, and sent us forth in quest of you, so
that the quest lieth between me and Lancelot. He himself would have
come had we been unwilling to go. Sir, I have found you three times
without knowing you, albeit great desire had I to see you. This is the
fourth time and I know you now, whereof I make myself right joyous; and
much am I beholden to you of the fair lodging your mother gave me at
Camelot; but right sore pity have I of her, for a right worshipful
woman is she, and a widow lady and ancient, and fallen into much war
without aid nor comfort, through the evil folk that harass her and
reave her of her castles. She prayed me, weeping the while right
sweetly, that and if I should find you that are her son, I should tell
you of her plight, that your father is dead, and that she hath no
succour nor aid to look for save from you alone, and if you succour her
not shortly, she will lose her own one castle that she holdeth, and
must needs become a beggar, for of the fifteen castles she wont to have
in your father's time, she hath now only that of Camelot, nor of all
her knights hath she but five to guard the castle. Wherefore I pray
you on her behalf and for your own honour, that you will grant her
herein of your counsel and your valour and your might, for of no
chivalry that you may do may you rise to greater worship. And so sore
need hath she herein as you hear me tell, nor would I that she should
lose aught by default of message, for thereof should I have sin and she
harm, and you yourself also, that have the power to amend it and ought
of right so to do!"

"Well have you delivered yourself herein," saith Perceval, "And betimes
will I succour her and our Lord God will."

"You will do honour to yourself," saith Messire Gawain. "Thereof will
you have praise with God and worship with the world."

"Well know I," saith Perceval, "that in me ought she to have aid and
counsel as of right, and that so I do not accordingly, I ought to have
reproach and be blamed as recreant before the world."

IV.

"In God's name," saith the hermit, "you speak according to the
scripture, for he that honoureth not his father and mother neither
believeth in God nor loveth Him."

"All this know I well," saith Perceval, "And well pleased am I to be
reminded thereof, and well know I also mine intent herein, albeit I
tell it to none. But if any can tell me tidings of Lancelot, right
willingly shall I hear them, and take it kindly of the tell