_Of the great danger that Sir Percivale was in by his horse, and how he
saw a serpent and a lion fight._
And when Sir Percivale came nigh the brim, and saw the water so
boisterous, he doubted to overpass it. And then he made a sign of the
cross in his forehead. When the fiend felt him so charged, he shook off
Sir Percivale, and he went into the water, crying and roaring, making
great sorrow; and it seemed unto him that the water burnt. Then Sir
Percivale perceived it was a fiend, the which would have brought him
unto his perdition. Then he commended himself unto God, and prayed our
Lord to keep him from all such temptations. And so he prayed all that
night, till on the morn that it was day. Then he saw that he was in a
wild mountain the which was closed with the sea nigh all about, that he
might see no land about him which might relieve him, but wild beasts.
And then he went into a valley, and there he saw a young serpent bring
a young lion by the neck, and so he came by Sir Percivale. With that
came a great lion crying and roaring after the serpent. And as fast as
Sir Percivale saw this, he marvelled, and hied him thither, but anon
the lion had overtaken the serpent, and began battle with him. And then
Sir Percivale thought to help the lion, for he was the more natural
beast of the two; and therewith he drew his sword, and set his shield
afore him, and there gave the serpent such a buffet that he had a
deadly wound. When the lion saw that, he made no resemblant to fight
with him, but made him all the cheer that a beast might make a man.
Then Sir Percivale perceived that, and cast down his shield, which was
broken, and then he did off his helm for to gather wind, for he was
greatly enchafed with the serpent. And the lion went alway about him
fawning as a spaniel. And then he stroked him on the neck and on the
shoulders. And then he thanked God of the fellowship of that beast. And
about noon, the lion took his little whelp, and trussed him, and bare
him there he came from. Then was Sir Percivale alone. And as the tale
telleth, he was one of the men of the world at that time that most
believed in our Lord Jesu Christ. For in these days there were few
folks that believed in God perfectly. For in those days the son spared
not the father no more than a stranger. And so Sir Percivale comforted
himself in our Lord Jesu, and besought God that no temptation should
bring him out of God’s service, but to endure as his true champion.
Thus when Sir Percivale had prayed, he saw the lion come toward him,
and then he couched down at his feet. And so all that night the lion
and he slept together: and when Sir Percivale slept he dreamed a
marvellous dream, that there two ladies met with him, and that one sat
upon a lion, and that other sat upon a serpent, and that one of them
was young, and the other was old, and the youngest him thought said,
Sir Percivale, my lord saluteth thee, and sendeth thee word that thou
array thee and make thee ready, for to-morn thou must fight with the
strongest champion of the world. And if thou be overcome, thou shalt
not be quit for losing of any of thy members, but thou shalt be shamed
for ever to the world’s end. And then he asked her what was her lord.
And she said, the greatest lord of all the world. And so she departed
suddenly, that he wist not where.