"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Please God, so shall they not, and such a
miracle is good to see, for it is only right that all they who will not
believe in God should be raving mad when they see the things that come
of Him."
Perceval goeth up into the hall, all armed, for all that the damsel
saith. She followeth him as fast as she may. The three knights espied
Perceval all armed and the cross on his shield, and forthwith leapt up
and were beside themselves. They rolled their eyes and tore themselves
and roared like devils. There were axes and swords in the hall that
they go to lay hold on, and they are fain to leap upon Perceval, but no
power have they to do so, for such was the will of God. When they saw
that they might not come a-nigh him, they ran either on other and so
slew themselves between them, nor would they stint their fighting
together for the damsel. Perceval beheld the miracle of these folks
that were thus killed, and the damsel that made right great dole
thereof.
"Ha, damsel," saith he, "Weep not, but repent you of this false belief,
for they that are unwilling to believe in God shall die like mad folks
and devils!"
Perceval made the squires that were there within bear the bodies out of
the hall, and made them be cast into a running water, and straightway
slew all the other, for that they were not minded to believe. The
castle was all emptied of the misbelieving folk save only the damsel
and those that waited upon her, and the Christian thrall that guarded
the gate. Perceval set him forth of the chain, then led him up into
the hall and made him disarm him. He found sundry right rich robes.
The damsel, that was of right great beauty, looked at him and saw that
he was a full comely knight, and well pleased she was with him. She
honoured him in right great sort, but she might not forget the three
knights that were her brothers, and made sore dole for them.