nto the night, so that it was past midnight
when they parted company to seek their repose. And as they said good
night to their mother, Sir Percival said: "Before the dawn of day
cometh, dear mother, I must depart upon my journey once more." And Sir
Lamorack said: "Is it so? Then I must depart with thee, my brother, for
to keep thee company." At that the lady prioress fell to weeping, and
still weeping she kissed them both and prayed that God might shield them
both from sin and sorrow; and so they parted for the night.

So it befell that upon the first breaking of the morn, they two took
horse and departed from that place. And when the lady prioress awoke,
they were far upon their way. Then when the lady, their mother, found
them gone, she cried out, "Alas! who would be a mother to suffer such
partings as these!"

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival and Sir Lamorack depart from the Priory._]

Now after Sir Lamorack and Sir Percival had left the Priory of St.
Bridget's in that wise, they rode side by side through the dawning of
the day, what time a thin, cool mist like to a veil of silver lay all
about the meadow-lands; what time everywhere the birds were singing
their pretty matins with great joy; what time the leaves of the trees
rustled with the first breath of the coming day. Anon the sky grew
bright like to shining silver, very clear and remote, and then anon
uprose the glorious sun and sent his beams across the meadow-land and
wold.

Then Sir Percival and Sir Lamorack drew rein and dismounted each from
his steed. Each turned his horse to grass and then each opened his
wallet and broke his fast, quenching his thirst at a forest fountain
that burst out of a cleft rock near by, as clear as crystal and as cold
as ice.

After that they had thus refreshed themselves they took horse again and
once more travelled onward as before.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival and Sir Lamorack hear a voice lamenting._]

Now about the middle of the day, they being then journeying in a leafy
woodland, they became aware of a sound of lamentation in a part of the
forest and they wist that there was in that place some one who was in
distress. So with one accord they followed that sound of lamentation a
little to one side, and away from the path, and so, by and by, they came
to a certain open glade of the woodlands where they perceived the figure
of a knight stretched out upon the ground. And that knight was covered
with blood and his armor was cleft a