When Lancelot knew Perceval and Messire Gawain he made great joy of
them and they of him.
"Lancelot," saith Messire Gawain, "This knight that led us hither to
save your life is cousin to the Poor Knight of the Waste Castle, the
brother of the two poor damsels that lodged us so well. We will send
him these horses, one for the knight that shall be the messenger, and
the two to the lord of the Waste Castle, and this hold that we have
taken shall be for the two damsels, and so shall we make them safe all
the days of their life. This, methinketh, will be well."
"Certes," saith Perceval, "you speak of great courtesy."
"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Messire Gawain hath said, and right willingly
will I grant him all his wish."
"Lords," saith the knight, "They have in this forest a hold wherein the
knights did bestow their plunder, for the sake whereof they murdered
the passers by. If the goods remain there they will be lost, for
therein is so great store as might be of much worth to many folk that
are poverty-stricken for want thereof."
They go to the hold and find right great treasure in a cave
underground, and rich sets of vessels and rich ornaments of cloth and
armours for horses, that they had thrown the one over another into a
pit that was right broad.
"Certes," saith he, "Right well hath it been done to this evil folk
that is destroyed!"
"Sir," saith Lancelot, "in like manner would they have dealt with me
and killed me if they might; whereof no sorrow have I save of the
damsel that I slew, that was one of the fairest dames of the world.
But I slew her not knowingly, for I meant rather to strike the knight,
but she leapt between us, like the hardiest dame that saw I ever."
"Sirs," saith the knight, "Perceval and Lancelot, by the counsel of
Messire Gawain, granted the treasure to the two damsels, sisters to the
Poor Knight of the Waste Castle, whereupon let them send for Joseus the
Hermit and bid him guard the treasure until they shall come hither."
And Joseus said that he would do so, and is right glad that the robbers
of the forest are made away withal, that had so often made assault upon
him. He guarded the treasure and the hold right safely in the forest;
but the dread and the renown of the good knights that had freed the
forest went far and wide. The knight that led the three destriers was
right joyfully received at the Waste Castle; and when he told the
message wherewith he was charged by Messire Gawain, the Poor Knight and
two damsels made great joy thereof. Perceval taketh leave of Messire
Gawain and Lancelot, and saith that never will he rest again until he
shall have found his sister and his widow mother. They durst not
gainsay him, for they know well that he is right, and he prayeth them
right sweetly that they salute the King and Queen and all the good
knights of the court, for, please God, he will go see them at an early
day. But first he was fain to fulfil the promise King Arthur made to
his sister, for he would not that the King should be blamed in any
place as concerning him, nor by his default; and he himself would have
the greater blame therein and he succoured her not, for the matter
touched him nearer than it did King Arthur.