such was the will of God. When they saw
that they might not come a-nigh him, they ran either on other and so
slew themselves between them, nor would they stint their fighting
together for the damsel. Perceval beheld the miracle of these folks
that were thus killed, and the damsel that made right great dole
thereof.

"Ha, damsel," saith he, "Weep not, but repent you of this false belief,
for they that are unwilling to believe in God shall die like mad folks
and devils!"

Perceval made the squires that were there within bear the bodies out of
the hall, and made them be cast into a running water, and straightway
slew all the other, for that they were not minded to believe. The
castle was all emptied of the misbelieving folk save only the damsel
and those that waited upon her, and the Christian thrall that guarded
the gate. Perceval set him forth of the chain, then led him up into
the hall and made him disarm him. He found sundry right rich robes.
The damsel, that was of right great beauty, looked at him and saw that
he was a full comely knight, and well pleased she was with him. She
honoured him in right great sort, but she might not forget the three
knights that were her brothers, and made sore dole for them.

XXI.

"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Nought availeth it to make this dole, but
take comfort on some other manner."

Perceval looked at the hall from one end to the other and saw that it
was right rich, and the damsel, in whom was full great beauty, stinted
of making dole to look at Perceval. She seeth that he is comely knight
and gentle and tall and well furnished of good conditions, wherefore he
pleaseth her much, and forthwith beginneth she to love him, and saith
to herself that, so he would leave his God for the god in whom she
believed, right glad would she be thereof, and would make him lord of
her castle, for it seemed her that better might she not bestow it, and
sith that her brothers are dead, there may be no bringing of them back,
and therefore better would it be to forget her dole. But little knew
she Perceval's thought, for had she known that which he thinketh, she
would have imagined not this; for, and had she been Christian he might
not have been drawn to love her in such sort as she thinketh, sith that
Josephus telleth us that never did he lose his virginity for woman, but
rather died virgin and chaste and clean of his body. In this mind was
she still, nor never might she refrain her hear