บทที่ บทที่ 381 · How Sir Percivale saw a ship coming to him-ward, and how

. How Sir Percivale saw a ship coming to him-ward, and how

the lady of the ship told him of her disheritance.

By that Sir Percivale had abiden there till mid-day he saw a ship came

rowing in the sea, as all the wind of the world had driven it. And so

it drove under that rock. And when Sir Percivale saw this he hied him

thither, and found the ship covered with silk more blacker than any

bear, and therein was a gentlewoman of great beauty, and she was

clothed richly that none might be better. And when she saw Sir

Percivale she said: Who brought you in this wilderness where ye be

never like to pass hence, for ye shall die here for hunger and

mischief? Damosel, said Sir Percivale, I serve the best man of the

world, and in his service he will not suffer me to die, for who that

knocketh shall enter, and who that asketh shall have, and who that

seeketh him he hideth him not. But then she said: Sir Percivale, wot ye

what I am? Yea, said he. Now who taught you my name? said she. Now,

said Sir Percivale, I know you better than ye ween. And I came out of

the waste forest where I found the Red Knight with the white shield,

said the damosel. Ah, damosel, said he, with that knight would I meet

passing fain. Sir knight, said she, an ye will ensure me by the faith

that ye owe unto knighthood that ye shall do my will what time I summon

you, and I shall bring you unto that knight. Yea, said he, I shall

promise you to fulfil your desire. Well, said she, now shall I tell

you. I saw him in the forest chasing two knights unto a water, the

which is called Mortaise; and they drove him into the water for dread

of death, and the two knights passed over, and the Red Knight passed

after, and there his horse was drenched, and he, through great

strength, escaped unto the land: thus she told him, and Sir Percivale

was passing glad thereof.

Then she asked him if he had ate any meat late. Nay, madam, truly I ate

no meat nigh this three days, but late here I spake with a good man

that fed me with his good words and holy, and refreshed me greatly. Ah,

sir knight, said she, that same man is an enchanter and a multiplier of

words. For an ye believe him ye shall plainly be shamed, and die in

this rock for pure hunger, and be eaten with wild beasts; and ye be a

young man and a goodly knight, and I shall help you an ye will. What

are ye, said Sir Percivale, that proffered me thus great kindness? I

am, said she, a gentlewoman that am disherited, which was sometime the

richest woman of the world. Damosel, said Sir Percivale, who hath

disherited you? for I have great pity of you. Sir, said she, I dwelled

with the greatest man of the world, and he made me so fair and clear

that there was none like me; and of that great beauty I had a little

pride more than I ought to have had. Also I said a word that pleased

him not. And then he would not suffer me to be any longer in his

company, and so drove me from mine heritage, and so disherited me, and

he had never pity of me nor of none of my council, nor of my court. And

sithen, sir knight, it hath befallen me so, and through me and mine I

have benome him many of his men, and made them to become my men. For

they ask never nothing of me but I give it them, that and much more.

Thus I and all my servants were against him night and day. Therefore I

know now no good knight, nor no good man, but I get them on my side an

I may. And for that I know that thou art a good knight, I beseech you

to help me; and for ye be a fellow of the Round Table, wherefore ye

ought not to fail no gentlewoman which is disherited, an she besought

you of help.