ht," 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 s