Fair son," saith she, "Now is the term drawn nigh when I should have
lost my castle and you had not come. But now know I well that it shall
be safe-guarded of you. He that coveteth this castle is one of the
most outrageous knights on live. And he hath reaved me of my land and
the Valleys of Camelot without reasonable occasion. But, please God,
you shall well repair the harm he hath done you, for nought claim I any
longer of the land since you are come. But so avenge your shame as to
increase your honour, for none ought to allow his right to be minished
of an evil man, and the mischiefs that have been done me for that I had
no aid, let them not wax cold in you, for a shame done to one valiant
and strong ought not to wax cold in him, but rankle and prick in him,
so ought he to have his enemies in remembrance without making semblant,
but so much as he shall show in his cheer and making semblant and his
menaces, so much ought he to make good in deed when he shall come in
place. For one cannot do too much hurt to an enemy, save only one is
willing to let him be for God's sake. But truth it is that the
scripture saith, that one ought not to do evil to one's enemies, but
pray God that He amend them. I would fain that our enemies were such
that they might amend toward us, and that they would do as much good to
us without harming themselves as they have done evil, on condition that
mine anger and yours were foregone against them. Mine own anger I
freely forbear against them so far forth as concerneth myself, for no
need have I to wish evil to none, and Solomon telleth how the sinner
that curseth other sinner curseth himself likewise.

XXVI.

"Fair son, this castle is yours, and this land round about whereof I
have been reft ought to be yours of right, for it falleth to you on
behalf of your father and me. Wherefore send to the Lord of the Moors
that hath reft it from me, that he render it to you. I make no further
claim, for I pass it on to you; for nought have I now to do with any
land save only so much as will be enough wherein to bury my body when I
die, nor shall I now live much longer since King Fisherman my brother
is dead, whereof right sorrowful am I at heart, and still more
sorrowful should I be were it not for your coming. And, son, I tell
you plainly that you have great blame of his death, for you are the
knight through whom he fell first into languishment, for now at last I
know well that and if you ha