servants war against him night and day.
I know now no good knight and no good man but I get on my side, if I
may. And since I know that ye are a good knight I beseech you to help
me; and since ye are a fellow of the Round Table, ye ought not to fail
any gentlewoman which is disherited, if she beseech you of help."

Then Sir Percivale promised her all the help that he might. She
thanked him, and since the weather was at that time hot, she bade a
gentlewoman bring a pavilion. So she did, and pitched it there upon
the gravel. He slept a great while there in the heat of the day; and
when he awoke, there was set before him upon a table all manner of
meats that he could think of. Also he drank there the strongest wine
that ever he drank, him thought, and therewith he was a little heated
more than he ought to be. With that he beheld the gentlewoman, and him
thought that she was the fairest creature that ever he saw.

When she saw him well refreshed, then she said, "Sir Percivale, wit ye
well, I shall not fulfil your will, but if ye swear from henceforth to
be my true servant, and do nothing but that I shall command you. Will
ye ensure me this as ye be a true knight?"

Sir Percivale was on the point of promising her all, when by adventure
and grace he saw his sword lie upon the ground, all naked, in whose
pommel was a red cross. Then he bethought him of his knighthood and
the warning spoken toforehand by the good man, and he made the sign of
the cross in his forehead. Thereupon the pavilion turned up-so-down,
and changed unto a smoke and a black cloud.

Sir Percivale was adread at this, and cried aloud, "Fair sweet Father,
Jesu Christ, let me not be shamed, that was nigh lost, had not Thy good
grace been!"

Then he looked upon the ship, and saw the damsel enter therein, which
said, "Sir Percivale, ye have betrayed me." So she went with the wind
roaring and yelling, that it seemed that all the water burned after her.

Then Sir Percivale made great sorrow, and drew his sword unto him
saying, "Since my flesh will be my master, I shall punish it."
Therewith he stabbed himself through the thigh so that the blood
started, and he said, "O good Lord, take this in recompensation of that
I have done against Thee, my Lord." Then he clothed him and armed him,
and called himself a wretch, saying, "How nigh was I lost, and to have
lost that I should never have gotten again, my honour as a pure man and
worthy knight, for that