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 honor and reverence in thy
power, seeing thou hast, without cause, slain her wedded husband;
and that thou go to Arthur's court, and show him that it was I that
overthrew thee, to do him honor 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."
[Illustration: Peredur and the Maiden.]
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. [Then, having eaten, Peredur retired and
slept. And in the night] with the noise of the door opening, Peredur
awoke; and the maiden was [there] 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
valor 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 succor 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 headpiece 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 armor 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 honorable 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 has
changed from his thought; and, if he has, I will ask him courteously to
come and visit thee."
Then Kai was wrath, and he spoke angry and spiteful words. "Gwalchmai,"
said he, "I know that thou wilt bring him because he is fatigued.
Little praise and honor, 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 armor 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 behooves 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 armor 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 was 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
armor. 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 valor 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 honor 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 gray 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 seahorse. And one of the pages had
red hair, and the other auburn. And they went before him to the place
where the gray man was, and Peredur saluted him. And the gray man said,
"Disgrace to the beard of my porter!" Then Peredur understood that
the porter was the lion. And the gray 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 gray 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 gray 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 gray 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 gray 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 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 forever."
Then they went in; and the gray man and the tall woman saluted Peredur.
And the gray 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."