So Sir Percival stood and gazed at that lady with a pleasure beyond words to express, and he wist that this must be the Lady Blanchefleur, for whose sake he had come thither.

And the Lady Blanchefleur looked upon Sir Percival with great kindness, for he appeared to her like to a hero for strength and beauty; wherefore she smiled upon Sir Percival very graciously and came forward and gave him her hand.  And Sir Percival took her hand and set it to his lips; and lo! her hand was as soft as silk and very warm, rosy and fragrant, and the fingers thereof glistered with bright golden rings and with gems of divers colors.

Then that beautiful Lady Blanchefleur said:  “Messire, this is a very knightly thing for you to do to come hither to this place.  And you come in good time, for food groweth very scarce with us so that in a little while we must face starvation.  For because of the watch that Sir Clamadius keepeth upon this place, no one can either enter in or go out.  Yea, thou art the very first one who hath come hither since he has sat down before Beaurepaire.”

[Sidenote:  The Lady Blanchefleur telleth her sorrows to Sir Percival] Then presently she ceased smiling and her face clouded over; then bright tears began to drop from the Lady Blanchefleur’s eyes; and then she said:  “I fear me greatly that Sir Clamadius will at last seize upon this castle, for he hath kept us here prisoner for a long while.  Yet though he seize the castle, he shall never seize that which the castle contains.  For I keep by me a little casket of silver, and therein is a dagger, very sharp and fine.  Therefore the day that Sir Clamadius enters into this castle, I shall thrust that dagger into my heart.  For, though Sir Clamadius may seize upon my castle, he shall never possess my soul.”

Then Sir Percival was very sorry for the tears he saw shining upon the Lady Blanchefleur’s face, wherefore he said:  “Lady, I have great hopes that this affair may never reach to that woful extremity thou speakest of.”  The Lady Blanchefleur said:  “I hope not also.”  And therewith she wiped away her tears and smiled again.  Then she said:  “See, Sir Percival, the evening has come and it is time to sit at supper, now I beseech thee for to come to table with me, for though we have but little to eat here, yet I assure thee that thou art very welcome to the best that we have.”

So therewith Lady Blanchefleur led Sir Percival to the table, and they sat down to such feast as could be had at that place of starvation.  For what they had was little enough, being only such fish as they could catch from the lake, and a little bread—­but not much—­and a very little wine.

[Sidenote:  The Lady sings to Sir Percival] Then after they had eaten and drunk what they had, the Lady Blanchefleur took a golden harp into her hand and played thereon, and sang in a voice so clear and high and beautiful that Percival was altogether enchanted and bewitched thereat.