[Sidenote:  Sir Kay strikes the damsel] Then Sir Kay was very angry with that damsel and he said:  “Truly, thou art ill taught to remain for all this year in the court of King Arthur amid the perfect flower of chivalry and yet not to have given to one of those noble and honorable knights a single word or a smile such as thou hast bestowed upon this boor.”  So saying, he lifted his hand and smote that damsel a box on the ear so that she screamed out aloud with pain and terror.

Upon this Percival came very close to Sir Kay and he said:  “Thou discourteous tall man; now I tell thee, except that there are so many ladies here present, and one of these a Queen, I would have to do with thee in such a manner as I do not believe would be at all to thy liking.  Now, first of all I shall follow yonder uncivil knight and endeavor to avenge this noble Queen for the affront he hath put upon her, and when I have done with him, then will I hope for the time to come in which I shall have to do with thee for laying hands upon this beautiful young lady who was so kind to me just now.  For, in the fulness of time, I will repay the foul blow thou gavest her, and that twenty-fold.”

Thereupon Percival straightway went out from that pavilion and mounted upon his sorry horse and rode away in the direction that Sir Boindegardus had taken with the golden goblet.

[Sidenote:  Percival follows Sir Boindegardus] Now after a long time, he came to another level meadow of grass, and there he beheld Sir Boindegardus riding before him in great state with the golden goblet hanging to the horn of his saddle.  And Sir Boindegardus wore his helmet and carried his spear in his right hand and his shield upon his other arm, and he was in all ways prepared for an encounter at arms.  And when he perceived Percival come riding out of the forest in pursuit of him, he drew rein and turned.  And when Percival had come nigh enough Sir Boindegardus said, “Whence comest thou, fool?” Percival replied, “I come from Queen Guinevere, her pavilion.”  Then Sir Boindegardus said, “Does that knight who was there follow me hitherward?” Unto which Percival made reply:  “Nay, but I have followed thee with intent to punish thee for the affront which thou didst put upon Queen Guinevere.”

Then Sir Boindegardus was very wroth and he said:  “Thou fool; I have a very good intention for to slay thee.”  Therewith he raised his spear and smote Percival with it upon the back of the neck so terrible a blow that he was flung violently down from off his horse.  Upon this Percival was so angry that the sky all became like scarlet before his eyes.  Wherefore, when he had recovered from the blow he ran unto Sir Boindegardus and catched the spear in his hands and wrestled with such terrible strength that he plucked it away from Sir Boindegardus.  And having thus made himself master of that spear, he brake it across his knee and flung it away.