wain
overthrew the evil customs. For God's sake, hasten you, for he
revileth her sore for her love of the King and of Messire Gawain."

Perceval remounteth forthwith and issueth forth of the castle on the
spur. The damsel bringeth him on as fast as the knight can go. They
had not ridden far before they came a-nigh, and Perceval heard the
damsel crying aloud for mercy, and the knight said that mercy upon her
he would not have, and so smote her on the head and neck with the fiat
of his sword.

XXV.

Perceval espied the knight and saw that the cognisance of his shield
was such as that which had been set forth to him.

"Sir," saith he, "Too churlishly are you entreating this damsel! What
wrong hath she done you?"

"What is it to you of me and of her?"

"I say it" saith Perceval, "for that no knight ought to do churlishly
to damsel."

"He will not stint for you yet!" saith Brundans. He raiseth his sword
and dealeth the damsel a buffet with the fiat so passing heavy that it
maketh her stoop withal so that the blood rayeth out at mouth and nose.

"By my head," saith Perceval, "On this buffet I defy thee, for the
death of Meliot and for the shame you have done this damsel."

"Neither you nor none other may brag that you have heart to attack me,
but you shall aby it right dear!"

"That shall you see presently," saith Perceval and so draweth back the
better to let drive at him, and moveth towards him as fast as his horse
may run, and smiteth him so passing sore that he pierceth his shield
and bursteth his habergeon and then thrusteth his spear into his body
with such force that he overthroweth him all in a heap, him and his
horse, in such sort that he breaketh both legs in the fall.

Then he alighteth over him, lowereth his coif, unlaceth the ventail,
and smiteth off his head.

"Damsel," saith he, "Take it, I present it to you. And, sith that you
are going to King Arthur's court, I pray and beseech you that you carry
it thither and so salute him first for me, and tell Messire Gawain and
Lancelot that this is the last present I look ever to make them, for I
think never to see them more. Howbeit, wheresoever I may be, I shall be
their well-wisher, nor may I never withdraw me of my love, and I would
fain I might make them the same present of the heads of all their
enemies, but that I may do nought against God's will."

The damsel giveth him thanks for that he hath delivered her from the
hands of the knight, a