Perceval and Messire Gawain sojourned that day in the forest in the
hermitage, and the morrow Perceval took his shield that he brought from
King Arthur's court, and left that which he brought with him, and
Messire Gawain along with him that made himself right joyous of his
company. They ride amidst the forest both twain, all armed, and at the
right hour of noon they meet a knight that was coming a great gallop as
though he were all scared. Perceval asketh him whence he cometh, that
he seemeth so a-dread.
"Sir, I come from the forest of the robbers that won in this forest
wherethrough you have to pass. They have chased me a full league Welsh
to slay me, but they would not follow me further for a knight that they
have beset in one of their holds, that hath done them right sore
mischief, for he hath hanged four of their knights and slain one, as
well as the fairest damsel that was in the kingdom. But right well had
she deserved the death for that she harboured knights with fair
semblant and showed them much honour, and afterward brought about their
death and destruction, between herself and a dwarf that she hath, that
slew the knights."
"And know you who is the knight?" saith Perceval.
"Sir," saith the knight, "Not I, for no leisure had I to ask him, for
sorer need had I to flee than to stay. But I tell you that on account
of the meat that failed him in the hold wherein they beset him, he
issued forth raging like a lion, nor would he have suffered himself be
shut up so long but for two wounds that he had upon his body; for he
cared not to issue forth of the house until such time as they were
healed, and also for that he had no horse. And so soon as he felt
himself whole, he ventured himself against the four knights, that were
so a-dread of him that they durst not come a-nigh. And moreover he
deigneth not to go a-foot, wherefore if they now come a-nigh, it may
not be but he shall have one at least out of their four horses, but
they hold them heedfully aloof."
"Sir," saith Perceval, "Gramercy of these tidings."
They were fain to depart from the knight, but said he: "Ha, Lords,
allow me so much as to see the destruction of this evil folk that have
wrought such mischief in this forest! Sir" saith he to Messire Gawain,
"I am cousin to the Poor Knight of the Waste Forest that hath the two
poor damsels to sister, there where you and Lancelot jousted between
you, and when the knight that brought you tidings thereof died in the
night."
"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain, "These tidings know I well, for
you say true, and your company hold I right dear for the love of the
Poor Knight, for never yet saw I more courteous knight, nor more
courteous damsels, nor better nurtured, and our Lord God grant them as
much good as I would they should have."
Messire Gawain made the knight go before, for well knew he the robbers'
hold, but loath enough had he been to go thither, had the knights not
followed him behind. Lancelot was issued forth of the hold sword in
hand, all armed, angry as a lion. The four knights were upon their
horses all armed, but no mind had they come a-nigh him, for sore
dreaded they the huge buffets he dealt, and his hardiment. One of them
came forward before the others, and it seemed him shame that they might
not vanquish one single knight. He goeth to smite Lancelot a great
stroke of his sword above in the midst of his head, nor did Lancelot's
sword fail of its stroke, for before he could draw back, Lancelot dealt
him such a blow as smote oft all of his leg at the thigh, so that he
made him leave the saddlebows empty. Lancelot leapt up on the
destrier, and now seemed him he was safer than before. The three
robber-knights that yet remained whole ran upon him on all sides and
began to press him of their swords in right sore wrath. Thereupon
behold you, the knight cometh to the way that goeth to the hold and
saith to Messire Gawain and Perceval, "Now may you hear the dashing of
swords and the melly."
Therewithal the two good knights smite horse with spur and come thither
where the three robber-knights were assailing Lancelot. Each of the
twain smiteth his own so wrathfully that they thrust their spears right
through their bodies and bear them to the ground dead. Howbeit the
third knight was fain to flee, but the knight that had come to show
Messire Gawain the way took heart and hardiment from the confidence of
the good knights, and smote him as he fled so sore that he pierced him
with his spear to the heart and toppled him to the ground dead. And
the one whose leg Lancelot had lopped off was so trampled underfoot of
the knights that he had no life in him.