With the object of finding Galahad and overcoming him for his own greater glory, Percival asks an old recluse about Galahad's whereabouts. The recluse, Percival's aunt, tells him that his mother is dead from sorrow at his abandoning her for the fellowship of the Round Table and that the Round Table was created by Merlin as a symbol of the World, a place of false security which can lead to overweening pride. By Merlin's prophecy, only three Round Table Knights shall achieve the Grail Quest — two virgin knights and one who is chaste; and the best of these is Galahad.
Percival repents his proud wish to beat Galahad for glory, and his aunt tells him the way. Riding on, he comes upon a wounded knight four hundred years old, Sir Evelake, or Mordrayns, who in the days of Joseph of Aramathy, asked God that he not be allowed to die until he had seen the knight who would achieve the Grail Quest. The Lord granted Evelake's wish and promised that when Sir Evelake saw the Grail knight he would at last be healed.
Percival goes to find Galahad for him but is attacked by twenty knights who manage to kill his horse before Galahad saves Percival's life. Galahad then rides away again, still insisting on pursuing the quest alone. Percival walks in the forest, gets the gift of a hackney from a distressed squire, meets with a man on a black horse who kills the hackney and scornfully rides off.
