The damsel maketh Perceval sit at meat. When he had washen, he thought
that the lady should have come to sit beside him, but she would not
disobey her lord's commandment. When Perceval was set at the table and
he had been served of the first meats, thereupon the lady went to sit
with the squires. Perceval was much shamed that she should sit below,
but he was not minded to speak, for she had told him somewhat of her
lord's manner. Howbeit, he lay the night in the hold, and, on the
morrow when he had taken leave, he departed, and bethought him in his
courage that the knight would do good chivalry and great aims that
should do this sick knight his desire as concerning the cup, in such
sort as that his wife should be freed of the annoy that she is in, for
that all knights that knew thereof ought to have pity of her. Perceval
goeth his way as he that hath great desire to accomplish that he hath
to do, and to see the token of his going again to the castle where the
chain of gold appeared to him, for never yet saw he dwelling that
pleased him so much. He hath ridden so far that he is come into the
joyless forest of the Black Hermit, that is so loathly and horrible
that no leaves nor greenery are there by winter nor by summer, nor was
song of bird never heard therein, but all the land is gruesome and
burnt, and wide are the cracks therein. He hath scarce gone thereinto
or ever he hath overtaken the Damsel of the Car, that made full great
joy of him.
"Sir," saith she, "Bald was I the first time I saw you; now may you see
that I have my hair."
"Certes, yea!" saith Perceval, "And, as methinketh, hair passing
beautiful."
"Sir," saith she, "I was wont to carry my arm at my neck in a scarf of
gold and silk, for that I thought the service I did you in the hostel
of King Fisherman your uncle had been ill bestowed; but now well I see
that it was not; wherefore now carry I the one arm in the same manner
as the other; and the damsel that wont to go a-foot now goeth
a-horseback; and blessed be you that have so approved you in goodness
by the good manner of your heart, and by your likeness to the first of
your lineage, whom you resemble in all good conditions. Sir," saith
she, "I durst not come nigh the castle, for there be archers there that
shoot so sore that none may endure their strokes, and hereof will they
stint not, they say, until such time as you be come thither. But well
know I wherefore they will cease then, for they will come to shut you
up within to slay and to destroy. Natheless all they that are within
will have no power, nor will they do you evil, save only the lord of
the castle; but he will do battle against you right gladly."