When the Gold Knight saw this amazing creature basking in the sun at the mouth of the cave he gaped in wonder – all the more when he saw, gathered around the beast, all kinds of animals who were normally mortal enemies, just sitting there peacefully gazing at it: dogs and stags and boars and several foul and venomous creatures. Birds, too, were perched on little shrubby trees and gazing down, among them the lark and the sparrowhawk, sitting calmly side by side, along with all kinds of other mutually hostile birds. The knight stared in amazement, longing to know what it all could mean and what this weird gathering of beasts could portend. He readied his lance and shield and rode forward, entranced by the sight of the beast's beautiful neck. And he passed through the crowd of creatures as calmly as through a flock of sheep: even if he'd struck or wounded them they wouldn't have bitten back, so intent were they upon gazing at the beast.

Perceforest Book 3