God hath guided and led the ship by day and by night until that she
arrived at an island where was a castle right ancient, but it seemed
not to be over-rich, rather it showed as had it been of great lordship
in days of yore. They cast anchor, and Perceval is come toward the
castle and entereth in all armed. He seeth the castle large, and the
dwelling chambers fallen down and the house-place roofless, and he
seeth a lady sitting before the steps of an old hall. She rose up as
soon as she saw him, but she was right poorly clad. It seemed well by
her body and her cheer and her bearing that she was a gentlewoman, and
he seeth that two damsels come with her that are young of age and are
as poorly clad as is the lady.
"Sir," saith she to Perceval, "Welcome may you be. No knight have I
seen enter this castle of a long time."
"Lady," saith Perceval, "God grant you joy and honour!"
"Sir," saith she, "Need have we thereof, for none scarce have I had
this long while past."
She leadeth him into a great ancient hall that was right poorly
garnished.
"Sir," saith she, "Here will you harbour you the night, and you would
take in good part that we may do and you knew the plight of this
castle."
She maketh him be unarmed of a servant that was there within, and the
damsels come before him and serve him right sweetly. The lady bringeth
him a mantle to do on.
"Sir," saith she, "Within are no better garments wherewith to show you
honour than this."
Perceval looketh on the damsels and hath great pity of them, for so
well shapen were they of limb and body as that nature might not have
better fashioned them, and all the beauty that may be in woman's body
was in them, and all the sweetness and simpleness.