back when I shall be
healed."

"So will I do, sith that it is your pleasure."

The Queen cometh to the other knight that was wounded, for that he
declareth himself Messire Gawain's man, and maketh search his wounds,
and they say that he hath not been hurt so sore as is Clamados. She
commandeth them to tend him and wait upon him right well-willingly,
"Sir," saith she to Perceval, "Behoveth you abide here until such time
as my nephew be heal, for you know well that whereof he plaineth
against you, nor would I that you should depart hence without clearing
you of the blame."

"Lady, no wish have I to depart without your leave, but rather shall I
be ready to clear myself of blame whensoever and wheresoever time and
place may be. But herewithin may I make not so long sojourn.
Natheless to this will I pledge my word, that I will return thither
within a term of fifteen days from the time he shall be whole."

"Sir," saith the Damsel of the Car, "I will remain here in hostage for
you."

"But do you pray him," saith the Queen, "that he remain herewithin with
us."

XVIII.

"Lady," saith Perceval, "I may not, for I left Lancelot wounded right
sore in my uncle's hermitage."

"Sir," saith the Queen, "I would fain that remaining here might have
pleased you as well as it would me."

"Lady," saith he, "none ought it to displease to be with you, but every
man behoveth keep his word as well as he may, and none ought to lie to
so good a knight as he."

"You promise me, then," saith the Queen, "that you will return hither
the soonest you may, or at the least, within the term appointed after
you shall have learnt that Clamados is healed, to defend you of the
treason that he layeth upon you?"

"Lady," saith he, "and if he die shall I be quit?"

"Yea, truly, Sir, and so be that you have no will to come for love of
me. For right well should I love your coming."

"Lady," saith he, "never shall be the day my services shall fail you,
so I be in place, and you in need thereof."

He taketh leave and departeth, armed. The Damsel of the Car commendeth
him to God, and Perceval departeth full speed and rideth so far on his
journeys that he cometh to his uncle's hermitage and entereth in,
thinking to find Lancelot. But his uncle telleth him that he hath
departed all sound and all heal of his wound, as of all other malady,
as him thinketh.

BRANCH X.

INCIPIT.

Another branch of the Graal again beginneth in the name of t