Therewith the Damsel leadeth him into a tent and maketh him sit on a
right rich couch; afterward she maketh him be disarmed of her two
damsels and clad in a right rich robe. Then she leadeth him to the
Queen of the Tents that was still making great dole.
"Lady," saith the Damsel of the Car, "Stint your sorrow, for behold,
here is the Good Knight on whose account were the tents here pitched,
and on whose account no less have you been making this great joy right
up to this very day!"
"Ha," saith she, "Is this then the son of the Widow Lady?"
"Yea, certes," saith the Damsel.
"Ha," saith the Lady, "He hath slain me the best knight of all my kin,
and the one that protected me from mine enemies."
"Lady," saith the Damsel, "this one will be better able to protect and
defend us, for the Best Knight is he of the world and the comeliest."
The Queen taketh him by the hand and maketh him sit beside her. "Sir,"
saith she, "Howsoever the adventure may have befallen, my heart biddeth
me make joy of your coming."
"Lady," saith he, "Gramercy! Chaos would fain have slain me within his
castle, and I defended myself to my power."
The Queen looketh at him amidst his face, and is taken with a love of
him so passing strong and fervent that she goeth nigh to fall upon him.
"Sir," saith she, "and you will grant me your love, I will pardon you
of all the death of Chaos the Red."
"Lady," saith he, "your love am I right fain to deserve, and mine you
have."
"Sir," saith she, "How may I perceive that you love me?"
"Lady," saith he, "I will tell you. There is no knight in the world
that shall desire to do you a wrong, but I will help you against him to
my power."
"Such love," saith she, "is the common love that knight ought to bear
to lady. Would you do as much for another?"
"Lady," saith he, "It well may be, but more readily shall a man give
help in one place than in another."
The Queen would fain that Perceval should pledge himself to her further
than he did, and the more she looketh at him the better he pleaseth
her, and the more is she taken with him and the more desirous of his
love. But Perceval never once thought of loving her or another in such
wise. He was glad to look upon her, for that she was of passing great
beauty, but never spake he nought to her whereby she might perceive
that he loved her of inward love. But in no wise might she refrain her
heart, nor withdraw her eyes, nor lose her desire. The damsels looked
upon her with wonder that so soon had she forgotten her mourning.