himself that is carrying off the head, and no power have we to do evil to him nor other sith that he hath passed the bar. But you shall aby it that let him go when he was so nigh you!" They rush in upon him and slay him and cut him up, and each one carrieth off his piece the same as they had done with the other. King Arthur is issued forth of the bar, and cometh to the maiden that is waiting for him and presenteth her the head. "Sir," saith the damsel, "Gramercy." "Damsel," saith he, "With a good will!" "Sir," saith the damsel, "You may well alight, for nought have you to fear on this side the bar." With that, the King alighteth. "Sir," saith she, "Do off your habergeon heedfully and I will bind up the wound in your arm, for of none may you be made whole save of me only." The King doeth off his habergeon, and the damsel taketh of the blood of the knight's head that still ran all warm, and therewith washeth King Arthur his wound, and thereafter maketh him do on his habergeon again. "Sir," saith she, "Never would you have been whole save by the blood of this Black Knight. And for this carried they off the body piecemeal and the head, for that they well knew you were wounded; and of the head shall I have right sore need, for thereby shall a castle be yielded up to me that was reft from me by treason, so I may find the knight that I go seek, through whom it ought to be yielded up to me." "Damsel," saith the King, "And who is the knight?" "Sir," saith she, "He was the son of Alain li Gros of the Valleys of Camelot, and is named Perlesvax." "Wherefore Perlesvax?" saith the King.