With that, they left of talking, and the hermit led Messire Gawain into
his house to rest, and the damsel abode still in the chapel. On the
morrow when dawn appeared, Messire Gawain that had lain all armed,
arose and found his saddle ready and the damsel, and the bridles set
on, and cometh to the chapel and findeth the hermit that was apparelled
to sing mass, and seeth the damsel kneeling before an image of Our
Lady, and she prayed God and the sweet Lady that they would counsel her
that whereof she had need, and wept right tenderly so that the tears
ran down her face. And when she had prayed of a long space she
ariseth, and Messire Gawain biddeth her God give her good day, and she
returneth his salute.
"Damsel," saith he, "Meseemeth you are not over joyous."
"Sir," saith she, "I have right, for now am I nigh unto my desolation,
sith that I may not find the Good Knight. Now must I needs go to the
castle of the Black Hermit, and bear thither the head that hangeth at
my saddle-bow, for otherwise shall I not be able to pass through the
forest but my body should there be cast in prison or shamed, and this
shall be the quittance for my passing. Then will I seek the Damsel of
the Car and so shall I go in safer through the forest."
With that the hermit had begun the mass and Messire Gawain and the
damsel heard it. When mass was sung, Messire Gawain took leave of the
hermit and the damsel also. And Messire Gawain goeth one way and the
damsel the other, and either biddeth other to God.