ould have lost his force; and that, so Perceval will run upon
them, the lion will help him slay them. Perceval telleth the knights
that never will he have mercy upon them, and forthwith runneth upon
them, sword drawn, and sorely it misliked him that they defended not
themselves, insomuch that he all but left to slay them for that no
defence found he in them. But the lion is so far from holding them in
the like disdain, that he runneth upon them and biteth and slayeth
them, and then casteth forth their limbs and bodies into the water.
Perceval alloweth that this is well and seemly, and pleaseth him much
of that he seeth the lion do, nor never before had he seen any beast
that he might love and prize so highly as this one.

XXXIII.

The King of Castle Mortal was on the battlements of the wall, and seeth
how his knights are dead, and how the lion helpeth to slay the last.
He setteth himself on the highest place of the walls, then lifteth the
skirt of his habergeon and holdeth his sword all naked, that was right
keen and well-tempered, and so smiteth himself right through the body,
and falleth all adown the walls into the water, that was swift and
deep, in such sort that Perceval saw him, and all the good hermits
likewise, that marvelled much of a King that should slay himself in
such manner; but they say according to the judgment of the scripture,
that by right of evil man should the end be evil. On such wise was the
end of this King of whom I tell you. Josephus relateth us how none
ought to marvel that of three brothers, even though they be sons of the
same father and mother, one brother should be evil; and the real
marvel, saith he, is when one evil corrupteth not the two that are
good, for that wickedness is so hard and keen and beguiling, and
goodness so kindly and simple and humble. Cain and Abel were
brothers-german, yet Cain slew his brother Abel, the one flesh betrayed
the other. But great sorrow is it, saith Josephus, when the flesh that
ought to be one becometh twain, and the one flesh goeth about by
wickedness to deceive and destroy the other. Josephus recordeth us by
this evil king that was so traitorous and false and yet was of the
lineage of the Good Soldier Joseph of Abarimacie. This Joseph, as the
scripture witnesseth, was his uncle, and this evil king was
brother-german of King Fisherman, and brother of the good King Pelles
that had abandoned his land, in order that he might serve God, and
brother