Sir Perceval of Galles, ? First Half of the 14Th Century, MS Early 15Th Century Based on Yvain, Ou Le Chevalier Au Lion by Chrétien De Troyes, C

Sir Perceval of Galles, ? First half of the 14th century, MS early 15th century based on Yvain, ou le chevalier au lion by Chrétien de Troyes, c. 1180

Lef, lythes to me everyone; listen; My friends, Two wordes or thre, listen to a few words Of one that was faire and fre about a man who was handsome, And felle in his fighte. fierce; fighting courageous and a great fighter. 5 His righte name was Percyvell, His name was Perceval; He was fosterde in the felle, brought up; moors he was brought up in the wilderness He dranke water of the welle, and drank water from springs, And yitt was he wyghte. yet; strong and yet he was strong! His fadir was a noble man; His father was an illustrious man who, 10 Fro the tyme that he began, from the very beginning Miche wirchippe he wan much honor since he’d been made a knight, When he was made knyghte won much renown In Kyng Arthures haulle. palace in King Arthur's hall; Beste byluffede of alle, beloved he was loved above all the others. 15 Percyvell thay gan hym calle, did call him His name was Perceval, Whoso redis ryghte. reads correctly as we read.

Who that righte can rede, Who reads aright [knows that] He was doughty of dede, bold he was valiant in performance, A styffe body on a stede powerful; war horse strong on a horse 20 Wapynes to welde; wapons; wield and skilled in arms; Tharefore Kyng Arthoure that’s why King Arthur Dide hym mekill honoure: much showed him much honour He gaffe hym his syster Acheflour, gave and gave him his sister Blanchefleur To have and to holde to have and to hold in wedlock 25 Fro thethyn till his lyves ende, thence until his life's end, With brode londes to spende, have the use of and gave him lands to live off, For he the knyght wele kende. well knew for the king recognised his merit. He bytaughte hir to welde, entrusted; govern The king entrusted her to him With grete gyftes to fulfill; with great gifts to seal the bond; 30 He gaffe his sister hym till to him he gave his sister to the knight To the knyght, at ther bothers will, both their with their mutual consent, With robes in folde. luxurious with luxurious robes.

He gaffe hym robes in folde, luxurious Luxurious robes, lands to rule, Brode londes in wolde, in his possession innumerable wealth 35 Mony mobles untolde, possessions and his sister’s hand His syster to take. Perceval got from the King. To the kirke the knyghte yode church; went The knight went to the church For to wedde that frely fode, gentle creature to marry that gentle person For the gyftes that ware gude for the goodly gifts 40 And for hir ownn sake. and his own sake too. Sythen, withowtten any bade, since that time; delay And then, without delay, A grete brydale thay made, wedding feast they had a great wedding feast For hir sake that hym hade to honour her that has chosen Chosen to hir make; mate the knight to her husband. 45 And after, withowtten any lett, delay The wedding over, A grete justyng ther was sett; jousting; a great jousting took place Of all the kempes that he mett contestants where Perceval would meet Wolde he none forsake. cease [from fighting] whoever challenged him.

Wolde he none forsake, He would meet all, 50 The Rede Knyghte ne the Blake, black the Red Knight and the Black, Ne none that wolde to hym take come and all who faced him With schafte ne with schelde; lance; shield with lance and shield, He dose als a noble knyghte, does as He acted as a noble knight, Wele haldes that he highte; ever faithful [to his] promises upholding his honour 55 Faste preves he his myghte: proves and proving his might; Deres hym none elde. injures; older [knight] no experienced knight harmed him. Sexty schaftes, I say, He broke sixty lances that day, Sir Percyvell brake that ilke day, same And ever that riche lady lay as Blanchefleur looked on 60 One walle and byhelde. on from the castle walls. Thofe the Rede Knyghte hade sworne, though Thought the Red Knight took an oath, Oute of his sadill is he borne he was borne out of his saddle And almoste his lyfe forlorne, destroyed and nearly lost his life, And lygges in the felde. lies left lying in the field.

65 There he lygges in the felde - He lay in the field Many men one hym byhelde - on and many men watched him, Thurgh his armour and his schelde throughout stunned that time Stoneyde that tyde. stunned; time through armour and shield. That arghede all that ther ware, made fainthearted Everybody marvelled, 70 Bothe the lesse and the mare, common; noble the greater and the lesser both, That noble Percyvell so wele dare able how Perceval could parry Syche dynttys habyde. blows to suffer such blows as this knight had given. Was ther nowthir more ne lasse None of those Of all those that ther was who were there 75 That durste mete hym one the grasse, dared; on; grassy plot dared meet him on the field Agaynes hym to ryde. and ride against him. Thay gaffe Sir Percyvell the gree: victory Sir Perceval was given the trophy; Beste worthy was he; he was the best of all, And hamewardes than rode he, and he rode home 80 And blythe was his bryde. happy and his wife was delighted.

And thofe the bryde blythe be though Blanchefleur was delighted That Percyvell hase wone the gree, victory that her husband had won the prize; Yete the Rede Knyghte es he but the Red Knight was less pleased, Hurte of his honde; as he nursed a broken hand 85 And therfore gyffes he a gyfte he makes a pledge and promised that, That if he ever covere myghte return (recover) if he ever recovered Owthir by day or by nyghte, from his injuries, In felde for to stonde, he would meet him in the field; That he scholde qwyte hym that dynt repay; blow he would repay the blow 90 That he of his handes hynte; from; received that he received from his hands. Sall never this travell be tynt, shall; effort be in vain His effort won’t be in vain, Ne tolde in the londe nor will it be said That Percyvell in the felde that Perceval defeated him Schulde hym schende thus undire schelde, defeat; under like that in the field; 95 Bot he scholde agayne it yelde, unless; he will pay him back If that he were leveande. living as long as he lived.

Now than are thay leveande bathe; both alive Both remained alive; Was noghte the Rede Knyghte so rathe impatient but this knight saw no cause to rush For to wayte hym with skathe. afflict; injury to afflict Perceval with injury. 100 Er ther the harmes felle, before; calamity Before the disaster came, Ne befelle ther no stryffe, there was no conflict, Till Percyvell had in his lyffe until until Perceval had A son by his yonge wyffe, a son by his young wife Aftir hym to duelle. to be his heir. 105 When the childe was borne, When the child was born, He made calle it one the morne on he was christened in the morning Als his fadir highte byforne - was named by his father’s name, Yonge Percyvell. young Perceval. The knyghte was fayne a feste made eager [to have] Sir Perceval announced a banquet 110 For knave-childe that he hade; boy to celebrate the birth, And sythen, withowtten any bade then; further ado and afterwards – what else? Offe justynges they telle. of joustings – but a jousting!

Now of justynges they tell: A jousting was anounced; They sayne that Sir Percyvell it was proclaimed that Sir Perceval 115 That he will in the felde duelle, dwell would take on all comers Als he hase are done. previously in the field, as he had done. A grete justynge was ther sett A great jousting was organized Of all the kempes that ther mett, contestants for all the mighty warriors in the land, For he wolde his son were gette trained for Perceval wanted his son 120 In the same wonne. manner to have the same training. Theroff the Rede Knyghte was blythe, The Red Knight was delighted When he herde of that justynge kythe, jousting; news to hear of the jousting. And graythed hym armour ful swythe, prepared for himself; at once he armed himself And rode thedir righte sone; and rode there at once. 125 Agayne Percyvell he rade, against He rode against Perceval With schafte and with schelde brade, broad with spear and shield To holde his heste that he made, keep his vow to keep his promise, Of maistres to mone. because of injuries because of old grievance. remembered Now of maistres to mone, conquests worth mention As to memorable performance, 130 Percyvell hase wele done, Perceval has done well For the love of his yonge sone, on the first day One the firste day. for his son’s sake. Ere the Rede Knyghte was bownn, before; ready [to enter the Before the Red Knight got ready Percyvell hase borne downn lists] Perceval unhorsed 135 Knyght, duke, erle, and baroun, knights, dukes, earls and barons And vencusede the play. vanquished the field and ruled in the field. Right als he hade done this honour, as soon as As soon as he achieved this honour So come the Rede Knyghte to the stowre. battle the Red Knight came to fight. Bot "Wo worthe wykkyde armour!" a curse on bad equipment! Well may Sir Perceval have cried, 140 Percyvell may say. 'A curse on defective armour!' For ther was Sir Percyvell slayne, for the Red Knight killed him. And the Rede Knyghte fayne - joyful And this Red Knight, In herte is noghte for to layne - conceal let us not conceal the fact, When he went on his way. was delighted when he left.

145 When he went on his way, And as he rode away, Durste ther no man to hym say, no one had the stomach Nowther in erneste ne in play, to challenge him, To byd hym habyde; command; stay in fun nor otherwise, For he had slayne righte thare since there he had killed 150 The beste body at thare ware, person that there was with deadly wounds Sir Percyvell, with woundes sare, deadly the best knight in King Arthur's land. And stonayed that tyde. stunned; time And than thay couthe no better rede knew; plan They had no other plan Bot put hym in a prevee stede, sequestered (private) place but to lay Sir Perceval apart 155 Als that men dose with the dede, dead as is the custom with the dead In erthe for to hyde. to bury them in the ground. Scho that was his lady she Blanchefleur, his lady Mighte be full sary, sorry may well be sorry That lorne hade siche a body: lost having lost such a man; 160 Hir aylede no pryde. (i.e., she felt) she felt no pride indeed.

And now is Percyvell the wighte creature Now Sir Perceval the strong Slayne in batelle and in fyghte, is dead, slain in combat; And the lady hase gyffen a gyfte, made a pledge and Blanchefleur has made a vow, Holde if scho may, keep it to keep if she could, 165 That scho schall never mare wone she; dwell that she will never live In stede, with hir yonge sone, [any] place with her young son in a place Ther dedes of armes schall be done, where where deeds of arms are performed By nyghte ne be daye. by day or night, Bot in the wodde schall he be: wilderness but will bring her son up in the forest, 170 Sall he no thyng see shall where he will have only Bot the leves of the tree the leaves of the trees to watch And the greves graye; groves and the shady groves; Schall he nowther take tent pay attention he will never engage To justes ne to tournament, in joustings or tournaments, 175 Bot in the wilde wodde went, go but will run about woodland clearings With bestes to playe. animals to play with the deer.

With wilde bestes for to playe, To play with the wild deer Scho tuke hir leve and went hir waye, she she took her leave Bothe at baron and at raye, from the nobility; king; of baron and king 180 And went to the wodde. and made her way to the wild wood. Byhynde scho leved boure and haulle; left bower; hall She left halls and bowers behind, A mayden scho tuke hir withalle, taking only a maiden with her That scho myghte appon calle that she could call on When that hir nede stode. (i.e., she needed service) if need arise. 185 Other gudes wolde scho nonne nayte, goods; require She wanted no other goods Bot with hir tuke a tryppe of gayte, flock of goats but a flock of goats With mylke of tham for to bayte drink to provide milk To hir lyves fode. for to live on. Off all hir lordes faire gere, Of all her lord's possessions 190 Wolde scho noghte with hir bere she left everything Bot a lyttill Scottes spere, except except a little hunting spear Agayne hir son yode. in anticipation of her son's for her son to use when he got older. learning to walk

And when hir yong son yode, walked about And when Perceval could walk Scho bade hym walke in the wodde, she sent him to roam in the woods and 195 Tuke hym the Scottes spere gude, presented put the spear in his hand. And gaffe hym in hande. "Swete modir," sayde he, 'What is this, mother?' he asked. "What manere of thyng may this bee 'What is this stick for, That ye nowe hafe taken mee? given to that you have given me? 200 What calle yee this wande?" stick What is it called?' Than byspakke the lady: The lady spoke up: "Son," scho sayde, "sekerly, truly 'Son,' she replied, It es a dart doghty; is; worthy 'it is called a hunting spear. In the wodde I it fande." I found it in the forest.' 205 The childe es payed, of his parte, pleased And the child was delighted His modir hafe gyffen hym that darte; with his new toy, Therwith made he many marte slain beast and killed many wild creatures In that wodde-lande. in the forest with it.

Thus he welke in the lande, walks He roamed about the trees, 210 With hys darte in his hande; javelin in hand, Under the wilde wodde-wande branches beneath the branches, He wexe and wele thrafe. grew; throve growing healthy and strong, He wolde schote with his spere casting his spear Bestes and other gere, things at the woodland game, 215 As many als he myghte bere. carry as many as he could carry. He was a gude knave! boy He was a good boy! Smalle birdes wolde he slo, slay He would kill small birds, Hertys, hyndes also; male and female deer harts and hinds Broghte his moder of thoo: those – all came to his mother's table; 220 Thurte hir none crave. through no pressure from her. So wele he lernede hym to schote, He learnt to throw so well Ther was no beste that welke one fote walked that soon no animal To fle fro hym was it no bote. useless was safe from him When that he wolde hym have, if he was bent on getting it.

225 Even when he wolde hym have. even then Thus he wexe and wele thrave, throve Growing healthy and strong, And was reghte a gude knave truly; boy he truly was a good boy Within a fewe yere. in a couple of years. Fyftene wynter and mare Fifteen winters 230 He duellede in those holtes hare; gray woods he spent in this way, Nowther nurture ne lare courtesy; learning with no other instruction Scho wolde hym none lere. teach but the ways of the ancient woodland. Till it byfelle, on a day, Then one day, The lady till hir son gun say, to; did Blanchefleur said: 235 "Swete childe, I rede thou praye counsel 'Sweet child, I advise you to pray To Goddes Sone dere, to God's dear Son That he wolde helpe the - that he help you Lorde, for His poustee - power A gude man for to bee, to become a good man 240 And longe to duelle here." and have a long life.'

"Swete moder," sayde he, 'Sweet mother,' replied the child. 'Who "Whatkyns a godd may that be what kind of is this God That ye nowe bydd mee that you want me That I schall to pray?" to pray to?' 245 Then byspakke the lady even: directly 'He is the great God of heaven,' "It es the grete Godd of heven: she replied, This worlde made He within seven, 'who made this world Appon the sexte day." in six days.' "By grete Godd," sayde he than, 'By Christ!' said the child, 250 "And I may mete with that man, if 'I will pray with all my might With alle the crafte that I kan, that I may meet with this man.' Reghte so schall I pray!" There he levede in a tayte left with eagerness And off he went, Bothe his modir and his gayte, goats leaving his mother with her goats, 255 The grete Godd for to layte, seek to search for the great God. Fynde hym when he may.

And as he welke in holtes hare, walked; gray woods And as he walked in the ancient forest, He sawe a gate, as it ware; path he saw a path; With thre knyghtis mett he thare and there he met three 260 Off Arthrus in. household of King Arthur's knights. One was Ewayne fytz Asoure, One was Sir Yvain, Another was Gawayne with honour, another the honourable Sir Gawain, And Kay, the bolde baratour, warrior and the third Sir Kay, the bold warrior; And all were of his kyn. they were all his relatives 265 In riche robes thay ryde; and were dressed in fine clothes. The childe hadd no thyng that tyde time The boy wore nothing That he myghte in his bones hyde, to hide his body Bot a gaytes skynn. goat's but a goatskin. He was a burely of body, and therto right brade; broad He was stout and well-built; 270 One ayther halfe a skynn he hade; on both sides he had a goat’s skin on either side The hode was of the same made, hood and a goatskin hood Juste to the chynn. that reached to the chin.

His hode was juste to his chyn, hood The hood reached to his chin, The flesche halfe tourned within. with the skin side turned in. 275 The childes witt was full thyn The boy’s understanding was feeble When he scholde say oughte. speak properly when he ought to speak. Thay were clothede all in grene; They were clothed all in green; Siche hade he never sene: such The boy never saw anything like that Wele he wened that thay had bene assumed and was certain that they were 280 The Godd that he soghte. the God that his mother had spoken of. He said, "Wilke of yow alle three which 'Which of you three May the grete Godd bee is the great God That my moder tolde mee, that my mother told me That all this werlde wroghte?" has made this world?' he asked. 285 Bot than ansuerde Sir Gawayne 'Son,' said Sir Gawain Faire and curtaisely agayne, kindly and courteously, "Son, so Criste mote me sayne, may me save 'so Christ may save me, such a title For swilke are we noghte." such does not belong to any of us.'

Than saide the fole one the filde, naif in the field Than the wild foolish boy, 290 Was comen oute of the woddes wilde, just come out of the forest, To Gawayne that was meke and mylde said to Gawain, so gentle And softe to ansuare, and fair of speech, "I sall sla yow all three slay 'Then I will kill you all Bot ye smertly now telle mee unless unless you tell me 295 Whatkyns thynges that ye bee, who you are, Sen ye no goddes are." since you are not gods.' Then ansuerde Sir Kay, 'Then who should we say "Who solde we than say should has killed us today That hade slayne us to-day in this ancient forest?' 300 In this holtis hare?" gray woods asked Sir Kay. At Kayes wordes wexe he tene: grew; angry The child grew angry at this reply and Bot he a grete bukke had bene, as if would have attacked the knight, but Sir Ne hadd he stonde tham bytwene, Gawain stepped He hade hym slayne thare. he [Percyvell] would have between them.

305 Bot than said Gawayn to Kay, 'Your haughty words will always "Thi prowde wordes pares ay; do harm always bring harm,' he told Sir Kay. I scholde wyn this childe with play, in a softer manner 'I shall engage this child courteously, And thou wolde holde the still. if if you will allow me. Swete son," than said he, 'Sweet son,' he said, 310 "We are knyghtis all thre; 'We are all knights With Kyng Arthoure duelle wee, of King Arthur's, That hovyn es on hyll." who has remained on who is waiting on a hill.' Then said Percyvell the lyghte, 'Will King Arthur In gayte-skynnes that was dyghte, dressed make me a knight 315 "Will Kyng Arthoure make me knyghte, if I go to him?' And I come hym till?" if asked the boy in goatskins. Than saide Sir Gawayne righte thare, 'I cannot say,' replied Sir Gawain, "I kane gyffe the nane ansuare; 'but I advise you Bot to the Kynge I rede thou fare, advise; go to go to the king yourself 320 To wete his awenn will!" know; own and find out.'

To wete than the Kynges will To know the King’s will Thare thay hoven yitt still; remain they tarried in the place; The childe hase taken hym till Perceval got up For to wende hame. home to return home, 325 And als he welke in the wodde, and as he walked in the forest, He sawe a full faire stode corral he came across a clearing Offe coltes and of meres gude, mares full of wild horses, Bot never one was tame; foals and mares. And sone saide he, "Bi Seyne John, Saint 'By Saint John,' he said to himself, 330 Swilke thynges as are yone such; yonder 'These are what the knights Rade the knyghtes apone; rode were riding upon. Knewe I thaire name, If only I knew what they were called; Als ever mote I thryffe or thee, prosper; thrive as i hope to prosper, The moste of yone that I see largest; yonder I will capture the largest one 335 Smertly schall bere mee to carry me till I come Till I come to my dame." mother back to my mother.

He saide, "When I come to my dame, When I have come home, And I fynde hir at hame, home and found my mother there, Scho will telle the name she can tell me 340 Off this ilke thynge." aforementioned what the creature is called.' The moste mere he thare see largest mare So he caught Smertly overrynnes he, runs down the largest mare and cried: And saide, "Thou sall bere me shall 'Tomorrow I shall ride you To-morne to the Kynge." to the king!' 345 Kepes he no sadill-gere, he puts no store in And he leapt up Bot stert up on the mere: leaps upon on her bare back Hamewarde scho gun hym bere, and she brought him Withowtten faylynge. safely home. The lady was never more sore bygone. sorely overwhelmed The lady had never been so unhappy 350 Scho wiste never whare to wonne, knew; what to do as when she saw her son When scho wiste hir yonge sonne riding towards her Horse hame brynge. home on that horse,

Scho saw hym horse hame brynge; Scho wiste wele, by that thynge, knew for by that she knew 355 That the kynde wolde oute sprynge natural course that her son's nature For thynge that be moughte. would prevail could not be suppressed. Than als sone saide the lady, 'Oh!' she cried, "That ever solde I sorowe dry, should; endure 'that ever I should endure sorrow For love of thi body, for your sake, 360 That I hafe dere boghte! for whom I suffered so much! Dere son," saide scho hym to, Dear son, ' she said to him, "Thou wirkeste thiselfe mekill unroo, work; unrest 'you bring trouble on yourself; What will thou with this mere do, what will you do with this mare That thou hase hame broghte?" that you’ve brought home with you?' 365 Bot the boye was never so blythe But the boy was delighted Als when he herde the name kythe made known only to hear his mother Of the stode-mere stythe. stud-mare strong name the creature, Of na thyng than he roghte. had he concern and took no notice of anything else.

Now he calles hir a mere, So now he calls his horse a mare, 370 Als his moder dide ere; before as his mother did, He wened all other horses were assumed and thinks that all horses And hade bene callede soo. are called mares. "Moder, at yonder hill hafe I bene; 'Mother, ' he said, 'I have been Thare hafe I thre knyghtes sene, to a hill just over there, 375 And I hafe spoken with tham, I wene, where I saw three knights in green Wordes in throo; anger and I spoke to them roughly. I have highte tham all thre promised I’ve promised to go Before thaire Kyng for to be: before their king Siche on schall he make me such a one and ask if he will 380 As is one of tho!" those make me one of them. ' He sware by grete Goddes myghte, He swore by God’s great power, "I schall holde that I hafe highte; promised 'I will keep my promise; Bot-if the Kyng make me knyghte, unless if he doesn’t make me a knight, To-morne I sall hym sloo!" slay I’ll kill him tomorrow.'

385 Bot than byspakke the lady, Blanchefleur spoke out – That for hir son was sary - who; grieved - she was sorry for her son; Hir thoghte wele that scho myght dy die she thought she might well die And knelyde one hir knee: on and kneeled down. "Sone, thou has takyn thi rede, plan 'Then you have been persuaded 390 To do thiselfe to the dede! death to bring about your own death! In everilke a strange stede, every foreign place In any unfamiliar place, Doo als I bydde the: command do as I tell you: To-morne es forthirmaste Yole-day, first tomorrow is Christmas Day, And thou says thou will away and you intend to set off 395 To make the knyghte, if thou may, to be a knight, Als thou tolde mee. as you told me. Lyttill thou can of nurtoure: know; courtesy You know little of courtesy; Luke thou be of mesure moderation be sure to act in moderation Bothe in haulle and in boure, chamber in hall and chamber, 400 And fonde to be fre." try to be well-mannered and strive to be well-mannered.'

Than saide the lady so brighte, Then the fair lady added, "There thou meteste with a knyghte, 'When you meet a knight, Do thi hode off, I highte, hood; bid take off your hood And haylse hym in hy." greet; right away and greet him at once.' 405 "Swete moder," sayd he then, 'Sweet mother,' replied Perceval, "I saw never yit no men; 'I haven‘t seen any men so far; If I solde a knyghte ken, recognize if I am to recognize a knight, Telles me wharby." tell me how I'll know him tell me how.' Scho schewede hym the menevaire - showed; ermine His mother took out 410 Scho had robes in payre. in sets some fine clothes of ermine. "Sone, ther thou sees this fare where; handsome fur 'When you see this fur In thaire hodes lye." hoods on their hoods, they are knights.' "Bi grete God," sayd he, 'By great God,' he exclaimed, "Where that I a knyghte see, wherever 'whenever I see this fur, 415 Moder, as ye bidd me, I shall behave Righte so schall I." as you say!'

All that nyghte till it was day, Perceval slept beside The childe by the modir lay, his mother all night, Till on the morne he wolde away, and in the morning, 420 For thyng that myghte betyde. despite anything; happen he set off on his mare. Brydill hase he righte nane; none He had no bridle, Seese he no better wane, sees; means so he could see no other way Bot a wythe hase he tane, withy (pliable branch); taken but to take willow halter And kevylles his stede. bridles to control his steed. 425 His moder gaffe hym a ryng, His mother gave him a ring And bad he solde agayne it bryng; to bring back when he returned: "Sonne, this sall be oure takynnyng, sign (token) 'This will be our token, son, For here I sall the byde." await you for I shall keep waiting here for you.' He tase the rynge and the spere, takes He took the ring and his hunting spear, 430 Stirttes up appon the mere: leaps leapt up onto the mare's back, Fro the moder that hym bere, from his mother who bore him Forthe gan he ryde. he rode away.

One his way as he gan ryde, As he went on his way, He fande an haulle ther besyde; castle he came to a hall 435 He saide, "For oghte that may betyde, and said to himself: 'For good or ill, Thedir in will I." I shall find out what is inside.' He went in withowtten lett; hindrance So he rode in and found He fande a brade borde sett, broad dining table a wide table laid for a meal A bryghte fire, wele bett, kindled and a bright fire 440 Brynnande therby. burning burning in the hearth. A mawnger ther he fande, manger; found Nearby was a manger Corne therin lyggande; lying filled with corn, Therto his mere he bande bound so he led his mare to it With the withy. branch and tied her up with the halter. 445 He saide, "My modir bad me told 'My mother instructed me That I solde of mesure bee should; moderation to show moderation,' he thought, Halfe that I here see 'so I shall take only half Styll sall it ly." shall of this fodder,'

The corne he pertis in two, divides and he divided the corn into two 450 Gaffe his mere the tone of thoo, one of those and gave his mare only the one. Then And to the borde gan he goo, he went to the table Certayne that tyde. He fande a lofe of brede fyne and found a loaf of fine bread And a pychere with wyne, and a jug of wine, 455 A mese of the kechyne, dinner; kitchen a dinner from the kitchen A knyfe ther besyde. and a knife laid by. The mete ther that he fande, What he found He dalte it even with his hande, divided he divided equally Lefte the halfe lyggande and left one half 460 A felawe to byde. another person to sustain for someone else, The tother halfe ete he; the other eating the other half. How myghte he more of mesure be? moderation How much more moderate could he be? Faste he fonded to be free, eagerly; sought; courteous He wished very to be well-behaved, Thofe he were of no pryde. although though he wasn’t proud.

465 Thofe he were of no pryde, Forthyrmore gan he glyde move He then walked further Till a chambir ther besyde, to into a chamber nearby Moo sellys to see. more marvels to see more wonders, Riche clothes fande he sprede, and there he found a pile of fine 470 A lady slepande on a bedde; clothes and a lady sleeping on a bed. He said, "Forsothe, a tokyn to wedde sign as a pledge 'We shall exchange gifts Sall thou lefe with mee." shall; leave and promises,' he thought. Ther he kyste that swete thynge; He kissed the pretty young lady Of hir fynger he tuke a rynge; from and took a ring from her finger, 475 His awenn modir takynnynge own mother's token exchanging it He lefte with that fre. noble [woman] for his mother’s token. He went forthe to his mere, Then he went back to his horse, Tuke with hym his schorte spere, took his hunting spear, Lepe on lofte, as he was ere; jumped upon [his mare] leapt onto her back 480 His way rydes he. and went on his way.

Now on his way rydes he, So onwards rides Perceval, Moo selles to see; more marvels seeking marvels A knyghte wolde he nedis bee, and eager to be made a knight Withowtten any bade. further ado without delay. 485 He came ther the Kyng was, where And he came to where King Arthur Servede of the firste mese. course was, eating the first course of a meal. To hym was the maste has to [address] him (the King); To get to him That the childe hade; primary goal was Perceval’s first goal. And thare made he no lett permitted no hindrance He wouldn’t be stopped 490 At gate, dore, ne wykett, at the gate or the door, Bot in graythely he gett - readily but rode straight into the hall, Syche maistres he made. so powerfully he acted so resolute he was. At his firste in-comynge, He rode right up to the king His mere, withowtten faylynge, so closely that his mare 495 Kyste the forhevede of the Kynge - forehead nuzzled against the king's forehead. So nerehande he rade! close up; rode

The Kyng had ferly thaa, pulled back in surprise then The king was perplexed, And up his hande gan he taa take he reached up and pushed And putt it forthir hym fraa, the horse's mouth away. 500 The mouthe of the mere. He saide, "Faire childe and free, 'Fair noble child,' he said, Stonde still besyde mee, 'stand beside me And tell me wythen that thou bee, from whence and tell me where you are from And what thou will here." desire and why you are here.' 505 Than said the fole of the filde, fool; field The wild foolish boy replied: "I ame myn awnn modirs childe, own 'I am my mother's child, Comen fro the woddes wylde come from the forest to find Till Arthure the dere. unto; great the blessed Arthur. Yisterday saw I knyghtis three: Yesterday I saw three knights; 510 Siche on sall thou make mee such a one you shall make me one, On this mere byfor the, as I sit upon this mare, Thi mete or thou schere!" ere; cut before you eat any more

Bot than spak Sir Gawayne, But Sir Gawain spoke up, Was the Kynges trenchepayne, [who] was; bread server who served bread to the King, 515 Said, "Forsothe, is noghte to layne, [he]; lie and said, 'Truly, it’s no lie, I am one of thaa. those I am one of them. Childe, hafe thou my blyssyng have Boy, have here my blessing For thi feres folowynge! following thy fellows for following your fellows! Here hase thou fonden the Kynge Here you have found the King 520 That kan the knyghte maa." thee; make that can make you a knight.' Than sayde Peceyvell the free, Then the noble Perceval sais, "And this Arthure the Kyng bee, if 'If this is King Arthur, Luke he a knyghte make mee: see to it see that he make me knight; I rede at it be swaa!" demand; so I demand it be done! ' 525 Thofe he unborely were dyghte, meanly; dressed Though he was menaly dressed, He sware by mekill Goddes myghte: he swore by God’s great power: "Bot if the Kyng make me knyghte, unless 'If the King doesn’t make me a knight, I sall hym here slaa!" slay I will kill him! '

All that ther weren, olde and yynge, All who were there, young and old, 530 Hadden ferly of the Kyng, wonder were astounded that the king That he wolde suffre siche a thyng should allow himself to be spoken to Of that foull wyghte person like this, by a child On horse hovande hym by. waiting whose horse stood so close to him. The The Kyng byholdes hym on hy; king looked up at the boy, 535 Than wexe he sone sory and at that sight he saddened, When he sawe that syghte. suddenly, tears ran The teres oute of his eghne glade, eyes flowed down his cheeks Never one another habade. one waiting for the other in a trickle. "Allas," he sayde, "that I was made, 'Alas!' he cried, 'that I should 540 Be day or by nyghte, One lyve I scholde after hym bee have survived That me thynke lyke the: the one you remind me of! Thou arte so semely to see, If you were dressed well, And thou were wele dighte!" if; dressed you would look splendid!

545 He saide, "And thou were wele dighte, If you were dressed well, Thou were lyke to a knyghte you would be the spitting image That I lovede with all my myghte of a knight I loved greatly Whills he was one lyve. alive while he was alive. So wele wroghte he my will He served me so well 550 In all manere of skill, in all kinds of things I gaffe my syster hym till, that I gave him my sister For to be his wyfe. to be his wife. He es moste in my mane: remembrance I still think about him a great deal; Fiftene yere es it gane, have gone by it was fifteen years ago now 555 Sen a theffe hade hym slane since a thief that a murderous knight took his life, Abowte a littill stryffe! disagreement because of a small hassle. Sythen hafe I ever bene his fo, since that time; foe Since then I became the knight‘s For to wayte hym with wo. afflict enemy and wanted to bring that villain Bot I myghte hym never slo, slay to grief but I couldn’t kill him, 560 His craftes are so ryfe." numerous so crafty he is.

He sayse, "His craftes are so ryfe, He is so crafty Ther is no man apon lyfe, that no man possibly With swerde, spere, ne with knyfe can defeat him alone, May stroye hym allan, destroy; alone whether with sword, spear or knife, 565 Bot if it were Sir Percyvell son. unless unless he were the son of Sir Perceval; Whoso wiste where he ware done! put if only we knew where that boy was!' The bokes says that he mon The books say that he could Venge his fader bane." avenge; father's destroyer avenge the death of his father. The childe thoghte he longe bade waited too long The child felt that he had waited 570 That he ne ware a knyghte made, too long to be made a knight, For he wiste never that he hade for he had no idea that he had ever had A fader to be slayne; a father who was killed; The lesse was his menynge. understanding he understood the less. He saide sone to the Kynge, So he said to the King anon: 575 "Sir, late be thi jangleynge! stop; chattering 'Sir, let be your talking! Of this kepe I nane." care I don't care!

He sais, "I kepe not to stande I don't want to stand around here With thi jangleyns to lange. too long waiting for you to finish talking! Make me knyghte with thi hande, Make me a knight with your hands, 580 If it sall be done!" if you intend to.' Than the Kyng hym hendly highte eagerly promised The king assured the boy That he schold dub hym to knyghte, that he would knight him With thi that he wolde doun lighte provided that if he got down off his horse And ete with hym at none. at that time and came to eat with him. 585 The Kyng biholdes the vesage free, noble countenance The king looked at the boy And ever more trowed hee believed and saw in his face That the childe scholde bee and in his build Sir Percyvell son: the son of Sir Perceval, It ran in the Kynges mode, mind and it ran through his mind 590 His syster Acheflour the gude - how his sister had retired How scho went into the wodde into the wild forest With hym for to wonn. dwell to bring up her son in seclusion.

The childe hadde wonnede in the wodde; lived The child grew up in the forest He knewe nother evyll ne gude; wrong nor right and knew neither good nor evil; 595 The Kynge hymselfe understode the King was well aware He was a wilde man. that the boy was wild. So faire he spakke hym withall, (i.e., Arthur) He spoke mildly to the child, He lyghtes doun in the haulle, (i.e., Perceval) who got down off his horse, Bonde his mere amonge tham alle mare gave it to someone to look after 600 And to the borde wann. turned and went to the table. Bot are he myghte bygynn before But before he could To the mete for to wynn, enjoy reach out for his meal, So commes the Rede Knyghte in the Red Knight entered Emanges tham righte than, among among them all in the hall, 605 Prekande one a rede stede; riding rapidly on a red horse, Blode-rede was his wede. clothing clothed all in red, blood red. He made tham gammen full gnede, full sorry sport He brought them a sorry sport With craftes that he can. knew with his crafty ways.

With his craftes gan he calle, He spoke in his crafty ways 610 And callede tham recrayhandes all, cowards and called the king and all his knights Kynge, knyghtes inwith walle, who sat at the tables At the bordes ther thay bade. cowards and recreants. Full felly the coupe he fett, fiercely; cup; took He seized a cup that stood Bifore the Kynge that was sett. on the table in front of King Arthur, 615 Ther was no man that durste hym lett, oppose and no man dared to stop him, Thofe that he were fadde. even though; eager for battle no matter how eager to fight he was. The couppe was filled full of wyne; cup The cup was of gold He dranke of that that was therinn. and full of wine All of rede golde fyne and the Red Knight 620 Was the couppe made. drank it back, He tuke it up in his hande, and left them all sitting there The coupe that he there fande, found and rode out of the hall, And lefte tham all sittande, taking the goblet with him. And fro tham he rade. rode away

13 625 Now from tham he rade, He rode out of the hall, Als he says that this made. (i.e., the author of the poem) as the tale says. The sorowe that the Kynge hade There are no words to describe Mighte no tonge tell. the sorrow the King felt. "A! dere God," said the Kyng than, 'Ah! Dear God!' cried the King, 630 "That all this wyde werlde wan, who; won 'who has won this world, Whethir I sall ever hafe that man will I ever find a man May make yone fende duelle? fiend desist to face up to this fiend? Fyve yeres hase he thus gane, For five years he has done this to me, And my coupes fro me tane, taken from me taken my cups and humiliated me; 635 And my gude knyghte slayne, and he has killed my knight, Men calde Sir Percyvell; Sir Perceval; Sythen taken hase he three, since then he has taken three already, And ay awaye will he bee, always and always he flees Or I may harnayse me before; arm myself before I have time 640 In felde hym to felle." kill to take the field against him.'

"Petir!" quod Percyvell the yonge, 'Jesus!' said Perceval. "Hym than will I down dynge strike 'I will cut him down And the coupe agayne brynge, and retrieve your cup, And thou will make me knyghte." if if you will only make me a knight!' 645 "Als I am trewe kyng," said he, 'As I am a true king,' said Arthur, "A knyghte sall I make the, 'I will make you a knight Forthi thou will brynge mee so you will bring back The coupe of golde bryghte." my cup of bright gold.' Up ryses Sir Arthoure, Up rose King Arthur 650 Went to a chamboure and went to a private room To feche doun armoure, to fetch some armour The childe in to dyghte; arm to arm the boy. Bot are it was doun caste, before; taken down But before he had time to return, Ere was Percyvell paste, gone the child Perceval 655 And on his way folowed faste, had raced off in pursuit That he solde with fyghte. that [knight]; should to fight the Red Knight,

With his foo for to fighte, enemy; To fight his enemy None othergates was he dighte, otherwise; prepared he had no other gear Bot in thre gayt-skynnes righte, goat but only his goatskins 660 A fole als he ware. foolish as he was.

He cryed, "How, man on thi mere! you! (interjection); mare 'Hoi!' he cried to the Red Knight. Bryng agayne the Kynges gere, goods 'You on that mare! Give the king Or with my dart I sall the fere terrify his cup back or you'll feel And make the unfere!" infirm the point of my spear!' 665 And after the Rede Knyghte he rade, He rode after the Red Knight Baldely, withowtten bade: hesitation boldly, without hesitation, Sayd, "A knyght I sall be made saying, 'I will be made knight For som of thi gere." with; equipment for something of your gear. ' He sware by mekill Goddes payne, great He swore by God’s great pain, 670 "Bot if thou brynge the coupe agayne, unless 'Unless you bring the cup back, With my dart thou sall be slayne I’ll kill you with my spear And slongen of thi mere." thrown off; mare and stike you down from your mare.' The kynghte byhaldes hym in throo, anger The Red Knight looked at him angrily Calde hym fole that was hys foo, fool; foe and called his enemy a fool 675 For he named hym soo - because he called his horse a for calling The stede that hym bere. mare his steed that way. 14

And for to see hym with syghte, In order to see the boy more clearly, He putt his umbrere on highte, visor he lifted his visor To byhalde how he was dyghte, armed to look how he was equipped. 680 That so till hym spake. the one who spoke so to him He sayde, "Come I to the, appert fole; impudent fool 'If I come to you, you impudent fool,' I sall caste the in the pole, marsh he cried, 'I will throw you into that bog For all the heghe days of Yole, despite like an old sack, Als ane olde sakke." as; sack whether it’s Christmas or not.' 685 Than sayd Percyvell the free, noble 'Impudent or whatever I am,' "Be I fole, or whatte I bee, said Perceval, ' Now sone of that sall wee see soon we shall soon see Whose browes schall blakke." turn pale whose brows turn pale!' Of schottyng was the childe slee: skillful He was skillful with his spear; 690 At the knyghte lete he flee, he aimed at the knight Smote hym in at the eghe eye and the spear went in the eye And oute at the nakke. neck and came out through the neck.

For the dynt that he tuke, took The blow knocked the knight Oute of sadill he schoke, was shaken out of his saddle 695 Whoso the sothe will luke, and he fell dead And ther was he slayne. onto the ground. He falles down one the hill; He fell down on the hill His stede rynnes whare he will. and his horse ran off. Than saide Percyvell hym till, 'You are a wicked man!' 700 "Thou art a lethir swayne." feeble knave said the child. Then saide the childe in that tyde, "And thou woldeste me here byde, if; wait here for me 'If you will wait a second After thi mere scholde I ryde I shall go and fetch And brynge hir agayne; your mare back, 705 Then myghte we bothe with myghte so we can fight Menskfully togedir fyghte, honorably honourably together Ayther of us, as he were a knyghte, like knights, Till tyme the tone ware slayne." one till one of us is killed.'

Now es the Rede Knyghte slayne, The Red Knight is slain, 710 Lefte dede in the playne. left dead on the ground. The childe gon his mere mayne direct Perceval rode after After the stede. the Red Knight's steed. The stede was swifter than the mere, The steed was faster than the mare For he hade no thynge to bere for it had nothing to carry 715 Bot his sadill and his gere, but the saddle and the gear Fro hym thofe he yede. though; went when it ran away The mere was bagged with fole; heavy; foal and the mare was great with foal And hirselfe a grete bole; swelled up [animal] and all swelled up; For to rynne scho myghte not thole, run; suffer it couldn’t bear to run fast 720 Ne folowe hym no spede. and follow the horse with any speed. The childe saw that it was soo, The boy saw how it was, And till his fete he gan hym too; to; take himself jumped on his feet The gates that he scholde goo steps (gaits) and followed Made he full gnede. stingy (i.e., no extra steps) at no mean pace.

725 The gates made he full gnede stingy He didn’t spare his pace In the waye ther he yede; where; went where he ran after the horse; With strenght tuke he the stede he caught the steed by force And broghte to the knyghte. and brought it back to the Red Knight. "Me thynke," he sayde, "thou arte fele trustworthy 'I see I can trust you 730 That thou ne will away stele; sneak away that you won’t steal away; Now I houppe that thou will dele hope; deal But now get up Strokes appon hyghte. high (horseback) and let us deal blows together. I hafe broghte to the thi mere you your mare I have brought you your mare And mekill of thyn other gere; much and your other gear. 735 Lepe on hir, as thou was ere, before Leap up in the saddle And thou will more fighte!" and fight some more.' The knyghte lay still in the stede: in that place The knight lay still. How could he do What sulde he say, when he was dede? should; dead otherwise? He was dead. The childe couthe no better rede, knew; advice The child didn’t know what to do, 740 Bot down gun he lyghte. so he got off his mare.

Now es Percyvell lyghte off his horse He dismounted and went over To unspoyle the Rede Knyghte, strip of his armour to strip the body of armour, Bot he ne couthe never fynd righte but he had no idea The lacynge of his wede. fastenings; armor how to unlace the straps. 745 He was armede so wele The Red Knight was so well armed In gude iryn and in stele, in good steel and iron, He couthe no gett of a dele, off; piece that Perceval could find no way For nonkyns nede. no matter what of getting the bits off. He sayd, "My moder bad me, taught 'My mother taught me 750 When my dart solde broken be, that if I should break my spear, Owte of the iren bren the tree: burn; wood a fire will release the iron. Now es me fyre gnede." lacking I need a fire,' he thought. Now he getis hym flynt, So he took out His fyre-iren he hent, steel; seizes his fire-iron and flint 755 And then, withowtten any stynt, delay and without any delay He kyndilt a glede. spark he kindled a flame.

Now he kyndils a glede, He kindled a flame Amonge the buskes he yede woods; went and went off into the bushes And gedirs, full gude spede, gathers; quickly to gather firewood 760 Wodde, a fyre to make. to make a fire. A grete fyre made he than, He soon had a roaring bonfire The Rede Knyghte in to bren, burn on which to put the Red Knight For he ne couthe nott ken figure out how so that he could free His gere off to take. all his armour. 765 Be than was Sir Gawayne dyght, prepared But Sir Gawain had armed himself Folowede after the fyghte and for Perceval’s sake Betwene hym and the Rede Knyghte, had followed where the boy fought For the childes sake. with the Red Knight. He fande the Rede Knyght lyggand, lying He found the Red Knight lying, 770 Slayne of Percyvell hande, killed be Perceval’s hand, Besyde a fyre brynnande burning beside a burning fire Off byrke and of akke. birch; oak of oak and birch.

Ther brent of birke and of ake birch; oak Great branches, all blackened, Gret brandes and blake. flames; smoke of oak and birch burned there. 775 "What wylt thou with this fyre make?" 'What is this for?' Sayd Gawayne hym till. asked Sir Gawain. "Petir!" quod Percyvell then, by Saint Peter! 'Jesus,' said Perceval, "And I myghte hym thus ken, see 'If I can see to it, Out of his iren I wolde hym bren I want to get at his armour, 780 Righte here on this hill." here on this hill.' Bot then sayd Sir Gawayne, 'Since you killed the Red Knight, "The Rede Knyghte for thou has slayne, I will help you to disarm him, I sall unarme hym agayne, if you will wait a moment,' And thou will holde the still." If cried Sir Gawain 785 Than Sir Gawayn doun lyghte, and he got off his horse, Unlacede the Rede Knyghte; unlaced the Red Knight and gave The childe in his armour dight dressed the suit of armour to the child At his awnn will. as he wished.

When he was dighte in his atire, dressed When Perceval was dressed 790 He tase the knyghte bi the swire, takes; neck in the Red Knight's armour, Keste hym reghte in the fyre, he took the body by the neck The brandes to balde. flames; increase and threw it into the flames. Bot then said Percyvell on bost, boast 'Lie still and roast!' "Ly still therin now and roste! roast cried Perceval in triumph, 795 I kepe nothynge of thi coste, care; distressed condition I don’t care for your distress Ne noghte of thi spalde!" limbs nor for your limbs.' The knyghte lygges ther on brede; sprawling As the body burned, The childe es dighte in his wede, equipped; arms the child, wearing the Red Knight's And lepe up apon his stede, arms, mounted his warhorse 800 Als hymselfe wolde. He luked doun to his fete, and looked down at himself, Saw his gere faire and mete: becoming at his gear, fair and proper. "For a knyghte I may be lete allowed to pass 'Now I may be taken And myghte be calde." called [one] for a knight!' he cried.

805 Then sayd Sir Gawayn hym till, 'Let us get off this hill!' "Goo we faste fro this hill! exclaimed Sir Gawain. Thou hase done what thou will; 'You have done what you wanted to It neghes nere nyghte." nears and night is fast approaching.' "What! trowes thou," quod Percyvell the yonge, do you believe 'What!' cried Perceval, 'do you think 810 "That I will agayn brynge that I intend to return Untill Arthoure the Kynge to King Arthur The golde that es bryghte? with the golden cup? Nay, so mote I thryfe or thee, thrive; prosper No! As I may prosper, I am als grete a lorde als he; I am as great a lord as he! 815 To-day ne schall he make me He shall not make me None other gates knyghte. otherwise [than a] knight a knight today. Take the coupe in thy hande Take the cup And mak thiselfe the presande, present and give it to him yourself, For I will forthire into the lande, for I will go further into this land 820 Are I doun lyghte." before before I get down off my new horse.'

Nowther wolde he doun lyghte, Perceval wouldn’t dismount Ne he wolde wende with the knyght, nor would he go with Gawain, Bot rydes forthe all the nyghte, but rode on all that night, So prowde was he than. so proud was he in that moment. 825 Till on the morne at forthe dayes, late in the morning Late the next morning He mett a wyche, as men says. witch he met a witch, as people say. His horse and his harnays She recognised the horse Couthe scho wele ken. recognize and the arms well. Scho wende that it hade bene assumed She thought that the man she saw was 830 The Rede Knyghte that scho hade sene, the Red Knight Was wonnt in those armes to bene, accustomed; be who used to wear that armour To gerre the stede rynne. equip; [to] run and ride that horse. In haste scho come hym agayne, She rushed to meet him. Sayde, "It is not to layne, 'I won’t lie to you, 835 Men tolde me that thou was slayne I thought you had been killed With Arthours men. by King Arthur's knights,' she said.

Ther come one of my men, 'One of my men came Till yonder hill he gan me kenne, led me to understand and said that the fire There thou sees the fyre brene, where burning on that hill yonder 840 And sayde that thou was thare." was your pyre.' Ever satt Percyvell stone-still, Perceval sat still And spakke no thynge hir till and didn’t reply Till scho hade sayde all hir will, before she finished And spakke lesse ne mare. neither less nor more with what she was saying. 845 "At yondere hill hafe I bene: 'I have been over there,' he replied, Nothynge hafe I there sene 'and saw nothing Bot gayte-skynnes, I wene. but goatskins Siche ill-farande fare!" wretched stuff and other miserable things!' "Mi sone, and thou ware thare slayne if 'My son,' said the witch, 850 And thyn armes of drawen, carried away 'if you were killed and your arms I couthe hele the agayne could heal you taken away, I would be able Als wele als thou was are." before to heal you and make you whole!'

Than wist Percyvell by thatt, knew Hearing this, It servede hym of somwhatt, Perceval saw another use 855 The wylde fyre that he gatt for the fire he had made When the knyghte was slayne; when he killed the knight; And righte so wolde he, thare he wanted he skewered the witch That the olde wiche ware. on the end of his spear, Oppon his spere he hir bare led her back 860 To the fyre agayne; to the bonfire In ill wrethe and in grete, wrath; anger and cast her into the flames He keste the wiche in the hete; cast; flames in great anger and fury. He sayde, "Ly still and swete sweat 'Lie still and sweat Bi thi son, that lyther swayne!" wicked by your son, that wicked man! ' 865 Thus he leves thaym twoo, And there he left them both And on his gates gan he goo: way and went his way, Siche dedis to do moo more eager to seek Was the childe fayne. eager more adventures.

Als he come by a wodd-syde, Soon he came across ten men 870 He sawe ten men ryde; on horseback at the edge of a wood. He said, "For oughte that may betyde, 'Come what may,' he thought To tham will I me." I myself will [go] to them; 'I will go to them,' When those ten saw hym thare, But when those ten men saw him, Thay wende the Rede Knyghte it ware, thought they thought it was the Red Knight 875 That wolde tham all forfare, destroy bent on destroying them all, And faste gan thay flee; and they made to flee; For he was sogates cledde, since; thus clad When they saw him dressed like that Alle belyffe fro hym thay fledde; quickly they ran away quickly. And ever the faster that thay spedde, But the faster they tried to escape, 880 The swiftlyere sewed hee, followed the faster Perceval pursued them, until Till he was warre of a knyghte, Perceval saw that one of them wore And of the menevaire he had syght; ermine the ermine of a knight He put up his umbrere on hight, visor and he raised his visor. And said, "Sir, God luke thee!" may God watch over you! 'Sir, God protect you!' cried he.

885 The childe sayde, "God luke the!" 'God protect you!' said the boy The knyght said, "Now wele the be! and the knight stopped and said: A, lorde Godd, now wele es mee 'Thank God! That’s a relief!' That ever was I made!" For by the vesage hym thoghte countenance because from his looks 890 The Rede Knyghte was it noghte, he realized that the one who pursued That hade them all bysoughte; searched for wasn’t the Red Knight And baldely he bade. fearlessly; commanded and he waited without fear. It semede wele bi the syghte It seemed clear as he looked That he had slayne the Rede Knyght: that the boy must have killed the Red 895 In his armes was he dighte, dressed Knight, wearing his arms And on his stede rade. rode and riding his steed. "Son," sayde the knyghte tho, then 'You have killed the greatest enemy I And thankede the childe full thro, eagerly ever had!' cried this knight "Thou hase slayne the moste foo greatest and thanked the boy eagerly. That ever yitt I hade." 900 Then sayde Percyvell the free, 'Why did you run away "Wherefore fledde yee before, when you saw me Lange are, when ye sawe mee earlier riding towards you?' Come rydande yow by?" riding asked the noble Perceval. 905 Bot than spake the olde knyghte, 'These are my nine sons,' That was paste out of myghte passed (i.e., too old) unflinchingly replied With any man for to fyghte: this old knight, He ansuerde in hy; who was well past He sayde, "Theis children nyne, these his fighting days, , 910 All are thay sonnes myne. 'and it was through fear For ferde or I solde tham tyne, fear that; should; lose of losing them Therfore fledd I. that I ran from you. We wende wele that it had bene thought indeed We thought you were The Rede Knyghte that we hade sene; the Red Knight. 915 He walde hafe slayne us bydene, altogether He would have killed us all Withowtten mercy. without mercy.

Withowtten any mercy Without mercy He wolde hafe slayne us in hy; haste he would have killed us; To my sonnes he hade envy of of all men he hated 920 Moste of any men. my sons the most. Fiftene yeres es it gane Fifteen years ago Syn he my brodire hade slane; brother he murdered my brother, Now hadde the theefe undirtane undertaken and he had vowed To sla us all then: to kill us all 925 He was ferde lesse my sonnes sold hym slo afraid lest; should; slay because he feared that my sons should When thay ware eldare and moo, older; more [capable] seek revenge And that thay solde take hym for thaire foo when they are old enough, Where thay myghte hym ken; see for the death of their uncle. Hade I bene in the stede place Had I been in the place 930 Ther he was done to the dede, death where he was killed, I solde never hafe etyn brede I would have fasted Are I hade sene hym bren." until; burn until I saw his body burn on the pyre.'

"Petir!" quod Percyvell, "he es brende! burned 'Christ!' exclaimed Perceval. I haffe spedde better than I wend been more successful; thought 'I've done even better 935 Ever at the laste ende." than I thought I had, then!' The blythere wexe the knyghte; the more happy became The old knight was very happy By his haulle thaire gates felle, castle their way passed and led Perceval to his castle And yerne he prayed Percyvell eagerly where he earnestly invited him That he solde ther with hym duelle to stay and lodge 940 And be ther all that nyghte. for the night. Full wele he couthe a geste calle. invite He was good at getting guests to stay He broghte the childe into the haulle; and led Perceval into the hall, So faire he spake hym withalle by fair speech That he es doun lyghte; he persuaded him to dismount, 945 His stede es in stable sett took off his armour, And hymselfe to the haulle fett, fetched stabled his horse And than, withowtten any lett, delay and without any delay To the mette thay tham dighte. food; prepared themselves set before him a fine meal.

Mete and drynke was ther dighte, Food and drink was prepared, 950 And men to serve tham full ryghte; with men to serve them; The childe that come with the knyghte, Perceval had more than enough. Enoghe ther he fande. At the mete as thay beste satte, at the height of the feast And while he was eating, Come the portere fro the gate, the porter came in 955 Saide a man was theratte to announce the arrival of a man Of the Maydenlande; from the Land of Women. Saide, "Sir, he prayes the 'Sir,' said the porter, Off mete and drynke, for charyté; 'he asks only for a quick meal, For a messagere es he for charity, since he is a messenger and 960 And may nott lange stande." may not stay for very long.' The knyght badde late hym inn, 'Let him in,' said the old knight. "For," he sayde, "it es no synn, 'It is no sin to feed a traveller, The man that may the mete wynn who enjoys food when a man has enough.' To gyffe the travellande." to give to the traveler

965 Now the travellande man The messenger then The portere lete in than; entered the hall He haylsede the knyghte as he can, greeted and greeted the old knight Als he satt on dese. as; dais at the high table. The knyghte askede hym thare The knight asked him 970 Whase man that he ware, whose who was his lord, And how ferre that he walde so fare, far; travel and whether he was going to travel far, Withowtten any lese. lies without any lies. He saide, "I come fro the Lady Lufamour, 'I come from the Lady Amour, That sendes me to Kyng Arthoure, who‘s sent me to King Arthur 975 And prayes hym, for his honoure, on his honour to pray him Hir sorowes for to sesse. put an end to to help sort her trouble. Up resyn es a Sowdane: uprisen A sultan has risen up Alle hir landes hase he tane; taken and seized my lady's lands; So byseges he that woman he’s besieged her so 980 That scho may hafe no pese." peace that she may have no peace.

He sayse that scho may have no pese, He’s vowed she shall have no peace The lady, for hir fayrenes, despite; beauty because of her beauty And for hir mekill reches. great wealth and of her great wealth; "He wirkes hir full woo; causes; woe he troubles her much 985 He dose hir sorow all hir sythe, causes; days and causes her sorrow, And all he slaes doun rythe; slays straight away killing her people outright. He wolde have hir to wyfe, He wants her to become his wife And scho will noghte soo. and she refuses. Now hase that ilke Sowdane same He has already 990 Hir fadir and hir eme slane, uncle slain murdered her father, her uncle And hir brethir ilkane, each one of her brothers and all her brothers And is hir moste foo. greatest enemy and is her greatest enemy. So nere he hase hir now soughte closely; pursued Now she is holed up in a castle That till a castelle es scho broghte, and the sultan won’t raise the siege 995 And fro the walles will he noghte, until he gets his own way. Ere that he may hir too. until; take

The Sowdane sayse he will hir ta; take The lady will hirselfe sla slay My lady has vowed to kill herself Are he, that es hir maste fa, ere; foe before marrying him, 1000 Solde wedde hir to wyfe. who’s her greatest foe, Now es the Sowdan so wyghte, strong but he is so strong Alle he slaes doun ryghte: that he kills all he encounters Ther may no man with hym fyghte, and only a hardened warrior Bot he were kempe ryfe." renowned warrior can meet with him.' 1005 Than sayde Percyvell, "I the praye, 'I pray you,' said Perceval, That thou wolde teche me the waye show 'show me the way Thedir, als the gates laye, thither; roads lie to your lady's castle Withowtten any stryfe; Mighte I mete with that Sowdan and I shall engage with this sultan 1010 That so dose to that woman, who treats the lady this way Alsone he solde be slane, instantly and kill him at once, And I myghte hafe the lyfe!" if I have life [to do it] if I may keep my life!'

The messangere prayed hym mare But the messenger asked him That he wolde duell still thare: rather to stay where he was. 1015 "For I will to the Kynge fare, 'I shall go to the court Myne erandes for to say. of King Arthur,' he said. For then mekill sorowe me betyde, 'I have already delayed too long And I lenger here habyde, if and must go immediately, Bot ryghte now will I ryde, as fast as I can.' 1020 Als so faste als I may." The knyghte herde hym say so; The old knight heard him Yerne he prayes hym to too eagerly; take and begged the messenger His nyne sonnes, with hym to goo. to take his nine sons with him, He nykkes hym with nay. [Perceval] refuses but he refused. 1025 Bot so faire spekes he He did, however, agree That he takes of tham three, to take three of the sons, In his felawchipe to be - and they were all very happy The blythere were thay. happier to be chosen.

Thay ware blythe of ther bade, these tidings 1030 Busked tham and forthe rade; made themselves ready They readied themselves and rode off, Mekill myrthes thay made: much glee laughing and joking with Perceval, Bot lyttill it amende. remedied but little good it did them. He was paste bot a while - [Perceval]; gone Perceval had thought of a ruse The montenance of a myle - distance far worse than they imagined, 1035 He was bythoghte of a gyle trick though they were happy enough Wele werse than thay wende. imagined to be travelling to King Arthur's court. Thofe thay ware of thaire fare fayne, journey joyful For at the end of each mile, Forthwarde was thaire cheftayne; ahead Perceval sent one of them quickly Ever he sende on agayne one back onwards to the king, 1040 At ilke a myle ende, each and when they were all gone, Untill thay ware alle gane; he rode off alone Than he rydes hym allane as though he had been new born, Als he ware sprongen of a stane, issued; stone sprung from a stone. Thare na man hym kende, tells him what to do

1045 For he walde none sold hym ken. instruct Forthe rydes he then, Forth he rode, Amanges uncouthe men foreign among men who did not know him, His maystres to make. wonders; perform unrecognised, towards adventure. Now hase Percyvell in throo haste Now has Perceval spoken 1050 Spoken with his emes twoo, uncles with his two uncles in haste, Bot never one of thoo those but neither of them Took his knawlage. recognized his plan understood his plan. Now in his way es he sett So he follows his way That may hym lede, withowtten lett, hindrance that will bring him without hindrance 1055 Thare he and the Sowdan sall mete, where he shall meet the sultan His browes to blake. turn pale to make him turn pale. Late we Percyvell the yynge leave; young Let us leave young Perceval Fare in Goddes blyssynge, to fare a while in God's blessing And untill Arthoure the Kynge unto and turn to King Arthur. 1060 Will we agayne take.

The gates agayne we will tane: different direction; take The Kyng to care-bedd es gane; The king has so much grief For mournynge es his maste mane. main moan at the loss of Perceval He syghes full sore. that he has taken to his bed. 1065 His wo es wansome to wreke, woe; [so] miserable; avenge He sighs heavily, His hert es bownn for to breke, his heart is near to being broken, For he wend never to speke for he thinks he’ll never speak With Percyvell no more. with Perceval again. Als he was layde for to ly, put to bed As he lay thus, 1070 Come the messangere on hy in haste the messenger came With lettres fro the lady, with letters from the Lady Amour And schewes tham righte thare. and showed them to the King. Afote myghte the Kyng noght stande, on his feet The king could not stand, Bot rede tham thare lyggande, but advise; lying there so he read them lying down. 1075 And sayde, "Of thyne erande 'You can see your answer Thou hase thyn answare." for yourself!' he said.

He sayde, "Thou wote thyne ansuare: know The mane that es seke and sare, man; sick; sore 'A man who is sick He may full ill ferre fare hardly travel far may not travel 1080 In felde for to fyghte." to fight in the field.' The messangere made his mone: The messenger was aggrieved. Saide, "Wo worthe wikkede wone! woe befall wicked conduct 'Shame on this conduct!' he cried. Why ne hade I tournede and gone 'Why did I not turn and accompany Agayne with the knyghte?" that young knight after all?' 1085 "What knyghte es that," said the Kyng, 'Which young knight was that "That thou mase of thy menynge? speak about which you mention?' asked the king. In my londe wot I no lordyng 'There is no lord in my land Es worthy to be a knyghte." know worthy of the name. ' The messangere ansuerd agayne, The messenger replied, 1090 "Wete ye, his name es for to layne, know; conceal 'I have no idea of his name, The whethir I wolde hafe weten fayne although; known although I would have liked What the childe highte. was called to have learnt it.

Thus mekill gatt I of that knyght: much learned I could only get from him His dame sonne, he said, he hight. mother's; is called that he was his mother's son, 1095 One what maner that he was dight equipped but I will tell you Now I sall yow telle: what he looked like: He was wighte and worthly, manly; fine he was strong and healthy, His body bolde and borely, goodly bold and aggressive His armour bryghte and blody - and had been lately in battle. 1100 Hade bene late in batell; His horse was blood red Blode-rede was his stede, and so was all his armour His akton, and his other wede; jacket; clothing and his surcoat, His cote of the same hede quality and all of fine quality, That till a knyghte felle." to; was befitting as befits a knight.' 1105 Than comanded the Kyng The king commanded Horse and armes for to brynge: that his horse and arms be brought to him: "If I kan trow thi talkynge, believe 'If I can believe what you say, That ilke was Percyvell." same person it is Perceval!' he cried.

For the luffe of Percyvell, For the love of Perceval 1110 To horse and armes thay felle; they all fell to their arms; Thay wolde no lengare ther duelle: they did no longer tarry To fare ware thay fayne. but were eager to set out. Faste forthe gan thay fare; They took their horses and set off, Thay were aferde full sare, frightened that if they did not hurry 1115 Ere thay come whare he ware, the child would be killed The childe wolde be slayne. before they arrived. The Kyng tase with hym knyghtis thre: takes The king took three knights with him, The ferthe wolde hymselfe be; and himself the fourth, Now so faste rydes hee, and they rode like the wind. 1120 May folowe hym no swayne. The Kyng es now in his waye; The King is on his way; Lete hym come when he maye! let him come when he may, And I will forthir in my playe and I will return in my tale To Percyvell agayne. back to Perceval again.

1125 Go we to Percyvell agayne. Perceval traversed the plain The childe paste oute on the playne, journeyed across and crossed the mountains Over more and mountayne, moor into the Land of Women. To the Maydenlande; Till agayne the even-tyde, And about evening 1130 Bolde bodys sawe he byde, men he saw a number of men Pavelouns mekill and unryde large; numerous and of large pavilions Aboute a cyté stonde. surrounding a city. On huntyng was the Sowdane; out The sultan, who was a giant, He lefte men many ane, a one was away hunting, 1135 Twenty score that wele kan: but he had left a large guard Be the gates yemande - guarding over the castle. Elleven score one the nyghte, Four hundred were by the gates alone, And ten one the daye-lighte - two at night and two in the day, Wele armyde at alle righte, particulars well armed at all points 1140 With wapyns in hande. and with weapons at the ready.

With thaire wapyns in thaire hande, With weapons in their hands There will thay fight ther thay stande, they will fight where they stand Sittande and lyggande, sitting or lying, Elleven score of men. two hundred men. 1145 In he rydes one a rase, in a rush Perceval raced towards them Or that he wiste where he was, before; knew before he knew where he was, Into the thikkeste of the prese crowd and rode right into Amanges tham thanne. the greatest crowd. And up stirt one that was bolde, One of them jumped up 1150 Bygane his brydill to holde, and grabbed his bridle And askede whedire that he wolde where and asked where he thought Make his horse to rynne. he was rushing to. He said, "I ame hedir come 'I have come to see the sultan,' For to see a Sowdane; replied Perceval, 1155 In faythe, righte sone he sall be slane, 'for he will shortly be killed, And I myghte hym ken. if only; see in faith, if I can find him!

If I hym oghte ken may, If I can find him, To-morne, when it es lighte daye we will play together Than sall we togedir playe with hardy weapons 1160 With wapyns unryde." cruel as soon as it is day. They herde that he had undirtane When they heard that he had For to sle thaire Sowdane. undertaken to kill their sultan, Thay felle aboute hym, everilkane, everyone they all rushed at him To make that bolde habyde. brave one remain [for battle] to seize him fast. 1165 The childe sawe that he was fade, eager for battle Perceval trampled The body that his bridill hade: person; held under his horse's feet Even over hym he rade, the man who held his bridle, In gate there bisyde. He stayred about hym with his spere; thrust and then laid waste about him 1170 Many thurgh gane he bere: pierce with the point of his spear. Ther was none that myght hym dere, oppose None could withstand him Percevell, that tyde. in that moment.

Tide in townne who will telle, what happened To tell the truth, Folkes undir his fete felle; men fell under his feet; 1175 The bolde body Percevelle, the brave Perceval He sped tham to spill. hastened hurried to kill them. Hym thoghte no spede at his spere: rest for; Many thurgh gane he bere, He pierced many a man, Fonde folke in the here, foolish people of the enemy the foolish folk 1180 Feghtyng to fill. (i.e., they get their fill of got enough of the fight. Fro that it was mydnyghte fighting) He fought from midnight Till it was even at daye-lighte, until daybreak; Were thay never so wilde ne wighte, however strong they were He wroghte at his will. he had his way. 1185 Thus he dalt with his brande, dealt blows; sword He wielded his sword so There was none that myght hym stande withstand there was no one who could stand Halfe a dynt of his hande even half a stroke That he stroke till. struck he dealt with his hand.

Now he strykes for the nonys, strongly He hits them so hard 1190 Made the Sarazenes hede-bones that the Saracens’ head bones Hoppe als dose hayle-stones hop like hail Abowtte one the gres; grass upon the grass! Thus he dalt tham on rawe in turn When dawn broke, Till the daye gun dawe: dawn 1195 He layd thaire lyves full law, low they all lay dead. Als many als there was. When he hade slayne so many men, Perceval was so tired He was so wery by then, with the killing, I tell yow for certen, I tell you, 1200 He roghte wele the lesse cared scarcely at all that he cared neither Awther of lyfe or of dede; death for life nor for death, To medis that he were in a stede in the midst of that place Thar he myghte riste hym in thede he would rest himself there but only for a place to rest A stownde in sekirnes. moment; safety a moment in safety.

1205 Now fonde he no sekirnes, safety The only safety he could find, Bot under the walle ther he was, except however, was beneath the castle wall. A faire place he hym chese, chose for himself He chose a nice spot And down there he lighte. and dismounted there. He laide hym doun in that tyde; He lay down that time 1210 His stede stode hym besyde: and his horse stood over him. The fole was fayne for to byde - glad; abide The boy was glad to stay there, Was wery for the fyght wearied with fighting, Till one the morne that it was day. till the dawning of the day. The wayte appon the walle lay: sentinel The watch came out onto the the wall 1215 He sawe an uggly play fearful performance and saw the carnage In the place dighte; provided made by the gates. Yitt was ther more ferly: marvel They were astounded. Ther was no qwyk man left therby! living There wasn’t anybody left alive! Thay called up the lady The Lady Amour was called 1220 For to see that sighte. to see for herself.

Now commes the lady to that sight, The lady came, The Lady Lufamour, the brighte; Lady Amour the beautiful; Scho clambe up to the walle on hight she climbed the steps onto the wall Full faste to beholde; and down below 1225 Hedes and helmys ther was she saw heads and helmets (I tell yow withowtten lese), lie and many shields lying, Many layde one the gresse, grass I tell you no lie. And many schelde brode. Grete ferly thaym thoghte wonder They all marvelled 1230 Who that wondir had wroghte, how this had come about, That had tham to dede broghte, death and who might have killed That folke in the felde, all the folk in the field And wold come none innermare no further inside and wouldn’t come in For to kythe what he ware, make known to make himself known 1235 And wist the lady was thare, and claim his reward. Thaire warysoune to yelde. reward; claim

Scho wold thaire warysone yelde: their reward pay Full faste forthe thay bihelde And as they looked all around, If thay myghte fynde in the felde to see if they might find 1240 Who hade done that dede; who accomplished that; Thay luked undir thair hande, just below they peered down at the foot of the wall Sawe a mekill horse stande, mighty and saw a great red horse A blody knyghte liggande and a bloody knight By a rede stede. lying at its feet. 1245 Then said the lady so brighte, Then said the Lady Amour: "Yondir ligges a knyghte There lies the knight That hase bene in the fighte, who has done all this, If I kane righte rede; if I guess right; Owthir es yone man slane, either he is asleep 1250 Or he slepis hym allane, or he is himself dead, Or he in batelle es tane, for his armour For blody are his wede." clothes is covered in blood.'

Scho says, "Blody are his wede, His armour is covered in blood, And so es his riche stede; and so is his splendid horse; 1255 Siche a knyght in this thede country I have never seen Saw I never nane. such a knight in this country. What so he es, and he maye ryse, Whoever he may be, He es large there he lyse, he looks strong And wele made in alle wyse, and well built. 1260 Ther als man sall be tane." judged Scho calde appon hir chaymbirlayne, She called her chamberlain Was called hende Hatlayne - - they called him noble Hatlain, The curtasye of Wawayne manners because he was as courteous He weldis in wane; as Sir Gawain - 1265 Scho badd hym, "Wende and see go and instructed him to go and see Yif yon man on lyfe be. yonder; alive whether the knight was alive. Bid hym com and speke with me, 'If he is,' she said, 'ask him to come And pray hym als thou kane." can and speak with me.'

Now to pray hym als he kane, The chamberlain went 1270 Undir the wallis he wane; goes beneath the wall Warly wakend he that mane: cautiously awakened; man and woke the knight up, The horse stode still. while the horse stood still. Als it was tolde unto me, And as it was told to me, He knelid down on his kne; he knelt down 1275 Hendely hailsed he that fre, courteously greeted; and said politely: And sone said hym till, nobleman "My lady, lele Lufamour, fair 'My lady, the beautiful Amour, Habyddis the in hir chambour, awaits you awaits you in her chamber Prayes the, for thyn honour, and urges you to come to her, 1280 To come, yif ye will." if you will.' So kyndly takes he that kyth request Perceval arose courteously That up he rose and went hym wyth, and went with the chamberlain The man that was of myche pyth strength to comply with the lady’s wish. Hir prayer to fulfill.

1285 Now hir prayer to fulfill, He folowed the gentilmans will, He followed the chamberlain And so he went hir untill, and went to meet Forthe to that lady. the Lady Amour. Full blythe was that birde brighte fair lady She was delighted 1290 When scho sawe hym with syghte, to see him For scho trowed that he was wighte, manly for she trusted in his strength And askede hym in hy: questioned and started questioning him; At that fre gan scho frayne, noble one; ask she asked Perceval Thoghe he were lefe for to layne, eager to hide the facts; (though he would rather conceal it) 1295 If he wiste who had tham slayne - whether he knew Thase folkes of envy. those who had killed all those people. He sayd, "I soghte none of tho; slay ''I had no desire to kill them,' I come the Sowdane to slo, replied Perceval, earnestly. And thay ne wolde noghte late me go; 'I have come to kill the sultan, 1300 Thaire lyfes there refte I." and they tried to stop me,

He sayd, "Belyfe thay solde aby." happily; abide so I had to take their lives.' And Lufamour, that lele lady, fair The lady could see Wist ful wele therby knew that Perceval was The childe was full wighte. powerful a powerful warrior 1305 The birde was blythe of that bade noble lady; news and was overjoyed That scho siche and helpe hade; such a helper to have such a helper; Agayne the Sowdane was fade against; [he] was determined he was determined With alle for to fighte. to fight with the sultan. Faste the lady hym byhelde: earnestly The lady look at him closely. 1310 Scho thoght hym worthi to welde, govern He would make her a good husband, And he myghte wyn hir in felde, field of battle she thought, if he could With maystry and myghte. win her in the field. His stede thay in stabill set They led his horse to a stable And hymselfe to haulle was fet, hall; brought and Perceval into a hall, 1315 And than, withowtten any let, delay where he was given a meal. To dyne gun thay dighte. prepare

The childe was sett on the dese, high table Perceval was seated at the high table And served with reches - dainties and served with many delicacies, I tell yow withowtten lese - lie I tell you truly. 1320 That gaynely was get, handsomely was served In a chayere of golde He was given a chair of gold Bifore the fayrest, to byholde opposite the fairest maiden The myldeste mayden one molde, on earth in the world. At mete als scho satt. 1325 Scho made hym semblande so gude, friendly welcome And she made such friendly Als thay felle to thaire fude, and entertaining conversation The mayden mengede his mode roused his spirits as they fell to their food With myrthes at the mete, That for hir sake righte tha then that for her sake 1330 Sone he gane undirta undertake Perceval had at once promised The sory Sowdane to sla, to kill the sultan Withowtten any lett. delay without delay.

He sayd, withowtten any lett, Without delay he said, "When the Sowdane and I bene mett, 'When the sultan and I meet in battle,' 1335 A sadde stroke I sall one hym sett, solemn 'I shall burst his pride His pride for to spyll." with the point of my spear!' Then said the lady so free, 'Whoever does so,' "Who that may his bon be death (bane) the maiden responded, Sall hafe this kyngdome and me, 'shall win this kingdom, 1340 To welde at his will." and me as well, to do with as he likes.' He ne hade dyned bot smalle a little Perceval was only a little way When worde come into the haulle into his first course That many men withalle when news came Were hernyste one the hill; armed that the enemy was gathering. 1345 For tene thaire felawes were slayne, anger [that] Through their anger at the massacre The cité hafe thay nere tane. nearly taken the Saracens had nearly taken the city. The men that were within the wane stronghold The bells were ringing The comon-belle gun knylle. did knell to summon all to arms.

Now knyllyn thay the comon-belle. 1350 Worde come to Percevell, When the news came to Perceval, And he wold there no lengere duelle, he leapt from the table Bot lepe fro the dese - high table Siche wilde gerys hade he mo - impulsive ways; plenty – for his had such rash manners. Sayd, "Kynsmen, now I go. 'Friends, now I go! 1355 For alle yone sall I slo I shall kill them all Longe are I sese!" before; cease before I die!' he shouted. Scho kiste hym withowtten lett; delay The maiden kissed him, The helme on his hede scho sett; set his helmet upon his head To the stabill full sone he gett, and then Perceval went 1360 There his stede was. to fetch his horse. There were none with hym to fare; In his rage, no man dared For no man then wolde he spare! - hold back ride with him. Rydis furthe, withowtten mare, alone He rode out alone. Till he come to the prese. Sowdan's gang

1365 When he come to the prese, When he came to the enemy ranks He rydes in one a rese; in a rush Perceval raced in at a gallop; The folkes, that byfore hym was, the men who stood against him Thaire strenght hade thay tone; taken had gathered their strength, To kepe hym than were thay ware; oppose; eager eager to stop him. 1370 Thaire dynttis deris hym no mare blows harm But all the blows that were aimed at him Then whoso hade strekyn sare fiercely bounced off his armour One a harde stone. as though he was made of stone! Were thay wighte, were thay woke, strong; weak The mighty and the feeble Alle that he till stroke, fell before him 1375 He made thaire bodies to roke: fall back with equal indignity. Was ther no better wone. fate I wote, he sped hym so sone By midday there was not That day, by heghe none noon a man left alive With all that folke hade he done: on the whole field. 1380 One lefe lefte noghte one. alive

When he had slayne all tho, When he had killed them all He loked forthir hym fro, Perceval looked about him If he myghte fynde any mo to see if there was anyone With hym for to fyghte; left to fight with; 1385 And als that hardy bihelde, hardy [lad] looked about and as he looked, He sese, ferre in the felde, sees far in the distance he caught sight Fowre knyghtis undir schelde of four knights with shields Come rydand full righte. vigorously riding towards him. One was Kyng Arthour, One was King Arthur, 1390 Anothir Ewayne, the floure, most excellent the other Ywain, the flower of chivalry, The thirde Wawayne with honoure, the third the honourable Gawain And Kay, the kene knyghte. and Kay the keen knight. Percevell saide, withowtten mare, 'I will ride to meet these four,' "To yondir foure will I fare; Perceval said to himself, 1395 And if the Sowdane be thare, 'and if one of these is the sultan,' I sall holde that I highte." keep; promised I shall do as I have promised.'

Now to holde that he hase highte, Agaynes thaym he rydis righte, Perceval rode towards them And ay lay the lady brighte as the lady watched 1400 One the walle, and byhelde on from the battlements. How many men that he had slane, She had seen the carnage And sythen gane his stede mayne rode; powerful and now saw him turn his horse Foure kempys agayne, warriors to meet towards four knights Forthir in the felde. further afield. 1405 Then was the lady full wo She was really worried When scho sawe hym go whan she saw him go Agaynes foure knyghtys tho, to meet encounter those four knights With schafte and with schelde. with spear and shield. They were so mekyl and unryde great; huge They were huge and strong 1410 That wele wende scho that tyde time and she feared hey might With bale thay solde gare hym byde grief; make overcome the man That was hir beste belde. protector she hoped would protect her.

Thofe he were beste of hir belde, protection As that lady byhelde, 1415 He rydes forthe in the felde, Even tham agayne. directly against Then sayd Arthoure the Kyng, King Arthur gazed at the advancing man. "I se a bolde knyghte owt spryng; charging 'I see a bold knight riding towards us For to seke feghtyng, seek battle intent on a fight,' he said. 1420 Forthe will he frayne. If he fare forthe to fighte 'It would bring us very little honour, And we foure kempys agayne one knyght, warriors if the four of us Littill menske wold to us lighte honor were to set upon him If he were sone slayne." all at once.' 1425 They fore forthward right faste, So they moved forward And sone kevells did thay caste, lots and cast lots who would meet him And evyr fell it to frayste try and all the time Untill Sir Wawayne. unto it fell upon Sir Gawain.

When it felle to Sir Wawayne Delighted, 1430 To ryde Percevell agayne, against Gawain rode off Of that fare was he fayne, chance to fight Perceval. And fro tham he rade. Ever the nerre hym he drewe, nearer As Gawain drew near, Wele the better he hym knewe, he glimpsed the red arms 1435 Horse and hernays of hewe, and guessed that it was the boy. That the childe hade. "A, dere God!" said Wawayne the fre, 'Dear God, ' thought the noble Gawain, "How-gates may this be? however 'What shall I do? If I sle hym, or he me, We have no quarrel between us. 1440 That never yit was fade, his enemy We are cousins – And we are sisters sones two, for if I kill him, or he kills me, And aythir of us othir slo, if the one who lives will be sorry He that lifes will be full wo lives; utterly woeful to have been born at all. That ever was he made."

1445 Now no maistrys he made, menacing gestures So he made no threatening gestures Sir Wawayne, there als he rade, Bot hovyde styll and habade remained; stopped but made his horse stand still His concell to ta. take and waited to think things out. "Ane unwyse man," he sayd, "am I, 'I am a fool for getting myself 1450 That puttis myselfe to siche a foly; into this position,' he told himself. Es there no man so hardy Nobody is so bold That ne anothir es alswa. also that he need not fear another. Thogfe Percevell hase slayne the Rede Knight, although Perceval has killed the Red Knight; Yitt may another be als wyghte, but another may have been just as strong 1455 And in that gere be dyghte, armor; dressed and have killed him in his turn And taken alle hym fra. and taken the armour. If I suffire my sister sone, am gentle with If I were to back down now, And anothir in his gere be done equipment and then find that it is not Perceval, And gete the maystry me appon, and be defeated, 1460 That wolde do me wa; woe my reputation would be ruined.

It wolde wirke me full wa! So mote I one erthe ga, I will not let that happen, by God! It ne sall noghte betyde me swa, If I may righte rede! be well advised 1465 A schafte sall I one hym sett, I will set a lance to him, And I sall fonde firste to hitt; try will try to strike first Then sall I ken be my witt and judge by the outcome Who weldys that wede." wears that armor who is sitting in that saddle.' No more carpys he that tyde, debates He stopped his debate; 1470 Bot son togedyr gon thay ryde- they came together, Men that bolde were to byde, two bold men And styff appon stede; and sure in their saddles. Thaire horse were stallworthe and strange, strong Their horses were strong and stout, Thair scheldis were unfailande; their shields did not fail them – 1475 Thaire speris brake to thaire hande, splintered in both their lances broke to the hilt Als tham byhoved nede. as they were bound to do with the impact.

Now es broken that are were hale, ere; whole And than bygane Percevale Perceval then spoke For to tell one a tale what was on his tongue. 1480 That one his tonge laye. on He sayde, "Wyde-whare hafe I gane; far and wide He cried out: 'I have never Siche anothir Sowdane such met such a sultan as you, In faythe sawe I never nane, wherever I went! By nyghte ne by daye. 1485 I hafe slayne, and I the ken, tell you I have killed, let me tell you, Twenty score of thi men; four hundred of your men And of alle that I slewe then, and it seemed like child's play Me thoghte it bot a playe Agayne that dynt that I hafe tane; compared to; blow compared to the blow 1490 For siche one aughte I never nane possessed that you've just given me! Bot I qwyte two for ane, unless; repay But I shall return it Forsothe, and I maye." two strokes for your one.'

Then spake Sir Wawayne - Than Sir Gawain spoke – Certanely, is noghte to layne - lie it cannot be denied 1495 Of that fare was he fayne, glad he was glad of what happened. In felde there thay fighte: By the wordis so wylde From these bold words At the fole one the felde, naïf in that the boy spoke He wiste wele it was the childe, Gawain knew 1500 Percevell the wighte - strong that it was Perceval the strong. He sayse, "I ame no Sowdane, 'I am no sultan!' he cried. Bot I am that ilke man same 'I'm the same man That thi body bygan who dressed you In armours to dighte. in that armour. 1505 I giffe the prise to thi pyth. prize; strength And I give you the prize. Unkyndely talked thou me with: You spoke unkindly; My name es Wawayne in kythe, among my people my name is Sir Gawain. Whoso redys righte."

He sayes, "Who that will rede the aryghte, advise you 1510 My name es Wawayne the knyghte." And than thay sessen of thaire fighte, cease They ceased from fighting Als gude frendes scholde. as good friends should. He sayse, "Thynkes thou noghte when 'Do you remember,' said Gawain, That thou woldes the knyghte brene, 'when you wanted to burn that knight 1515 For thou ne couthe noghte ken didn't know how because you didn’t know To spoyle hym alle colde?" plunder how to remove his armour?' Bot then was Percevell the free The noble Perceval Als blythe als he myghte be, was happy then For then wiste he wele that it was he, because he realized 1520 By takens that he tolde. details by the details Gawain gave He dide then als he gane hym lere: had been taught who it was he was fighting against Putt up hys umbrere; visor and put up his visor; And kyste togedir with gud chere they kissed and embraced one another, Those beryns so bolde. warriors these bold warriors.

1525 Now kissede the beryns so bolde, warriors And as they were talking, Sythen talkede what thay wolde. Be then come Arthour the bolde, by King Arthur rode up. That there was knyghte and kyng He was glad to see them Als his cosyns hadd done, greeting one another 1530 Thankede God also sone. and talking merrily Off mekill myrthis thay mone reminisce as cousins should, At thaire metyng. and thanked God for it. Sythen, withowtten any bade, delay In Perceval’s company To the castelle thay rade they then all rode to the castle; 1535 With the childe that thay hade, Percevell the yynge. The portere was redy thare, the porter was ready Lete the knyghtis in fare; and opened the gates for them. A blythere lady than . . . The lady was most happy… 1540 ......

32 "Mi grete socour at thou here sende, that that you have sent Perceval Off my castell me to diffende, to succour me and defend my castle Agayne the Sowdane to wende, and ride against the sultan That es my moste foo." greatest enemy who is my greatest enemy. 1545 Theire stedis thay sett in the stalle. Their horses were taken to the stables The Kyng wendis to haulle; goes and the king made his way to the hall His knyghtis yode hym with alle, went with his three knights, Als kynde was to go. as was the custom as it was proper. Thaire metis was redy, food A fine meal was spread before them 1550 And therto went thay in hy, quickly and they all fell to, The Kyng and the lady, the King with the lady And knyghtis also. and the four knights too.

Wele welcomed scho the geste She entertained them With riche metis of the beste, with delicacies of the best, 1555 Drynkes of the derreste, most costly with the finest wines Dighted bydene. prepared for everyone ready for everyone. Thay ete and dranke what thay wolde, And when they have eaten their fill, Sythen talked and tolde then the King and the Queen Off othir estres full olde, stories talked together, 1560 The Kyng and the Qwene. recounting old tales. At the firste bygynnyng, outset First and foremost Scho frayned Arthour the Kyng questioned she asked the King Of childe Percevell the yyng, about about the child Perceval What life he had in bene. had formerly and how he had lived. 1565 Grete wondir had Lufamour She was curious how he could be He was so styffe in stour strong; battle so accomplished in battle And couthe so littill of nurtour knew; courtesy and yet so untutored Als scho had there sene. in the finer arts of courtesy.

Scho had sene with the childe She had seen nothing so far 1570 No thyng bot werkes wylde: acts of violence but his roughness Thoghte grete ferly on filde wonders in field and marvelled a lot Of that foly fare. foolish behavior at his foolish behaviour. Then said Arthour the Kyng And King Arthur explained Of bold Percevell techyng, Perceval's upbringing all about his upbringing, 1575 Fro the firste bygynnyng from the very first moment Till that he come thar: till the present time: How his fadir was slayne, how his father had been killed And his modir to the wode gane and his mother had taken him For to be there hir allane as a baby into the wild forest 1580 In the holtis hare, and brought him up in seclusion Fully feftene yere for full fifteen years, To play hym with the wilde dere: animals playing with wild animals only; Littill wonder it were it was little wonder Wilde if he ware! if he was a bit wild.

1585 When he had tolde this tale [Arthur] When King Arthur To that semely in sale comely one; hall had explained all this, He hade wordis at wale will he turned to speak with others, To tham ilkane. each of them Then said Percevell the wighte, but Perceval piped up: 1590 "Yif I be noghte yitt knyghte, 'If I am not yet a knight, Thou sall halde that thou highte, promised you must do as you promised For to make me ane." and make me one!' 33 Than saide the Kyng full sone, 'Your work is not finished,' "Ther sall other dedis be done, said the king. 1595 And thou sall wynn thi schone [knight's] shoes 'You shall win your spurs Appon the Sowdane." against upon the sultan.' Then said Percevell the fre, 'As soon as I see him,' "Als sone als I the Sowdane see, said Perceval, Righte so sall it sone be, 'I’ll despatch him 1600 Als I hafe undirtane." undertaken as I promised.'

He says, "Als I hafe undirtane 'As I promised For to sla the Sowdane, to kill the sultan So sall I wirke als I kanne, I will do all I can That dede to bygynn." to have it done.' 1605 That day was ther no more dede activity But there was nothing left With those worthily in wede, to do that day Bot buskede tham and to bedde yede, prepared themselves; went except go to bed and rest. The more and the mynn; less Till one the morne erely Early the next morning, 1610 Comes the Sowdane with a cry, the sultan came with a great ado Fonde all his folkes hym by and found all his men Putt into pyn. torment (i.e., dead) put to death. Sone asked he wha who He asked at once That so durste his men sla, who dared to treat his men that way 1615 And wete hym one lyfe gaa, and whether he was alive The maystry to wynn. to fight with him.

Now to wynn the maystry, To the castell gan he cry, He rode to the castle walls If any were so hardy, and challenged anyone bold enough 1620 The maistry to wynn: to engage in a battle: "A man for ane, [a man] 'Although you have killed Thoghe he hadd all his folke slane, all my men,' he cried, Here sall he fynde Golrotherame 'you shall find Golrotherame To mete hym full ryghte, ready to fight with you here, 1625 Appon siche a covenande pact on a condition That ye hefe up your hande; lift you must swear to: Who that may the better stande whoever makes as tronger stand And more es of myghte and proves to be of greater might To bryng that other to the dede, death to kill the other, 1630 Browke wele the londe on brede possess; broad land will possess these broad lands And hir that is so faire and rede, and the Lady Amour Lufamour the brighte!" so fair and bright!

Then the Kyng Arthour King Arthur, And the Lady Lufamour Lady Amour 1635 And all that were in the towre and all in the tower agreed Graunted therwith. to these terms on Perceval's behalf Thay called Percevell the wight; and called the lad to them. The Kyng doubbed hym to knyghte. King Arthur dubbed him knight; Thofe he couthe littill insighte, had little wisdom for although he was very ignorant 1640 The childe was of pith. strong he was magnificent in battle, He bad he solde be to prayse, act in a praiseworthy way but he urged him Therto hende and curtayse; to show some breeding. Sir Percevell the Galayse The king dubbed him Thay called hym in kythe. among his people Sir Perceval the Welshman. 34 1645 Kyng Arthour in Maydenlande And so King Arthur made Perceval Dubbid hym knyghte with his hande, a knight in the Land of Women Bad hym ther he his fo fande and told him to show no peace To gyff hym no grythe. peace when he met his foe.

Grith takes he nane: peace Sir Perceval rode out 1650 He rydes agayne the Sowdane to meet the sultan Golrotherame, That highte Gollerotherame, was called who was deadly in fight. That felle was in fighte. cruel In the felde so brade, In the broad field No more carpynge thay made, they rode at one another 1655 Bot sone togedir thay rade, without any further ado, Theire schaftes to righte. spears; raise their spears at the ready. Gollerotheram, thofe he wolde wede, rage No matter how Golrotherame raged, Percevell bere hym fro his stede knocked him off with skill and might Two londis one brede, Perceval knocked him from his saddle 1660 With maystry and myghte. and hurtled him a long way off. At the erthe the Sowdane lay; The sultan lied on the ground His stede gun rynn away; and his steed ran off. Than said Percevell one play, in 'You have got what I promised,' "Thou haste that I the highte." what I promised you mocked him Sir Perceval.

1665 He sayd, "I highte the a dynt, 'I have promised you a blow And now, me thynke, thou hase it hynt. received and now I think you’ve got it, And I may, als I hafe mynt, intended and I have a mind Thou schalt it never mende." I shall make it stick!' Appon the Sowdan he duelled pressed He pinned the sultan 1670 To the grownde ther he was felled, to the ground where he lay And to the erthe he hym helde With his speres ende. with the point of his spear. Fayne wolde he hafe hym slayne, Perceval tried to kill This uncely Sowdane, hapless this hapless man, 1675 Bot gate couthe he get nane, means could but could find no way of doing so, So ill was he kende. trained so badly was the boy trained. Than thynkes the childe In desperation he thought Of olde werkes full wylde: of his old wild ways: "Hade I a fire now in this filde, 'If I had a fire alight, 1680 Righte here he solde be brende." he’d soon be burnt.

He said, "Righte here I solde the brene, I’d burn you right here And thou ne solde never more then and then you would fight Fighte for no wymman, no more for any woman, So I solde the fere!" terrify you so much I’d scare you!' 1685 Then said Wawayne the knyghte, Than Gawain said to him, "Thou myghte, and thou knewe righte, if 'If you knew how to fight, And thou woldes of thi stede lighte, if; get off you’d get off your steed Wynn hym one were." defeat; in battle and win the battle on him.' The childe was of gamen gnede; banter cautious The boy did not get the point; 1690 Now he thynkes one thede, on the spot he stood and thought, "Lorde! whethir this be a stede can this; steed 'God, could this be a steed I wende had bene a mere?" mare that I thought was a mare?' In stede righte there he in stode, place As he stood there, He ne wiste nother of evyll ne gude, he was all confused 1695 Bot then chaunged his mode but then he changed his mind And slaked his spere. released and let go of his spear. 35

When his spere was up tane, Then gan this Gollerothiram, The hapless sultan, This ilke uncely Sowdane, same hapless this Golrotherame, 1700 One his fete to gete. had already got to his feet; Than his swerde drawes he, he drew his sword Strykes at Percevell the fre. and struck at Sir Perceval with it. The childe hadd no powsté power The boy had no power His laykes to lett. sword play; oppose to oppose his sword-play. 1705 The stede was his awnn will: acted on his own His horse acted on its own impulse; Saw the swerde come hym till, toward him when it saw the sword coming, Leppe up over an hill, it leapt over a hillock Fyve stryde mett. measured full five paces‘ length. Als he sprent forby, flew past As it moved past, 1710 The Sowdan keste up a cry; the sultan cried out; The childe wann owt of study awoke; meditation the boy woke up from his thoughts That he was inn sett. absorbed in he’d been absorbed in.

Now ther he was in sett, absorbed in Owt of study he gett, Now he has woken up, 1715 And lightis downn, withowtten lett, hesitation he dismounts without hesitation Agaynes hym to goo. and goes to the sultan. He says, "Now hase thou taughte me 'Now you have shown me How that I sall wirke with the." work what to do with you!' Than his swerde drawes he He drew his sword 1720 And strake to hym thro. assails; fiercely and took a fierce swing at the sultan. He hitt hym even one the nekk-bane, He hit him on the neckbone, Thurgh ventale and pesane. chest and neck armor cutting through his armour, The hede of the Sowdane so that he struck the sultan’s head He strykes the body fra. from clean off the body. 1725 Then full wightly he yode went He returned to gather his horse, To his stede, there he stode; and the maiden, Lady Amour, The milde mayden in mode, spirit jumped for joy. Mirthe may scho ma! make

Many mirthes then he made; Perceval rode happily 1730 In to the castell he rade, into the castle and went up And boldly he there habade dwelt to the maiden's chamber. With that mayden brighte. Fayne were thay ilkane each Everybody was glad That he had slane the Sowdane that he’s killed the sultan 1735 And wele wonn that wymman, and won the woman With maystry and myghte. with skill and might. Thay said Percevell the yyng young They swore the young Perceval Was beste worthy to be kyng, was worthy to be a knight For wele withowtten lesyng for he kept his promise 1740 He helde that he highte. he kept his promise without a lie. Ther was no more for to say, What more needs to be said? Bot sythen, appon that other day, They were married He weddys Lufamour the may, maiden the very next day. This Percevell the wighte.

1745 Now hase Percevell the wight And so Perceval has now married Wedded Lufamour the bright, the bright Lady Amour And is a kyng full righte and is now king Of alle that lande brade. broad of all he surveys. Than Kyng Arthour in hy King Arthur takes his leave, 1750 Wolde no lengare ther ly: he won’t tarry any longer. Toke lefe at the lady. leave of Fro tham than he rade: He rode back home Left Percevell the yyng and left the young Perceval Off all that lande to be kyng, to rule over all that land 1755 For he had with a ryng that he got with a ring The mayden that it hade. from the lady he married. Sythen, appon the tother day, the next And right the next day The Kyng went on his way, King Arthur rode away The certane sothe, als I say, without any delay 1760 Withowtten any bade. delay as truth I tell.

Now than yong Percevell habade Young Perceval has stayed In those borowes so brade broad in those broad domains For hir sake, that he hade whom for his lady’s sake. Wedd with a ryng. 1765 Wele weldede he that lande, ruled He ruled the country well Alle bowes to his honde; bow and the people loved him The folke, that he byfore fonde, sought and acknowledged him as king. Knewe hym for kyng. Thus he wonnes in that wone dwells; place And for twelve months 1770 Till that the twelmonthe was gone, he lived with the Lady Amour; With Lufamour his lemman. beloved He thoghte on no thyng, but then his thoughts Now on his moder that was, turned to his mother How scho levyde with the gres, upon grass whom he had left living only 1775 With more drynke and lesse, on what she could gather In welles, there thay spryng. from the forest, and on spring water.

Drynkes of welles, ther thay spryng, Eating grass and drinking water And gresse etys, withowt lesyng! grass; it's no lie from pools; it is no lie! Scho liffede with none othir thyng She lived thus, in the ancient forest, 1780 In the holtes hare. gray woods like an animal. Till it byfelle appon a day, So it happened one day, Als he in his bedd lay, as Perceval was lying in his bed Till hymselfe gun he say, he said to himself Syghande full sare, with a heavy sigh: 1785 "The laste Yole-day that was, 'On Christmas last Wilde wayes I chese: I went on wild ways; My modir all manles unprotected my mother I’d left Leved I thare." left all unprotected.' Than righte sone saide he, And so he thought, 1790 "Blythe sall I never be happy 'I’ll never be happy Or I may my modir see, until until I have seen my mother And wete how scho fare." know; fares and found out how she’s doing.'

Now to wete how scho fare, So to find out how she is The knyght busked hym yare; made himself ready soon he made to set off to find her, 1795 He wolde no lengare duelle thare and he wouldn’t stay For noghte that myghte bee. for no amount of persuasion. Up he rose in that haulle, Tuke his lefe at tham alle, leave from He took his leave of everyone, Both at grete and at smalle; both the great and the low, 1800 Fro thaym wendis he. and goes his way. Faire scho prayed hym even than, eloquently Lady Amour tried to talk him Lufamour, his lemman, into staying until the end Till the heghe dayes of Yole were gane, of Twelfth Night with her, With hir for to bee. but to no avail. 1805 Bot it served hir of no thyng: A preste he made forthe bryng, He called a priest, Hym a messe for to syng, heard Mass, And aftir rode he. and departed.

Now fro tham gun he ryde; He rode away 1810 Ther wiste no man that tyde and no one knew Whedirwarde he wolde ryde, where he would go His sorowes to amende. to mend his worries. Forthe he rydes allone; Perceval rode alone, Fro tham he wolde everichone: 1815 Mighte no man with hym gone, Ne whedir he wolde lende. arrive Bot forthe thus rydes he ay, The certen sothe als I yow say, I tell you in all faith, Till he come at a way until he came to a path 1820 By a wode-ende. at the edge of a forest, Then herde he faste hym by close by and there he found Als it were a woman cry: a woman crying out Scho prayed to mylde Mary to the Virgin Mary Som socoure hir to sende. to send her some help.

1825 Scho sende hir socour full gude, And the Virgin so merciful Mary, that es mylde of mode. sent it amazingly quickly, As he come thurgh the wode, I tell you, for as Perceval A ferly he fande. marvel was going through a wood A birde, brighteste of ble, noble lady; complexion he found an amazing thing – 1830 Stode faste bonden till a tre - a beautiful woman I say it yow certanly - bound hand and foot Bothe fote and hande. fast to a tree. Sone askede he who, He asked her When he sawe hir tho, who had done this to her 1835 That had served hir so, when saw her like this That lady in lande. Scho said, "Sir, the Blake Knyghte and she replied: 'Sir, the Black Knight, Solde be my lorde with righte; who is my husband. He hase me thusgates dighte thus tied He has done this to me, 1840 Here for to stande." and bound me here in this way.

She says, "Here mon I stande I must stand here For a faute that he fande fault for a transgression That sall I warande that is my greatest sorrow. Is my moste mone. greatest moan 1845 Now to the I sall say: Now I will tell you: Appon my bedd I lay twelve months ago, Appon the laste Yole-day - on Christmas Day, Twelve monethes es gone - as I lay upon my bed asleep, Were he knyghte, were he king, someone, be he knight or king, 1850 He come one his playnge. sporting came in to me and stole the ring With me he chaungede a ring, exchanged from my finger and left me his. The richeste of one. finest of all I didn’t see who it was The body myght I noghte see who exchanged his ring for mine That made that chaungyng with me, but whoever he be, 1855 Bot what that ever he be, he has taken the better one! The better hase he tone!" taken

Scho says, "The better hase he tane; For the one he took Siche a vertue es in the stane, stone has a stone that is unique. In alle this werlde wote I nane know of none In this whole world 1860 Siche stone in a rynge; I know of none like it. A man that had it in were war Whoever wears it One his body for to bere, cannot be hurt There scholde no dyntys hym dere, blows; harm by any blow in battle, Ne to the dethe brynge." and cannot die.' 1865 And then wiste Sir Percevale Immediately, Perceval knew Full wele by the ladys tale by what the lady has said That he had broghte hir in bale into grief that he had been the one Thurgh his chaungyng. exchanging [of rings] who had caused the lady all this woe. Than also sone sayd he He said at once, 1870 To that lady so fre, 'I’ll untie you from the tree, "I sall the louse fro the tre, shall loosen you as I am a true king.' Als I ame trewe kyng."

He was bothe kyng and knyght: Both knight and king, Wele he helde that he highte; kept; promised he did what he said: 1875 He loused the lady so brighte, loosened he released the bright lady Stod bown to the tre. bound Down satt the lady, and they both sat And yong Percevall hir by. on the ground together. Forwaked was he wery: he was utterly weary from He was worn out 1880 Rist hym wolde he. lack of sleep and would have rest, He wende wele for to ryst, rest himself and fell asleep Bot it wolde nothyng laste. with his head on the lady's knee. Als he lay althir best, very comfortably His hede one hir kne, But he did not sleep for long, 1885 Scho putt on Percevell wighte, awakened for the lady soon cried: 'Wake up! Bad hym fle with all his myghte, Here comes the Black Knight! "For yonder comes the Blake Knyghte; Run for your life Dede mon ye be!" must or you’ll be dead soon!

Scho sayd, "Dede mon ye be, 1890 I say yow, sir certanly: I tell you for sure, sir, Yonder out comes he here comes the one That will us bothe slee!" who will kill us both!' The knyghte gan hir answere, 'Did you not tell me just now "Tolde ye me noghte lang ere earlier that I could not die, 1895 Ther solde no dynttis me dere, blows; harm that no blows could do me harm Ne wirke me no woo?" or cause me trouble?' retorted Perceval The helme on his hede he sett; as he set his helmet on his head. Bot or he myght to his stede get, ere But before he could mount his horse, The Blak Knyght with hym mett, the Black Knight had appeared 1900 His maistrys to mo. conquest; accomplish to show his might. He sayd, "How! hase thou here 'What is going on here?' cried he. Fonden now thi play-fere? playmate 'Were you making love together? Ye schall haby it full dere pay for it dearly You shall pay for this Er that I hethen go!" hence before I go!

1905 He said, "Or I hethyn go, hence I sall sle yow bothe two, I’ll kill you both And all siche othir mo, and all other such, Thaire waryson to yelde." reward by way of your reward.' Than sayd Percevell the fre, 'We shall see anon,' 1910 "Now sone than sall we see cried the noble Perceval, Who that es worthy to bee 'who it is that deserves Slayne in the felde." to lie slain in the field! No more speke thay that tyde, They didn’t say a word more Bot sone togedir gan thay ryde, but fell upon each other 1915 Als men that wolde were habyde, engage in war like hardened warriors, With schafte and with schelde. with shield and lance. Than Sir Percevell the wight The bold Sir Perceval Bare down the Blake Knyght. bore down upon the Black Knight Than was the lady so bright and would have delivered a fatal blow 1920 His best socour in telde; camp had not the lady intervened.

Scho was the beste of his belde: protectors If she didn’t interpose Bot scho had there bene his schelde, unless and shielded the Black Knight then, He had bene slayne in the felde, Sir Perceval surely Right certeyne in hy. would have killed him. 1925 Ever als Percevell the kene even as; brave Sold the knyghtis bane hafe bene, should; death Ay went the lady bytwene The lady came between them And cryed, "Mercy!" and cried, 'Mercy!' Than the lady he forbere, spared For the lady’s sake he spared 1930 And made the Blak Knyghte to swere the Black Knight’s life Of alle evylls that there were, and made him swear Forgiffe the lady. to forgive the lady, And Percevell made the same othe whatever wrongs there might be. That he come never undir clothe On his part, Perceval swore 1935 To do that lady no lothe injury that he never did anything That pendid to velany. pertained to dishonour the lady.

"I did hir never no velany; 'I have never dishonoured her; Bot slepande I saw hir ly: lie I saw her lie sleeping Than kist I that lady - and I kissed her then – 1940 I will it never layne. conceal I won’t conceal it. I tok a ryng that I fande; I took a ring from her I left hir, I undirstande, believe and in exchange, That sall I wele warande, guarantee I’ll warrant, Anothir ther-agayne." as a substitute I left another there.' 1945 Thofe it were for none other thyng, not otherwise He swore by Jesus, the king of Heaven, He swere by Jhesu, Heven-kyng, that it was just the way things were To wete withowtten lesyng, lying and no lie, and he would And here to be slayne; maintain that upon his life. "And all redy is the ryng; 'And here is the ring,' he said. 1950 And thou will myn agayne bryng, if 'If you have the one I left with you, Here will I make the chaungyng, exchange we shall exchange them And of myn awnn be fayne." joyful and I‘ll be happy to have my own back.'

He saise, "Of myn I will be fayne." joyful The Blak Knyghte ansuers agayne: 'Surely, and it’s no lie, 1955 Sayd, "For sothe, it is noghte to layne, lie it is too late for that,' Thou come over-late. too late said the Black Knight. Als sone als I the ryng fande, 'As soon as I saw the ring, I toke it sone off hir hande; I took it from off her hand To the lorde of this lande and carried it straight away 1960 I bare it one a gate. straight away to the lord of this land, That gate with grefe hafe I gone: way a good man, I bare it to a gude mone, man who is the stoutest giant The stalwortheste geant of one most stalwart giant of all; that anybody has known. That any man wate. knows 1965 Es it nowther knyghte ne kyng Neither king nor knight That dorste aske hym that ryng, dares ask for the ring, That he ne wolde hym down dyng strike for he would be struck down With harmes full hate." much violence with the greatest force.

"Be thay hate, be thay colde," hot 'Great or not,' said Perceval boldly, 1970 Than said Percevell the bolde, furious at the news For the tale that he tolde because of he has just heard, He wex all tene. angry He said, "Heghe on galous mote he hyng high; gallows 'may anyone who gives you any ring That to the here giffes any ryng, you here gives hang high on the gallows 1975 Bot thou myn agayne brynge, unless you bring back mine Thou haste awaye geven! [that] you have that you gave away! And yif it may no nother be, none other And if you cannot, Righte sone than tell thou me tell me straight away The sothe: whilke that es he truth the truth: who is the one 1980 Thou knawes, that es so kene? know; bold you speak of, who is so bold? Ther es no more for to say, There is no need for words – Bot late me wynn it yif I may, let me win it back if I can, For thou hase giffen thi part of bothe away, for you‘ve given away both on your part, Thof thay had better bene." more valuable even if they were more valuable.'

1985 He says, "Thofe thay had better bene." more valuable The knyghte ansuerde in tene, anger The knight answered angrily, "Thou sall wele wete, withowtten wene, know; doubt 'You will soon find out, Wiche that es he! which doubtlessly, what he is. If thou dare do als thou says, If you dare do what you say, 1990 Sir Percevell de Galays, Sir Perceval, In yone heghe palays, lofty you will find him Therin solde he be, in yonder palace; The riche ryng with that grym! horrid creature the terrible giant has your ring. The stane es bright and nothyng dym; The stone is bright and clear. 1995 For sothe, ther sall thou fynd hym: You’ll find it there – I toke it fro me; he the giant took it from me. Owthir within or withowt, Whether you meet him Or one his play ther abowte, outside or inside, Of the he giffes littill dowte, you; has no fear he fears you little, 2000 And that sall thou see." and that you will find out. '

He says, "That sall thou see, I say the full sekirly." tell you; surely And than forthe rydis he Perceval galloped away Wondirly swythe. swiftly in full speed. 2005 The geant stode in his holde, castle The giant who ruled that land That had those londis in wolde: [his] power was in his castle Saw Percevell, that was bolde, and saw Sir Perceval One his lande dryfe; gallop [his horse] approaching fast. He calde one his portere: 'How can this happen?' 2010 "How-gate may this fare? however he called to his gatekeeper, I se a bolde man yare prepared to fight 'that a man rides On my lande ryfe. well-endowed freely in my land? Go reche me my playlome, battle weapon Give me my battle weapons And I sall go to hym sone; and, by my word, 2015 Hym were better hafe bene at Rome, he will soon wish So ever mote I thryfe!" prosper that he were somewhere else.'

Whethir he thryfe or he the, thrive; prosper Ane iryn clobe takes he; iron club Grasping an iron club, Agayne Percevell the fre he went to meet Sir Perceval. 2020 He went than full right. The clobe wheyhed reghte wele weighed a lot The club was heavy enough That a freke myght it fele: knight to fell a knight in full armour: The hede was of harde stele, the head of hard steel Twelve stone weghte! (168 pounds) alone weighed twelve stones! 2025 Ther was iryn in the wande, iron; shaft The shaft was made of iron Ten stone of the lande, (140 pounds' worth) worth 140 pounds, And one was byhynde his hande, well shaped for good grip. For holdyng was dight. designed All in all, the club Ther was thre and twenty in hale; all (i.e., 322 pounds weight) weighed 322 pounds; 2030 Full evyll myght any men smale, poorly a mere mortal man That men telles nowe in tale, could hardly fight With siche a lome fighte. weapon with such a weapon.

Now are thay bothe bown, armed Now they were both armed, Mett one a more brown, moor they met on a windswept moor 2035 A mile withowt any town, outside far from any town. Boldly with schelde. Than saide the geant so wight, 'By the mighty Mahomet!' Als sone als he sawe the knyght, swore the giant as soon "Mahown, loved be thi myght!" Mahomet as he saw Perceval. 2040 And Percevell byhelde. "Art thou hym, that," saide he than, 'Are you the one,' he asked, "That slew Gollerothirame? 'who killed Golrotherame? I had no brothir bot hym ane, alone He was my only brother!' When he was of elde." full grown 2045 Than said Percevell the fre, 'By the grace of God, "Thurgh grace of God so sall I the, prosper I shall kill you too And siche geantes as ye and all giants like yourself!' Sle thaym in the felde!" replied Perceval.

Siche metyng was seldom sene. Such a meeting has seldom been seen. 2050 The dales dynned thaym bytwene resounded The valleys echoed For dynttis that thay gaffe bydene to each other with the noise of their clash. When thay so mett. The gyant with his clobe-lome club-weapon The giant would have killed Wolde hafe strekyn Percevell sone, smitten Perceval with his club, 2055 Bot he therunder wightely come, skillfully but the young knight stepped A stroke hym to sett. inside the blow to repay him with his own. The geant missede of his dynt; The giant missed in his stroke; The clobe was harde as the flynt: the club was hard as flint Or he myght his staffe stynt before; stop and before he could stop it 2060 Or his strengh lett, control or hold back his blow The clobe in the erthe stode: it got stuck in the ground To the midschafte it wode. was embedded up to the shaft. The Percevell the gode, then Then Perceval drew his sword. Hys swerde owt he get.

2065 By then hys swerde owt he get, Strykes the geant withowtten lett, delay He thrust the sword Merkes even to his nekk, thrusts straight into the giant's neck Reght even ther he stode; where he stood His honde he strykes hym fro, from him and then cut off his hand 2070 His lefte fote also, and his left foot too. With siche dyntis as tho. those With strokes like this Nerre hym he yode. nearer; went Perceval stepped nearer. Then sayd Percevell, "I undirstande 'You would have been better off Thou myghte with a lesse wande smaller stick with a lighter club,' 2075 Hafe weledid better thi hande he observed, helpfully. And hafe done the some gode; 'You could wield it better Now bese it never for ane is; anyone and it would be more of use. The clobe of the erthe tane. from; to take As it is, nobody will I tell thi gatis alle gane, wrest it out of the ground. 2080 Bi the gude Rode!" Cross By the Cross, I think you’re done for.

He says, "By the gud Rode, By the Cross, As evyll als thou ever yode, however poorly you walk your foot won’t help you much Of thi fote thou getis no gode; hereafter in walking, however poorly; Bot lepe if thou may!" hop but you can surely hop! ' 2085 The geant gan the clobe lefe, leave The giant let go of his club And to Percevell a dynt he yefe gave and struck Perceval In the nekk with his nefe. fist a blow with his fist. So ne neghede thay. near approached At that dynt was he tene: outraged Perceval was so angry 2090 He strikes off the hande als clene that he cut off that hand clean off, Als ther hadde never none bene. as if the giant had never had it – That other was awaye. already chopped off the other was already gone. Sythen his hede gan he off hafe; then; cut off Then he cut off the giant's head; He was ane unhende knave discourteous he was a discourteous fellow 2095 A geantberde so to schafe, shave to shave a giant like that, For sothe, als I say! to tell the truth!

Now for sothe, als I say, He lete hym ly there he lay, Perceval left him lying there And rydis forthe one his way and rode forward 2100 To the heghe holde. high castle to the castle. The portare saw his lorde slayne; The porter saw his master slain The kayes durste he noght layne. keys; conceal and dared not withhold the keys; He come Percevell agayne; he went to meet the young knight The gatis he hym yolde. yielded and opened the gates. 2105 At the firste bygynnyng, At once Perceval asked him He askede the portere of the ryng - whether he knew anything If he wiste of it any thyng - about the ring And he hym than tolde: and the porter He taughte hym sone to the kiste showed; chest led him to the giant's chest 2110 Ther he alle the golde wiste, knew [to be] where all his gold was stored, Bade hym take what hym liste desired and invited Perceval to take Of that he hafe wolde. whatever he wanted.

Percevell sayde, hafe it he wolde, And schott owtt all the golde cast Perceval tipped all the gold 2115 Righte there appon the faire molde; the floor out onto the floor The ryng owte glade. flew out and there was the ring. The portare stode besyde, 'A curse on the day Sawe the ryng owt glyde, that ever that ring was made!' Sayde ofte, "Wo worthe the tyde woe be the time cried the porter. 2120 That ever was it made!" Percevell answerde in hy, Sir Perceval asked the porter And asked wherefore and why why he cursed the ring He banned it so brothely, cursed; vehemently so heartily – he must have had Bot if he cause hade. unless a weighty reason. 2125 Then alsone said he, Then the porter replied, And sware by his lewté: fealty 'I’ll tell you why, by my faith, "The cause sall I tell the, without delay. Withowten any bade." delay

He says, "Withowtten any bade, 2130 The knyghte that it here hade, brought it here The knight who brought it here Theroff a presande he made, present offered it as a gift And hedir he it broghte. to my master, Mi mayster tuke it in his hande, and he received it with a good will; Ressayved faire that presande: received he was the lord of this land, 2135 He was chefe lorde of this lande, a man of great power. Als man that mekill moghte. had great power That tyme was here fast by At that time a lady lived nearby Wonnande a lady, dwelling and my master loved her loyally, And hir wele and lely goodly and loyally as it seemed to me. 2140 He luffede, als me thoghte. So it byfelle appon a day, So one day my master, Now the sothe als I sall say, I tell you truly, Mi lorde went hym to play, went to woo that lady And the lady bysoghte. importuned

2145 Now the lady byseches he That scho wolde his leman be; and asked her to be his love, Fast he frayned that free, asked; noble lady importuning her greatly. For any kyns aughte. on any terms At the firste bygynnyng, Right away, he would 2150 He wolde hafe gyffen hir the ryng; give her that ring And when scho sawe the tokynyng, and when she saw that token, Then was scho un-saughte. distraught she was distraught. Scho gret and cried in hir mone; wept; grief She wept and cried in her grief, Sayd, 'Thefe, hase thou my sone slone thief; slain 'Thief! Have you killed my son 2155 And the ryng fro hym tone, taken and taken the ring from him That I hym bitaughte?' entrusted that I entrusted to him? ' Hir clothes ther scho rafe hir fro, tore She tore her clothes And to the wodd gan scho go; and went into the wood, Thus es the lady so wo, so desperate was she, 2160 And this is the draghte. course [of fate] and that’s how it was.

For siche draghtis als this, because of; luck (draughts) The fate would have it Now es the lady wode, iwys, gone mad, truly that the lady went mad And wilde in the wodde scho es, and so she’s lived wild in the forest Ay sythen that ilke tyde. ever since and has been there ever since. 2165 Fayne wolde I take that free, I have tried to catch her, Bot alsone als scho sees me, as soon as but as soon as I come near, Faste awaye dose scho flee: she flies off like a startled animal.' Will scho noghte abyde." Then sayde Sir Percevell, 'I shall go after her at once,' 2170 "I will assaye full snelle attempt; quickly said Sir Perceval then, To make that lady to duelle; 'and try to make her stay myself, Bot I will noghte ryde: but not on horseback; One my fete will I ga, I will go on foot That faire lady to ta. capture to capture that lady. 2175 Me aughte to bryng hir of wa: rescue her from woe I ought to be able to cure her grief, I laye in hir syde." (i.e., "I am her son.") for I am her son.

He sayse, "I laye in hir syde; I sall never one horse ryde I won’t ride a horse Till I hafe sene hir in tyde, time until I’ve seen her, 2180 Spede if I may; have better luck if luck will serve me. Ne none armoure that may be And I will bear no armour Sall come appone me Till I my modir may see, till I’ve met my mother Be nyghte or by day. by day or night. 2185 Bot reghte in the same wode But I’ll look for her That I firste fro hir yode, went in that same forest That sall be in my mode determination where I departed from her, Aftir myn other play; despite anything else Ne I ne sall never mare more and will not come out again 2190 Come owt of yone holtis hare gray woods of that ancient wood Till I wete how scho fare, know; fares till I find out how she’s doing, For sothe, als I saye." and that’s the truth.

Now for sothe, als I say, With that he helde one his way, And so in the morning 2195 And one the morne, when it was day, Perceval set out, Forthe gonn he fare. leaving his armour behind His armour he leved therin, left and entered the deep forest, Toke one hym a gayt-skynne, goatskin wearing only the skin of a goat. And to the wodde gan he wyn, 2200 Among the holtis hare. A sevenyght long hase he soghte; For seven days he searched, His modir ne fyndis he noghte. but could find no trace of his mother. Of mete ne drynke he ne roghte, cared about He was so focused upon his task So full he was of care. anxiety that he neither ate nor drank; 2205 Till the nynte day, byfell ninth until on the ninth day, That he come to a welle he came to a spring in the forest in the Ther he was wonte for to duelle place he used to live at And drynk take hym thare. and paused to drink.

When he had dronken that tyde, And when he had drunk 2210 Forthirmare gan he glyde; farther; walk and left the spring, Than was he warre, hym besyde, then; aware he was aware suddenly Of the lady so fre; of the lady beside him. Bot when scho sawe hym thare, When she saw him, Scho bygan for to dare, hide she was startled and tried to hide. 2215 And sone gaffe hym answare, But seeing his goatskin That brighte was of ble. she cried: 'I had Scho bigan to call and cry: a son like that once!' Sayd, "Siche a sone hade I!" His hert lightened in hy, Perceval was delighted to hear this 2220 Blythe for to bee. Be that he come hir nere and crept closer to her, That scho myght hym here, hear so’s she could hear him, calling: He said, "My modir full dere, 'Mother dear, stay still!' Wele byde ye me!"

2225 Be that, so nere getis he with that And when he was so close That scho myghte nangatis fle, in no way that she could not escape, I say yow full certeynly. Hir byhoved ther to byde. it behooved her Scho stertis appon hym in tene; anger she turned on him 2230 Wete ye wele, withowtten wene, know; doubt and would have killed him Had hir myghte so mekill bene, had she been strong enough if her strength sufficed! Scho had hym slayne that tyde! Bot his myghte was the mare, greater But Perceval was the stronger, And up he toke his modir thare; so he took her up 2235 One his bake he hir bare: and carried her on his back, Pure was his pryde. he had no pride humbly and gently, To the castell, withowtten mare, to the castle, without more ado. The righte way gon he fare; The portare was redy yare, soon The porter was ready 2240 And lete hym in glyde. walk to let him in.

In with his modir he glade, walked He went in with his mother, Als he sayse that it made; as the tale says With siche clothes als thay hade, They wrapped her up Thay happed hir forthy. covered; accordingly in such clothes as they could find. 2245 The geant had a drynk wroghte, The giant had a special drink, The portere sone it forthe broghte, and the porter brought it to her, For no man was his thoghte for he had no thought Bot for that lady. but for the lady. Thay wolde not lett long thon, did not wait long then 2250 Bot lavede in hir with a spone. poured [the liquid] They gave her the drink with a spoon, Then scho one slepe fell also sone, and she fell asleep at once Reght certeyne in hy. Thus the lady there lyes and lay sleeping Thre nyghttis and thre dayes, for three days and three nights, 2255 And the portere alwayes with the porter awake Lay wakande hir by. by her side all the time.

Thus the portare woke hir by - watched beside her; The porter kept watch over her, Ther whills hir luffed sekerly, - while [he]; because he loved her truly; Till at the laste the lady and when at last 2260 Wakede, als I wene. awakened the lady woke, Then scho was in hir awenn state (i.e. , right mind) she was back in her own state again And als wele in hir gate normal way and walking normally, Als scho hadde nowthir arely ne late formerly or recently as she had not been doing Never therowte bene. for some while. 2265 Thay sett tham down one thaire kne, They all went down on their knees Thanked Godde, alle three, to thank God for this happy outcome. That he wolde so appon tham see look As it was there sene. Sythen aftir gan thay ta prepare And they filled a bath 2270 A riche bathe for to ma, make for Perceval's mother And made the lady in to ga, and made her get into it. In graye and in grene.

Than Sir Percevell in hy Then Sir Perceval took his mother Toke his modir hym by, and returned home. 2275 I say yow than certenly, And home went hee. Grete lordes and the Qwene The queen and all her lords Welcomed hym al bydene; altogether welcomed him When thay hym on lyfe sene; and were very joyful 2280 Than blythe myghte thay bee. to see him alive. Sythen he went into the Holy Londe, then Afterwards, he went to the Holy Land, Wanne many cités full stronge, captured many cities, And there was he slayne, I undirstonde; and there he was killed, as I gather. Thusgatis endis hee. in this way And so ended he. 2285 Now Jhesu Criste, hevens Kyng, Now Jesus Christ, King of Heaven, Als He es Lorde of all thyng, as you are Lord of all things, Grante us all His blyssyng! grant us your blessing. Amen, for charyté! Amen.

Mary Flowers Braswell, ed., Sir Perceval of Galles and Ywain and Gawain, Medieval Institute Publications 1995 https://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/publication/braswell-sir-perceval-of-galles-and-ywain-and-gawain translation massively adapted from http://www.eleusinianm.co.uk/middle-english-literature-retold-in-modern- english/arthurian-legends/sir-perceval