The Queen looketh at him amidst his face, and is taken with a love of
him so passing strong and fervent that she goeth nigh to fall upon him.
"Sir," saith she, "and you will grant me your love, I will pardon you
of all the death of Chaos the Red."
"Lady," saith he, "your love am I right fain to deserve, and mine you
have."
"Sir," saith she, "How may I perceive that you love me?"
"Lady," saith he, "I will tell you. There is no knight in the world
that shall desire to do you a wrong, but I will help you against him to
my power."
"Such love," saith she, "is the common love that knight ought to bear
to lady. Would you do as much for another?"
"Lady," saith he, "It well may be, but more readily shall a man give
help in one place than in another."
The Queen would fain that Perceval should pledge himself to her further
than he did, and the more she looketh at him the better he pleaseth
her, and the more is she taken with him and the more desirous of his
love. But Perceval never once thought of loving her or another in such
wise. He was glad to look upon her, for that she was of passing great
beauty, but never spake he nought to her whereby she might perceive
that he loved her of inward love. But in no wise might she refrain her
heart, nor withdraw her eyes, nor lose her desire. The damsels looked
upon her with wonder that so soon had she forgotten her mourning.
XIII.
Thereupon, behold you Clamados, that had been told that this was the
knight that, as yet only squire, had slain his father and put Chaos his
uncle to death. He cometh into the tent and seeth him sitting beside
the Queen, that looked at him right sweetly.
"Lady," saith he, "Great shame do you to yourself, in that you have
seated at your side your own mortal enemy and mine. Never again
henceforth ought any to have affiance in your love nor in your help."
"Clamados," saith the Queen, "the knight hath thrown himself upon me
suddenly. Wherefore ought I do him no evil, rather behoveth me lodge
him and keep his body in safety. Nought, moreover, hath he done
whereof he might be adjudged of murder nor of treason."
"Lady," saith Clamados, "He slew my father in the Lonely Forest without
defiance, and treacherously cast a javelin at him and smote him through
the body, wherefore shall I never be at ease until I have avenged him.
Therefore do I appeal and pray you to do me my right, not as being of
your kindred, but as stranger. For right willing am I that kinship
shall avail me nought herein."
Perceval looketh at the knight and seeth that he is of right goodly
complexion of body and right comely of face. "Fair Sir," saith he, "as
of treason I would that you hold me quit, for never toward your father
nor toward other have had I never a mind to do treason, and God defend
me from such shame, and grant me strength to clear myself of any blame
thereof."
Clamados cometh forward to proffer his gage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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