th Perceval, she knoweth him again. She
claspeth her two hands together and saith, "Ha, Sir, for God's sake
have mercy! Already have you given me back the castle whereof this
knight would reave me."

The horse whereon Perceval sat, the knight knew him.

"Sir," saith he, "This horse was the horse of Messire the Red Knight of
the Deep Forest! Now at last know I that it was you that slew him!"

"It may well be," saith Perceval, "And if that I slew him, good right
had I to do so, for he had cut off the head of a son of mine uncle, the
which head this damsel carried of a long time."

"By my head," saith the knight, "Sith that you slew him, you are my
mortal enemy!"

So he draweth off in the midst of the launde and Perceval likewise, and
then they come together as fast as their horses may carry them, and
either giveth other great buffets in the midst of their breast with
their spears the most they may. Perceval smiteth the knight so passing
hard that he overthroweth him to the ground right over the croup of his
horse, and in the fall that he made, he to-brake him the master-bone of
his leg so that he might not move. And Perceval alighteth to the
ground and cometh where the knight lay. And he crieth him mercy that
he slay him not. And Perceval telleth him he need not fear death, nor
that he is minded to slay him in such plight as he is, but that like as
he was fain to make the damsel do he will make him do. He maketh
alight the other old knight and the priest, then maketh the knight be
carried to the Pit of the Serpent and the worms, whereof was great
store. The pit was dark and deep. When that the knight was therein he
might not live long for the worms that were there. The damsel thanked
Perceval much of this goodness and of the other that he had done her.
She departeth and returneth again to her castle, and was assured
therein on all sides, nor never thereafter had she dread of no knight,
for the cruel justice that Perceval had done on this one.

XVII.

The son of the Widow Lady of his good knighthood knoweth not how to
live without travail. He well knoweth that when he hath been at the
Black Hermit's castle, he will in some measure have achieved his task.
But many another thing behoveth him to do tofore, and little toil he
thinketh it, whereof shall God be well pleased. He hath ridden so far
one day and another, that he came into a land where he met knights
stout and strong there where God was neither