that made recoverance thereof, in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

TITLE I.

This high history and profitable witnesseth us that the son of the
Widow Lady sojourned still with his uncle King Pelles in the hermitage,
and through distress of the evil that he had had since he came forth of
the house of King Fisherman, was he confessed to his uncle and told him
of what lineage he was, and that his name was Perceval. But the good
Hermit the good King had given him the name of Parluifet, for that he
was made of himself. King Hermit was one day gone into the forest, and
the good knight Parluifet felt himself sounder of health and lustier
than he wont to be. He heard the birds sing in the forest, and his
heart began to swell of knighthood, and he minded him of the adventures
he wont to find in the forest and of the damsels and knights that he
wont to meet, and never was he so fain of arms as was he at that time,
for that he had been sojourning so long within doors. He felt courage
in his heart and lustiness in his limbs and fainness in his thought.
Right soon armeth he himself and setteth the saddle on his horse and
mounteth forthwith. He prayeth God give him adventure that he may meet
good knight, setteth himself forth of his uncle's hermitage and
entereth into the forest that was broad and shady. He rideth until he
cometh into a launde that was right spacious, and seeth a leafy tree
that was at the head of the launde. He alighteth in the shadow, and
thinketh to himself that two knights might joust on this bit of ground
fair and well, for the place was right broad. And, even as he was
thinking on this wise, he heard a horse neigh full loud in the forest
three times, and right glad was he thereof and said: "Ha, God, of your
sweetness grant that there be a knight with that horse, so may I prove
whether there be any force or valour or knighthood in me. For I know
not now what strength I may have, nor even whether my heart be sound
and my limbs whole. For on a knight that hath neither hardihood nor
valour in himself, may not another knight that hath more force in him
reasonably prove his mettle, for many a time have I heard say that one
is better than other. And for this pray I to the Saviour and this be a
knight that cometh there, that he may have strength and hardihood and
mettle to defend his body against mine own, for great desire have I to
run upon him. Grant now that he slay me not