ime 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