Sir Percival said, “I will tell thee”; and therewith he told Sir Percydes all that had befallen him when he first came down into the world from the wilderness where he had aforetime dwelt, and how he had entered the yellow pavilion and had discovered the damosel who was now his chosen lady.  When Sir Percydes heard that story he laughed in great measure, and then he said:  “But how wilt thou find that young damosel again when thou hast a mind for to go to her once more?” To the which Sir Percival made reply:  “I know not how I shall find her, nevertheless, I shall assuredly do so.  For though the world is much wider and greater than I had thought it to be when I first came down into it, yet I know that I shall find that lady when the fit time cometh for me to seek her.”

Then Sir Percydes said:  “Dear friend, when thou desireth to find that damosel to whom belongeth the ring, come thou to me and I will tell thee where thou mayst find her; yet I know not why thou dost not go and find her now.”

Unto this Sir Percival made reply:  “I do not seek her immediately because I am yet so young and so unknown to the world that I could not be of any credit to her should I find her; so first I will seek to obtain credit as a knight, and then I will seek her.”

Sir Percydes said:  “Well, Percival, I think thou hast great promise of a very wonderful knighthood.  Nor do I think thou wilt have difficulty in finding plenty of adventures to undertake.  For even to-day I know of an adventure, which if thou couldst perform it successfully, would bring thee such worship that there are very few knights in all the world who will have more worship than thou.”

Then Sir Percival said:  “I prithee, dear friend, tell me what is that adventure.”

Then Sir Percydes told Sir Percival what that adventure was as followeth: 

[Sidenote:  Sir Percydes telleth Sir Percival of Beaurepaire] “Thou art to know,” quoth he, “that somewhat more than a day’s journey to the north of this there is a fair plain, very fertile and beautiful to the sight.  In the midst of that plain is a small lake of water, and in that lake is an island, and upon the island is a tall castle of very noble size and proportions.  That castle is called Beaurepaire, and the lady of that castle is thought to be one of the most beautiful damosels in the world.  And the name of the lady is Lady Blanchefleur.

“Now there is a very strong and powerful knight hight Sir Clamadius, otherwise known as the King of the Isles; and he is one of the most famous knights in the world.  Sir Clamadius hath for a long while loved the Lady Blanchefleur with such a passion of love that I do not think that the like of that passion is to be found anywhere else in the world.  But the Lady Blanchefleur hath no love for Sir Clamadius, but ever turneth away from him with a heart altogether cold of liking.

“But Sir Clamadius is a wonderfully proud and haughty King, wherefore he can ill brook being scorned by any lady.  Wherefore he hath now come against the castle of Beaurepaire with an array of knights of his court, and at present layeth siege to that castle aforesaid.