e of him nor other until such time as I have drawn as much blood
of his body as did he of mine, and I will well that he know it."

With that Briant departeth from the court all wrathful, but if that
Lancelot had not feared to anger the King, Briant would not have ridden
a league English or ever he had followed and forced him to fight.
Briant goeth toward the Castle of the Hard Rock, and saith that better
would it have been for the King that Lancelot were still in prison, for
that such a plea will he move against him and he may bring it to bear,
as that he shall lose thereof the best parcel of his land. He is gone
into the land of King Claudas, and saith that now at last hath he need
of his aid, for Lancelot is issued forth of the King's prison and is
better loved at court than all other, so that the King believeth in no
counsel save his only. King Claudas sweareth unto him and maketh
pledge that never will he fail him, and Briant to him again.

BRANCH XXXV.

TITLE I.

Herewithal is the story silent of Briant and talketh of Perceval, that
the ship beareth away right swiftly; but so long hath he held battle
therein that every one hath he slain of them that were in the ship save
only the pilot that steereth her, for him hath he in covenant that he
will believe in God and renounce his evil Law. Perceval is far from
land so that he seeth nought but sea only, and the ship speedeth
onward, and God guideth him, as one that believeth in Him and loveth
Him and serveth Him of a good heart. The ship ran on by night and by
day as it pleased God, until that they saw a castle and an island of
the sea. He asked his pilot if he knew what castle it was.

"Certes," saith he, "Not I, for so far have we run that I know not
neither the sea nor the stars."

They come nigh the castle, and saw four that sounded bells at the four
corners of the town, right sweetly, and they that sounded them were
clad in white garments. They are come thither.

II.

So soon as the ship had taken haven under the castle, the sea
withdraweth itself back, so that the ship is left on dry land. None
were therein save Perceval, his horse, and the pilot. They issued
forth of the ship and went by the side of the sea toward the castle,
and therein were the fairest halls and the fairest mansions that any
might see ever. He Looketh underneath a tree that was tall and broad
and seeth the fairest fountain and the clearest that any may devise,
and it was