Perceval cometh towards them, he and the knight he driveth before him
perforce, and seeth a tall knight all armed that leadeth the damsels
all dishevelled, and smiteth them from time to time with a great rod,
so that the blood ran down their faces.
"Ha, Sir Knight," saith Perceval, "What ask you of these two damsels
that you entreat so churlishly?"
"Sir," saith he, "They have disherited me of mine own hold in this
forest that Messire Gawain gave them."
"Sir," say they to Perceval, "This knight is a robber, and none other
but he now wonneth in this forest, for the other robber-knights were
slain by Messire Gawain and Lancelot and another knight that came with
them, and, for the sore suffering and poverty that Messire Gawain and
Lancelot saw in us aforetime, and in the house of my brother in whose
castle they lay, were they fain to give us this hold and the treasure
they conquered from the robber-knights, and for this doth he now lead
us away to slay and destroy us, and as much would he do for you and all
other knights, so only he had the power."
"Sir Knight," saith Perceval, "Let be these damsels, for well I know
that they say true, for that I was there when the hold was given them."
"Then you helped to slay my kindred," saith the knight, "And therefore
you do I defy!"
"Ha," saith the Knight Coward to Perceval, "Take no heed of that he
saith, and wax not wroth, but go your way!"
"Certes," saith Perceval, "This will I not do: Rather will I help to
challenge the honour of the damsels."