"Sir," saith he to Lancelot, "I have taken respite of you in the city
within there, of the knight that you slew, until forty days after that
the Graal shall be achieved, nor have I issued forth of the castle
wherein you harboured you until now, nor should I now have come forth
had I not seen you come for fulfilling of your pledge, nor never shall
I come forth again until such time as you shall return hither on the
day I have named to you. And so, gramercy to you and Messire Gawain
for the horses you sent me, that were a right great help to us, and for
the treasure and the hold you have given to my sisters that were sore
poverty-stricken. But I may not do otherwise than abide in my present
poverty until such time as you shall be returned, on the day whereunto
I have taken respite for you, sore against the will of your enemies,
for the benefits you have done me. Wherefore I pray yon forget me not,
for the saving of your loyalty."
"By my head," saith Lancelot, "That will I not, and gramercy for having
put off the day for love of me."
They depart from the knight and come back again toward Cardoil where
King Arthur was.