emselves up to Perceval, he leapt up with such
fury that he burst his chain as had he been wood mad. He came to one
of the knights and bit him and slew him, whereof the white lion was
full wroth, and runneth upon the other lion and teareth him to pieces
with his claws and teeth.

XXXI.

Straightway thereafter he raiseth himself up on his two hinder feet and
looketh at Perceval, and Perceval at him. Perceval understandeth well
the lion's intent, to wit, that they of the last bridge are worse to
conquer than the others, and that they may not be conquered at all save
by the will of God and by him that is the lion. And the lion warned
him that he go not against them with the banner, holy though it were,
nor receive them into mercy what surety soever they might make, for
that they are traitors, but that he must fain mount upon the white
mule, for that she is a beast on God's side, and that Joseus should
bring the banner and all the hermits go before, that are worshipful men
and of good life, so as to dismay the traitor King, and so shall the
end and the conquest of the castle be brought nigh. Of all this the
lion made signs to Perceval, for speak he could not. Great affiance
hath Perceval in the lion's warning. He alighteth of his destrier and
remounteth on the mule, and Joseus holdeth the banner. The company of
twelve hermits was there, right seemly and holy. They draw nigh the
castle. The knights on the last bridge see Perceval coming towards
them and Joseus the hermit holding the banner, by whom they had seen
their other fellows wrestled withal and put to the worse.

XXXII.

The virtue of Our Lord and the dignity of the banner and the goodness
of the white mule and the holiness of the good hermits that made their
orisons to Our Lord so struck the knights that they lost all power over
themselves, but treason might not go forth of their hearts, wherefore
right heavy were they of their kinsmen that they had seen slain before
them. They bethought them that and if by mercy they might escape
thence, they would never end until they had slain Perceval. They come
to meet him and so cry him mercy passing sweetly in semblance, and say
that they will do his will for ever and ever, so only he will let them
depart safe and sound. Perceval looketh at the lion to know what he
shall do; he seeth that the lion thinketh them traitors and disloyal,
and that so they were destroyed and dead the King that was in the
castle w