or athirst and findest food and wine, eat and drink enough to satisfy thee, but no more; and if thou findest a treasure or a jewel of price and canst obtain those things without injustice unto another, take that thing for thine own—­but give that which thou hast with equal freedom unto others.  So, by obeying these precepts, thou shalt become worthy to be a true knight and, haply, be also worthy of thy father, who was a true knight before thee.”

And Percival said, “All these things will I remember and observe to do.”

And Percival’s mother said, “But thou wilt not forget me, Percival?”

[Sidenote:  Percival departs from the mountain] And he said:  “Nay, mother; but when I have got me power and fame and wealth, then will I straightway return thitherward and take thee away from this place, and thou shalt be like to a Queen for all the glory that I shall bestow upon thee.”  Upon this the lady, his mother, both laughed and wept; and Percival stooped and kissed her upon the lips.  Then he turned and left her, and he rode away down the mountain and into the forest, and she stood and gazed after him as long as she could see him.  And she was very lonely after he had gone.

So I have told you how it came that Percival went out into the world for to become a famous knight.

[Illustration:  The Lady Yvette the Fair]

Chapter First

How Percival departed into the world and how he found a fair damsel in a pavilion; likewise how he came before Queen Guinevere and how he undertook his first adventure.

[Sidenote:  Percival maketh himself armor of willow twigs] Now after Percival had ridden upon his way for a very long time, he came at last out of that part of the forest and unto a certain valley where were many osiers growing along beside a stream of water.  So he gathered branches of the willow-trees and peeled them and wove them very cunningly into the likeness of armor such as he had seen those knights wear who had come into his forest.  And when he had armed himself with wattled osiers he said unto himself, “Now am I accoutred as well as they.”  Whereupon he rode upon his way with an heart enlarged with joy.

By and by he came out of the forest altogether and unto a considerable village where were many houses thatched with straw.  And Percival said to himself:  “Ha! how great is the world; I knew not that there were so many people in the world.”

[Sidenote:  How Percival rode in the world] But when the folk of that place beheld what sort of a saddle was upon the back of the pack-horse; and when they beheld what sort of armor it was that Percival wore—­all woven of osier twigs; and when they beheld how he was armed with a javelin and with no other weapon, they mocked and laughed at him and jeered him.  But Percival understood not their mockery, whereupon he said:  “Lo! how pleasant and how cheerful is the world.  I knew not it was so merry a place.”  So he laughed and nodded and gave them greeting who mocked him in that manner.  And some of them said, “That is a madman.”  And others said, “Nay, he is a silly fool.”  And when Percival heard these he said to himself:  “I wonder whether there are other sorts of knights that I have not yet heard tell of?”