The Elucidation is an anonymous Old French poem of the early 13th century, which was written to serve as a prologue to Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, le Conte du Graal.
[1] Although the Elucidation was conceived as a prologue to Chrétien de Troyes' unfinished romance Perceval, le Conte du Graal, it is in many ways a significant departure from it, even to the extent of offering contradictory material.
The second part (lines 29–98) recounts that the Maidens of the Well used to serve food and drink to every visitor until King Amangon raped them and took off with their golden cups.
As in Chrétien's poem, Perceval begins his career at Arthur's court as an unseasoned youth who through his deeds and behaviour, ultimately proves himself a laudable knight.
In the fifth part, which occurs within the fourth section (lines 339–382), the speaker adds that the castle was discovered only seven times in the course of history and that seven "guards" will provide the individual narratives.