Perceval rideth until nightfall, and findeth a great castle fortified
with a great drawbridge, and there were tall ancient towers within. He
espied at the door a squire that had the weight of a chain on his neck,
and at the other end the chain was fixed to a great bulk of iron. The
chain was as long as the length of the bridge. Then cometh he over
against Perceval when he seeth him coming.
"Sir," saith he, "Meseemeth you believe in God?"
"Fair friend, so do I, the best I may."
"Sir, for God's sake, enter not this castle!"
"Wherefore, fair friend?" saith Perceval.
"Sir," saith he, "I will tell you. I am Christian, even as are you,
and I am thrall within there and guard this gate, as you see. But it
is the most cruel castle that I know, and it is called the Raving
Castle. There be three knights within there, full young and comely,
but so soon as they see a knight of the New Law, forthwith are they out
of their senses, and all raving mad, so that nought may endure between
them. Moreover, there is within one of the fairest damsels that saw I
ever. She guardeth the knights so soon as they begin to rave, and so
much they dread her that they durst not disobey her commandment in
aught that she willeth, for many folk would they evilly entreat were it
not for her. And for that I am their thrall they put up with me, and I
have no fear of them, but many is the Christian knight that hath come
in hither that never hath issued hence."
"Fair sweet friend," saith Perceval, "I will enter in thither and I
may, for I should not know this day how to go elsewhither, and true it
is that greater power hath God than the devil."
He entereth into the castle and alighteth in the midst of the courtyard.