VIII.

"This wasted land about this forest wherethrough you have come is the

beginning of the kingdom of Logres. There wont to be therein a Giant

so big and horrible and cruel that none durst won within half a league

round about, and he destroyed the land and wasted it in such sort as

you see. Lohot was departed from the land and the court of King Arthur

his father in quest of adventure, and by the will of God arrived at

this forest, and fought against Logrin, right cruel as he was, and

Logrin against him. As it pleased God, Lohot vanquished him; but Lohot

had a marvellous custom: when he had slain a man, he slept upon him. A

knight of King Arthur's court, that is called Kay the Seneschal, was

come peradventure into this forest of Logres. He heard the Giant roar

when Lohot dealt him the mortal blow. Thither came he as fist as he

might, and found the King's son sleeping upon Logrin. He drew his

sword and therewith cut off Lohot's head, and took the head and the

body and set them in a coffin of stone. After that he hacked his

shield to pieces with his sword, that he should not be recognised; then

came he to the Giant that lay dead, and so cut oft his head, that was

right huge and hideous, and hung it at his fore saddle-bow. Then went

he to the court of King Arthur and presented it to him. The King made

great joy thereof and all they of the court, and the King made broad

his lands right freely for that he believed Kay had spoken true. I

went," saith the hermit, "on the morrow to the piece of land where the

Giant lay dead, as a damsel came within here to tell me with right

great joy. I found the corpse of the Giant so big that I durst not

come a-nigh it. The damsel led me to the coffin where the King's son

was lying. She asked the head of me as her guerdon, and I granted it

to her willingly. She set it forthwith in a coffer laden with precious

stones that was all garnished within of balsams. After that, she

helped me carry the body into this chapel and enshroud and bury it.

The High History of the Holy Graal · 第 188 / 489 题