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Title: The Mabinogion

Translator: Lady Charlotte Guest

Release Date: February, 2004  [EBook #5160]
[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
[This file was first posted on May 22, 2002]
[Most recently updated: May 22, 2002]

Edition: 10

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MABINOGION ***




Transcribed from the 1849 edition text by David Price, email
ccx074@coventry.ac.uk




THE MABINOGION
TRANSLATED BY LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST




Contents:
   Introduction
   The Lady of the Fountain
   Peredur the Son of Evrawc
   Geraint the son of Erbin
   Kilhwch and Olwen
   The dream of Rhonabwy
   Pwyll Prince of Dyved
   Branwen the daughter of Llyr
   Manawyddan the son of Llyr
   Math the son of Mathonwy
   The dream of Maxen Wledig
   The story of Lludd and Llevelys
   Taliesin



INTRODUCTION



Whilst engaged on the Translations contained in these volumes, and on
the Notes appended to the various Tales, I have found myself led
unavoidably into a much more extensive course of reading than I had
originally contemplated, and one which in great measure bears
directly upon the earlier Mediaeval Romance.

Before commencing these labours, I was aware, generally, that there
existed a connexion between the Welsh Mabinogion and the Romance of
the Continent; but as I advanced, I became better acquainted with the
closeness and extent of that connexion, its history, and the proofs
by which it is supported.

At the same time, indeed, I became aware, and still strongly feel,
that it is one thing to collect facts, and quite another to classify
and draw from them their legitimate conclusions; and though I am loth
that what has been collected with some pains, should be entirely
thrown away, it is unwillingly, and with diffidence, that I trespass
beyond the acknowledged province of a translator.

In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there arose into general
notoriety in Europe, a body of "Romance," which in various forms
retained its popularity till the Reformation.  In it the plot, the
incidents, the characters, were almost wholly those of Chivalry, that
bond which united the warriors of France, Spain, and Italy, with
those of pure Teutonic descent, and embraced more or less firmly all
the nations of Europe, excepting only the Slavonic races, not yet
risen to power, and the Celts, who had fallen from it.  It is not
difficult to account for this latter omission.  The Celts, driven
from the plains into the mountains and islands, preserved their
liberty, and hated their oppressors with fierce, and not causeless,
hatred.  A proud and free people, isolated both in country and
language, were not likely to adopt customs which implied brotherhood
with their foes.

Such being the case, it is remarkable that when the chief romances
are examined, the name of many of the heroes and their scenes of
action are found to be Celtic, and those of persons and places famous
in the traditions of Wales and Brittany.  Of this the romances of
Ywaine and Gawaine, Sir Perceval de Galles, Eric and Enide, Mort
d'Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristan, the Graal, &c., may be cited as
examples.  In some cases a tendency to triads, and other matters of
internal evidence, point in the same direction.

It may seem difficult to account for this.  Although the ancient
dominion of the Celts over Europe is not without enduring evidence in
the names of the mountains and streams, the great features of a
country, yet the loss of their prior language by the great mass of
the Celtic nations in Southern Europe (if indeed their successors in
territory be at all of their blood), prevents us from clearly seeing,
and makes us wonder, how stories, originally embodied in the Celtic
dialects of Great Britain and France, could so influence the
literature of nations to whom the Celtic languages were utterly
unknown.  Whence then came these internal marks, and these proper
names of persons and places, the features of a story usually of
earliest date and least likely to change?

These romances were found in England, France, Germany, Norway,
Sweden, and even Iceland, as early as the beginning of the thirteenth
and end of the twelfth century.  The Germans, who propagated them
through the nations of the North, derived them certainly from France.
Robert Wace published his Anglo-Norman Romance of the Brut
d'Angleterre about 1155.  Sir Tristan was written in French prose in
1170; and The Chevalier au Lion, Chevalier de l'Epee, and Sir
Lancelot du Lac, in metrical French, by Chrestien de Troyes, before
1200.

From these facts it is to be argued that the further back these
romances are traced, the more clearly does it appear that they spread
over the Continent from the North-west of France.  The older
versions, it may be remarked, are far more simple than the later
corruptions.  In them there is less allusion to the habits and usages
of Chivalry, and the Welsh names and elements stand out in stronger
relief.  It is a great step to be able to trace the stocks of these
romances back to Wace, or to his country and age.  For Wace's work
was not original.  He himself, a native of Jersey, appears to have
derived much of it from the "Historia Britonum" of Gruffydd ab
Arthur, commonly known as "Geoffrey of Monmouth," born 1128, who
himself professes to have translated from a British original.  It is,
however, very possible that Wace may have had access, like Geoffrey,
to independent sources of information.

To the claims set up on behalf of Wace and Geoffrey, to be regarded
as the channels by which the Cymric tales passed into the Continental
Romance, may be added those of a third almost contemporary author.
Layamon, a Saxon priest, dwelling, about 1200, upon the banks of the
upper Severn, acknowledges for the source of his British history, the
English Bede, the Latin Albin, and the French Wace.  The last-named
however is by very much his chief, and, for Welsh matters, his only
avowed authority.  His book, nevertheless, contains a number of names
and stories relating to Wales, of which no traces appear in Wace, or
indeed in Geoffrey, but which he was certainly in a very favourable
position to obtain for himself.  Layamon, therefore, not only
confirms Geoffrey in some points, but it is clear, that, professing
to follow Wace, he had independent access to the great body of Welsh
literature then current.  Sir F. Madden has put this matter very
clearly, in his recent edition of Layamon.  The Abbe de la Rue, also,
was of opinion that Gaimar, an Anglo-Norman, in the reign of Stephen,
usually regarded as a translator of Geoffrey of Monmouth, had access
to a Welsh independent authority.

In addition to these, is to be mentioned the English version of Sir
Tristrem, which Sir Walter Scott considered to be derived from a
distinct Celtic source, and not, like the later Amadis, Palmerin, and
Lord Berners's Canon of Romance, imported into English literature by
translation from the French.  For the Auntours of Arthur, recently
published by the Camden Society, their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to
hint at a similar claim.

Here then are various known channels, by which portions of Welsh and
Armoric fiction crossed the Celtic border, and gave rise to the more
ornate, and widely-spread romance of the Age of Chivalry.  It is not
improbable that there may have existed many others.  It appears then
that a large portion of the stocks of Mediaeval Romance proceeded
from Wales.  We have next to see in what condition they are still
found in that country.

That Wales possessed an ancient literature, containing various lyric
compositions, and certain triads, in which are arranged historical
facts or moral aphorisms, has been shown by Sharon Turner, who has
established the high antiquity of many of these compositions.

The more strictly Romantic Literature of Wales has been less
fortunate, though not less deserving of critical attention.  Small
portions only of it have hitherto appeared in print, the remainder
being still hidden in the obscurity of ancient Manuscripts:  of these
the chief is supposed to be the Red Book of Hergest, now in the
Library of Jesus College, Oxford, and of the fourteenth century.
This contains, besides poems, the prose romances known as Mabinogion.
The Black Book of Caermarthen, preserved at Hengwrt, and considered
not to be of later date than the twelfth century, is said to contain
poems only. {1}

The Mabinogion, however, though thus early recorded in the Welsh
tongue, are in their existing form by no means wholly Welsh.  They
are of two tolerably distinct classes.  Of these, the older contains
few allusions to Norman customs, manners, arts, arms, and luxuries.
The other, and less ancient, are full of such allusions, and of
ecclesiastical terms.  Both classes, no doubt, are equally of Welsh
root, but the former are not more overlaid or corrupted, than might
have been expected, from the communication that so early took place
between the Normans and the Welsh; whereas the latter probably
migrated from Wales, and were brought back and re-translated after an
absence of centuries, with a load of Norman additions.  Kilhwch and
Olwen, and the dream of Rhonabwy, may be cited as examples of the
older and purer class; the Lady of the Fountain, Peredur, and Geraint
ab Erbin, of the later, or decorated.

Besides these, indeed, there are a few tales, as Amlyn and Amic, Sir
Bevis of Hamtoun, the Seven Wise Masters, and the story of
Charlemagne, so obviously of foreign extraction, and of late
introduction into Wales, not presenting even a Welsh name, or
allusion, and of such very slender intrinsic merit, that although
comprised in the Llyvr Coch, they have not a shadow of claim to form
part of the Canon of Welsh Romance.  Therefore, although I have
translated and examined them, I have given them no place in these
volumes.

There is one argument in favour of the high antiquity in Wales of
many of the Mabinogion, which deserves to be mentioned here.  This
argument is founded on the topography of the country.  It is found
that Saxon names of places are very frequently definitions of the
nature of the locality to which they are attached, as Clifton,
Deepden, Bridge-ford, Thorpe, Ham, Wick, and the like; whereas those
of Wales are more frequently commemorative of some event, real or
supposed, said to have happened on or near the spot, or bearing
allusion to some person renowned in the story of the country or
district.  Such are "Llyn y Morwynion," the Lake of the Maidens;
"Rhyd y Bedd," the Ford of the Grave; "Bryn Cyfergyr," the Hill of
Assault; and so on.  But as these names could not have preceded the
events to which they refer, the events themselves must be not
unfrequently as old as the early settlement in the country.  And as
some of these events and fictions are the subjects of, and are
explained by, existing Welsh legends, it follows that the legends
must be, in some shape or other, of very remote antiquity.  It will
be observed that this argument supports REMOTE antiquity only for
such legends as are connected with the greater topographical
features, as mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, which must have been
named at an early period in the inhabitation of the country by man.
But there exist, also, legends connected with the lesser features, as
pools, hills, detached rocks, caves, fords, and the like, places not
necessarily named by the earlier settlers, but the names of which
are, nevertheless, probably very old, since the words of which they
are composed are in many cases not retained in the colloquial tongue,
in which they must once have been included, and are in some instances
lost from the language altogether, so much so as to be only partially
explicable even by scholars.  The argument applies likewise, in their
degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial earth-works.

Conclusions thus drawn, when established, rest upon a very firm
basis.  They depend upon the number and appositeness of the facts,
and it would be very interesting to pursue this branch of evidence in
detail.  In following up this idea, the names to be sought for might
thus be classed:-

I.  Names of the great features, involving proper names and actions.

Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur both involve more than a mere name.
Idris and Arthur must have been invested with heroic qualifications
to have been placed in such "seats."

II.  Names of lesser features, as "Bryn y Saeth," Hill of the Dart;
"Llyn Llyngclys," Lake of the Engulphed Court; "Ceven y Bedd," the
Ridge of the Grave; "Rhyd y Saeson," the Saxons' Ford.

III.  Names of mixed natural and artificial objects, as "Coeten
Arthur," Arthur's Coit; "Cerrig y Drudion," the Crag of the Heroes;
which involve actions.  And such as embody proper names only, as
"Cerrig Howell," the Crag of Howell; "Caer Arianrod," the Camp of
Arianrod; "Bron Goronwy," the Breast (of the Hill) of Goronwy;
"Castell mab Wynion," the Castle of the son of Wynion; "Nant
Gwrtheyrn," the Rill of Vortigern.

The selection of names would demand much care and discretion.  The
translations should be indisputable, and, where known, the connexion
of a name with a legend should be noted.  Such a name as "Mochdrev,"
Swine-town, would be valueless unless accompanied by a legend.

It is always valuable to find a place or work called after an
individual, because it may help to support some tradition of his
existence or his actions.  But it is requisite that care be taken not
to push the etymological dissection too far.  Thus, "Caer Arianrod"
should be taken simply as the "Camp of Arianrod," and not rendered
the "Camp of the silver circle," because the latter, though it might
possibly have something to do with the reason for which the name was
borne by Arianrod herself, had clearly no reference to its
application to her camp.

It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has been advanced:-

I.  That we have throughout Europe, at an early period, a great body
of literature, known as Mediaeval Romance, which, amidst much that is
wholly of Teutonic origin and character, includes certain well-marked
traces of an older Celtic nucleus.

II.  Proceeding backwards in time, we find these romances, their
ornaments falling away at each step, existing towards the twelfth
century, of simpler structure, and with less encumbered Celtic
features, in the works of Wace, and other Bards of the Langue d'Oil.

III.  We find that Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, and other early
British and Anglo-Saxon historians, and minstrels, on the one hand,
transmitted to Europe the rudiments of its after romance, much of
which, on the other hand, they drew from Wales.

IV.  Crossing into Wales we find, in the Mabinogion, the evident
counterpart of the Celtic portion of the continental romance, mixed
up, indeed, with various reflex additions from beyond the border, but
still containing ample internal evidence of a Welsh original.

V.  Looking at the connexion between divers of the more ancient
Mabinogion, and the topographical nomenclature of part of the
country, we find evidence of the great, though indefinite, antiquity
of these tales, and of an origin, which, if not indigenous, is
certainly derived from no European nation.

It was with a general belief in some of these conclusions, that I
commenced my labours, and I end them with my impressions strongly
confirmed.  The subject is one not unworthy of the talents of a Llwyd
or a Prichard.  It might, I think, be shown, by pursuing the inquiry,
that the Cymric nation is not only, as Dr. Prichard has proved it to
be, an early offshoot of the Indo-European family, and a people of
unmixed descent, but that when driven out of their conquests by the
later nations, the names and exploits of their heroes, and the
compositions of their bards, spread far and wide among the invaders,
and affected intimately their tastes and literature for many
centuries, and that it has strong claims to be considered the cradle
of European Romance.

C. E. G.
DOWLAIS, August 29th, 1848.



THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN



King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his
chamber; and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son
of Clydno, and Kai the son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her
handmaidens at needlework by the window.  And if it should be said
that there was a porter at Arthur's palace, there was none.  Glewlwyd
Gavaelvawr was there, acting as porter, to welcome guests and
strangers, and to receive them with honour, and to inform them of the
manners and customs of the Court; and to direct those who came to the
Hall or to the presence-chamber, and those who came to take up their
lodging.

In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of green
rushes, over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured satin, and
a cushion of red satin was under his elbow.

Then Arthur spoke, "If I thought you would not disparage me," said
he, "I would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can entertain
one another with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon of mead and
some meat from Kai."  And the King went to sleep.  And Kynon the son
of Clydno asked Kai for that which Arthur had promised them.  "I,
too, will have the good tale which he promised to me," said Kai.
"Nay," answered Kynon, "fairer will it be for thee to fulfill
Arthur's behest, in the first place, and then we will tell thee the
best tale that we know."  So Kai went to the kitchen and to the mead-
cellar, and returned bearing a flagon of mead and a golden goblet,
and a handful of skewers, upon which were broiled collops of meat.
Then they ate the collops and began to drink the mead.  "Now," said
Kai, "it is time for you to give me my story."  "Kynon," said Owain,
"do thou pay to Kai the tale that is his due."  "Truly," said Kynon,
"thou are older, and art a better teller of tales, and hast seen more
marvellous things than I; do thou therefore pay Kai his tale."
"Begin thyself," quoth Owain, "with the best that thou knowest."  "I
will do so," answered Kynon.

"I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly
aspiring, and my daring was very great.  I thought there was no
enterprise in the world too mighty for me, and after I had achieved
all the adventures that were in my own country, I equipped myself,
and set forth to journey through deserts and distant regions.  And at
length it chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world,
wherein were trees of equal growth; and a river ran through the
valley, and a path was by the side of the river.  And I followed the
path until mid-day, and continued my journey along the remainder of
the valley until the evening; and at the extremity of a plain I came
to a large and lustrous Castle, at the foot of which was a torrent.
And I approached the Castle, and there I beheld two youths with
yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and
clad in a garment of yellow satin, and they had gold clasps upon
their insteps.  In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung
with the sinews of the stag; and their arrows had shafts of the bone
of the whale, and were winged with peacock's feathers; the shafts
also had golden heads.  And they had daggers with blades of gold, and
with hilts of the bone of the whale.  And they were shooting their
daggers.

"And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of life, with
his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of yellow satin;
and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace.  On his feet
were shoes of variegated leather, fastened by two bosses of gold.
When I saw him, I went towards him and saluted him, and such was his
courtesy that he no sooner received my greeting than he returned it.
And he went with me towards the Castle.  Now there were no dwellers
in the Castle except those who were in one hall.  And there I saw
four-and-twenty damsels, embroidering satin at a window.  And this I
tell thee, Kai, that the least fair of them was fairer than the
fairest maid thou hast ever beheld in the Island of Britain, and the
least lovely of them was more lovely than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of
Arthur, when she has appeared loveliest at the Offering, on the day
of the Nativity, or at the feast of Easter.  They rose up at my
coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me of my armour;
and six others took my arms, and washed them in a vessel until they
were perfectly bright.  And the third six spread cloths upon the
tables and prepared meat.  And the fourth six took off my soiled
garments, and placed others upon me; namely, an under-vest and a
doublet of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of
yellow satin with a broad gold band upon the mantle.  And they placed
cushions both beneath and around me, with coverings of red linen; and
I sat down.  Now the six maidens who had taken my horse, unharnessed
him, as well as if they had been the best squires in the Island of
Britain.  Then, behold, they brought bowls of silver wherein was
water to wash, and towels of linen, some green and some white; and I
washed.  And in a little while the man sat down to the table.  And I
sat next to him, and below me sat all the maidens, except those who
waited on us.  And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the
table were of linen; and no vessel was served upon the table that was
not either of gold or of silver, or of buffalo-horn.  And our meat
was brought to us.  And verily, Kai, I saw there every sort of meat
and every sort of liquor that I have ever seen elsewhere; but the
meat and the liquor were better served there than I have ever seen
them in any other place.

"Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one of the
damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceived that it
would be more agreeable to me to converse than to eat any more, he
began to inquire of me who I was.  I said I was glad to find that
there was some one who would discourse with me, and that it was not
considered so great a crime at that Court for people to hold converse
together. 'Chieftain,' said the man, 'we would have talked to thee
sooner, but we feared to disturb thee during thy repast; now,
however, we will discourse.'  Then I told the man who I was, and what
was the cause of my journey; and said that I was seeking whether any
one was superior to me, or whether I could gain the mastery over all.
The man looked upon me, and he smiled and said, 'If I did not fear to
distress thee too much, I would show thee that which thou seekest.'
Upon this I became anxious and sorrowful, and when the man perceived
it, he said, 'If thou wouldest rather that I should show thee thy
disadvantage than thine advantage, I will do so.  Sleep here to-
night, and in the morning arise early, and take the road upwards
through the valley until thou reachest the wood through which thou
camest hither.  A little way within the wood thou wilt meet with a
road branching off to the right, by which thou must proceed, until
thou comest to a large sheltered glade with a mound in the centre.
And thou wilt see a black man of great stature on the top of the
mound.  He is not smaller in size than two of the men of this world.
He has but one foot; and one eye in the middle of his forehead.  And
he has a club of iron, and it is certain that there are no two men in
the world who would not find their burden in that club.  And he is
not a comely man, but on the contrary he is exceedingly ill-favoured;
and he is the woodward of that wood.  And thou wilt see a thousand
wild animals grazing around him.  Inquire of him the way out of the
glade, and he will reply to thee briefly, and will point out the road
by which thou shalt find that which thou art in quest of.'

"And long seemed that night to me.  And the next morning I arose and
equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straight through
the valley to the wood; and I followed the cross-road which the man
had pointed out to me, till at length I arrived at the glade.  And
there was I three times more astonished at the number of wild animals
that I beheld, than the man had said I should be.  And the black man
was there, sitting upon the top of the mound.  Huge of stature as the
man had told me that he was, I found him to exceed by far the
description he had given me of him.  As for the iron club which the
man had told me was a burden for two men, I am certain, Kai, that it
would be a heavy weight for four warriors to lift; and this was in
the black man's hand.  And he only spoke to me in answer to my
questions.  Then I asked him what power he held over those animals.
'I will show thee, little man,' said he.  And he took his club in his
hand, and with it he struck a stag a great blow so that he brayed
vehemently, and at his braying the animals came together, as numerous
as the stars in the sky, so that it was difficult for me to find room
in the glade to stand among them.  There were serpents, and dragons,
and divers sorts of animals.  And he looked at them, and bade them go
and feed; and they bowed their heads, and did him homage as vassals
to their lord.

"Then the black man said to me, 'Seest thou now, little man, what
power I hold over these animals?'  Then I inquired of him the way,
and he became very rough in his manner to me; however, he asked me
whither I would go?  And when I told him who I was and what I sought,
he directed me.  'Take,' said he, 'that path that leads towards the
head of the glade, and ascend the wooded steep until thou comest to
its summit; and there thou wilt find an open space like to a large
valley, and in the midst of it a tall tree, whose branches are
greener than the greenest pine-trees.  Under this tree is a fountain,
and by the side of the fountain a marble slab, and on the marble slab
a silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, so that it may not be
carried away.  Take the bowl and throw a bowlful of water upon the
slab, and thou wilt hear a mighty peal of thunder, so that thou wilt
think that heaven and earth are trembling with its fury.  With the
thunder there will come a shower so severe that it will be scarce
possible for thee to endure it and live.  And the shower will be of
hailstones; and after the shower, the weather will become fair, but
every leaf that was upon the tree will have been carried away by the
shower.  Then a flight of birds will come and alight upon the tree;
and in thine own country thou didst never hear a strain so sweet as
that which they will sing.  And at the moment thou art most delighted
with the song of the birds, thou wilt hear a murmuring and
complaining coming towards thee along the valley.  And thou wilt see
a knight upon a coal-black horse, clothed in black velvet, and with a
pennon of black linen upon his lance; and he will ride unto thee to
encounter thee with the utmost speed.  If thou fleest from him he
will overtake thee, and if thou abidest there, as sure as thou art a
mounted knight, he will leave thee on foot.  And if thou dost not
find trouble in that adventure, thou needest not seek it during the
rest of thy life.'

"So I journeyed on, until I reached the summit of the steep, and
there I found everything as the black man had described it to me.
And I went up to the tree, and beneath it I saw the fountain, and by
its side the marble slab, and the silver bowl fastened by the chain.
Then I took the bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab; and
thereupon, behold, the thunder came, much more violent than the black
man had led me to expect; and after the thunder came the shower; and
of a truth I tell thee, Kai, that there is neither man nor beast that
can endure that shower and live.  For not one of those hailstones
would be stopped, either by the flesh or by the skin, until it had
reached the bone.  I turned my horse's flank towards the shower, and
placed the beak of my shield over his head and neck, while I held the
upper part of it over my own head.  And thus I withstood the shower.
When I looked on the tree there was not a single leaf upon it, and
then the sky became clear, and with that, behold the birds lighted
upon the tree, and sang.  And truly, Kai, I never heard any melody
equal to that, either before or since.  And when I was most charmed
with listening to the birds, lo, a murmuring voice was heard through
the valley, approaching me and saying, 'Oh, Knight, what has brought
thee hither?  What evil have I done to thee, that thou shouldst act
towards me and my possessions as thou hast this day?  Dost thou not
know that the shower to-day has left in my dominions neither man nor
beast alive that was exposed to it?'  And thereupon, behold, a Knight
on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, and with a
tabard of black linen about him.  And we charged each other, and, as
the onset was furious, it was not long before I was overthrown.  Then
the Knight passed the shaft of his lance through the bridle rein of
my horse, and rode off with the two horses, leaving me where I was.
And he did not even bestow so much notice upon me as to imprison me,
nor did he despoil me of my arms.  So I returned along the road by
which I had come.  And when I reached the glade where the black man
was, I confess to thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did not melt down
into a liquid pool, through the shame that I felt at the black man's
derision.  And that night I came to the same castle where I had spent
the night preceding.  And I was more agreeably entertained that night
than I had been the night before; and I was better feasted, and I
conversed freely with the inmates of the castle, and none of them
alluded to my expedition to the fountain, neither did I mention it to
any; and I remained there that night.  When I arose on the morrow, I
found, ready saddled, a dark bay palfrey, with nostrils as red as
scarlet; and after putting on my armour, and leaving there my
blessing, I returned to my own Court.  And that horse I still
possess, and he is in the stable yonder.  And I declare that I would
not part with him for the best palfrey in the Island of Britain.

"Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to an adventure so
much to his own discredit, and verily it seems strange to me, that
neither before nor since have I heard of any person besides myself
who knew of this adventure, and that the subject of it should exist
within King Arthur's dominions, without any other person lighting
upon it."

"Now," quoth Owain, "would it not be well to go and endeavour to
discover that place?"

"By the hand of my friend," said Kai, "often dost thou utter that
with thy tongue which thou wouldst not make good with thy deeds."

"In very truth," said Gwenhwyvar, "it were better thou wert hanged,
Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech towards a man like Owain."

"By the hand of my friend, good Lady," said Kai, "thy praise of Owain
is not greater than mine."

With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping a
little.

"Yes, Lord," answered Owain, "thou hast slept awhile."

"Is it time for us to go to meat?"

"It is, Lord," said Owain.

Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and all his
household sat down to eat.  And when the meal was ended, Owain
withdrew to his lodging, and made ready his horse and his arms.

On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his armour, and
mounted his charger, and travelled through distant lands and over
desert mountains.  And at length he arrived at the valley which Kynon
had described to him; and he was certain that it was the same that he
sought.  And journeying along the valley by the side of the river, he
followed its course till he came to the plain and within sight of the
Castle.  When he approached the Castle, he saw the youths shooting
their daggers in the place where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow
man, to whom the Castle belonged, standing hard by.  And no sooner
had Owain saluted the yellow man than he was saluted by him in
return.

And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the chamber,
and when he had entered the chamber he beheld the maidens working at
satin embroidery, in chairs of gold.  And their beauty and their
comeliness seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented to
him.  And they rose to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon,
and the meal which they set before him gave more satisfaction to
Owain than it had done to Kynon.

About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the object
of his journey.  And Owain made it known to him, and said, "I am in
quest of the Knight who guards the fountain."  Upon this the yellow
man smiled, and said that he was as loth to point out that adventure
to Owain as he had been to Kynon.  However, he described the whole to
Owain, and they retired to rest.

The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by the
damsels, and he set forward and came to the glade where the black man
was.  And the stature of the black man seemed more wonderful to Owain
than it had done to Kynon, and Owain asked of him his road, and he
showed it to him.  And Owain followed the road, as Kynon had done,
till he came to the green tree; and he beheld the fountain, and the
slab beside the fountain, with the bowl upon it.  And Owain took the
bowl, and threw a bowlful of water upon the slab.  And, lo, the
thunder was heard, and after the thunder came the shower, much more
violent than Kynon had described, and after the shower the sky became
bright.  And when Owain looked at the tree, there was not one leaf
upon it.  And immediately the birds came, and settled upon the tree,
and sang.  And when their song was most pleasing to Owain, he beheld
a Knight coming towards him through the valley, and he prepared to
receive him; and encountered him violently.  Having broken both their
lances, they drew their swords, and fought blade to blade.  Then
Owain struck the Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and
visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until it
wounded the very brain.  Then the black Knight felt that he had
received a mortal wound, upon which he turned his horse's head, and
fled.  And Owain pursued him, and followed close upon him, although
he was not near enough to strike him with his sword.  Thereupon Owain
descried a vast and resplendent Castle.  And they came to the Castle
gate.  And the black Knight was allowed to enter, and the portcullis
was let fall upon Owain; and it struck his horse behind the saddle,
and cut him in two, and carried away the rowels of the spurs that
were upon Owain's heels.  And the portcullis descended to the floor.
And the rowels of the spurs and part of the horse were without, and
Owain with the other part of the horse remained between the two
gates, and the inner gate was closed, so that Owain could not go
thence; and Owain was in a perplexing situation.  And while he was in
this state, he could see through an aperture in the gate, a street
facing him, with a row of houses on each side.  And he beheld a
maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet of gold upon her
head; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin, and on her feet
were shoes of variegated leather.  And she approached the gate, and
desired that it should be opened.  "Heaven knows, Lady," said Owain,
"it is no more possible for me to open to thee from hence, than it is
for thee to set me free."  "Truly," said the damsel, "it is very sad
that thou canst not be released, and every woman ought to succour
thee, for I never saw one more faithful in the service of ladies than
thou.  As a friend thou art the most sincere, and as a lover the most
devoted.  Therefore," quoth she, "whatever is in my power to do for
thy release, I will do it.  Take this ring and put it on thy finger,
with the stone inside thy hand; and close thy hand upon the stone.
And as long as thou concealest it, it will conceal thee.  When they
have consulted together, they will come forth to fetch thee, in order
to put thee to death; and they will be much grieved that they cannot
find thee.  And I will await thee on the horseblock yonder; and thou
wilt be able to see me, though I cannot see thee; therefore come and
place thy hand upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou art near
me.  And by the way that I go hence, do thou accompany me."

Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden had
told him.  And the people of the Castle came to seek Owain, to put
him to death, and when they found nothing but the half of his horse,
they were sorely grieved.

And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, and
placed his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and Owain
followed her, until they came to the door of a large and beautiful
chamber, and the maiden opened it, and they went in, and closed the
door.  And Owain looked around the chamber, and behold there was not
even a single nail in it that was not painted with gorgeous colours;
and there was not a single panel that had not sundry images in gold
portrayed upon it.

The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, and put a
towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain water to wash.
Then she placed before him a silver table, inlaid with gold; upon
which was a cloth of yellow linen; and she brought him food.  And of
a truth, Owain had never seen any kind of meat that was not there in
abundance, but it was better cooked there than he had ever found it
in any other place.  Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of
meat and drink, as there.  And there was not one vessel from which he
was served, that was not of gold or of silver.  And Owain ate and
drank, until late in the afternoon, when lo, they heard a mighty
clamour in the Castle; and Owain asked the maiden what that outcry
was.  "They are administering extreme unction," said she, "to the
Nobleman who owns the Castle."  And Owain went to sleep.

The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was meet for Arthur
himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and satin, and sendal, and fine
linen.  In the middle of the night they heard a woful outcry.  "What
outcry again is this?" said Owain.  "The Nobleman who owned the
Castle is now dead," said the maiden.  And a little after daybreak,
they heard an exceeding loud clamour and wailing.  And Owain asked
the maiden what was the cause of it.  "They are bearing to the church
the body of the Nobleman who owned the Castle."

And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of the
chamber, and looked towards the Castle; and he could see neither the
bounds, nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets.  And
they were fully armed; and a vast number of women were with them,
both on horseback and on foot; and all the ecclesiastics in the city,
singing.  And it seemed to Owain that the sky resounded with the
vehemence of their cries, and with the noise of the trumpets, and
with the singing of the ecclesiastics.  In the midst of the throng,
he beheld the bier, over which was a veil of white linen; and wax
tapers were burning beside and around it, and none that supported the
bier was lower in rank than a powerful Baron.

Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with satin, and silk,
and sendal.  And following the train, he beheld a lady with yellow
hair falling over her shoulders, and stained with blood; and about
her a dress of yellow satin, which was torn.  Upon her feet were
shoes of variegated leather.  And it was a marvel that the ends of
her fingers were not bruised, from the violence with which she smote
her hands together.  Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain
ever saw, had she been in her usual guise.  And her cry was louder
than the shout of the men, or the clamour of the trumpets.  No sooner
had he beheld the lady, than he became inflamed with her love, so
that it took entire possession of him.

Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was.  "Heaven knows,"
replied the maiden, "she may be said to be the fairest, and the most
chaste, and the most liberal, and the wisest, and the most noble of
women.  And she is my mistress; and she is called the Countess of the
Fountain, the wife of him whom thou didst slay yesterday."  "Verily,"
said Owain, "she is the woman that I love best."  "Verily," said the
maiden, "she shall also love thee not a little."

And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a pot
with water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of white
linen, and placed it around Owain's neck; and she took a goblet of
ivory, and a silver basin, and filled them with warm water, wherewith
she washed Owain's head.  Then she opened a wooden casket, and drew
forth a razor, whose haft was of ivory, and upon which were two
rivets of gold.  And she shaved his beard, and she dried his head,
and his throat, with the towel.  Then she rose up from before Owain,
and brought him to eat.  And truly Owain had never so good a meal,
nor was he ever so well served.

When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his couch.
"Come here," said she, "and sleep, and I will go and woo for thee."
And Owain went to sleep, and the maiden shut the door of the chamber
after her, and went towards the Castle.  When she came there, she
found nothing but mourning, and sorrow; and the Countess in her
chamber could not bear the sight of any one through grief.  Luned
came and saluted her, but the Countess answered her not.  And the
maiden bent down towards her, and said, "What aileth thee, that thou
answerest no one to-day?"  "Luned," said the Countess, "what change
hath befallen thee, that thou hast not come to visit me in my grief?
It was wrong in thee, and I having made thee rich; it was wrong in
thee that thou didst not come to see me in my distress.  That was
wrong in thee."  "Truly," said Luned, "I thought thy good sense was
greater than I find it to be.  Is it well for thee to mourn after
that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst not have?"  "I
declare to heaven," said the Countess, "that in the whole world there
is not a man equal to him."  "Not so," said Luned, "for an ugly man
would be as good as, or better than he."  "I declare to heaven," said
the Countess, "that were it not repugnant to me to cause to be put to
death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee executed, for
making such a comparison to me.  As it is, I will banish thee."  "I
am glad," said Luned, "that thou hast no other cause to do so, than
that I would have been of service to thee where thou didst not know
what was to thine advantage.  And henceforth evil betide whichever of
us shall make the first advance towards reconciliation to the other;
whether I should seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine own
accord shouldst send to invite me."

With that Luned went forth:  and the Countess arose and followed her
to the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly.  And when
Luned looked back, the Countess beckoned to her; and she returned to
the Countess.  "In truth," said the Countess, "evil is thy
disposition; but if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it
to me."  "I will do so," quoth she.

"Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible for
thee to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to seek some
one who can defend them."  "And how can I do that?" said the
Countess.  "I will tell thee," said Luned.  "Unless thou canst defend
the fountain, thou canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can
defend the fountain, except it be a knight of Arthur's household; and
I will go to Arthur's Court, and ill betide me, if I return thence
without a warrior who can guard the fountain as well as, or even
better than, he who defended it formerly."  "That will be hard to
perform," said the Countess.  "Go, however, and make proof of that
which thou hast promised."

Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur's Court; but she
went back to the chamber where she had left Owain; and she tarried
there with him as long as it might have taken her to have travelled
to the Court of King Arthur.  And at the end of that time, she
apparelled herself and went to visit the Countess.  And the Countess
was much rejoiced when she saw her, and inquired what news she
brought from the Court.  "I bring thee the best of news," said Luned,
"for I have compassed the object of my mission.  When wilt thou, that
I should present to thee the chieftain who has come with me hither?"
"Bring him here to visit me to-morrow, at mid-day," said the
Countess, "and I will cause the town to be assembled by that time."

And Luned returned home.  And the next day, at noon, Owain arrayed
himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon
which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were high shoes
of variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps, in the
form of lions.  And they proceeded to the chamber of the Countess.

Right glad was the Countess of their coming, and she gazed
steadfastly upon Owain, and said, "Luned, this knight has not the
look of a traveller."  "What harm is there in that, lady?" said
Luned.  "I am certain," said the Countess, "that no other man than
this chased the soul from the body of my lord."  "So much the better
for thee, lady," said Luned, "for had he not been stronger than thy
lord he could not have deprived him of life.  There is no remedy for
that which is past, be it as it may."  "Go back to thine abode," said
the Countess, "and I will take counsel."

The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, and
showed them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that it could
not be protected but with horse and arms, and military skill.
"Therefore," said she, "this is what I offer for your choice:  either
let one of you take me, or give your consent for me to take a husband
from elsewhere to defend my dominions."

So they came to the determination that it was better that she should
have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and, thereupon, she
sent for the bishops and archbishops to celebrate her nuptials with
Owain.  And the men of the earldom did Owain homage.

And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword.  And this is
the manner in which he defended it:  Whensoever a knight came there
he overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth, and what he thus
gained he divided among his barons and his knights; and no man in the
whole world could be more beloved than he was by his subjects.  And
it was thus for the space of three years.


It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King Arthur, he
perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful.  And Gwalchmai was much
grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he questioned him, saying,
"Oh, my lord! what has befallen thee?"  "In sooth, Gwalchmai," said
Arthur, "I am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three
years, and I shall certainly die if the fourth year passes without my
seeing him.  Now I am sure, that it is through the tale which Kynon
the son of Clydno related, that I have lost Owain."  "There is no
need for thee," said Gwalchmai, "to summon to arms thy whole
dominions on this account, for thou thyself and the men of thy
household will be able to avenge Owain, if he be slain; or to set him
free, if he be in prison; and, if alive, to bring him back with
thee."  And it was settled according to what Gwalchmai had said.

Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek
Owain, and their number was three thousand, besides their attendants.
And Kynon the son of Clydno acted as their guide.  And Arthur came to
the Castle where Kynon had been before, and when he came there the
youths were shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was
standing hard by.  When the yellow man saw Arthur he greeted him, and
invited him to the Castle; and Arthur accepted his invitation, and
they entered the Castle together.  And great as was the number of his
retinue, their presence was scarcely observed in the Castle, so vast
was its extent.  And the maidens rose up to wait on them, and the
service of the maidens appeared to them all to excel any attendance
they had ever met with; and even the pages who had charge of the
horses were no worse served, that night, than Arthur himself would
have been in his own palace.

The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and
came to the place where the black man was.  And the stature of the
black man was more surprising to Arthur than it had been represented
to him.  And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed
the valley till they reached the green tree, where they saw the
fountain, and the bowl, and the slab.  And upon that, Kai came to
Arthur and spoke to him.  "My lord," said he, "I know the meaning of
all this, and my request is, that thou wilt permit me to throw the
water on the slab, and to receive the first adventure that may
befall."  And Arthur gave him leave.

Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately
there came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower.  And such a
thunderstorm they had never known before, and many of the attendants
who were in Arthur's train were killed by the shower.  After the
shower had ceased the sky became clear; and on looking at the tree
they beheld it completely leafless.  Then the birds descended upon
the tree, and the song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain
they had ever heard before.  Then they beheld a knight on a coal-
black horse, clothed in black satin, coming rapidly towards them.
And Kai met him and encountered him, and it was not long before Kai
was overthrown.  And the knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host
encamped for the night.

And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of
combat upon the lance of the Knight.  And Kai came to Arthur, and
spoke to him:  "My lord," said he, "though I was overthrown
yesterday, if it seem good to thee, I would gladly meet the Knight
again to-day."  "Thou mayst do so," said Arthur.  And Kai went
towards the Knight.  And on the spot he overthrew Kai, and struck him
with the head of his lance in the forehead, so that it broke his
helmet and the head-piece, and pierced the skin and the flesh, the
breadth of the spear-head, even to the bone.  And Kai returned to his
companions.

After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after the
other, to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was not
overthrown by him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai.  And Arthur armed
himself to encounter the Knight.  "Oh, my lord," said Gwalchmai,
"permit me to fight with him first."  And Arthur permitted him.  And
he went forth to meet the Knight, having over himself and his horse a
satin robe of honour which had been sent him by the daughter of the
Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was not known by any of the
host.  And they charged each other, and fought all that day until the
evening, and neither of them was able to unhorse the other.

The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither of them
could obtain the mastery.

And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances.  And they
were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even until noon.  And
they gave each other such a shock that the girths of their horses
were broken, so that they fell over their horses' cruppers to the
ground.  And they rose up speedily, and drew their swords, and
resumed the combat; and the multitude that witnessed their encounter
felt assured that they had never before seen two men so valiant or so
powerful.  And had it been midnight, it would have been light from
the fire that flashed from their weapons.  And the Knight gave
Gwalchmai a blow that turned his helmet from off his face, so that
the Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai.  Then Owain said, "My lord
Gwalchmai, I did not know thee for my cousin, owing to the robe of
honour that enveloped thee; take my sword and my arms."  Said
Gwalchmai, "Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword."  And
with that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced towards
them.  "My lord Arthur," said Gwalchmai, "here is Owain, who has
vanquished me, and will not take my arms."  "My lord," said Owain,
"it is he that has vanquished me, and he will not take my sword."
"Give me your swords," said Arthur, "and then neither of you has
vanquished the other."  Then Owain put his arms around Arthur's neck,
and they embraced.  And all the host hurried forward to see Owain,
and to embrace him; and there was nigh being a loss of life, so great
was the press.

And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to
depart.  "My lord," said Owain, "this is not well of thee; for I have
been absent from thee these three years, and during all that time, up
to this very day, I have been preparing a banquet for thee, knowing
that thou wouldst come to seek me.  Tarry with me, therefore, until
thou and thy attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey,
and have been anointed."

And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the Fountain,
and the banquet which had been three years preparing was consumed in
three months.  Never had they a more delicious or agreeable banquet.
And Arthur prepared to depart.  Then he sent an embassy to the
Countess, to beseech her to permit Owain to go with him for the space
of three months, that he might show him to the nobles and the fair
dames of the Island of Britain.  And the Countess gave her consent,
although it was very painful to her.  So Owain came with Arthur to
the Island of Britain.  And when he was once more amongst his kindred
and friends, he remained three years, instead of three months, with
them.


And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon upon Usk,
behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a curling mane and
covered with foam, and the bridle and so much as was seen of the
saddle were of gold.  And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow
satin.  And she came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his
hand.  "Thus," said she, "shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor,
the faithless, the disgraced, and the beardless."  And she turned her
horse's head and departed.

Then his adventure came to Owain's remembrance, and he was sorrowful;
and having finished eating he went to his own abode and made
preparations that night.  And the next day he arose but did not go to
the Court, but wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to
uncultivated mountains.  And he remained there until all his apparel
was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hair was grown
long.  And he went about with the wild beasts and fed with them,
until they became familiar with him; but at length he grew so weak
that he could no longer bear them company.  Then he descended from
the mountains to the valley, and came to a park that was the fairest
in the world, and belonged to a widowed Countess.

One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a lake,
that was in the middle of the park.  And they saw the form of a man.
And they were terrified.  Nevertheless they went near him, and
touched him, and looked at him.  And they saw that there was life in
him, though he was exhausted by the heat of the sun.  And the
Countess returned to the Castle, and took a flask full of precious
ointment, and gave it to one of her maidens.  "Go with this," said
she, "and take with thee yonder horse and clothing, and place them
near the man we saw just now.  And anoint him with this balsam, near
his heart; and if there is life in him, he will arise through the
efficacy of this balsam.  Then watch what he will do."

And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the balsam
upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a
little way off, and hid herself to watch him.  In a short time she
saw him begin to move his arms; and he rose up, and looked at his
person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance.
Then he perceived the horse and the garments that were near him.  And
he crept forward till he was able to draw the garments to him from
off the saddle.  And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted
the horse.  Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and saluted
him.  And he was rejoiced when he saw her, and inquired of her, what
land and what territory that was.  "Truly," said the maiden, "a
widowed Countess owns yonder Castle; at the death of her husband, he
left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has but this one dwelling
that has not been wrested from her by a young Earl, who is her
neighbour, because she refused to become his wife."  "That is pity,"
said Owain.  And he and the maiden proceeded to the Castle; and he
alighted there, and the maiden conducted him to a pleasant chamber,
and kindled a fire and left him.

And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into her
hand.  "Ha! maiden," said the Countess, "where is all the balsam?"
"Have I not used it all?" said she.  "Oh, maiden," said the Countess,
"I cannot easily forgive thee this; it is sad for me to have wasted
seven-score pounds' worth of precious ointment upon a stranger whom I
know not.  However, maiden, wait thou upon him, until he is quite
recovered."

And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink, and
fire, and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well again.  And in
three months he was restored to his former guise, and became even
more comely than he had ever been before.

One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the
Castle, and he inquired of the maiden the cause thereof.  "The Earl,"
said she, "whom I mentioned to thee, has come before the Castle, with
a numerous army, to subdue the Countess."  And Owain inquired of her
whether the Countess had a horse and arms in her possession.  "She
has the best in the world," said the maiden.  "Wilt thou go and
request the loan of a horse and arms for me," said Owain, "that I may
go and look at this army?"  "I will," said the maiden.

And she came to the Countess, and told her what Owain had said.  And
the Countess laughed.  "Truly," said she, "I will even give him a
horse and arms for ever; such a horse and such arms had he never yet,
and I am glad that they should be taken by him to-day, lest my
enemies should have them against my will to-morrow.  Yet I know not
what he would do with them."

The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon which
was a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and horse.  And
Owain armed himself, and mounted the horse, and went forth, attended
by two pages completely equipped, with horses and arms.  And when
they came near to the Earl's army, they could see neither its extent
nor its extremity.  And Owain asked the pages in which troop the Earl
was.  "In yonder troop," said they, "in which are four yellow
standards.  Two of them are before, and two behind him."  "Now," said
Owain, "do you return and await me near the portal of the Castle."
So they returned, and Owain pressed forward until he met the Earl.
And Owain drew him completely out of his saddle, and turned his
horse's head towards the Castle, and though it was with difficulty,
he brought the Earl to the portal, where the pages awaited him.  And
in they came.  And Owain presented the Earl as a gift to the
Countess.  And said to her, "Behold a requital to thee for thy
blessed balsam."

The army encamped around the Castle.  And the Earl restored to the
Countess the two Earldoms he had taken from her, as a ransom for his
life; and for his freedom he gave her the half of his own dominions,
and all his gold, and his silver, and his jewels, besides hostages.

And Owain took his departure.  And the Countess and all her subjects
besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather to wander through
distant lands and deserts.

And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood.  And it was
repeated a second and a third time.  And Owain went towards the spot,
and beheld a huge craggy mound, in the middle of the wood; on the
side of which was a grey rock.  And there was a cleft in the rock,
and a serpent was within the cleft.  And near the rock stood a black
lion, and every time the lion sought to go thence, the serpent darted
towards him to attack him.  And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew
near to the rock; and as the serpent sprang out, he struck him with
his sword, and cut him in two.  And he dried his sword, and went on
his way, as before.  But behold the lion followed him, and played
about him, as though it had been a greyhound that he had reared.

They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening.  And when
it was time for Owain to take his rest, he dismounted, and turned his
horse loose in a flat and wooded meadow.  And he struck fire, and
when the fire was kindled, the lion brought him fuel enough to last
for three nights.  And the lion disappeared.  And presently the lion
returned, bearing a fine large roebuck.  And he threw it down before
Owain, who went towards the fire with it.

And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops of its
flesh upon skewers, around the fire.  The rest of the buck he gave to
the lion to devour.  While he was doing this, he heard a deep sigh
near him, and a second, and a third.  And Owain called out to know
whether the sigh he heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received
answer that it did.  "Who art thou?" said Owain.  "Truly," said the
voice, "I am Luned, the handmaiden of the Countess of the Fountain."
"And what dost thou here?" said Owain.  "I am imprisoned," said she,
"on account of the knight who came from Arthur's Court, and married
the Countess.  And he stayed a short time with her, but he afterwards
departed for the Court of Arthur, and has not returned since.  And he
was the friend I loved best in the world.  And two of the pages in
the Countess's chamber traduced him, and called him a deceiver.  And
I told them that they two were not a match for him alone.  So they
imprisoned me in the stone vault, and said that I should be put to
death, unless he came himself to deliver me, by a certain day; and
that is no further off than the day after to-morrow.  And I have no
one to send to seek him for me.  And his name is Owain the son of
Urien."  "And art thou certain that if that knight knew all this, he
would come to thy rescue?"  "I am most certain of it," said she.

When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts,
between himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten, they talked
together, until the day dawned.  And the next morning Owain inquired
of the damsel, if there was any place where he could get food and
entertainment for that night.  "There is, Lord," said she; "cross
over yonder, and go along the side of the river, and in a short time
thou wilt see a great Castle, in which are many towers, and the Earl
who owns that Castle is the most hospitable man in the world.  There
thou mayst spend the night."

Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the lion
that night over Owain.

And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford, and
came in sight of the Castle.  And he entered it, and was honourably
received.  And his horse was well cared for, and plenty of fodder was
placed before him.  Then the lion went and lay down in the horse's
manger; so that none of the people of the Castle dared to approach
him.  The treatment which Owain met with there was such as he had
never known elsewhere, for every one was as sorrowful as though death
had been upon him.  And they went to meat; and the Earl sat upon one
side of Owain, and on the other side his only daughter.  And Owain
had never seen any more lovely than she.  Then the lion came and
placed himself between Owain's feet, and he fed him with every kind
of food that he took himself.  And he never saw anything equal to the
sadness of the people.

In the middle of the repast the Earl began to bid Owain welcome.
"Then," said Owain, "behold, it is time for thee to be cheerful."
"Heaven knows," said the Earl, "that it is not thy coming that makes
us sorrowful, but we have cause enough for sadness and care."  "What
is that?" said Owain.  "I have two sons," replied the Earl, "and
yesterday they went to the mountains to hunt.  Now there is on the
mountain a monster who kills men and devours them, and he seized my
sons; and to-morrow is the time he has fixed to be here, and he
threatens that he will then slay my sons before my eyes, unless I
will deliver into his hands this my daughter.  He has the form of a
man, but in stature he is no less than a giant."

"Truly," said Owain, "that is lamentable.  And which wilt thou do?"
"Heaven knows," said the Earl, "it will be better that my sons should
be slain against my will, than that I should voluntarily give up my
daughter to him to ill-treat and destroy."  Then they talked about
other things, and Owain stayed there that night.

The next morning they heard an exceeding great clamour, which was
caused by the coming of the giant with the two youths.  And the Earl
was anxious both to protect his Castle and to release his two sons.
Then Owain put on his armour and went forth to encounter the giant,
and the lion followed him.  And when the giant saw that Owain was
armed, he rushed towards him and attacked him.  And the lion fought
with the giant much more fiercely than Owain did.  "Truly," said the
giant, "I should find no difficulty in fighting with thee, were it
not for the animal that is with thee."  Upon that Owain took the lion
back to the Castle and shut the gate upon him, and then he returned
to fight the giant, as before.  And the lion roared very loud, for he
heard that it went hard with Owain.  And he climbed up till he
reached the top of the Earl's hall, and thence he got to the top of
the Castle, and he sprang down from the walls and went and joined
Owain.  And the lion gave the giant a stroke with his paw, which tore
him from his shoulder to his hip, and his heart was laid bare, and
the giant fell down dead.  Then Owain restored the two youths to
their father.

The Earl besought Owain to remain with him, and he would not, but set
forward towards the meadow where Luned was.  And when he came there
he saw a great fire kindled, and two youths with beautiful curling
auburn hair were leading the maiden to cast her into the fire.  And
Owain asked them what charge they had against her.  And they told him
of the compact that was between them, as the maiden had done the
night before.  "And," said they, "Owain has failed her, therefore we
are taking her to be burnt."  "Truly," said Owain, "he is a good
knight, and if he knew that the maiden was in such peril, I marvel
that he came not to her rescue; but if you will accept me in his
stead, I will do battle with you."  "We will," said the youths, "by
him who made us."

And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them.  And with
that the lion came to Owain's assistance, and they two got the better
of the young men.  And they said to him, "Chieftain, it was not
agreed that we should fight save with thyself alone, and it is harder
for us to contend with yonder animal than with thee."  And Owain put
the lion in the place where the maiden had been imprisoned, and
blocked up the door with stones, and he went to fight with the young
men, as before.  But Owain had not his usual strength, and the two
youths pressed hard upon him.  And the lion roared incessantly at
seeing Owain in trouble; and he burst through the wall until he found
a way out, and rushed upon the young men, and instantly slew them.
So Luned was saved from being burned.

Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the Countess of
the Fountain.  And when he went thence he took the Countess with him
to Arthur's Court, and she was his wife as long as she lived.


And then he took the road that led to the Court of the savage black
man, and Owain fought with him, and the lion did not quit Owain until
he had vanquished him.  And when he reached the Court of the savage
black man he entered the hall, and beheld four-and-twenty ladies, the
fairest that could be seen.  And the garments which they had on were
not worth four-and twenty pence, and they were as sorrowful as death.
And Owain asked them the cause of their sadness.  And they said, "We
are the daughters of Earls, and we all came here with our husbands,
whom we dearly loved.  And we were received with honour and
rejoicing.  And we were thrown into a state of stupor, and while we
were thus, the demon who owns this Castle slew all our husbands, and
took from us our horses, and our raiment, and our gold, and our
silver; and the corpses of our husbands are still in this house, and
many others with them.  And this, Chieftain, is the cause of our
grief, and we are sorry that thou art come hither, lest harm should
befall thee."

And Owain was grieved when he heard this.  And he went forth from the
Castle, and he beheld a knight approaching him, who saluted him in a
friendly and cheerful manner, as if he had been a brother.  And this
was the savage black man.  "In very sooth," said Owain, "it is not to
seek thy friendship that I am here."  "In sooth," said he, "thou
shalt not find it then."  And with that they charged each other, and
fought furiously.  And Owain overcame him, and bound his hands behind
his back.  Then the black savage besought Owain to spare his life,
and spoke thus:  "My lord Owain," said he, "it was foretold that thou
shouldst come hither and vanquish me, and thou hast done so.  I was a
robber here, and my house was a house of spoil; but grant me my life,
and I will become the keeper of an Hospice, and I will maintain this
house as an Hospice for weak and for strong, as long as I live, for
the good of thy soul."  And Owain accepted this proposal of him, and
remained there that night.

And the next day he took the four-and-twenty ladies, and their
horses, and their raiment, and what they possessed of goods and
jewels, and proceeded with them to Arthur's Court.  And if Arthur was
rejoiced when he saw him, after he had lost him the first time, his
joy was now much greater.  And of those ladies, such as wished to
remain in Arthur's Court remained there, and such as wished to depart
departed.

And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur's Court greatly beloved, as
the head of his household, until he went away with his followers; and
those were the army of three hundred ravens which Kenverchyn had left
him.  And wherever Owain went with these he was victorious.

And this is the tale of THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.



PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC



Earl Evrawc owned the Earldom of the North.  And he had seven sons.
And Evrawc maintained himself not so much by his own possessions as
by attending tournaments, and wars, and combats.  And, as it often
befalls those who join in encounters and wars, he was slain, and six
of his sons likewise.  Now the name of his seventh son was Peredur,
and he was the youngest of them.  And he was not of an age to go to
wars and encounters, otherwise he might have been slain as well as
his father and brothers.  His mother was a scheming and thoughtful
woman, and she was very solicitous concerning this her only son and
his possessions.  So she took counsel with herself to leave the
inhabited country, and to flee to the deserts and unfrequented
wildernesses.  And she permitted none to bear her company thither but
women and boys, and spiritless men, who were both unaccustomed and
unequal to war and fighting.  And none dared to bring either horses
or arms where her son was, lest he should set his mind upon them.
And the youth went daily to divert himself in the forest, by flinging
sticks and staves.  And one day he saw his mother's flock of goats,
and near the goats two hinds were standing.  And he marvelled greatly
that these two should be without horns, while the others had them.
And he thought they had long run wild, and on that account they had
lost their horns.  And by activity and swiftness of foot, he drove
the hinds and the goats together into the house which there was for
the goats at the extremity of the forest.  Then Peredur returned to
his mother.  "Ah, mother," said he, "a marvellous thing have I seen
in the wood; two of thy goats have run wild, and lost their horns,
through their having been so long missing in the wood.  And no man
had ever more trouble than I had to drive them in."  Then they all
arose and went to see.  And when they beheld the hinds they were
greatly astonished.

And one day they saw three knights coming along the horse-road on the
borders of the forest.  And the three knights were Gwalchmai the son
of Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and Owain the son of Urien.  And Owain
kept on the track of the knight who had divided the apples in
Arthur's Court, whom they were in pursuit of.  "Mother," said
Peredur, "what are those yonder?"  "They are angels, my son," said
she.  "By my faith," said Peredur, "I will go and become an angel
with them."  And Peredur went to the road, and met them.  "Tell me,
good soul," said Owain, "sawest thou a knight pass this way, either
to-day or yesterday?"  "I know not," answered he, "what a knight is."
"Such an one as I am," said Owain.  "If thou wilt tell me what I ask
thee, I will tell thee that which thou askest me."  "Gladly will I do
so," replied Owain.  "What is this?" demanded Peredur, concerning the
saddle.  "It is a saddle," said Owain.  Then he asked about all the
accoutrements which he saw upon the men, and the horses, and the
arms, and what they were for, and how they were used.  And Owain
shewed him all these things fully, and told him what use was made of
them.  "Go forward," said Peredur, "for I saw such an one as thou
inquirest for, and I will follow thee."

Then Peredur returned to his mother and her company, and he said to
her, "Mother, those were not angels, but honourable knights."  Then
his mother swooned away.  And Peredur went to the place where they
kept the horses that carried firewood, and that brought meat and
drink from the inhabited country to the desert.  And he took a bony
piebald horse, which seemed to him the strongest of them.  And he
pressed a pack into the form of a saddle, and with twisted twigs he
imitated the trappings which he had seen upon the horses.  And when
Peredur came again to his mother, the Countess had recovered from her
swoon.  "My son," said she, "desirest thou to ride forth?"  "Yes,
with thy leave," said he.  "Wait, then, that I may counsel thee
before thou goest."  "Willingly," he answered; "speak quickly."  "Go
forward, then," she said, "to the Court of Arthur, where there are
the best, and the boldest, and the most bountiful of men.  And
wherever thou seest a church, repeat there thy Paternoster unto it.
And if thou see meat and drink, and have need of them, and none have
the kindness or the courtesy to give them to thee, take them thyself.
If thou hear an outcry, proceed towards it, especially if it be the
outcry of a woman.  If thou see a fair jewel, possess thyself of it,
and give it to another, for thus thou shalt obtain praise.  If thou
see a fair woman, pay thy court to her, whether she will or no; for
thus thou wilt render thyself a better and more esteemed man than
thou wast before."

After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and taking a handful
of sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he rode forth.  And he journeyed
two days and two nights in the woody wildernesses, and in desert
places, without food and without drink.  And then he came to a vast
wild wood, and far within the wood he saw a fair even glade, and in
the glade he saw a tent, and the tent seeming to him to be a church,
he repeated his Paternoster to it.  And he went towards it, and the
door of the tent was open.  And a golden chair was near the door.
And on the chair sat a lovely auburn-haired maiden, with a golden
frontlet on her forehead, and sparkling stones in the frontlet, and
with a large gold ring on her hand.  And Peredur dismounted, and
entered the tent.  And the maiden was glad at his coming, and bade
him welcome.  At the entrance of the tent he saw food, and two flasks
full of wine, and two loaves of fine wheaten flour, and collops of
the flesh of the wild boar.  "My mother told me," said Peredur,
"wheresoever I saw meat and drink, to take it."  "Take the meat and
welcome, chieftain," said she.  So Peredur took half of the meat and
of the liquor himself, and left the rest to the maiden.  And when
Peredur had finished eating, he bent upon his knee before the maiden.
"My mother," said he, "told me, wheresoever I saw a fair jewel, to
take it."  "Do so, my soul," said she.  So Peredur took the ring.
And he mounted his horse, and proceeded on his journey.

After this, behold the knight came to whom the tent belonged; and he
was the Lord of the Glade.  And he saw the track of the horse, and he
said to the maiden, "Tell me who has been here since I departed."  "A
man," said she, "of wonderful demeanour."  And she described to him
what Peredur's appearance and conduct had been.  "Tell me," said he,
"did he offer thee any wrong?"  "No," answered the maiden, "by my
faith, he harmed me not."  "By my faith, I do not believe thee; and
until I can meet with him, and revenge the insult he has done me, and
wreak my vengeance upon him, thou shalt not remain two nights in the
same house."  And the knight arose, and set forth to seek Peredur.

Meanwhile Peredur journeyed on towards Arthur's Court.  And before he
reached it, another knight had been there, who gave a ring of thick
gold at the door of the gate for holding his horse, and went into the
Hall where Arthur and his household, and Gwenhwyvar and her maidens,
were assembled.  And the page of the chamber was serving Gwenhwyvar
with a golden goblet.  Then the knight dashed the liquor that was
therein upon her face, and upon her stomacher, and gave her a violent
blow on the face, and said, "If any have the boldness to dispute this
goblet with me, and to revenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar, let him
follow me to the meadow, and there I will await him."  So the knight
took his horse, and rode to the meadow.  And all the household hung
down their heads, lest any of them should be requested to go and
avenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar.  For it seemed to them, that no one
would have ventured on so daring an outrage, unless he possessed such
powers, through magic or charms, that none could be able to take
vengeance upon him.  Then, behold, Peredur entered the Hall, upon the
bony piebald horse, with the uncouth trappings upon it; and in this
way he traversed the whole length of the Hall.  In the centre of the
Hall stood Kai.  "Tell me, tall man," said Peredur, "is that Arthur
yonder?"  "What wouldest thou with Arthur?" asked Kai.  "My mother
told me to go to Arthur, and receive the honour of knighthood."  "By
my faith," said he, "thou art all too meanly equipped with horse and
with arms."  Thereupon he was perceived by all the household, and
they threw sticks at him.  Then, behold, a dwarf came forward.  He
had already been a year at Arthur's Court, both he and a female
dwarf.  They had craved harbourage of Arthur, and had obtained it;
and during the whole year, neither of them had spoken a single word
to any one.  When the dwarf beheld Peredur, "Haha!" said he, "the
welcome of Heaven be unto thee, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, the
chief of warriors, and flower of knighthood."  "Truly," said Kai,
"thou art ill-taught to remain a year mute at Arthur's Court, with
choice of society; and now, before the face of Arthur and all his
household, to call out, and declare such a man as this the chief of
warriors, and the flower of knighthood."  And he gave him such a box
on the ear that he fell senseless to the ground.  Then exclaimed the
female dwarf, "Haha! goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc; the welcome of
Heaven be unto thee, flower of knights, and light of chivalry."  "Of
a truth, maiden," said Kai, "thou art ill-bred to remain mute for a
year at the Court of Arthur, and then to speak as thou dost of such a
man as this."  And Kai kicked her with his foot, so that she fell to
the ground senseless.  "Tall man," said Peredur, "shew me which is
Arthur."  "Hold thy peace," said Kai, "and go after the knight who
went hence to the meadow, and take from him the goblet, and overthrow
him, and possess thyself of his horse and arms, and then thou shalt
receive the order of knighthood."  "I will do so, tall man," said
Peredur.  So he turned his horse's head towards the meadow.  And when
he came there, the knight was riding up and down, proud of his
strength, and valour, and noble mien.  "Tell me," said the knight,
"didst thou see any one coming after me from the Court?"  "The tall
man that was there," said he, "desired me to come, and overthrow
thee, and to take from thee the goblet, and thy horse and thy armour
for myself."  "Silence!" said the knight; "go back to the Court, and
tell Arthur, from me, either to come himself, or to send some other
to fight with me; and unless he do so quickly, I will not wait for
him."  "By my faith," said Peredur, "choose thou whether it shall be
willingly or unwillingly, but I will have the horse, and the arms,
and the goblet."  And upon this the knight ran at him furiously, and
struck him a violent blow with the shaft of his spear, between the
neck and the shoulder.  "Haha! lad," said Peredur, "my mother's
servants were not used to play with me in this wise; therefore, thus
will I play with thee."  And thereupon he struck him with a sharp-
pointed fork, and it hit him in the eye, and came out at the back of
his neck, so that he instantly fell down lifeless.

"Verily," said Owain the son of Urien to Kai, "thou wert ill-advised,
when thou didst send that madman after the knight.  For one of two
things must befall him.  He must either be overthrown, or slain.  If
he is overthrown by the knight, he will be counted by him to be an
honourable person of the Court, and an eternal disgrace will it be to
Arthur and his warriors.  And if he is slain, the disgrace will be
the same, and moreover, his sin will be upon him; therefore will I go
to see what has befallen him."  So Owain went to the meadow, and he
found Peredur dragging the man about.  "What art thou doing thus?"
said Owain.  "This iron coat," said Peredur, "will never come from
off him; not by my efforts, at any rate."  And Owain unfastened his
armour and his clothes.  "Here, my good soul," said he, "is a horse
and armour better than thine.  Take them joyfully, and come with me
to Arthur, to receive the order of knighthood, for thou dost merit
it."  "May I never shew my face again if I go," said Peredur; "but
take thou the goblet to Gwenhwyvar, and tell Arthur, that wherever I
am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what profit and service I
am able.  And say that I will not come to his Court until I have
encountered the tall man that is there, to revenge the injury he did
to the dwarf and dwarfess."  And Owain went back to the Court, and
related all these things to Arthur and Gwenhwyvar, and to all the
household.

And Peredur rode forward.  And as he proceeded, behold a knight met
him.  "Whence comest thou?" said the knight.  "I come from Arthur's
Court," said Peredur.  "Art thou one of his men?" asked he.  "Yes, by
my faith," he answered.  "A good service, truly, is that of Arthur."
"Wherefore sayest thou so?" said Peredur.  "I will tell thee," said
he; "I have always been Arthur's enemy, and all such of his men as I
have ever encountered I have slain."  And without further parlance
they fought, and it was not long before Peredur brought him to the
ground, over his horse's crupper.  Then the knight besought his
mercy.  "Mercy thou shalt have," said Peredur, "if thou wilt make
oath to me, that thou wilt go to Arthur's Court, and tell him that it
was I that overthrew thee, for the honour of his service; and say,
that I will never come to the Court until I have avenged the insult
offered to the dwarf and dwarfess."  The knight pledged him his faith
of this, and proceeded to the Court of Arthur, and said as he had
promised, and conveyed the threat to Kai.

And Peredur rode forward.  And within that week he encountered
sixteen knights, and overthrew them all shamefully.  And they all
went to Arthur's Court, taking with them the same message which the
first knight had conveyed from Peredur, and the same threat which he
had sent to Kai.  And thereupon Kai was reproved by Arthur; and Kai
was greatly grieved thereat.

And Peredur rode forward.  And he came to a vast and desert wood, on
the confines of which was a lake.  And on the other side was a fair
castle.  And on the border of the lake he saw a venerable, hoary-
headed man, sitting upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment of
velvet upon him.  And his attendants were fishing in the lake.  When
the hoary-headed man beheld Peredur approaching, he arose and went
towards the castle.  And the old man was lame.  Peredur rode to the
palace, and the door was open, and he entered the hall.  And there
was the hoary-headed man sitting on a cushion, and a large blazing
fire burning before him.  And the household and the company arose to
meet Peredur, and disarrayed him.  And the man asked the youth to sit
on the cushion; and they sat down, and conversed together.  When it
was time, the tables were laid, and they went to meat.  And when they
had finished their meal, the man inquired of Peredur if he knew well
how to fight with the sword.  "I know not," said Peredur, "but were I
to be taught, doubtless I should."  "Whoever can play well with the
cudgel and shield, will also be able to fight with a sword."  And the
man had two sons; the one had yellow hair, and the other auburn.
"Arise, youths," said he, "and play with the cudgel and the shield."
And so did they.  "Tell me, my soul," said the man, "which of the
youths thinkest thou plays best."  "I think," said Peredur, "that the
yellow-haired youth could draw blood from the other, if he chose."
"Arise thou, my life, and take the cudgel and the shield from the
hand of the youth with the auburn hair, and draw blood from the
yellow-haired youth if thou canst."  So Peredur arose, and went to
play with the yellow-haired youth; and he lifted up his arm, and
struck him such a mighty blow, that his brow fell over his eye, and
the blood flowed forth.  "Ah, my life," said the man, "come now, and
sit down, for thou wilt become the best fighter with the sword of any
in this island; and I am thy uncle, thy mother's brother.  And with
me shalt thou remain a space, in order to learn the manners and
customs of different countries, and courtesy, and gentleness, and
noble bearing.  Leave, then, the habits and the discourse of thy
mother, and I will be thy teacher; and I will raise thee to the rank
of knight from this time forward.  And thus do thou.  If thou seest
aught to cause thee wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has
the courtesy to inform thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee,
but upon me that am thy teacher."  And they had abundance of honour
and service.  And when it was time they went to sleep.  At the break
of day, Peredur arose, and took his horse, and with his uncle's
permission he rode forth.  And he came to a vast desert wood, and at
the further end of the wood was a meadow, and on the other side of
the meadow he saw a large castle.  And thitherward Peredur bent his
way, and he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the hall.  And
he beheld a stately hoary-headed man sitting on one side of the hall,
and many pages around him, who arose to receive and to honour
Peredur.  And they placed him by the side of the owner of the palace.
Then they discoursed together; and when it was time to eat, they
caused Peredur to sit beside the nobleman during the repast.  And
when they had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, the nobleman
asked Peredur whether he could fight with a sword?  "Were I to
receive instruction," said Peredur, "I think I could."  Now, there
was on the floor of the hall a huge staple, as large as a warrior
could grasp.  "Take yonder sword," said the man to Peredur, "and
strike the iron staple."  So Peredur arose and struck the staple, so
that he cut it in two; and the sword broke into two parts also.
"Place the two parts together, and reunite them," and Peredur placed
them together, and they became entire as they were before.  And a
second time he struck upon the staple, so that both it and the sword
broke in two, and as before they reunited.  And the third time he
gave a like blow, and placed the broken parts together, and neither
the staple nor the sword would unite as before.  "Youth," said the
nobleman, "come now, and sit down, and my blessing be upon thee.
Thou fightest best with the sword of any man in the kingdom.  Thou
hast arrived at two-thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou
hast not yet obtained; and when thou attainest to thy full power,
none will be able to contend with thee.  I am thy uncle, thy mother's
brother, and I am brother to the man in whose house thou wast last
night."  Then Peredur and his uncle discoursed together, and he
beheld two youths enter the hall, and proceed up to the chamber,
bearing a spear of mighty size, with three streams of blood flowing
from the point to the ground.  And when all the company saw this,
they began wailing and lamenting.  But for all that, the man did not
break off his discourse with Peredur.  And as he did not tell Peredur
the meaning of what he saw, he forbore to ask him concerning it.  And
when the clamour had a little subsided, behold two maidens entered,
with a large salver between them, in which was a man's head,
surrounded by a profusion of blood.  And thereupon the company of the
court made so great an outcry, that it was irksome to be in the same
hall with them.  But at length they were silent.  And when time was
that they should sleep, Peredur was brought into a fair chamber.

And the next day, with his uncle's permission, he rode forth.  And he
came to a wood, and far within the wood he heard a loud cry, and he
saw a beautiful woman with auburn hair, and a horse with a saddle
upon it, standing near her, and a corpse by her side.  And as she
strove to place the corpse upon the horse, it fell to the ground, and
thereupon she made a great lamentation.  "Tell me, sister," said
Peredur, "wherefore art thou bewailing?"  "Oh! accursed Peredur,
little pity has my ill-fortune ever met with from thee."
"Wherefore," said Peredur, "am I accursed?"  "Because thou wast the
cause of thy mother's death; for when thou didst ride forth against
her will, anguish seized upon her heart, so that she died; and
therefore art thou accursed.  And the dwarf and the dwarfess that
thou sawest at Arthur's Court were the dwarfs of thy father and
mother; and I am thy foster-sister, and this was my wedded husband,
and he was slain by the knight that is in the glade in the wood; and
do not thou go near him, lest thou shouldest be slain by him
likewise."  "My sister, thou dost reproach me wrongfully; through my
having so long remained amongst you, I shall scarcely vanquish him;
and had I continued longer, it would, indeed, be difficult for me to
succeed.  Cease, therefore, thy lamenting, for it is of no avail, and
I will bury the body, and then I will go in quest of the knight, and
see if I can do vengeance upon him."  And when he had buried the
body, they went to the place where the knight was, and found him
riding proudly along the glade; and he inquired of Peredur whence he
came.  "I come from Arthur's Court."  "And art thou one of Arthur's
men?"  "Yes, by my faith."  "A profitable alliance, truly, is that of
Arthur."  And without further parlance, they encountered one another,
and immediately Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought mercy
of Peredur.  "Mercy shalt thou have," said he, "upon these terms,
that thou take this woman in marriage, and do her all the honour and
reverence in thy power, seeing thou hast, without cause, slain her
wedded husband; and that thou go to Arthur's Court, and shew him that
it was I that overthrew thee, to do him honour and service; and that
thou tell him that I will never come to his Court again until I have
met with the tall man that is there, to take vengeance upon him for
his insult to the dwarf and dwarfess."  And he took the knight's
assurance, that he would perform all this.  Then the knight provided
the lady with a horse and garments that were suitable for her, and
took her with him to Arthur's Court.  And he told Arthur all that had
occurred, and gave the defiance to Kai.  And Arthur and all his
household reproved Kai, for having driven such a youth as Peredur
from his Court.

Said Owain the son of Urien, "This youth will never come into the
Court until Kai has gone forth from it."  "By my faith," said Arthur,
"I will search all the deserts in the Island of Britain, until I find
Peredur, and then let him and his adversary do their utmost to each
other."

Then Peredur rode forward.  And he came to a desert wood, where he
saw not the track either of men or animals, and where there was
nothing but bushes and weeds.  And at the upper end of the wood he
saw a vast castle, wherein were many strong towers; and when he came
near the gate, he found the weeds taller than he had seen them
elsewhere.  And he struck the gate with the shaft of his lance, and
thereupon behold a lean, auburn-haired youth came to an opening in
the battlements.  "Choose thou, chieftain," said he, "whether shall I
open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce unto those that are
chief, that thou art at the gateway?"  "Say that I am here," said
Peredur, "and if it is desired that I should enter, I will go in."
And the youth came back, and opened the gate for Peredur.  And when
he went into the hall, he beheld eighteen youths, lean and red-
headed, of the same height, and of the same aspect, and of the same
dress, and of the same age as the one who had opened the gate for
him.  And they were well skilled in courtesy and in service.  And
they disarrayed him.  Then they sat down to discourse.  Thereupon,
behold five maidens came from the chamber into the hall.  And Peredur
was certain that he had never seen another of so fair an aspect as
the chief of the maidens.  And she had an old garment of satin upon
her, which had once been handsome, but was then so tattered, that her
skin could be seen through it.  And whiter was her skin than the
bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were blacker than
jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than whatever is
reddest.  And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put her arms about his
neck, and made him sit down beside her.  Not long after this he saw
two nuns enter, and a flask full of wine was borne by one, and six
loaves of white bread by the other.  "Lady," said they, "Heaven is
witness, that there is not so much of food and liquor as this left in
yonder Convent this night."  Then they went to meat, and Peredur
observed that the maiden wished to give more of the food and of the
liquor to him than to any of the others.  "My sister," said Peredur,
"I will share out the food and the liquor."  "Not so, my soul," said
she.  "By my faith but I will."  So Peredur took the bread, and he
gave an equal portion of it to each alike, as well as a cup full of
the liquor.  And when it was time for them to sleep, a chamber was
prepared for Peredur, and he went to rest.

"Behold, sister," said the youths to the fairest and most exalted of
the maidens, "we have counsel for thee."  "What may it be?" she
inquired.  "Go to the youth that is in the upper chamber, and offer
to become his wife, or the lady of his love, if it seem well to him."
"That were indeed unfitting," said she.  "Hitherto I have not been
the lady-love of any knight, and to make him such an offer before I
am wooed by him, that, truly, can I not do."  "By our confession to
Heaven, unless thou actest thus, we will leave thee here to thy
enemies, to do as they will with thee."  And through fear of this,
the maiden went forth; and shedding tears, she proceeded to the
chamber.  And with the noise of the door opening, Peredur awoke; and
the maiden was weeping and lamenting.  "Tell me, my sister," said
Peredur, "wherefore dost thou weep?"  "I will tell thee, lord," said
she.  "My father possessed these dominions as their chief, and this
palace was his, and with it he held the best earldom in the kingdom;
then the son of another earl sought me of my father, and I was not
willing to be given unto him, and my father would not give me against
my will, either to him or any earl in the world.  And my father had
no child except myself.  And after my father's death, these dominions
came into my own hands, and then was I less willing to accept him
than before.  So he made war upon me, and conquered all my
possessions, except this one house.  And through the valour of the
men whom thou hast seen, who are my foster-brothers, and the strength
of the house, it can never be taken while food and drink remain.  And
now our provisions are exhausted; but, as thou hast seen, we have
been fed by the nuns, to whom the country is free.  And at length
they also are without supply of food or liquor.  And at no later date
than to-morrow, the earl will come against this place with all his
forces; and if I fall into his power, my fate will be no better than
to be given over to the grooms of his horses.  Therefore, lord, I am
come to offer to place myself in thy hands, that thou mayest succour
me, either by taking me hence, or by defending me here, whichever may
seem best unto thee."  "Go, my sister," said he, "and sleep; nor will
I depart from thee until I do that which thou requirest, or prove
whether I can assist thee or not."  The maiden went again to rest;
and the next morning she came to Peredur, and saluted him.  "Heaven
prosper thee, my soul, and what tidings dost thou bring?"  "None
other, than that the earl and all his forces have alighted at the
gate, and I never beheld any place so covered with tents, and
thronged with knights challenging others to the combat."  "Truly,"
said Peredur, "let my horse be made ready."  So his horse was
accoutred, and he arose and sallied forth to the meadow.  And there
was a knight riding proudly along the meadow, having raised the
signal for battle.  And they encountered, and Peredur threw the
knight over his horse's crupper to the ground.  And at the close of
the day, one of the chief knights came to fight with him, and he
overthrew him also, so that he besought his mercy.  "Who art thou?"
said Peredur.  "Verily," said he, "I am Master of the Household to
the earl."  "And how much of the countess's possessions is there in
thy power?"  "The third part, verily," answered he.  "Then," said
Peredur, "restore to her the third of her possessions in full, and
all the profit thou hast made by them, and bring meat and drink for a
hundred men, with their horses and arms, to her court this night.
And thou shalt remain her captive, unless she wish to take thy life."
And this he did forthwith.  And that night the maiden was right
joyful, and they fared plenteously.

And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and that day he
vanquished a multitude of the host.  And at the close of the day,
there came a proud and stately knight, and Peredur overthrew him, and
he besought his mercy.  "Who art thou?" said Peredur.  "I am Steward
of the Palace," said he.  "And how much of the maiden's possessions
are under thy control?"  "One-third part," answered he.  "Verily,"
said Peredur, "thou shalt fully restore to the maiden her
possessions, and, moreover, thou shalt give her meat and drink for
two hundred men, and their horses and their arms.  And for thyself,
thou shalt be her captive."  And immediately it was so done.

And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and he vanquished
more that day than on either of the preceding.  And at the close of
the day, an earl came to encounter him, and he overthrew him, and he
besought his mercy.  "Who art thou?" said Peredur.  "I am the earl,"
said he.  "I will not conceal it from thee."  "Verily," said Peredur,
"thou shalt restore the whole of the maiden's earldom, and shalt give
her thine own earldom in addition thereto, and meat and drink for
three hundred men, and their horses and arms, and thou thyself shalt
remain in her power."  And thus it was fulfilled.  And Peredur
tarried three weeks in the country, causing tribute and obedience to
be paid to the maiden, and the government to be placed in her hands.
"With thy leave," said Peredur, "I will go hence."  "Verily, my
brother, desirest thou this?"  "Yes, by my faith; and had it not been
for love of thee, I should not have been here thus long."  "My soul,"
said she, "who art thou?"  "I am Peredur the son of Evrawc from the
North; and if ever thou art in trouble or in danger, acquaint me
therewith, and if I can, I will protect thee."

So Peredur rode forth.  And far thence there met him a lady, mounted
on a horse that was lean, and covered with sweat; and she saluted the
youth.  "Whence comest thou, my sister?"  Then she told him the cause
of her journey.  Now she was the wife of the Lord of the Glade.
"Behold," said he, "I am the knight through whom thou art in trouble,
and he shall repent it, who has treated thee thus."  Thereupon,
behold a knight rode up, and he inquired of Peredur, if he had seen a
knight such as he was seeking.  "Hold thy peace," said Peredur, "I am
he whom thou seekest; and by my faith, thou deservest ill of thy
household for thy treatment of the maiden, for she is innocent
concerning me."  So they encountered, and they were not long in
combat ere Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought his mercy.
"Mercy thou shalt have," said Peredur, "so thou wilt return by the
way thou camest, and declare that thou holdest the maiden innocent,
and so that thou wilt acknowledge unto her the reverse thou hast
sustained at my hands."  And the knight plighted him his faith
thereto.

Then Peredur rode forward.  And above him he beheld a castle, and
thitherward he went.  And he struck upon the gate with his lance, and
then, behold, a comely auburn-haired youth opened the gate, and he
had the stature of a warrior, and the years of a boy.  And when
Peredur came into the hall, there was a tall and stately lady sitting
in a chair, and many handmaidens around her; and the lady rejoiced at
his coming.  And when it was time, they went to meat.  And after
their repast was finished, "It were well for thee, chieftain," said
she, "to go elsewhere to sleep."  "Wherefore can I not sleep here?"
said Peredur.  "Nine sorceresses are here, my soul, of the
sorceresses of Gloucester, and their father and their mother are with
them; and unless we can make our escape before daybreak, we shall be
slain; and already they have conquered and laid waste all the
country, except this one dwelling."  "Behold," said Peredur, "I will
remain here to-night, and if you are in trouble, I will do you what
service I can; but harm shall you not receive from me."  So they went
to rest.  And with the break of day, Peredur heard a dreadful outcry.
And he hastily arose, and went forth in his vest and his doublet,
with his sword about his neck, and he saw a sorceress overtake one of
the watch, who cried out violently.  Peredur attacked the sorceress,
and struck her upon the head with his sword, so that he flattened her
helmet and her head-piece like a dish upon her head.  "Thy mercy,
goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, and the mercy of Heaven."  "How
knowest thou, hag, that I am Peredur?"  "By destiny, and the
foreknowledge that I should suffer harm from thee.  And thou shalt
take a horse and armour of me; and with me thou shalt go to learn
chivalry and the use of thy arms."  Said Peredur, "Thou shalt have
mercy, if thou pledge thy faith thou wilt never more injure the
dominions of the Countess."  And Peredur took surety of this, and
with permission of the Countess, he set forth with the sorceress to
the palace of the sorceresses.  And there he remained for three
weeks, and then he made choice of a horse and arms, and went his way.

And in the evening he entered a valley, and at the head of the valley
he came to a hermit's cell, and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and
there he spent the night.  And in the morning he arose, and when he
went forth, behold a shower of snow had fallen the night before, and
a hawk had killed a wild fowl in front of the cell.  And the noise of
the horse scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the bird.
And Peredur stood, and compared the blackness of the raven and the
whiteness of the snow, and the redness of the blood, to the hair of
the lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and to her
skin which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spots upon
her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow appeared
to be.

Now Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur.  "Know ye,"
said Arthur, "who is the knight with the long spear that stands by
the brook up yonder?"  "Lord," said one of them, "I will go and learn
who he is."  So the youth came to the place where Peredur was, and
asked him what he did thus, and who he was.  And from the intensity
with which he thought upon the lady whom best he loved, he gave him
no answer.  Then the youth thrust at Peredur with his lance, and
Peredur turned upon him, and struck him over his horse's crupper to
the ground.  And after this, four-and-twenty youths came to him, and
he did not answer one more than another, but gave the same reception
to all, bringing them with one single thrust to the ground.  And then
came Kai, and spoke to Peredur rudely and angrily; and Peredur took
him with his lance under the jaw, and cast him from him with a
thrust, so that he broke his arm and his shoulder-blade, and he rode
over him one-and-twenty times.  And while he lay thus, stunned with
the violence of the pain that he had suffered, his horse returned
back at a wild and prancing pace.  And when the household saw the
horse come back without his rider, they rode forth in haste to the
place where the encounter had been.  And when they first came there,
they thought that Kai was slain; but they found that if he had a
skilful physician, he yet might live.  And Peredur moved not from his
meditation, on seeing the concourse that was around Kai.  And Kai was
brought to Arthur's tent, and Arthur caused skilful physicians to
come to him.  And Arthur was grieved that Kai had met with this
reverse, for he loved him greatly.

"Then," said Gwalchmai, "it is not fitting that any should disturb an
honourable knight from his thought unadvisedly; for either he is
pondering some damage that he has sustained, or he is thinking of the
lady whom best he loves.  And through such ill-advised proceeding,
perchance this misadventure has befallen him who last met with him.
And if it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight
hath changed from his thought; and if he has, I will ask him
courteously to come and visit thee."  Then Kai was wroth, and he
spoke angry and spiteful words.  "Gwalchmai," said he, "I know that
thou wilt bring him because he is fatigued.  Little praise and
honour, nevertheless, wilt thou have from vanquishing a weary knight,
who is tired with fighting.  Yet thus hast thou gained the advantage
over many.  And while thy speech and thy soft words last, a coat of
thin linen were armour sufficient for thee, and thou wilt not need to
break either lance or sword in fighting with the knight in the state
he is in."  Then said Gwalchmai to Kai, "Thou mightest use more
pleasant words, wert thou so minded:  and it behoves thee not upon me
to wreak thy wrath and thy displeasure.  Methinks I shall bring the
knight hither with me without breaking either my arm or my shoulder."
Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, "Thou speakest like a wise and prudent
man; go, and take enough of armour about thee, and choose thy horse."
And Gwalchmai accoutred himself and rode forward hastily to the place
where Peredur was.

And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the same
thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of hostility,
and said to him, "If I thought that it would be as agreeable to thee
as it would be to me, I would converse with thee.  I have also a
message from Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him.
And two men have been before on this errand."  "That is true," said
Peredur, "and uncourteously they came.  They attacked me, and I was
annoyed thereat, for it was not pleasing to me to be drawn from the
thought that I was in, for I was thinking of the lady whom best I
love, and thus was she brought to my mind: --I was looking upon the
snow, and upon the raven, and upon the drops of the blood of the bird
that the hawk had killed upon the snow.  And I bethought me that her
whiteness was like that of the snow, and that the blackness of her
hair and her eyebrows like that of the raven, and that the two red
spots upon her cheeks were like the two drops of blood."  Said
Gwalchmai, "This was not an ungentle thought, and I should marvel if
it were pleasant to thee to be drawn from it."  "Tell me," said
Peredur, "is Kai in Arthur's Court?"  "He is," said he, "and behold
he is the knight that fought with thee last; and it would have been
better for him had he not come, for his arm and his shoulder-blade
were broken with the fall which he had from thy spear."  "Verily,"
said Peredur, "I am not sorry to have thus begun to avenge the insult
to the dwarf and dwarfess."  Then Gwalchmai marvelled to hear him
speak of the dwarf and the dwarfess; and he approached him, and threw
his arms around his neck, and asked him what was his name.  "Peredur
the son of Evrawc am I called," said he; "and thou, Who art thou?"
"I am called Gwalchmai," he replied.  "I am right glad to meet with
thee," said Peredur, "for in every country where I have been I have
heard of thy fame for prowess and uprightness, and I solicit thy
fellowship."  "Thou shalt have it, by my faith, and grant me thine,"
said he, "Gladly will I do so," answered Peredur.

So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place where Arthur
was, and when Kai saw them coming, he said, "I knew that Gwalchmai
needed not to fight the knight.  And it is no wonder that he should
gain fame; more can he do by his fair words than I by the strength of
my arm."  And Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and they took
off their armour.  And Peredur put on garments like those that
Gwalchmai wore, and they went together unto Arthur, and saluted him.
"Behold, lord," said Gwalchmai, "him whom thou hast sought so long."
"Welcome unto thee, chieftain," said Arthur.  "With me thou shalt
remain; and had I known thy valour had been such, thou shouldst not
have left me as thou didst; nevertheless, this was predicted of thee
by the dwarf and the dwarfess, whom Kai ill-treated and whom thou
hast avenged."  And hereupon, behold there came the Queen and her
handmaidens, and Peredur saluted them.  And they were rejoiced to see
him, and bade him welcome.  And Arthur did him great honour and
respect, and they returned towards Caerlleon.

And the first night Peredur came to Caerlleon to Arthur's Court, and
as he walked in the city after his repast, behold, there met him
Angharad Law Eurawc.  "By my faith, sister," said Peredur, "thou art
a beauteous and lovely maiden; and, were it pleasing to thee, I could
love thee above all women."  "I pledge my faith," said she, "that I
do not love thee, nor will I ever do so."  "I also pledge my faith,"
said Peredur, "that I will never speak a word to any Christian again,
until thou come to love me above all men."

The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a mountain-
ridge, and he saw a valley of a circular form, the confines of which
were rocky and wooded.  And the flat part of the valley was in
meadows, and there were fields betwixt the meadows and the wood.  And
in the bosom of the wood he saw large black houses of uncouth
workmanship.  And he dismounted, and led his horse towards the wood.
And a little way within the wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which
the road lay.  And upon the ledge was a lion bound by a chain, and
sleeping.  And beneath the lion he saw a deep pit of immense size,
full of the bones of men and animals.  And Peredur drew his sword and
struck the lion, so that he fell into the mouth of the pit and hung
there by the chain; and with a second blow he struck the chain and
broke it, and the lion fell into the pit; and Peredur led his horse
over the rocky ledge, until he came into the valley.  And in the
centre of the valley he saw a fair castle, and he went towards it.
And in the meadow by the castle he beheld a huge grey man sitting,
who was larger than any man he had ever before seen.  And two young
pages were shooting the hilts of their daggers, of the bone of the
sea-horse.  And one of the pages had red hair, and the other auburn.
And they went before him to the place where the grey man was, and
Peredur saluted him.  And the grey man said, "Disgrace to the beard
of my porter."  Then Peredur understood that the porter was the
lion.--And the grey man and the pages went together into the castle,
and Peredur accompanied them; and he found it a fair and noble place.
And they proceeded to the hall, and the tables were already laid, and
upon them was abundance of food and liquor.  And thereupon he saw an
aged woman and a young woman come from the chamber; and they were the
most stately women he had ever seen.  Then they washed and went to
meat, and the grey man sat in the upper seat at the head of the
table, and the aged woman next to him.  And Peredur and the maiden
were placed together, and the two young pages served them.  And the
maiden gazed sorrowfully upon Peredur, and Peredur asked the maiden
wherefore she was sad.  "For thee, my soul; for, from when I first
beheld thee, I have loved thee above all men.  And it pains me to
know that so gentle a youth as thou should have such a doom as awaits
thee to-morrow.  Sawest thou the numerous black houses in the bosom
of the wood?  All these belong to the vassals of the grey man yonder,
who is my father.  And they are all giants.  And to-morrow they will
rise up against thee, and will slay thee.  And the Round Valley is
this valley called."  "Listen, fair maiden, wilt thou contrive that
my horse and arms be in the same lodging with me to-night?"  "Gladly
will I cause it so to be, by Heaven, if I can."

And when it was time for them to sleep rather than to carouse, they
went to rest.  And the maiden caused Peredur's horse and arms to be
in the same lodging with him.  And the next morning Peredur heard a
great tumult of men and horses around the castle.  And Peredur arose,
and armed himself and his horse, and went to the meadow.  Then the
aged woman and the maiden came to the grey man:  "Lord," said they,
"take the word of the youth, that he will never disclose what he has
seen in this place, and we will be his sureties that he keep it."  "I
will not do so, by my faith," said the grey man.  So Peredur fought
with the host, and towards evening he had slain the one-third of them
without receiving any hurt himself.  Then said the aged woman,
"Behold, many of thy host have been slain by the youth; do thou,
therefore, grant him mercy."  "I will not grant it, by my faith,"
said he.  And the aged woman and the fair maiden were upon the
battlements of the castle, looking forth.  And at that juncture,
Peredur encountered the yellow-haired youth and slew him.  "Lord,"
said the maiden, "grant the young man mercy."  "That will I not do,
by Heaven," he replied; and thereupon Peredur attacked the auburn-
haired youth, and slew him likewise.  "It were better that thou hadst
accorded mercy to the youth before he had slain thy two sons; for now
scarcely wilt thou thyself escape from him."  "Go, maiden, and
beseech the youth to grant mercy unto us, for we yield ourselves into
his hands."  So the maiden came to the place where Peredur was, and
besought mercy for her father, and for all such of his vassals as had
escaped alive.  "Thou shalt have it, on condition that thy father and
all that are under him go and render homage to Arthur, and tell him
that it was his vassal Peredur that did him this service."  "This
will we do willingly, by Heaven."  "And you shall also receive
baptism; and I will send to Arthur, and beseech him to bestow this
valley upon thee and upon thy heirs after thee for ever."  Then they
went in, and the grey man and the tall woman saluted Peredur.  And
the grey man said unto him, "Since I have possessed this valley I
have not seen any Christian depart with his life, save thyself.  And
we will go to do homage to Arthur, and to embrace the faith and be
baptized."  Then said Peredur, "To Heaven I render thanks that I have
not broken my vow to the lady that best I love, which was, that I
would not speak one word unto any Christian."

That night they tarried there.  And the next day, in the morning, the
grey man, with his company, set forth to Arthur's Court; and they did
homage unto Arthur, and he caused them to be baptized.  And the grey
man told Arthur that it was Peredur that had vanquished them.  And
Arthur gave the valley to the grey man and his company, to hold it of
him as Peredur had besought.  And with Arthur's permission, the grey
man went back to the Round Valley.

Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast tract of
desert, in which no dwellings were.  And at length he came to a
habitation, mean and small.  And there he heard that there was a
serpent that lay upon a gold ring, and suffered none to inhabit the
country for seven miles around.  And Peredur came to the place where
he heard the serpent was.  And angrily, furiously, and desperately
fought he with the serpent; and at last he killed it, and took away
the ring.  And thus he was for a long time without speaking a word to
any Christian.  And therefrom he lost his colour and his aspect,
through extreme longing after the Court of Arthur, and the society of
the lady whom best he loved, and of his companions.  Then he
proceeded forward to Arthur's Court, and on the road there met him
Arthur's household going on a particular errand, with Kai at their
head.  And Peredur knew them all, but none of the household
recognized him.  "Whence comest thou, chieftain?" said Kai.  And this
he asked him twice and three times, and he answered him not.  And Kai
thrust him through the thigh with his lance.  And lest he should be
compelled to speak, and to break his vow, he went on without
stopping.  "Then," said Gwalchmai, "I declare to Heaven, Kai, that
thou hast acted ill in committing such an outrage on a youth like
this, who cannot speak."

And Gwalchmai returned back to Arthur's Court.  "Lady," said he to
Gwenhwyvar, "seest thou how wicked an outrage Kai has committed upon
this youth who cannot speak; for Heaven's sake, and for mine, cause
him to have medical care before I come back, and I will repay thee
the charge."

And before the men returned from their errand, a knight came to the
meadow beside Arthur's Palace, to dare some one to the encounter.
And his challenge was accepted; and Peredur fought with him, and
overthrew him.  And for a week he overthrew one knight every day.

And one day, Arthur and his household were going to Church, and they
beheld a knight who had raised the signal for combat.  "Verily," said
Arthur, "by the valour of men, I will not go hence until I have my
horse and my arms to overthrow yonder boor."  Then went the
attendants to fetch Arthur's horse and arms.  And Peredur met the
attendants as they were going back, and he took the horse and arms
from them, and proceeded to the meadow; and all those who saw him
arise and go to do battle with the knight, went upon the tops of the
houses, and the mounds, and the high places, to behold the combat.
And Peredur beckoned with his hand to the knight to commence the
fight.  And the knight thrust at him, but he was not thereby moved
from where he stood.  And Peredur spurred his horse, and ran at him
wrathfully, furiously, fiercely, desperately, and with mighty rage,
and he gave him a thrust, deadly-wounding, severe, furious, adroit,
and strong, under his jaw, and raised him out of his saddle, and cast
him a long way from him.  And Peredur went back, and left the horse
and the arms with the attendant as before, and he went on foot to the
Palace.

Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth.  And behold,
Angharad Law Eurawc met him.  "I declare to Heaven, chieftain," said
she, "woful is it that thou canst not speak; for couldst thou speak,
I would love thee best of all men; and by my faith, although thou
canst not, I do love thee above all."  "Heaven reward thee, my
sister," said Peredur, "by my faith I also do love thee."  Thereupon
it was known that he was Peredur.  And then he held fellowship with
Gwalchmai, and Owain the son of Urien, and all the household, and he
remained in Arthur's Court.


Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk; and he went to hunt, and Peredur
went with him.  And Peredur let loose his dog upon a hart, and the
dog killed the hart in a desert place.  And a short space from him he
saw signs of a dwelling, and towards the dwelling he went, and he
beheld a hall, and at the door of the hall he found bald swarthy
youths playing at chess.  And when he entered, he beheld three
maidens sitting on a bench, and they were all clothed alike, as
became persons of high rank.  And he came, and sat by them upon the
bench; and one of the maidens looked steadfastly upon Peredur, and
wept.  And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping.  "Through
grief, that I should see so fair a youth as thou art, slain."  "Who
will slay me?" inquired Peredur.  "If thou art so daring as to remain
here to-night, I will tell thee."  "How great soever my danger may be
from remaining here, I will listen unto thee."  "This Palace is owned
by him who is my father," said the maiden, "and he slays every one
who comes hither without his leave."  "What sort of a man is thy
father, that he is able to slay every one thus?"  "A man who does
violence and wrong unto his neighbours, and who renders justice unto
none."  And hereupon he saw the youths arise and clear the chessmen
from the board.  And he heard a great tumult; and after the tumult
there came in a huge black one-eyed man, and the maidens arose to
meet him.  And they disarrayed him, and he went and sat down; and
after he had rested and pondered awhile, he looked at Peredur, and
asked who the knight was.  "Lord," said one of the maidens, "he is
the fairest and gentlest youth that ever thou didst see.  And for the
sake of Heaven, and of thine own dignity, have patience with him."
"For thy sake I will have patience, and I will grant him his life
this night."  Then Peredur came towards them to the fire, and partook
of food and liquor, and entered into discourse with the ladies.  And
being elated with the liquor, he said to the black man, "It is a
marvel to me, so mighty as thou sayest thou art, who could have put
out thine eye."  "It is one of my habits," said the black man, "that
whosoever puts to me the question which thou hast asked, shall not
escape with his life, either as a free gift or for a price."  "Lord,"
said the maiden, "whatsoever he may say to thee in jest, and through
the excitement of liquor, make good that which thou saidst and didst
promise me just now."  "I will do so, gladly, for thy sake," said he.
"Willingly will I grant him his life this night."  And that night
thus they remained.

And the next day the black man got up, and put on his armour, and
said to Peredur, "Arise, man, and suffer death."  And Peredur said
unto him, "Do one of two things, black man; if thou wilt fight with
me, either throw off thy own armour, or give arms to me, that I may
encounter thee."  "Ha, man," said he, "couldst thou fight, if thou
hadst arms?  Take, then, what arms thou dost choose."  And thereupon
the maiden came to Peredur with such arms as pleased him; and he
fought with the black man, and forced him to crave his mercy.  "Black
man, thou shalt have mercy, provided thou tell me who thou art, and
who put out thine eye."  "Lord, I will tell thee; I lost it in
fighting with the Black Serpent of the Carn.  There is a mound, which
is called the Mound of Mourning; and on the mound there is a c