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."
The knights that warded the bridge heard the tidings that the sepulchre
had opened at the coming of the knight, whereof were they in the
greater dismay, and well understood that it was he that was first at
the Graal. The tidings came to the King that held the castle, and he
bade his knights not be dismayed for dread of a single knight, for that
he would have no force nor power against them, nor might it never
befall but that one only of his own knights should be enough to conquer
him.