"Lady," saith he, "No tidings of him know I to tell you, and right
heavy am I thereof, for he is the knight of the world that fainest I
would see and he be your son as I am told. What name hath he?"
"Sir," saith she, "His name in right baptism is Perceval, and a right
comely squire was he when he departed hence. Now as at this time is it
said that he is the comeliest knight on live and the most hardy and the
cleanest of all wickedness. And sore need have I of his hardiment, for
what time that he departed hence he left me in the midst of a great
warfare on behalf of the Knight of the Red Shield that he slew. Within
the se'nnight thereafter he went away, nor never once have I seen him
sithence, albeit a full seven year hath passed already. And now the
brother of the knight that he slew and the Lord of the Moors are
warring upon me and are fain to reave me of my castle and God counsel
me not. For my brothers are too far away from me, and King Pelles of
the Lower Folk hath renounced his land for God's sake and entered into
a hermitage. But the King of Castle Mortal hath in him as much of
wickedness and felony as these twain have in them of good, and enough
thereof have they. But neither succour nor help may they give me, for
the King of Castle Mortal challengeth my Lord King Fisherman both of
the most Holy Graal and of the Lance whereof the point bleedeth every
day, albeit God forbid he should ever have them."