s are you, and fain would I you should be lord
of all my land and of me, as is right and reason."

The damsels of the tents make right great joy of him when they know the
tidings that he is so nigh of kin to the Lady of the Tents. And he
sojourned therewithin until that he was whole and heal, awaiting the
coming of the knight of whom he had heard the tidings. And the damsels
marvel them much that he cometh not, for the damsel that had tended him
was therewithin and telleth them that he was healed of his arm, but
that Lancelot is not yet whole, wherefore he is still within the
hermitage.

VIII.

This high history witnesseth us and recordeth that Joseph, who maketh
remembrance thereof, was the first priest that sacrificed the body of
Our Lord, and forsomuch ought one to believe the words that come of
him. You have heard tell how Perceval was of the lineage of Joseph of
Abarimacie, whom God so greatly loved for that he took down His body
hanging on the cross, which he would not should lie in the prison there
where Pilate had set it. For the highness of the lineage whereof the
Good Knight was descended ought one willingly to hear brought to mind
and recorded the words that are of him. The story telleth us that he
was departed of the hermitage all sound and whole, albeit he hath left
Lancelot, for that his wound was not yet healed, but he hath promised
him that he will come back to him so soon as he may. He rideth amidst
a forest, all armed, and cometh toward evensong to the issue of the
forest and seeth a castle before him right fair and well seated, and
goeth thitherward for lodging, for the sun was set. He entereth into
the castle and alighteth. The lord cometh to meet him that was a tall
knight and a red, and had a felon look, and his face scarred in many
places; and knight was there none therewithin save only himself and his
household.

IX.

When he seeth Perceval alighted, he runneth to bar the door, and
Perceval cometh over against him. For all greeting, the knight
saluteth him thus: "Now shall you have," saith he, "such guerdon as you
have deserved. Never again shall you depart hence, for my mortal enemy
are you, and right hardy are you thus to throw yourself upon me, for
you slew my brother the Lord of the Shadows, and Chaos the Red am I
that war upon your mother, and this castle have I reft of her. In like
manner will I wring the life out of you or ever you depart hence!"

"Already," saith Per