Herewithal is the story silent of Briant and talketh of Perceval, that
the ship beareth away right swiftly; but so long hath he held battle
therein that every one hath he slain of them that were in the ship save
only the pilot that steereth her, for him hath he in covenant that he
will believe in God and renounce his evil Law. Perceval is far from
land so that he seeth nought but sea only, and the ship speedeth
onward, and God guideth him, as one that believeth in Him and loveth
Him and serveth Him of a good heart. The ship ran on by night and by
day as it pleased God, until that they saw a castle and an island of
the sea. He asked his pilot if he knew what castle it was.
"Certes," saith he, "Not I, for so far have we run that I know not
neither the sea nor the stars."
They come nigh the castle, and saw four that sounded bells at the four
corners of the town, right sweetly, and they that sounded them were
clad in white garments. They are come thither.