the lion is
hardier than you all, that of his hardiment hath lowered the bridge.
Wherefore now know I well that had I set him to ward the first bridge,
he would have warded it better than these that have allowed themselves
to be slain."

XXIX.

Thereupon, behold you Perceval come upon his white mule, sword drawn
all naked in his fist, and cometh toward them of the third bridge,
whereof he smiteth the first so sore that he overthroweth him into the
water. Joseus the hermit cometh forward and would fain have seized the
other twain, but they cry mercy of Perceval, and say that they will be
at his will in all things, and so will believe on God and His sweet
Mother and abandon their evil lord. And they of the fourth bridge say
likewise. On such condition he alloweth them to live by the counsel of
Joseus, and they cast away their arms and yield up the bridges at his
will. Perceval thinketh within himself that God's virtue hath right
great power, but that knight who hath force and power ought well to
approve his prowess for God's sake. For of all that he shall do or
suffer for Him, shall God be well pleased. For, were all the world
against our Lord God, and He should grant to any single one that should
be His champion all His power and might, he would conquer them all in
one hour of the day. But He willeth that a man should travail for Him,
even as He Himself suffered travail for His people.

XXX.

Perceval cometh again back and alighteth of the white mule and
delivereth the banner to Joseus, and then mounteth again on his
destrier and cometh back to them of the fifth bridge, and these defend
themselves right stoutly, for that hardy knights are they, and do
battle against Perceval full sturdily. Joseus the hermit cometh
thither and assaulteth them with passing great lustihood, that had the
Lord God not saved him they would have overthrown and slain him.
Howbeit, he holdeth the banner and grappleth them when he may lay hold,
and grippeth them so straight that they may not help themselves.
Perceval slayeth them and crusheth them and maketh them topple over
into the water that ran swiftly beneath the bridge. When they of the
sixth bridge saw that these were conquered, they cried mercy of
Perceval and yielded themselves to him and delivered up their swords to
him, and they of the seventh bridge likewise. When the red lion saw
that the seventh bridge was Won, and that the knights of the two
bridges had yielded th