ore than he ought to be; with that
he beheld the gentlewoman, and him thought she was the fairest creature
that ever he saw. And then Sir Percivale proffered her love, and prayed
her that she would be his. Then she refused him, in a manner, when he
required her, for the cause he should be the more ardent on her, and
ever he ceased not to pray her of love. And when she saw him well
enchafed, then she said: Sir Percivale, wit you well I shall not fulfil
your will but if ye swear from henceforth ye shall be my true servant,
and to do nothing but that I shall command you. Will ye ensure me this
as ye be a true knight? Yea, said he, fair lady, by the faith of my
body. Well, said she, now shall ye do with me whatso it please you; and
now wit ye well ye are the knight in the world that I have most desire
to.

And then two squires were commanded to make a bed in midst of the
pavilion. And anon she was unclothed and laid therein. And then Sir
Percivale laid him down by her naked; and by adventure and grace he saw
his sword lie on the ground naked, in whose pommel was a red cross and
the sign of the crucifix therein, and bethought him on his knighthood
and his promise made to-forehand unto the good man; then he made a
sign of the cross in his forehead, and therewith the pavilion turned
up-so-down, and then it changed unto a smoke, and a black cloud, and
then he was adread and cried aloud:

CHAPTER X. How Sir Percivale for penance rove himself through the thigh;
and how she was known for the devil.

FAIR sweet Father, Jesu Christ, ne let me not be shamed, the which was
nigh lost had not thy good grace been. And then he looked into a ship,
and saw her enter therein, which said: Sir Percivale, ye have betrayed
me. And so she went with the wind roaring and yelling, that it seemed
all the water brent after her. Then Sir Percivale made great sorrow,
and drew his sword unto him, saying: Sithen my flesh will be my master
I shall punish it; and therewith he rove himself through the thigh
that the blood stert about him, and said: O good Lord, take this in
recompensation of that I have done against thee, my Lord. So then he
clothed him and armed him, and called himself a wretch, saying: How nigh
was I lost, and to have lost that I should never have gotten again, that
was my virginity, for that may never be recovered after it is once lost.
And then he stopped his bleeding wound with a piece of his shirt.

Thus as he made his moan h