ms. 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 M