at turned and sounded
their horns so passing loud that the ground all seemed to quake. And
under the gateway were lions and bears chained, that roared with so
passing great might and fury that all the ground and the valley
resounded thereof. The knights draw rein and look at this marvel.

"Lords," saith the damsel, "Now may you see the Castle of Great
Endeavour. Messire Gawain and Lancelot, draw you back, and come not
nigher the archers, for otherwise ye be but dead men. And you, sir,"
saith she to Perceval, "And you would enter into this castle, lend me
your spear and shield, and so will I bear them before for warranty, and
you come after me and make such countenance as good knight should, and
so shall you pass through into the castle. But your fellows may well
draw back, for now is not the hour for them to pass. None may pass
thither save only he that goeth to vanquish the knight and win the
Golden Circlet and the Graal, and do away the false law with its horns
of copper."

XIV.

Perceval is right sorrowful when he heareth the damsel say that Messire
Gawain and Lancelot may not pass in thither with him albeit they be the
best knights in the world. He taketh leave of them full sorrowfully,
and they also depart sore grudgingly; but they pray him right sweetly,
so Lord God allow him escape alive from the place whither he goeth,
that he will meet them again at some time and place, and at ease, in
such sort as that they may see him without discognisance. They wait
awhile to watch the Good Knight, that hath yielded his shield and spear
to the damsel. She hath set his shield on the bier in front, then
pointeth out to them of the castle all openly the shield that belonged
to the Good Soldier; after that she maketh sign that it belongeth to
the knight that is there waiting behind her. Perceval was without
shield in the saddle-bows, and holdeth his sword drawn and planteth him
stiffly in the stirrups after such sort as maketh them creak again and
his horse's chine swerve awry. After that, he looketh at Lancelot and
Messire Gawain.

"Lords," saith he, "To the Saviour of the World commend I you."

And they answer, "May He that endured pain of His body on the Holy True
Cross protect him in his body and his soul and his life."

With that he smiteth with his spurs and goeth his way to the castle as
fast as his horse may carry him,--toward the Turning Castle. He
smiteth with his sword at the gate so passing strong