Chương Chương 261 · How Sir Percivale was made knight of King Arthur, and

. 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 begotten of Aryes, wife

of the cowherd, for he was a bastard; and Sir Aglovale was his first

son begotten in wedlock; Sir Lamorak, Dornar, Percivale, these were his

sons too in wedlock. 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 some time good service, and

he is a brother unto Sir 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.