Now it chanced upon the next day after that that Percival and his mother went down into the forest that lay at the foot of the mountain whereon that tower stood, and they had intent to gather such early flowers of the spring-time as were then abloom.  And whilst they were there, lo! there came five knights riding through the forest, and, the leaves being thin like to a mist of green, Percival perceived them a great way off.  So he cried out in a loud voice:  “Mother!  Mother!  Behold!  Yonder is a whole company of angels such as I saw yesterday!  Now I will go and give them greeting.”

But his mother said:  “How now!  How now!  Wouldst thou make address unto angels!” And Percival said:  “Yea; for they appear to be both mild of face and gentle of mien.”  So he went forward for to greet those knights.

[Sidenote:  Percival holds discourse with five knights] Now the foremost of that party of knights was Sir Ewaine, who was always both gentle and courteous to everybody.  Wherefore, when Sir Ewaine saw Percival nigh at hand, he gave him greeting and said, “Fair youth, what is thy name?” Unto this Percival made reply:  “My name is Percival.”  Sir Ewaine said:  “That is a very good name, and thy face likewise is so extraordinarily comely that I take thee to be of some very high lineage.  Now tell me, I prithee, who is thy father?” To this Percival said, “I cannot tell thee what is my lineage, for I do not know,” and at that Sir Ewaine marvelled a very great deal.  Then, after a little while, he said:  “I prithee tell me, didst thou see a knight pass this way to-day or yesterday?” And Percival said, “I know not what sort of a thing is a knight.”  Sir Ewaine said, “A knight is such a sort of man as I am.”

Upon this Percival understood many things that he did not know before, and he willed with all his soul to know more than those.  Wherefore he said:  “If thou wilt answer several questions for me, I will gladly answer thine.”  Upon this Sir Ewaine smiled very cheerfully (for he liked Percival exceedingly), and he said:  “Ask what thou wilt and I will answer thee in so far as I am able.”

So Percival said, “I prithee tell me what is this thing?” And he laid his hand thereon.  And Sir Ewaine said, “That is a saddle.”  And Percival said, “What is this thing?” And Sir Ewaine said, “That is a sword.”  And Percival said, “What is this thing?” And Sir Ewaine said, “That is a shield.”  And so Percival asked him concerning all things that appertained to the accoutrements of a knight, and Sir Ewaine answered all his questions.  Then Percival said:  “Now I will answer thy question.  I saw a knight ride past this way yesterday, and he rode up yonder valley and to the westward.”

Upon this Sir Ewaine gave gramercy to Percival and saluted him, and so did the other knights, and they rode their way.