for whom she is full sorrowful, and
on the morrow hath mass sung and burieth him. Perceval made arm two of
the old knights with him, then issued forth of the castle and entered
the great dark forest. He rode until he came before a castle, and met
five knights that issued forth all armed. He asked whose men they
were. They answer, the Lord's of the Moors, and that he goeth seek the
son of the Widow Lady that is in the forest.

"If we may deliver him up to our lord, good guerdon shal we have
thereof."

"By my faith," saith Perceval, "You have not far to seek. I am here!"

XXIX.

Perceval smiteth his horse of his spurs and cometh to the first in such
sort that he passeth his spear right through his body and beareth him
to the ground dead. The other two knights each smote his man so that
they wounded them in the body right sore. The other two would fain
have fled, but Perceval preventeth them, and they gave themselves up
prisoners for fear of death. He bringeth all four to the castle of
Camelot and presenteth them to his lady mother.

"Lady," saith he, "see here the quittance for your knight that was
slain, and the fifth also remaineth lying on the piece of ground shent
in like manner as was your own."

"Fair son," saith she, "I should have better loved peace after another
sort, and so it might be."

"Lady," saith he, "Thus is it now. One ought to make war against the
warrior, and be at peace with the peaceable."

The knights are put in prison. The tidings are come to the Lord of the
Moors that the son of the Widow Lady hath slain one of his knights and
carried off four to prison. Thereof hath he right great wrath at
heart, and sweareth and standeth to it that never will he be at rest
until he shall have either taken or slain him, and that, so there were
any knight in his land that would deliver him up, he would give him one
of the best castles in his country. The more part are keen to take
Perceval. Eight came for that intent before him all armed in the
forest of Camelot, and hunted and drove wild deer in the purlieus of
the forest so that they of the castle saw them.

XXX.

Perceval was in his mother's chapel, where he heard mass; and when the
mass was sung, his sister said: "Fair brother, see here the most holy
cloth that I brought from the chapel of the Grave-yard Perilous. Kiss
it and touch it with your face, for a holy hermit told me that never
should our land be conquered back until such