nd Sir Galahad
followed; but Sir Percivale had no horse and was forced to stay
behind. Then his eyes were opened, and he knew it was Sir Galahad who
had come to his help, and he sat down under a tree and grieved sore.

While he was sitting there a Knight passed by riding a black horse,
and when he was out of sight a yeoman came pricking after as fast as
he might, and, seeing Sir Percivale, asked if he had seen a Knight
mounted on a black horse. 'Yes, Sir, forsooth,' answered Sir
Percivale, 'why do you want to know?' 'Ah, Sir, that is my steed which
he has taken from me, and wherever my lord shall find me, he is sure
to slay me.' 'Well,' said Sir Percivale, 'thou seest that I am on
foot, but had I a good horse I would soon come up with him.' 'Take my
hackney,' said the yeoman, 'and do the best you can, and I shall
follow you on foot to watch how you speed.' So Sir Percivale rode as
fast as he might, and at last he saw that Knight, and he hailed him.
The Knight turned and set his spear against Sir Percivale, and smote
the hackney in the breast, so that he fell dead to the earth, and Sir
Percivale fell with him; then the Knight rode away. But Sir Percivale
was mad with wrath, and cried to the Knight to return and fight with
him on foot, and the Knight answered not and went on his way. When
Sir Percivale saw that he would not turn, he threw himself on the
ground, and cast away his helm and sword, and bemoaned himself for the
most unhappy of all Knights; and there he abode the whole day, and,
being faint and weary, slept till it was midnight. And at midnight he
waked and saw before him a woman, who said to him right fiercely, 'Sir
Percivale, what doest thou here?' 'Neither good nor great ill,'
answered he. 'If thou wilt promise to do my will when I call upon
you,' said she, 'I will lend you my own horse, and he shall bear thee
whither thou shalt choose.' This Sir Percivale promised gladly, and
the woman went and returned with a black horse, so large and
well-apparelled that Sir Percivale marvelled. But he mounted him
gladly, and drove in his spurs, and within an hour and less the horse
bare him four days' journey hence, and would have borne him into a
rough water that roared, had not Sir Percivale pulled at his bridle.
The Knight stood doubting, for the water made a great noise, and he
feared lest his horse could not get through it. Still, wishing greatly
to pass over, he made himself ready, and signed the sign of the cross