The Knight of the Dragon saw Perceval advancing all alone, and was filled with contempt for him. He did not deign to take up his lance, but came straight at him with his sword drawn: huge it was, and red as coal. Perceval saw him coming and charged towards him, lance lowered, as fast as his horse could go; he aimed to strike him full in the chest with his lance, but the knight thrust out his shield against it, and the flame that burst out from the dragon's head burned the lance right down to his fist; the knight went to deal him a blow on the head with his sword, but Perceval covered himself with his shield, in which he had great faith, and the sword of the demon knight could do it no harm. Josephus tells us that Joseph of Arimathea had sealed some of Our Saviour's blood and clothing in the boss. When the knight saw that he had damaged neither Perceval nor his shield, he was filled with shame, for never before had he struck a knight without giving him a mortal blow. He turned the dragon's head towards Perceval's shield, aiming to burn it and set it on fire, but the flame that burst from the dragon's head was blown back as though by a wind and could not reach Perceval.

Perlesvaus