The knight departed and Messire Gawain remained. So when he was
apparelled to mount, he looketh before him at the issue of the forest
toward the hermitage, and seeth coming a knight on a tall horse, full
speed and all armed, and he bore a shield like the one he saw Perceval
bearing the first time.
"Sir," saith he, "Know you this knight that cometh there!"
"Truly, Sir, well do I know him. This is Perceval whom you seek, whom
you so much desire to see!"
"God be praised thereof!" saith Messire Gawain, "Inasmuch as he cometh
hither."
He goeth afoot to meet him, and Perceval alighteth so soon as he seeth
him.
"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Right welcome may you be!"
"Good joy may you have," saith Perceval.
"Sir," saith the hermit, "Make great joy of him! this is Messire
Gawain, King Arthur's nephew."
"Thereof do I love him the better!" saith he. "Honour and joy ought all
they to do him that know him!"
He throweth his arms on his neck, and so maketh him great joy.
"Sir," saith he, "Can you tell me tidings of a knight that was in the
Red Launde at the assembly of knights?"
"What shield beareth he?" saith Messire Gawain.
"A red shield with a golden eagle," saith Perceval. "And more by
token, never made I acquaintance with any so sturdy in battle as are he
and Lancelot."
"Fair sir, it pleaseth you to say so," saith Messire Gawain. "In the
Red Launde was I at the assembly, and such arms bore I as these you
blazon, and I jousted against a knight in white arms, of whom I know
this, that all of knighthood that may be lodged in the body of a man is
in him."
"Sir," saith Perceval to Messire Gawain, "You know not how to blame any
man."
So they hold one another by the hands, and go into the hermitage.
"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "When you were in the court of King Arthur
for the shield that is within yonder, your sister was also there, and
prayed and besought the help of the knight that should bear away the
shield, as being the most discounselled damsel in the world. The King
granted it her, and you bore away the shield. She asked your aid of
the King as she that deemed not you were her brother, and said that if
the King failed of his covenant, he would do great sin, whereof would
he have much blame. The King was fain to do all he might to seek you,
to make good that he had said, and sent us forth in quest of you, so
that the quest lieth between me and Lancelot. He himself would have
come had we been unwilling to go. Sir, I have found you three times
without knowing you, albeit great desire had I to see you. This is the
fourth time and I know you now, whereof I make myself right joyous; and
much am I beholden to you of the fair lodging your mother gave me at
Camelot; but right sore pity have I of her, for a right worshipful
woman is she, and a widow lady and ancient, and fallen into much war
without aid nor comfort, through the evil folk that harass her and
reave her of her castles. She prayed me, weeping the while right
sweetly, that and if I should find you that are her son, I should tell
you of her plight, that your father is dead, and that she hath no
succour nor aid to look for save from you alone, and if you succour her
not shortly, she will lose her own one castle that she holdeth, and
must needs become a beggar, for of the fifteen castles she wont to have
in your father's time, she hath now only that of Camelot, nor of all
her knights hath she but five to guard the castle. Wherefore I pray
you on her behalf and for your own honour, that you will grant her
herein of your counsel and your valour and your might, for of no
chivalry that you may do may you rise to greater worship. And so sore
need hath she herein as you hear me tell, nor would I that she should
lose aught by default of message, for thereof should I have sin and she
harm, and you yourself also, that have the power to amend it and ought
of right so to do!"
"Well have you delivered yourself herein," saith Perceval, "And betimes
will I succour her and our Lord God will."
"You will do honour to yourself," saith Messire Gawain. "Thereof will
you have praise with God and worship with the world."
"Well know I," saith Perceval, "that in me ought she to have aid and
counsel as of right, and that so I do not accordingly, I ought to have
reproach and be blamed as recreant before the world."