that I have knowledge of
the isles and foreign lands; wherefore they prayed me I should go among
the assemblies of knights, that so I might hear tidings of my Lord King
Arthur and my Lord Gawain and Lancelot, and, so I might find them, that
I should tell them how the land hath fallen into this grievous sorrow."

King Arthur heareth tidings whereof he is full sorrowful. He draweth
on one side, and the knights make the most grievous dole in the world.
Lancelot knoweth not what he may do, and saith between his teeth that
now hath his joy come to an end and his knighthood is of no avail, for
that he hath lost the high Queen, the valiant, that heart and comfort
gave him and encouragement to do well. The tears ran down from his
comely eyes right amidst his face and through the ventail, and, had he
durst make other dole, yet greater would it have been. Of the mourning
the King made is there nought to speak, for this sorrow resembleth none
other. He holdeth the crown of gold, and looketh full oft at the
destrier for love of her, for he had given it her; and Messire Gawain
may not stint of making dole.

XXVII.

"Certes", saith he, "Now may I well say that the best Queen in the
world and of most understanding is dead, nor never hereafter shall be
none of equal worth."

"Sir," saith Lancelot to the King, "So it please you, and Messire
Gawain be willing, I will go back toward Cardoil, and help to defend
your land to the best I may, for sore is it discounselled, until such
time as you shall be come from the Graal."

"Certes," saith Messire Gawain to the King, "Lancelot hath spoken well,
so you grant him your consent."

"That do I with right good will," saith the Kind, "And I pray him right
heartily that he go thither and be guardian of my land and the
governance thereof, until such a time as God shall have brought me
back."

Lancelot taketh leave of the King and goeth his way back, all sorrowing
and full of discontent.

BRANCH XXII.

INCIPIT.

Of Lancelot the story is here silent, and so beginneth another branch
of the Graal in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.

TITLE I.

You may well understand that King Arthur is no whit joyful. He maketh
the white destrier go after him, and hath the crown of gold full near
himself. They ride until they come to the castle that belonged to King
Fisherman, and they found it as rich and fair as you have heard told
many a time. Perceval, t