is hostel, and of the salutations that he sent
him. King Hermit is right joyous thereof, and asketh him of his
nephew, and he telleth him he hath seen him not since he departed
thence. King Hermit asketh him whether he hath seen the Graal, and he
telleth him he hath seen it not at all.

"I know well," saith the King, "wherefore this was so. And you had had
the like desire to see the Graal that you have to see the Queen, the
Graal would you have seen."

"Sir," saith Lancelot, "The Queen do I desire to see for the sake of
her good intent, her wisdom, courtesy and worth, and so ought every
knight to do. For in herself hath she all honourable conditions that a
lady may have."

"God grant you good issue therein," saith King Hermit, "and that you do
nought whereof He may visit you with His wrath at the Day of Judgment."

Lancelot lay the night in the hermitage, and on the morrow departed
thence and took leave when he had heard mass, and cometh back as
straight as he may to Pannenoisance on the sea of Wales, where were the
King and Queen with great plenty of knights and barons.

BRANCH XI.

TITLE I.

This High History witnesseth whereof this account cometh, and saith
that Perceval is in the kingdom of Logres, and came great pace toward
the land of the Queen of the Tents to release the Damsel of the Car,
that he had left in hostage on account of Clamados, that had put upon
him the treason whereof behoved him to defend himself. But, or ever he
entered into the land of the Queen of the Tents, he met the Damsel of
the Car that was coming thence. She made right great joy of him, and
told him that Clamados was dead of the wound that Meliot of Logres had
dealt him, and that Meliot of Logres was heal.

"Sir," saith she, "The tents and the awnings are taken down, and the
Queen hath withdrawn herself to the castle with her maidens, and by my
coming back from thence may you well know that you are altogether quit.
Wherefore I tell you that your sister goeth in quest of you, and that
never had your mother so sore need of help as now she hath, nor never
again shall your sister have joy at heart until such time as she shall
have found you. She goeth seeking for you by all the kingdoms and
strange countries in sore mis-ease, nor may she find any to tell her
tidings of you."

Therewith Perceval departeth from the Damsel, without saying more, and
rideth until he cometh into the kingdom of Wales to a castle that is
seated