at followed him, "Even now have you much to
do. Of this cruel knight and felonous you have avenged this country.
Now, God grant you find betimes the Red Knight that slew your uncle's
son. I doubt not but that you will conquer him, but great misgiving
have I of the lion, for it is the cruellest beast that saw I ever, and
he so loveth his lord and his horse as never no beast loved another so
much, and he helpeth his lord right hardily to defend him."

V.

Perceval goeth toward the great Deep Forest without tarrying, and the
damsel after. But, or ever he came thither, he met a knight that was
wounded right sore, both he and his horse.

"Ha, Sir," saith he to Perceval, "Enter not into this forest, whence I
have scarce escaped with much pains. For therein is a knight that had
much trouble of rescuing me from his lion; and no less am I in dread to
pass on forward, for there is a knight that is called Aristor, that
without occasion runneth upon the knights that pass through the forest."

"Of him," saith the damsel, "need you have no fear, for you may see his
head hanging at the knight's saddle-bow."

VI.

"Certes," saith the knight, "Never yet was I so glad of any tidings I
have heard, and well know I that he that slew him is not lacking of
great hardiment."

The knight departeth from Perceval, but the lion had wounded his horse
so passing sore in the quarters that scarce could he go.

"Sir Knight," saith Perceval, "Go to the hermit in the Deep Forest, and
say I bade him give you the destrier I left with him, for well I see
that you have sore need thereof, and you may repay him in some other
manner, for rather would he have something else than the horse."

The knight goeth him much thanks of this that he saith. He cometh to
the hermit the best he may, and telleth him according as he had been
charged, and the hermit biddeth him take which destrier he will for the
love of the knight that had slain the evil-doer, that did so many evil
deeds in this forest.

"And I will lend you them both twain if you will."

"Sir," saith the knight, "I ask but for one of them."

He taketh Aristor's horse, that seemed him the better, and straightway
mounteth thereon, and abandoneth his own, that might go no further. He
taketh leave of the hermit, and telleth him he will right well repay
him, but better had it befallen him and he had not taken the horse, for
thereof was he slain without reason thereafter. A knight that was