the same time she cried out certain words that I remember not.  For immediately a great darkness like to a deep swoon fell upon me and I knew nothing.  And when I awakened from that swoon lo!  I found myself here, chained fast to this stone pillar.  And hadst thou not come hither I would else certainly have died in my torment.  And as to what hath become of my esquires, I know not; but as for that lady, methinks she can be none other than a certain enchantress, hight Vivien, who hath wrought such powerful spells upon Merlin as to have removed him from the eyes of all mankind.”

Unto all this Sir Percival listened in great wonder, and when the knight had ended his tale he said:  “What is thy name?” And the knight said:  “My name is Percydes and I am the son of King Pecheur—­so called because he is the king of all the fisher-folk who dwell upon the West coast.  And now I prithee tell me also thy name and condition, for I find I love thee a very great deal.”

And Sir Percival said:  “My name is Percival, but I may not at this present tell thee my condition and of whom I am born; for that I must keep secret until I have won me good credit as a knight.  But now I have somewhat to do, and that is to deal with this lady Vivien as she shall deserve.”

Upon that Sir Percydes cried out:  “Go not near to that sorceress, else she will do some great harm to thee with her potent spells as she did to me.”

But Sir Percival said:  “I have no fear of her.”

So Sir Percival arose and crossed the bridge and went toward that wonderful enchanted castle; and Sir Percydes would have gone with him, but Sir Percival said:  “Stay where thou art.”  And so Sir Percydes stayed and Sir Percival went forward alone.

[Sidenote:  The Lady Vivien cometh forth to Sir Percival] Now as he drew nigh to the castle the gate thereof was opened, and there came forth thence an extraordinarily beautiful lady surrounded by a court of esquires and pages all very beautiful of countenance.  And this lady and all of her court were clad in red so that they shone like to several flames of fire.  And the lady’s hair was as red as gold, and she wore gold ornaments about her neck so that she glistered exceedingly and was very wonderful to behold.  And her eyebrows were very black and fine and were joined in the middle like two fine lines drawn together with a pencil, and her eyes were narrow and black, shining like those of a snake.

Then when Sir Percival beheld this lady how singularly beautiful she was he was altogether enchanted so that he could not forbear to approach her.  And, lo! she stood still and smiled upon him so that his heart stirred within his bosom like as though it pulled at the strings that held it.  Then she said to Sir Percival, speaking in a very sweet and gentle voice:  “Sir Knight, thou art welcome to this place.  It would pleasure us very greatly if thou wouldst consider this castle as though it were thine own and would abide within it with me for a while.”  Therewith speaking she smiled again upon Sir Percival more cunningly than before and reached out her hand toward him.