"Good adventure to you," saith Lancelot. "What castle is this?"
"Sir, it is the Castle of the Golden Circlet. And I go to meet the
knights and dames that come to the castle, for this day is the day
ordained for the adoration of the Golden Circlet."
"What is the Golden Circlet?" saith Lancelot.
"Sir, it is the Crown of Thorns," saith the knight, "that the Saviour
of the world had on His head when He was set upon the Rood. Wherefore
the Queen of this castle hath set it in gold and precious stones in
such sort that the knights and dames of this kingdom come to behold it
once in the year. But it is said that the knight that was first at the
Graal shall conquer it, and therefore is no strange knight allowed to
enter. But, so please you, I will lead you to mine own hold that is in
this forest."
"Right great thanks," saith Lancelot, "But as yet it is not time to
take lodging."
He taketh leave of the knight, and so departeth and looketh at the
castle, and saith that in right great worship should the knight be held
that by the valour of his chivalry shall conquer so noble a hallow as
is the Golden Circlet when it is kept safe in a place so strong. He
goeth his way right amidst the forest, and looketh forth before him and
seeth coming the damsel that hath the knight carried in the litter for
the dead.
"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Be welcome."
"Sir, God give you good adventure! Sir," saith the damsel, "Greatly
ought I to hate the knight that slew this knight, for that he hath
forced me thus to lead him in this wise by fell and forest. So also
ought I to mislike me much of the knight that it standeth upon to
avenge him, whom I may not find."
"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Who slew this knight?"
"Sir," saith she, "The Lord of the Burning Dragon."
"And who ought of right to avenge him?"
"Sir," saith she, "The knight that was in the Red Launde at the
assembly, that jousted with Messire Gawain, and had the prize of the
tournament."
"Did he better than Messire Gawain?" saith Lancelot.
"Sir, so did they adjudge him; for that he was a longer time in the
assembly."
"A good knight was he, then," saith Lancelot, "sith that he did better
than Messire Gawain!"
"By my head," saith the damsel, "You say true, for he is the Best
Knight of the World."
"And what shield beareth he?" saith Lancelot.
"Sir," saith the damsel, "At the assembly he bore white arms, but
before that, he had arms of another semblance, and one shield that he
had was green, and one gold with a green cross."
"Damsel," saith he, "Did Messire Gawain know him?"
"Sir, not at all, whereof is he right sorrowful."
"Is he, then," saith he, "Perceval, the son of the Widow Lady?"
"By my head, you say true!"
"Ha, God!" saith Lancelot, "the more am I mazed how Messire Gawain knew
him not. Damsel," saith he, "And know you whitherward they are gone?"
"Sir," saith she, "I know not whither, nor have I any tidings, neither
or the one nor the other."
He departeth from the damsel and rideth until the sun was set. He found
the rocks darkling and the forest right deep and perilous of seeming.
He rode on, troubled in thought, and weary and full of vexation. Many
a time Looketh he to right and to left, and he may see any place where
he may lodge. A dwarf espied him, but Lancelot saw him not. The dwarf
goeth right along a by-way that is in the forest, and goeth to a little
hold of robber-knights that lay out of the way, where was a damsel that
kept watch over the hold. The robbers had another hold where was the
damsel where the passing knights are deceived and entrapped. The dwarf
cometh forthright to the damsel, and saith: "Now shall we see what you
will do, for see, here cometh the knight that hanged your uncle grid
your three cousins german."
"Now shall I have the best of him," saith she, "as for mine own share
in this matter, but take heed that you be garnished ready to boot."
"By my head," saith the dwarf, "that will I, for, please God, he shall
not escape us again, save he be dead."
The damsel was of passing great beauty and was clad right seemingly,
but right treacherous was she of heart, nor no marvel was it thereof,
for she came of the lineage of robbers and was nurtured on theft and
robbery, and she herself had helped to murder many a knight. She is
come upon the way, so that Lancelot hath to pass her, without her
kerchief. She meeteth Lancelot and saluteth him and maketh him right
great joy, of semblant.
"Sir," saith she, "Follow this path that goeth into the forest, and you
will find a hold that my forefathers stablished for harbouring of such
knights as might be passing through the forest. The night is dark
already, and if you pass on further no hold will you find nearer than a
score leagues Welsh."
"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Gramercy heartily of this that it pleaseth
you to say, for right gladly will I harbour me here, for it is more
than time to take lodging, and with you more willingly than another."