en so far that he is come into the
joyless forest of the Black Hermit, that is so loathly and horrible
that no leaves nor greenery are there by winter nor by summer, nor was
song of bird never heard therein, but all the land is gruesome and
burnt, and wide are the cracks therein. He hath scarce gone thereinto
or ever he hath overtaken the Damsel of the Car, that made full great
joy of him.

"Sir," saith she, "Bald was I the first time I saw you; now may you see
that I have my hair."

"Certes, yea!" saith Perceval, "And, as methinketh, hair passing
beautiful."

"Sir," saith she, "I was wont to carry my arm at my neck in a scarf of
gold and silk, for that I thought the service I did you in the hostel
of King Fisherman your uncle had been ill bestowed; but now well I see
that it was not; wherefore now carry I the one arm in the same manner
as the other; and the damsel that wont to go a-foot now goeth
a-horseback; and blessed be you that have so approved you in goodness
by the good manner of your heart, and by your likeness to the first of
your lineage, whom you resemble in all good conditions. Sir," saith
she, "I durst not come nigh the castle, for there be archers there that
shoot so sore that none may endure their strokes, and hereof will they
stint not, they say, until such time as you be come thither. But well
know I wherefore they will cease then, for they will come to shut you
up within to slay and to destroy. Natheless all they that are within
will have no power, nor will they do you evil, save only the lord of
the castle; but he will do battle against you right gladly."

XXI.

Perceval goeth toward the castle of the Black Hermit, and the Damsel of
the Car after. The archers draw and shoot stoutly. Perceval goeth
forward a great gallop, but they know him not on account of the white
shield. They think rather that it is one of the other knights, and
they lodge many arrows in his shield. He came nigh a drawbridge over a
moat right broad and foul and horrible, and the bridge was lowered so
soon as he came, and all the archers left of shooting. Then knew they
well that it was Perceval who came. The door was opened to receive
him, for they of the gate and they of the castle within thought to have
power to slay him. But so soon as they saw him, they lost their will
thereof and were all amared and without strength, and said that they
would set this business on their lord that was strong enough and
puissant