"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Nought availeth it to make this dole, but
take comfort on some other manner."
Perceval looked at the hall from one end to the other and saw that it
was right rich, and the damsel, in whom was full great beauty, stinted
of making dole to look at Perceval. She seeth that he is comely knight
and gentle and tall and well furnished of good conditions, wherefore he
pleaseth her much, and forthwith beginneth she to love him, and saith
to herself that, so he would leave his God for the god in whom she
believed, right glad would she be thereof, and would make him lord of
her castle, for it seemed her that better might she not bestow it, and
sith that her brothers are dead, there may be no bringing of them back,
and therefore better would it be to forget her dole. But little knew
she Perceval's thought, for had she known that which he thinketh, she
would have imagined not this; for, and had she been Christian he might
not have been drawn to love her in such sort as she thinketh, sith that
Josephus telleth us that never did he lose his virginity for woman, but
rather died virgin and chaste and clean of his body. In this mind was
she still, nor never might she refrain her heart from him. Thinketh
she rather that, and he knew she was minded to love him, right joyous
would he be thereof, for that she is of so passing beauty. Perceval
asketh the damsel what she hath in her thought?
"Sir," saith she, "Nought think I but only good and you will."
"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Never, please God, shall there be hindrance
of me but that you renounce this evil Law and believe in the good."
"Sir," saith she, "Do you renounce yours for love of me, and I will do
your commandment and your will."