one of the brethren what he was.  Sir, said the good man, ye have heard much of Joseph of Aramathie, how he was sent by Jesu Christ into this land for to teach and preach the holy Christian faith; and therefore he suffered many persecutions the which the enemies of Christ did unto him, and in the city of Sarras he converted a king whose name was Evelake.  And so this king came with Joseph into this land, and ever he was busy to be thereas the Sangreal was; and on a time be nighed it so nigh that Our Lord was displeased with him, but ever he followed it more and more, till God struck him almost blind.  Then this king cried mercy, and said:  Fair Lord, let me never die till the good knight of my blood of the ninth degree be come, that I may see him openly that he shall achieve the Sangreal, that I may kiss him.

CHAPTER IV

How sir Percivale saw many men of arms bearing A dead knight, and how he fought against them

When the king thus had made his prayers he heard a voice that said:  Heard be thy prayers, for thou shalt not die till he have kissed thee.  And when that knight shall come the clearness of your eyes shall come again, and thou shalt see openly, and thy wounds shall be healed, and erst shall they never close.  And this befel of King Evelake, and this same king hath lived this three hundred winter this holy life, and men say the knight is in the court that shall heal him.  Sir, said the good man, I pray you tell me what knight that ye be, and if ye be of King Arthur’s court and of the Table Round.  Yea, forsooth, said he, and my name is Sir Percivale de Galis.  And when the good man understood his name he made great joy of him.  And then Sir Percivale departed and rode till the hour of noon.  And he met in a valley about a twenty men of arms, which bare in a bier a knight deadly slain.  And when they saw Sir Percivale they asked him of whence he was.  And he answered:  Of the court of King Arthur.  Then they cried all at once:  Slay him.  Then Sir Percivale smote the first to the earth and his horse upon him.  And then seven of the knights smote upon his shield all at once, and the remnant slew his horse so that he fell to the earth.  So had they slain him or taken him had not the good knight, Sir Galahad, with the red arms come there by adventure into those parts.  And when he saw all those knights upon one knight he cried:  Save me that knight’s life.  And then he dressed him toward the twenty men of arms as fast as his horse might drive, with his spear in the rest, and smote the foremost horse and man to the earth.  And when his spear was broken he set his hand to his sword, and smote on the right hand and on the left hand that it was marvel to see, and at every stroke he smote one down or put him to a rebuke, so that they would fight no more but fled to a thick forest,