But Perceval, hearing that it was he who held his cousin prisoner, leapt from the ship straightaway, sword drawn. The serpent saw him and came at him with its jaws gaping, breathing great bursts of fire and flame, but Perceval thrust his sword right through its throat; then he said to the king:

'You can come down now.'

'Sire,' said the maiden to Perceval, 'the king dropped the key to the chain with which a knight is shackled out at sea, and the serpent seized it.'

Perceval slit open its throat and found the key straightaway, hot and burning from the serpent's fire.

Perlesvaus