g Arthur's nephew."

"Sir," saith she, "You shall be he that is welcome both for the sake of
my son and for your own sake."

The Lady biddeth a squire lead his horse into the castle and carry his
shield and spear. Then they enter into the castle and lead Messire
Gawain into the hall, and make disarm him. After that, they fetch him
water to wash his hands and his face, for he was distained of the rust
of his habergeon. The Lady maketh apparel him in a rich robe of silk
and gold, and furred of ermine. The Widow Lady cometh forth of her
chamber and maketh Messire Gawain sit beside her. "Sir," saith she,
"Can you tell me any tidings of my son that I have not seen of this
long time past, and of whom at this present am I sore in need?"

VIII.

"Lady," saith he, "No tidings of him know I to tell you, and right
heavy am I thereof, for he is the knight of the world that fainest I
would see and he be your son as I am told. What name hath he?"

"Sir," saith she, "His name in right baptism is Perceval, and a right
comely squire was he when he departed hence. Now as at this time is it
said that he is the comeliest knight on live and the most hardy and the
cleanest of all wickedness. And sore need have I of his hardiment, for
what time that he departed hence he left me in the midst of a great
warfare on behalf of the Knight of the Red Shield that he slew. Within
the se'nnight thereafter he went away, nor never once have I seen him
sithence, albeit a full seven year hath passed already. And now the
brother of the knight that he slew and the Lord of the Moors are
warring upon me and are fain to reave me of my castle and God counsel
me not. For my brothers are too far away from me, and King Pelles of
the Lower Folk hath renounced his land for God's sake and entered into
a hermitage. But the King of Castle Mortal hath in him as much of
wickedness and felony as these twain have in them of good, and enough
thereof have they. But neither succour nor help may they give me, for
the King of Castle Mortal challengeth my Lord King Fisherman both of
the most Holy Graal and of the Lance whereof the point bleedeth every
day, albeit God forbid he should ever have them."

IX.

"Lady," saith Messire Gawain, "There was at the hostel of King
Fisherman a knight before whom the Holy Graal appeared three times, yet
never once would he ask whereof it served nor whom it honoured."

"Sir," saith the Widow Lady's daughter, "You say tru