as he spoke with the Fisher King, but he felt a sinner indeed since he could not know the truth about the Grail. But he politely and eagerly asked the king to tell him, if he did not mind, where the Grail he had seen was going and who was served from it, and why the lance bled. The king replied at once, saying:

‘My friend, after dinner you shall hear things that will delight you, but I shall not speak about the Grail, nor will you yet know the secret of the lance. You have not fully served the one who will reveal the secrets to you, until the notch in this sword, which seems to have been cut with a chisel, has been repaired and joined by your hands. But listen – I will tell you this: I know of no man in this world who can ever know about these things but you; but make sure you do not lose that prize through sin. And if you do fall into sin and anger God, then confess and repent and abandon sin and do thorough penance. And know this, too, and never doubt it: that if you can return here, it could well be that you’ll repair the notch, and then you could ask about the Grail and the lance; and truly then, you may be sure, you would know the profound truth, the secrets and the divine mystery.’

Perceval sighed, and wondered what sin or offence prevented him from learning the secrets of the Grail; but the king would reveal no more, except that he made him realise that it was a dire sin he had committed towards his mother when she had fallen dead at the foot of the bridge outside the gate on the day when he had left her. And he said that until he had atoned for that sin, and others, the secrets of the Grail would not be told or revealed to him. Then four servants opened the door of a chamber and carried the king away to his bed; others removed the table and whatever there was to be cleared.