ght, 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?"

"S