. So soon as I drew nigh and +smote thereon with my sword the castle stopped still." + +"Fair nephew," said King Hermit, "Nought had the Devil outwardly +besides this castle. It was the entrance to his fortress, nor would +they within ever have been converted save you had been there." + +"Sir," saith he, "Right sorrowful am I of Messire Gawain and Lancelot, +for well I loved their fellowship, and great aid would they have been +in my need." + +"Fair nephew, had they been chaste as are you, well might they have +entered on account of their good knighthood. For were they not wanton, +the two best knights in the world are they. + + +XIX. + +"Fair nephew, in the time of your knighthood have you much advanced the +Law of the Saviour, for you have destroyed the falsest believe in the +world, and this was of them that believed on the bull of copper and the +devil that was therein. If this folk had remained, and had failed of +you, never would it have been destroyed until the end of the world. +Wherefore marvel not that you have travail in serving God, but endure +it willingly, for never had worshipful man honour without pains. But +now behoveth you achieve another matter. All they of the land of King +Fisherman your uncle have abandoned the New Law, and returned to that +which God hath forbidden. But the most part do so rather perforce and +for fear of the King that hath seized the land, who is my brother and +your uncle, than on account of aught else. Wherefore behoveth you set +counsel therein, for this thing may not be achieved by any earthly man +save by you only. For the castle and land should be yours of right, +and sore mischief is it when one that cometh of lineage so high and so +holy is traitor to God, and disloyal to the world. + + +XX. + +"Fair nephew," saith the good man, "The castle hath been much +strengthened, for there are now nine bridges newly made, and at each +bridge are there three knights tall and strong and hardy, whereof hath +he much defence, and your uncle is there within that keepeth the +castle. But never sithence, none of the knights of King Fisherman nor +of his priests have there appeared, nor knoweth any what hath befallen +them. The chapel wherein the most Holy Graal appeared is all emptied +of its sacred hallows; the hermits that are by the forest are fain of +your coming, for never see they there a knight pass by that believeth +in God. And so you shall have achieved this enterprise, it is a thing +whereof shall God be well pleased." + + +XXI. + +"Fair uncle," saith Perceval, "Thither will I go, sith that you commend +it to me, for no reason is it that he should have the castle that hath +entered thereinto. Of better right ought my mother to have it, that +was the next-born to King Fisherman, of whose death am I right +sorrowful." + +"Fair nephew, you are right! for on your account fell he into +languishment, and, had you then gone again, so say many, then would he +have been whole, but how this might have been I know not of a +certainty. But methinketh our Lord God willed his languishment and +death, for had it been His will, you would have made the demand, but He +willed otherwise, wherefore ought we to give thanks and praise Him +whatsoever He doth, for He hath foreseen of every man that which shall +come to him. I have within here a white mule that is very old. Fair +nephew, you will take her with you. She will follow you right +willingly, and a banner shall you bear, for the power of God and His +virtue shall avail more than your own. Seven-and-twenty knights guard +the nine bridges, all chosen and of approved great valour, and none +ought now to believe that a single knight may vanquish so many, save +the miracle of Our Lord and His virtue shall open a way for him. So I +pray and beseech you that you have God always in remembrance and His +sweet Mother, and, so at any time you be put to the worse of your +knighthood, mount upon the mule and take the banner, and your enemies +shall forthwith lose their force, for nought confoundeth any enemy so +swiftly as doth the virtue and puissance of God. It is a thing well +known that you are the Best Knight of the World, but set not affiance +in your strength nor in your knighthood as against so many knights, for +against them may you not endure." + + +XXII. + +Perceval hearkeneth unto his uncle's discourse and his chastening, and +layeth fast hold on all that he saith, wherewith is he pleased full +well, for great affiance hath he in his words. + +"Fair nephew," saith the Hermit, "Two lions are there at the entry of +the gateway, whereof the one is red and the other white. Put your trust +in the white, for he is on God's side, and look at him whensoever your +force shall fail you, and he will look at you likewise in such sort as +that straightway you shall know his intent, by the will and pleasure of +Our Saviour. Wherefore do according as you shall see that he would, +for no intent will he have save good only, and to help you; nor may you +not otherwise succeed in winning past the nine bridges that are warded +of the twenty-seven knights. And God grant you may win past in such +wise that you may save your body and set forward withal the Law of Our +Lord that your uncle hath hindered all that he might." + + +XXIII. + +Perceval departeth from the hermitage, and carrieth away the banner, +according to his uncle's counsel, and the white mule followeth after. +He goeth his way toward the land that was the land of King Fisherman, +and findeth a hermit that was issued forth of his hermitage and was +going at a great pace through the forest. He abideth so soon as he +beholdeth the cross on Perceval's shield. + +"Sir," saith he, "I well perceive that you are a Christian, of whom not +a single one have I seen this long time past. For the King of Castle +Mortal is driving us forth of this forest, for he hath renounced God +and His sweet Mother, so that we durst not remain in His defence." + +"By my faith," saith Perceval, "But you shall! for God shall lead you +forward, and I after. Are there more hermits in this forest?" saith +Perceval. + +"Yea, Sir, there be twelve here that are waiting for me at a cross +yonder before us, and we are minded to go to the kingdom of Logres and +put our bodies to penance for God's sake, and to abandon our cells and +chapels in this forest for dread of this felon King that hath seized +the land, for he willeth that none who believeth in God should here +abide." + + +XXIV. + +Perceval is come with the hermit to the cross where the good men had +assembled them together, and findeth Joseus, the young man that was +King Pelles' son, of whom he maketh right great joy, and he maketh the +hermits turn back again with him, saying that he will defend them and +make them safe, by God's help, in the kingdom, and prayeth them right +sweetly that they make prayer for him to our Lord that He grant him to +win back that which of right is his own. He is come forth of the +forest and the hermits with him. He draweth nigh to the castle of King +Fisherman, and strong was the defence at the entrance thereof. Some of +the knights well knew that Perceval would conquer him, for long since +had it been prophesied that he who bare such shield should win the +Graal of him that sold God for money. + + +XXV. + +The knights saw Perceval coming and the company of hermits with him +right seemly to behold, and much marvel had they thereof. About a +couple of bowshots above the bridge was a chapel fashioned like the one +at Camelot, wherein was a sepulchre, and none knew who lay therein. +Perceval abideth thereby and his company. He leaneth his shield and +spear against the chapel, and maketh fast his horse and mule by the +reins. He beholdeth the sepulchre, that was right fair, and forthwith +the sepulchre openeth and the joinings fall apart and the stone lifteth +up in such wise that a man might see the knight that lay within, of +whom came forth a smell of so sweet savour that it seemed to the good +men that were looking on that it had been all embalmed. They found a +letter which testified that this knight was named Josephus. So soon as +the hermits beheld the sepulchre open, they said to Perceval: "Sir, now +at last know we well that you are the Good Knight, the chaste, the +holy." + +The knights that warded the bridge heard the tidings that the sepulchre +had opened at the coming of the knight, whereof were they in the +greater dismay, and well understood that it was he that was first at +the Graal. The tidings came to the King that held the castle, and he +bade his knights not be dismayed for dread of a single knight, for that +he would have no force nor power against them, nor might it never +befall but that one only of his own knights should be enough to conquer +him. + + +XXVI. + +Perceval was armed upon his horse. The hermits make the sign of the +cross over him, and bless him and commend him to God. And he holdeth +his spear in rest and cometh toward the three knights that guard the +first bridge. They all set upon him at once and break their spears +upon his shield. One of them he smiteth with such force that he maketh +him topple over into the river that runneth under the bridge, both him +and his horse. Of him was he quit, for the river was wide and deep and +swift. The others held out against him a much longer bout with sharp +sword-play, but he vanquished them and smote them to pieces, and flung +their bodies into the water. They of the second bridge came forward, +that were right good knights, and many a tough bout had he of them and +many a felon onslaught. Joseus that was his uncle's son was there, and +said to the other hermits that right fainly would he go help him, but +that he deemed it might be sin, and they bade him take no heed of that, +for that great work of mercy would it be to destroy the enemies of Our +Lord. He doeth off his grey cape and fettleth him in his frock, and +taketh one of them that were doing battle with Perceval and trusseth +him on his neck and so flingeth him into the river all armed, and +Perceval slayeth the other twain and hurleth them into the river in +like manner as the other. + + +XXVII. + +By the time he had won the two bridges he was full spent and weary, +wherefore he bethinketh him of the lion, the manner whereof his uncle +had told him. Then looketh he toward the entrance of the gateway and +seeth the white lion, that stood upright on his two hinder feet, for +that he was fain to see him. Perceval looketh him full between the two +eyes, and understandeth that the lion is minded by the will of God to +do him to wit that the knights of the third bridge are so hardy and of +such strength that they may not be overcome of a single knight and our +Lord God of his holy bounty open not the way, but that he must fain +take the mule and carry the banner if he would conquer them. Perceval +understandeth the white lion's intent, and giveth God thanks thereof +and draweth him back, and Joseus the young man likewise. As soon as +they look back, they see that the first bridge is already lifted up +behind them. + + +XXVIII. + +Perceval cometh to where the white mule was, and she was starred on the +forehead with a red cross. He mounteth thereupon, and taketh the +banner and holdeth his sword drawn. So soon as the white lion seeth +him coming, he unchaineth himself and runneth incontinent to the bridge +that was lifted, right amidst the knights, and lowereth it forthwith. +The King of Castle Mortal was on the battlements of the greater +fortress of the castle, and crieth to the knights that warded the +bridge, "Lords," saith he, "You are the most chosen knights of my land +and the hardiest, but no hardiment is it to lift the bridges on account +of a single knight whom you durst not abide body to body, whereof +meseemeth it great cowardize and not hardiment. But the lion is +hardier than you all, that of his hardiment hath lowered the bridge. +Wherefore now know I well that had I set him to ward the first bridge, +he would have warded it better than these that have allowed themselves +to be slain." + + +XXIX. + +Thereupon, behold you Perceval come upon his white mule, sword drawn +all naked in his fist, and cometh toward them of the third bridge, +whereof he smiteth the first so sore that he overthroweth him into the +water. Joseus the hermit cometh forward and would fain have seized the +other twain, but they cry mercy of Perceval, and say that they will be +at his will in all things, and so will believe on God and His sweet +Mother and abandon their evil lord. And they of the fourth bridge say +likewise. On such condition he alloweth them to live by the counsel of +Joseus, and they cast away their arms and yield up the bridges at his +will. Perceval thinketh within himself that God's virtue hath right +great power, but that knight who hath force and power ought well to +approve his prowess for God's sake. For of all that he shall do or +suffer for Him, shall God be well pleased. For, were all the world +against our Lord God, and He should grant to any single one that should +be His champion all His power and might, he would conquer them all in +one hour of the day. But He willeth that a man should travail for Him, +even as He Himself suffered travail for His people. + + +XXX. + +Perceval cometh again back and alighteth of the white mule and +delivereth the banner to Joseus, and then mounteth again on his +destrier and cometh back to them of the fifth bridge, and these defend +themselves right stoutly, for that hardy knights are they, and do +battle against Perceval full sturdily. Joseus the hermit cometh +thither and assaulteth them with passing great lustihood, that had the +Lord God not saved him they would have overthrown and slain him. +Howbeit, he holdeth the banner and grappleth them when he may lay hold, +and grippeth them so straight that they may not help themselves. +Perceval slayeth them and crusheth them and maketh them topple over +into the water that ran swiftly beneath the bridge. When they of the +sixth bridge saw that these were conquered, they cried mercy of +Perceval and yielded themselves to him and delivered up their swords to +him, and they of the seventh bridge likewise. When the red lion saw +that the seventh bridge was Won, and that the knights of the two +bridges had yielded themselves up to Perceval, he leapt up with such +fury that he burst his chain as had he been wood mad. He came to one +of the knights and bit him and slew him, whereof the white lion was +full wroth, and runneth upon the other lion and teareth him to pieces +with his claws and teeth. + + +XXXI. + +Straightway thereafter he raiseth himself up on his two hinder feet and +looketh at Perceval, and Perceval at him. Perceval understandeth well +the lion's intent, to wit, that they of the last bridge are worse to +conquer than the others, and that they may not be conquered at all save +by the will of God and by him that is the lion. And the lion warned +him that he go not against them with the banner, holy though it were, +nor receive them into mercy what surety soever they might make, for +that they are traitors, but that he must fain mount upon the white +mule, for that she is a beast on God's side, and that Joseus should +bring the banner and all the hermits go before, that are worshipful men +and of good life, so as to dismay the traitor King, and so shall the +end and the conquest of the castle be brought nigh. Of all this the +lion made signs to Perceval, for speak he could not. Great affiance +hath Perceval in the lion's warning. He alighteth of his destrier and +remounteth on the mule, and Joseus holdeth the banner. The company of +twelve hermits was there, right seemly and holy. They draw nigh the +castle. The knights on the last bridge see Perceval coming towards +them and Joseus the hermit holding the banner, by whom they had seen +their other fellows wrestled withal and put to the worse. + + +XXXII. + +The virtue of Our Lord and the dignity of the banner and the goodness +of the white mule and the holiness of the good hermits that made their +orisons to Our Lord so struck the knights that they lost all power over +themselves, but treason might not go forth of their hearts, wherefore +right heavy were they of their kinsmen that they had seen slain before +them. They bethought them that and if by mercy they might escape +thence, they would never end until they had slain Perceval. They come +to meet him and so cry him mercy passing sweetly in semblance, and say +that they will do his will for ever and ever, so only he will let them +depart safe and sound. Perceval looketh at the lion to know what he +shall do; he seeth that the lion thinketh them traitors and disloyal, +and that so they were destroyed and dead the King that was in the +castle would have lost his force; and that, so Perceval will run upon +them, the lion will help him slay them. Perceval telleth the knights +that never will he have mercy upon them, and forthwith runneth upon +them, sword drawn, and sorely it misliked him that they defended not +themselves, insomuch that he all but left to slay them for that no +defence found he in them. But the lion is so far from holding them in +the like disdain, that he runneth upon them and biteth and slayeth +them, and then casteth forth their limbs and bodies into the water. +Perceval alloweth that this is well and seemly, and pleaseth him much +of that he seeth the lion do, nor never before had he seen any beast +that he might love and prize so highly as this one. + + +XXXIII. + +The King of Castle Mortal was on the battlements of the wall, and seeth +how his knights are dead, and how the lion helpeth to slay the last. +He setteth himself on the highest place of the walls, then lifteth the +skirt of his habergeon and holdeth his sword all naked, that was right +keen and well-tempered, and so smiteth himself right through the body, +and falleth all adown the walls into the water, that was swift and +deep, in such sort that Perceval saw him, and all the good hermits +likewise, that marvelled much of a King that should slay himself in +such manner; but they say according to the judgment of the scripture, +that by right of evil man should the end be evil. On such wise was the +end of this King of whom I tell you. Josephus relateth us how none +ought to marvel that of three brothers, even though they be sons of the +same father and mother, one brother should be evil; and the real +marvel, saith he, is when one evil corrupteth not the two that are +good, for that wickedness is so hard and keen and beguiling, and +goodness so kindly and simple and humble. Cain and Abel were +brothers-german, yet Cain slew his brother Abel, the one flesh betrayed +the other. But great sorrow is it, saith Josephus, when the flesh that +ought to be one becometh twain, and the one flesh goeth about by +wickedness to deceive and destroy the other. Josephus recordeth us by +this evil king that was so traitorous and false and yet was of the +lineage of the Good Soldier Joseph of Abarimacie. This Joseph, as the +scripture witnesseth, was his uncle, and this evil king was +brother-german of King Fisherman, and brother of the good King Pelles +that had abandoned his land, in order that he might serve God, and +brother of the Widow Lady that was Perceval's mother, the most loyal +that was ever in Great Britain. All these lineages were in the service +of Our Lord from the beginning of their lives unto the end, save only +this evil King that perished so evilly as you have heard. + + +XXXIV. + +You have heard how the King that had seized the castle that had been +King Fisherman's slew himself in such wise, and how his knights were +discomfited. Perceval entered into the castle and the worshipful +hermits together with him. It seemed them when they were come within +into the master hall, that they heard chant in an inner chapel 'Gloria +in excelsis Deo', and right sweet praising of Our Lord. They found the +hails right rich and seemly and fairly adorned within. They found the +chapel open where the sacred hallows were wont to be. The holy hermits +entered therein and made their orisons, and prayed the Saviour of the +World that He would swiftly restore to them the most Holy Graal and the +sacred hallows that wont to be therewithin whereby they might be +comforted. + + +XXXV. + +The good men were there within with Perceval, that much loved their +company. Josephus witnesseth us that the ancient knights that were of +the household of King Fisherman, and the priests and damsels, departed +so soon as the King that slew himself had seized the castle, for that +they would not be at his court, and the Lord God preserved them from +him and made them go into such a place as that they should be in +safety. The Saviour of the World well knew that the Good Knight had +won the castle by his valour that should have been his own of right, +and sent back thither all them that had served King Fisherman. +Perceval made right great joy of them when he saw them, and they of +him. They seemed well to be a folk that had come from some place where +God and His commandments were honoured, and so indeed had they. + + +XXXVI. + +The High History witnesseth us that when the conquest of the castle was +over, the Saviour of the World was right joyous and well pleased +thereof. The Graal presented itself again in the chapel, and the lance +whereof the point bleedeth, and the sword wherewith St John was +beheaded that Messire Gawain won, and the other holy relics whereof was +right great plenty. For our Lord God loved the place much. The +hermits went back to their hermitages in the forest and served Our Lord +as they had been wont. Joseus remained with Perceval at the castle as +long as it pleased him, but the Good Knight searched out the land there +where the New Law had been abandoned and its maintenance neglected. He +reft the lives of them that would not maintain it and believe. The +country was supported by him and made safe, and the Law of Our Lord +exalted by his strength and valour. The priests and knights that +repaired to the castle loved Perceval much, for, so far from his +goodness minishing in ought, they saw from day to day how his valour +and his faith in God increased and multiplied. And he showed them the +sepulchre of his uncle King Fisherman in the chapel before the altar. +The coffin was rich and the tabernacle costly and loaded of precious +stones. And the priests and knights bear witness that as soon as the +body was placed in the coffin and they were departed thence, they found +on their return that it was covered by the tabernacle all dight as +richly as it is now to be seen, nor might they know who had set it +there save only the commandment of Our Lord. And they say that every +night was there a great brightness of light as of candles there, and +they knew not whence it should come save of God. Perceval had won the +castle by the command of God. The Graal was restored in the holy +chapel, and the other hallows as you have heard. The evil believe was +done away from the kingdom, and all were assured again in the New Law +by the valour of the Good Knight. + + + +BRANCH XIX. + +TITLE I. + +Now is the story silent of Perceval and cometh back to King Arthur, the +very matter thereof, like as testifieth the history, that in no place +is corrupted and the Latin lie not. King Arthur was at Cardoil on one +day of Whitsuntide that was right fair and clear, and many knights were +in the hall. The King sate at meat and all the knights about him. The +King looketh at the windows of the hall to right and left, and seeth +that two sunbeams are shining within that fill the whole hall with +light. Thereof he marvelleth much and sendeth without the hall to see +what it might be. The messenger cometh back again and saith thereof +that two suns appear to be shining, the one in the East and the other +in the West. He marvelleth much thereat, and prayeth Our Lord that he +may be permitted to know wherefore two suns should appear in such wise. +A Voice appeared at one of the windows that said to him: "King, marvel +not hereof that two suns should appear in the sky, for our Lord God +hath well the power, and know well that this is for joy of the conquest +that the Good Knight hath made that took away the shield from +herewithin. He hath won the land that belonged to good King Fisherman +from the evil King of Castle Mortal, that did away thence the good +believe, and therefore was it that the Graal was hidden. Now God so +willeth that you go thither, and that you choose out the best knights +of your court, for better pilgrimage may you never make, and what time +you shall return hither, your faith shall be doubled and the people of +Great Britain shall be better disposed and better taught to maintain +the service of the Saviour." + + +II. + +Thereupon the Voice departed and well pleased was the King of that it +had said. He sitteth at meat beside the Queen. Straightway behold you, +a damsel that cometh of such beauty as never was greater, and clad +right richly, and she beareth a coffer richer than ever you saw, for it +was all of fine gold and set with precious stones that sparkled like +fire. The coffer is not large. The damsel holdeth it between her +hands. When she was alighted she cometh before the King and saluteth +him the fairest she may and the Queen likewise. The King returneth her +salute. + +"Sir," saith she, "I am come to your court for that it is the sovran of +all other, and so bring I you here this rich vessel that you see as a +gift; and it hath within the head of a knight, but none may open the +coffer save he alone that slew the knight. Wherefore I pray and beseech +you, as you are the best king that liveth, that you first set your hand +thereon, and in like manner afterwards make proof of your knights, and +so the crime and the blood-wite thereof be brought home to you or to +any knight that may be within yonder. I pray you that the knight who +shall be able to open the coffer wherein the head of the knight lieth, +and who therefore is he that slew him, shall have grace of forty days +after that you shall be returned from the Graal." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "How shall it be known who the knight was?" + +"Sir," saith she, "Right eath, for the letters are sealed within that +tell his name and the name of him that slew him." + +The King granteth the damsel her will in such wise as she had asked of +him. He hath received the coffer, then maketh her be set at meat and +right richly honoured. + + +III. + +When the King had eaten, the damsel cometh before him. + +"Sir," saith she, "Make your knights be summoned and ready for that +which you have granted me, and you yourself first of all." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Right willingly." + +He setteth his hand to the coffer, thinking to open it, but it was not +right that it should open for him. As he set his hand thereon the +coffer sweated through just as had it been sprinkled all over and was +wet with water. The King marvelled greatly, and so made Messire Gawain +set his hand to it and Lancelot and all those of the court, but he that +might open it was not among them. Messire Kay the Seneschal had served +at meat. He heard say that the King and all the others had essayed and +proved the coffer but might not open it. He is come thither, all +uncalled for. + +"Now, then, Kay," saith the King, "I had forgotten you." + +"By my head," saith Kay, "You ought not to forget me, for as good +knight am I and of as much worth as they that you have called before +me, and you ought not to have delayed to send for me. You have +summoned all the others, and me not a whit, and yet am I as well able, +or ought to be, to open the coffer as are they; for against as many +knights have I defended me as they, and as many have I slain in +defending my body as have they." + +"Kay," saith the King, "Shall you be so merry and you may open the +coffer, and if you have slain the knight whose head lieth therein? By +my head, I that am King would fain that the coffer should not open for +me, for never was no knight so poor as that he should have neither +kinsman nor friend, for he is not loved of all the world that is hated +by one man." + +"By my head," saith Kay, "I would that all the heads of all the knights +I have slain, save one only, were in the midst of this hall, and that +there were letters sealed with them to say that they were slain by me. +Then would you believe what you are not willing to believe for the +envious ones that think they are better worth than I, and yet have not +served you so well." + + +IV. + +"Kay," saith the King, "Come forward, there is no need of this." + +Messire Kay the Seneschal cometh to the dais before the King, whereon +was the coffer, and taketh it right boldly and setteth one of his hands +below it and the other above. The coffer opened as soon as he clapped +hand thereon, and the head within could be seen all openly. A passing +delicate-savoured smell and right sweet issued therefrom, so that not a +knight in the hall but smelt it. + +"Sir," saith Kay to the King, "Now may you know that some prowess and +some hardiment have I done in your service, nor might none of your +knights that you prize so highly open the coffer this day, nor would +you have known this day who is therein for them! But now you know it +by me, and therefore of so much ought you to be well pleased with me!" + + +V. + +"Sir," saith the damsel that had brought the coffer, "Let the letters +be read that are within, so shall you know who the knight was and of +what lineage, and what was the occasion of his death." + +The King sitteth beside the Queen, and biddeth call one of his own +chaplains. Then maketh he all the knights in the hall be seated and +keep silence, and commandeth the chaplain that he should spell out the +letters of gold all openly according as he should find them written. +The chaplain looketh at them, and when he had scanned them down, began +to sigh. + +"Sir," saith he to the King and Queen, "hearken unto me, and all the +other, your knights. + + +VI. + +"These letters say that the knight whose head lieth in this vessel was +named Lohot and he was son of King Arthur and Queen Guenievre. He had +slain on a day that is past, Logrin the Giant, by his hardiment. +Messire Kay the Seneschal was passing by there, and so found Lohot +sleeping upon Logrin, for such was his custom that he went to sleep +upon the man after that he had slain him. Messire Kay smote off +Lohot's head, and so left the head and the body on the piece of ground. +He took the head of the Giant and so bore it to the court of King +Arthur. He gave the King and Queen and all the barons of the court to +understand that he had slain him, but this did he not; rather, that he +did was to slay Lohot, according to the writing and the witness of +these letters." + +When the Queen heareth these letters and this witting of her son that +came thus by his death, she falleth in a swoon on the coffer. After +that she taketh the head between her two hands, and knew well that it +was he by a scar that he had on his face when he was a child. The King +himself maketh dole thereof so sore that none may comfort him, for +before these tidings he had thought that his son was still on live and +that he was the Best Knight in the world, and when the news came to his +court that the Knight of the Golden Circlet had slain the Knight of the +Dragon, he supposed that it had been Lohot his son, for that none had +named Perceval nor Gawain nor Lancelot. And all they of the court are +right sorrowful for the death of Lohot, and Messire Kay hath departed, +and if the damsel had nor respited the day until the fortieth after the +King's return, vengeance would have been taken of Kay or ever he might +have turned him thence. For never did no man see greater dole made in +the King's court than they of the Table Round made for the youth. King +Arthur and the Queen were so stricken of sorrow that none durst call +upon them to make cheer. The damsel that brought thither the coffer +was well avenged of the shame that Messire Kay the Seneschal had done +her on a day that was past, for this thing would not have been known so +soon save it had been by her. + + +VII. + +When the mourning for the King's son was abated, Lancelot and many +others said unto him, "Sir, you know well that God willeth you should +go to the castle that was King Fisherman's on pilgrimage to the most +Holy Graal, for it is not right to delay a thing that one hath in +covenant with God." + +"Lords," saith the King, "right willingly will I go, and thereto am I +right well disposed." + +The King apparelleth himself for the pilgrimage, and saith that Messire +Gawain and Lancelot shall go with him, without more knights, and taketh +a squire to wait upon his body, and the Queen herself would he have +taken thither but for the mourning she made for her son, whereof none +might give her any comfort. But or ever the King departed he made the +head be brought into the Isle of Avalon, to a chapel of Our Lady that +was there, where was a worshipful holy hermit that was well loved of +Our Lord. The King departed from Cardoil and took leave of the Queen +and all the knights. Lancelot and Messire Gawain go along with him and +a squire that carrieth their arms. Kay the Seneschal was departed from +the court for dread of the King and his knights. He durst not abide in +the Greater Britain, and so betook himself into the Lesser. Briant of +the Isles was of great power in those times, a knight of great strength +and hardiment, for all Great Britain had had many disputes between him +and King Arthur. His land was full strong of castles and forests and +right fruitful, and many good knights had he in his land. When he knew +that Kay the Seneschal had departed in such sort from the court, and +that he had crossed the sea, he sent for him and held him of his +household, and said that he would hold him harmless against the King +and against all men. When he knew that the King had departed he began +to war upon the land and to slay his men and to challenge his castles. + + + +BRANCH XX. + +TITLE I. + +The story saith that King Arthur goeth his way and Lancelot and Messire +Gawain with him, and they had ridden so far one day that night came on +in a forest and they might find no hold. Messire Gawain marvelled him +much that they had ridden the day long without finding neither hold nor +hermitage. Night was come and the sky was dark and the forest full of +gloom. They knew not whitherward to turn to pass the night. + +"Lords," saith the King, "Where may we be able to alight to-night?" + +"Sir, we know not, for this forest is fight wearisome." + +They make the squire climb up a tall tree and tell him to look as far +as he may to try whether he may espy any hold or house where they may +lodge. The squire looketh on all sides, and then telleth them he seeth +a fire a long way off as if it were in a waste house, but that he seeth +nought there save the fire and the house. + +"Take good heed," saith Lancelot, "in which quarter it is, so that you +may know well how to lead us thither." + +He saith that right eath may he lead them. + + +II. + +With that he cometh down and mounteth again on his hackney, and they go +forward a great pace and ride until they espy the fire and the hold. +They pass on over a bridge of wattles, and find the courtyard all +deserted and the house from within great and high and hideous. But +there was a great fire within whereof the heat might be felt from afar. +They alight of their horses, and the squire draweth them on one side +amidst the hall, and the knights set them beside the fire all armed. +The squire seeth a chamber in the house and entereth thereinto to see +if he may find any meat for the horses, but he cometh forth again the +swiftest he may and crieth right sweetly on the Mother of the Saviour. +They ask him what aileth him, and he saith that he hath found the most +treacherous chamber ever he found yet, for he felt there, what with +heads and what with hands, more than two hundred men dead, and saith +that never yet felt he so sore afeared. Lancelot went into the chamber +to see whether he spake true, and felt the men that lay dead, and +groped among them from head to head and felt that there was a great +heap of them there, and came back and sate at the fire all laughing. +The King asketh whether the squire had told truth. Lancelot answereth +him yea, and that never yet had he found so many dead men together. + +"Methinketh," saith Messire Gawain, "Sith that they are dead we have +nought to fear of them, but God protect us from the living." + + +III. + +While they were talking thus, behold you a damsel that cometh into the +dwelling on foot and all alone, and she cometh lamenting right +grievously. + +"Ha, God!" saith she, "How long a penance is this for me, and when will +it come to an end?" + +She seeth the knights sitting in the midst of the house. "Fair Lord +God," saith she, "Is he there within through whom I am to escape from +this great dolour?" + +The knights hearken to her with great wonderment. They look and see +her enter within the door, and her kirtle was all torn with thorns and +briars in the forest. Her feet were all bleeding for that she was +unshod. She had a face of exceeding great beauty. She carried the half +of a dead man, and cast it into the chamber with the others. She knew +Lancelot again so soon as she saw him. + +"Ha, God!" saith she, "I am quit of my penance! Sir," saith she, +"Welcome may you be, you and your company!" + +Lancelot looketh at her in wonderment. "Damsel," saith he, "Are you a +thing on God's behalf?" + +"Certes, Sir," saith she, "Yea! nor be you adread of nought! I am the +Damsel of the Castle of Beards, that was wont to deal with knights so +passing foully as you have seen. You did away the toll that was levied +on the knights that passed by, and you lay in the castle that demanded +it of them that passed through the demesne thereof. But you had me in +covenant that so the Holy Graal should appear unto you, you would come +back to me, for otherwise never should I have been willing to let you +go. You returned not, for that you saw not the Graal. For the shame +that I did to knights was this penance laid upon me in this forest and +this manor, to last until such time as you should come. For the +cruelty I did them was sore grievous, for never was knight brought to +me but I made his nose be cut off or his eyes thrust out, and some were +there as you saw that had their feet or their hands stricken off. Now +have I paid full dear thereof since, for needs must I carry into this +chamber all the knights that are slain in this forest, and within this +manor must I cast them according to the custom thereof, alone, without +company; and this knight that I carried in but now hath lain so long in +the forest that wild beasts have eaten half of his body. Now am I quit +of this foul penance, thanks to God and to you, save only that I must +go back when it shall be daylight in like manner as I came here." + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Right glad am I that we should have come to +lodge the night here within, for love of you, for I never saw I damsel +that might do so cruel penance." + +"Sir," saith she, "You know not yet what it is, but you will know it +ere long this night, both you and your fellows, and the Lord God shield +you from death and from mischief! Every night cometh a rout of knights +that are black and foul and hideous, albeit none knoweth whence they +come, and they do battle right sore the one against other, and the +stour endureth of a right long while; but one knight that came within +yonder by chance, the first night I came hither, in like manner as you +have come, made a circle round me with his sword, and I sate within it +as soon as I saw them coming, and so had I no dread of them, for I had +in remembrance the Saviour of the World and His passing sweet Mother. +And you will do the same, and you believe me herein, for these are +knights fiends." + +Lancelot draweth his sword and maketh a great circle round the +house-place, and they were within. + + +V. + +Thereupon, behold you the knights that come through the forest with +such a rushing as it seemed they would rend it all up by the roots. +Afterward, they enter into the manor and snatch great blazing +firebrands and fling them one at another. They enter into the house +battling together, and are keen to fall upon the knights, but they may +not. They hurl the firebrands at them from afar, but they are holding +their shields and their swords naked. Lancelot maketh semblant as +though he would leap towards them, and sore great cowardize it seemeth +him nor to go against them. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "Take heed that you go not forth of the +circle, for you will be in sore jeopardy of death, for well you see +what evil folk be these." + +Lancelot was nor minded to hold himself back, but that he would go +toward them sword drawn, and they run upon him on all sides, but he +defendeth him stoutly and smiteth the burning firebrands so that he +maketh red-hot charcoal fly, and thrusteth his sword amidst their +faces. King Arthur and Messire Gawain leap up to help Lancelot and +smite upon these evil folk and cut them limb from limb, and they bellow +like fiends so that the whole forest resoundeth thereof. And when they +fell to the ground, they may no longer endure, but become fiends and +ashes, and their bodies and their horses become devils all black in the +shape of ravens that come forth of their bodies. They marvel right +sore what this may be, and say that such hostel is right grievous. + + +VI. + +When they had put them all to the worse, they sate them down again and +rested; but scarce were they seated or ever another rout of yet blacker +folk came about them, and they bare spears burning and flaming, and +many of them carried dead knights that they had slain in the forest, +and dropped them in the midst of the house, and then bid the damsel +carry and set them with the others. Howbeit, she answereth that she is +quit of their commandment and service, nor no longer is forced to do +nought for them sith that she hath done her penance. They thrust +forward their spears toward the King and the two knights, as though +they were come to avenge their companions; but they all three leapt up +together and attacked them right stoutly. But this rout was greater +and of knights more hideous. They began to press the King and his +knights hard, and they might not put them to the worse as they did the +others. And while they were thus in the thickest of the conflict, they +heard the stroke of a bell sounding, and forthwith the knight fiends +departed and hurried away a great pace. + +"Lords," saith the damsel, "Had this sound not been heard, scarce might +you have endured, for yet another huge rout of this folk was coming in +such sort as that none might have withstood them, and this sound have I +heard every night, whereby my life hath been saved." + + +VII. + +Josephus telleth us that as at this time was there no bell neither in +Greater Britain nor in Lesser; but folk were called together by a horn, +and in many places there were sheets of steel, and in other places +clappers of wood. King Arthur marvelled him much of this sound, so +clear and sweet was it, and it well seemed him that it came on God's +behalf, and right fain was he to see a bell and so he might. They were +the night until the morrow in the house, as I tell you. The damsel +took leave of them and so departed. As they came forth of the hold, +they met three hermits that told them they were going to search for the +bodies that were in this manor so that they might bury them in a waste +chapel that was hard by, for such knights had lain there as that +henceforward the haunting of the evil folk would be stayed in such sort +as that they would have no more power to do hurt to any, wherefore they +would set therewithin a worshipful hermit that should build up the +place in holiness for the service of God. The King was right joyful +thereof, and told them that it had been too perilous. They parted from +the hermits and entered into a forest, nor was there never a day so +long as King Arthur was on pilgrimage, so saith the history, but he +heard the sound of one single bell every hour, whereof he was right +glad. He bade Messire Gawain and Lancelot that they should everywhere +conceal his name, and that they should call him not Lord but Comrade. +They yielded him his will, and prayed to Our Lord that he would guide +and lead them to such a castle and such a hostel as that they might be +lodged honourably therein. They rode on until evening drew nigh, and +they found a right fair hold in the forest, whereinto they entered and +alighted. The damsel of the hold came to meet them and made them right +great cheer, then made them be disarmed, afterward bringeth them right +rich robes to wear. She looketh at Lancelot and knoweth him again. + + +VIII. + +"Sir," saith she, "You had once, on a day that is past, right great +pity of me, and saved me my honour, whereof am I in great unhappiness. +But better love I to suffer misease in honour, than to have plenty and +abundance in shame or reproach, for shame endureth, but sorrow is soon +overpassed." + +Thereupon behold you the knight of the hold, whither he cometh from +shooting in the forest and maketh carry in full great plenty venison of +deer and wild boar. He alighted to greet the knights, and began to +laugh when he saw Lancelot. + +"By my head," saith he, "I know you well For you disappointed me of the +thing I best loved in the world, and made me marry this damsel that +never yet had joy of me, nor never shall have." + +"Faith, Sir," saith Lancelot, "You will do your pleasure therein, for +she is yours. Truth it is that I made you marry her, for you were fain +to do her a disgrace and a shame in such sort that her kinsfolk would +have had shame of her." + +"By my head," saith the knight, "the damsel that I loved before loveth +you no better hereof, nay, rather, fain would she procure your vexation +and your hurt and your shame if she may, and great power hath she in +this forest." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I have sithence spoken to her and she to me, +and so hath she told me her will and her wish." + +Thereupon the knight bade the knights take water, and the lady taketh +the basins and presenteth water to the knights. + +"Avoid, damsel," saith the King, "Take it away! Never, please God, +shall it befall that we should accept such service from you." + +"By my head," saith the knight, "But so must you needs do, for other +than she shall not serve you to-night in this matter, or otherwise +shall you not eat with me this night there within." + + +IX. + +Lancelot understandeth that the knight is not overburdened of courtesy, +and he seeth the table garnished of good meat, and bethinketh him he +will not do well to lose such ease, for misease enough had they the +night before. He maketh the King take water of the lady, and the same +service did she for all of them. The knight biddeth them be seated. +The King would have made the lady sit beside him at the table, but the +knight said that there she should not sit. She goeth to sit among the +squires as she was wont to do. The knights are sorry enough thereof, +but they durst not gainsay the will of her lord. When they had eaten, +the knight said to Lancelot, "Now may you see what she hath gained of +me by your making me take her perforce, nor never, so help me God, so +long as I live shall she be honoured otherwise by me, for so have I +promised her that I love far more." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "To my thinking you do ill herein and a sin, and +meseemeth you should have great blame thereof of them that know it, and +may your churlishness be your own, for nought thereof take I to myself." + + +X. + +Lancelot telleth the King and Messire Gawain that were he not lodged in +his hostel, and had him outside of the hold, he would willingly have +set the blood of his body on it but he would have handled him in such +sort as that the lady should be maintained in greater honour, either by +force or by prayer, in like manner as he did when he made him marry +her. They were right well lodged the night and lay in the hold until +the morrow, when they departed thence, and rode right busily on their +journeys until they came into a very different land, scarce inhabited +of any folk, and found a little castle in a combe. They came +thitherward and saw that the enclosure of the castle was fallen down +into an abysm, so that none might approach it on that side, but it had +a right fair gateway and a door tall and wide whereby one entered. +They beheld a chapel that was right fair and rich, and below was a +great ancient hall. They saw a priest appear in the midst of the +castle, bald and old, that had come forth of the chapel. They are come +thither and alighted, and asked the priest what the castle was, and he +told them that it was the great Tintagel. + +"And how is this ground all caved in about the castle?" + +"Sir," saith the priest, "I will tell you. Sir," saith he, "King Uther +Pendragon, that was father of King Arthur, held a great court and +summoned all his barons. The King of this castle that then was here +was named Gorlois. He went to the court and took his wife with him, +that was named Ygerne, and she was the fairest dame in any kingdom. +King Uther sought acquaintance of her for her great beauty, and +regarded her and honoured her more than all the others of his court. +King Gorlois departed thence and made the Queen come back to this +castle for the dread that he had of King Uther Pendragon. King Uther +was very wroth with him, and commanded him to send back the Queen his +wife. King Godois said that he would not. Thereupon King Uther +Pendragon defied him, and then laid siege about this castle where the +Queen was. King Gorlois was gone to seek for succour. King Uther +Pendragon had Merlin with him of whom you have heard tell, that was so +crafty. He made him be changed into the semblance of King Gorlois, so +that he entered there within by Merlin's art and lay that night with +the Queen, and so begat King Arthur in a great hall that was next to +the enclosure there where this abysm is. And for this sin hath the +ground sunken in on this wise." + +He cometh with them toward the chapel that was right fair, and had a +right rich sepulchre therein. + +"Lords, in this sepulchre was placed the body of Merlin, but never +mought it be set inside the chapel, wherefore perforce it remained +outside. And know of a very truth that the body lieth not within the +sepulchre, for, so soon as it was set therein, it was taken out and +snatched away, either on God's behalf or the Enemy's, but which we know +not." + + +XI. + +"Sir," saith King Arthur, "And what became of King Gorlois?" + +"Sir." saith he, "The King slew him on the morrow of the night he lay +with his wife, and so forthwith espoused Queen Ygerne, and in such +manner as I tell you was King Arthur conceived in sin that is now the +best King in the world." + +King Arthur hath heard this as concerning his birth that he knew not, +and is a little shamed thereof and confounded on account of Messire +Gawain and Lancelot. He himself marvelleth much thereof, and much it +misliketh him that the priest hath said so much. They lay the night in +the hold, and so departed thence on the morrow when they had heard +mass. Lancelot and Messire Gawain, that thought they knew the forest, +found the land so changed and different that they knew not whither they +were become, and such an one as should come into the land that had been +King Fisherman's, and he should come again another time within forty +days, should not find the castle within a year. + + +XII. + +Josephus telleth us that the semblances of the islands changed +themselves by reason of the divers adventures that by the pleasure of +God befell therein, and that the quest of adventures would not have +pleased the knights so well and they had not found them so different. +For, when they had entered into a forest or an island where they had +found any adventure, and they came there another time, they found holds +and castles and adventures of another kind, so that their toils and +travails might not weary them, and also for that God would that the +land should be conformed to the New Law. And they were the knights +that had more toil and travail in seeking adventures than all the +knights of the world before them, and in holding to that whereof they +had made covenant; nor of no court of no king in the world went forth +so many good knights as went forth from the court of King Arthur, and +but that God loved them so much, never might they have endured such +toil and travail as they did from day to day; for without fait, good +knights were they, and good knights not only to deal hard buffets, but +rather in that they were loyal and true, and had faith in the Saviour +of the World and His sweet Mother, and therefore dreaded shame and +loved honour. King Arthur goeth on his way and Messire Gawain and +Lancelot with him, and they pass through many strange countries, and so +enter into a great forest. Lancelot called to remembrance the knight +that he had slain in the Waste City whither behoved him to go, and knew +well that the day whereon he should come was drawing nigh. He told +King Arthur as much, and then said, that and he should go not, he would +belie his covenant. They rode until they came to a cross where the +ways forked. + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Behoveth me go to acquit me of my pledge, and I +go in great adventure and peril of death, nor know I whether I may live +at all thereafter, for I slew the knight, albeit I was right sorry +thereof, but or ever I slew him, I had to swear that I would go set my +head in the like jeopardy as he had set his. Now the day draweth nigh +that I must go thither, for I am unwilling to fail of my covenant, +whereof I should be blamed, and, so God grant me to escape therefrom, I +will follow you speedily." + +The King embraceth him and kisseth him at parting and Messire Gawain +also, and they pray God preserve his body and his life, and that they +may see him again ere it be long. Lancelot would willingly have sent +salute to the Queen had he durst, for she lay nearer his heart than +aught beside, but he would not that the King nor Messire Gawain should +misdeem of the love they might carry to their kinswoman. The love is +so rooted in his heart that he may not leave it, into what peril soever +he may go; rather, he prayeth God every day as sweetly as he may, that +He save the Queen, and that he may deliver his body from this jeopardy. +He hath ridden until that he cometh at the hour of noon into the Waste +City, and findeth the city empty as it was the first time he was there. + + +XIII. + +In the city wherein Lancelot had arrived were many waste houses and +rich palaces fallen down. He had scarce entered within the city when +he heard a great cry and lamentation of dames and damsels, but he knew +not on which side it was, and they say: "Ha, God, how hath the knight +betrayed us that slew the knight, inasmuch as he returneth not! This +day is the day come that he ought to redeem his pledge! Never again +ought any to put trust in knight, for that he cometh not! The others +that came hither before him have failed us, and so will he also for +dread of death; for he smote off the head of the comeliest knight that +was in this kingdom and the best, wherefore ought he also to have his +own smitten off, but good heed taketh he to save it if he may!" + +Thus spake the damsels. Lancelot much marvelled where they might be, +for nought could he espy of them, albeit he cometh before the palace, +there where he slew the knight. He alighteth, then maketh fast his +horse's reins to a ring that was fixed in the mounting-stage of marble. +Scarce hath he done so, when a knight alighteth, tall and comely and +strong and deliver, and he was clad in a short close-fitted jerkin of +silk, and held the axe in his hand wherewith Lancelot had smitten off +the head of the other knight, and he came sharpening it on a whetstone +to cut the better. Lancelot asketh him, "What will you do with this +axe?" + +"By my head," saith the knight, "That shall you know in such sort as my +brother knew when you cut off his head, so I may speed of my business." + +"How?" saith Lancelot, "Will you slay me then?" + +"That shall you know," saith he, "or ever you depart hence. Have you +not loyally promised hereof that you would set your head in the same +jeopardy as the knight set his, whom you slew without defence? And no +otherwise may you depart therefrom. Wherefore now come forward without +delay and kneel down and stretch your neck even as my brother did, and +so will I smite off your head, and, if you do nor this of your own good +will, you shall soon find one that shall make you do it perforce, were +you twenty knights as good as you are one. But well I know that you +have not come hither for this, but only to fulfil your pledge, and that +you will raise no contention herein." + +Lancelot thinketh to die, and is minded to abide by that he hath in +covenant without fail, wherefore he lieth down on the ground as it were +on a cross, and crieth mercy of God. He mindeth him of the Queen, and +crieth God of mercy and saith, "Ha, Lady" saith he, "Never shall I see +you more! but, might I have seen you yet once again before I die, +exceeding great comfort had it been to me, and my soul would have +departed from me more at ease. But this, that never shall I see you +more, as now it seemeth me, troubleth me more than the death whereby +behoveth me to die, for die one must when one hath lived long enough. +But faithfully do I promise you that my love shall fail you not yet, +and never shall it be but that my soul shall love you in the other +world like as my body hath loved you in this, if thus the soul may +love!" + +With that the tears fell from his eyes, nor, never sithence that he was +knight, saith the story, had he wept for nought that had befallen him +nor for heaviness of heart, but this time and one other. He taketh +three blades of grass and so eateth thereof in token of the holy +communion, then signeth him of the cross and blesseth him, riseth up, +setteth himself on his knees and stretcheth forth his neck. The knight +lifteth up the axe. Lancelot heareth the blow coming, boweth his head +and the axe misseth him. He saith to him, "Sir Knight, so did not my +brother that you slew; rather, he held his head and neck quite still, +and so behoveth you to do!" + +Two damsels appeared at the palace-windows of passing great beauty, and +they knew Lancelot well. So, as the knight was aiming a second blow, +one of the damsels crieth to him, "And you would have my love for +evermore, throw down the axe and cry the knight quit! Otherwise have +you lost me for ever!" + +The knight forthwith flingeth down the axe and falleth at Lancelot's +feet and crieth mercy of him as of the most loyal knight in the world. + +"But you? Have mercy on me, you! and slay me not!" saith Lancelot, +"For it is of you that I ought to pray mercy!" + +"Sir," saith the knight, "Of a surety will I not do this! Rather will +I help you to my power to save your life against all men, for all you +have slain my brother." + +The damsels come down from the palace and are come to Lancelot. + + +XIV. + +"Sir," say they to Lancelot, "Greatly ought we to love you, yea, better +than all knights in the world beside. For we are the two damsels, +sisters, that you saw so poor at the Waste Castle where you lay in our +brother's house. You and Messire Gawain and another knight gave us the +treasure and the hold of the robber-knights that you slew; for this +city which is waste and the Waste Castle of my brother would never +again be peopled of folk, nor should we never have had the land again, +save a knight had come hither as loyal as are you. Full a score +knights have arrived here by chance in the same manner as you came, and +not one of them but hath slain a brother or a kinsman and cut off his +head as you did to the knight, and each one promised to return at the +day appointed; but all failed of their covenant, for not one of them +durst come to the day; and so you had failed us in like manner as the +others, we should have lost this city without recovery and the castles +that are its appanages." + + +XV. + +So the knight and the damsels lead Lancelot into the palace and then +make him be disarmed. They hear presently how the greatest joy in the +world is being made in many parts of the forest, that was nigh the city. + +"Sir," say the damsels, "Now may you hear the joy that is made of your +coming. These are the burgesses and dwellers in the city that already +know the tidings." + +Lancelot leaneth at the windows of the hall, and seeth the city peopled +of the fairest folk in the world, and great thronging in the broad +streets and the great palace, and clerks and priests coming in long +procession praising God and blessing Him for that they may now return +to their church, and giving benison to the knight through whom they are +free to repair thither. Lancelot was much honoured throughout the +city. The two damsels are at great pains to wait upon him, and right +great worship had he of all them that were therewithin and them that +came thither, both clerks and priests. + + + +BRANCH XXI. + +TITLE I. + +Therewithal the history is silent of Lancelot, and speaketh word of the +King and Messire Gawain, that are in sore misgiving as concerning him, +for right gladly would they have heard tidings of him. They met a +knight that was coming all armed, and Messire Gawain asketh him whence +he came, and he said that he came from the land of the Queen of the +Golden Circlet, to whom a sore loss hath befallen; for the Son of the +Widow Lady had won the Circlet of Gold for that he had slain the Knight +of the Dragon, and she was to keep it safe for him and deliver it up to +him at his will. + +"But now hath Nabigant of the Rock reft her thereof, and a right +outrageous knight is he and puissant; wherefore hath he commanded a +damsel that she bring it to an assembly of knights that is to be held +in the Meadow of the Tent of the two damsels, there where Messire +Gawain did away the evil custom. The damsel that will bring the Golden +Circlet will give it to the knight that shall do best at the assembly. +Nabigant is keenly set upon having it, and maketh the more sure for +that once aforetime he hath had it by force of arms. And I am going to +the knights that know not these tidings, in order that when they shall +hear them, they shall go to the assembly." + +Therewithal the knight departeth. The King and Messire Gawain have +ridden so far that they come to the tent where Messire Gawain destroyed +the evil custom by slaying the two knights. He found the tent +garnished within and without in like manner as it was when he was +there, and Messire Gawain made the King be seated on a quilted mattress +of straw, right costly, and thereafter be disarmed of a squire, and he +himself disarmed him, and they washed their hands and faces for the +rust wherewith both of them were besmuttered. And Messire Gawain found +the chests unlocked that were at the head of the couch, and made the +King be apparelled of white rich stuffs that he found, and a robe of +cloth of silk and gold, and he clad himself in the like manner, neither +was the chest not a whit disfurnished thereby, for the tent was all +garnished of rich adornments. When they were thus dight, a man might +have sought far or ever he should find so comely knights. + + +II. + +Thereupon, behold you the two Damsels of the Tent coming. + +"Damsels," saith Messire Gawain, "Welcome may you be." + +"Sir," say they, "Good adventure may you have both twain. It seemeth +us that you take right boldly that which is ours, yet never for neither +of us would you do a thing whereof you were beseeched." + +"Messire Gawain" saith the elder, "No knight is there in this kingdom +but would be right joyous and he supposed that I loved him, and I +prayed you of your love on a day that is past, for the valour of your +knighthood, yet never did you grant it me. How durst you have affiance +in me of aught, and take the things that are mine own so boldly, when I +may not have affiance in you?" + +"Damsel, for your courtesy and the good custom of the land; for you +told me when the evil customs were overthrown, that all the honours and +all the courtesies that are due to knights should ever be ready within +for all them that should come hither for harbour." + +"Messire Gawain, you say true, but of right might one let the courtesy +tarry and pay back churlishness by churlishness." + + +III. + +"The assembly of knights will begin to-morrow in this launde that is so +fair. There will be knights in plenty, and the prize will be the +Circlet of Gold. Now shall we see who will do best. The assembly will +last three whole days, and of one thing at least you may well make +boast between you and your comrade, that you have the fairest hostel +and the most pleasant and the most quiet of any knights at the +assembly." + +The younger damsel looketh at King Arthur. "And you," saith she, "What +will you do? Will you be as strange toward us as Messire Gawain is +friendly with others?" + + +IV. + +"Damsel," saith the king, "Messire Gawain will do his pleasure and I +mine. Strange shall I not be in respect of you, nor toward other +damsels; rather shall they be honoured on my part so long as I live, +and I myself will be at your commandment." + +"Sir," saith she, "Gramercy greatly. I pray you, therefore, that you +be my knight at the tournament." + +"Damsel, this ought I not to refuse you, and right glad at heart shall +I be and I may do aught that shall please you; for all knights ought to +be at pains for the sake of dame or damsel." + +"Sir," saith she, "what is your name?" + + +V. + +"Damsel," saith he, "My name is Arthur, and I am of Tincardoil." + +"Have you nought to do with King Arthur?" + +"Damsel, already have I been many times at his court, and, if he loved +me not nor I him, I should not be in Messire Gawain's company. In +truth, he is the King in the world that I love best." + +The damsel looketh at King Arthur, but wotteth not a whir that it is +he, and full well is she pleased with the seeming and countenance of +him. As for the King, lightly might he have trusted that he should +have her as his lady-love so long as he remained with her; but there is +much to say betwixt his semblant and his thought, for he showeth good +semblant toward the damsel, that hath over much affiance therein, but +his thought is on Queen Guenievre in what place soever he may be. For +nought loveth he so well as her. + + +VI. + +The damsels made stable the horses and purvey for the bodies of the +knights right richly at night, and they lay in two right rich beds in +the midst of the hall, and their arms were all set ready before. The +damsels would not depart until such time as they were asleep. The +harness of the knights that came to the assembly came on the morrow +from all parts. They set up their booths and stretched their tents all +round about the launde of the forest. King Arthur and Messire Gawain +were risen in the morning and saw the knights come from all parts. The +elder damsel cometh to Messire Gawain and saith unto him, "Sir," saith +she, "I will that you bear to-day red arms that I will lend you, for +the love of me, and take heed that they be well employed, and I desire +that you should not be known by your arms; rather let it be said that +you are the Red Knight, and you shall allow it accordingly." + +"Damsel, Gramercy greatly!" saith Messire Gawain, "I will do my +endeavour in arms the best I may for love of you." + +The younger damsel cometh to King Arthur; "Sir," saith she, "My sister +hath made her gift and I will make mine. I have a suit of arms of +gold, the richest that knight may wear, that I will lend you, for +methinketh they will be better employed on you than on ever another +knight; so I pray you that you remember me at the assembly in like +manner as I shall ofttimes remember you." + + +VII. + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Gramercy! No knight is there that should +see you but ought to have you in remembrance in his heart for your +courtesy and your worth." + +The knights were come about the tents. The King and Messire Gawain +were armed and had made caparison their horses right richly. The +damsel that should give the Golden Circlet was come. Nabigant of the +Rock had brought great fellowships of knights together with him, and +ordinance was made for the assembly. + + +VIII. + +The younger damsel saith to King Arthur: "Well may you know that no +knight that is here this day hath better arms than are yours, wherefore +take heed that you show you to be good knight for love of me." + +"Damsel," saith King Arthur, "God grant that I be so." + +So they laid hold on their reins and mounted their horses, that made +great leaping and went away a great gallop. Saith the younger damsel +to her sister: "What think you of my knight, doth he not please you?" + +"Yea," saith the elder, "But sore misliketh me of Messire Gawain for +that he is not minded to do as I would have him. But he shall yet aby +it dear." + +King Arthur and Messire Gawain strike into the midst of the assembly +like as it were two lions unchained, and at their first coming they +smite down two knights to the ground under the feet of their horses. +Messire Gawain taketh the two horses and sendeth them by a squire to +the Damsels of the Tent, that made much joy thereof. After that were +they not minded to take more booty as of horses or arms, but searched +the fellowships on one side and the other; nor was there no knight that +came against them but they pierced his shield or bore him to the +ground, insomuch as none was there that might endure their buffets. +Nabigant espieth Messire Gawain and cometh toward him, and Messire +Gawain toward him again, and they hurtle together either on other so +strongly that Messire Gawain beareth Nabigant to the ground, him and +his horse together all in a heap. And King Arthur was not idle, for no +knight durst come against him but he overthrew him, so as that all +withdrew them back and avoided his buffets. And many knights did well +that day at the assembly, but none might be the match of either of them +twain in deeds of arms, for, save it were Lancelot or Perceval, were no +knights on live that had in them so much hardiment and valour. After +that it was evensong the knights drew them back to their tents, and +they say all that the Knight of the Golden Arms and the Knight of the +Red Arms had done better than they all at the assembly. King Arthur +and Messire Gawain come back to the tent of the damsels, that make +disarm them and do upon them the rich robes and make great joy of them. +Thereupon, behold you, a dwarf that cometh: "Damsels, make great joy! +for all they of the assembly say with one accord that your knights have +done best this day." + +King Arthur and Messire Gawain sate to eat, and right well were they +served of every kind of meats and of great cups of wine and sops in +wine. King Arthur made the younger damsel sit beside him, and Messire +Gawain the elder in like manner, and when they had eaten they went to +lie down and fell on sleep, for right sore weary were they and +forespent of the many buffets they had given and received, and they +slept until the morrow. + + +IX. + +When the day appeared they rose up. Thereupon, behold you the younger +damsel where she cometh and saluteth King Arthur. "And you, damsel!" +saith King Arthur, "God give you joy and good adventure!" + +"Sir," saith she, "I will that you bear to-day these white arms that +you see here, and that you do no worse to-day than yesterday you did, +sith that better you may not do." + +"Messire Gawain," saith the elder damsel, "Remember you of the King +there where his land was compassed about of a wall of stone, and you +harboured one night in his castle, what time you went to seek for the +sword wherewith John Baptist was beheaded, when he was fain to take +away the sword from you, whereof you had so sore misliking? Natheless, +he yielded you up the sword upon covenant that you should do that which +a damsel should first ask you to do thereafter, and you promised him +loyally that so would you do?" + +"Certes, damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Well do I remember the same." + +"Now, therefore," saith the damsel, "would I fain prove whether you be +indeed so loyal as men say, and whether you will hold your covenant +that you made. Wherefore I pray and beseech you that this day you +shall be he that doth worst of all the knights at the assembly, and +that you bear none other arms save your own only, so as that you shall +be known again of all them that are there present. And, so you will +not do this, then will you have failed of your covenant, and myself +will go tell the King that you have broken the promise that you made to +him right loyally." + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Never yet brake I covenant with none, +so it were such as I might fulfil or another on my behalf." + +King Arthur made arm him of the white arms that the younger damsel had +given him, and Messire Gawain of his own, but sore it irked him of this +that the damsel hath laid upon him to do, sith that needs must he lose +worship and he hold to his covenant, albeit not for nought that is in +the world will he fail of the promise he hath made. So they come into +the assembly. + + +X. + +King Arthur smiteth with his spurs like a good knight and overthroweth +two knights in his onset, and Messire Gawain rideth a bandon betwixt +two fellowships to be the better known. The most part say, "See! +There is Messire Gawain, the good knight that is King Arthur's nephew." + +Nabigant of the Rock cometh toward him as fast as his horse may carry +him, lance in rest. Messire Gawain seeth him coming toward him right +furiously. He casteth his shield down on the ground and betaketh him +to flight as swiftly as he may. They that beheld him, some two score +or more, marvel thereof, and say, "Did ever one see the like +overpassing cowardize!" + +Nabigant saith that he never yet followed a knight that was vanquished, +nor never will follow one of such conditions, for no great prize would +it be to take him and win his horse. Other knights come to joust with +him, but Messire Gawain fleeth and avoideth them the best he may, and +maketh semblance that none is there he durst abide. He draweth toward +King Arthur for safety. The King hath great shame of this that he seeth +him do, and right sore pains hath he of defending Messire Gawain, for +he holdeth as close to him as the pie doth to the bramble when the +falcon would take her. In such shame and dishonour was Messire Gawain +as long as the assembly lasted, and the knights said that he had gotten +him off with much less than he deserved, for that never had they seen +so craven knight at assembly or tournament as was he, nor never +henceforth would they have dread of him as they had heretofore. From +this day forward may many lightly avenge themselves upon him of their +kinsfolk and friends that he hath slain by the forest. The assembly +brake up in the evening, whereof the King and Messire Gawain were right +well pleased. The knights disarm them at their hostels and the King +and Messire Gawain at the damsels' tent. + + +XI. + +With that, behold you the dwarf that cometh. + +"By my head, damsels, your knights go from bad to worse! Of him in the +white arms one may even let pass, but Messire Gawain is the most coward +ever saw I yet, and so he were to run upon me to-morrow and I were +armed like as is he, I should think me right well able to defend me +against him. 'Tis the devil took him to a place where is such plenty of +knights, for the more folk that are there the better may one judge of +his ill conditions. And you, Sir," saith he to the King, "Wherefore do +you keep him company? You would have done best to-day had he not been +there. He skulked as close by you, to be out of the buffets, as a hare +doth to the wood for the hounds. No business hath good knight to hold +company with a coward. I say not this for that I would make him out +worse that he is, for I remember the two knights he slew before this +tent." + +The damsel heareth the dwarf talking and smileth thereat, for she +understandeth that blame enough hath Messire Gawain had at the +assembly. The knights said at their hostels that they knew not to whom +to give the Circlet of Gold, sith that the Knight of the Golden Armour +and he of the Red Armour were not there; for they did the best the +first day of the assembly, and much they marvelled that they should not +come when it was continued on the morrow. + +"Gawain," saith the King, "Sore blame have you had this day, and I +myself have been all shamed for your sake. Never thought I that so +good a knight as you might ever have known how to counterfeit a bad +knight as you did. You have done much for the love of the damsel, and +right well had she avenged herself of you and you had done her great +annoy. Howbeit, and to-morrow your cowardize be such as it hath been +to-day, never will the day be when you shall not have blame thereof." + + +XII. + +"By my faith." saith Messire Gawain, "Behoveth me do the damsel's +pleasure sith that we have fallen by ill-chance into her power." + +They went to bed at night and took their rest as soon as they had +eaten, and on the morrow the damsel came to Messire Gawain. + +"I will," saith she, "that you be clad in the same arms as was your +comrade on the first day, right rich, that I will lend you, and I will, +moreover, that you be knight so good as that never on any day were you +better. But I command you, by the faith you pledged me the other day, +to obey this caution, that you make yourself known to none, and so any +man in the world shall ask your name, you shall say that you are the +knight of the Golden Arms." + +"Damsel," saith Gawain, "Gramercy, I will do your pleasure." + +The younger damsel cometh back to the King: "Sir," saith she, "I will +that you wear new arms: You shall bear them red, the same as Messire +Gawain bore the first day, and I pray you be such as you were the first +day, or better." + + +XIII. + +"Damsel, I will do my best to amend myself and my doings, and right +well pleased am I of that it pleaseth you to say." + +Their horses were caparisoned and the knights mounted, all armed. They +come together to the tournament with such an onset as that they pass +through the thickest of the press and overthrew knights and horses as +many as they encountered. King Arthur espieth Nabigant that came right +gaily caparisoned, and smiteth him so passing strong a buffet in the +midst of his breast that he beareth him down from his horse, in such +sort that he breaketh his collar-bone, and presenteth the destrier, by +his squire, to the younger damsel, that maketh great joy thereof. And +Messire Gawain searcheth the fellowships on all sides, and so well did +he search that scarce was one might endure his blows. King Arthur is +not idle, but pierceth shields and beateth in helms, the while all look +on in wonderment at him and Messire Gawain. The story saith that the +King would have done still better, but that he put not forth his full +strength in deeds of arms, for that Messire Gawain had done so ill the +day before, and now he would fain that he should have the prize. + + +XIV. + +The damsel that held the Golden Circlet was in the midst of the +assembly of knights, and had set it in a right rich casket of ivory +with precious stones, right worshipfully. When the damsel saw that the +assembly was at an end, she made all the knights stay, and prayed them +they should speak judgment true, concealing nought, who had best +deserved of arms, and ought therefore of right to have the Golden +Circle. They said all, that of right judgment the Knight of the Golden +Arms and he of the Red Arms ought to have the prize above all the +others, but that of these two, he of the Golden Arms ought to have the +prize, for so well did he the first day as that no knight might do +better, and on the last day likewise, and that if he of the Red Arms +had put forth his full strength on the last day, he would have done +full as well or better. The Circlet of Gold was brought to Messire +Gawain, but it was not known that it was he; and Messire Gawain would +fain that it had been given to my Lord King Arthur. The knights +departed from the assembly. The King and Messire Gawain came back to +the tent and brought the Golden Circlet, whereof the damsels made great +joy. Thereupon, behold you! the dwarf that cometh back. + +"Damsels, better is it to lodge knights such as these than Messire +Gawain the coward, the craven that had so much shame at the assembly! +You yourselves would have been sore blamed had you lodged him. This +knight hath won the Golden Circlet by force of arms, and Messire Gawain +nought but shame and reproach." + +The damsel laugheth at this that the dwarf saith, and biddeth him on +his eyes and head, begone! + + +XV. + +The King and Messire Gawain were disarmed. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "What will you do with the Golden Circlet?" + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "I will bear it to him that first won +it in sore peril of death, and delivered it to the Queen that ought to +have kept it safe, of whom it hath been reft by force." + +The King and Messire Gawain lay the night in the tent. The younger +damsel cometh to the King. + +"Sir, many feats of arms have you done at the assembly, as I have been +told, for love of me, and I am ready to reward you." + +"Damsel, right great thanks. Your reward and your service love I much, +and your honour yet more, wherefore I would that you should have all +the honour that any damsel may have, for in damsel without honour ought +none to put his affiance. Our Lord God grant you to preserve yours." + +"Damsel," saith she to the other that sitteth before Messire Gawain, +"This Knight and Messire Gawain have taken counsel together. There is +neither solace nor comfort in them. Let us leave them to go to sleep, +and ill rest may they have, and Lord God defend us ever hereafter from +such guests." + +"By my head," saith the eider damsel, "were it not for the Golden +Circlet that he is bound of right to deliver again to the Queen that +had it in charge, who is my Lady, they should not depart from this land +in such sort as they will. But, and Messire Gawain still be nice as +concerneth damsels, at least I now know well that he is loyal in +anotherwise, so as that he will not fail of his word." + + +XVI. + +With that the damsels departed, as did likewise the King and Messire +Gawain as soon as they saw the day. Nabigant, that was wounded at the +tournament, was borne away on a litter. Meliot of Logres was in quest +of Messire Gawain. He met the knights and the harness that came from +the assembly, and asked of many if they could tell him tidings of King +Arthur's nephew, Messire Gawain, and the most part answer, "Yea, and +right bad tidings enough." + +Then they ask him wherefore he demandeth. + +"Lords," saith he, "His liege man am I, and he ought of right to defend +my land against all men, that Nabigant hath taken from me without right +nor reason, whom they are carrying from thence in a litter, wherefore I +am fain to beseech Messire Gawain that he help me to recover my land." + +"In faith, Sir Knight," say they, "We know not of what avail he may be +to others that may not help himself. Messire Gawain was at the +assembly, but we tell you for true, it was he that did worst thereat." + +"Alas," saith Meliot of Logres, "Then have I lost my land, and he hath +become even such an one as you tell me." + +"You would readily believe us," say they, "had you seen him at the +assembly!" + +Meliot turneth him back, right sorrowful. + + +XVII. + +King Arthur and Messire Gawain depart from the tent, and come a great +pace as though they fain would escape thence to come nigher the land +where they would be, and great desire had they of the coming of +Lancelot. They rode until that they came one night to the Waste Manor +whither the brachet led Messire Gawain when he found the dead knight +that Lancelot had slain. They lodged there the night, and found there +knights and damsels of whom they were known. The Lady of the Waste +Manor sent for succour to her knights, saying that she held there King +Arthur that slew other knights, and that his nephew Messire Gawain was +also there within, but dearly would she have loved that Lancelot had +been with them that slew her brother. Knights in plenty came to her to +do hurt to King Arthur and Messire Gawain, but she had at least so much +courtesy in her that she would not suffer any of them to do them ill +within her hold, albeit she kept seven of their number, full of great +hardiment, to guard the entrance of the bridge, so that King Arthur and +Messire Gawain might not depart thence save only amidst the points of +their spears. + + +XVIII. + +This high history witnesseth us that Lancelot was departed from the +Waste City wherein he was much honoured, and rode until that he came to +a forest where he met Meliot of Logres, that was sore dismayed of the +tidings he had heard of Messire Gawain. Lancelot asketh him whence he +cometh, and he saith from seeking Messire Gawain, of whom he had +tidings whereof he was right sorrowful. + +"How," saith Lancelot, "Is he then otherwise than well?" + +"Yea," saith he, "As I have heard tell: for he wont to be good knight +and hath now become evil. He was at the assembly of knights whereof I +met the harness and the fellowships, and they told me that never yet +was such cowardize in any knight, but that a knight who was with him +did right well. But howsoever he may have borne himself, right fain am +I to find him, for, maugre what any may say, I may scarce believe that +he is so bad after all." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I will seek him for you, and you can come along +with me and it seemeth you good." + +Meliot of Logres betaketh him back with Lancelot. They ride until they +happen by chance upon the Waste Manor where the King and Messire Gawain +were lodged; and they were armed, and were minded to go forth from +thence. But the seven knights guarded the issue, all armed. The King +and Messire Gawain saw that no good would it do them to remain there +within, wherefore they passed over the bridge and came perforce to the +place where the seven knights were watching for them. Thereupon, they +went toward them all armed and struck among them, and the knights +received them on the points of their lances. + + +XIX. + +Thereupon, behold you! Lancelot and the knight with him, whom they had +not been looking for. Lancelot espied the King and Messire Gawain; +then the knights cried out and struck among them as a hawk striketh +amongst larks, and made them scatter on one side and the other. +Lancelot hath caught one at his coming, and smiteth him with his spear +through the body, and Meliot of Logres slayeth another. King Arthur +knew Lancelot, and right glad was he to see him safe and sound, as was +Messire Gawain likewise. Lancelot and Meliot of Logres made clear the +passage for them. The knights departed, for longer durst they not +abide. The damsel of the castle held a squire by the hand, that was +right passing comely. She knew Lancelot, and when she saw him she +called him. + + +XX. + +"Lancelot, you slew this squire's brother, and, please God, either he +or another shall take vengeance thereof." + +Lancelot holdeth his peace when he heareth the dame speak, and +departeth from the Waste Hold. Meliot of Logres knew Messire Gawain +and Messire Gawain him again, and great joy made they the one of the +other. + +"Sir," saith Meliot, "I am come to lay plaint before you of Nabigant of +the Rock that challengeth me of the land whereof I am your man, and +saith that he will defend it against none but you only. Sir, the day +is full nigh, and if you come not to the day, I shall have lost my +quarrel, and you held me thereof in covenant what time I became your +man." + +"Right fainly will I go," saith Messire Gawain. + +He goeth his way thither accordingly by leave of the King and Lancelot, +and saith that he will return to them the speediest he may. + + +XXI. + +King Arthur and Lancelot go their way as fast as they may toward the +land that was King Fisherman's. Messire Gawain rideth until he cometh +to the land of Nabigant of the Rock. Meliot doeth Nabigant to wit that +Messire Gawain was come, and that he was ready to uphold his right by +him that was his champion. Nabigant was whole of the wound he gat at +the assembly, and held Messire Gawain of full small account for the +cowardize that he saw him do, and bid his knights not meddle betwixt +them two, for, and Messire Gawain had been four knights he thought to +vanquish them all. He issueth forth of his castle all armed, and is +come there where Messire Gawain awaited him. Messire Gawain seeth him +coming, and so draweth on one side, and Nabigant, that was stark +outrageous, setteth his spear in rest and cometh toward Messire Gawain +without another word, and smiteth him on the shield so that he maketh +his spear fly all in pieces. And Messire Gawain catcheth him right in +the midst of his breast, and pierceth him with his spear through the +thick of his heart, and he falleth to the ground dead; and the knights +run upon Messire Gawain; but he lightly delivereth himself of them, and +Meliot of Logres likewise. Messire Gawain entereth the castle by +force, doing battle against all the knights, and holdeth them in such a +pass as that he maketh them do homage to Meliot of Logres, and deliver +up to him the keys of the castle. He maketh them come to an assembly +from the whole of the land they had reft away from him, and thereafter +departeth and followeth after King Arthur. In the forest, he +overtaketh a damsel that was going on her way a great pace. + + +XXII. + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Lord God guide you, whither away so +fast?" + +"Sir," saith she, "I am going to the greatest assembly of knights you +saw ever." + +"What assembly?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir," saith she, "At the Palace Meadow, but the knight I am seeking is +he that won the Circlet of Gold at the Meadow of the Tent. Fair Sir, +can you give me any tidings of him?" saith she. + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "What would you do herein?" + +"Certes, Sir, I would right fain find him. My Lady, that kept the +Circlet of Gold for the son of the Widow Lady, that won it aforetime, +hath sent me to seek him." + +"For what intent, damsel?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir, my Lady sendeth for him and beseecheth him by me, for the sake of +the Saviour of the World, that if he had ever pity of dame or damsel, +he will take vengeance on Nabigant that hath slain her men and +destroyed her land, for she hath been told how he that won back the +Golden Circlet ought of right to take vengeance upon him." + + +XXIII. + +"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Be not any longer troubled hereof, for +I tell you that the knight that won the Golden Circlet by prize of arms +hath killed Nabigant already." + +"Sir," saith she, "How know you this?" + +"I know the knight well," saith he, "And I saw him slay him, and +behold, here is the Circlet of Gold that I have as a token hereof, for +that he beareth it to him that hath won the Graal, to the intent that +your Lady may be quit of her charge." + +Messire Gawain showeth her the Golden Circlet in the casket of ivory, +that he kept very nigh himself. Right joyful was the damsel that the +matter had thus fallen out, and goeth her way back again to tell her +Lady of her joy. Messire Gawain goeth on his way toward the assembly, +for well knoweth he that, and King Arthur and Lancelot have heard the +tidings, there will they be. He goeth thitherward as fast as he may, +and as straight, and scarce hath he ridden away or ever he met a squire +that seemed right weary, and his hackney sore worn of the way. Messire +Gawain asked him whence he came, and the squire said to him. "From the +land of King Arthur, where is great war toward, for that none knoweth +not what hath become of him. Many folk go about saying that he is +dead, for never sithence that he departed from Cardoil, and Messire +Gawain and Lancelot with him, have no tidings been heard of him; and he +left the Queen at Cardoil to take his place, and also on account of her +son's death, and the most part say that he is dead. Briant of the +Isles and my Lord Kay with him are burning his land, and carrying off +plunder before all the castles. Of all the Knights of the Table Round +are there now no more than five and thirty, and of these are ten sore +wounded, and they are in Cardoil, and there protect the land the best +they may." + + +XXIV. + +When Messire Gawain heareth these tidings, they touch his heart right +sore, so that he goeth the straightest he may toward the assembly, and +the squire with him that was sore fordone. Messire Gawain found King +Arthur and Lancelot, and the knights were come from all the kingdom to +the piece of ground. For a knight was come thither that had brought a +white destrier and borne thither a right rich crown of gold, and it was +known throughout all the lands that marched with this, that the knight +that should do best at the assembly should have the destrier and the +crown, for the Queen that ware it was dead, and it would behove him to +guard and defend the land whereof she had been Lady. On account of +these tidings had come thither great plenty of folk and of folk. King +Arthur and Messire Gawain and Lancelot set them of one side. The story +saith that at this assembly King Arthur bare the red shield that the +damsel gave him; Messire Gawain had his own, such as he was wont to +bear, and Lancelot a green shield that he bare for the love of the +knight that was slain for helping him in the forest. They struck into +the assembly like lions unchained, and cast down three knights at their +first onset. They searched the fellowships on every side, smote down +knights and overthrew horses. + + +XXV. + +King Arthur overtook no knight but he clave his shield to the boss: all +swerved aside and avoided his buffets. And Messire Gawain and Lancelot +are not idle on the other hand, but each held well his place. But the +more part had wonderment looking at the King, for he holdeth him at bay +like a lion when the staghounds would attack him. The assembly lasted +throughout on such wise, and when it came to an end, the knights said +and adjudged that the Knight of the Red Shield had surpassed all other +in doing well. The knight that had brought the crown came to the King, +but knew him not a whit: "Sir," saith he, "You have by your good deeds +of arms won this crown of gold and this destrier, whereof ought you to +make great joy, so only you have so much valour in you as that you may +defend the land of the best earthly Queen that is dead, and whether the +King be alive or dead none knoweth, wherefore great worship will it be +to yourself and you may have prowess to maintain the land, for right +broad is it and right rich and of high sovranty." + + +XXVI. + +Saith King Arthur, "Whose was the land, and what was the name of the +Queen whose crown I see?" + +"Sir, the King's name was Arthur, and the best king in the world was +he; but in his kingdom the more part say that he is dead. And this +crown was the crown of Queen Guenievre that is dead and buried, whereof +is sore sorrow. The knights that may not leave Cardoil lest Briant of +the Isles should seize the city, they sent me to the kingdom of Logres +and charged me with the crown and destrier for that I have knowledge of +the isles and foreign lands; wherefore they prayed me I should go among +the assemblies of knights, that so I might hear tidings of my Lord King +Arthur and my Lord Gawain and Lancelot, and, so I might find them, that +I should tell them how the land hath fallen into this grievous sorrow." + +King Arthur heareth tidings whereof he is full sorrowful. He draweth +on one side, and the knights make the most grievous dole in the world. +Lancelot knoweth not what he may do, and saith between his teeth that +now hath his joy come to an end and his knighthood is of no avail, for +that he hath lost the high Queen, the valiant, that heart and comfort +gave him and encouragement to do well. The tears ran down from his +comely eyes right amidst his face and through the ventail, and, had he +durst make other dole, yet greater would it have been. Of the mourning +the King made is there nought to speak, for this sorrow resembleth none +other. He holdeth the crown of gold, and looketh full oft at the +destrier for love of her, for he had given it her; and Messire Gawain +may not stint of making dole. + + +XXVII. + +"Certes", saith he, "Now may I well say that the best Queen in the +world and of most understanding is dead, nor never hereafter shall be +none of equal worth." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot to the King, "So it please you, and Messire +Gawain be willing, I will go back toward Cardoil, and help to defend +your land to the best I may, for sore is it discounselled, until such +time as you shall be come from the Graal." + +"Certes," saith Messire Gawain to the King, "Lancelot hath spoken well, +so you grant him your consent." + +"That do I with right good will," saith the Kind, "And I pray him right +heartily that he go thither and be guardian of my land and the +governance thereof, until such a time as God shall have brought me +back." + +Lancelot taketh leave of the King and goeth his way back, all sorrowing +and full of discontent. + + + +BRANCH XXII. + +INCIPIT. + +Of Lancelot the story is here silent, and so beginneth another branch +of the Graal in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost. + + +TITLE I. + +You may well understand that King Arthur is no whit joyful. He maketh +the white destrier go after him, and hath the crown of gold full near +himself. They ride until they come to the castle that belonged to King +Fisherman, and they found it as rich and fair as you have heard told +many a time. Perceval, that was there within, made right great joy of +their coming, as did all the priests and ancient knights. Perceval +leadeth King Arthur, when he was disarmed, into the chapel where the +Graal was, and Messire Gawain maketh present to Perceval of the Golden +Circlet, and telleth him that the Queen sendeth it to him, and relateth +also how Nabigant had seized it, and moreover, how Nabigant was dead. +The King offereth the crown that had been Queen Guenievre's. When +Perceval knew that she was dead, he was right sorrowful thereof in his +heart, and wept and lamented her right sweetly. He showeth them the +tomb of King Fisherman, and telleth them that none had set the +tabernacle there above the coffin, but only the commandment of Our +Lord, and he showeth them a rich pall that is upon the coffin, and +telleth them that every day they see a new one there not less rich than +is this one. King Arthur looketh at the sepulchre and saith that never +tofore hath he seen none so costly. A smell issueth therefrom full +delicate and sweet of savour. The King sojourneth in the castle and is +highly honoured, and beholdeth the richesse and the lordship and the +great abundance that is everywhere in the castle, insomuch that therein +is nought wanting that is needful for the bodies of noble folk. +Perceval had made set the bodies of the dead knights in a charnel +beside an old chapel in the forest, and the body of his uncle that had +slain himself so evilly. Behind the castle was a river, as the history +testifieth, whereby all good things came to the castle, and this river +was right fair and plenteous. Josephus witnesseth us that it came from +the Earthly Paradise and compassed the castle around and ran on through +the forest as far as the house of a worshipful hermit, and there lost +the course and had peace in the earth. All along the valley thereof +was great plenty of everything continually, and nought was ever lacking +in the rich castle that Perceval had won. The castle, so saith the +history, had three names. + + +II. + +One of the names was Eden, the second, Castle of Joy, and the third, +Castle of Souls. Now Josephus saith that none never passed away +therein but his soul went to Paradise. King Arthur was one day at the +castle windows with Messire Gawain. The King seeth coming before him +beyond the bridge a great procession of folk one before another; and he +that came before was all clad in white, and bare a full great cross, +and each of the others a little one, and the more part came singing +with sweet voices and bear candles burning, and there was one behind +that carried a bell with the clapper and all at his neck. + + +"Ha, God," saith King Arthur, "What folk be these?" + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "I know them all save the last. They be hermits +of this forest, that come to chant within yonder before the Holy Graal, +three days in the week." + + +III. + +When the hermits came nigh the castle, the King went to meet them, and +the knights adore the crosses and bow their heads before the good men. +As soon as they were come into the holy chapel, they took the bell from +the last and smote thereon at the altar, and then set it on the ground, +and then began they the service, most holy and most glorious. The +history witnesseth us that in the land of King Arthur at this time was +there not a single chalice. The Graal appeared at the sacring of the +mass, in five several manners that none ought not to tell, for the +secret things of the sacrament ought none to tell openly but he unto +whom God hath given it. King Arthur beheld all the changes, the last +whereof was the change into a chalice. And the hermit that chanted the +mass found a brief under the corporal and declared the letters, to wit, +that our Lord God would that in such vessel should His body be +sacrificed, and that it should be set upon record. The history saith +not that there were no chalices elsewhere, but that in all Great +Britain and in the whole kingdom was none. King Arthur was right glad +of this that he had seen, and had in remembrance the name and the +fashion of the most holy chalice. Then he asked the hermit that bare +the bell, whence this thing came? + +"Sir," saith he to Messire Gawain, "I am the King for whom you slew the +giant, whereby you had the sword wherewith St John was beheaded, that I +see on this altar. I made baptize me before you and all those of my +kingdom, and turn to the New Law, and thereafter I went to a hermitage +by the sea, far from folk, where I have been of a long space. I rose +one night at matins and looked under my hermitage and saw that a ship +had taken haven there. I went thither when the sea was retreated, and +found within the ship three priests and their clerks, that told me +their names and how they were called in baptism. All three were named +Gregory, and they came from the Land of Promise, and told me that +Solomon had cast three bells, one for the Saviour of the World, and one +for His sweet Mother, and one for the honour of His saints, wherefore +they had brought this hither by His commandment into this kingdom for +that we had none here. They told me that and I should bear it into +this castle, they would take all my sins upon themselves, by Our Lord's +pleasure, in such sort as that I should be quit thereof. And I in like +manner have brought it hither by the commandment of God, who willeth +that this should be the pattern of all those that shall be fashioned in +the realm of this island where never aforetime have been none." + +"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain to the hermit, "I know you right +well for a worshipful man, for you held your covenant truly with me." + +King Arthur was right glad of this thing, as were all they that were +within. It seemed him that the noise thereof was like the noise that +he had heard sound ever since he had moved from Cardoil. The hermits +went their way each to his hermitage when they had done the service. + + +IV. + +One day, as the King sate at meat in the hall with Perceval and Messire +Gawain and the ancient knights, behold you therewithal one of the three +Damsels of the Car that cometh, and she was smitten all through her +right arm. + +"Sir," saith she to Perceval, "Have mercy on your mother and your +sister and on us. Aristor of Moraine, that is cousin to the Lord of +the Moors that you slew, warreth upon your mother, and hath carried off +your sister by force into the castle of a vavasour of his, and saith +that he will take her to wife and will have all her land that your +mother ought to hold of right, maugre your head. But never had knight +custom so cruel as he, for when he shall have espoused the damsel, +whomsoever she may be, yet will he never love her so well but that he +shall cut off her head with his own hand, and so thereafter go seek for +another to slay in like manner. Natheless in one matter hath he good +custom, that never will he do shame to none until such time as he hath +espoused her. Sir, I was with my Lady your sister when he maimed me in +this manner. Wherefore your mother sendeth you word and prayeth you +that you succour her, for you held her in covenant that so you would do +and she should have need thereof and you should know it; for and you +consent to her injury and loss, the shame will be your own." + +Perceval heard these tidings, and sore sorrowful was he thereof. + +"By my head," saith the King to Perceval, "I and my nephew, so please +you, will go to help you." + +"Sir," saith he, "Gramercy, but go and achieve your own affair also, +for sore need have you thereof; wherefore I pray and beseech you that +you be guardian of the castle of Camelot, if that my lady mother shall +come thither, for thereof make I you lord and champion, and albeit the +castle be far away from you, yet garnish it and guard it, for it is +builded in a place right fair." + + +V. + +Lords, think not that it is this Camelot whereof these tellers of tales +do tell their tales, there, where King Arthur so often held his court. +This Camelot that was the Widow Lady's stood upon the uttermost +headland of the wildest isle of Wales by the sea to the West. Nought +was there save the hold and the forest and the waters that were round +about it. The other Camelot, of King Arthur's, was situate at the +entrance of the kingdom of Logres, and was peopled of folk and was +seated at the head of the King's land, for that he had in his +governance all the lands that on that side marched with his own. + + + +BRANCH XXIII. + +TITLE I. + +Of Perceval the story is here silent, and saith that King Arthur and +Messire Gawain have taken leave of Perceval and all them of the castle. +The King leaveth him the good destrier that he won, with the golden +crown. They have ridden, he and Messire Gawain together, until they +are come to a waste ancient castle that stood in a forest. The castle +would have been right fair and rich had any folk wonned therein, but +none there were save one old priest and his clerk that lived within by +their own toil. The King and Messire Gawain lodged there the night, and +on the morrow went into a right rich chapel that was therein to hear +mass, and it was painted all around of right rich colours of gold and +azure and other colours. The images were right fair that were there +painted, and the Figures of them for whom the images were made. The +King and Messire Gawain looked at them gladly. When the mass was said, +the priest cometh to them and saith: "Lords," saith he, "These imagings +are right fair, and he that had them made is full loyal, and dearly +loved the lady and her son for whom he had them made. Sir," saith the +priest, "It is a true history." + +"Of whom is the history, fair Sir?" saith King Arthur. + +"Of a worshipful vavasour that owned this hold, and of Messire Gawain, +King Arthur's nephew, and his mother. Sir," saith the priest, "Messire +Gawain was born there within and held up and baptized, as you may see +here imaged, and he was named Gawain for the sake of the lord of this +castle that had that name. His mother, that had him by King Lot, would +not that it should be known. She set him in a right fair coffer, and +prayed the good man of this castle that he would carry him away and +leave him where he might perish, but and if he would not do so, she +would make another do it. This Gawain, that was loyal and would not +that the child should be put to death, made seal letters at the +pillow-bere of his cradle that he was of lineage royal on the one side +and the other, and set therein gold and silver so as that the child +might be nurtured in great plenty, and spread above the child a right +rich coverlid. He carried him away to a far distant country, and so +came one early morning to a little homestead where dwelt a right +worshipful man. He delivered the child to him and his wife, and bade +them they should keep him and nurture him well, and told them that it +might be much good should come to them thereof. The vavasour turned +him back, and they took charge of the child and nurtured him until that +he were grown, and then took him to Rome to the Holy Father, and showed +him the sealed letters. The Holy Father saw them and understood that +he was the son of a King. He had pity upon him, and gave him to +understand that he was of his kindred. After that, he was elected to +be Emperor of Rome. But he would not be Emperor lest he should be +reproached of his birth that had before been concealed from him. He +departed thence, and lived afterwards within yonder. Now is it said +that he is one of the best knights in the world, insomuch that none +durst take possession of this castle for dread of him, nor of this +great forest that lieth round about it. For, when the vavasour that +dwelt here was dead, he left to Messire Gawain, his foster-son, this +castle, and made me guardian thereof until such time as Messire Gawain +should return." + + +II. + +The King looketh at Messire Gawain, and seeth him stoop his head toward +the ground for shame. + +"Fair nephew, be not ashamed, for as well might you reproach me of the +same. Of your birth hath there been great joy, and dearly ought one to +love the place and honour it, where so good a knight as are you was +born." + +When the priest understood that it was Messire Gawain, he made great +cheer to him, and was all ashamed of that he had recorded as concerning +his birth. But he saith to him: "Sir, small blame ought you to have +herein, for you were confirmed in the law that God hath established and +in loyalty of marriage of King Lot and your mother. This thing King +Arthur well knoweth, and our Lord God be praised for that, you have +come hither!" + + + +BRANCH XXIV. + +TITLE I. + +Here the story is silent of the kingdom, and of King Arthur and Messire +Gawain that remain in the castle to maintain and guard it until they +shall have garnished it of folk. Here speaketh it word of the knight's +son of the Waste Manor, there whither the brachet led Messire Gawain +where he found the knight that Lancelot had slain. He had one son +whose name was Meliant, and he had not forgotten his father's death; +rather, thereof did wrath rankle in his heart. He heard tell that +Briant of the Isles had great force and great puissance, and that he +warred upon King Arthur's land, insomuch as that he had already slain +many of his knights. Thitherward goeth he, and is come to where Briant +was in a castle of his own. He telleth him how Lancelot had slain his +father in such sort, and prayeth him right courteously that he would +make him knight, for that right fain would he avenge his father, and +therefore would he help him in the war the best he might. Briant made +much joy thereof, and made him knight in right costly sort, and he was +the comeliest knight and the most valiant of his age in Briant's court, +and greatly did he desire to meet with Lancelot. They marvelled much +in the land and kingdom what had become of him. The more part thought +that he was dead, albeit dead he was not, but rather sound and hale and +whole, had it not been for the death of Queen Guenievre, whereof the +sorrow so lay at his heart that he might not forget it. He rode one +day amidst a forest, and overtook a knight and a damsel that made great +joy together, singing and making disport. + +"By God," saith the damsel, "If this knight that cometh here will +remain, he shall have right good lodging. It is already nigh eventide, +and never will he find hostel so good to-day." + +"Damsel." saith Lancelot, "Of good hostel have I sore need, for I am +more than enough weary." + +"So be all they," saith she, "that come from the land of the rich King +Fisherman, for none may suffer the pain and travail and he be not good +knight." + + +II. + +"Ah, damsel," saith Lancelot, "Which is the way to the castle whereof +you speak?" + +"Sir," saith the knight, "You will go by this cross that you see before +you, and we will go by that other way, to a certain hold. Haply we +shall find you at the castle or ever you depart thence." + +Lancelot goeth his way and leaveth them. + +"By my head," saith the damsel to the knight, "This that goeth there is +Lancelot. He knoweth me not, albeit I know him well, and I hear that +he is sore troubled of his sorrow and mis-ease. Natheless, please God, +I will have vengeance of him or ever he departeth from the castle +whither he goeth to harbour. He made marry perforce a knight that +loved me better than aught beside, and to a damsel that he loved not a +whit. And so much might he still better perceive when he saw that she +ate not at his table, but was seated along with the squires, and that +none did aught for her at the castle. But the knight will not abandon +her for his own honour, and for that I should be blamed thereof." + +The evening draweth on and Lancelot goeth toward the castle, that was +right uneath to find and in an unfrequented part. He espieth it at the +head of the forest, and seeth that it is large and strong, with strong +barbicans embattelled, and at the entrance of the gateway were fifteen +heads of knights hanging. He found without a knight that came from the +forest, and asked him what castle it was, and he made answer that it +was called the Castle of the Griffon. + +"And why are these heads hanging at this door?" + +"Sir," saith he, "The daughter of the lord of the castle is the fairest +in the world and that is known in any kingdom, and needs must she be +offered to wife to all knights that harbour within. He that can draw a +sword that is fixed in a column in the midst of the hall, and fetch it +forth, he shall have her of right without forfeit." + + +III. + +"All these have made assay whose heads you see hanging at the door, but +never might none of them remove the sword, and on this occasion were +they beheaded. Now is it said that none may draw it forth, unless he +that draweth be better knight than another, and needs must he be one of +them that have been at the Graal. But, and you be minded to believe me, +fair Sir," saith the knight, "You will go elsewhither, for ill lodging +is it in a place where one must needs set body and life in adventure of +death, and none ought to be blamed for escaping from his own harm. +Sir, the castle is right fell, for it hath underground, at the issue of +a cavern that is there, a lion and a griffon that have devoured more +than half a hundred knights." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "It is evening, nor know I how I may go farther +this day, for I know not whither I go sith that I know not the places +nor the ways of the forest." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I speak only for your own good, and God grant +you depart hence, honour safe." + +Lancelot findeth the door of the castle all open, and entereth in all +armed, and alighteth before the master-hall. The King was leaning at +the windows, and biddeth stall his horse. + + +IV. + +Lancelot is entered into the hall, and findeth knights and damsels at +the tables and playing at the chess, but none did he find to salute him +nor make him cheer of his coming save the lord only, for such was the +custom of the castle. The lord bade him be disarmed. + +"Sir," saith he, "Right well may you allow me wear my arms, for they be +the fairest garniture and the richest I have." + +"Sir," saith the lord of the castle, "No knight eateth armed within +yonder, but he that cometh armed in hither disarmeth himself by my +leave. He may take his arms again without gainsay, so neither I nor +other desire to do him a hurt." + +With that two squires disarm him. The lord of the Castle maketh bring +a right rich robe wherein to apparel him. The tables were set and the +meats served. The damsel issued forth of her chamber and was +accompanied of two knights as far as the hall. She looketh at +Lancelot, and seeth that he is a right comely knight, and much liketh +her of his bearing and countenance, and she thinketh to herself that +sore pity would it be so comely knight should have his head smitten off. + + +V. + +Lancelot saluted the damsel and made great cheer, and when they had +eaten in hall, forthwith behold you, the damsel where she cometh that +Lancelot overtook in the forest with the knight. + +"Sir," saith she to the lord of the castle, "You have harboured this +night your deadly enemy that slew your brother at the Waste Manor." + +"By my faith," saith the lord of the manor, "I think not so, for him +would I not have harboured, nor will I not believe it for true until +such time as I have proved it. Sir," saith he to Lancelot, "Make the +demand that the others make!" + +"What is it?" saith Lancelot. + +"See there my daughter! Ask her of me, and if you be such as you ought +to be, I will give her to you." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "No knight is there in the world so good but +ought to plume him upon having her to wife, so always she were willing, +and, so I thought that you would be willing to give her to me, I would +willingly ask you." + +Lancelot spake otherwise than as he thought, for the departing of the +Queen and the sorrow thereof lay so at his heart that never again might +he lean upon any love in the world, neither of dame nor damsel. He +asked his daughter of the knight of the castle, and came before him to +save the custom so that he might not have blame thereof. And he showed +him the sword that is in the column, all inlaid with gold. + +"Go," saith he, "and fulfil the custom, as other knights have done." + +"What is it?" saith Lancelot. + +"They might not draw forth the sword from this column, and so failed of +my daughter and of their lives." + +"Lord God," saith Lancelot, "Defend me from this custom!" + +And he cometh toward the column as fast as he may, and seizeth the +sword with both hands. So soon as he touched it, the sword draweth it +forth with such a wrench that the column quaked thereof. The damsel +was right joyful thereat, albeit she misdoubted the fellness and +cruelty of her father, for never yet had she seen knight that pleased +her so much to love as he. + +"Sir," saith the other damsel, "I tell you plainly, this is Lancelot, +the outrageous, that slew your brother. Natheless, is it no lie that +he is one of the best knights of the world, albeit by the stoutness of +his knighthood and his valour many an outrage hath he done, and more +shall he yet do and he escape you, and, so you will believe me, you +will never allow him to depart thus; sith that and you kill him or slay +him you will save the life of many a knight." + +The daughter of the lord of the castle is sore displeased of the damsel +for this that she saith, and looketh at Lancelot from time to time and +sigheth, but more durst she not do. Much marvelleth she, sith that +Lancelot hath drawn the sword forth of the column, that he asketh her +not of her father as his own liege woman, but he was thinking of +another thing, and never was he so sorrowful of any lady as he was for +the Queen. But whatsoever thought or desire he may have therein, he +telleth the lord of the castle that he holdeth him to his covenant made +at such time as the sword was still fixed in the column. + +"I have a right not to hold thereto," saith the lord of the castle, +"Nor shall I break not my vow and I fail you herein; for no man is +bound to give his daughter to his mortal enemy. Sith that you have +slain my brother, you are my mortal enemy, and were I to give her to +you, she ought not to wish it, and were she to grant you her love she +would be a fool and a madwoman." + +Right sorrowful is the damsel or this that she heareth her father say. +She would fain that Lancelot and she were in the forest, right in the +depth thereof. But Lancelot had no mind to be as she was thinking. +The lord of the castle made guard the gateway of the castle well, in +such sort that Lancelot might issue therefrom on no side. Afterward he +bade his knights privily that they take heed on their lives that they +be all ready on the morrow and all garnished of their arms, for that it +was his purpose to smite off Lancelot's head and hang it above all the +others. + + +VI. + +The daughter of the lord knew these tidings and was right sorrowful +thereof, for she thinketh never more to have joy at heart and he shall +be slain in such manner. She sendeth him greeting by her own privy +messenger, as she that loveth him better than aught else living in the +world, and so biddeth and prayeth him be garnished of his arms, and +ready to protect his life, for that her father is fain to smite off his +head. + +"Sir," saith the messenger, "Your force would avail you nought as +against my lord, for to-morrow there will be a dozen knights all armed +at the issue of the gate whereby you entered to-night, and he saith +that he purposeth to cut off your head there where he cut the heads off +the other knights. Without the gate there will likewise be another +dozen knights all armed. No knight is there in the world so good as +that he might issue forth of this castle through the midst of these +four and twenty knights, but my lady sendeth you word that there is a +cavern under this castle that goeth therefrom underground as far as the +forest, so that a knight may well pass thereby all armed, but there is +therein a lion, the fiercest and most horrible in the world, and two +serpents that are called griffons, that have the face of a man and the +beaks of birds and eyes of an owl and teeth of a dog and ears of an ass +and feet of a lion and tail of a serpent, and they have couched them +therewithin, but never saw no man beasts so fell and felonous. +Wherefore the damsel biddeth you go by that way, by everything that you +have ever loved, and that you fail her not, for she would fain speak +with you at the issue of the cavern in an orchard that is nigh a right +broad river not far from this castle, and will make your destrier be +brought after you underground." + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "And she had not conjured me in such +sort, and were it not for love of herself, I would have rather set +myself in hazard with the knights than with the wild beasts, for far +father would I have delivered myself from them, and so I might, than go +forth in such-wise." + +"She sendeth you word," saith the messenger, "that so you do not thus, +no further trouble will she take concerning you. She doth it of dread +lest she lose your love; and here behold a brachet that she sendeth you +by me that you will carry with you into the cavern. So soon as you +shalt see the serpent griffons that have couched them therein, you +shall show them this and cast her down before them. The griffons love +her as much as one beast may love another, and shall have such joy and +such desire to play with the brachet that they will leave you alone, +and have such good will toward you that they will not look at you after +to do you any hurt. But no man is there in the world, no matter how +well soever he were armed, nor how puissant soever he were in himself, +might never pass them otherwise, but he should be devoured of them. +But no safeguard may you have as against the lion but of God only and +your own hardiment." + +"Tell my damsel," saith Lancelot, "that all her commandment will I do, +but this cowardize resembleth none other, that I shall go fight with +beasts and leave to do battle with knights." + +This was then repeated to the damsel, that marvelled her much thereat, +and said that he was the hardiest knight in the world. + + +VII. + +Lancelot armed him toward daybreak, and had his sword girt, his shield +at his neck, and his spear in his hand. So he entered into the cavern, +all shamefast, and the brachet followeth after, that he deigned not to +carry, and so cometh he to the place where the griffons were. So soon +as they heard him coming they dress them on their feet, and then writhe +along as serpents, then cast forth such fire, and so bright a flame +amidst the rock, as that all the cavern is lighted up thereof, and they +see by the brightness of light of their jaws the brachet coming. So +soon as they have espied her, they carry her in their claws and make +her the greatest cheer in the world. Lancelot passeth beyond without +gainsay, and espieth, toward the issue of the cavern, the lion that was +come from the forest all famished. He cometh thither right hardily, +sword drawn. The lion cometh toward him, jaws yawning, and claws +bared, thinking to fix them in his habergeon, but Lancelot preventeth +him and smiteth him so stoutly that he cutteth off thigh and leg +together. When the lion feeleth himself thus maimed, he seizeth him by +the teeth and the claws of his fore feet and rendeth away half the +skirt of his habergeon. Thereupon Lancelot waxeth wroth. He casteth +his shield to the ground and approacheth the lion closer. He seeth +that he openeth his jaws wide to avenge himself, and thrusteth his +sword the straightest he may into his gullet, and the lion giveth out a +roar and falleth dead. The damsel, that had come into the cavern, +heareth that the lion is dead. + + +VIII. + +Lancelot issued forth and so cometh into the orchard beside the forest, +and wiped his sword on the freshness of the green grass. Thereupon +behold you the damsel that cometh. + +"Sir," saith she to Lancelot, "Are you wounded in any place?" + +"Damsel, nowhere, thank God!" + +Another damsel leadeth a horse into the orchard. The damsel of the +castle looketh at Lancelot. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "Meseemeth that you are not over joyous." + +"Damsel," saith he, "If I be not, I have good right, for I have lost +the thing in the world that most I loved." + +"And you have won me," saith she, "so you remain not here, that am the +fairest damsel in this kingdom, and I have saved you your life for +this, that you grant me your love, for mine own would I fain give unto +you." + +"Gramercy, damsel," saith Lancelot, "Your love and your good will fain +would I have; but neither you nor none other damsel ought not to have +affiance in me, and I might so soon set carelessly aside the love to +whom my heart owed its obedience, for the worthiness and the courtesy +that were lodged in her. Nor never hereafter, so long as I live, shall +I love none other in like manner; wherefore all others commend I to +God, and to yourself, as for leave-taking to one at whose service I +fain would be; I say that if you shall have need of me, and so I be in +place and free, I will do all I may to protect your honour." + + +IX. + +"Ha, God!" saith the damsel, "How am I betrayed, sith that I am parted +from the best knight in the world! Lancelot, you have done that which +never yet no knight might do! Now am I grieved that you should escape +on such wise, and that your life hath been saved in this manner by me. +Better should I love you mine own dead, than another's living. Now +would I fain that you had had your head smitten off, and that it were +hanging with the others! So would I solace myself by beholding it!" + +Lancelot took no account of that he heard, for the grief that lay at +his heart of the Queen. He mounteth on his horse and issueth forth of +the orchard by a postern gate, and entereth into the forest, and +commendeth him to God. The lord of the Castle of the Griffons +marvelleth much that Lancelot delayeth so long. He thinketh that he +durst not come down, and saith to his knights, "Let us go up and cut +off his head, sith that he durst not come down." + +He maketh search for him all through the hall and the chambers, but +findeth him not. + +"He hath gone," saith he, "through the cavern, so have the griffons +devoured him." + +So he sendeth the twain most hardy of his knights to see. But the +brachet had returned after the damsel, whereof the griffons were wroth, +and they forthwith seized on the two knights that entered into their +cavern and slew them and devoured. + + +X. + +When the lord of the castle knew it, he went into the chamber where his +daughter was, and found her weeping, and thinketh that it is for the +two knights that are dead. News is brought him that the lion is dead +at the issue of the cavern, and thereby well knoweth he that Lancelot +is gone. He biddeth his knights follow after him, but none was there +so hardy as that he durst follow. The damsel was right fain they +should go after him, if only they might bring him back to the castle, +for so mortally was she taken of his love that she thought of none +other thing. But Lancelot had her not in remembrance, but only +another, and rode on sadly right amidst the forest, and looked from +time to time at the rent the lion had made in his habergeon. He rideth +until he is come toward evening to a great valley where was forest on +the one side and the other, and the valley stretched onward half a +score great leagues Welsh. He looketh to the right, and on the top of +the mountain beside the valley he seeth a chapel newly builded that was +right fair and rich, and it was covered of lead, and had at the back +two quoins that seemed to be of gold. By the side of this chapel were +three houses dight right richly, each standing by itself facing the +chapel. There was a right fair grave-yard round about the chapel, that +was enclosed at the compass of the forest, and a spring came down, full +clear, from the heights of the forest before the chapel and ran into +the valley with a great rushing; and each of the houses had its own +orchard, and the orchard an enclosure. Lancelot heareth vespers being +chanted in the chapel, and seeth the path that turned thitherward, but +the mountain is so rugged that he could not go along it on horseback. +So he alighteth and leadeth his horse after him by the reins until he +cometh nigh the chapel. + + +XI. + +There were three hermits therewithin that had sung their vespers, and +came over against Lancelot. They bowed their heads to him and he +saluted them, and then asked of them what place was this? And they told +him that the place there was Avalon. They make stable his horse. He +left his arms without the chapel and entereth therein, and saith that +never hath he seen none so fair nor so rich. There were within three +other places, right fair and seemly dight of rich cloths of silk and +rich corners and fringes of gold. He seeth the images and the +crucifixes all newly fashioned, and the chapel illumined of rich +colours; and moreover in the midst thereof were two coffins, one +against the other, and at the four corners four tall wax tapers +burning, that were right rich, in four right rich candlesticks. The +coffins were covered with two pails, and there were clerks that chanted +psalms in turn on the one side and the other. + +"Sir," saith Lancelot to one of the hermits, "For whom were these +coffins made?" + +"For King Arthur and Queen Guenievre." + +"King Arthur is not yet dead," saith Lancelot. + +"No, in truth, please God! but the body of the Queen lieth in the +coffin before us and in the other is the head of her son, until such +time as the King shall be ended, unto whom God grant long life! But +the Queen bade at her death that his body should be set beside her own +when he shall end. Hereof have we the letters and her seal in this +chapel, and this place made she be builded new on this wise or ever she +died." + + +XI. + +When Lancelot heareth that it is the Queen that lieth in the coffin, he +is so straitened in his heart and in his speech that never a word may +he say. But no semblant of grief durst he make other than such as +might not be perceived, and right great comfort to him was it that +there was an image of Our Lady at the head of the coffin. He knelt +down the nighest he might to the coffin, as it had been to worship the +image, and set his race and his mouth to the stone of the coffin, and +sorroweth for her right sweetly. + +"Ha, Lady," saith he, "But that I dread the blame of the people, never +again would I seek to depart from this place, but here would I save my +soul and pray for yours; so would it be much recomforting to me that I +should be so nigh, and should see the sepulchre wherein your body lieth +that had so great sweetness and bounty. God grant me of your pleasure, +that at my death I may still be a-nigh, and that I may die in such +manner and in such place as that I may be shrouded and buried in this +holy chapel where this body lieth." + +The night cometh on. A clerk cometh to the hermits and saith, "Never +yet did no knight cry mercy of God so sweetly, nor of His sweet Mother, +as did this knight that is in the chapel." + +And the hermits make answer that knights for the most part do well +believe in God. They come to the chapel for him and bid him come +thence, for that meat is ready and he should come to eat, and after +that go to sleep and rest, for it is full time so to do. He telleth +them that as for his eating this day it is stark nought, for a desire +and a will hath taken him to keep vigil in the chapel before one of the +images of Our Lady. No wish had he once to depart thence before the +day, and he would fain that the night should last far longer than it +did. The good men durst not force him against his will; they say, +rather, that the worshipful man is of good life who will keep watch in +such manner throughout the night without drink or meat, for all that he +seemeth to be right weary. + + +XIII. + +Lancelot was in the chapel until the morrow before the tomb. The +hermits apparelled them to do the service that they chanted each day, +mass for the soul of the Queen and her son. Lancelot heareth them with +right good will. When the masses were sung, he taketh leave of the +hermits and looketh at the coffin right tenderly. He commendeth the +body that lieth therein to God and His sweet Mother; then findeth he +without the chapel his horse accoutred ready, and mounteth forthwith, +and departeth, and looketh at the place and the chapel so long as he +may see them. He hath ridden so far that he is come nigh Cardoil, and +findeth the land wasted and desolate, and the towns burnt, whereof is +he sore grieved. He meeteth a knight that came from that part, and he +was wounded full sore. Lancelot asketh him whence he cometh, and he +saith, "Sir, from towards Cardoil. Kay the Seneschal, with two other +knights, is leading away Messire Ywain li Aoutres toward the castle of +the Hard Rock. I thought to help to rescue him, but they have wounded +me in such sort as you see." + +"Are they ever so far away?" saith Lancelot. + +"Sir, they will pass just now at the head of this forest; and so you +are fain to go thither, I will return with you right willingly and help +you to the best I may." + +Lancelot smiteth his horse with the spurs forthwith, and the knight +after him, and espieth Kay the Seneschal, that was bringing Messire +Ywain along at a great pace, and had set him upon a trotting hackney, +for so he thought that none would know him. Lancelot overtaketh him +and crieth, "By my head, Kay the Seneschal, shame had you enough of +that you did to King Arthur when you slew his son, and as much more +ought you now to have of thus warring upon him again!" + +He smiteth his horse of his spurs, lance in rest, and Kay the Seneschal +turneth toward him, and they mell together with their spears on their +shields, and pierce them in such sort that an ells-length of each shaft +passeth through beyond. + + +XIV. + +The lances were strong so as that they brast not. They draw them back +to themselves so stoutly and come together so fiercely that their +horses stagger and they lose the stirrups. Lancelot catcheth Kay the +Seneschal at the passing beyond, in the midst of the breast, and +thrusteth his spear into him so far that the point remained in the +flesh, and Kay to-brast his own; and sore grieved was he when he felt +himself wounded. The knight that was wounded overthrew one of the two +knights. Kay is on the ground, and Lancelot taketh his horse and +setteth Messire Ywain li Aoutres thereupon, that was right sore wounded +so as that he scarce might bear it. Kay the Seneschal maketh his +knight remount, and holdeth his sword grasped in his fist as though he +had been stark wood. Lancelot seeth the two knights sore badly +wounded, and thinketh that and he stay longer they may remain on the +field. He maketh them go before him, and Kay the Seneschal followeth +them behind, himself the third knight, that is right wroth of the wound +he feeleth and the blood that he seeth. Lancelot bringeth off his +knights like as the wild-boar goeth among the dogs, and Kay dealeth him +great buffets of his sword when he may catch him, and Lancelot him +again, and so they depart, fencing in such sort. + + +XV. + +When Kay the Seneschal seeth that he may not harm him, he turneth him +back, full of great wrath, and his heart pricketh to avenge him thereof +and he may get at him, for he is the knight of the court that most he +hateth. He is come back to the Castle of the Hard Rock. Briant of the +Isles asketh him who hath wounded him in such sort, and he telleth him +that he was bringing thither Ywain li Aoutres when Lancelot rescued him. + +"And the King," saith Briant, "Is he repaired thither?" + +"I have heard no tidings of him at all," saith Kay, "For no leisure had +I to ask of any." + +Briant and his knights take much thought as concerning Lancelot's +coming, for they are well persuaded that Lancelot hath come for that +the King is dead and Messire Gawain, whereof they make right great joy. +Kay the Seneschal maketh him be disarmed and his wound searched. They +tell him he need not fear it shall be his death, but that he is right +sore wounded. + + +XVI. + +Lancelot is entered into the castle of Cardoil, and his wounded knights +withal, and findeth the folk in sore dismay. Great dole make they in +many places and much lamentation for King Arthur, and say that now +nevermore may they look for succeur to none, and he be dead and Messire +Gawain. But they give Lancelot joy of that he hath rescued Messire +Ywain li Aoutres, and were so somewhat comforted and made great cheer. +The tidings thereof came to the knights that were in the castle, and +they all come forward to meet him save they that were wounded, and so +led him up to the castle, and Messire Ywain with him and the other +knight that was wounded. All the knights of the castle were right +glad, and ask him tidings of King Arthur, and whether he were dead or +no. And Lancelot telleth them that he was departed from him at the +Palace Meadow, where he won the white destrier and the crown of gold +there where the tidings were brought to him that Queen Guinievre was +dead. + + +XVII. + +"Then you tell us of a truth that the King is on live, and Messire +Gawain?" + +"Both, you may be certain!" saith Lancelot. + +Thereupon were they gladder than before. They told him of their own +mischance, how Briant of the Isles had put them to the worse, and how +Kay the Seneschal was with him to do them hurt. For he it is that +taketh most pains to do them evil. + +"By my head," saith Lancelot, "Kay the Seneschal ought of right to take +heed and with-hold him from doing you ill, but he departed from the +field with the point of my spear in him when I rescued Messire Ywain." + + +XVIII. + +The knights are much comforted of the coming of Lancelot, but he is +much grieved that he findeth so many of them wounded. Meliant of the +Waste Manor is at the castle of the Hard Rock, and good fellow is it +betwixt him and Kay the Seneschal. He is right glad of the tidings he +hath heard, that Lancelot is come, and saith that he is the knight of +the world that most he hateth, and that he will avenge him of his +father and he may meet him. There come before the castle of Cardoil +one day threescore knights armed, and they seize upon their booty +betwixt the castle and the forest. Lancelot issueth forth all armed, +and seven of the best of the castle with him. He cometh upon them +after that they have led away their plunder. He overtaketh one knight +and smiteth him with his spear right through the body, and the other +knights make an onset upon the others and many to-brake their spears, +and much clashing was there of steel on armour; and there fell at the +assembly on one side and the other full a score knights, whereof some +were wounded right sore. Meliant of the Waste Manor espied Lancelot, +and right great joy made he of seeing him, and smiteth him so stout a +buffet on the shield that he to-breaketh his spear. + + +XIX. + +Lancelot smiteth him amidst the breast so grimly that he maketh him +bend backwards over the saddle behind, and so beareth him to the +ground, legs uppermost, over his horse's croup, and trampleth him under +his horse's feet. Lancelot was minded to alight to the ground to take +him, but Briant of the Isles cometh and maketh him mount again +perforce. The numbers grew on the one side and the other of knights +that came from Cardoil and from the Hard Rock. Right great was the +frushing of lances and the clashing of swords and the overthrow of +horses and knights. Briant of the Isles and Lancelot come against each +other so stoutly that they pierce their shields and cleave their +habergeons, and they thrust with their spears so that the flesh is +broken under the ribs and the shafts are all-to-splintered. They +hurtle against each other so grimly at the by-passing that their eyes +sparkle as it were of stars in their heads, and the horses stagger +under them. They hold their swords drawn, and so return the one toward +the other like lions. Such buffets deal they upon their helms that +they beat them in and make the fire leap out by the force of the +smiting of iron by steel. And Meliant cometh all armed toward Lancelot +to aid Briant of the Isles, but Lucan the Butler cometh to meet him, +and smiteth him with his spear so stoutly that he thrusteth it right +through his shield and twisteth his arm gainst his side. He breaketh +his spear at the by-passing, and Meliant also breaketh his, but he was +wounded passing sore. + + +XX. + +Thereupon he seizeth him by the bridle and thinketh to lead him away, +but the knights and the force of Briant rescue him. The clashing of +arms lasted great space betwixt Briant of the Isles and Lancelot, and +each was mightily wrath for that each was wounded. Either seized other +many times by the bridle, and each was right fain to lead the other to +his own hold, but the force of knights on the one side and the other +disparted them asunder. Thus the stour lasted until evening, until that +the night sundered them. But Briant had nought to boast of at +departing, for Lancelot and his men carried off four of his by force +right sore wounded, besides them that remained dead on the field. +Briant of the Isles and Meliant betook them back all sorrowful for +their knights that are taken and dead. Lancelot cometh back to +Cardoil, and they of the castle make him right great joy of the knights +that they bring taken, and say that the coming of the good knight +Lancelot should be great comfort to them until such time as King Arthur +should repair back and Messire Gawain. The wounded knights that were +in the castle turned to healing of their wounds, whereof was Lancelot +right glad. They were as many as five and thirty within the castle. +Of all the King's knights were there no more save Lancelot and the +wounded knight that he brought along with him. + + + +BRANCH XXV. + +TITLE I. + +Here the story is silent of Lancelot and the knights that are at +Cardoil, and saith that King Arthur and Messire Gawain are in the +castle where the priest told Messire Gawain how he was born. But they +cannot depart thence at their will, for Ahuret the Bastard that was +brother of Nabigant of the Rock, that Messire Gawain slew on account of +Meliot of Logres, knoweth well that they are therewithin, and hath +assembled his knights and holdeth them within so strait that they may +not depart without sore damage. For he hath on the outer side a full +great plenty of knights, and the King and Messire Gawain have with them +but only five of the forest and the country that are upon their side, +and they hold them so strait within that they may not issue out from +thence; yea, the brother of Nabigant sweareth that they shall not +depart thence until such time as he shall have taken Messire Gawain, +and taken vengeance on his fellow of his brother whom he slew. The +King saith to Messire Gawain that he hath much shame of this that they +are so long shut up therewithin, and that he better loveth to die with +honour than to live with shame within the castle. So they issued +forth, spears in rest, and Ahuret and his knights, whereof was there +great plenty, made much joy thereat. + + +II. + +The King and Messire Gawain strike among them, and each overthroweth +his man; but Ahuret hath great shame of this that he seeth his knights +put to the worse by so few folk. He setteth his spear in rest and +smiteth one of King Arthur's knights through the body and beareth him +down dead. Then returneth he to Messire Gawain, and buffeteth him so +strongly that he pierceth his shield, but he maketh drop his own spear +and loseth his stirrups, and Messire Gawain waxeth wroth and smiteth +him so grimly and with such force that he maketh him bend back over the +hinder bow of his saddle. But Ahuret was strong and of great might, +and leapeth back between the bows and cometh toward King Arthur that he +saw before him, but he knew him not. He left Messire Gawain, and the +King smiteth him with such a sweep that he cutteth off his arm, spear +and all. There was great force of knights, so that they ran upon them +on all sides; and never would they have departed thence sound and +whole, but that thereupon Meliot of Logres cometh thither with fifteen +knights, for that he had heard tidings of Messire Gawain, how he was +besieged in a castle there, where he and King Arthur between them were +in such plight that they had lost their five knights, so that they were +not but only two that defended themselves as best they might, as they +that had no thought but to remain there, for the odds of two knights +against thirty was too great. + + +III. + +Thereupon, behold you, Meliot of Logres with fifteen knights, and they +come thither where the King and Messire Gawain are in such jeopardy, +and they strike so stoutly among them that they rescue King Arthur and +Messire Gawain from them that had taken them by the bridle, and so slay +full as many as ten of them, and put the others to flight, and lead +away their lord sore maimed. And Messire Gawain giveth Meliot much +thanks of the bounty he hath done, whereby he hath saved them their +lives; and he giveth him the castle, and is fain that he hold it of +him, for in no place might he have better employment, and that well +hath he deserved it of his service in such need. Meliot thanketh him +much, and prayeth Messire Gawain instantly that and he shall have need +of succour he will come to aid him, in like manner as he would do by +him everywhere. And Messire Gawain telleth him that as of this needeth +him not to make prayer, for that he is one of the knights of the world +that most he ought of right to love. The King and Messire Gawain take +leave of Meliot, and so depart, and Meliot garnisheth the castle that +was right fair and rich and well-seated. + + + +BRANCH XXVI. + +TITLE I. + +Of Meliot the story is here silent, and saith that King Arthur and +Messire Gawain have ridden so far that they are come into the Isle of +Avalon, there where the Queen lieth. They lodge the night with the +hermits, that made them right great cheer. But you may well say that +the King is no whit joyful when he seeth the coffin where the Queen +lieth and that wherein the head of his son lieth. Thereof is his dole +renewed, and he saith that this holy place of this holy chapel ought he +of right to love better than all other places on earth. They depart on +the morrow when they have heard mass. The King goeth the quickest he +may toward Cardoil, and findeth the land wasted and desolate in many +places, whereof is he right sorrowful, and understandeth that Kay the +Seneschal warreth upon him with the others. He marvelleth much how he +durst do it. He is come to Cardoil. When they of the castle know it +they come to meet him with right great cheer. The tidings went +throughout all the land, and they of the country were right joyous +thereof, for the more part believed that he was dead. They of the +castle of the Hard Rock knew it, but little rejoiced they thereat. But +Kay the Seneschal was whole of his wound and bethought him that great +folly would he do to remain longer there to war upon the King, for well +knew he that and the King held him and did that which he had +proclaimed, his end were come. He departeth from the castle, where he +had sojourned of a long while, and crossed again stealthily over-sea, +and came into Little Britain, and made fast a castle for fear of the +King, that is called Chinon, and was there long time, without the King +warring upon him, for enough adventures had he in other parts. + + +II. + +To Cardoil was the King repaired and Messire Gawain. You may well +understand that the land was much rejoiced thereof, and that all the +knights were greatly comforted, and knights came back to the court from +all parts. They that had been wounded were whole again. Briant of the +Isles stinted not of his pride nor of his outrage, but rather stirred +up the war the most he might, he and Meliant still more, and said that +never would he cease therefrom until death, nor never would he have +rest until such time as he should have vengeance of Lancelot. The King +was one day at Cardoil at meat, and there was in the hall great throng +of knights, and Messire Gawain sate beside the King. Lancelot sate at +the table, and Messire Ywain the son of King Urien, and Sagramors li +Desirous, and Ywain li Aoutres, and many more other knights round about +the table, but there were not so many as there wont to be. Messire +Lucan the Butler served before the King of the golden cup. The King +looked round about the table and remembered him of the Queen. He was +bent upon thinking rather than on eating, and saw that his court was +much wasted and worsened of her death. And what time the King was +musing in such sort, behold you a knight come into the hall all armed +before the King; and he leaneth on the staff of his spear. + +"Sir," saith the knight, "Listen, so please you, to me, and all these +others, listen! Madeglant of Oriande sendeth me here to you, and +commandeth that you yield up the Table Round to him, for sith that the +Queen is dead, you have no right thereof, for he is her next of kin and +he that hath the best right to have and to hold it; and, so you do not +this, you he defieth as the man that disinheriteth him, for he is your +enemy in two manner of ways, for the Table Round that you hold by +wrong, and for the New Law that you hold. But he sendeth you word by +me, that so you will renounce your belief and take Queen Jandree his +sister, that he will cry you quit as of the Table Round and will be of +your aid everywhere. But and if you do not this, have never affiance +in him. And so sendeth he word to you by me!" + + +III. + +Therewith the knight departeth, and the King remaineth all heavy in +thought, and when they had eaten, he rose from the tables and all the +knights. He speaketh to Messire Gawain and Lancelot, and taketh +counsel with all the others. + +"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "You will defend yourself the best you +may, and we will help you to smite your enemies. Great Britain is all +at your will. You have not as yet lost any castle. Nought hath been +broken down nor burnt but open ground and cottages and houses, whereof +is no great harm done to yourself, and the shame thereof may lightly be +amended. King Madeglant is of great hardiment as of words, but in arms +will he not vanquish you so soon. If that he warreth upon you toward +the West, send thither one of the best knights of your court that may +maintain the war and defend the land against him." + + +IV. + +The King sojourned at Cardoil of a long space. He believed in God and +His sweet Mother right well. He brought thither from the castle where +the Graal was the pattern whereby chalices should be made, and +commanded make them throughout all the land so as that the Saviour of +the world should be served more worshipfully. He commanded also that +bells be cast throughout his land after the fashion of the one he had +brought, and that each church should have one according to the means +thereof. This much pleased the people of his kingdom, for thereby was +the land somewhat amended. The tidings came to him one day that Briant +and Meliant were riding through his land with great routs of folk, and +were minded to assiege Pannenoisance; and the King issued forth of +Cardoil with great throng of knights all armed, and rode until he +espied Briant and his people, and Briant him again. They ranged their +battles on both sides, and came together with such might and so great a +shock as that it seemed the earth shook; and they melled together at +the assembly with their spears so passing grimly as that the frushing +thereof might be heard right far away. Some fourteen fell in the +assembly that rose up again never more. Meliant of the Waste Manor +searcheth for Lancelot in the midst of the stour until he findeth him, +and runneth upon him right sturdily and pierceth his shield with his +spear. Lancelot smiteth him such a sweep amidst the breast, that he +thrusteth his spear right through his shoulder, and pinneth him so +strongly that the shaft is all to-brast, and the end thereof remaineth +in his body. And Meliant, all stricken through as he is, runneth upon +him and passeth his spear right through the shield and through the arm, +in such sort that he pinneth it to his side. He passeth beyond and +breaketh his spear, and afterward returneth to Lancelot, sword in fist, +and dealeth him a buffet on the helm so grimly that he all to-battered +it in. Lancelot waxeth right wroth thereof, and he grieveth the more +for that he feeleth him wounded. He cometh toward Meliant, sword +drawn, and holding him well under cover of his shield and cover of his +helm, and smiteth Meliant so fiercely that he cleaveth his shoulder +down to the rib in such sort that the end of the spear wherewith he had +pierced him fell out therefrom. Meliant felt himself wounded to the +death, and draweth him back all sorrowful, and other knights run upon +Lancelot and deliver assault. Messire Ywain and Sagramors li Desirous +and Messire Gawain were on the other side in great jeopardy, for the +people of Briant of the Isles came from all parts, and waxed more and +more, and on all sides the greater number of knights had the upper hand +therein. King Arthur and Briant of the Isles were in the midst of the +battle, and dealt each other right great buffets. Briant's people come +thither and take King Arthur by the bridle, and the King defendeth +himself as a good knight, and maketh a ring about him amongst them that +attack him, the same as doth a wild boar amongst the dogs. Messire +Ywain is come thither and Lucan the Butler, and break through the press +by force. Thereupon, behold you Sagramors li Desirous, that cometh as +fast as his horse may gallop under him, and smiteth Briant of the Isles +right before his people with such a rush that he beareth him to the +ground in a heap, both him and his horse. Briant to-brast his thigh +bone in the fall that he made. Sagramors holdeth sword drawn and would +fain have thrust it into his body, when the King crieth to him that he +slay him not. + + +V. + +Briant's people were not able to succour their lord. Nay, rather, they +drew back on all sides, for the stout had lasted of a long space. So +they tended the dead and the wounded, of whom were enough on one side +and the other. King Arthur made carry Briant of the Isles to Cardoil, +and bring along the other knights that his own knights had taken. +Right joyous were the folks at Cardoil when the King came back. They +bore Meliant of the Waste Manor on his shield to the Hard Rock, but he +scarce lived after. The King made Briant of the Isles be healed, and +held him in prison of a long while, until Briant gave him surety of all +his lands and became his man. The King made him Seneschal of all his +lands, and Briant served him right well. + + +VI. + +Lancelot was whole of his wound, and all the knights of theirs. King +Arthur was safely stablished, and redoubted and dreaded of all lands +and of his own land like as he wont to be. Briant hath forgotten all +that is past, and is obedient to the King's commands and more privy is +he of his counsel than ever another of the knights, insomuch that he +put the others somewhat back, whereof had they much misliking. The +felony of Kay the Seneschal lay very nigh the King's heart, and he said +that and any would take vengeance upon him for the same, greatly would +he love him thereof, for so disloyally hath he wrought against him that +he durst not let the matter be slurred over; and a sore misfortune is +it for the world when a man of so poor estate hath slain so high a man +as his son for no misdeed, and that strangers ought by as good right as +they that knew him or himself take vengeance upon him thereof, so that +others might be adread of doing such disloyalty. + + +VII. + +Briant was feared and redoubted throughout all Great Britain. King +Arthur had told them that they were all to be at his commandment. And +one day while the King was at Cardoil, behold you a damsel that cometh +into the hail and saith unto him: "Sir, Queen Jandree hath sent me over +to you, and biddeth you do that whereof her brother sent you word by +his knight. She is minded to be Lady and Queen of your land, and that +you take her to wife, for of high lineage is she and of great power, +wherefore she biddeth you by me that you renounce the New Law and that +you believe in the God in whom she believeth, and, so you do not this, +you may not have affiance in your land, for King Madeglant hath as now +made ready his host to enter into the chief of your land, and hath +sworn his oath that he will not end until he shall have passed all the +borders of the isles that march upon your land, and shall come upon +Great Britain with all his strength, and so seize the Table Round that +ought to be his own of right. And my Lady herself would come hither but +for one thing, to wit, that she hath in her such disdain of them that +believe in the New Law, that she deigneth not behold none of them, for, +so soon as she was stablished Queen, made she her eyes be covered for +that she would not look upon none that were of that believe. But the +Gods wherein she believeth did so much for her, for that she loveth and +worshippeth them, that she may discover her eyes and her face, and yet +see not at all, whereof is she right glad, for that the eyes in her +head are beautiful and gentle. But great affiance hath she in her +brother, that is mighty and puissant, for he hath her in covenant that +he will destroy all them that believe in the New Law, in all places +where he may get at them, and, when he shall have destroyed them in +Great Britain and the other islands, so that my Lady might not see none +therein, so well is she with the Gods wherein she believeth, that she +will have her sight again all whole nor until that hour is she fain to +see nought." + + +VIII. + +"Damsel," saith the King, "I have heard well that which you tell me of +this that you have in charge to say; but tell your Lady on my behalf, +that the Law which the Saviour of the world hath established by His +death and by His crucifixion never will I renounce, for the love that I +have in Him. But tell her that she believe in God and in His sweet +Mother, and that she believe in the New Law, for by the false believe +wherein she abideth is she blinded in such sort, nor never will she see +clear until she believe in God. Tell her moreover, I send her word +that never more shall there be Queen in my land save she be of like +worth as was Queen Guenievre." + +"Then I tell you plainly," saith she, "that you will have betimes such +tidings as that good for you they will not be." + +The damsel departeth from Cardoil, and cometh back to where the Queen +was, and telleth her the message King Arthur sendeth her. "True," saith +she, "I love him better than all in the world, and yet refuseth he my +will and my commandment. Now may he no longer endure!" + +She sendeth to her brother King Madeglant, and telleth him that she +herself doth defy him and he take not vengeance on King Arthur and +bring him not into prison. + + + +BRANCH XXVII. + +TITLE I. + +This history saith that the land of this King was full far away from +the land of King Arthur, and that needs must he pass two seas or ever +he should approach the first head of King Arthur's land. He arrived in +Albanie with great force of men with a great navy. When they of the +land knew it, they garnished them against him and defended their lands +the best they might; then they sent word to King Arthur that King +Madeglant was come in such manner into the land, with great plenty of +folk, and that he should come presently to succour them or send them a +knight so good as that he might protect them, and that in case he doth +not so, the land will be lost. When King Arthur understood these +tidings, it was not well with him. He asked his knights whom he might +send thither. And they say, let him send Lancelot thither, for that he +is a worthy knight and a kingly, and much understandeth of war, and +hath in him as much loyalty as hath ever another that they know. The +King maketh him come before him. + + +II. + +"Lancelot," saith the King, "Such affiance have I in you and in your +knighthood, that it is my will to send you to the furthest corner of my +land, to protect it, with the approval of my knights, wherefore I pray +and require you that you do your power herein as many a time have you +done already in my service. And I will give you in command forty +knights." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Against your will am I not minded to be, but in +your court are there other knights full as good, or better than I, whom +you might well send thither. But I would not that you should hold this +of cowardize in me, and right willingly will I do your pleasure, for +none ought I to serve more willingly than you." + +The King giveth him much thanks of this that he saith. Lancelot +departeth from the court, and taketh forty knights with him, and so +cometh into the land of Albanie where King Madeglant hath arrived. +When they of the land knew that Lancelot was come, great joy had they +thereof in their hearts, for ofttimes had they heard tell of him and of +his good knighthood. They were all at his commandment, and received +him as their champion and protector. + + +III. + +King Madeglant one day issued forth of his ships to do battle against +Lancelot and them of the land. Lancelot received him right stoutly, +and slew many of his folk, and the more part fled and would fain have +drawn them to their ships, but Lancelot and his people went after and +cut a part of them to pieces. King Madeglant, with as many of his men +as he might, betaketh himself to his own ship privily, and maketh put +to sea the soonest he may. They that might not come to the ships +remained on dry land, and were so cut up and slain. Madeglant went his +way discomfited. Of ten ships full of men that he had brought he took +back with him but two. The land was in peace and assured in safety. +Lancelot remained there of a long space. They of the country loved him +much and gave themselves great joy of his valour and his great bounty, +insomuch that most of them say ofttimes that they would fain have such +a knight as was he for king, by the goodwill of King Arthur, for that +the land is too far away; but and if he would set there a knight or +other man that might protect the land, they would take it in right good +part, and he should hold the land of him, for they might not safeguard +it at their will without a champion, for that land without a lord may +but little avail. They of the land loved Lancelot well, as I tell you. +King Arthur was at Cardoil, and so were his knights together with him. +He thought to be assured in his kingdom and to live peaceably; but what +time he sate at meat one day in Cardoil, behold you thereupon a knight +that cometh before the Table Round without saluting him. + +"Sir," saith he, "Where is Lancelot?" + +"Sir," saith the King to the knight, "He is not in this country." + +"By my head," saith the knight, "that misliketh me. Wheresoever he be, +he is your knight and of your household; wherefore King Claudas sendeth +you word that he is his mortal enemy, and you also, if so be that for +love of him you receive him from this day forward, for he hath slain +his sister's son, Meliant of the Waste Manor, and he slew the father of +Meliant likewise, but the father belongeth not to King Claudas. + + +IV. + +Meliant was the son of his sister-german, wherefore much grieveth he of +his death." + +"Sir knight," saith the King, "I know not how the covenant may be +between them as of this that you tell me, but well know I that King +Claudas holdeth many a castle that King Claudas ought not of right to +have, whereof he disherited his father, but meet is it that each should +conquer his own right. But so much I tell you plainly, that never will +I fail mine own knight and he be such as durst defend himself of +murder, but and if he hath no will to do this, then well may I allow +that right be done upon him. But, sith that he will not love his own +death, neither I nor other ought greatly to love him and he refuse to +redress his wrong. When Lancelot shall know these tidings, I know well +that such is his valour and his loyalty that he will readily answer in +reason, and will do all that he ought to do to clear himself of such a +charge." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "You have heard well that I have told you. +Once more, I tell you plainly, King Claudas sendeth you word that so +you harbour his enemy henceforward and in such manner as you have done +heretofore, he will be less than pleased with you." + + +V. + +With that the knight departeth, and the King remaineth at Cardoil. He +sendeth for Briant of the Isles, his seneschal, and a great part of his +knights, and demandeth counsel of them what he may do. Messire Ywain +saith that he killed Meliant in the King's service, as one that warred +upon his land, albeit the King had done him no wrong, and had so made +common cause with the King's enemies without demanding right in his +court. Nor never had Meliant appealed Lancelot of murder nor of +treason, nor required him of the death of his father. Rather, Lancelot +slew him in open war, as one that warred upon his lord by wrong. + +"Sir," saith Messire Ywain to the King, "Howsoever Lancelot might have +wrought in respect of Meliant, your land ought not to be called to +account, for you were not in the kingdom, nor knew not that either had +done other any wrong, and therefore say I that King Claudas will do +great wrong and he bring plaint or levy war against you on this +account." + +"Messire Ywain," saith Briant of the Isles, "matter of common knowledge +is it that Lancelot slew the lord of the Waste Manor and Meliant his +son after the contention that was betwixt King Arthur and me. But, +after that he had slain the father, he ought of right to have taken +good heed that he did no wrong to the son, but rather ought he to have +sought peace and accord." + + +VI. + +"Briant," saith Messire Gawain, "Lancelot is nor here; and, moreover, +he is now on the King's business. Well know you that Meliant came to +you and that you made him knight, and that thereafter he warred upon +the King's land without reasonable occasion. The King was far away +from the land as he that made pilgrimage to the Graal. He was told +tidings that his land was being put to the worse, and he sent Lancelot +to protect it. He accordingly maintained the war as best he might +until such time as the King was returned. Meliant knew well that the +King was come back, and that never had he done wrong to none in his +court that wished to demand right therein. He neither came thither nor +sent, either to do right or to demand right, whether he did so for +despite or whether it was for that he knew not how to do it. In the +meanwhile he warred upon the King, that had never done him a wrong nor +refused to do him a right. Lancelot slew him in the King's war and +upon his land in defence thereof. There was peace of the war, as was +agreed on between you and the King, but and if any should therefore +hold Lancelot to blame of the death of Meliant, meseemeth that therein +is he wrong. For the others are not held to answer for them that they +slew; but and if you wish to say that Lancelot hath not slain him with +reason, howsoever he may have wrought aforetime in respect of his +father, I am ready to maintain his right by my body on behalf of his." + + +VII. + +"Messire Gawain," saith Briant of the Isles, "You will not as at this +time find none that will take up your gage on account of this affair, +nor ought any to make enemies of his friends, nor ought you to counsel +me so to do. King Madeglant warreth upon him and King Claudas maketh +war upon him also. They will deliver attacks enough. But I should +well allow, for the sake of saving his land and keeping his friends, +that the King should suffer Lancelot to remain at a distance from his +court for one year, until tidings should have come to King Claudas that +he had been bidden leave thereof, so as that King Arthur might have his +good will and his love." + +Sagramors li Desirous leapeth forward. "Briant of the Isles," saith +Sagramors, "Ill befall him that shall give such counsel to a lord or +his knight, and the knight have well served his lord, albeit he may +have slain in his wars a knight without murder and without treason, +that he should give him his leave! Right ill will Lancelot hitherto +have bestowed his services, and the King on this account give him his +leave! After that, let King Claudas come! Let him lay waste and slay, +and right great worship shall King Arthur have thereof! I say not this +for that Lancelot hath need be afeared of King Claudas body to body, +nor of the best knight in his land, but many things befall whereof one +taketh no heed; and so King Arthur give leave to Lancelot from his +court, it will be counted unto him for cowardize, and neither I nor you +nor other knight ought never more to have affiance in him." + +"Lord," saith Briant of the Isles, "Better would it avail the King to +give Lancelot leave for one year, than it would to fight for him ten +years and have his land wasted and put to the worse." + + +VIII. + +Thereupon, behold you! Orguelleux of the Launde come, that had not +been at the court of a long time, and it had been told him whereof +these words were. + +"Briant," saith Orguelleux of the Launde, "Evil fare the knight that +would fain grieve and harm with their lord them that have served him +well! Sith that Lancelot is not here, say nought of him that ought not +to be said. The court of King Arthur hath been as much renowned and +made honoured by Lancelot as by ever another knight that is in it, and, +but for him, never would his court have been so redoubted as it is. +For no knight is there so cruel to his foes nor so redoubted throughout +all Great Britain as is Lancelot, and, for that King Arthur loveth you, +make him not that he hate his knights, for such four or such six be +there in his castle as may depart therefrom without returning, the loss +whereof should scarce be made good by us. Lancelot hath well served +the King aforetime, and the King well knoweth how much he is worth; and +if so be that King Claudas purposeth to war on King Arthur for +Lancelot's sake, according as I have heard, without any reason, and +King Arthur be not more craven than he wont to be, he may well abide +his warfare and his strife so treason harm him not. For so many good +knights hath King Arthur yet, that none knoweth such knights nor such +King in the world beside." + + + +BRANCH XXVIII. + +TITLE I. + +This story saith that Briant would have been wroth with a will against +Orguelleux of the Launde, had it not been for the King, and Orguelleux +against him, for Orguelleux heeded no danger when anger and ill-will +carried him away. Therewithal the talk came to an end. When the King +learnt the tidings that Madeglant was discomfited and that the land of +Albanie was in peace, he sent word to Lancelot to return back. They of +the land were very sorrowful when he departed, for great affiance had +they in his chivalry. So he came back thither where King Arthur was. +All they of the land made a great joy, for well loved was he of many, +nor were there none that hated him save of envy alone. They told him +the tidings of King Claudas, and also in what manner Briant had spoken. +Lancelot took no notice outwardly, as he that well knew how to redress +all his grievances. He was at the court of a long while, for that King +Claudas was about to send over thither some one of his knights. Briant +of the Isles would fain that the King should have given him his leave, +for more he hated him than ever another knight in the court, sith he it +was that many a time had harmed him more than any other. By Briant's +counsel, King Claudas sent his knight to King Arthur's court, wherein +did he not wisely, for that he thereby renewed a matter whereof +afterward came right great mischief, as this title witnesseth. + + +II. + +Madeglant of Oriande heard say that Lancelot was repaired back, and +that the land of Albanie was all void save for the folk of the country. +He maketh ready his navy at once and cometh back to the land in great +force. He burneth the land and layeth it waste on every side, and doth +far worse therein than he did aforetime. They of the land sent over to +King Arthur and told him of their evil plight, warning him that, and he +send them not succour betimes, they will leave the land and yield up +the castles, for that they might not hold them longer. He took +counsel, the King with his knights, whom he might send thither, and +they said that Lancelot had already been there and that now another +knight should be sent thither. The King sent thither Briant of the +Isles, and lent him forty knights. Briant, that loved not the King in +his heart, came into the land, but only made pretence of helping him to +defend it. One day fell out a battle betwixt Madeglant and Briant and +all their men. Briant was discomfited, and had many of his knights +killed. Madeglant and his people spread themselves over the land and +laid the towns in ruins and destroyed the castles, that were +disgarnished, and put to death all them that would not believe in their +gods, and cut off their heads. + + +III. + +All they of the land and country longed with sorrow for Lancelot, and +said that had he remained there, the land would not have been thus +destroyed, nor might they never have protection of no knight but of him +alone. Briant of the Isles returned back, as he that would the war +against King Arthur should increase on every side, for, what good +soever the King may do him, he loveth him not, nor never will so long +as he is on live. But no semblant thereof durst he show, for, sith +that the best of his knights had been slain in the battle, so had he no +power on his side, as against Lancelot and the good knights of his +fellowship, whereof he would fain that there had been not one. + + +IV. + +King Arthur was at Cardoil on one day of Whitsuntide. Many were the +knights that were come to this court whereof I tell you. The King was +seated at meat, and the day was fair and clear, and the air clean and +fresh. Sagramors li Desirous and Lucan the Butler served before the +King. And what time they had served of the first meats, therewithal +behold you, a quarrel, like as it had been shot from a cross-bow, and +striketh in the column of the hall before the King so passing strong +that there was not a knight in the hall but heard it when it struck +therein. They all looked thereat in great wonderment. The quarrel was +like as it were of gold, and it had about it a many costly precious +stones. The King saith that quarrel so costly cometh not from a poor +place. Lancelot and Messire Gawain say that never have they seen one +so rich. It struck so deep in the column that the iron point thereof +might not be seen, and a good part of the shaft was also hidden. +Thereupon, behold you, a damsel of surpassing great beauty that cometh, +sitting on a right costly mule, full well caparisoned. She had a +gilded bridle and gilded saddle, and was clad in a right rich cloth of +silk. A squire followed after her that drove her mule from behind. +She came before King Arthur as straight as she might, and saluted him +right worshipfully, and he made answer the best he might. + +"Sir," saith she, "I am come to speak and demand a boon, nor will I +never alight until such time as you shall have granted it to me. For +such is my custom, and for this am I come to your court, whereof I have +heard such tidings and such witness in many places where I have been, +that I know you will not deny me herein." + + +V. + +"Damsel, tell me what boon you would have of me?" + +"Sir," saith she, "I would fain pray and beseech you that you bid the +knight that may draw forth this quarrel from this column go thither +where there is sore need of him." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Tell me the need." + +"Sir," saith she, "I will tell it you plainly when I shall see the +knight that shall have drawn it forth." + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Alight! Never, please God, shall you go +forth of my court denied of that you ask." + +Lucan the Butler taketh her between his arms and setteth her to the +ground, and her mule is led away to be stabled. When the damsel had +washen, she was set in a seat beside Messire Ywain, that showed her +much honour and served her with a good will. He looked at her from +time to time, for she was fair and gentle and of good countenance. +When they had eaten at the tables, the damsel prayeth the King that he +will hasten them to do her business. + +"Sir," saith she, "Many a good knight is there within yonder, and right +glad may he be that shall draw it forth, for I tell you a right good +knight is he, sith that none may achieve this business save he alone." + +"Fair nephew," saith the King, "Now set your hand to this quarrel and +give it back to the damsel." + +"Ha, sir," saith he, "Do me not shame! By the faith that I owe you, I +will not set my hand forward herein this day, nor ought you to be wroth +hereof. Behold, here have you Lancelot with you, and so many other +good knights, that little worship should I have herein were I to set +myself forward before them." + +"Messire Ywain," saith the King, "Set your hand hereto! It may be that +you think too humbly of yourself herein." + +"Sir," saith Messire Ywain, "Nought is there in the world that I would +not do for you, but as for this matter I pray you hold me excused." + +"Sagramors, and you, Orguelleux of the Launde, what will you do?" saith +the King. + +"Sir," say they, "When Lancelot hath made assay, we will do your +pleasure, but before him, so please you, we will not go." + + +VI. + +"Damsel," saith the King, "Pray Lancelot that he be fain to set his +hand, and then the rest shall go after him if needs be." + +"Lancelot," saith the damsel, "By the thing that most you love, make +not mine errand bootless, but set your hand to the quarrel and then +will the others do that they ought of right to do. For no leisure have +I to tarry here long time." + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Ill do you, and a sin, to conjure me for +nought, for so many good knights be here within, that I should be held +for a fool and a braggart and I put myself forward before all other." + +"By my head," saith the King, "Not so! Rather will you be held as a +knight courteous and wise and good, as now you ought to be, and great +worship will it be to yourself and you may draw forth the quarrel, and +great courtesy will it be to aid the damsel. Wherefore I require you, +of the faith you owe me, that you set your hand thereto, sith that the +damsel prayeth you so to do, before the others." + + +VII. + +Lancelot hath no mind to disobey the King's commandment; and he +remembered that the damsel had conjured him by the thing that most he +loved; nor was there nought in the world that he loved so much as the +Queen, albeit she were dead, nor never thought he of none other thing +save her alone. Then standeth he straight upright, doth off his robe, +and cometh straight to the quarrel that is fixed in the column. He +setteth his hand thereunto and draweth it forth with a right passing +strong wrench, so sturdily that he maketh the column tremble. Then he +giveth it to the damsel. + +"Sir," saith she to King Arthur, "Now is it my devoir to tell you +plainly of my errand; nor might none of the knights here within have +drawn forth the quarrel save only he; and you held me in covenant how +he that should draw it forth should do that which I shall require of +him, and that he might do it, nor will I pray nor require of him nought +that is not reason. Needs must he go to the Chapel Perilous the +swiftest he may, and there will he find a knight that lieth shrouded in +the midst of the chapel. He will take of the cloth wherein he is +shrouded and a sword that lieth at his side in the coffin, and will +take them to the Castle Perilous; and when he shall there have been, he +shall return to the castle where he slew the lion in the cavern wherein +are the two griffons, and the head of one of them shall he take and +bring to me at Castle Perilous, for a knight there lieth sick that may +not otherwise be healed." + + +VIII. + +"Damsel." saith Lancelot, "I see that you reckon but little of my life, +so only that your wish be accomplished." + +"Sir," saith she, "I know as well as you what the enterprise is, nor do +I no whit desire your death, for, and were you dead, never would the +knight be whole for whose sake you undertake it. And you will see the +fairest damsel that is in any kingdom, and the one that most desireth +to see you. And, so you tarry not, through her shall you lightly get +done that you have to do. See now that you delay it not, but do that +is needful swiftly sith that it hath been laid upon you, for the longer +you tarry, the greater will be the hazard of mischance befalling you." + +The damsel departeth from the court and taketh her leave and goeth her +way back as fast as she may, and saith to herself: "Lancelot, albeit +you have these pains and this travail for me, yet would I not your +death herein, but of right ought I to rejoice in your tribulation, for +into two of the most perilous places in the world are you going. +Greatly ought I to hate you, for you reft me of my friend and gave him +to another, and while I live may I never forget it." + +The damsel goeth her way, and Lancelot departeth from the court and +taketh leave of the King and of all the others. He issueth forth of +Cardoil, all armed, and entereth into the forest that is deep, and so +goeth forth a great pace, and prayeth God guide him into safety. + + + +BRANCH XXIX. + +TITLE I. + +Therewithal the story is silent of Lancelot, and saith that Briant of +the Isles is repaired to Cardoil. Of the forty knights that he took +with him, but fifteen doth he bring back again. Thereof is King Arthur +right sorrowful, and saith that he hath the fewer friends. They of the +land of Albanie have sent to King Arthur and told him that and he would +not lose the land for evermore he must send them Lancelot, for never +saw they knight that better knew how to avenge him on his enemies and +to do them hurt than was he. The King asketh Briant of the Isles how +it is that his knights are dead in such sort? + +"Sir," saith Briant, "Madeglant hath great force of people, and what +force of men soever may run upon them, they make a castle of their navy +in such sort that none may endure against them, and never did no folk +know so much of war as do they. The land lieth far away from you, and +more will it cost you to hold it than it is worth; and, if you will +believe my counsel, you will trouble yourself no more about it, and +they of the country would be well counselled and they did the same." + +"Briant," saith the King, "This would be great blame to myself. No +worshipful man ought to be idle in guarding and holding that which is +his own. The worshipful man ought not to hold of things so much for +their value as for their honour, and if I should leave the land +disgarnished of my aid and my counsel, they will take mine, and will +say that I have not heart to protect my land; and even now is it great +shame to myself that they have settled themselves there and would fain +draw away them of the land to their evil law. And I would fain that +Lancelot had achieved that he hath undertaken, and I would have sent +him there, for none would protect the land better than he, and, were he +now there along with forty knights and with them of the country, +Madeglant would make but short stay there." + +"Sir," saith Briant, "They of the country reckon nought of you nor any +other but Lancelot only, and they say that and you send him there they +will make him King." + +"It may well be that they say so," saith the King, "But never would +Lancelot do aught that should be against my will." + +"Sir," saith Briant, "Sith that you are not minded to believe me, I +will say no more in this matter, but in the end his knighthood will +harm you rather than help you and you take no better heed thereof than +up to this time you have done." + + + +BRANCH XXX. + +TITLE I. + +Of Briant of the Isles the story is here silent, whom King the +believeth too much in many things, and saith that Lancelot goeth his +way right through the forest, full heavy in thought. He had not ridden +far when he met a knight that was right sore wounded. He asked him +whence he came and who had wounded him in such manner. + +"Sir," saith he, "I come from the Chapel Perilous, where I was not able +to defend me against an evil folk that appeared there; and they have +wounded me in such sort as you see, and but for a damsel that came +thereinto from the forest I should not have escaped on live. But she +aided me on such condition that and I should see a knight they call +Lancelot, or Perceval, or Messire Gawain, I should tell which of them +soever I should first meet withal that he should go to her without +delay, for much she marvelleth her that none of them cometh into the +chapel, for none ought to enter there but good knights only. But much +do I marvel, Sir, how the damsel durst enter there, for it is the most +marvellous place that is, and the damsel is of right great beauty; +natheless she cometh thither oftentimes alone into the chapel. A +knight lieth in the chapel that hath been slain of late, that was a +fell and cruel knight and a hardy." + +"What was his name?" saith Lancelot. + +"He was named Ahuret the Bastard," saith the knight; "And he had but +one arm and one hand, and the other was smitten off at a castle that +Messire Gawain gave Meliot of Logres when he succoured him against this +knight that lieth in the coffin. And Meliot of Logres hath slain the +knight that had assieged the castle, but the knight wounded him sore, +so that he may not be whole save he have the sword wherewith he wounded +him, that lieth in the coffin at his side, and some of the cloth +wherein he is enshrouded; and, so God grant me to meet one of the +knights, gladly will I convey unto him the damsel's message." + +"Sir Knight," saith Lancelot, "One of them have you found. My name is +Lancelot, and for that I see you are wounded and in evil plight, I tell +it you thus freely." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "Now may God protect your body, for you go in +great peril of death. But the damsel much desireth to see you, I know +not for what, and well may she aid you if she will." + + +II. + +"Sir Knight, God hath brought us forth of many a peril, and so will He +also from this and it be His pleasure and His will." + +With that, Lancelot departeth from the knight, and hath ridden so far +that he is come at evensong to the Chapel Perilous, that standeth in a +great valley of the forest, and hath a little churchyard about it that +is well enclosed on all sides, and hath an ancient cross without the +entrance. The chapel and the graveyard are overshadowed of the forest, +that is right tall. Lancelot entereth therein all armed. He signeth +him of the cross and blesseth him and commendeth him to God. He seeth +in the grave-yard coffins in many places, and it seemeth him that he +seeth folk round about that talk together, the one with another. But he +might not hear that they said. He might not see them openly, but very +tall they seemed him to be. He is come toward the chapel and alighteth +of his horse, and seeth a shed outside the chapel, wherein was +provender for horses. He goeth thither to set his own there, then +leaneth his shield against his spear at the entrance of the chapel, and +entereth in, where it was very dark, for no light was there save only +of a single lamp that shone full darkly. He seeth the coffin that was +in the midst of the chapel wherein the knight lay. + + +III. + +When he had made his orison before an image of Our Lady, he cometh to +the coffin and openeth it as fast as he may, and seeth the knight, tall +and foul of favour, that therein lay dead. The cloth wherein he was +enshrouded was displayed all bloody. He taketh the sword that lay at +his side and lifteth the windingsheet to rend it at the seam, then +taketh the knight by the head to lift him upward, and findeth him so +heavy and so ungain that scarce may he remove him. He cutteth off the +half of the cloth wherein he is enshrouded, and the coffin beginneth to +make a crashing so passing loud that it seemed the chapel were falling. +When he hath the piece of the cloth and the sword he closeth the coffin +again, and forthwith cometh to the door of the chapel and seeth mount, +in the midst of the grave-yard as it seemed him, great knights and +horrible, and they are appareled as it were to combat, and him thinketh +that they are watching for him and espy him. + + +IV. + +Thereupon, behold you, a damsel running, her kirtle girt high about +her, right through the grave-yard a great pace. + +"Take heed you move not until such time as it is known who the knight +is!" She is come to the chapel. "Sir Knight, lay down the sword and +this that you have taken of the windingsheet of the dead knight!" + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "What hurt doth it you of this that I have?" + +"This," saith she, "That you have taken it without my leave; for I have +him in charge, both him and the chapel. And I would fain," saith she, +"know what is your name?" + +"Damsel," saith he, "What would you gain of knowing my name?" + +"I know not," saith she, "whether I shall have either loss or gain +thereof, but high time already is it that I should ask you it to my +sorrow, for many a time have I been deceived therein." + +"Damsel," saith he, "I am called Lancelot of the Lake." + +"You ought of right," saith she, "to have the sword and the cloth; but +come you with me to my castle, for oftentimes have I desired that you +and Perceval and Messire Gawain should see the three tombs that I have +made for your three selves." + + +V. + +"Damsel," saith he, "No wish have I to see my sepulchre so early +betimes." + +"By my head," saith she, "And you come not thither, you may not issue +from hence without tribulation; and they that you see there are earthly +fiends that guard this grave-yard and are at my commandment." + +"Never, damsel, please God," saith Lancelot, "may your devils have +power to harm a Christian." + +"Ha, Lancelot," saith she, "I beseech and pray you that you come with +me into my castle, and I will save your life as at this time from this +folk that are just now ready to fall upon you; and, so you are not +willing to do this, yield me back the sword that you have taken from +the coffin, and go your way at once." + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Into your castle may I not go, nor desire I +to go, wherefore pray me no more thereof, for other business have I to +do; nor will I yield you back the sword, whatsoever may befall me, for +a certain knight may not otherwise be healed, and great pity it were +that he should die." + +"Ha, Lancelot," saith she, "How hard and cruel do I find you towards +me! And as good cause have I to be sorry that you have the sword as +have you to be glad. For, and you had not had it upon you, never +should you have carried it off from hence at your will; rather should I +have had all my pleasure of you, and I would have made you be borne +into my castle, from whence never should you nave moved again for +nought you might do; and thus should I have been quit of the wardenship +of this chapel and of coming thereinto in such manner as now oftentimes +I needs must come. + + +VI. + +"But now am I taken in a trap, for, so long as you have the sword, not +one of them that are there yonder can do you evil nor hinder you of +going." + +Of this was Lancelot not sorry. He taketh leave of the damsel, that +departeth grudgingly, garnisheth him again of his arms, then mounteth +again on his horse and goeth his way right through the grave-yard. He +beholdeth this evil folk, that were so foul and huge and hideous, it +seemed as if they would devour everything. They made way for Lancelot, +and had no power to hurt him. He is issued forth of the grave-yard and +goeth his way through the forest until daylight appeared about him, +fair and clear. He found the hermit there where he had heard mass, +then ate a little, then departed and rode the day long until setting of +the sun, but could find no hold on the one side nor the other wherein +he might lodge, and so was benighted in the forest. + + +VII. + +Lancelot knew not which way to turn, for he had not often been in the +forest, and knew not how the land lay nor the paths therein. He rode +until he found a little causeway, and there was a path at the side that +led to an orchard that was at a corner of the forest, where there was a +postern gate whereby one entered, and it was not made fast for the +night. And the orchard was well enclosed with walls. Lancelot entered +in and made fast the entrance, then took off his horse's bridle and let +him feed on the grass. He might not espy the castle that was hard by +for the abundance of trees and the darkness of the night, and so knew +not whither he was arrived. He laid his shield for a pillow and his +arms at his side and fell on sleep. But, had he known where it was he +had come, little sleep would he have had, for he was close to the +cavern where he slew the lion and where the griffons were, that had +come in from the forest all gorged of victual, and were fallen on +sleep, and it was for them that the postern gate had been left +unbolted. A damsel went down from a chamber by a trapdoor with a +brachet on her arm for fear of the griffons, and as she went toward the +postern-gate to lock it, she espied Lancelot, that lay asleep in the +midst of the orchard. She ran back to her Lady the speediest she +might, and said unto her: "Up, Lady!" saith she, "Lancelot is sleeping +in the orchard!" + +She leapt up incontinent and came to the orchard there where Lancelot +was sleeping, then sate her down beside him and began to look at him, +sighing the while, and draweth as near him as she may. + +"Fair Lord God," saith she, "what shall I do? and I wake him first he +will have no care to kiss me, and if I kiss him sleeping he will awake +forthwith; and better hap is it for me to take the most I may even in +such-wise than to fail of all, and, moreover, if so be I shall have +kissed him, I may hope that he will not hate me thereof, sith that I +may then boast that I have had at least so much of that which is his +own." + +She set her mouth close to him and so kissed him the best and fairest +she might, three times, and Lancelot awakened forthwith. He leapt up +and made the cross upon him, then looked at the damsel, and said: "Ha, +God! where, then, am I?" + +"Fair sweet friend," saith she, "You are nigh her that hath all set her +heart upon you and will remove it never." + +"I cry you mercy, damsel," saith Lancelot, "and I tell you, for nought +that may befall, one that loveth me, please God, never will I hate! +but that which one hath loved long time ought not so soon to fall away +from the remembrance of a love that is rooted in the heart, when she +hath been proven good and loyal, nor ought one so soon to depart +therefrom." + + +VIII. + +"Sir," saith she, "This castle is at your commandment, and you will +remain therein, and well may you know my thought towards you. Would +that your thought were the same towards me." + +"Damsel," saith he, "I seek the healing of a knight that may not be +healed save I bring him the head of one of your serpents." + +"Certes, Sir, so hath it been said. But I bade the damsel say so only +for that I was fain you should come back hither to me." + +"Damsel," saith he, "I have come back hither, and so may I turn back +again sith that of the serpent's head is there no need." + +"Ha, Lancelot," saith she, "How good a knight are you, and how ill +default do you make in another way! No knight, methinketh, is there in +the world that would have refused me save only you. This cometh of your +folly, and your outrage, and your baseness of heart! The griffons have +not done my will in that they have not slain you or strangled you as +you slept, and, so I thought that they would have power to slay you, I +would make them come to slay you now. But the devil hath put so much +knighthood into you that scarce any man may have protection against +you. Better ought I to love you dead than alive. By my head, I would +fain that your head were hanged with the others that hang at the +entrance of the gateway, and, had I thought you would have failed me in +such wise I would have brought my father hither to where you were +sleeping, and right gladly would he have slain you." + + +IX. + +"None that knoweth the covenant between me and you ought to hold you +for a good knight; for you have cozened me of my right according to the +tenor and custom of the castle if that through perversity or +slothfulness you durst not take me when you have won me." + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "You may say your will. You have done so +much for me sithence that I came hither that I ought not to be afeard +of you, for traitor is the man or woman that kisseth another to procure +his hurt." + +"Lancelot, I took but that I might have, for well I see that none more +thereof may I have never again." + +He goeth to put the bridle on his destrier, and then taketh leave of +the damsel, that parteth from him right sorrowfully; but Lancelot would +no longer tarry, for great throng of knights was there in the castle, +and he was not minded to put him in jeopardy for nought. He issueth +forth of the orchard, and the damsel looketh after him as long as she +may see him. After that, cometh she to her chamber, sad and vexed at +heart, nor knoweth she how she may bear herself, for the thing in the +world that most she loveth is far away, and no joy may she have thereof. + + +X. + +Lancelot rideth right amidst the forest until it is day, and cometh at +the right hour of noon to the Castle Perilous, where Meliot of Logres +lay. He entered into the castle. The damsel that was at King Arthur's +court cometh to meet him. + +"Lancelot," saith she, "Welcome may you be!" + +"Damsel," saith he, "Good adventure may you have!" + +He was alighted at the mountingstage of the hall. She maketh him mount +up the steps and afterward be disarmed. + +"Damsel," saith he, "Behold, here is some of the winding-sheet wherein +the knight was shrouded, and here is his sword; but you befooled me as +concerning the serpent's head." + +"By my head," saith the damsel, "that did I for the sake of the damsel +of the Castle of Griffons that hateth you not a whit, for so prayed she +me to do. Now hath she seen you, and so will she be more at ease, and +will have no cause to ask me thereof." + + +XI. + +The damsel leadeth Lancelot to where Meliot of Logres lay. Lancelot +sitteth him down before him and asketh how it is with him? + +"Meliot," saith the damsel, "This is Lancelot, that bringeth you your +healing." + +"Ha, Sir, welcome may you be!" + +"God grant you health speedily," said Lancelot. + +"Ha, for God's sake," saith Meliot, "What doth Messire Gawain? Is he +hearty?" + +"I left him quite hearty when I parted from him," saith Lancelot, "And +so he knew that you had been wounded in such sort, full sorry would he +be thereof and King Arthur likewise." + +"Sir," saith he, "The knight that assieged them maimed me in this +fashion, but was himself maimed in such sort that he is dead thereof. +But the wounds that he dealt me are so cruel and so raging, that they +may not be healed save his sword toucheth them and if be not bound with +some of the winding-sheet wherein he was shrouded, that he had +displayed about him, all bloody." + +"By my faith," saith the damsel, "Behold them here!" + +"Ha, Sir," saith he, "Gramercy of this great goodness! In every way +appeareth it that you are good knight, for, but for the goodness of +your knighthood, the coffin wherein the knight lieth had never opened +so lightly, nor would you never have had the sword nor the cloth, nor +never till now hath knight entered therein but either he were slain +there, or departed thence wounded right grievously." + +They uncover his wounds, and Lancelot unbindeth them, and the damsel +toucheth him of the sword and the winding-sheet, and they are assuaged +for him. And he saith that now at last he knoweth well he need not +fear to die thereof. Lancelot is right joyful thereof in his heart, +for that he seeth he will be whole betimes; and sore pity had it been +of his death, for a good knight was he, and wise and loyal. + + +XI. + +"Lancelot," saith the lady, "Long time have I hated you on account of +the knight that I loved, whom you reft away from me and married to +another and not to me, and ofttimes have I put myself to pains to +grieve you of some ill deed for that you did to me, for never was I so +sorrowful for aught that befell me. He loved me of right great love, +and I him again, and never shall that love fail. But now is it far +further away from me than it was before, and for this bounty that you +have done, never hereafter need you fear aught of my grievance." + +"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Gramercy heartily." + +He was lodged in the castle the night richly and worshipfully, and +departed thence on the morrow when he had taken leave of the damsel and +Meliot, and goeth back a great pace toward the court of King Arthur, +that was sore dismayed, for Madeglant was conquering his islands and +great part of his land. The more part of the lands that he conquered +had renounced the New Law for fear of death and held the false believe. +And Messire Gawain and many other knights were departed from King +Arthur's court for that the King trusted more in Briant of the Isles +than he did in them. + + +XIII. + +For many times had King Arthur sent knights against Madeglant since +Lancelot was departed from the court, to the intent that they should +put to rebuke the enemies of his land, but never saw he one come back +from thence nought discomfited. The King of Oriande made much boast +that he would fulfil for his sister all that she had bidden him, for he +thought that King Arthur would yield himself up betimes unto him and +yield all his land likewise. The King greatly desired the return of +Lancelot, and said ofttimes that and he had been against his enemies as +nigh as the others he had sent they would not have durst so to fly +against him. In the midst of the dismay wherein was King Arthur, +Lancelot returned to the court, whereof was the King right joyous. +Lancelot knew that Messire Gawain and Messire Ywain were not there, and +that they held them aloof from the court more willingly than they +allowed on account of Briant of the Isles, that King Arthur believed in +more than ever a one of the others. He was minded to depart in like +sort, but the King would not let him, but said to him rather, +"Lancelot, I pray and beseech you, as him that I love much, that you +set your pains and your counsel on defending my land, for great +affiance have I in you." + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "My aid and my force shall fail you never; take +heed that yours fail not me." + +"Of right ought I not to fail you," saith the King, "Nor will I never, +for I should fail myself thereby." + + +XIV. + +The history saith that he gave Lancelot forty knights in charge, and +that he is come into an island where King Madeglant was. Or ever he +knew of his coming, Lancelot had cut off his retreat, for he cut his +cables and beat his anchors to pieces and broke up his ships. After +that, he struck among the people of Madeglant, and slew as many of them +as he would, he and his knights. The King thought to withdraw him +back, both him and his fellowship, into safety as he wont, but he found +himself right ill bested. Lancelot drove him toward the sea, whither he +fled, but only to find himself no less discomfit there, and slew him in +the midst of his folk, and all his other knights were slain and cast +into the sea. This island was freed of him by Lancelot, and from +thence he went to the other islands that Madeglant had conquered and +set again under the false Law, and there did away the false Law from +them that had been set thereunder by fear of death, and stablished the +land in such sort as it had been tofore. He roved so long from one +island to another that presently he came to Albanie where he had +succoured them at first. + + +XV. + +When they of the land saw him come, they well knew that the King of +Oriande was dead and the islands made free, whereof made they great +joy. The land was some deal emptied of the most puissant and the +strongest, for they were dead along with their lord. Lancelot had +brought with him some of the best knights and most puissant. He was +come with a great navy into the land and began to destroy it. They of +the land were misbelievers, for they believed in false idols and in +false images. They saw that they might not defend the land, sith that +their lord was dead. The more part let themselves be slain for that +they would not renounce the evil Law, and they that were minded to turn +to God were saved. The kingdom was right rich and right great that +Lancelot conquered and attorned to the Law of Our Lord in such wise. +He made break all the false images of copper and fatten wherein they +had believed tofore, and whereof false answers came to them of the +voices of devils. Thereafter he caused be made crucifixes and images +in the likeness of Our Lord, and in the likeness of His sweet Mother, +the better to confirm them of the kingdoms in the Law. + + +XVI. + +The strongest and most valiant of the land assembled one day and said +that it was high time a land so rich should no longer be without a +King. They all agreed and came to Lancelot and told him how they would +fain that he should be King of the realm he had conquered, for in no +land might he be better employed, and they would help him conquer other +realms enow. Lancelot thanked them much, but told them that of this +land nor of none other would he be King save by the good will of King +Arthur only; for that all the conquest he had made was his, and by his +commandment had he come thither, and had given him his own knights in +charge that had helped him to reconquer the lands. + + +XVII. + +King Claudas had heard tell how Lancelot had slain the King of Oriande +and that none of the islands might scarce be defended against him. He +had no liking of him, neither of his good knighthood nor of his +conquest, for well remembered he of the land that he had conquered from +King Ban of Benoic that was Lancelot's father, and therefore was he +sorry of the good knighthood whereof Lancelot was everywhere held of +worth and renown, for that he was tenant of his father's land. King +Claudas sent a privy message to Briant and bore him on hand that, and +he might do so much as that King Arthur should forbid Lancelot his +court, and that it were ill with him with the King, he would have much +liking thereof and would help him betimes to take vengeance on his +enemies, for, so Lancelot were forth of his court, and Messire Gawain, +the rest would scarce abide long time, and thus should they have all +their will of King Arthur's land. Briant sent word back to King Claudas +that Messire Gawain and Messire Ywain began to hold them aloof from the +court, and that as for most part of the other he need not trouble him a +whit, for he might so deal as that in short time Lancelot should be +well trounced, would they or nould they. + + +XVIII. + +Tidings are come to King Arthur's court that the King of Oriande is +dead and his people destroyed, and that Lancelot hath conquered his +kingdom and slain the King, and reconquered all the lands wherein he +had set the false Law and the false believe by his force and by dread +of him. And the more part say in the court that they of the realm of +Oriande nor those of the other islands will not let Lancelot repair to +court, and are doing their endeavour to make him King; and nought is +there in the world, and he command them, they will not do, and that +never was no folk so obedient to any as are they of all these lands to +him. Briant of the Isles cometh one day privily to King Arthur, and +saith: "Sir," saith he, "Much ought I to love you, for that you have +made me Seneschal of your land; whereby meseemeth you have great +affiance in me, and my bounden duty is it to turn aside that which is +evil from you and to set forward your good everywhere, and, did I not +so, no whit loyal should I be towards you. + + +XIX. + +"Tidings are come to me of late that they of the kingdom of Oriande and +Albanie and of the other islands that are your appanages have all +leagued together, and have sworn and given surety that they will aid +one another against you, and they are going presently to make Lancelot +their King, and will come down upon your land as speedily as they may +wheresoever he may dare lead them, and they have sworn their oath that +they will conquer your kingdom just as you now hold it, and, so you be +not garnished against them betimes, you may have thereof sore trouble +to your own body as well as the loss whereof I tell you." + +"By my head," saith the King, "I believe not that Lancelot durst think +this, nor that he would have the heart to do me evil." + +"By my head," saith Briant, "Long time have I had misgivings both of +this and of him, but one ought not to tell one's lord all that one +knows, for that one cannot be sure either that it be not leasing or +that folk wish to meddle in his affairs out of envy. But nought is +there in the world that I will conceal from you henceforward for the +love that you bear me and for that you have affiance in me, and so may +you well have, for I have abandoned my land for you that marched with +your own, whereby you may sorely straiten your enemies, for well you +know that in your court is there no knight of greater puissance than am +I." + + +XX. + +"By my head," saith the King, "I am fain to love you and hold you dear, +nor shall you never be removed from my love nor from my service for +nought that may be said of any, so manifestly have I seen your goodness +and your loyalty. I will bid Lancelot by my letters and under my seal +that he come to speak with me, for sore need have I thereof, and when +he shall be here we will take account of this that you have told me, +for this will I not, that he nor none other that may be my knight shall +dare rise in arms against me, for such power ought lord of right to +have over his knight, and to be feared and dreaded of him, for elsewise +is he feeble, and lordship without power availeth nought." + + +XXI. + +The King sent his letters by his messenger to Lancelot. The messenger +sought him until he found him in the kingdom of Oriande, and delivered +him the letters and the seal of the King. So soon as he knew that which +the letters say, he took leave of them of the land, that were right +sorrowful. He departed thence and came back to Cardoil, bringing with +him all the knights that he had in charge, and told the King that he +had reconquered for him all the islands, and that the King of Oriande +was dead and that his land was attorned to the Law of Our Lord. The +King bade Briant of the Isles that he should make forty knights come +armed under their cloaks ready to take Lancelot prisoner as soon as he +should command them. The tidings come to Lancelot, there where he was +in his hostel, that the King had made knights come all armed to the +palace. Lancelot bethought him that some need had arisen and that he +would arm himself likewise, so he made him be armed and came to the +hall where the King was. + +"Sir," saith Briant, "Lancelot thinketh him of something, for he hath +armed himself at his hostel, and is come hither in such manner and at +such time without your leave, and he may do something more yet. You +ought well to ask him wherefore he wisheth to do you evil, and in what +manner you have deserved it." + +He biddeth him be called before him. "Lancelot," saith the King, +"Wherefore are you armed?" + +"Sir, I was told that knights had come in hither armed, and I was +feared lest some mishap had befallen you, for I would not that any evil +should betide you." + +"You come hither for another thing," saith the King, "according to that +I have been given to wit, and, had the hall been void of folk, you +hoped to have slain me." + +The King commandeth him be taken forthwith without gainsay of any. The +knights that were armed did off their cloaks and leapt toward him on +all sides, for they durst not disobey the King's commandment, and the +more part were men of Briant of the Isles. + + +XXII. + +Lancelot seeth them coming towards him with their keen swords and +saith, "By my head, an evil guerdon do you return me of the services I +have done for you." + +The knights come to him all together swords drawn, and run upon him all +at once. He goeth defending himself, as far as the wall of the hall, +whereof he maketh a castle to his back, but before he cometh thither he +hath slain or wounded seven. He began to defend himself right stoutly +on all sides, but they gave him great buffets of their swords, and no +fair play is it of thirty or forty blows to one. Nor ought none +believe that one single knight might deliver himself from so many men, +seeing that they were eager to take him and do him a hurt. Lancelot +defended him the best he might, but the numbers were against him, and, +anyway, or ever he let himself be taken he sold himself right dear, for +of the forty knights he harmed at least a score, and of them was none +that was not sore wounded and the most part killed; and he caught +Briant of the Isles, that was helping to take him, so sore that he made +his sword drink the blood of his body, in such sort that the wound was +right wide. The knights laid hold on Lancelot on all sides, and the +King commanded that none should harm him, but that they should bring +him to his dungeon in the prison. Lancelot marvelled him much wherefore +the King should do this, nor might he understand wherefore this hatred +was come so lately. He is put in the prison so as the King hath +commanded. All they of the court are sorry thereof, save Briant and +his knights, but well may he yet aby it dear, so God bring Lancelot out +or prison. Some say, "Now is the King's court lost, sith that Messire +Gawain and the other knights have thus forsaken it, and Lancelot is put +in prison for doing well, ill trust may the others have therein." + +They pray God yet grant Briant of the Isles an evil guerdon, for well +know they that all this is of his procurement. And of an evil guerdon +shall he not fail so God protect Lancelot and bring him forth of prison. + + + +BRANCH XXXI. + +TITLE I. + +Thereupon the story is silent of Lancelot, and cometh back to Perceval +that had not heard these tidings, and if he had known them, right +sorrowful would he have been thereof. He is departed from his uncle's +castle that he hath reconquered, and was sore grieved of the tidings +that the damsel that was wounded brought him of his sister that Aristor +had carried away by force to the house of a vavasour. He was about to +take her to wife and cut off her head on the day of the New Year, for +such was his custom with all them that he took. Perceval rideth one +day, all heavy in thought, and taketh his way as fast as he may toward +the hermitage of his uncle King Hermit. He is come thither on an +eventide, and seeth three hermits issued forth of the hermitage. He +alighteth and goeth to meet them so soon as he seeth them. + +"Sir," say the hermits, "Enter not in, for they are laying out a body +there." + +"Who is it?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir," say the hermits, "It is the good King Pelles that Aristor slew +suddenly after mass on account of one of his nephews, Perceval, whom he +loveth not, and a damsel is laying out the body there within." + +When Perceval heard the news or his uncle that is dead, thereof was he +right grieved at heart, and on the morrow was he at his uncle's burial. +When mass was sung, Perceval would have departed, as he that had great +desire to take vengeance on him that had done him such shame. + + +II. + +Thereupon behold you the damsel that is his. + +"Sir," saith she, "Full long time have I been seeking you. Behold here +the head of a knight that I carry hanging at the bow of my saddle, in +this rich casket of ivory that you may see, and by none ought he to be +avenged but by you alone. Discharge me thereof, fair Sir, of your +courtesy, for I have carried it too long a time, and this King Arthur +knoweth well and Messire Gawain, for each hath seen me at court along +with the head, but they could give me no tidings of you, and my castle +may I not have again until such time as he be avenged." + +"Who, then, was the knight, damsel?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir, he was son of your uncle Bruns Brandalis, and were he on live, +would have been one of the best knights in the world." + +"And who slew him, damsel?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir, the Knight of the Deep Forest that leadeth the lion, foully in +treason there where he thought him safe. For had he been armed in like +manner as was the other, he would not have slain him." + +"Damsel," said Perceval, "This grieveth me that he hath slain him, and +it grieveth me likewise of mine uncle King Hermit, whom I would avenge +more willingly than all the men in the world, for he was slain on my +account." + + +III. + +"Most disloyal was this knight, and foully was he fain to avenge him +when he slew a holy man, a hermit that never wished him ill on account +of me and of none other. Right glad shall I be and I may find the +knight, and so, methinketh, will he be of me, for me he hateth as much +as I do him, as I have been told, and Lord God grant, howsoever he may +take it, that I may find him betimes." + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "So outrageous a knight is he that no knight +is there in the world so good but he thinketh himself of more worth +than he, and sith that he hateth you with a will, and he knew that you +were here, you and another, or you the third, he would come now at +once, were he in place and free." + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "God give him mischief of his coming, come +whensoever he may!" + +"Sir," saith she, "The Deep Forest there, where the Red Knight leadeth +the lion, is towards the castle of Aristor, and, or ever you come by +adventure into the forest, you may well hear some tidings of him!" + + + +BRANCH XXXII. + +INCIPIT. + +Here beginneth the last branch of the Graal in the name of the Father, +and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. + + +TITLE I. + +The story saith that Perceval went his way through the forest. He saw +pass before him two squires, and each carried a wild deer trussed +behind him that had been taken by hounds. Perceval cometh to them a +great pace and maketh them abide. + +"Lords," saith he, "Whither will you carry this venison?" + +"Sir," say the squires, "To the castle of Ariste, whereof Aristor is +lord." + +"Is there great throng of knights at the castle?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir," say the squires, "Not a single one is there, but within four +days will be a thousand there, for Messire is about to marry, whereof +is great preparation toward. He is going to take the daughter of the +Widow Lady, whom he carried off by force before her castle of Camelot, +and hath set her in the house of one of his vavasours until such time +as he shall espouse her. But we are right sorrowful, for she is of most +noble lineage and of great beauty and of the most worth in the world. +So is it great dole that he shall have her, for he will cut her head +off on the day of the New Year, sith that such is his custom." + +"And one might carry her off," saith Perceval, "would he not do well +therein?" + +"Yea, Sir!" say the squires, "Our Lord God would be well pleased +thereof, for such cruelty is the greatest that ever any knight may +have. Moreover, he is much blamed of a good hermit that he hath slain, +and every day desireth he to meet the brother of the damsel he is about +to take, that is one of the best knights in the world. And he saith +that he would slay him more gladly than ever another knight on live." + +"And where is your lord?" saith Perceval, "Can you give me witting?" + +"Yea, Sir," say the squires, "We parted from him but now in this +forest, where he held melly with a knight that seemeth us to be right +worshipful and valiant, and saith that he hath for name the Knight +Hardy. And for that he told Aristor that he was a knight of Perceval's +and of his fellowship, he ran upon him, and then commanded us to come +on, and said that he should vanquish him incontinent. We could still +hear just now the blows of the swords yonder where we were in the +forest, and Aristor is of so cruel conditions that no knight may pass +through this forest, but he is minded to slay him." + + +II. + +When Perceval heard these tidings, he departed from the squires, and so +soon as they were out of sight he goeth as great pace thither as they +had come thence. He had ridden half a league Welsh when he heard the +buffets they were dealing one another on the helm with their swords, +and right well pleased was he for that the Knight Hardy held so long +time melly with Aristor in whom is there so much cruelty and felony. +But Perceval knew not to what mischief the Knight Hardy had been +wounded through the body of a spear, so that the blood rayed out on all +sides; and Aristor had not remained whole, for he was wounded in two +places. So soon as Perceval espied them, he smiteth his horse of his +spurs, lance in rest, and smiteth Aristor right through the breast with +such force that he maketh him lose his stirrups and lie down backwards +over the hinder bow of the saddle. After that saith he: "I am come to +my sister's wedding, of right ought it not to be made without me." + + +III. + +Aristor, that was full hardy, set himself again betwixt the bows of the +saddle in great wrath when he seeth Perceval, and cometh towards him +like as if he were wood mad, sword in hand, and dealeth him such a +buffet on the helm as that it is all dinted in thereby. The Knight +Hardy draweth back when he seeth Perceval, for he is wounded to the +death through the body. He had held the stout so long time that he +could abide no more. But or ever he departed, he had wounded Aristor +in two places right grievously. Perceval felt the blow that was heavy, +and that his helmet was dinted in. He cometh back to Aristor and +smiteth him so passing strongly that he thrusteth the spear right +through his body and overthroweth him and his horse all of a heap. +Then he alighteth over him and taketh off the coif of his habergeon and +unlaceth his ventail. + +"What have you in mind to do?" said Aristor. + +"I will cut off your head," said Perceval, "and present it to my sister +whom you have failed." + +"Do not so!" saith Aristor, "But let me live, and I will forgo my +hatred." + +"Your hatred might I well abide henceforward, meseemeth," saith +Perceval, "But one may not abide you any longer, for well have you +deserved this, and God willeth not to bear with you." + +He smiteth off his head incontinent and hangeth it at his saddle-bow, +and cometh to the Knight Hardy, and asketh him how it is with him. + +"Sir," saith he, "I am very nigh my death, but I comfort me much of +this that I see you tofore I die." + +Perceval is remounted on his horse, then taketh his spear and leaveth +the body of the knight in the midst of the launde, and so departeth +forthwith and leadeth the Knight Hardy to a hermitage that was hard by +there, and lifteth him down of his horse as speedily as he may. After +that, he disarmed him and made him confess to the hermit, and when he +was shriven of his sins and repentant, and his soul had departed, he +made him be enshrouded of the damsel that followed him, and bestowed +his arms and his horse on the hermit for his soul, and the horse of +Aristor likewise. + + +IV. + +When mass had been sung for the knight that was dead, and the body +buried, Perceval departed. + +"Sir," saith the damsel that followed him, "Even now have you much to +do. Of this cruel knight and felonous you have avenged this country. +Now, God grant you find betimes the Red Knight that slew your uncle's +son. I doubt not but that you will conquer him, but great misgiving +have I of the lion, for it is the cruellest beast that saw I ever, and +he so loveth his lord and his horse as never no beast loved another so +much, and he helpeth his lord right hardily to defend him." + + +V. + +Perceval goeth toward the great Deep Forest without tarrying, and the +damsel after. But, or ever he came thither, he met a knight that was +wounded right sore, both he and his horse. + +"Ha, Sir," saith he to Perceval, "Enter not into this forest, whence I +have scarce escaped with much pains. For therein is a knight that had +much trouble of rescuing me from his lion; and no less am I in dread to +pass on forward, for there is a knight that is called Aristor, that +without occasion runneth upon the knights that pass through the forest." + +"Of him," saith the damsel, "need you have no fear, for you may see his +head hanging at the knight's saddle-bow." + + +VI. + +"Certes," saith the knight, "Never yet was I so glad of any tidings I +have heard, and well know I that he that slew him is not lacking of +great hardiment." + +The knight departeth from Perceval, but the lion had wounded his horse +so passing sore in the quarters that scarce could he go. + +"Sir Knight," saith Perceval, "Go to the hermit in the Deep Forest, and +say I bade him give you the destrier I left with him, for well I see +that you have sore need thereof, and you may repay him in some other +manner, for rather would he have something else than the horse." + +The knight goeth him much thanks of this that he saith. He cometh to +the hermit the best he may, and telleth him according as he had been +charged, and the hermit biddeth him take which destrier he will for the +love of the knight that had slain the evil-doer, that did so many evil +deeds in this forest. + +"And I will lend you them both twain if you will." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "I ask but for one of them." + +He taketh Aristor's horse, that seemed him the better, and straightway +mounteth thereon, and abandoneth his own, that might go no further. He +taketh leave of the hermit, and telleth him he will right well repay +him, but better had it befallen him and he had not taken the horse, for +thereof was he slain without reason thereafter. A knight that was of +the household of Aristor overtook him at the corner of the forest, and +knew his lord's horse and had heard tell that Aristor was dead, +wherefore he went into the forest to bury him. He smote the knight +through the body with his spear and so slew him, then took the horse +and went away forthwith. But, had Perceval known thereof, he would +have been little glad, for that he asked the knight to go for the +horse, but he did it only for the best, and for that he rode in great +misease. + + +VII. + +Perceval goeth toward the Deep Forest, that is full broad and long and +evil seeming, and when he was entered in he had scarce ridden a space +when he espied the lion that lay in the midst of a launde under a tree +and was waiting for his master, that was gone afar into the forest, and +the lion well knew that just there was the way whereby knights had to +pass, and therefore had abided there. The damsel draweth her back for +fear, and Perceval goeth toward the lion that had espied him already, +and came toward him, eyes on fire and jaws yawning wide. Perceval +aimeth his spear and thinketh to smite him in his open mouth, but the +lion swerved aside and he caught him in the fore-leg and so dealt him a +great wound, but the lion seizeth the horse with his claws on the +croup, and rendeth the skin and the flesh above the tail. The horse, +that feeleth himself wounded, catcheth him with his two hinder feet or +ever he could get away, so passing strongly that he breaketh the +master-teeth in his jaw. The lion gave out a roar so loud that all the +forest resounded thereof. The Red Knight heareth his lion roar, and so +cometh thither a great gallop, but, or ever he was come thither, +Perceval had slain the lion. When the knight saw his lion dead, right +sorry was he thereof. + +"By my head," saith he to Perceval, "When you slew my lion you did it +as a traitor!" + +"And you," saith Perceval, "adjudged your own death when you slew my +uncle's son, whose head this damsel beareth." + +Perceval cometh against him without more words, and the knight in like +manner with a great rushing, and breaketh his spear upon his shield. +Perceval smiteth him with such force that he thrusteth his spear right +through his body and beareth him to the ground dead beside his horse. +Perceval alighteth of his own when he hath slain the knight, and then +mounteth him on the Red Knight's horse for that his own might carry him +no longer. + + +VIII. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "My castle is in the midst of this forest, +that the Red Knight reft away from me long ago. I pray you now come +with me thither that I may be assured thereof in such sort as that I +may have it again wholly." + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "This have I no right to deny you." + +They ride amidst the forest so long as that they come to the castle +where the damsel ought to be. It stood in the fairest place of all the +forest, and was enclosed of high Walls battlemented, and within were +fair-windowed halls. The tidings were come to the castle that their +lord was dead. Perceval and the damsel entered in. He made the damsel +be assured of them that were therein, and made them yield up her castle +that they well knew was hers of right inheritance. The damsel made the +head be buried that she had carried so long, and bade that every day +should mass be done within for the soul of him. When Perceval had +sojourned therein as long as pleased him, he departed thence. The +damsel thanked him much of the bounty he had done her as concerning the +castle that she had again by him, for never again should it be +reconquered of another, as well she knew. + + +IX. + +Josephus telleth us in the scripture he recordeth for us, whereof this +history was drawn out of Latin into Romance, that none need be in doubt +that these adventures befell at that time in Great Britain and in all +the other kingdoms, and plenty enow more befell than I record, but +these were the most certain. The history saith that Perceval is come +into a hold, there where his sister was in the house of a vavasour that +was a right worshipful man. Each day the damsel made great dole of the +knight that was to take her, for the day was already drawing somewhat +nigh, and she knew not that he was dead. Full often lamented she the +Widow Lady her mother, that in like sort made great dole for her +daughter. The vavasour comforted the damsel right sweetly and longed +for her brother Perceval, but little thought he that he was so near +him. And Perceval is come to the hold all armed, and alighteth at the +mounting-stage before the hall. The vavasour cometh to meet him, and +marvelleth much who he is, for the more part believed that he was one +of Aristor's knights. + +"Sir," saith the vavasour, "Welcome may you be!" + +"Good adventure may you have, Sir!" saith Perceval. He holdeth +Aristor's head in his hand by the hair, whereof the vavasour marvelled +much that he should carry a knight's head in such-wise. Perceval cometh +to the master-chamber of the hall, where his sister was, that bewailed +her right sore. + + +X. + +"Damsel," saith he to his sister, "Weep not, for your wedding hath +failed. You may know it well by this token!" + +He throweth the head of Aristor before her on the ground, then saith +unto her: "Behold here the head of him that was to take you!" + +The damsel heareth Perceval her brother that was armed, and thereby she +knoweth him again. She leapeth up and maketh him the greatest joy that +ever damsel made to knight. She knoweth not what to do. So joyful is +she, that all have pity on her that see her of her weeping for the joy +that she maketh of her brother. The story saith that they sojourned +therewithin and that the vavasour showed them much honour. The damsel +made cast the knight's head into a river that ran round about the hold. +The vavasour was right glad of his death for the great felony that he +had in him, and for that needs must the damsel die in less than a year +and she had espoused him. + + +XI. + +When Perceval had been therein as long as it pleased him, he thanked +the vavasour much of the honour he had done him and his sister, and +departed, he and his sister along with him on the mule whereon she had +been brought thither. Perceval rode so long on his journeys that he is +come to Camelot and findeth his mother in great dole for her daughter +that should be Queen, for she thought surely that never should she see +her more. Full sorrowful was she moreover of her brother, the King +Hermit that had been killed in such-wise. Perceval cometh to the +chamber where his mother was lying and might not stint of making dole. +He taketh his sister by the hand and cometh before her. So soon as she +knoweth him she beginneth to weep for joy, and kisseth them one after +the other. + +"Fair son," saith she, "Blessed be the hour that you were born for by +you all my great joy cometh back to me! Now well may I depart, for I +have lived long enow." + +"Lady," saith he, "Your life ought to be an offence to none, for to +none hath it ever done ill, but, please God, you shall not end in this +place, but rather you shall end in the castle that was your cousin's +german, King Fisherman, there where is the most Holy Graal and the +sacred hallows are." + +"Fair son," saith she, "You say well, and there would I fain be." + +"Lady," saith he, "God will provide counsel and means whereby you shall +be there; and my sister, and she be minded to marry, will we set in +good place, where she may live worshipfully." + +"Certes, fair brother," saith she, "None shall I never marry, save God +alone." + +"Fair son," saith the Widow Lady, "The Damsel of the Car goeth to seek +you, and I shall end not until such time as she hath round you." + +"Lady," saith he, "In some place will she have tidings of me and I of +her." + +"Fair son," saith the Lady, "The damsel is here within that the +felonous knight wounded through the arm, that carried of your sister, +but she is healed." + +"Lady," saith he, "I am well avenged." + +He telleth her all the adventures until the time when he reconquered +the castle that was his uncle's. He sojourned long time with his +mother in the castle, and saw that the land was all assured and +peaceable. He departed thence and took his leave, for he had not yet +achieved all that he had to do. His mother remained long time, and his +sister, at Camelot, and led a good life and a holy. The lady made make +a chapel right rich about the sepulchre that lay between the forest and +Camelot, and had it adorned of rich vestments, and stablished a +chaplain that should sing mass there every day. Sithence then hath the +place been so builded up as that there is an abbey there and folk of +religion, and many bear witness that there it is still, right fair. +Perceval was departed from Camelot and entered into the great forest, +and so rode of a long while until he had left his mother's castle far +behind, and came toward evening to the hold of a knight that was at the +head of the forest. He harboured him therein, and the knight showed +him much honour and made him be unarmed, and brought him a robe to do +on. Perceval seeth that the knight is a right simple man, and that he +sigheth from time to time. + + +XII. + +"Sir," saith he, "Meseemeth you are not over joyous." + +"Certes, Sir," saith the knight, "I have no right to be, for a certain +man slew mine own brother towards the Deep Forest not long since, and +no right have I to be glad, for a worshipful man was he and a loyal." + +"Fair Sir," saith Perceval, "Know you who slew him?" + +"Fair Sir, it was one of Aristor's knights, for that he was sitting +upon a horse that had been Aristor's, and whereon another knight had +slain him, and a hermit had lent him to my brother for that the Red +Knight's lion had maimed his own." + +Perceval was little glad of these tidings, for that he had sent him +that had been slain on account of the horse. + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "Your brother had not deserved his death, +methinketh, for it was not he that slew the knight." + +"No, Sir, I know it all of a truth, but another, that slew the Red +Knight of the Deep Forest." + +Perceval was silent thereupon. He lay the night at the hostel and was +harboured right well, and on the morrow departed when he had taken +leave. He wandered until he came to a hermitage there where he heard +mass. After the service, the hermit came unto him and said: "Sir," +saith he, "In this forest are knights all armed that are keeping watch +for the knight that slew Aristor and the Red Knight and his lion as +well. Wherefore they meet no knight in this forest but they are minded +to slay him for the knight that slew these twain." + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "God keep me from meeting such folk as would do +me evil." + + +XIII. + +With that he departed from the hermitage and took leave of the hermit, +and rideth until that he is come into the forest and espieth the knight +that sitteth on Aristor's horse for that he hath slain the other +knight. A second knight was with him. They abide when they see +Perceval. + +"By my head," saith one of them, "This same shield bare he that slew +Aristor, as it was told us, and, like enough, it may be he." + +They come toward him, full career. Perceval seeth them coming, and +forgetteth not his spurs, but rather cometh against them the speediest +he may. The two knights smote him upon the shield and brake their +spears. Perceval overtaketh him that sitteth on Aristor's horse and +thrusteth an ell's length of his spear through his body and so +overthroweth him dead. + + +XIV. + +After that, he cometh to the other knight, that fain would have fled, +and smiteth off the shoulder close to his side, and he fell dead by the +side of the other. He taketh both twain of their destriers, and +knotteth the reins together and driveth them before him as far as the +house of the hermit, that had issued forth of his hermitage. He +delivered unto him the horse of Aristor and the other of the knight +that he had sent thither. + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "Well I know that and you shall see any knight +that hath need of it and shall ask you, you will lend him one of these +horses, for great courtesy is it to aid a worshipful man when one seeth +him in misfortune." + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "But now since, were here three knights. So +soon as they knew that the two were dead whose horses you had delivered +unto me, they departed, fleeing the speediest they might. I praised +them much of their going, and told them they did well not to die on +such occasion, for that the souls of knights that die under arms are +nigher to Hell than to Paradise." + + +XV. + +Perceval, that never was without sore toil and travail so long as he +lived, departed from the hermitage and went with great diligence right +through the midst of the forest, and met a knight that came a great +gallop over against him. He knew Perceval by the shield that he bare. + +"Sir," saith he, "I come from the Castle of the Black Hermit, there +where you will find the Damsel of the Car as soon as you arrive, +wherefore she sendeth you word by me that you speed your way and go to +her to ask for the chess-board that was taken away from before Messire +Gawain, or otherwise never again will you enter into the castle you +have won. Sir," saith he, "Haste, moreover, on account of a thing most +pitiful that I heard in this forest. I heard how a knight was leading +a damsel against her will, beating her with a great scourge. I passed +by the launde on the one side and he on the other, so that I espied him +through the underwood that was between us; but it seemed me that the +damsel was bemoaning her for the son of the Widow Lady that had given +her back her castle, and the knight said that for love of him he would +put her into the Serpent's pit. An old knight and a priest went after +the knight to pray him have mercy on the damsel, but so cruel is he, +that so far from doing so, he rather waxed sore wroth for that they +prayed it of him, and made cheer and semblant as though he would have +slain them." + +The knight departed from Perceval and taketh leave and Perceval goeth +along the way that the knight had come, thinking that he would go after +the damsel for he supposeth certainly that it is she to whom he gave +back her castle, and would fain know what knight it is that entreateth +her in such fashion. He hath ridden until he is come into the deepest +of the forest and the thickest. He bideth awhile and listeneth and +heareth the voice of the damsel, that was in a great valley where the +Serpent's pit was, wherein the knight was minded to set her. She cried +right loud for mercy, and wept, and the knight gave her great strokes +of the scourge to make her be still. Perceval had no will to tarry +longer, but rather cometh thither as fast as he may. + + +XVI. + +So soon as the damsel seeth Perceval, she knoweth him again. She +claspeth her two hands together and saith, "Ha, Sir, for God's sake +have mercy! Already have you given me back the castle whereof this +knight would reave me." + +The horse whereon Perceval sat, the knight knew him. + +"Sir," saith he, "This horse was the horse of Messire the Red Knight of +the Deep Forest! Now at last know I that it was you that slew him!" + +"It may well be," saith Perceval, "And if that I slew him, good right +had I to do so, for he had cut off the head of a son of mine uncle, the +which head this damsel carried of a long time." + +"By my head," saith the knight, "Sith that you slew him, you are my +mortal enemy!" + +So he draweth off in the midst of the launde and Perceval likewise, and +then they come together as fast as their horses may carry them, and +either giveth other great buffets in the midst of their breast with +their spears the most they may. Perceval smiteth the knight so passing +hard that he overthroweth him to the ground right over the croup of his +horse, and in the fall that he made, he to-brake him the master-bone of +his leg so that he might not move. And Perceval alighteth to the +ground and cometh where the knight lay. And he crieth him mercy that +he slay him not. And Perceval telleth him he need not fear death, nor +that he is minded to slay him in such plight as he is, but that like as +he was fain to make the damsel do he will make him do. He maketh +alight the other old knight and the priest, then maketh the knight be +carried to the Pit of the Serpent and the worms, whereof was great +store. The pit was dark and deep. When that the knight was therein he +might not live long for the worms that were there. The damsel thanked +Perceval much of this goodness and of the other that he had done her. +She departeth and returneth again to her castle, and was assured +therein on all sides, nor never thereafter had she dread of no knight, +for the cruel justice that Perceval had done on this one. + + +XVII. + +The son of the Widow Lady of his good knighthood knoweth not how to +live without travail. He well knoweth that when he hath been at the +Black Hermit's castle, he will in some measure have achieved his task. +But many another thing behoveth him to do tofore, and little toil he +thinketh it, whereof shall God be well pleased. He hath ridden so far +one day and another, that he came into a land where he met knights +stout and strong there where God was neither believed in nor loved, but +where rather they adored false images and false Lord-Gods and devils +that made themselves manifest. He met a knight at the entrance of a +forest. + +"Ha, Sir!" saith he to Perceval, "Return you back! No need is there +for you to go further, for the folk of this island are not +well-believers in God. I may not pass through the land but by truce +only. The Queen of this land was sister of the King of Oriande, that +Lancelot killed in the battle and all his folk, and seized his land, +wherein all the folk were misbelievers. Now throughout all the land +they believe in the Saviour of the World. Thereof is she passing +sorrowful, and hateth all them that believe in the New Law, insomuch as +that she would not look upon any that believed, and prayed to her gods +that never might she see none until such time as the New Law should be +overthrown; and God, that hath power to do this, blinded her forthwith. +Now she supposeth that the false gods wherein she believeth have done +this, and saith that when the New Law shall fall, she will have her +sight again by the renewal of these gods, and by their virtue, nor, +until this hour, hath she no desire to see. And I tell you this," +saith the knight, "because I would not that you should go thither as +yet, for that I misdoubt of your being troubled thereby." + +"Sir, Gramercy," saith Perceval, "But no knighthood is there so fair as +that which is undertaken to set forward the Law of God, and for Him +ought one to make better endeavour than for all other. In like manner +as He put His body in pain and travail for us, so ought each to put his +own for Him." + +He departeth from the knight, and was right joyous of this that he +heard him say that Lancelot had won a kingdom wherein he had done away +the false Law. But and he knew the tidings that the King had put him +in prison, he would not have been glad at all, for Lancelot was of his +lineage and was therefore good knight, and for this he loved him right +well. + + +XVIII. + +Perceval rideth until nightfall, and findeth a great castle fortified +with a great drawbridge, and there were tall ancient towers within. He +espied at the door a squire that had the weight of a chain on his neck, +and at the other end the chain was fixed to a great bulk of iron. The +chain was as long as the length of the bridge. Then cometh he over +against Perceval when he seeth him coming. + +"Sir," saith he, "Meseemeth you believe in God?" + +"Fair friend, so do I, the best I may." + +"Sir, for God's sake, enter not this castle!" + +"Wherefore, fair friend?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir," saith he, "I will tell you. I am Christian, even as are you, +and I am thrall within there and guard this gate, as you see. But it +is the most cruel castle that I know, and it is called the Raving +Castle. There be three knights within there, full young and comely, +but so soon as they see a knight of the New Law, forthwith are they out +of their senses, and all raving mad, so that nought may endure between +them. Moreover, there is within one of the fairest damsels that saw I +ever. She guardeth the knights so soon as they begin to rave, and so +much they dread her that they durst not disobey her commandment in +aught that she willeth, for many folk would they evilly entreat were it +not for her. And for that I am their thrall they put up with me, and I +have no fear of them, but many is the Christian knight that hath come +in hither that never hath issued hence." + +"Fair sweet friend," saith Perceval, "I will enter in thither and I +may, for I should not know this day how to go elsewhither, and true it +is that greater power hath God than the devil." + +He entereth into the castle and alighteth in the midst of the courtyard. + + +XIX. + +The damsel was at the windows of the hall, that was of passing great +beauty. She cometh down as soon as she may, and seeth Perceval come in +and the cross on his shield, and knoweth well thereby that he is +Christian. + +"Ha, Sir, for God's sake," saith she, "Come not up above, for there be +three of the comeliest knights that ever were seen that are playing at +tables and at dice in a chamber, and they are brothers-german. They +will all go out of their senses so soon as they shall see you!" + + +XX. + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Please God, so shall they not, and such a +miracle is good to see, for it is only right that all they who will not +believe in God should be raving mad when they see the things that come +of Him." + +Perceval goeth up into the hall, all armed, for all that the damsel +saith. She followeth him as fast as she may. The three knights espied +Perceval all armed and the cross on his shield, and forthwith leapt up +and were beside themselves. They rolled their eyes and tore themselves +and roared like devils. There were axes and swords in the hall that +they go to lay hold on, and they are fain to leap upon Perceval, but no +power have they to do so, for such was the will of God. When they saw +that they might not come a-nigh him, they ran either on other and so +slew themselves between them, nor would they stint their fighting +together for the damsel. Perceval beheld the miracle of these folks +that were thus killed, and the damsel that made right great dole +thereof. + +"Ha, damsel," saith he, "Weep not, but repent you of this false belief, +for they that are unwilling to believe in God shall die like mad folks +and devils!" + +Perceval made the squires that were there within bear the bodies out of +the hall, and made them be cast into a running water, and straightway +slew all the other, for that they were not minded to believe. The +castle was all emptied of the misbelieving folk save only the damsel +and those that waited upon her, and the Christian thrall that guarded +the gate. Perceval set him forth of the chain, then led him up into +the hall and made him disarm him. He found sundry right rich robes. +The damsel, that was of right great beauty, looked at him and saw that +he was a full comely knight, and well pleased she was with him. She +honoured him in right great sort, but she might not forget the three +knights that were her brothers, and made sore dole for them. + + +XXI. + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Nought availeth it to make this dole, but +take comfort on some other manner." + +Perceval looked at the hall from one end to the other and saw that it +was right rich, and the damsel, in whom was full great beauty, stinted +of making dole to look at Perceval. She seeth that he is comely knight +and gentle and tall and well furnished of good conditions, wherefore he +pleaseth her much, and forthwith beginneth she to love him, and saith +to herself that, so he would leave his God for the god in whom she +believed, right glad would she be thereof, and would make him lord of +her castle, for it seemed her that better might she not bestow it, and +sith that her brothers are dead, there may be no bringing of them back, +and therefore better would it be to forget her dole. But little knew +she Perceval's thought, for had she known that which he thinketh, she +would have imagined not this; for, and had she been Christian he might +not have been drawn to love her in such sort as she thinketh, sith that +Josephus telleth us that never did he lose his virginity for woman, but +rather died virgin and chaste and clean of his body. In this mind was +she still, nor never might she refrain her heart from him. Thinketh +she rather that, and he knew she was minded to love him, right joyous +would he be thereof, for that she is of so passing beauty. Perceval +asketh the damsel what she hath in her thought? + +"Sir," saith she, "Nought think I but only good and you will." + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Never, please God, shall there be hindrance +of me but that you renounce this evil Law and believe in the good." + +"Sir," saith she, "Do you renounce yours for love of me, and I will do +your commandment and your will." + + +XXII. + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Nought availeth to tell me this. Were you +man like as you are woman, your end would have come with the others. +But, please God, your tribulation shall tend itself to good." + +"Sir," saith she, "So you are willing to promise me that you will love +me like as knight ought to love damsel, I am well inclined to believe +in your God." + +"Damsel, I promise you as I am a Christian that so you are willing to +receive baptism, I will love you as he that firmly believeth in God +ought to love damsel." + +"Sir," saith she, "I ask no more of you." + +She biddeth send for a holy man, a hermit that was in the forest +appurtenant, and right gladly came he when he heard the tidings. They +held her up and baptized her, both her and her damsels with her. +Perceval held her at the font. Josephus witnesseth us in this history +that she had for name Celestre. And great joy made she of her baptism, +and her affections turned she unto good. The hermit remained there +with her, and taught her to understand the firm believe, and did the +service of Our Lord. The damsel was of right good life and right holy, +and ended thereafter in many good works. + + +XXIII. + +Perceval departed from the castle, and gave thanks to Our Lord and +praise, that He hath allowed him to conquer a castle so cruel and to +attorn it to the Law. He went his way a great pace, all armed, until +he came into a country wherein was great grief being made, and the more +part said that he was come that should destroy their Law, for that +already had he won their strongest castle. He is come towards an +ancient castle that was at the head of a forest. He looketh and seeth +at the entrance of the gateway a full great throng of folk. He seeth a +squire come forth thence, and asketh him unto whom belongeth the castle. + +"Sir," saith he, "It is Queen Jandree's, that hath made her be brought +before her gate with the folk you see yonder, for she hath heard tell +how the knights of the Raving Castle are dead, and another knight that +hath conquered the castle hath made the damsel be baptized, wherefore +much she marvelleth how this may be. She is in much dread of losing +her land, for her brother Madeglant of Oriande is dead, so that she may +no longer look to none for succour, and she hath been told how the +knight that conquered the Raving Castle is the Best Knight of the +World, and that none may endure against him. For this doubtance and +fear of him she is minded to go to one of her own castles that is +somewhat stronger." + +Perceval departeth from the squire and rideth until they that were at +the entrance of the gateway espied him. They saw the Red Cross that he +bare on his shield, and said to the Queen, "Lady, a Christian knight is +coming into this castle." + +"Take heed," saith she, "that it be not he that is about to overthrow +our Law!" + +Perceval cometh thither and alighteth, and cometh before the Queen all +armed. The Queen asketh what he seeketh. + + +XXIV. + +"Lady," saith he, "Nought seek I save good only to yourself so you +hinder it not." + +"You come," saith she, "from the Raving Castle, there where three +brothers are slain, whereof is great loss." + +"Lady," saith he, "At that castle was I, and now fain would I that your +own were at the will of Jesus Christ, in like manner as is that." + +"By my head," saith she, "And your Lord hath so great power as is said, +so will it be." + +"Lady, His virtue and His puissance are far greater than they say." + +"That would I fain know," saith she, "presently, and I am fain to pray +you that you depart not from me until that it hath been proven." + +Perceval granteth it gladly. She returned into her castle and Perceval +with her. When he was alighted he went up into the hall. They that +were within marvelled them much that she should thus give consent, for +never, sithence that she had been blind, might she allow no knight of +the New Law to be so nigh her, and made slay all them that came into +her power, nor might she never see clear so long as she had one of them +before her. Now is her disposition altered in such sort as that she +would fain she might see clear him that hath come in, for she hath been +told that he is the comeliest knight of the world and well seemeth to +be as good as they witness of him. + + +XXV. + +Perceval remained there gladly for that he saw the lady's cruelty was +somewhat slackened, and it seemed him that it would be great joy and +she were willing to turn to God, and they that are within there, for +well he knoweth that so she should hold to the New Law, all they of the +land would be of the same mind. When Perceval had lain the night at +the castle, the Lady on the morrow sent for all the more powerful of +her land, and came forth of her chamber into the hall where Perceval +was, seeing as clear as ever she had seen aforetime. + +"Lords," saith she, "Hearken ye all, for now will I tell you the truth +like as it hath befallen me. I was lying in my bed last night, and +well know ye that I saw not a whit, and made my orisons to our gods +that they would restore me my sight. It seemed me they made answer +that they had no power so to do, but that I should make be slain the +knight that was arrived here, and that and I did not, sore wroth would +they be with me. And when I had heard their voices say that nought +might they avail me as for that I had prayed of them, I remembered me +of the Lord in whom they that hold the New Law believe. And I prayed +Him right sweetly that, and so it were that He had such virtue and such +puissance as many said, He would make me see clear, so as that I might +believe in Him. At that hour I fell on sleep, and meseemed that I saw +one of the fairest Ladies in the world, and she was delivered of a +Child therewithin, and He had about Him a great brightness of light +like it were the sun shone at right noonday." + + +XXVI. + +"When the Child was born, so passing fair was He and so passing gentle +and of so sweet semblant that the looks of Him pleased me well; and +meseemed that at His deliverance there was a company of folk the +fairest that were seen ever, and they were like as it had been birds +and made full great joy. And methought that an ancient man that was +with Her, told me that My Lady had lost no whit of her maidenhood for +the Child. Well pleased was I the while this thing lasted me. It +seemed me that I saw it like as I do you. Thereafter, methought I saw +a Man bound to a stake, in whom was great sweetness and humility, and +an evil folk beat Him with scourges and rods right cruelly, so that the +blood ran down thereof. They would have no mercy on Him. Of this +might I not hold myself but that I wept for pity of Him. Therewithal I +awoke and marvelled much whence it should come and what it might be. +But in anyway it pleased me much that I had seen it. It seemed me +after this, that I saw the same Man that had been bound to the stake +set upon a cross, and nailed thereon right grievously and smitten in +the side with a spear, whereof had I such great pity that needs must I +weep of the sore pain that I saw Him suffer. I saw the Lady at the +feet of the cross, and knew her again that I had seen delivered of the +Child, but none might set in writing the great dole that she made. On +the other side of the cross was a man that seemed not joyful, but he +recomforted the Lady the fairest he might. And another folk were there +that collected His blood in a most holy Vessel that one of them held +for it." + + +XXVII. + +"Afterward, methought I saw Him taken down of hanging on the cross, and +set in a sepulchre of stone. Thereof had I great pity for, so long as +meseemed I saw Him thus never might I withhold me from weeping. And so +soon as the pity came into my heart, and the tears into my eyes, I had +my sight even as you see. In such a Lord as this ought one to believe, +for He suffered death when He might lightly have avoided it had He so +willed, but He did it to save His people. In this Lord I will that ye +all believe, and so renounce our false gods, for they be devils and +therefore may not aid us nor avail us. And he that will not believe, +him will I make be slain or die a shameful death." + +The Lady made her be held up and baptized, and all them that would not +do the same she made be destroyed and banished. This history telleth +us that her name was Salubre. She was good lady and well believed in +God, and so holy life led she thereafter that in a hermitage she died. +Perceval departed from the castle right joyous in his heart of the Lady +and her people that believed in the New Law. + + + +BRANCH XXXIII. + +TITLE I. + +Afterward, this title telleth us that Meliot of Logres was departed +from Castle Perilous sound and whole, by virtue of the sword that +Lancelot had brought him, and of the cloth that he took in the Chapel +Perilous. But sore sorrowful was he of the tidings he had heard that +Messire Gawain was in prison and he knew not where, but he had been +borne on hand that two knights that were kinsmen of them of the Raving +Castle that had slain one another, had shut him in prison on account of +Perceval that had won the castle. Now, saith Meliot of Logres, never +shall he have ease again until he knoweth where Messire Gawain is. He +rideth amidst a forest, and prayeth God grant him betimes to hear +witting of Messire Gawain. The forest was strange and gloomy. He rode +until nightfall but might not find neither hold nor hermitage. He +looketh right amidst the forest before him and seeth a damsel sitting +that bemoaneth herself full sore. The moon was dark and the place +right foul of seeming and the forest gloomy of shadow. + +"Ha, damsel, and what do you here at this hour?" + +"Sir," saith she, "I may not amend it, the more is my sorrow. For the +place is more perilous than you think. Look," saith she, "up above, +and you will see the occasion wherefore I am here." + +Meliot looketh and seeth two knights all armed hanging up above the +damsel's head. Thereof much marvelleth he. + +"Ha, damsel," saith he, "Who slew these knights so foully?" + +"Sir," saith she, "The Knight of the Galley that singeth in the sea." + +"And wherefore hath he hanged them in such wise?" + +"For this," saith she, "that they believed in God and His sweet Mother. +And so behoveth me to watch them here for forty days, that none take +them down of hanging, for and they were taken hence he would lose his +castle, he saith, and would cut off my head." + +"By my head," saith Meliot, "Such watch is foul shame to damsel, and no +longer shall you remain here." + +"Ha, Sir," saith the damsel, "Then shall I be a dead woman, for he is +of so great cruelty that none scarce might protect me against him." + + +II. + +"Damsel," saith Meliot, "Foul shame would it be and I left here these +knights in such wise for the reproach of other knights." + +Meliot made them graves with his sword, and so buried them the best he +might. + +"Sir," saith the damsel, "And you take not thought to protect me, the +knight will slay me. To-morrow, when he findeth not the knights, he +will search all the forest to look for me." + +Meliot and the damsel together go their way through the forest until +they come to a chapel where was wont to be a hermit that the Knight of +the Galley had destroyed. He helpeth down the damsel of his horse, and +afterward they entered into the chapel, where was a great brightness of +light, and a damsel was there that kept watch over a dead knight. +Meliot marvelleth him much. + +"Damsel," said Meliot, "When was this knight killed?" + +"Sir, yesterday the Knight of the Galley slew him on the seashore, +wherefore behoveth me thus keep watch, and in the morning will he come +hither or ever he go to the castle where Messire Gawain hath to-morrow +to fight with a lion, all unarmed, and my Lady, that is mistress both +of me and of this damsel you have brought hither, will likewise be +brought to-morrow to the place where the lion is to slay Messire +Gawain, and she in like sort will be afterward delivered to the lion +and she renounce not the New Law wherein the knight that came from +Raving Castle, whereof she is lady, hath made her believe; and we +ourselves shall be in like manner devoured along with her. But this +damsel would still have taken respite of my death and she had still +kept guard over the knights that were so foully hanged above her. +Natheless, sith that you have taken them down from where they were +hanging, you have done a right good deed, whatsoever betide, for the +Lord of the Red Tower will give his castle to the knight for this." + +Meliot is right joyous of the tidings that he hath heard of Messire +Gawain that he is still on live, for well knoweth he, sith that the +Knight of the Galley will come by the chapel there, that he will come +thither or ever Messire Gawain doth battle with the lion. + +"Sir," saith the damsel of the chapel, "For God's sake, take this +damsel to a place of safety, for the knight will be so wood mad of +wrath and despite so soon as he cometh hither, that he will be fain to +smite off her head forthwith, and of yourself also have I great fear." + + +III. + +"Damsel," saith Meliot, "The knight is but a man like as am I." + +"Yea, Sir, but stronger is he and more cruel than seem you to be." + +Meliot was in the chapel the night until the morrow, and heard the +knight coming like a tempest, and he brought with him the lady of the +castle and reviled her from time to time, and Meliot seeth him come, +and a dwarf that followeth after him a great pace. He crieth out to +him: "Sir, behold there the disloyal knight through whom you have lost +your castle. Now haste! Avenge yourself of him! After that will we go +to the death of Messire Gawain?" + +Meliot, so soon as he espieth him, mounteth and maketh his arms ready. + +"Is it you," saith the Knight of the Galley, "that hath trespassed on +my demesne and taken down my knights?" + +"By my head, yours were they not! Rather were they the knights of God, +and foul outrage have you done herein when you slew them so shamefully." + +He goeth toward the knight without more words, and smiteth him so +passing strong amidst the breast that he pierceth the habergeon and +thrusteth all the iron of his spear into his body and afterward draweth +it back to him with a great wrench. And the knight smiteth him so hard +on his shield that he maketh an ell's length pass beyond, for right +wroth was he that he was wounded. The dwarf crieth to him, "Away, then! +The knight endureth against you that have slain so many of them!" + +The Knight of the Galley waxeth wood wrath. He taketh his career, and +cometh as fast as his horse may carry him, and smiteth Meliot so +strongly that he breaketh his spear in such sort that he maketh both +him and his horse stagger. But Meliot catcheth him better, for he +thrusteth the spear right through his body and hurleth against him at +the by-passing with such stoutness and force that he maketh him fall +dead to the ground from his horse. The dwarf thought to escape, but +Meliot smote off his head, whereof the damsels gave him great thanks, +for many a mischief had he wrought them. + + +IV. + +Meliot buried the knight that he found in the chapel dead, then told +the damsels that he might abide no longer, but would go succour Messire +Gawain and he might. The damsels were horsed to their will, for one +had the horse of the knight that was slain and the other the horse of +the dwarf. The other damsel was come upon a mule, and they said that +they would go back, for the country was made all safe by the death of +the knight. They thanked Meliot much, for they say truly that he hath +rescued them from death. Meliot departeth from the damsels and goeth +right amidst the forest as he that would most fain hear tidings of +Messire Gawain. When he had ridden of a long space, he met a knight +that was coming all armed at great pace. + +"Sir Knight," saith he to Meliot, "Can you tell me tidings of the +Knight of the Galley?" + +"What have you to do therein?" saith Meliot. + +"Sir, the Lord of the Red Tower hath made bring Messire Gawain into a +launde of this forest, and there, all unarmed, must he do battle with a +lion. So my lord is waiting for the Knight of the Galley, that is to +bring two damsels thither that the lion will devour when he shall have +slain Messire Gawain." + +"Will the battle be presently?" saith Meliot. + +"Yea, Sir," saith the knight, "Soon enough betimes, for Messire Gawain +hath already been led thither and there bound to a stake until such +time as the lion shall be come. Then will he be unbound, but even then +two knights all armed will keep watch on him. But tell me tidings of +the Knight of the Galley, and you have seen him?" + +"Go forward," saith he, "and you will hear tidings of him." + +Meliot departeth thereupon, a great gallop, and cometh nigh the launde +whereunto Messire Gawain had been brought. He espied the two knights +that kept guard over him, and if that Messire Gawain were in fear, +little marvel was it, for he thought that his end had come. Meliot +espied him bound to an iron staple with cords about the body on all +sides so that he might not move. Meliot hath great pity thereof in his +heart, and saith to himself that he will die there sooner than Messire +Gawain shall die. He clappeth spurs to his horse when he cometh nigh +the knights, and overtaketh one of them with such a rush that he +thrusteth his spear right through his body, and beareth him down dead. +The other was fain to go to the castle for succour when he saw his +fellow dead. Meliot slew him forthwith. He cometh to Messire Gawain, +and so unbindeth him and cutteth the cords wherewith he is bound. + +"Sir," saith he, "I am Meliot of Logres, your knight." + + +V. + +When Messire Gawain felt himself unbound, no need to ask whether he had +joy thereof. The tidings were come to the Red Court that Queen Jandree +was christened and baptized, and that the Knight was come that had such +force and puissance in him that none might endure against him for the +God in whom he believed, and they knew likewise that the Knight of the +Galley was dead, and Messire Gawain unbound and the knights that +guarded him slain. They say that there may they not abide, so they +depart from the castle and say that they will cross the sea to protect +their bodies, for that there they may have no safety. + + +VI. + +When Meliot had delivered Messire Gawain he made him be armed with the +arms, such as they were, of one of the knights he had slain. Messire +Gawain mounted on a horse such as pleased him, and right great joy had +he at heart. They marvel much how it is that they of the castle have +not come after them, but they know not their thought nor how they are +scared. + +"Meliot," saith Messire Gawain, "You have delivered me from death this +time and one other, nor never had I acquaintance with any knight that +hath done so much for me in so short a time as have you." + +They departed the speediest they might and rode nigh enow to the +castle, but they heard none moving within nor any noise, nor saw they +none issue forth, and much marvelled they that none should come after +them. They rode until they came to the head of the forest and caught +sight of the sea that was nigh enough before them, and saw that there +was a great clashing of arms at the brink of the sea. A single knight +was doing battle with all them that would fain have entered into a +ship, and held stour so stiffly against them that he toppled the more +part into the sea. They went thither as fast as they might, and when +they drew nigh to the ship they knew that it was Perceval by his arms +and his shield. Or ever they reached it, the ship was put off into the +midst of the sea, wherein he was launched of his own great hardiment, +and they went on fighting against him within the ship. + +"Meliot," saith Messire Gawain, "See you, there is Perceval the Good +Knight, and now may we say of a truth that he is in sore peril of +death; for that ship, save God bethink Him thereof, shall arrive in +such manner and in such a place as that never more shall we have no +witting of him, and, so he perish for ever, no knight on live may have +power to set forward the Law of our Lord." + + +VII. + +Messire Gawain seeth the ship going further away, and Perceval that +defendeth himself therein against them that set upon him. Right heavy +is he that he came not sooner, or ever the ship had put off from the +land. He turneth back, he and Meliot together, and right sorrowful was +Messire Gawain of Perceval, for they knew not in what land he might +arrive, and, might he have followed, right gladly would he have gone +after him to aid him. They have ridden until they meet a knight. +Messire Gawain asketh him whence he cometh, and he saith from King +Arthur's court. + +"What tidings can you tell us thereof?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir, bad enough!" saith he. "King Arthur hath neglected all his +knights for Briant of the Isles, and hath put one of his best knights +in prison." + +"What is his name?" saith Messire Gawain. + +"Sir, he is called Lancelot of the Lake. He had reconquered all the +islands that had been reft of King Arthur, and slain King Madeglant, +and conquered the land of Oriande that he turned to the belief of the +Saviour of the World, and, so soon as he had conquered his enemies, +King Arthur sent for him forthwith and straightway put him in his +prison by the counsel of Briant of the Isles. But King Arthur will +have a surfeit of friends betimes; for King Claudas hath assembled his +folk in great plenty to reconquer the kingdom of Oriande and come back +upon King Arthur by the counsel of Briant of the Isles that betrayeth +the King, for he hath made him his Seneschal and commander of all his +land." + +"Sir Knight," saith Messire Gawain, "Needs must the King miscarry that +setteth aside the counsel of his good knights for the leasings of a +traitor." + +Thereupon the knight departed from Messire Gawain. Right heavy is he +of this that he hath said, that the King hath put Lancelot in prison. +Never tofore did he aught whereby he wrought so much to blame. + + + +BRANCH XXXIV. + +TITLE I. + +Hereupon the story is silent of Messire Gawain and Meliot and speaketh +of King Claudas that hath assembled a great folk by the counsel of +Briant of the Isles to come into the land of King Arthur, for he +knoweth that it is disgarnished of the good knights that wont there to +be, and he knoweth all the secret plottings of the court and what power +King Arthur hath withal. He draweth toward his land the nighest he may, +and hath won back the kingdom of Oriande all at his will. But they of +Albanie still hold against him and challenge the land the best they +may. Tidings thereof come to the court of King Arthur, and they of the +country sent him word that so he send them not succour betimes they +will yield up the land to King Claudas, and oftentimes they long after +Lancelot, and say that so they had a defender like him, the islands +would be all at peace. The King sent Briant of the Isles thither many +times, that ever incontinent returned thence discomfit, but never sent +he thither him that should have power to protect the land against King +Claudas. King Arthur was sore troubled, for no witting had he of +Messire Gawain nor Messire Ywain nor of others whereby his court had +use of right to be feared and dreaded and of high renown throughout all +other kingdoms. The King was one day in the hall at Cardoil, right +heavy; and he was at one of the windows, and remembered him of the +Queen and of his good knights that he wont to see oftener at court, +whereof the more part were dead, and of the adventures that wont to +befall therein whereof they saw none no longer. Lucan the Butler seeth +him right heavy and draweth nigh unto him quietly. + + +II. + +"Sir," saith he, "Meseemeth you are without joy." + +"Lucan," said the King, "Joy hath been somewhat far from me sithence +that the Queen hath been dead, and Gawain and the other knights have +held aloof from my court so that they deign come hither no longer. +Moreover, King Claudas warreth upon me and conquereth my lands so that +no power have I to rescue me for default of my knights." + +"Sir," saith Lucan, "Herein is there nought whereof you have right to +accuse any save yourself alone. For you have done evil unto him that +hath served you, and good unto them that are traitors to you. You have +one of the best knights in the world and the most loyal in your prison, +wherefore all the other hold them aloof from your court. Lancelot had +served you well by his good will and by his good knighthood, nor never +had he done you any disservice whereof you might in justice have done +him such shame; nor never will your enemies withhold them from you nor +have dread of you save only through him and other your good knights. +And know of a truth that Lancelot and Messire Gawain are the best of +your court." + +"Lucan," saith King Arthur, "So thought I ever again to have affiance +in him, I would make him be set forth of my prison, for well I know +that I have wrought discourteously toward him; and Lancelot is of a +great heart, wherefore would he not slacken of his despite for that +which hath been done unto him until such time as he should be avenged +thereof, for no king is there in the world, how puissant soever he be, +against whom he durst not well maintain his right." + + +III. + +"Sir," saith Lucan, "Lancelot well knoweth that and you had taken no +counsel but your own, he would not have been thus entreated, and I dare +well say that never so long as he liveth will he misdo in aught towards +you, for he hath in him much valour and loyalty, as many a time have +you had good cause to know. Wherefore, and you would fain have aid and +succour and hold your realm again, behoveth you set him forth of the +prison, or otherwise never will you succeed herein, and, if you do not +so, you will lose your land by treason." + +The King held by the counsel of Lucan the Butler. He made bring +Lancelot before him into the midst of the hall, that was somewhat made +ean of his being in prison, but he bore him as he wont, nor might none +look at him to whom he seemed not to be good knight. "Lancelot," saith +the King, "How is it with you?" + +"Sir," saith he, "It hath been ill with me long time, but, please God, +it shall be better hereafter." + +"Lancelot," saith the King, "I repent me of this that I have done to +you, and I have bethought me much of the good services I have found in +you, wherefore I will do you amends thereof at your will, in such sort +as that the love between us shall be whole as it was tofore." + + +IV. + +"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Your amends love I much, and your love more +than of any other; but never, please God, will I misdo you for aught +that you may have done to me, for it is well known that I have not been +in prison for no treason I have done, nor for no folly, but only for +that it was your will. Never will it be reproached me as of shame, +and, sith that you have done me nought whereof I may have blame nor +reproach, my devoir it is to withhold me from hating you; for you are +my lord, and if that you do me ill, without flattery of myself the ill +you do me is your own; but, please God, whatsoever you have done me, +never shall my aid fail you, rather, everywhere will I set my body in +adventure for your love, in like sort as I have done many a time." + + +V. + +In the court of King Arthur was right great joy of the most part when +they heard that Lancelot was set forth of prison, but not a whit +rejoiced were Briant and his folk. The King commanded that Lancelot +should be well cared for and made whole again, and that all should be +at his commandment. The court was all overjoyed thereof, and they +said: now at last might the King make war in good assurance. Lancelot +was foremost in the King's court and more redoubted than was ever +another of the knights. Briant of the Isles came one day before the +King. + +"Sir," saith he, "Behold, here is Lancelot that wounded me in your +service, wherefore I will that he know I am his enemy." + +"Briant," saith Lancelot, "And if that you deserved it tofore, well may +you be sorry thereof, and sith that you wish to be mine enemy, your +friend will I not be. For well may I deem of your love according as I +have found it in you." + +"Sir," saith Briant to the King, "You are my lord, and I am one you are +bound to protect. You know well that so rich am I in lands and so +puissant in friends that I may well despise mine enemy, nor will I not +remain at your court so long as Lancelot is therein. Say not that I +depart thence with any shame as toward myself. Rather thus go I hence +as one that will gladly avenge me, so I have place and freedom, and I +see plainly and know that you and your court love him far better than +you love me, wherefore behoveth me take thought thereof." + +"Briant," saith the King, "Remain as yet, and I will make amends for +you to Lancelot, and I myself will make amends for him to you." + + +VI. + +"Sir," saith Briant, "By the faith that I owe to you, none amends will +I have of him nor other until such time as I have drawn as much blood +of his body as did he of mine, and I will well that he know it." + +With that Briant departeth from the court all wrathful, but if that +Lancelot had not feared to anger the King, Briant would not have ridden +a league English or ever he had followed and forced him to fight. +Briant goeth toward the Castle of the Hard Rock, and saith that better +would it have been for the King that Lancelot were still in prison, for +that such a plea will he move against him and he may bring it to bear, +as that he shall lose thereof the best parcel of his land. He is gone +into the land of King Claudas, and saith that now at last hath he need +of his aid, for Lancelot is issued forth of the King's prison and is +better loved at court than all other, so that the King believeth in no +counsel save his only. King Claudas sweareth unto him and maketh +pledge that never will he fail him, and Briant to him again. + + + +BRANCH XXXV. + +TITLE I. + +Herewithal is the story silent of Briant and talketh of Perceval, that +the ship beareth away right swiftly; but so long hath he held battle +therein that every one hath he slain of them that were in the ship save +only the pilot that steereth her, for him hath he in covenant that he +will believe in God and renounce his evil Law. Perceval is far from +land so that he seeth nought but sea only, and the ship speedeth +onward, and God guideth him, as one that believeth in Him and loveth +Him and serveth Him of a good heart. The ship ran on by night and by +day as it pleased God, until that they saw a castle and an island of +the sea. He asked his pilot if he knew what castle it was. + +"Certes," saith he, "Not I, for so far have we run that I know not +neither the sea nor the stars." + +They come nigh the castle, and saw four that sounded bells at the four +corners of the town, right sweetly, and they that sounded them were +clad in white garments. They are come thither. + + +II. + +So soon as the ship had taken haven under the castle, the sea +withdraweth itself back, so that the ship is left on dry land. None +were therein save Perceval, his horse, and the pilot. They issued +forth of the ship and went by the side of the sea toward the castle, +and therein were the fairest halls and the fairest mansions that any +might see ever. He Looketh underneath a tree that was tall and broad +and seeth the fairest fountain and the clearest that any may devise, +and it was all surrounded of rich pillars, and the gravel thereof +seemed to be gold and precious stones. Above this fountain were two +men sitting, their beards and hair whiter than driven snow, albeit they +seemed young of visage. So soon as they saw Perceval they dressed them +to meet him, and bowed down and worshipped the shield that he bare at +his neck, and kissed the cross and then the boss wherein were the +hallows. + +"Sir," say they, "Marvel not of this that we do, for well knew we the +knight that bare this shield tofore you. Many a time we saw him or +ever God were crucified." + +Perceval marvelleth much of this that they say, for they talk of a time +that is long agone. + + +III. + +"Lords, know ye then how he was named?" + +Say they, "Joseph of Abarimacie, but no cross was there on the shield +before the death of Jesus Christ. But he had it set thereon after the +crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the sake of the Saviour that he loved +so well." + +Perceval took off the shield from his neck, and one of the worshipful +men setteth upon it as it were a posy of herbs that was blooming with +the fairest flowers in the world. Perceval looketh beyond the fountain +and seeth in a right fair place a round vessel like as it were ivory, +and it was so large that there was a knight within, all armed. He +looketh thereinto and seeth the knight, and speaketh unto him many +times, but never the more willeth the knight to answer him. Perceval +looketh at him in wonderment, and cometh back to the good men and +asketh them who is this knight, and they tell him that he may know not +as yet. They lead him to a great hall and bear his shield before him, +whereof they make right great joy, and show thereunto great worship. +He seeth the hall right rich, for hall so rich and so fair had he seen +never. It was hung about with right rich cloths of silk, and in the +midst of the hall was imaged the Saviour of the World so as He is in +His majesty, with the apostles about Him, and within were great +galleries that were full of folk and seemed to be of great holiness, +and so were they, for had they not been good men they might not there +have remained. + + +IV. + +"Sir," say the two Masters to Perceval, "This house that you see here +so rich, is the hall royal." + +"By my faith," saith Perceval, "So ought it well to be, for never saw I +none so much of worth." + +He Looketh all around, and seeth the richest tables of gold and ivory +that he saw ever. One of the Masters clappeth his hands thrice, and +three and thirty men come into the hall all in a company. They were +clad in white garments, and not one of them but had a red cross in the +midst of his breast, and they seemed to be all of an age. As soon as +they enter into the hall they do worship to God Our Lord and set out +their cups. Then went they to wash at a great laver of gold, and then +went to sit at the tables. The Masters made Perceval sit at the most +master-table with themselves. They were served thereat right +gloriously, and Perceval looked about him more gladlier than he ate. + + +V. + +And while he was thus looking, he seeth a chain of gold come down above +him loaded with precious stones, and in the midst thereof was a crown +of gold. The chain descended a great length and held on to nought save +to the will of Our Lord only. As soon as the Masters saw it descending +they opened a great wide pit that was in the midst of the hall, so that +one could see the hole all openly. As soon as the entrance of this pit +was discovered, there issued thence the greatest cry and most dolorous +that any heard ever, and when the worshipful men hear it, they +stretched out their hands towards Our Lord and all began to weep. +Perceval heareth this dolour, and marvelleth much what it may be. He +seeth that the chain of gold descendeth thither and is there stayed +until they have well-nigh eaten, and then draweth itself again into the +air and so goeth again aloft. But Perceval knoweth not what became +thereof, and the Master covereth the pit again, that was right grisly +to see, and pitiful to hear were the voices that issued therefrom. + + +VI. + +The Good Men rose from the tables when they had eaten, and gave thanks +right sweetly to Our Lord; and then returned thither whence they had +come. + +"Sir," saith the Master to Perceval, "The chain of gold that you have +seen is right precious and the crown of gold likewise. But never may +you issue forth from hence save you promise to return so soon as you +shall see the ship and the sail crossed of a red cross; otherwise may +you not depart hence." + +"Tell me," saith he, "of the chain of gold and the crown, what it may +be?" + +"We will tell you not," saith one of the Masters, "Save you promise +that which I tell you." + +"Certes, Sir," saith Perceval, "I promise you faithfully, that so soon +as I shall have done that I have to do for my lady my mother and one +other, that I will return hither, so I be on live and I see your ship +so marked as you say." + +"Yea, be you faithful to the end herein, and you shall have the crown +of gold upon your head so soon as you return, and so shall you be +seated in the throne, and shall be king of an island that is near to +this, right plenteous of all things good, for nought is there in the +world that is there lacking that is needful for man's body. King +Hermit was the king thereof that thus hath garnished it, and for that +he approved himself so well in this kingdom, and that they who are in +the island consented thereto, is he chosen to be king of a greater +realm. Now they desire that another worshipful man be sent them for +king, that shall do for them as much good as did he, but take you good +heed, sith that you will be king therein, that the island be well +garnished; for, and you garnish it not well, you will be put into the +Poverty-stricken Island, the crying whereof you have but now since +heard, and the crown thereof will again be reft from you. For they +that have been kings of the Plenteous Island and have not well approved +them, are among the folk that you saw in the Poverty-stricken Island, +lacking in all things good. And so I tell you that King Hermit, whom +you will succeed, hath sent thither a great part of his folk. There +are the heads sealed in silver, and the heads sealed in lead, and the +bodies whereunto these heads belonged; I tell you that you must make +come thither the head both of the King and of the Queen. But of the +other I tell you that they are in the Poverty-stricken Island. But we +know not whether they shall ever issue forth thence." + + +VII. + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "Tell me of the knight that is all armed in the +ivory vessel, who he is, and what is the name of this castle?" + +"You may not know," saith the Master, "until your return. But tell me +tidings of the most Holy Graal, that you reconquered, is it still in +the holy chapel that was King Fisherman's?" + +"Yea, Sir," saith Perceval, "And the sword wherewith S. John was +beheaded, and other hallows in great plenty." + +"I saw the Graal," saith the Master, "or ever Joseph, that was uncle to +King Fisherman, collected therein the blood or Jesus Christ. Know that +well am I acquainted with all your lineage, and of what folk you were +born. For your good knighthood and for your good cleanness and for +your good valour came you in hither, for such was Our Lord's will, and +take heed that you be ready when place shall be, and time shall come, +and you shall see the ship apparelled." + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "Most willingly shall I return, nor never would +I have sought to depart but for my lady my mother, and for my sister, +for never have I seen no place that so much hath pleased me." + +He was right well harboured the night within, and in the morning, or +ever he departed, heard a holy mass in a holy chapel the fairest that +he had seen ever. The Master cometh to him after the mass and bringeth +him a shield as white as snow. Afterwards, he saith, "You will leave +me your shield within for token of your coming and will bear this." + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "I will do your pleasure." + +He hath taken leave, and so departeth from the rich mansion, and +findeth the ship all apparelled, and heareth sound the bells at his +forth-going the same as at his coming. He entereth into the ship and +the sail is set. He leaveth the land far behind, and the pilot +steereth the ship and Our Lord God guideth and leadeth him. The ship +runneth a great speed, for far enough had she to run, but God made her +speed as He would, for He knew the passing great goodness and worth of +the knight that was within. + + +VIII. + +God hath guided and led the ship by day and by night until that she +arrived at an island where was a castle right ancient, but it seemed +not to be over-rich, rather it showed as had it been of great lordship +in days of yore. They cast anchor, and Perceval is come toward the +castle and entereth in all armed. He seeth the castle large, and the +dwelling chambers fallen down and the house-place roofless, and he +seeth a lady sitting before the steps of an old hall. She rose up as +soon as she saw him, but she was right poorly clad. It seemed well by +her body and her cheer and her bearing that she was a gentlewoman, and +he seeth that two damsels come with her that are young of age and are +as poorly clad as is the lady. + +"Sir," saith she to Perceval, "Welcome may you be. No knight have I +seen enter this castle of a long time." + +"Lady," saith Perceval, "God grant you joy and honour!" + +"Sir," saith she, "Need have we thereof, for none scarce have I had +this long while past." + +She leadeth him into a great ancient hall that was right poorly +garnished. + +"Sir," saith she, "Here will you harbour you the night, and you would +take in good part that we may do and you knew the plight of this +castle." + +She maketh him be unarmed of a servant that was there within, and the +damsels come before him and serve him right sweetly. The lady bringeth +him a mantle to do on. + +"Sir," saith she, "Within are no better garments wherewith to show you +honour than this." + +Perceval looketh on the damsels and hath great pity of them, for so +well shapen were they of limb and body as that nature might not have +better fashioned them, and all the beauty that may be in woman's body +was in them, and all the sweetness and simpleness. + + +IX. + +"Lady," saith Perceval, "Is this castle, then, not yours?" + +"Sir," saith she, "So much is all that remaineth unto me of all my +land, and you see there my daughters of whom is it right sore pity, for +nought have they but what you see, albeit gentlewomen are they and of +high lineage, but their kinsfolk are too far away, and a knight that is +right cruel hath reft us of our land sithence that my lord was dead, +and holdeth a son of mine in his prison, whereof I am right sorrowful, +for he is one of the comeliest knights in the world. He had not been +knight more than four years when he took him, and now may I aid neither +myself nor other, but I have heard tell that there is a knight in the +land of Wales that was the son of Alain li Gros of the Valleys of +Camelot, and he is the Best Knight in the World, and this Alain was +brother of Calobrutus, whose wife was I, and of whom I had my son and +these two daughters. This know I well, that and the Good Knight that +is so near akin to them were by any adventure to come into this island, +I should have my son again, and my daughters that are disherited would +have their lands again freely, and so should I be brought out of sore +pain and poverty. I am of another lineage that is full far away, for +King Ban of Benoic that is dead was mine uncle, but he hath a son that +is a right good knight as I have been told, so that and one of these +two should come nigh me in any of these islands right joyous should I +be thereof." + + +X. + +Perceval heareth that the two damsels are his uncle's daughters, and +hath great pity thereof. + +"Lady," saith he, "How is he named that is in prison?" + +"Sir," saith she, "Galobruns, and he that holdeth him in prison is +named Gohaz of the Castle of the Whale." + +"Is his castle near this, Lady?" saith he. + +"Sir, there is but an arm of the sea to cross, and in all these islands +of the sea is there none that hath any puissance but he only, and so +assured is he that no dread hath he of any. For none that is in this +land durst offend against him. Sir, one thing hath he bid me do, +whereof I am sore grieved, that and I send him not one of my daughters, +he hath sworn his oath that he will reave me of my castle." + +"Lady," saith Perceval, "An oath is not always kept. To the two +damsels, please God, shall he do no shame, and right heavy am I of that +he hath done already, for they were daughters of mine uncle. Alain li +Gros was my father and Galobrutus my uncle, and many another good man +that now is dead." + + +XI. + +When the damsels heard this, they kneeled down before him, and began to +weep for joy and kiss his hands, and pray him for God's sake have mercy +on them and on their brother. And he saith that he will not depart +from their land until he hath done all he may. He remaineth the night +in the castle and his mariner likewise. The lady made great joy of +Perceval, and did him all the honour she might. When the morrow came +they showed him the land of the King that had reft them of their land, +but the lady could not tell him where her son was in prison. He +departeth and cometh back to his ship when he hath taken leave of the +lady and the damsels, and right glad was he to know that the damsels +were so nigh to him of kin. So he prayeth God grant him that he may be +able to give them back their land and bring them out of the poverty +wherein they are. He roweth until that he is come under a rock, +wherein was a cave at top round and narrow and secure like as it were a +little house. Perceval looketh on that side, and seeth a man sitting +within. He maketh the ship draw nigh the rock, then looketh and seeth +the cutting of a way that went upwards through the rock. He is come +forth of the ship and goeth up the little path until he cometh into the +little house. He findeth within one of the comeliest knights in the +world. He had a ring at his feet and a collar on his neck with a chain +whereof the other end was fixed by a staple into a great ledge of the +rock. He rose up over against Perceval as soon as he saw him. + +"Sir Knight," saith Perceval, "You are well made fast." + +"Sir, that irketh me," saith the knight, "Better should I like myself +elsewhere than here." + +"You would be right," saith Perceval, "For you are in right evil plight +in the midst of this sea. Have you aught within to eat or to drink?" + +"Sir," saith he, "The daughter of the Sick Knight that dwelleth in the +island hard by, sendeth me every day in a boat as much meat as I may +eat, for she hath great pity of me. The King that hath imprisoned me +here hath reft her castles like as he hath those of my lady my mother." + +"May none remove you hence?" + +"Sir, in no wise, save he that set me here, for he keepeth with him the +key of the lock, and he told me when he departed hence that never more +should I issue forth." + +"By my head," saith Perceval, "but you shall! And you were the son of +Galobrutus, you were the son of mine uncle," saith Perceval, "and I of +yours, so that it would be a reproach to me for evermore and I left you +in this prison." + + +XII. + +When Galobruns heareth that he is his uncle's son, great joy hath he +thereof. He would have fallen at his feet, but Perceval would not, and +said to him, "Now be well assured, for I will seek your deliverance." + +He cometh down from the rock, and so entereth the ship and roweth of a +long space. He looketh before him and seeth a right rich island and a +right plenteous, and on the other side he seeth in a little islet a +knight that is mounted up in a tall tree that was right broad with many +boughs. There was a damsel with him, that had climbed up also for +dread of a serpent, great and evil-favoured that had issued from a hole +in a mountain. The damsel seeth Perceval's ship coming, and crieth out +to him. + +"Ha, Sir," saith she, "Come to help this King that is up above, and me +that am a damsel!" + +"Whereof are you afeard, damsel?" saith Perceval. + +"Of a great serpent, Sir," saith she, "that hath made us climb up, +whereof ought I not to be sorry, for this King hath carried me off from +my father's house, and would have done me shame of my body and this +serpent had not run upon him." + +"And what is the King's name, damsel?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir, he is called Gohaz of the Castle of the Whale. This great land +is his own that is so plenteous, and other lands enow that he hath reft +of my father and of other." + +The King had great shame of this that the damsel told him, and made +answer never a word. Perceval understandeth that it was he that held +his cousin in prison, and is issued from the ship forthwith, sword +drawn. The serpent seeth him, and cometh toward him, jaws yawning, and +casteth forth fire and flame in great plenty. Perceval thrusteth his +sword right through the gullet. + +"Now may you come down," saith he to the King. + +"Sir," saith he, "The key of a chain wherewith a certain knight is +bound hath fallen, and the serpent seized it." + +Perceval rendeth open the throat and findeth the key forthwith, all +red-hot with the fire of the serpent. The King cometh down, that hath +no dread of aught, but cometh, rather, as he ought, to thank Perceval +of the goodness he had done him, and Perceval seizeth him between his +arms and beareth him away to the ship. + + +XIII. + +"Sir Knight," saith Gohaz, "Take heed what you do, for I am King of +this land." + +"Therefore," saith Perceval, "I do it. For, had it been another I +should do it not." + +"Ha, Sir," saith the damsel, "Leave me not here to get forth as I may, +but help me until that I shall be in the house of my father, the Sick +Knight, that is sore grieved on my account." + +Perceval understandeth that it is the damsel of whom Galobruns spake +such praise. He goeth to bring her down from the tree, then bringeth +her into the ship, and so goeth back toward the rock where his cousin +was. + +"Sir Knight," saith Gohaz, "Where will you put me?" + +"I will put you," saith he, "as an enemy, there, where you have put the +son of mine uncle in prison; so shall I avenge me of you, and he also +at his will." + +When the King heard this, he was glad thereof not a whit, and the +damsel was loath not a whit, whom he had thus disherited. They row +until they come to the rock. Perceval issueth forth of the ship, and +bringeth Gohaz up maugre his head. Galobruns seeth him coming and +maketh great joy thereof, and Perceval saith to him: "Behold here your +mortal enemy! Now do your will of him!" + +He taketh the key and so looseth him of the irons wherein he was +imprisoned. + + +XIV. + +"Galobruns," saith Perceval, "Now may you do your pleasure of your +enemy?" + +"Sir," saith he, "Right gladly!" + +He maketh fast the irons on his feet that he had upon his own, and +afterward setteth the collar on his neck. + +"Now let him be here," saith he, "in such sort and in such prison as he +put me; for well I know that he will be succoured of none." + +After that, he flingeth the key into the sea as far as he might, and so +seemed it to Galobruns that he well avenged himself in such wise, and +better than if he had killed him. Perceval alloweth him everything +therein at his will. They enter into the ship and leave Gohaz all +sorrowing on the rock, that never thereafter ate nor drank. And +Perceval bringeth his cousin and the damsel, and they row until that +they come into their land, and Perceval maketh send for all the folk of +King Gohaz and maketh all the more powerful do sure homage to Galobruns +and his sisters in such sort that the land was all at their will. He +sojourned there so long as it pleased him, and then departed and took +leave of the damsel and Galobruns, that thanked him much for the lands +that he had again through him. + + +XV. + +Perceval hath rowed until that he is come nigh a castle that was +burning fiercely with a great flame, and seeth a hermitage upon the sea +hard by. He seeth the hermit at the door of the chapel, and asketh him +what the castle is that hath caught fire thus. + +"Sir," saith the hermit, "I will tell you. Joseus, the son of King +Pelles, slew his mother there. Never sithence hath the castle stinted +of burning, and I tell you that of this castle and one other will be +kindled the fire that shall burn up the world and put it to an end." + +Perceval marvelleth much, and knew well that it was the castle of King +Hermit his uncle. He departeth thence in great haste, and passeth +three kingdoms and saileth by the wastes and deserts on one side and +the other of the sea, for the ship ran somewhat a-nigh the land. He +looketh and seeth on an island twelve hermits sitting on the seashore. +The sea was calm and untroubled, and he made cast the anchor so as to +keep the ship steady. Then he saluteth the hermits, and they all bow +down to him in answer. He asketh them where have they their repair, +and they tell him that they have not far away twelve chapels and twelve +houses that surround a grave-yard wherein lie twelve dead knights that +we keep watch over. They were all brothers-german, and right +worshipful men, and none thereof lived more than twelve years knight +save one only, and none of them was there but won much land and broad +kingdoms from the misbelievers, and they all died in arms; and the name +of the eldest was Alain li Gros, and he came into this country from the +Valleys of Camelot to avenge his brother Alibans of the Waste City that +the Giant King had slain, and he took vengeance on him thereof, but he +died thereafter of a wound that the Giant had given him. + +"Sir," saith one of the hermits, "I was at his death, but nought was +there he so longed after as a son of his, and he said that his name was +Perceval. He was the last of the brothers that died." + + +XVI. + +When Perceval heard this he had pity thereof, and issued forth of the +ship and came to land, and his mariner with him. He prayed the hermits +that they would lead him to the graveyard where the knights lay, and +gladly did they so. Perceval is come thither and seeth the coffins +right rich and fair, and the chapels full fairly dight, and every +coffin lay over against the altar in each chapel. + +"Lords, which coffin is that of the Lord of Camelot?" + +"This, the highest," say the hermits, "and the most rich, for that he +was eldest of all the brethren." + +Perceval kneeleth down before it, then embraceth the coffin and prayeth +right sweetly for the soul of his father, and in like manner he went to +all the other coffins. He harboured the night with the hermits, and +told them that Alain li Gros was his father and all the other his +uncles. Right joyous were the hermits for that he was come thither, +and the morrow, or ever he departed, he heard mass in the chapel of his +father and in the others where he might. He entered into the ship and +sped full swift, and so far hath the ship run that he draweth nigh the +islands of Great Britain. He arriveth at the head of a forest under +the Red Tower whereof he had slain the lord, there where Meliot +delivered Messire Gawain. He is issued forth of the ship and leadeth +forth his horse and is armed, and commendeth the pilot to God. He +mounteth on his destrier, all armed, and goeth amidst the land that was +well-nigh void of people, for he himself had slain the greater part +thereof, albeit he knew it not. He rideth so long, right amidst the +country, that he cometh toward evensong to a hold that was in a great +forest, and he bethought him that he would go into the hermitage, and +he cometh straight into the hold, and seeth a knight lying in the +entrance of the gate on a straw mattress, and a damsel sate at the +bed's head, of passing great beauty, and held his head on her lap. + + +XVII. + +The knight reviled her from time to time, and said that he would make +cut of her head and he had not that he desired to have, for that he was +sick. Perceval looked at the lady that held him and served him full +sweetly, and deemed her to be a good lady and a loyal. The Sick Knight +called to Perceval. + +"Sir," saith he, "Are you come in hither to harbour?" + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "So please you, I will harbour here." + +"Then blame me not," saith the knight, "of that you shall see me do +unto my wife." + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "Sith that she is yours, you have a right to do +your pleasure, but in all things ought one to be heedful on one's way." + +The knight made him be carried back into the dwelling, for that he had +been in the air as long as pleased him, and commanded his wife that she +do much honour to the knight that is come to lodge within. + +"But take heed," saith he, "that you be not seen at the table, but eat, +as you are wont, at the squire's table, for, until such time as I have +the golden cup I desire, I will not forego my despite against you." + + +XVIII. + +Perceval unarmed him. The lady had brought him a surcoat of scarlet +for him to do on, and he asked her wherefore her lord reviled her and +rebuked her in such sort, and she told him all the story how Lancelot +had married her to him, and how her lord ever sithence had dishonoured +her. + +"Sir," saith she, "Now hath he fallen into misease, sithence then, and +he hath a brother as sick as he is, and therefore hath Gohaz of the +Castle of the Whale reft him of his land, whereof is he right sorry, +and my lord hath never been heal since that he heard thereof. And well +you know that such folk wax wroth of a little, and are overjoyed when +they have a little thing that pleaseth them, for they live always in +desire of somewhat. My lord hath heard tell of a cup of gold that a +damsel beareth, that is right rich and of greater worth than aught he +hath seen this long time, and a knight goeth with the damsel that +beareth the cup, and saith that none may have it save he be the Best +Knight in the World. My lord hath told me many times, sithence he +heard tidings thereof, that never shall the despite he hath toward me +be forgone, until that he shall have the cup. But he is so angry +withal with his brother that hath lost his land, that I aby it right +dear, for I do all his will and yet may I have no fair treatment of +him. Howbeit, for no ill that he may do, nor no churlishness that he +may say, will I be against him in nought that he hath set his mind on. +For I would have him, and I had him, blessed be Lancelot through whom +it was so. As much as I loved him in health, so much love I him in his +sickness, and more yet, for I desire to deserve that God shall bring +him to a better mind." + + +XIX. + +"Lady," saith Perceval, "Great praise ought you to have of this that +you say; but you may well tell him of a truth that the sick King his +brother hath all his land freely and his daughter, for I was at the +reconquering thereof, and know the knight well that gave it back unto +him. But of the golden cup can I give you no witting." + +"Sir," saith she, "The damsel is to bear it to an assembly of knights +that is to be held hard by this, under the White Tower. There hath she +to give it to the best knight, and him that shall do best at the +assembly, and the knight that followeth the damsel is bound to carry it +whither he that shall win it may command, and if he would fain it +should be given to another rather than to himself." + +"Lady," saith Perceval, "Well meseemeth that he who shall win the cup +by prize of arms will be right courteous and he send it to you, and God +grant that he that hath it may do you such bounty as you desire." + +"Sir," saith she, "Methinketh well, so Lancelot were there, either he +or Messire Gawain, that, and they won it, so they remembered them of +me, and knew how needful it were to me, they would promise me the cup." + +"Lady," saith Perceval, "By one of these twain ought you well to have +it, for greater prize now long since have they won." + +She goeth to her lord and saith to him: "Sir," saith she, "Now may you +be more joyous than is your wont, for that your brother hath his land +again all quit. For the knight that is within was at the reconquering." + +The Sick Knight heard her and had great joy thereof. + +"Go!" saith he to his wife, "and do great honour to the knight, but +take heed you sit not otherwise than you are wont." + +"Sir," saith she, "I will not." + + +XX. + +The damsel maketh Perceval sit at meat. When he had washen, he thought +that the lady should have come to sit beside him, but she would not +disobey her lord's commandment. When Perceval was set at the table and +he had been served of the first meats, thereupon the lady went to sit +with the squires. Perceval was much shamed that she should sit below, +but he was not minded to speak, for she had told him somewhat of her +lord's manner. Howbeit, he lay the night in the hold, and, on the +morrow when he had taken leave, he departed, and bethought him in his +courage that the knight would do good chivalry and great aims that +should do this sick knight his desire as concerning the cup, in such +sort as that his wife should be freed of the annoy that she is in, for +that all knights that knew thereof ought to have pity of her. Perceval +goeth his way as he that hath great desire to accomplish that he hath +to do, and to see the token of his going again to the castle where the +chain of gold appeared to him, for never yet saw he dwelling that +pleased him so much. He hath ridden so far that he is come into the +joyless forest of the Black Hermit, that is so loathly and horrible +that no leaves nor greenery are there by winter nor by summer, nor was +song of bird never heard therein, but all the land is gruesome and +burnt, and wide are the cracks therein. He hath scarce gone thereinto +or ever he hath overtaken the Damsel of the Car, that made full great +joy of him. + +"Sir," saith she, "Bald was I the first time I saw you; now may you see +that I have my hair." + +"Certes, yea!" saith Perceval, "And, as methinketh, hair passing +beautiful." + +"Sir," saith she, "I was wont to carry my arm at my neck in a scarf of +gold and silk, for that I thought the service I did you in the hostel +of King Fisherman your uncle had been ill bestowed; but now well I see +that it was not; wherefore now carry I the one arm in the same manner +as the other; and the damsel that wont to go a-foot now goeth +a-horseback; and blessed be you that have so approved you in goodness +by the good manner of your heart, and by your likeness to the first of +your lineage, whom you resemble in all good conditions. Sir," saith +she, "I durst not come nigh the castle, for there be archers there that +shoot so sore that none may endure their strokes, and hereof will they +stint not, they say, until such time as you be come thither. But well +know I wherefore they will cease then, for they will come to shut you +up within to slay and to destroy. Natheless all they that are within +will have no power, nor will they do you evil, save only the lord of +the castle; but he will do battle against you right gladly." + + +XXI. + +Perceval goeth toward the castle of the Black Hermit, and the Damsel of +the Car after. The archers draw and shoot stoutly. Perceval goeth +forward a great gallop, but they know him not on account of the white +shield. They think rather that it is one of the other knights, and +they lodge many arrows in his shield. He came nigh a drawbridge over a +moat right broad and foul and horrible, and the bridge was lowered so +soon as he came, and all the archers left of shooting. Then knew they +well that it was Perceval who came. The door was opened to receive +him, for they of the gate and they of the castle within thought to have +power to slay him. But so soon as they saw him, they lost their will +thereof and were all amared and without strength, and said that they +would set this business on their lord that was strong enough and +puissant enough to slay one man. Perceval entered all armed into a +great hall, and found it filled all around with a great throng of folk +that was right foul to look on. He that was called the Black Hermit +was full tall and Seemed to be of noble lordship, and he was in the +midst of the hall, all armed. + +"Sir," say his men, "And you have not defence of yourself, never no +counsel nor aid may you have of us!" + + +XXII. + +"We are yours to guard, to protect, and oftentimes have we defended +you; now defend us in this sore need." + +The Black Hermit sate upon a tall black horse, and was right richly +armed. So soon as Perceval espieth him, he cometh with such a rush +against him that he maketh all the hall resound, and the Black Hermit +cometh in like sort. They mell together with such force that the Black +Hermit breaketh his spear upon Perceval, but Perceval smiteth him so +passing stoutly on the left side upon the shield, that he beareth him +to the ground beside his horse, so that in the fall he made he +to-frushed two of the great ribs in the overturn. And when they that +were therein saw him fall, they opened the trap-door of a great pit +that was in the midst of the hall. So soon as they had opened it, the +foulest stench that any smelt ever issued thereout. They take their +lord and cast him into this abysm and this filth. After that, they +come to Perceval, and so yield the castle and put them at his mercy in +everything. Thereupon, behold you, the Damsel of the Car that cometh. +They deliver up to her the heads sealed in gold, both the head of the +King and of the Queen, and she departeth forthwith, for well knoweth +she that Perceval will achieve that he hath to do without her. She +departeth from the castle and goeth the speediest she may toward the +Valleys of Camelot. And all they of the castle that had been the Black +Hermit's are obedient to Perceval to do his will, and they have him in +covenant that never more shall knights be harassed there in such sort +as they had been theretofore, but rather that they should receive +gladly any knights that should pass that way, like as in other places. +Perceval departed from the castle rejoicing for that he had drawn them +to the believe of Our Lord, and every day was His service done therein +in holy wise, like as it is done in other places. + + +XXIII. + +Hereof ought the good knight to be loved that by the goodness of his +heart and the loyalty of his knighthood hath achieved all the emprises +he undertook, without reproach and without blame. Perceval hath ridden +until he hath overtaken the damsel that carried the rich cup of gold +and the knight that was along with her. Perceval saluteth him, and the +knight maketh answer, may he be blessed of God and of His sweet Mother. + +"Fair Sir," saith Perceval, "Is this damsel of your company?" + +Saith the knight, "Rather am I of hers. But we are going to an +assembly of knights that is to be under the White Tower to the intent +to prove which knight is most worth, and to him that shall have the +prize of the assembly shall be delivered this golden cup." + +"By my head," saith Perceval, "That will be fair to see!" + +He departeth from the knight and the damsel, and goeth his way a great +pace amidst the meadows under the White Tower, whither the knights were +coming from all parts, and many of them were already armed to issue +forth. So soon as it was known that the damsel with the cup was come +thither, the fellowships assembled on all sides, and great was the +clashing of arms. Perceval hurleth into the assembly in such sort that +many a knight he smiteth down and overthroweth at his coming, and he +giveth so many blows and so many receiveth that all they that behold +marvel much how he may abide. The assembly lasted until evensong, and +when it came to an end the damsel came to the knights and prayed and +required that they would declare to her by right judgment of arms which +had done the best. The more part said that he of the white shield had +surpassed them all in arms, and all agreed thereto. The damsel was +right glad, for well she knew that they spake truth. She cometh to +Perceval; "Sir," saith she, "I present you this cup of gold for your +good chivalry, and therefore is it meet and right you should know +whence the cup cometh. The elder Damsel of the Tent where the evil +custom was wont to be, sent it to Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain +made much joy thereof. And it came to pass on such wise that Brundans, +the son of the sister of Briant of the Isles, slew Meliot of Logres, +the most courteous knight and the most valiant that was in the realm of +Logres, and thereof was Messire Gawain so sorrowful that he knew not +how to contain himself. For Meliot had twice rescued him from death, +and King Arthur once. He was liegeman of Messire Gawain. Wherefore he +prayeth and beseecheth you on his behalf that you receive not the cup +save you undertake to avenge him. For he was loved of all the court, +albeit he had haunted it but little. Brundans slew him in treason when +Meliot was unawares of him." + +"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Were there no cup at all, yet natheless +should I be fain to do the will of Messire Gawain, for never might I +love the man that had deserved his hatred." He taketh the cup in his +hand. "Damsel," saith he, "I thank you much hereof, and God grant I +may reward you for the same." + +"Sir," saith she, "Brundans is a right proud knight, and beareth a +shield party of vert and argent. He is minded never to change his +cognisance, for that his father bore the same." + +Perceval called the knight that was of the damsel's company. "I +beseech you," saith he, "of guerdon and of service, that you bear this +cup for me to the hold of the Sick Knight, and tell his wife that the +Knight of the White Shield that was harboured there within hath sent it +her by you." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "This will I do gladly to fulfil your will." + +He taketh the cup to furnish out the conditions of the message, and so +departeth forthwith. + + +XXIV. + +Perceval lay the night in the castle of the White Tower, and departed +thence on the morrow as he that would fain do somewhat whereof he might +deserve well of Messire Gawain. Many a time had he heard tell of +Meliot of Logres and of his chivalry and of his great valour. He was +entered into a forest, and had heard mass of a hermit, from whom he had +departed. He came to the Castle Perilous that was hard by there where +Meliot lay sick, lay wounded, when Lancelot brought him the sword and +the cloth wherewith he touched his wounds. He entered into the castle +and alighted. The damsel of the castle, that made great dole, came to +meet Perceval. "Damsel," saith he, "Wherefore are you so sorrowful?" + +"Sir," saith she, "For a knight that I tended and healed herewithin, +whom Brundans hath killed in treason, and God thereof grant us +vengeance yet, for so courteous knight saw I never." + +While she was speaking in this manner, forthwith behold you a damsel +that cometh. + +"Ha, Sir," saith she to Perceval, "Mount you again and come to aid us, +for none other knight find I in this land nor in this forest but only +you all alone!" + +"What need have you of my aid?" saith Perceval. + +"A knight is carrying off my lady by force, that was going to the court +of King Arthur." + +"Who is your lady?" saith Perceval. + +"Sir, she is the younger Damsel of the Tent where Messire Gawain +overthrew the evil customs. For God's sake, hasten you, for he +revileth her sore for her love of the King and of Messire Gawain." + +Perceval remounteth forthwith and issueth forth of the castle on the +spur. The damsel bringeth him on as fast as the knight can go. They +had not ridden far before they came a-nigh, and Perceval heard the +damsel crying aloud for mercy, and the knight said that mercy upon her +he would not have, and so smote her on the head and neck with the fiat +of his sword. + + +XXV. + +Perceval espied the knight and saw that the cognisance of his shield +was such as that which had been set forth to him. + +"Sir," saith he, "Too churlishly are you entreating this damsel! What +wrong hath she done you?" + +"What is it to you of me and of her?" + +"I say it" saith Perceval, "for that no knight ought to do churlishly +to damsel." + +"He will not stint for you yet!" saith Brundans. He raiseth his sword +and dealeth the damsel a buffet with the fiat so passing heavy that it +maketh her stoop withal so that the blood rayeth out at mouth and nose. + +"By my head," saith Perceval, "On this buffet I defy thee, for the +death of Meliot and for the shame you have done this damsel." + +"Neither you nor none other may brag that you have heart to attack me, +but you shall aby it right dear!" + +"That shall you see presently," saith Perceval and so draweth back the +better to let drive at him, and moveth towards him as fast as his horse +may run, and smiteth him so passing sore that he pierceth his shield +and bursteth his habergeon and then thrusteth his spear into his body +with such force that he overthroweth him all in a heap, him and his +horse, in such sort that he breaketh both legs in the fall. + +Then he alighteth over him, lowereth his coif, unlaceth the ventail, +and smiteth off his head. + +"Damsel," saith he, "Take it, I present it to you. And, sith that you +are going to King Arthur's court, I pray and beseech you that you carry +it thither and so salute him first for me, and tell Messire Gawain and +Lancelot that this is the last present I look ever to make them, for I +think never to see them more. Howbeit, wheresoever I may be, I shall be +their well-wisher, nor may I never withdraw me of my love, and I would +fain I might make them the same present of the heads of all their +enemies, but that I may do nought against God's will." + +The damsel giveth him thanks for that he hath delivered her from the +hands of the knight, and saith that she shall praise him much thereof +to the King and Messire Gawain. She goeth her way and carrieth off the +head, and Perceval biddeth her to God. He returned back to Castle +Perilous, and the damsel made great joy thereof when she understood +that he had slain Brundans. Perceval lay there that night, and +departed on the morrow after that he had heard mass. When he came +forth of the castle he met the knight by whom he had sent the cup to +the Sick Knight's wife. Perceval asketh how it is with him. + +"Sir," saith he, "I have carried out your message right well, for never +was a thing received with such good will. The Sick Knight hath forgone +his grudge against his wife. She eateth at his table, and the +household do her commandment." + +"This liketh me right well," saith Perceval, "and I thank you of doing +this errand." + +"Sir," saith the knight, "No thing is there I would not do for you, for +that you made my brother Knight Hardy there where you first saw him +Knight Coward." + +"Sir," saith Perceval, "Good knight was your brother and a right good +end he made, but a little it forthinketh me that he might have still +been living had he abided in his cowardize." + +"Sir," saith he, "Better is he dead, sith that he died with honour, +than that he should live with shame. Yet glad was I not of his death, +for a hardy knight he was, and yet more would have been, had he lived +longer." + + +XXVI. + +Perceval departeth from the knight and commendeth him to God. He hath +wandered so far one day and another that he is returned to his own most +holy castle, and findeth therein his mother and his sister that the +Damsel of the Car had brought thither. The Widow Lady had made bear +thither the body that lay in the coffin before the castle of Camelot in +the rich chapel that she had builded there. His sister brought the +cerecloth that she took in the Waste Chapel, and presented there where +the Graal was. Perceval made bring the coffin of the other knight that +was at the entrance of his castle within the chapel likewise, and place +it beside the coffin of his uncle, nor never thereafter might it be +removed. Josephus telleth us that Perceval was in this castle long +time, nor never once moved therefrom in quest of no adventure; rather +was his courage so attorned to the Saviour of the World and His sweet +Mother, that he and his sister and the damsel that was therein led a +holy life and a religious. Therein abode they even as it pleased God, +until that his mother passed away and his sister and all they that were +therein save he alone. The hermits that were nigh the castle buried +them and sang their masses, and came every day and took counsel of him +for the holiness they saw him do and the good life that he led there. +So one day whilst he was in the holy chapel where the hallows were, +forthwith, behold you, a Voice that cometh down therein: "Perceval," +saith the Voice, "Not long shall you abide herein; wherefore it is +God's will that you dispart the hallows amongst the hermits of the +forest, there where these bodies shall be served and worshipped, and +the most Holy Graal shall appear herein no more, but within a brief +space shall you know well the place where it shall be." + +When the Voice departed, all the coffins that were therein crashed so +passing loud that it seemed the master-hall had fallen. He crosseth +and blesseth him and commendeth him to God. On a day the hermits came +to him. He disparted the holy relics among them, and they builded +above them holy churches and houses of religion that are seen in the +lands and in the islands. Joseus the son of King Hermit, remained +therein with Perceval, for he well knew that he would be departing +thence betimes. + + +XXVII. + +Perceval heard one day a bell sound loud and high without the manor +toward the sea. He came to the windows of the hall and saw the ship +come with the white sail and the Red Cross thereon, and within were the +fairest folk that ever he might behold, and they were all robed in such +manner as though they should sing mass. When the ship was anchored +under the hall they went to pray in the most holy chapel. They brought +the richest vessels of gold and silver that any might ever see, like as +it were coffins, and set therein one of the three bodies of knights +that had been brought into the chapel, and the body of King Fisherman, +and of the mother of Perceval. But no savour in the world smelleth so +sweet. Perceval took leave of Joseus and commended him to the Saviour +of the World, and took leave of the household, from whom he departed in +like manner. The worshipful men that were in the ship signed them of +the cross and blessed them likewise. The ship wherein Perceval was +drew far away, and a Voice that issued from the manor as she departed +commended them to God and to His sweet Mother. Josephus recordeth us +that Perceval departed in such wise, nor never thereafter did no +earthly man know what became of him, nor doth the history speak of him +more. But the history telleth us that Joseus abode in the castle that +had been King Fisherman's, and shut himself up therein so that none +might enter, and lived upon that the Lord God might send him. He dwelt +there long time after that Perceval had departed, and ended therein. +After his end, the dwelling began to fall. Natheless never was the +chapel wasted nor decayed, but was as whole thereafter as tofore and is +so still. The place was far from folk, and the place seemed withal to +be somewhat different. When it was fallen into decay, many folk of the +lands and islands that were nighest thereunto marvel them what may be +in this manor. They dare a many that they should go see what was +therein, and sundry folk went thither from all the lands, but none +durst never enter there again save two Welsh knights that had heard +tell of it. Full comely knights they were, young and joyous hearted. +So either pledged him to other that they would go thither by way of gay +adventure; but therein remained they of a long space after, and when +again they came forth they led the life of hermits, and clad them in +hair shirts, and went by the forest and so ate nought save roots only, +and led a right hard life; yet ever they made as though they were glad, +and if that any should ask whereof they rejoiced in such wise, "Go," +said they to them that asked, "thither where we have been, and you +shall know the wherefore." + +In such sort made they answer to the folk. These two knights died in +this holy life, nor were none other tidings never brought thence by +them. They of that land called them saints. + + +XXVIII. Here endeth the story of the most Holy Graal. Josephus, by +whom it is placed on record, giveth the benison of Our Lord to all that +hear and honour it. The Latin from whence this history was drawn into +Romance was taken in the Isle of Avalon, in a holy house of religion +that standeth at the head of the Moors Adventurous, there where King +Arthur and Queen Guenievre lie, according to the witness of the good +men religious that are therein, that have the whole history thereof, +true from the beginning even to the end. After this same history +beginneth the story how Briant of the Isles renounced King Arthur on +account of Lancelot whom he loved not, and how he assured King Claudas +that reft King Ban of Benoic of his land. This story telleth how he +conquered him and by what means, and how Galobrus of the Red Launde +came to King Arthur's court to help Lancelot, for that he was of his +lineage. This story is right long and right adventurous and weighty, +but the book will now forthwith be silent thereof until another time. + + + +THE AUTHOR'S CONCLUSION + +For the Lord of Neele made the Lord of Cambrein this book be written, +that never tofore was treated in Romance but one single time besides +this; and the book that was made tofore this is so ancient that only +with great pains may one make out the letter. And let Messire Johan de +Neele well understand that he ought to hold this story dear, nor ought +he tell nought thereof to ill-understanding folk, for a good thing that +is squandered upon bad folk is never remembered by them for good. + + + +EXPLICIT THE ROMANCE OF PERCEVAL THE NEPHEW OF KING FISHERMAN. + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's High History of the Holy Graal, by Unknown + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIGH HISTORY OF THE HOLY GRAAL *** + +***** This file should be named 750.txt or 750.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/7/5/750/ + +Produced by Douglas B. Killings. 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