All this while Sir Percivale had pursued adventures of his own, and
came nigh unto losing his life, but he was saved from his enemies by
the good Knight, Sir Galahad, whom he did not know, although he was
seeking him, for Sir Galahad now bore a red shield, and not a white
one. And at last the foes fled deep into the forest, and Sir Galahad
followed; but Sir Percivale had no horse and was forced to stay
behind. Then his eyes were opened, and he knew it was Sir Galahad who
had come to his help, and he sat down under a tree and grieved sore.
While he was sitting there a Knight passed by riding a black horse,
and when he was out of sight a yeoman came pricking after as fast as
he might, and, seeing Sir Percivale, asked if he had seen a Knight
mounted on a black horse. 'Yes, Sir, forsooth,' answered Sir
Percivale, 'why do you want to know?' 'Ah, Sir, that is my steed which
he has taken from me, and wherever my lord shall find me, he is sure
to slay me.' 'Well,' said Sir Percivale, 'thou seest that I am on
foot, but had I a good horse I would soon come up with him.' 'Take my
hackney,' said the yeoman, 'and do the best you can, and I shall
follow you on foot to watch how you speed.' So Sir Percivale rode as
fast as he might, and at last he saw that Knight, and he hailed him.
The Knight turned and set his spear against Sir Percivale, and smote
the hackney in the breast, so that he fell dead to the earth, and Sir
Percivale fell with him; then the Knight rode away. But Sir Percivale
was mad with wrath, and cried to the Knight to return and fight with
him on foot, and the Knight answered not and went on his way. When
Sir Percivale saw that he would not turn, he threw himself on the
ground, and cast away his helm and sword, and bemoaned himself for the
most unhappy of all Knights; and there he abode the whole day, and,
being faint and weary, slept till it was midnight. And at midnight he
waked and saw before him a woman, who said to him right fiercely, 'Sir
Percivale, what doest thou here?' 'Neither good nor great ill,'
answered he. 'If thou wilt promise to do my will when I call upon
you,' said she, 'I will lend you my own horse, and he shall bear thee
whither thou shalt choose.' This Sir Percivale promised gladly, and
the woman went and returned with a black horse, so large and
well-apparelled that Sir Percivale marvelled. But he mounted him
gladly, and drove in his spurs, and within an hour and less the horse
bare him four days' journey hence, and would have borne him into a
rough water that roared, had not Sir Percivale pulled at his bridle.
The Knight stood doubting, for the water made a great noise, and he
feared lest his horse could not get through it. Still, wishing greatly
to pass over, he made himself ready, and signed the sign of the cross
upon his forehead.
[Illustration: SIR PERCIVALE SLAYS THE SERPENT]
At that the fiend which had taken the shape of a horse shook off Sir
Percivale and dashed into the water, crying and making great sorrow;
and it seemed to him that the water burned. Then Sir Percivale knew
that it was not a horse but a fiend, which would have brought him to
perdition, and he gave thanks and prayed all that night long. As soon
as it was day he looked about him, and saw he was in a wild mountain,
girt round with the sea and filled with wild beasts. Then he rose and
went into a valley, and there he saw a young serpent bring a young
lion by the neck, and after that there passed a great lion, crying and
roaring after the serpent, and a fierce battle began between them. Sir
Percivale thought to help the lion, as he was the more natural beast
of the twain, and he drew his sword and set his shield before him, and
gave the serpent a deadly buffet. When the lion saw that, he made him
all the cheer that a beast might make a man, and fawned about him like
a spaniel, and stroked him with his paws. And about noon the lion took
his little whelp, and placed him on his back, and bare him home again,
and Sir Percivale, being left alone, prayed till he was comforted. But
at eventide the lion returned, and couched down at his feet, and all
night long he and the lion slept together.