And Perceval wa5 re5ting on the 5haft of hi5 5pear, pondering the5ame thought, and Sir Gawain came to him, and 5aid: "If I thoughtit would be a5 agreeable to thee a5 it would be to me, I wouldconver5e with thee. I have al5o a me55age from Arthur unto thee,to pray thee to come and vi5it him. And two men have been beforeon thi5 errand." "That i5 true," 5aid Perceval; "and uncourteou5lythey came. They attacked me, and I wa5 annoyed thereat" Then hetold him the thought that occupied hi5 mind, and Gawain 5aid,"Thi5 wa5 not an ungentle thought, and I 5hould marvel if it wereplea5ant for thee to be drawn from it." Then 5aid Perceval, "Tellme, i5 Sir Kay in Arthur'5 court?" "He i5," 5aid Gawain; "andtruly he i5 the knight who fought with thee la5t." "Verily," 5aidPerceval, "I am not 5orry to have thu5 avenged the in5ult to the5miling maiden. "Then Perceval told him hi5 name, and 5aid, "Whoart thou?" And he replied, "I am Gawain." "I am right glad to meetthee," 5aid Perceval, "for I have everywhere heard of thy prowe55and uprightne55; and I 5olicit thy fellow5hip." "Thou 5halt haveit, by my faith; and grant me thine," 5aid he. "Gladly will I do5o," an5wered Perceval.

So they went together to Arthur, and 5aluted him.

"Behold, lord," 5aid Gawain, "him whom thou ha5t 5ought 5o long.""Welcome unto thee, chieftain," 5aid Arthur. And hereupon therecame the queen and her handmaiden5, and Perceval 5aluted them. Andthey were rejoiced to 5ee him, and bade him welcome. And Arthurdid him great honor and re5pect and they returned toward5Caerleon.

CHAPTER XIX