[Sidenote:  Percival slays Sir Boindegardus] Then Sir Boindegardus was in furious rage, wherefore he drew his bright, shining sword with intent to slay Percival.  But when Percival saw what he would be at, he catched up his javelin and, running to a little distance, he turned and threw it at Sir Boindegardus with so cunning an aim that the point of the javelin entered the ocularium of the helmet of Sir Boindegardus and pierced through the eye and the brain and came out of the back of the head.  Then Sir Boindegardus pitched down from off his horse all into a heap upon the ground, and Percival ran to him and stooped over him and perceived that he was dead.  Then Percival said:  “Well, it would seem that I have put an end to a terribly discourteous knight to ladies.”

[Sidenote:  King Arthur sends Sir Launcelot and Sir Lamorack in quest of Percival] Now a little after Percival had quitted the pavilion of Queen Guinevere, King Arthur and eleven noble knights of the court returned thither from hawking, and amongst those knights was Sir Launcelot of the Lake and Sir Lamorack of Gales.  Then those who were of the Queen’s court told King Arthur what had befallen, and thereat the King felt great displeasure toward Sir Kay.  And he said:  “Kay, not only hast thou been very discourteous in not assuming this quarrel of the Queen’s, but I believe that thou, a well-approved knight, hast in thy fear of Sir Boindegardus been the cause of sending this youth upon an adventure in which he will be subject to such great danger that it may very well be that he shall hardly escape with his life.  Now I will that two of you knights shall follow after that youth for to rescue him if it be not too late; and those two shall be Sir Launcelot of the Lake and Sir Lamorack of Gales.  So make all haste, Messires, lest some misfortune shall befall this brave, innocent madman.”

Thereupon those two knights mounted straightway upon their horses and rode away in that direction whither Percival had gone.

[Illustration:  Sir Percival & Sir Lamorack ride together]

Chapter Second

How Sir Percival was made knight by King Arthur; how he rode forth with Sir Lamorack and how he left Sir Lamorack in quest of adventure upon his own account; likewise how a great knight taught him craft in arms.

So after a considerable time they came to that meadow-land where Percival had found Sir Boindegardus.

[Sidenote:  How the two knights find Percival in the meadow] But when they came to that place they perceived a very strange sight.  For they beheld one clad all in armor of wattled willow-twigs and that one dragged the body of an armed knight hither and thither upon the ground.  So they two rode up to where that affair was toward, and when they had come nigh enough, Sir Launcelot said:  “Ha, fair youth, thou art doing a very strange thing.  What art thou about?”