"Afterwards the damsel departed, nor have I never heard talk of her
since, nor do I make remembrance hereof for that I would King Arthur
should know it, nor for aught that I say thereof that he should do evil
to the knight; for right sore sin should I have thereof, but deadly
treason and disloyalty hath he wrought."
"Sir," saith Perceval, "This is sore pity of the King's son, that he is
dead in such manner, for I have heard witness that he ever waxed more
and more in great chivalry, and, so the King knew thereof, Kay the
Seneschal, that is not well-loved of all folk, would lose the court for
ever more, or his life, so he might be taken, and this would be only
right and just."
Perceval lay the night in the hermitage, and departed on the morrow
when he had heard mass. He rideth through the forest as he that right
gladly would hear tidings of his mother, nor never before hath he been
so desirous thereof as is he now. He heard, at right hour of noon, a
damsel under a tree that made greater dole than ever heard he damsel
make before. She held her mule by the reins and was alighted a-foot
and set herself on her knees toward the East. She stretched her hands
up toward heaven and prayed right sweetly the Saviour of the World and
His sweet Mother that they would send her succour betimes, for that the
most discounselled damsel of the world was she, and never was alms
given to damsel to counsel her so well bestowed as it would be upon
her, for that needs must she go to the most perilous place that is in
the world, and that, save she might bring some one with her, never
would that she had to do be done.