hes,
and there he knocked at the gate and was let in, and he alighted and was
led unto a chamber, and soon he was unarmed. And there he had right
good cheer all that night; and on the morn he heard his mass, and in the
monastery he found a priest ready at the altar. And on the right side he
saw a pew closed with iron, and behind the altar he saw a rich bed and a
fair, as of cloth of silk and gold.

Then Sir Percivale espied that therein was a man or a woman, for the
visage was covered; then he left off his looking and heard his service.
And when it came to the sacring, he that lay within that parclos dressed
him up, and uncovered his head; and then him beseemed a passing old man,
and he had a crown of gold upon his head, and his shoulders were naked
and unhilled unto his navel. And then Sir Percivale espied his body was
full of great wounds, both on the shoulders, arms, and visage. And ever
he held up his hands against Our Lord's body, and cried: Fair, sweet
Father, Jesu Christ, forget not me. And so he lay down, but always he
was in his prayers and orisons; and him seemed to be of the age of three
hundred winter. And when the mass was done the priest took Our Lord's
body and bare it to the sick king. And when he had used it he did off
his crown, and commanded the crown to be set on the altar.

Then Sir Percivale asked one of the brethren what he was. Sir, said the
good man, ye have heard much of Joseph of Aramathie, how he was sent by
Jesu Christ into this land for to teach and preach the holy Christian
faith; and therefore he suffered many persecutions the which the enemies
of Christ did unto him, and in the city of Sarras he converted a king
whose name was Evelake. And so this king came with Joseph into this
land, and ever he was busy to be thereas the Sangreal was; and on a time
he nighed it so nigh that Our Lord was displeased with him, but ever he
followed it more and more, till God struck him almost blind. Then this
king cried mercy, and said: Fair Lord, let me never die till the good
knight of my blood of the ninth degree be come, that I may see him
openly that he shall enchieve the Sangreal, that I may kiss him.

CHAPTER IV. How Sir Percivale saw many men of arms bearing a dead
knight, and how he fought against them.

WHEN the king thus had made his prayers he heard a voice that said:
Heard be thy prayers, for thou shalt not die till he have kissed thee.
And when that knight shall come the clearness of