never since have they had no heart to make joy, nor would not now
and you had not come hither. Wherefore ought you not to marvel that
they make joy of your coming. Howbeit, on the other hand, sore need
have we in this castle of your coming, for a knight warreth upon me
that is brother of King Fisherman, and his name is the King of Castle
Mortal."

"Lady," saith he, "He is my uncle, albeit I knew it not of a long time,
nor of the good King Fisherman either, and the good King Hermit is my
uncle also. But I tell you of a very truth, the King of Castle Mortal
is the most fell and cruel that liveth, wherefore ought none to love
him for the felony that is in him, for he hath begun to war upon King
Fisherman my uncle, and challengeth him his castle, and would fain have
the Lance and the Graal."

"Sir," saith the Queen, "in like sort challengeth he my castle of me
for that I am in aid of King Fisherman, and every week cometh he to an
island that is in this sea, and oft-times cometh plundering before this
castle and hath slain many of my knights and damsels, whereof God grant
us vengeance upon him."

She taketh Perceval by the hand and leadeth him to the windows of the
hall that were nighest the sea. "Sir," saith she, "Now may you see the
island, there, whereunto your uncle cometh in a galley, and in this
island sojourneth he until he hath seen where to aim his blow and laid
his plans. And here below, see, are my gallies that defend us thereof."

III.

Perceval, as the history telleth, was much honoured at the castle of
the Queen of the Maidens, that was right passing fair. The Queen loved
him of a passing great love, but well she knew that she should never
have her desire, nor any dame nor damsel that might set her intent
thereon, for chaste was he and in chastity was fain to die. So long
was he at the castle as that he heard tell his uncle was arrived at the
island whither he wont to come. Perceval maketh arm him forthwith and
entereth into a galley below the hall, and maketh him be rowed toward
his uncle, that much marvelleth when he seeth him coming, for never
aforetime durst no knight issue out alone from this castle to meet him,
nor to come there where he was, body to body. But had he known that it
was Perceval, he would not have marvelled. Thereupon the galley taketh
the ground and Perceval is issued forth. The Queen and the knights and
her maidens are come to the windows of the castle to behold the bearin