of the castle to meet you. For inside of
this castle is a very pleasant tilt yard, and there is a gallery around
about the tilt yard whence the lords and ladies of this place may view
the contest between you and our knight. Wherefore, I pray you enter and
take no fear, for you will be very well received at this place."

"I give you gramercy," said Sir Percival, "and I find that this is
indeed a very gentle and kindly place whereunto I have come. So I pray
you give me way and I will enter as you desire me to do."

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival entereth the castle of Joyous Isle._]

So anon the portcullis of the castle was raised and the drawbridge was
let fall and thereupon Sir Percival rode forward across the drawbridge
and entered the castle and the courtyard thereof, the iron hoofs of his
horse sounding very loud and noisy upon the stones of the pavement.

Then immediately there came several esquires running to him and asked of
him what was his will and why he had come to that place. Sir Percival
told them what he would have, and that he would have a friendly contest
of arms with the knight of that place; whereunto the esquires said, "It
shall be as you desire."

So two of those esquires ran to find the knight of the castle to tell
him how that a challenger was come to run atilt against him, and
meantime several other esquires led Sir Percival's horse to the tilt
yard of the castle and others still again brought him a cup of fair
spiced wine for his refreshment. Anon the folk of the castle began to
gather in the balcony that overlooked the tilt yard, and Sir Percival,
casting upward his eyes toward those who gathered there, beheld that
that was as fair a court of chivalry as ever had looked down upon any
battle that he had fought in all of his life.

After that, and by and by, there came the knight-champion of the castle,
riding into the farther extremity of the tilt yard, and when Sir
Percival looked upon him it seemed to him that he had hardly ever seen
so noble and haughty a figure as that castle champion presented.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival doeth battle with the champion of Joyous
Isle._]

Then straightway those two knights prepared each himself for the
encounter, and when they were in all ways made ready the marshal of the
lists came forward and proclaimed the conditions of battle--that it was
to be ahorseback or afoot as the knights-contestant chose. After that
proclamation the marshal withdrew a little to on