VI.
Perceval cometh towards them, he and the knight he driveth before him perforce, and seeth a tall knight all armed that leadeth the damsels all dishevelled, and smiteth them from time to time with a great rod, so that the blood ran down their faces.
"Ha, Sir Knight," saith Perceval, "What ask you of these two damsels that you entreat so churlishly?"
"Sir," saith he, "They have disherited me of mine own hold in this forest that Messire Gawain gave them."
"Sir," say they to Perceval, "This knight is a robber, and none other but he now wonneth in this forest, for the other robber-knights were slain by Messire Gawain and Lancelot and another knight that came with them, and, for the sore suffering and poverty that Messire Gawain and Lancelot saw in us aforetime, and in the house of my brother in whose castle they lay, were they fain to give us this hold and the treasure they conquered from the robber-knights, and for this doth he now lead us away to slay and destroy us, and as much would he do for you and all other knights, so only he had the power."
"Sir Knight," saith Perceval, "Let be these damsels, for well I know that they say true, for that I was there when the hold was given them."
"Then you helped to slay my kindred," saith the knight, "And therefore you do I defy!"
"Ha," saith the Knight Coward to Perceval, "Take no heed of that he saith, and wax not wroth, but go your way!"
"Certes," saith Perceval, "This will I not do: Rather will I help to challenge the honour of the damsels."