"Sir," saith she, "The damsel is to bear it to an assembly of knights
that is to be held hard by this, under the White Tower. There hath she
to give it to the best knight, and him that shall do best at the
assembly, and the knight that followeth the damsel is bound to carry it
whither he that shall win it may command, and if he would fain it
should be given to another rather than to himself."

"Lady," saith Perceval, "Well meseemeth that he who shall win the cup
by prize of arms will be right courteous and he send it to you, and God
grant that he that hath it may do you such bounty as you desire."

"Sir," saith she, "Methinketh well, so Lancelot were there, either he
or Messire Gawain, that, and they won it, so they remembered them of
me, and knew how needful it were to me, they would promise me the cup."

"Lady," saith Perceval, "By one of these twain ought you well to have
it, for greater prize now long since have they won."

She goeth to her lord and saith to him: "Sir," saith she, "Now may you
be more joyous than is your wont, for that your brother hath his land
again all quit. For the knight that is within was at the reconquering."

The Sick Knight heard her and had great joy thereof.

"Go!" saith he to his wife, "and do great honour to the knight, but
take heed you sit not otherwise than you are wont."

"Sir," saith she, "I will not."

XX.

The damsel maketh Perceval sit at meat. When he had washen, he thought
that the lady should have come to sit beside him, but she would not
disobey her lord's commandment. When Perceval was set at the table and
he had been served of the first meats, thereupon the lady went to sit
with the squires. Perceval was much shamed that she should sit below,
but he was not minded to speak, for she had told him somewhat of her
lord's manner. Howbeit, he lay the night in the hold, and, on the
morrow when he had taken leave, he departed, and bethought him in his
courage that the knight would do good chivalry and great aims that
should do this sick knight his desire as concerning the cup, in such
sort as that his wife should be freed of the annoy that she is in, for
that all knights that knew thereof ought to have pity of her. Perceval
goeth his way as he that hath great desire to accomplish that he hath
to do, and to see the token of his going again to the castle where the
chain of gold appeared to him, for never yet saw he dwelling that
pleased him so much. He hath ridd