Percivale

Percivale's origins are bound up with the theme of prophetic lineage. Merlin foretells his future service to Arthur, noting that there "liveth not a bigger knight than he is one, and he shall hereafter do you right good service" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book I, Ch. XXIV). His connection to the Sangreal tradition is foreshadowed early: "Sir Percivale's sister helped that lady with her blood, whereof she was dead" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book II, Ch. XIII).

Percivale's early career establishes his lineage and election. He encounters Sir Carados in tournament, where "either brake their spears unto their hands" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VII, Ch. XXVIII). His identity is announced as "Percivale de Galis" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Ch. XXIII), and his elevation comes through miraculous intervention: a mute maiden "came straight into the hall, and went unto Sir Percivale, and took him by the hand and said aloud, that the king and all the knights might hear it: Arise, Sir Percivale, the noble knight and God's knight, and go with me" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Ch. XXIII). The court then "made great joy of Sir Percivale" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Ch. XXIII). His early exploits include delivering Sir Tristram from prison, declaring "in this country I may not tarry, for I must needs into Wales" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Ch. LI), and riding with Sir Palomides and Sir Bleoberis (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Ch. LIII-LIV).

After Launcelot's madness, Percivale joins the search for him alongside his brother Sir Aglovale (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XI, Ch. X-XI). He departs secretly from his brother and encounters various adventures (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XI, Ch. XII), before meeting Sir Ector and fighting him nearly to death -- both are healed by "the coming of the holy vessel of Sangreal" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XI, Ch. XIII-XIV). At the Joyous Isle, Percivale and Ector find Launcelot and bring him back to court (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XII, Ch. VII, X).

The Grail quest dominates Percivale's later narrative. He attempts to draw the sword from the stone but fails, recognising Galahad's superiority (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIII, Ch. III). Galahad smites him and Launcelot down when they meet in the forest (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIII, Ch. XVII). His own quest begins with a visit to a recluse who reveals she is his aunt, and who explains the significance of the Round Table, the Siege Perilous, and the Grail (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIV, Ch. I-II). He encounters King Evelake in a monastery (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIV, Ch. III), fights against many men of arms bearing a dead knight (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIV, Ch. IV), and faces a series of spiritual trials including a fiendish horse that plunges into a river (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIV, Ch. V-VI), a vision of a lion and a serpent (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIV, Ch. VII), a temptress aboard a ship (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIV, Ch. VIII-IX), and finally "rove himself through the thigh" in penance when he recognises the devil's work (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIV, Ch. X).

In the final movement of the Grail quest, Percivale joins Galahad and Bors aboard the Ship of Solomon (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. II-IV). They discover the marvels of the sword and scabbard (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. IV) and hear the tale of King Solomon and his wife (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. VII). At a castle, they fight and slay their adversaries (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. VIII), and encounter a hart and four lions in the forest (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. IX). A strange custom is demanded of them, which they refuse (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. X). His sister bleeds "a dish full of blood" to heal a sick lady and dies in the process (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. XI), and her body is placed in a ship (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. XII-XIII). The three companions reach the Castle of Carbonek, where "Galahad and his fellows were fed of the Holy Sangreal" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. XIX-XX). After Galahad anoints the Maimed King and departs (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. XXI), Percivale remains in a hermitage where he too dies (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVII, Ch. XXIII).