er thereof."

"Sir," saith Joseus, "It is but just now since he lay here within, and
asked me tidings of Messire Gawain, and I told him such as I knew.
Another time before that, he lay here when the robbers assailed us that
he hanged in the forest, and so hated is he thereof of their kinsfolk
that and they may meet him, so they have the might, he is like to pay
for it right dear, and in this forest won they rather than in any
other. I told him as much, but he made light thereof in semblant, even
as he will in deed also if their force be not too great."

"By my head," saith Perceval, "I will not depart forth of this forest
until I know tidings of him, if Messire Gawain will pledge himself
thereto."

And Messire saith he desireth nothing better, sith that he hath found
Perceval, for he may not be at ease until such time as he shall know
tidings of Lancelot, for he hath great misgiving sith that he hath
enemies in the forest.

V.

Perceval and Messire Gawain sojourned that day in the forest in the
hermitage, and the morrow Perceval took his shield that he brought from
King Arthur's court, and left that which he brought with him, and
Messire Gawain along with him that made himself right joyous of his
company. They ride amidst the forest both twain, all armed, and at the
right hour of noon they meet a knight that was coming a great gallop as
though he were all scared. Perceval asketh him whence he cometh, that
he seemeth so a-dread.

"Sir, I come from the forest of the robbers that won in this forest
wherethrough you have to pass. They have chased me a full league Welsh
to slay me, but they would not follow me further for a knight that they
have beset in one of their holds, that hath done them right sore
mischief, for he hath hanged four of their knights and slain one, as
well as the fairest damsel that was in the kingdom. But right well had
she deserved the death for that she harboured knights with fair
semblant and showed them much honour, and afterward brought about their
death and destruction, between herself and a dwarf that she hath, that
slew the knights."

"And know you who is the knight?" saith Perceval.

"Sir," saith the knight, "Not I, for no leisure had I to ask him, for
sorer need had I to flee than to stay. But I tell you that on account
of the meat that failed him in the hold wherein they beset him, he
issued forth raging like a lion, nor would he have suffered himself be
shut up so long but