_How Sir Percivale for penance rove himself through the thigh; and how
she was known for the devil._
Fair sweet Father, Jesu Christ, ne let me not be shamed, the which was
near lost had not thy good grace been! And then he looked into a ship,
and saw her enter therein, which said, Sir Percivale, ye have betrayed
me. And so she went with the wind roaring and yelling, that it seemed
that all the water burnt after her. Then Sir Percivale made great
sorrow, and drew his sword unto him, saying, Sithen my flesh will be my
master, I shall punish it. And therewith he rove himself through the
thigh, that the blood start about him, and said, O good Lord, take this
in recompensation of that I have done against thee my Lord. So then he
clothed him and armed him, and called himself a wretch, saying, How
nigh was I lost, and to have lost that I should never have gotten
again, that was my virginity, for that may never be recovered after it
is once lost. And then he stopped his bleeding wound with a piece of
his shirt. Thus as he made his moan, he saw the same ship come from the
Orient that the good man was in the day before: and the noble knight
was ashamed with himself, and therewith he fell in a swoon. And when he
awoke he went unto him weakly, and there he saluted this good man. And
then he asked Sir Percivale, How hast thou done sith I departed? Sir,
said he, here was a gentlewoman, and led me into deadly sin: and there
he told him altogether. Knew ye not the maid? said the good man. Sir,
said he, nay: but well I wot the fiend sent her hither to shame me. Oh,
good knight, said he, thou art a fool, for that gentlewoman was the
master fiend of hell, the which hath power above all devils, and that
was the old lady that thou sawest in thy vision riding on the serpent.
Then he told Sir Percivale how our Lord Jesu Christ beat him out of
heaven for his sin, the which was the most brightest angel of heaven,
and therefore he lost his heritage, and that was the champion that thou
foughtest withal, the which had overcome thee, had not the grace of God
been: now beware, Sir Percivale, and take this for an ensample. And
then the good man vanished away. Then Sir Percivale took his arms, and
entered into the ship, and so departed from thence.
Here endeth the fourtenthe booke, whiche is of syr percyual. And here
foloweth of syre launcelot whiche is the fyftenth book.
The Fifteenth Book.