And now will we turn unto Sir Percivale that rode long; and in a forest
he met a knight with a broken shield and a broken helm; and as soon as
either saw other readily they made them ready to joust, and so hurtled
together with all the might of their horses, and met together so hard,
that Sir Percivale was smitten to the earth. And then Sir Percivale
arose lightly, and cast his shield on his shoulder and drew his sword,
and bade the other knight: Alight, and do we battle unto the uttermost.
Will ye more? said that knight. And therewith he alighted, and put his
horse from him; and then they came together an easy pace, and there
they lashed together with noble swords, and sometime they struck and
sometime they foined, and either gave other many great wounds. Thus
they fought near half a day, and never rested but right little, and
there was none of them both that had less wounds than fifteen, and they
bled so much that it was marvel they stood on their feet. But this
knight that fought with Sir Percivale was a proved knight and a
wise-fighting knight, and Sir Percivale was young and strong, not
knowing in fighting as the other was.
Then Sir Percivale spoke first, and said: Sir knight, hold thy hand a
while still, for we have fought for a simple matter and quarrel
overlong, and therefore I require thee tell me thy name, for I was
never or this time matched. So God me help, said that knight, and never
or this time was there never knight that wounded me so sore as thou
hast done, and yet have I fought in many battles; and now shalt thou
wit that I am a knight of the Table Round, and my name is Sir Ector de
Maris, brother unto the good knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said
Sir Percivale, and my name is Sir Percivale de Galis that hath made my
quest to seek Sir Launcelot, and now I am siker that I shall never
finish my quest, for ye have slain me with your hands. It is not so,
said Sir Ector, for I am slain by your hands, and may not live.
Therefore I require you, said Sir Ector unto Sir Percivale, ride ye
hereby to a priory, and bring me a priest that I may receive my
Saviour, for I may not live. And when ye come to the court of King
Arthur tell not my brother, Sir Launcelot, how that ye slew me, for
then he would be your mortal enemy, but ye may say that I was slain in
my quest as I sought him. Alas, said Sir Percivale, ye say that never
will be, for I am so faint for bleeding that I may unnethe stand, how
should I then take my horse?
CHAPTER XIV. How by miracle they were both made whole by the coming of
the holy vessel of Sangreal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account