When Meliot had delivered Messire Gawain he made him be armed with the
arms, such as they were, of one of the knights he had slain. Messire
Gawain mounted on a horse such as pleased him, and right great joy had
he at heart. They marvel much how it is that they of the castle have
not come after them, but they know not their thought nor how they are
scared.
"Meliot," saith Messire Gawain, "You have delivered me from death this
time and one other, nor never had I acquaintance with any knight that
hath done so much for me in so short a time as have you."
They departed the speediest they might and rode nigh enow to the
castle, but they heard none moving within nor any noise, nor saw they
none issue forth, and much marvelled they that none should come after
them. They rode until they came to the head of the forest and caught
sight of the sea that was nigh enough before them, and saw that there
was a great clashing of arms at the brink of the sea. A single knight
was doing battle with all them that would fain have entered into a
ship, and held stour so stiffly against them that he toppled the more
part into the sea. They went thither as fast as they might, and when
they drew nigh to the ship they knew that it was Perceval by his arms
and his shield. Or ever they reached it, the ship was put off into the
midst of the sea, wherein he was launched of his own great hardiment,
and they went on fighting against him within the ship.
"Meliot," saith Messire Gawain, "See you, there is Perceval the Good
Knight, and now may we say of a truth that he is in sore peril of
death; for that ship, save God bethink Him thereof, shall arrive in
such manner and in such a place as that never more shall we have no
witting of him, and, so he perish for ever, no knight on live may have
power to set forward the Law of our Lord."