thereof, save Briant and
his knights, but well may he yet aby it dear, so God bring Lancelot out
or prison. Some say, "Now is the King's court lost, sith that Messire
Gawain and the other knights have thus forsaken it, and Lancelot is put
in prison for doing well, ill trust may the others have therein."

They pray God yet grant Briant of the Isles an evil guerdon, for well
know they that all this is of his procurement. And of an evil guerdon
shall he not fail so God protect Lancelot and bring him forth of prison.

BRANCH XXXI.

TITLE I.

Thereupon the story is silent of Lancelot, and cometh back to Perceval
that had not heard these tidings, and if he had known them, right
sorrowful would he have been thereof. He is departed from his uncle's
castle that he hath reconquered, and was sore grieved of the tidings
that the damsel that was wounded brought him of his sister that Aristor
had carried away by force to the house of a vavasour. He was about to
take her to wife and cut off her head on the day of the New Year, for
such was his custom with all them that he took. Perceval rideth one
day, all heavy in thought, and taketh his way as fast as he may toward
the hermitage of his uncle King Hermit. He is come thither on an
eventide, and seeth three hermits issued forth of the hermitage. He
alighteth and goeth to meet them so soon as he seeth them.

"Sir," say the hermits, "Enter not in, for they are laying out a body
there."

"Who is it?" saith Perceval.

"Sir," say the hermits, "It is the good King Pelles that Aristor slew
suddenly after mass on account of one of his nephews, Perceval, whom he
loveth not, and a damsel is laying out the body there within."

When Perceval heard the news or his uncle that is dead, thereof was he
right grieved at heart, and on the morrow was he at his uncle's burial.
When mass was sung, Perceval would have departed, as he that had great
desire to take vengeance on him that had done him such shame.

II.

Thereupon behold you the damsel that is his.

"Sir," saith she, "Full long time have I been seeking you. Behold here
the head of a knight that I carry hanging at the bow of my saddle, in
this rich casket of ivory that you may see, and by none ought he to be
avenged but by you alone. Discharge me thereof, fair Sir, of your
courtesy, for I have carried it too long a time, and this King Arthur
knoweth well and Messire Gawain, for each hath seen me at court along
with the hea