ay: In such a manner entered the Son of God in the
womb of a maid Mary, whose virginity ne was perished ne hurt. And when
they heard these words they fell down to the earth and were astonied;
and therewith was a great clearness.

And when they were come to theirself again they went to the good man and
prayed him that he would say them truth. What thing have ye seen? said
he. And they told him all that they had seen. Ah lords, said he, ye be
welcome; now wot I well ye be the good knights the which shall bring the
Sangreal to an end; for ye be they unto whom Our Lord shall shew great
secrets. And well ought Our Lord be signified to an hart, for the hart
when he is old he waxeth young again in his white skin. Right so cometh
again Our Lord from death to life, for He lost earthly flesh that was
the deadly flesh, which He had taken in the womb of the blessed Virgin
Mary; and for that cause appeared Our Lord as a white hart without spot.
And the four that were with Him is to understand the four evangelists
which set in writing a part of Jesu Christ's deeds that He did sometime
when He was among you an earthly man; for wit ye well never erst ne
might no knight know the truth, for ofttimes or this Our Lord showed
Him unto good men and unto good knights, in likeness of an hart, but I
suppose from henceforth ye shall see no more. And then they joyed much,
and dwelled there all that day. And upon the morrow when they had heard
mass they departed and commended the good man to God: and so they came
to a castle and passed by. So there came a knight armed after them and
said: Lords, hark what I shall say to you.

CHAPTER X. How they were desired of a strange custom, the which they
would not obey; wherefore they fought and slew many knights.

THIS gentlewoman that ye lead with you is a maid? Sir, said she, a maid
I am. Then he took her by the bridle and said: By the Holy Cross, ye
shall not escape me to-fore ye have yolden the custom of this castle.
Let her go, said Percivale, ye be not wise, for a maid in what place
she cometh is free. So in the meanwhile there came out a ten or twelve
knights armed, out of the castle, and with them came gentlewomen which
held a dish of silver. And then they said: This gentlewoman must yield
us the custom of this castle. Sir, said a knight, what maid passeth
hereby shall give this dish full of blood of her right arm. Blame have
ye, said Galahad, that brought up such customs, and so God me save,