When he awoke he found that his wound had been dressed and the bleeding stopped. Beside him sat the good man, who asked him,—
"How hast thou done since I departed?"
"Weakly and wickedly enough," he answered. "A witch beguiled me, and I nearly fell a victim to her wiles."
"Knew you her not?"
"Only that I deem the foul fiend sent her here to shame me."
"Worse than that, good knight. Your victory is greater than you deem. That seeming woman who deceived you was no less an adversary than the master-fiend of hell, who has power over all the lesser devils, and, had you yielded you had been lost forever. For this is the mighty champion against whom you were forwarned; he who was once the brightest angel of heaven, and was driven out by our Lord Christ for his sins, and thus lost his heritage. But that the grace of God was on your side you would have fallen before this champion of evil. Take this, Sir Percivale, as a warning and an example."
With these words the good man vanished away. Then the mariners carried the wounded knight on board their ship, and set sail, bearing him rapidly away from that scene of temptation and victory.