went to the recluse and asked her if she knew that knight with the white shield.  Sir, said she, why would ye wit?  Truly, madam, said Sir Percivale, I shall never be well at ease till that I know of that knight’s fellowship, and that I may fight with him, for I may not leave him so lightly, for I have the shame yet.  Ah, Percivale, said she, would ye fight with him?  I see well ye have great will to be slain as your father was through outrageousness.  Madam, said Sir Percivale, it seemeth by your words that ye know me.  Yea, said she, I well ought to know you, for I am your aunt, although I be in a priory place.  For some called me sometime the queen of the Waste Lands, and I was called the queen of most riches in the world; and it pleased me never my riches so much as doth my poverty.  Then Sir Percivale wept for very pity when that he knew it was his aunt.  Ah, fair nephew, said she, when heard ye tidings of your mother?  Truly, said he, I heard none of her, but I dream of her much in my sleep; and therefore I wot not whether she be dead or on live.  Certes, fair nephew, said she, your mother is dead, for after your departing from her she took such a sorrow that anon, after she was confessed, she died.  Now, God have mercy on her soul, said Sir Percivale, it sore forthinketh me; but all we must change the life.  Now, fair aunt, tell me what is the knight?  I deem it be he that bare the red arms on Whitsunday.  Wit you well, said she, that this is he, for otherwise ought he not to do, but to go in red arms; and that same knight hath no peer, for he worketh all by miracle, and he shall never be overcome of none earthly man’s hand.

CHAPTER II

How Merlin likened the round table to the world, and how the knights that should achieve the Sangreal should be known

Also Merlin made the Round Table in tokening of roundness of the world, for by the Round Table is the world signified by right, for all the world, Christian and heathen, repair unto the Round Table; and when they are chosen to be of the fellowship of the Round Table they think them more blessed and more in worship than if they had gotten half the world; and ye have seen that they have lost their fathers and their mothers, and all their kin, and their wives and their children, for to be of your fellowship.  It is well seen by you; for since ye have departed from your mother ye would never see her, ye found such fellowship at the Round Table.  When Merlin had ordained the Round Table he said, by them which should be fellows of the Round Table the truth of the Sangreal should be well known.  And men asked him how men might know them that should best do and to achieve the Sangreal?  Then he said there should be three white bulls that should achieve it, and the two should be maidens,