‘Thus I fell into despair and, brooding on this, heard a voice that said to me—but I know now it was the devil who wanted to entrap me—‘You can expect the same for yourself as for your brother, or worse. And this will be the reward you’ll
have for your labor. ’
“As soon as I heard this, I said in anger, ‘Ah, wretch! I am deceived in the life I’ve led so long. I’ve used my labors poorly; I’ll never again3 exercise myself to serve God, since I see the reward is like this.’

“Then I was so beside myself and so wrathful that I planned to kill myself with my own hands. At once I took this rope and put it around my neck, as you see, and I thought I’d hang myself from that beam you see there, so that I’d heal all my hurts with one stroke. Thus I prepared my death, as I’ve told you and as the demon had me do; but it seems to me that it didn’t please Our Lord for me to die such a dishonorable death. Rather he wanted to help me by your coming, whence such a miracle happened that, as soon as you came through the door and crossed yourself, the demon left me—as near to death as I have
told you—for he had no power to endure the holy sign made by the hand of such a holy man as you. At once I returned to my right mind and recognized how the devil had wanted to make me lose body and soul. I know truly that I was delivered by your coming, and I thank Our Lord for it. Indeed, if you weren’t a holy man, leading a holy life and filled with the grace of Our Lord, such a beautiful adventure would never have taken place through you. For that reason I asked you for your blessing, as soon as you entered, for I know you and your goodness much better than you yourself.”

Perceval did not know what to reply to this, as he desired no earthly praise; nevertheless, he said to him, “Our Lord has kept you from such a great sin; thanks be given to Him alone, for I certainly tell you that this didn’t come about through me but through Him who made you and didn’t want to lose you.”

Post-Vulgate Quest for the Holy Grail