forests of this kingdom! For
the good King Fisherman is dead that made every day our service be done
in the most holy chapel there where the most Holy Graal every day
appeared, and where the Mother of God abode from the Saturday until the
Monday that the service was finished. And now hath the King of Castle
Mortal seized the castle in such sort that never sithence hath the Holy
Graal appeared, and all the other hallows are hidden, so that none
knoweth what hath become of the priests that served in the chapel, nor
the twelve ancient knights, nor the damsels that were therein. And
you, damsel, that are within, have no affiance in the aid of strange
knight in this need, for succoured may you never be save of your
brother only!"

XX.

With that the Voice is still, and a wailing and a lamentation goeth up
from the bodies that lay in the church-yard, so dolorous that no man is
there in the world but should have pity thereof, and all the evil
spirits that were without departed groaning and making so mighty uproar
at their going away that it seemed the earth trembled. The damsel
heard the tidings of her uncle that was dead, and fell on the ground in
a swoon, and when she raised herself, took on to lament and cried: "Ha,
God! Now have we lost the most comfort and the best friend that we
had, and hereof am I again discomforted that I may not be succoured in
this my next need by the Good Knight of whom I thought to have succour
and aid, and that was so fain to render it. Now shall I know not what
to ask of him, for he would grant it right willingly, and may God be as
pleased with him thereof as if he had done it."

The damsel was in sore misdoubting and dismay, for she knew not who the
knight was, and great misgiving had she of her uncle's death and right
sore sorrow. She was in the chapel until it was day, and then
commended herself to God and departed and mounted on her mule and
issued forth of the church-yard full speed, all alone.

XXI.

The story saith that the damsel went her way toward her mother's castle
as straight as she might, but sore dismayed was she of the Voice that
had told her she might not be succoured save of her brother alone. She
hath ridden so far of her journeys that she is come to the Valley of
Camelot, and seeth her mother's castle that was surrounded of great
rivers, and seeth Perceval, that was alighted under the shadow of a
tree at the top of the forest in order that he might behold h