"Sir Percivale," she said, "my lord salutes you, and sends a warning to you to make ready, for to-morrow you will have to fight with the strongest champion in the world. And if overcome you will be shamed to the world's end."
"Who is your lord?" he asked.
"The greatest lord in all the world," she said; and then suddenly vanished.
Then came the lady upon the serpent, and said,—
"Sir Percivale, I have done you no harm, and yet you have worked me injury."
"What have I done? I have been always heedful to offend no lady."
"I have long nourished here a great serpent, and yesterday you killed it for seeking its prey. Why did you this? The lion was not in your care."
"I aided the lion because it was a nobler beast than the serpent. In that I did nothing against you."
"You did me a great wrong, and in return for this injury I demand that you become my man."
"That shall I never be," he answered.