Thereupon, behold you Perceval come upon his white mule, sword drawn
all naked in his fist, and cometh toward them of the third bridge,
whereof he smiteth the first so sore that he overthroweth him into the
water. Joseus the hermit cometh forward and would fain have seized the
other twain, but they cry mercy of Perceval, and say that they will be
at his will in all things, and so will believe on God and His sweet
Mother and abandon their evil lord. And they of the fourth bridge say
likewise. On such condition he alloweth them to live by the counsel of
Joseus, and they cast away their arms and yield up the bridges at his
will. Perceval thinketh within himself that God's virtue hath right
great power, but that knight who hath force and power ought well to
approve his prowess for God's sake. For of all that he shall do or
suffer for Him, shall God be well pleased. For, were all the world
against our Lord God, and He should grant to any single one that should
be His champion all His power and might, he would conquer them all in
one hour of the day. But He willeth that a man should travail for Him,
even as He Himself suffered travail for His people.