ou shall have found him," saith King Arthur, "For I
have told you the truth thereof. Give me the head."

"Willingly," saith the knight. He lowereth his spear and the King
taketh the head. The knight had a horn at his neck. He setteth it to
his mouth and soundeth a blast right loud. The knights that were set
within the forest hear the horn and return back a great gallop, and
King Arthur goeth his way toward the oak-tree at the issue of the
launde where the damsel is awaiting him. And the knights come
presently to him that had given the head to the King and ask him
wherefore he hath sounded the horn.

"For this," saith he, "That this knight that is going away yonder hath
told me that King Arthur slew the Black Knight, and I was minded you
should know it that we may follow him."

"We will not follow him," say the knights, "For it is King Arthur
himself that is carrying off the head, and no power have we to do evil
to him nor other sith that he hath passed the bar. But you shall aby
it that let him go when he was so nigh you!"

They rush in upon him and slay him and cut him up, and each one
carrieth off his piece the same as they had done with the other. King
Arthur is issued forth of the bar, and cometh to the maiden that is
waiting for him and presenteth her the head.

"Sir," saith the damsel, "Gramercy."

"Damsel," saith he, "With a good will!"

"Sir," saith the damsel, "You may well alight, for nought have you to
fear on this side the bar." With that, the King alighteth.

"Sir," saith she, "Do off your habergeon heedfully and I will bind up
the wound in your arm, for of none may you be made whole save of me
only."

The King doeth off his habergeon, and the damsel taketh of the blood of
the knight's head that still ran all warm, and therewith washeth King
Arthur his wound, and thereafter maketh him do on his habergeon again.

"Sir," saith she, "Never would you have been whole save by the blood of
this Black Knight. And for this carried they off the body piecemeal
and the head, for that they well knew you were wounded; and of the head
shall I have right sore need, for thereby shall a castle be yielded up
to me that was reft from me by treason, so I may find the knight that I
go seek, through whom it ought to be yielded up to me."

"Damsel," saith the King, "And who is the knight?"

"Sir," saith she, "He was the son of Alain li Gros of the Valleys of
Camelot, and is named Perlesvax."

"Wherefore Pe