th afore me. Sir knight, said the yeoman, I pray
you hold me excused of that, for that I may not do. For wit ye well, the
horse is such a man's horse, that an I lent it you or any man, that he
would slay me. Alas, said Sir Percivale, I had never so great sorrow as
I have had for losing of yonder knight. Sir, said the yeoman, I am right
heavy for you, for a good horse would beseem you well; but I dare not
deliver you this horse but if ye would take him from me. That will I not
do, said Sir Percivale. And so they departed; and Sir Percivale set him
down under a tree, and made sorrow out of measure. And as he was there,
there came a knight riding on the horse that the yeoman led, and he was
clean armed.

CHAPTER V. How a yeoman desired him to get again an horse, and how Sir
Percivale's hackney was slain, and how he gat an horse.

AND anon the yeoman came pricking after as fast as ever he might, and
asked Sir Percivale if he saw any knight riding on his black steed. Yea,
sir, forsooth, said he; why, sir, ask ye me that? Ah, sir, that steed
he hath benome me with strength; wherefore my lord will slay me in what
place he findeth me. Well, said Sir Percivale, what wouldst thou that
I did? Thou seest well that I am on foot, but an I had a good horse I
should bring him soon again. Sir, said the yeoman, take mine hackney
and do the best ye can, and I shall sewe you on foot to wit how that ye
shall speed. Then Sir Percivale alighted upon that hackney, and rode as
fast as he might, and at the last he saw that knight. And then he
cried: Knight, turn again; and he turned and set his spear against Sir
Percivale, and he smote the hackney in the midst of the breast that
he fell down dead to the earth, and there he had a great fall, and the
other rode his way. And then Sir Percivale was wood wroth, and cried:
Abide, wicked knight; coward and false-hearted knight, turn again and
fight with me on foot. But he answered not, but passed on his way.

When Sir Percivale saw he would not turn he cast away his helm and
sword, and said: Now am I a very wretch, cursed and most unhappy above
all other knights. So in this sorrow he abode all that day till it was
night; and then he was faint, and laid him down and slept till it was
midnight; and then he awaked and saw afore him a woman which said unto
him right fiercely: Sir Percivale, what dost thou here? He answered, I
do neither good nor great ill. If thou wilt ensure me, said she, that
tho