this
tomb." "Sire, he who shall deliver all those who are held captive in
the kingdom whence none escapes." And when he had told him all this, the
knight commended him to God and all His saints. And then, for the first
time, he felt free to return to the damsel. The old white-haired monk
escorts him out of the church, and they resume their way. While the
damsel is mounting, however, the hermit relates to her all that the
knight had done inside, and then he begged her to tell him, if she knew,
what his name was; but she assured him that she did not know, but that
there was one sure thing she could say, namely, that there was not such
a knight alive where the four winds of heaven blow.

(Vv. 1967-2022.) Then the damsel takes leave of him, and rides swiftly
after the knight. Then those who were following them come up and see
the hermit standing alone before the church. The old knight in his shirt
sleeves said: "Sire, tell us, have you seen a knight with a damsel in
his company?" And he replies: "I shall not be loath to tell you all
I know, for they have just passed on from here. The knight was inside
yonder, and did a very marvellous thing in raising the stone from the
huge marble tomb, quite unaided and without the least effort. He is bent
upon the rescue of the Queen, and doubtless he will rescue her, as well
as all the other people. You know well that this must be so, for you
have often read the inscription upon the stone. No knight was ever born
of man and woman, and no knight ever sat in a saddle, who was the equal
of this man." Then the father turns to his son, and says: "Son, what
dost thou think about him now? Is he not a man to be respected who has
performed such a feat? Now thou knowest who was wrong, and whether it
was thou or I. I would not have thee fight with him for all the town of
Amiens; and yet thou didst struggle hard, before any one could dissuade
thee from thy purpose. Now we may as well go back, for we should be very
foolish to follow him any farther." And he replies: "I agree to that.
It would be useless to follow him. Since it is your pleasure, let us
return." They were very wise to retrace their steps. And all the time
the damsel rides close beside the knight, wishing to compel him to
give heed to her. She is anxious to learn his name, and she begs and
beseeches him again and again to tell her, until in his annoyance he
answers her: "Have I not already told you that I belong in King Arthur's
realm?