The Good Men rose from the tables when they had eaten, and gave thanks
right sweetly to Our Lord; and then returned thither whence they had
come.
"Sir," saith the Master to Perceval, "The chain of gold that you have
seen is right precious and the crown of gold likewise. But never may
you issue forth from hence save you promise to return so soon as you
shall see the ship and the sail crossed of a red cross; otherwise may
you not depart hence."
"Tell me," saith he, "of the chain of gold and the crown, what it may
be?"
"We will tell you not," saith one of the Masters, "Save you promise
that which I tell you."
"Certes, Sir," saith Perceval, "I promise you faithfully, that so soon
as I shall have done that I have to do for my lady my mother and one
other, that I will return hither, so I be on live and I see your ship
so marked as you say."
"Yea, be you faithful to the end herein, and you shall have the crown
of gold upon your head so soon as you return, and so shall you be
seated in the throne, and shall be king of an island that is near to
this, right plenteous of all things good, for nought is there in the
world that is there lacking that is needful for man's body. King
Hermit was the king thereof that thus hath garnished it, and for that
he approved himself so well in this kingdom, and that they who are in
the island consented thereto, is he chosen to be king of a greater
realm. Now they desire that another worshipful man be sent them for
king, that shall do for them as much good as did he, but take you good
heed, sith that you will be king therein, that the island be well
garnished; for, and you garnish it not well, you will be put into the
Poverty-stricken Island, the crying whereof you have but now since
heard, and the crown thereof will again be reft from you. For they
that have been kings of the Plenteous Island and have not well approved
them, are among the folk that you saw in the Poverty-stricken Island,
lacking in all things good. And so I tell you that King Hermit, whom
you will succeed, hath sent thither a great part of his folk. There
are the heads sealed in silver, and the heads sealed in lead, and the
bodies whereunto these heads belonged; I tell you that you must make
come thither the head both of the King and of the Queen. But of the
other I tell you that they are in the Poverty-stricken Island. But we
know not whether they shall ever issue forth thence."