you to the utmost
of my power."

"Sir," saith she, "See, this is my way, that is but little frequented,
for I tell you that no knight durst tread therein without great peril
and great dread. And our Lord God have your body in keeping, for mine
own this night shall be in sore jeopardy and hazard."

Perceval departeth from the damsel, his sister, and hath right great
pity for that she goeth in so perilous place all alone. Natheless would
he nor forbid her, for he knew well that she might not go thither with
him nor with other, sith that such was the custom of the grave-yard
that twain might not pass the entrance, wherefore needs must one remain
without. Perceval was not willing that his sister should break her
vow, for never none of his lineage did at any time disloyalty nor base
deed knowingly, nor failed of nought that they had in covenant, save
only the King of Castle Mortal, from whom he had as much evil as he had
good of the others.

XIV.

The damsel goeth her way all alone and all forlorn toward the
grave-yard and the deep of the forest, all dark and shadowy. She hath
ridden until the sun was set and the night draweth nigh. She looketh
before her and seeth a cross, high and wide and thick. And on this
cross was the figure of Our Lord graven, whereof is she greatly
comforted. She draweth nigh the cross, and so kisseth and adoreth it,
and prayeth the Saviour of the world that was nailed on Holy Rood that
He would bring her forth of the burial-ground with honour. The cross
was at the entrance of the grave-yard, that was right spacious, for,
from such time as the land was first peopled of folk, and that knights
began to seek adventure by the forest, not a knight had died in the
forest, that was full great of breadth and length, but his body was
borne thither, nor might never knight there be buried that had not
received baptism and had repented him not of his sins at his death.

XV.

Thereinto entered the damsel all alone, and found great multitude of
tombs and coffins. Nor none need wonder whether she had shuddering and
fear, for such place must needs be dreadful to a lonely damsel, there
where lay so many knights that had been slain in arms. Josephus the
good clerk witnesseth us that within the grave-yard might no evil
spirit meddle, for that Saint Andrew the apostle had blessed it with
his hand. But never might no hermit remain within for the evil things
that appeared each night all round about,