enough to slay one man. Perceval entered all armed into a
great hall, and found it filled all around with a great throng of folk
that was right foul to look on. He that was called the Black Hermit
was full tall and Seemed to be of noble lordship, and he was in the
midst of the hall, all armed.

"Sir," say his men, "And you have not defence of yourself, never no
counsel nor aid may you have of us!"

XXII.

"We are yours to guard, to protect, and oftentimes have we defended
you; now defend us in this sore need."

The Black Hermit sate upon a tall black horse, and was right richly
armed. So soon as Perceval espieth him, he cometh with such a rush
against him that he maketh all the hall resound, and the Black Hermit
cometh in like sort. They mell together with such force that the Black
Hermit breaketh his spear upon Perceval, but Perceval smiteth him so
passing stoutly on the left side upon the shield, that he beareth him
to the ground beside his horse, so that in the fall he made he
to-frushed two of the great ribs in the overturn. And when they that
were therein saw him fall, they opened the trap-door of a great pit
that was in the midst of the hall. So soon as they had opened it, the
foulest stench that any smelt ever issued thereout. They take their
lord and cast him into this abysm and this filth. After that, they
come to Perceval, and so yield the castle and put them at his mercy in
everything. Thereupon, behold you, the Damsel of the Car that cometh.
They deliver up to her the heads sealed in gold, both the head of the
King and of the Queen, and she departeth forthwith, for well knoweth
she that Perceval will achieve that he hath to do without her. She
departeth from the castle and goeth the speediest she may toward the
Valleys of Camelot. And all they of the castle that had been the Black
Hermit's are obedient to Perceval to do his will, and they have him in
covenant that never more shall knights be harassed there in such sort
as they had been theretofore, but rather that they should receive
gladly any knights that should pass that way, like as in other places.
Perceval departed from the castle rejoicing for that he had drawn them
to the believe of Our Lord, and every day was His service done therein
in holy wise, like as it is done in other places.

XXIII.

Hereof ought the good knight to be loved that by the goodness of his
heart and the loyalty of his knighthood hath achieved all the empris