Chapter 14 - Page 2

of a
woman, and render her what service thou canst. If thou see a fair
jewel, win it, for thus shalt thou acquire fame; yet freely give it to
another, for thus thou shalt obtain praise. If thou see a fair
woman, pay court to her, for thus thou wilt obtain love."
After this discourse Perceval mounted the horse, and, taking a
number of sharp-pointed sticks in his hand, he rode forth. And he rode
far in the woody wilderness without food or drink. At last he came
to an opening in the wood, where he saw a tent, and as he thought it
might be a church he said his pater-noster to it. And he went toward
it; and the door of the tent was open. And Perceval dismounted and
entered the tent. In the tent he found a maiden sitting, with a golden
frontlet on her forehead and a gold ring on her hand. And Perceval
said, "Maiden, I salute you, for my mother told me whenever I met a
lady I must respectfully salute her." Perceiving in one corner of
the tent some food, two flasks full of wine, and some boar's flesh
roasted, he said, "My mother told me, whenever I saw meat and drink to
take it." And he ate greedily, for he was very hungry. "Sir, thou
hadst best go quickly from here, for fear that my friends should come,
and evil should befall you." But Perceval said, "My mother told me
wheresoever I saw a fair jewel to take it," and he took the gold
ring from her finger, and put it on his own; and he gave the maiden
his own ring in exchange for hers; then he mounted his horse and
rode away.
Perceval journeyed on till he arrived at Arthur's court. And it so
happened that just at that time an uncourteous knight had offered
Queen Guenever a gross insult. For when her page was serving the queen
with a golden goblet, this knight struck the arm of the page and
dashed the wine in the queen's face and over her stomacher. Then he
said, "If any have boldness to avenge this insult to Guenever, let him
follow me to the meadow." So the knight took his horse and rode to the
meadow, carrying away the golden goblet. And all the household hung
down their heads, and no one offered to follow the knight to take
vengeance upon him. For it seemed to them that no one would have
ventured on so daring an outrage unless he possessed such powers,
through magic or charms, that none could be able to punish him. Just
then, behold, Perceval entered the hall upon the bony, piebald
horse, with his uncouth trappings. In the centre of the hall stood Kay
the seneschal. "Tell me, tall man," said Perceval, "is that Arthur
yonder?" "What wouldst thou with Arthur?" asked Kay. "My mother told
me to go to Arthur and receive knighthood from him." "By my faith,"
said he, "thou art all too meanly equipped with horse and with
arms." Then all the household began to