Perceval drew himself up when he heard the damsel bemoaning thus. He
was in the shadow of the forest so that she saw him not. The damsel
cried out all weeping, "Ha, King Arthur, great sin did you in
forgetting to speak of my business to the knight that bare away the
shield from your court, by whom would my mother have been succoured,
that now must lose her castle presently save God grant counsel herein;
and so unhappy am I, that I have gone through all the lands of Great
Britain, yet may I hear no tidings of my brother, albeit they say that
he is the Best Knight of the world. But what availeth us his
knighthood, when we have neither aid nor succour thereof? So much the
greater shame ought he to have of himself, if he love his mother, as
she, that is the most gentle lady that liveth and the most loyal, hath
hope that, and he knew, he would come thither. Either he is dead or he
is in lands so far away that none may hear tidings of him. Ha, sweet
Lady, Mother of Our Saviour, aid us when we may have no aid of any
other! for if my lady mother loseth her castle, needs must we be
forlorn wanderers in strange lands, for so have her brothers been long
time; he that had the most power and valour lieth in languishment, the
good King Fisherman that the King of Castle Mortal warreth on, albeit
he also is my uncle, my mother's brother, and would fain reave my
uncle, that is his brother, of his castle by his felony. Of a man so
evil my lady mother looketh for neither aid nor succour. And the good
King Pelles hath renounced his kingdom for the love of his Saviour, and
hath entered into a hermitage. He likewise is brother of my mother,
and behoveth him make war upon none, for the most worshipful hermit is
he of the world. And all they on my father's side have died in arms.
Eleven were there of them, and my father was the twelfth. Had they
remained on live, well able would they have been to succour us, but the
knight that was first at the Graal hath undone us, for through him our
uncle fell in languishment, in whom should have been our surest
succour."