orget me not,
for the saving of your loyalty."

"By my head," saith Lancelot, "That will I not, and gramercy for having
put off the day for love of me."

They depart from the knight and come back again toward Cardoil where
King Arthur was.

BRANCH XVIII.

TITLE I.

Here the story is silent of Lancelot and Messire Gawain, and saith that
Perceval is in the Turning Castle, whereof Joseus recounteth the truth,
to wit, that Virgil founded it in the air by his wisdom in such
fashion, when the philosophers went on the Quest of the Earthly
Paradise, and it was prophesied that the castle should not cease
turning until such time as the Knight should come thither that should
have a head of gold, the look of a lion, a heart of steel, the navel of
a virgin maiden, conditions without wickedness, the valour of a man and
faith and belief of God; and that this knight should bear the shield of
the Good Soldier that took down the Saviour of the World from hanging
on the rood. It was prophesied, moreover, that all they of the castle
and all other castles whereof this one was the guardian should hold the
old law until such time as the Good Knight should come, by whom their
souls should be saved and their death respited. For, so soon as he
should be come, they should run to be baptized, and should firmly
believe the new law. Wherefore was the joy great in the castle for
that their death should now be respited, and that they should be
released of all terror of the knight that was their foe, whom they
dreaded even to the death, and of the sin of the false law whereof they
had heretofore been attaint.

II.

Right glad is Perceval when he seeth the people of the castle turn them
to the holy faith of the Saviour, and the damsel saith to him, "Sir,
right well have you speeded thus far on your way; nought is there now
to be done save to finish that which remaineth. For never may they
that are within issue forth so long as the Knight of the Dragon is on
live. Here may you not tarry, for the longer you tarry, the more lands
will be desolate and the more folk will he slay. Perceval taketh leave
of them of the castle, that make much joy of him, but sore misgiving
have they of him on account of the knight with whom he goeth to do
battle, and they say that if he shall conquer him, never yet befell
knight so fair adventure. They have heard mass before that he
departeth, and made rich offerings for him in honour of the Saviour and
H