"Sir," saith he, "I well perceive that you are a Christian, of whom not
a single one have I seen this long time past. For the King of Castle
Mortal is driving us forth of this forest, for he hath renounced God
and His sweet Mother, so that we durst not remain in His defence."
"By my faith," saith Perceval, "But you shall! for God shall lead you
forward, and I after. Are there more hermits in this forest?" saith
Perceval.
"Yea, Sir, there be twelve here that are waiting for me at a cross
yonder before us, and we are minded to go to the kingdom of Logres and
put our bodies to penance for God's sake, and to abandon our cells and
chapels in this forest for dread of this felon King that hath seized
the land, for he willeth that none who believeth in God should here
abide."
XXIV.
Perceval is come with the hermit to the cross where the good men had
assembled them together, and findeth Joseus, the young man that was
King Pelles' son, of whom he maketh right great joy, and he maketh the
hermits turn back again with him, saying that he will defend them and
make them safe, by God's help, in the kingdom, and prayeth them right
sweetly that they make prayer for him to our Lord that He grant him to
win back that which of right is his own. He is come forth of the
forest and the hermits with him. He draweth nigh to the castle of King
Fisherman, and strong was the defence at the entrance thereof. Some of
the knights well knew that Perceval would conquer him, for long since
had it been prophesied that he who bare such shield should win the
Graal of him that sold God for money.
XXV.
The knights saw Perceval coming and the company of hermits with him
right seemly to behold, and much marvel had they thereof. About a
couple of bowshots above the bridge was a chapel fashioned like the one
at Camelot, wherein was a sepulchre, and none knew who lay therein.
Perceval abideth thereby and his company. He leaneth his shield and
spear against the chapel, and maketh fast his horse and mule by the
reins. He beholdeth the sepulchre, that was right fair, and forthwith
the sepulchre openeth and the joinings fall apart and the stone lifteth
up in such wise that a man might see the knight that lay within, of
whom came forth a smell of so sweet savour that it seemed to the good
men that were looking on that it had been all embalmed. They found a
letter which testified that this knight was named Josephus. So soon as
the hermits beheld the sepulchre open, they said to Perceval: "Sir, now
at last know we well that you are the Good Knight, the chaste, the
holy."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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