_How Sir Percivale was made knight of king Arthur, and how a dumb maid
spake, and brought him to the Round Table._
Now turn we again unto Sir Lamorak, and speak we of his brethren. Sir
Tor, which was king Pellinore’s first son; and Sir Aglavale was his
next son; Sir Lamorak, Dornar, Percivale, these were his sons too. So
when king Mark and Sir Tristram were departed from the court, there was
made great dole and sorrow for the departing of Sir Tristram. Then the
king and his knights made no manner of joys eight days after. And at
the eight days’ end, there came to the court a knight, with a young
squire with him; and when this knight was unarmed, he went to the king,
and required him to make the young squire a knight. Of what lineage is
he come? said king Arthur. Sir, said the knight, he is the son of king
Pellinore, that did you sometime good service, and he is brother unto
Lamorak de Galis the good knight. Well, said the king, for what cause
desire ye that of me, that I should make him knight? Wit you well, my
lord the king, that this young squire is brother to me, as well as to
Sir Lamorak, and my name is Aglavale. Sir Aglavale, said Arthur, for
the love of Sir Lamorak, and for his father’s love, he shall be made
knight to-morrow. Now tell me, said Arthur, what is his name? Sir, said
the knight, his name is Percivale de Galis.
So on the morn the king made him knight in Camelot. But the king and
all the knights thought it would be long or that he proved a good
knight. Then at the dinner when the king was set at the table, and
every knight after he was of prowess, the king commanded him to be set
among mean knights; and so was Sir Percivale set as the king commanded.
Then was there a maiden in the queen’s court that was come of high
blood; and she was dumb, and never spake word. Right so she came
straight into the hall, and went unto Sir Percivale, and took him by
the hand, and said aloud, that the king and all the knights might hear
it, Arise, Sir Percivale the noble knight and God’s knight, and go with
me; and so he did. And there she brought him to the right side of the
siege-perilous, and said, Fair knight, take here thy siege, for that
siege appertaineth to thee, and to none other. Right so she departed
and asked a priest. And as she was confessed and houselled; then she
died. Then the king and all the court made great joy of Sir Percivale.