who had wounded him in such manner.

"Sir," saith he, "I come from the Chapel Perilous, where I was not able
to defend me against an evil folk that appeared there; and they have
wounded me in such sort as you see, and but for a damsel that came
thereinto from the forest I should not have escaped on live. But she
aided me on such condition that and I should see a knight they call
Lancelot, or Perceval, or Messire Gawain, I should tell which of them
soever I should first meet withal that he should go to her without
delay, for much she marvelleth her that none of them cometh into the
chapel, for none ought to enter there but good knights only. But much
do I marvel, Sir, how the damsel durst enter there, for it is the most
marvellous place that is, and the damsel is of right great beauty;
natheless she cometh thither oftentimes alone into the chapel. A
knight lieth in the chapel that hath been slain of late, that was a
fell and cruel knight and a hardy."

"What was his name?" saith Lancelot.

"He was named Ahuret the Bastard," saith the knight; "And he had but
one arm and one hand, and the other was smitten off at a castle that
Messire Gawain gave Meliot of Logres when he succoured him against this
knight that lieth in the coffin. And Meliot of Logres hath slain the
knight that had assieged the castle, but the knight wounded him sore,
so that he may not be whole save he have the sword wherewith he wounded
him, that lieth in the coffin at his side, and some of the cloth
wherein he is enshrouded; and, so God grant me to meet one of the
knights, gladly will I convey unto him the damsel's message."

"Sir Knight," saith Lancelot, "One of them have you found. My name is
Lancelot, and for that I see you are wounded and in evil plight, I tell
it you thus freely."

"Sir," saith the knight, "Now may God protect your body, for you go in
great peril of death. But the damsel much desireth to see you, I know
not for what, and well may she aid you if she will."

II.

"Sir Knight, God hath brought us forth of many a peril, and so will He
also from this and it be His pleasure and His will."

With that, Lancelot departeth from the knight, and hath ridden so far
that he is come at evensong to the Chapel Perilous, that standeth in a
great valley of the forest, and hath a little churchyard about it that
is well enclosed on all sides, and hath an ancient cross without the
entrance. The chapel and the graveyard are overshadowed