Perceval espied the knight and saw that the cognisance of his shield
was such as that which had been set forth to him.
"Sir," saith he, "Too churlishly are you entreating this damsel! What
wrong hath she done you?"
"What is it to you of me and of her?"
"I say it" saith Perceval, "for that no knight ought to do churlishly
to damsel."
"He will not stint for you yet!" saith Brundans. He raiseth his sword
and dealeth the damsel a buffet with the fiat so passing heavy that it
maketh her stoop withal so that the blood rayeth out at mouth and nose.
"By my head," saith Perceval, "On this buffet I defy thee, for the
death of Meliot and for the shame you have done this damsel."
"Neither you nor none other may brag that you have heart to attack me,
but you shall aby it right dear!"
"That shall you see presently," saith Perceval and so draweth back the
better to let drive at him, and moveth towards him as fast as his horse
may run, and smiteth him so passing sore that he pierceth his shield
and bursteth his habergeon and then thrusteth his spear into his body
with such force that he overthroweth him all in a heap, him and his
horse, in such sort that he breaketh both legs in the fall.
Then he alighteth over him, lowereth his coif, unlaceth the ventail,
and smiteth off his head.
"Damsel," saith he, "Take it, I present it to you. And, sith that you
are going to King Arthur's court, I pray and beseech you that you carry
it thither and so salute him first for me, and tell Messire Gawain and
Lancelot that this is the last present I look ever to make them, for I
think never to see them more. Howbeit, wheresoever I may be, I shall be
their well-wisher, nor may I never withdraw me of my love, and I would
fain I might make them the same present of the heads of all their
enemies, but that I may do nought against God's will."
The damsel giveth him thanks for that he hath delivered her from the
hands of the knight, and saith that she shall praise him much thereof
to the King and Messire Gawain. She goeth her way and carrieth off the
head, and Perceval biddeth her to God. He returned back to Castle
Perilous, and the damsel made great joy thereof when she understood
that he had slain Brundans. Perceval lay there that night, and
departed on the morrow after that he had heard mass. When he came
forth of the castle he met the knight by whom he had sent the cup to
the Sick Knight's wife. Perceval asketh how it is with him.
"Sir," saith he, "I have carried out your message right well, for never
was a thing received with such good will. The Sick Knight hath forgone
his grudge against his wife. She eateth at his table, and the
household do her commandment."
"This liketh me right well," saith Perceval, "and I thank you of doing
this errand."
"Sir," saith the knight, "No thing is there I would not do for you, for
that you made my brother Knight Hardy there where you first saw him
Knight Coward."
"Sir," saith Perceval, "Good knight was your brother and a right good
end he made, but a little it forthinketh me that he might have still
been living had he abided in his cowardize."
"Sir," saith he, "Better is he dead, sith that he died with honour,
than that he should live with shame. Yet glad was I not of his death,
for a hardy knight he was, and yet more would have been, had he lived
longer."