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,