"Needs must this knight sojourn here, for his wound
is in a right perilous place."

"Hath he danger of death?"

"Sir," saith she, "In no wise of this wound, but behoveth him take good
heed thereto."

"God be praised!" saith he, "and of my nephew how seemeth you?"

"Sir, the wound that he hath will be soon healed. He will have none
ill thereof."

IV.

The damsel, that was right cunning of leech-craft, tended the wounds of
the knights, and made them whole as best she might, and King Hermit
himself gave counsel therein. But and Perceval had borne his shield
that was there within, of sinople with a white hart, Lancelot would
have known him well, nor would there have been any quarrel between
them, for he had heard tell of this shield at the court of King Arthur.
The authority of this story recordeth that the two knights are in
hermitage, and that Perceval is well-nigh whole; but Lancelot hath sore
pain of his wound and is still far from his healing.

BRANCH IX.

TITLE I.

Now the story is silent about the two knights for a little time, and
speaketh of the squire that Messire Gawain meeteth in the midst of the
forest, that told him he went seek the son of the Widow Lady that had
slain his father. And the squire saith that he will go to avenge him,
wherefore cometh he to the court of King Arthur, for that he had heard
tell how all good knights repaired thither. And he seeth the shield
hang on the column in the midst of the hall that the Damsel of the Car
had brought thither. The squire knoweth it well, and kneeleth before
the King and saluteth him, and the King returneth his salute and asketh
who he is.

"Sir," saith he, "I am the son of the Knight of the Red Shield of the
Forest of Shadows, that was slain of the Knight that ought to bear the
shield that hangeth on this column, wherefore would I right gladly hear
tidings of him."

"As gladly would I," saith the King, "so that no evil came to him
thereof, for he is the knight of the world that I most desire."

"Sir," saith the Squire, "Well behoveth me to hate him for that he slew
my father. He that ought to bear this shield was squire when he slew
him, wherefore am I the more sorrowful for that I thought to be avenged
upon him squire. But this I may not do, wherefore I pray you for God's
sake that you will make me knight, for the like favour are you
accustomed to grant unto others."

"What is your name, fair friend?" saith the King.

"Sir," sai