ther, as
she, that is the most gentle lady that liveth and the most loyal, hath
hope that, and he knew, he would come thither. Either he is dead or he
is in lands so far away that none may hear tidings of him. Ha, sweet
Lady, Mother of Our Saviour, aid us when we may have no aid of any
other! for if my lady mother loseth her castle, needs must we be
forlorn wanderers in strange lands, for so have her brothers been long
time; he that had the most power and valour lieth in languishment, the
good King Fisherman that the King of Castle Mortal warreth on, albeit
he also is my uncle, my mother's brother, and would fain reave my
uncle, that is his brother, of his castle by his felony. Of a man so
evil my lady mother looketh for neither aid nor succour. And the good
King Pelles hath renounced his kingdom for the love of his Saviour, and
hath entered into a hermitage. He likewise is brother of my mother,
and behoveth him make war upon none, for the most worshipful hermit is
he of the world. And all they on my father's side have died in arms.
Eleven were there of them, and my father was the twelfth. Had they
remained on live, well able would they have been to succour us, but the
knight that was first at the Graal hath undone us, for through him our
uncle fell in languishment, in whom should have been our surest
succour."

XI.

At this word Perceval rode forward, and the damsel heareth him. She
riseth up, and looketh backward and seeth the knight come, the shield
at his neck banded argent and azure, with a red cross. She clasped her
two hands toward heaven, and saith, "Ha, sweet Lady that didst bear the
Saviour of the World, you have not forgotten me, nor never may be
discounselled he nor she that calleth upon you with the heart. Here
see I the knight come of whom we shall have aid and succour, and our
Lord God grant him will to do His pleasure, and lend him courage and
strength to protect us!"

She goeth to meet him, and holdeth his stirrup and would have kissed
his foot, but he avoideth it and crieth to her: "Ill do you herein,
damsel!" And therewith she melteth in tears of weeping and prayeth him
right sweetly.

"Sir," saith she, "Of such pity as God had of His most sweet Mother on
that day He took His death, when He beheld Her at the foot of the
cross, have pity and mercy of my lady mother and of me. For, and your
aid fail us, we know not to whom to fly for rescue, for I have been
told that you are the Best