"Sir," saith the hermit, "I know not when I may see him again, for when once he departeth hence he is not easy to find."
Lancelot entereth the chapel with the hermit, and seeth the shield that Perceval brought from King Arthur"s court beside the altar.
"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I see his shield yonder. Hide him not from me."
"I will not do so," saith the hermit. "This shield, truly, is his, but he took with him another from hence, of gold with a green cross."
"And know you no tidings of Messire Gawain?"
"I have not seen Messire Gawain sithence tofore I entered into this hermitage. But you have fallen into sore hatred on account of the four robbers that were knights whom you hanged. For their kinsmen are searching for you in this forest and in other, and are thieves like as were the others, and they have their hold in this forest, wherein they bestow their robberies and plunder. Wherefore I pray you greatly be on your guard against them."
"So will I," saith Lancelot, "please G.o.d."
He lay the night in the hermitage, and departeth on the morrow after that he hath heard ma.s.s and prayeth G.o.d grant he may find Perceval or Messire Gawain. He goeth his way amidst the strange forests until that he cometh to a strong castle that was builded right seemly. He Looketh before him and seeth a knight that was issued thereout, and was riding a great pace on a strong destrier, and carded a bird on his fist toward the forest.
II.
When he saw Lancelot coming he drew up. "Sir," saith he, "Be welcome."
"Good adventure to you," saith Lancelot. "What castle is this?"
"Sir, it is the Castle of the Golden Circlet. And I go to meet the knights and dames that come to the castle, for this day is the day ordained for the adoration of the Golden Circlet."
"What is the Golden Circlet?" saith Lancelot.
"Sir, it is the Crown of Thorns," saith the knight, "that the Saviour of the world had on His head when He was set upon the Rood. Wherefore the Queen of this castle hath set it in gold and precious stones in such sort that the knights and dames of this kingdom come to behold it once in the year. But it is said that the knight that was first at the Graal shall conquer it, and therefore is no strange knight allowed to enter. But, so please you, I will lead you to mine own hold that is in this forest."
"Right great thanks," saith Lancelot, "But as yet it is not time to take lodging."
He taketh leave of the knight, and so departeth and looketh at the castle, and saith that in right great worship should the knight be held that by the valour of his chivalry shall conquer so n.o.ble a hallow as is the Golden Circlet when it is kept safe in a place so strong. He goeth his way right amidst the forest, and looketh forth before him and seeth coming the damsel that hath the knight carried in the litter for the dead.
"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Be welcome."
"Sir, G.o.d give you good adventure! Sir," saith the damsel, "Greatly ought I to hate the knight that slew this knight, for that he hath forced me thus to lead him in this wise by fell and forest. So also ought I to mislike me much of the knight that it standeth upon to avenge him, whom I may not find."
"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Who slew this knight?"
"Sir," saith she, "The Lord of the Burning Dragon."
"And who ought of right to avenge him?"
"Sir," saith she, "The knight that was in the Red Launde at the a.s.sembly, that jousted with Messire Gawain, and had the prize of the tournament."
"Did he better than Messire Gawain?" saith Lancelot.
"Sir, so did they adjudge him; for that he was a longer time in the a.s.sembly."
"A good knight was he, then," saith Lancelot, "sith that he did better than Messire Gawain!"
"By my head," saith the damsel, "You say true, for he is the Best Knight of the World."
"And what shield beareth he?" saith Lancelot.
"Sir," saith the damsel, "At the a.s.sembly he bore white arms, but before that, he had arms of another semblance, and one shield that he had was green, and one gold with a green cross."
"Damsel," saith he, "Did Messire Gawain know him?"
"Sir, not at all, whereof is he right sorrowful."
"Is he, then," saith he, "Perceval, the son of the Widow Lady?"
"By my head, you say true!"
"Ha, G.o.d!" saith Lancelot, "the more am I mazed how Messire Gawain knew him not. Damsel," saith he, "And know you whitherward they are gone?"
"Sir," saith she, "I know not whither, nor have I any tidings, neither or the one nor the other."
He departeth from the damsel and rideth until the sun was set. He found the rocks darkling and the forest right deep and perilous of seeming.
He rode on, troubled in thought, and weary and full of vexation. Many a time Looketh he to right and to left, and he may see any place where he may lodge. A dwarf espied him, but Lancelot saw him not. The dwarf goeth right along a by-way that is in the forest, and goeth to a little hold of robber-knights that lay out of the way, where was a damsel that kept watch over the hold. The robbers had another hold where was the damsel where the pa.s.sing knights are deceived and entrapped. The dwarf cometh forthright to the damsel, and saith: "Now shall we see what you will do, for see, here cometh the knight that hanged your uncle grid your three cousins german."
"Now shall I have the best of him," saith she, "as for mine own share in this matter, but take heed that you be garnished ready to boot."
"By my head," saith the dwarf, "that will I, for, please G.o.d, he shall not escape us again, save he be dead."
The damsel was of pa.s.sing great beauty and was clad right seemingly, but right treacherous was she of heart, nor no marvel was it thereof, for she came of the lineage of robbers and was nurtured on theft and robbery, and she herself had helped to murder many a knight. She is come upon the way, so that Lancelot hath to pa.s.s her, without her kerchief. She meeteth Lancelot and saluteth him and maketh him right great joy, of semblant.
"Sir," saith she, "Follow this path that goeth into the forest, and you will find a hold that my forefathers stablished for harbouring of such knights as might be pa.s.sing through the forest. The night is dark already, and if you pa.s.s on further no hold will you find nearer than a score leagues Welsh."
"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Gramercy heartily of this that it pleaseth you to say, for right gladly will I harbour me here, for it is more than time to take lodging, and with you more willingly than another."
III.
On this wise they go their way talking, as far as the hold. There was none therewithin save only the dwarf, for the five robber knights were in their hold at the lower end of the forest. The dwarf took Lancelot"s horse, and stabled him, then went up into the hall above, and gave himself up wholly to serving him.
"Sir," saith the damsel, "Allow yourself to be disarmed, and have full a.s.surance of safety."
"Damsel," saith he, "Small trouble is it for me to wear mine arms, and lightly may I abide it."
"Sir," saith she, "Please G.o.d, you shall nor lie armed within yonder.
Never yet did knight so that harboured therein."
But the more the damsel presseth him to disarm, the more it misliketh him, for the place seemeth him right dark and foul-seeming, wherefore will he not disarm nor disgarnish himself.
"Sir," saith she, "Meseemeth you are suspicious of something, but no call have you to mis...o...b.. of aught here within, for the place is quite safe. I know not whether you have enemies?"
"Damsel," saith Lancelot, "Never yet knew I knight that was loved of everybody, yet sometimes might none tell the reason thereof."