But Sir Gawaine perceived that Sir Percival was altogether sunk in deep thought, wherefore he said:  “Nay, thou wilt do ill to disturb that knight; for either he hath some weighty matter upon his mind, or else he is bethinking him of his lady, and in either case it would be a pity to disturb him until he arouses himself.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Kay shakes the arm of Sir Percival] But Sir Kay would not heed what Sir Gawaine said, but forthwith he went to where Sir Percival stood; and Sir Percival was altogether unaware of his coming, being so deeply sunk in his thoughts.  Then Sir Kay said:  “Sir Knight,”—­but Sir Percival did not hear him.  And Sir Kay said:  “Sir Knight, who art thou?” But still Sir Percival did not reply.  Then Sir Kay said:  “Sir Knight, thou shalt answer me!” And therewith he catched Sir Percival by the arm and shook him very roughly.

[Sidenote:  Sir Percival smites Sir Kay a buffet] Then Sir Percival aroused himself, and he was filled with indignation that anyone should have laid rough hands upon his person.  And Sir Percival did not recognize Sir Kay because he was still entangled in that network of thought, but he said very fiercely:  “Ha, sirrah! wouldst thou lay hands upon me!” and therewith he raised his fist and smote Sir Kay so terrible a buffet beside the head that Sir Kay instantly fell down as though he were dead and lay without sense of motion upon the ground.  Then Sir Percival perceived that there were two other knights standing not far off, and therewith his thoughts of other things came back to him again and he was aware of what he had done in his anger, and was very sorry and ashamed that he should have been so hasty as to have struck that blow.

Then Sir Gawaine came to Sir Percival and spake sternly to him saying.  “Sir Knight, why didst thou strike my companion so unknightly a blow as that?”

[Sidenote:  Sir Gawaine chides Sir Percival] To which Sir Percival said:  “Messire, it grieves me sorely that I should have been so hasty, but I was bethinking me of my lady, and this knight disturbed my thoughts; wherefore I smote him in haste.”

To this Sir Gawaine made reply:  “Sir, I perceive that thou hadst great excuse for thy blow.  Ne’theless, I am displeased that thou shouldst have struck that knight.  Now I make demand of thee what is thy name and condition?”

And Sir Percival said:  “My name is Percival, and I am a knight of King Arthur’s making.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Gawaine and Sir Geraint rejoice over Sir Percival] At that, when Sir Gawaine and Sir Geraint heard what Sir Percival said, they cried out in great amazement; and Sir Gawaine said:  “Ha, Sir Percival! this is indeed well met, for my name is Gawaine and I am a nephew unto King Arthur and am of his court; and this knight is Sir Geraint, and he also is of King Arthur’s court and of his Round Table.  And we have been in search of thee for this long time for to bring thee unto King Arthur at Camelot.  For thy renown is now spread all over this realm, so that they talk of thee in every court of chivalry.”