Perse


Dame Perse was an early love of Sir Hector of the Fens and daughter of the Lord of the Narrow Borderland.

When Hector was late returning to her (since he was out searching for Lancelot), her dying father gave her, against her will, to Zelotes.

Zelotes, however, neither married her nor permitted anoyone else to marry her, but fought and killed all who approached his castle. At last Hector and his companions came by. Hector fought and killed Zelotes and was reunited with Perse. (He had found another love in the interval, but she was now dead.)

Sir Lionel, seeing Perse with Hector, remarked that a woman’s heart was a marvelous thing, since neither misfortune nor suffering could change its purpose.


Source
Vulgate Lancelot | 1215-1230