have the best that can be procured for thee." So Geraint went forward.
And the hoary-headed man preceded him into the hall. And in the hall he
dismounted, and he left there his horse. Then he went on to the upper
chamber with the hoary-headed man. And in the chamber he beheld an old
decrepit woman sitting on a cushion, with old, tattered garments of
satin upon her; and it seemed to him that he had never seen a woman
fairer than she must have been when in the fulness of youth. And beside
her was a maiden, upon whom were a vest and a veil that were old, and
beginning to be worn out. And truly he never saw a maiden more full of
comeliness and grace and beauty than she. And the hoary-headed man said
to the maiden, "There is no attendant for the horse of this youth but
thyself."
"I will render the best service I am able," said she, "both to him
and to his horse." And the maiden disarrayed the youth, and then she
furnished his horse with straw and with corn. And she went to the hall
as before, and then she returned to the chamber.
And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, "Go to the town," said he,
"and bring hither the best that thou canst find both of food and of
liquor."
"I will gladly, lord," said she. And to the town went the maiden. And
they conversed together while the maiden was at the town. And behold!
the maiden came back, and a youth with her, bearing on his back a
costrel full of good purchased mead, and a quarter of a young bullock.
And in the hands of the maiden was a quantity of white bread, and she
had some manchet bread in her veil, and she came into the chamber.
"I could not obtain better than this," said she, "nor with better
should I have been trusted."
"It is good enough," said Geraint. And they caused the meat to be
boiled; and when their food was ready, they sat down. And it was on
this wise: Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his wife, and
the maiden served them. And they ate and drank.
And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary-headed
man; and he asked him, in the first place, to whom belonged the palace
that he was in.
"Truly," said he, "it was I that built it, and to me also belonged the
city and the castle which thou sawest."
"Alas!" said Geraint, "how is it that thou hast lost them now?"
"I lost a great earldom as well as these," said he. "And this is how
I lost them. I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his
possessions to myself; and when he came to his strength, he demanded of
me his property; but I withheld it from him. So he made war upon me,
and wrested from me all that I possessed."
"Good sir," said Geraint, "wilt thou tell me wherefore came the knight
and the lady and the dwarf just now into the town, and what is the
preparation which I saw and the putting of arms in order?"
"I will do so," said he. "The preparations are for the game that is to
be held to-morrow by the young earl, which will be on this wise. In the
midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be set up, and upon the
two forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a sparrow-hawk; and for
the sparrow-hawk there will be a tournament. And to the tournament will
go all the array thou didst see in the city, of men and of horses and
of arms. And with each man will go the lady he loves best; and no man
can joust for the sparrow-hawk, except the lady he loves best be with
him. And the knight that thou sawest has gained the sparrow-hawk these
two years; and if he gains it the third year, they will from that time
send it every year to him, and he himself will come here no more. And
he will be called the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk from that time forth."
"Sir," said Geraint, "what is thy counsel to me concerning this knight,
on account of the insult which I received from the dwarf, and that
which was received by the maiden of Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur?"
And Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insult was that he had
received.
"It is not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou hast neither dame nor
maiden belonging to thee for whom thou canst joust. Yet I have arms
here which thou couldest have, and there is my horse also, if he seem
to thee better than thine own."
"Ah, sir," said he, "Heaven reward thee! But my own horse, to which
I am accustomed, together with thy arms, will suffice. And if, when
the appointed time shall come to-morrow, thou wilt permit me, sir, to
challenge for yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I
escape from the tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live; and,
if I do not escape, she will remain as before."
"Gladly will I permit thee," said the hoary-headed man. "And since
thou dost thus resolve, it is necessary that thy horse and arms
should be ready to-morrow at break of day. For then the Knight of the
Sparrow-hawk will make proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best to
take the sparrow-hawk. 'For,' will he say to her, 'thou art the fairest
of women, and thou didst possess it last year and the year previous;
and if any deny it thee to-day, by force will I defend it for thee.'
And therefore," said the hoary-headed man, "it is needful for thee to
be there at daybreak; and we three will be with thee." And thus was it
settled.
And at night, lo! they went to sleep. And before the dawn they arose,
and arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were all
four in the meadow. And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk making
the proclamation, and asking his lady-love to fetch the sparrow-hawk.
"Fetch it not," said Geraint, "for there is here a maiden who is
fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and who has a better claim to
it, than thou."
"If thou maintainest the sparrow-hawk to be due to her, come forward
and do battle with me." And Geraint went forward to the top of the
meadow, having upon himself and upon his horse armor which was heavy
and rusty and worthless, and of uncouth shape. Then they encountered
each other, and they broke a set of lances, and they broke a second
set, and a third. And thus they did at every onset, and they broke
as many lances as were brought to them. And when the earl and his
company saw the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk gaining the mastery, there
was shouting and joy and mirth amongst them. And the hoary-headed man
and his wife and his daughter were sorrowful. And the hoary-headed
man served Geraint lances as often as he broke them; and the dwarf
served the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk. Then the hoary-headed man came
to Geraint. "O chieftain!" said he, "since no other will hold with
thee, behold, here is the lance which was in my hand on the day when I
received the honor of knighthood; and from that time to this I never
broke it. And it has an excellent point." Then Geraint took the lance,
thanking the hoary-headed man. And thereupon the dwarf also brought a
lance to his lord.
[Illustration: The Tournament for the Sparrow-hawk.]
"Behold, here is a lance for thee, not less good than his," said the
dwarf. "And bethink thee that no knight ever withstood thee before so
long as this one has done."
"I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, "that, unless death takes me
quickly hence, he shall fare never the better for thy service." And
Geraint pricked his horse towards him from afar, and warning him, he
rushed upon him, and gave him a blow so severe and furious and fierce,
upon the face of his shield, that he cleft it in two, and broke his
armor, and burst his girths, so that both he and his saddle were borne
to the ground over the horse's crupper. And Geraint dismounted quickly.
And he was wroth, and he drew his sword, and rushed fiercely upon him.
Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against Geraint. And
they fought on foot with their swords until their arms struck sparks
of fire like stars from one another; and thus they continued fighting
until the blood and sweat obscured the light from their eyes. And when
Geraint prevailed, the hoary-headed man and his wife and his daughter
were glad; and when the knight prevailed, it rejoiced the earl and his
party.
Then the hoary-headed man saw Geraint receive a severe stroke, and
he went up to him quickly, and said to him, "O chieftain, remember
the treatment which thou hadst from the dwarf; and wilt thou not seek
vengeance for the insult to thyself, and for the insult to Gwenhwyvar
the wife of Arthur?"
And Geraint was roused by what he said to him, and he called to him all
his strength, and lifted up his sword, and struck the knight upon the
crown of his head, so that he broke all his head-armor, and cut through
all the flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he wounded the
bone.
Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from his hand,
and besought mercy of Geraint. "Of a truth," said he, "I relinquish my
overdaring and my pride in craving thy mercy; and unless I have time
to commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to talk with a priest, thy
mercy will avail me little."
"I will grant thee grace upon this condition," said Geraint, "that thou
wilt go to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction for
the insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf. As to myself, for
the insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf, I am content with
that which I have done unto thee. Dismount not from the time thou goest
hence until thou comest into the presence of Gwenhwyvar, to make her
what atonement shall be adjudged at the court of Arthur."
"This will I do gladly. And who art thou?" said he.
"I am Geraint the son of Erbin. And declare thou also who thou art."
"I am Edeyrn the son of Nudd." Then he threw himself upon his horse,
and went forward to Arthur's court, and the lady he loved best went
before him and the dwarf with much lamentation. And thus far this story
up to that time.
* * * * *
Then came the little earl and his hosts to Geraint, and saluted him,
and bade him to his castle.
"I may not go," said Geraint; "but where I was last night, there will I
be to-night also."
"Since thou wilt none of my inviting, thou shalt have abundance of all
that I can command for thee in the place thou wast last night. And I
will order ointment for thee, to recover thee from thy fatigues and
from the weariness that is upon thee."
"Heaven reward thee!" said Geraint, "and I will go to my lodging." And
thus went Geraint, and Earl Ynywl, and his wife, and his daughter. And
when they reached the chamber, the household servants and attendants
of the young earl had arrived at the court, and they arranged all the
houses, dressing them with straw and with fire. And in a short time the
ointment was ready, and Geraint came there, and they washed his head.
Then came the young earl, with forty honorable knights from among his
attendants, and those who were bidden to the tournament. And Geraint
came from the anointing. And the earl asked him to go to the hall to
eat.
"Where is the Earl Ynywl," said Geraint, "and his wife, and his
daughter?"
"They are in the chamber yonder," said the earl's chamberlain,
"arraying themselves in garments which the earl has caused to be
brought for them."
"Let not the damsel array herself," said he, "except in her vest
and her veil, until she come to the court of Arthur to be clad by
Gwenhwyvar in such garments as she may choose." So the maiden did not
array herself.
Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and went and sat down
to meat. And thus they were seated: on one side of Geraint sat the
young earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him; and on the other side of Geraint
were the maiden and her mother. And after these, all sat according
to their precedence in honor. And they ate. And they were served
abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers kind of gifts. Then
they conversed together. And the young earl invited Geraint to visit
him next day.
"I will not, by Heaven!" said Geraint. "To the court of Arthur will I
go with this maiden to-morrow. And it is enough for me, as long as Earl
Ynywl is in poverty and trouble; and I go chiefly to seek to add to his
maintenance."
"Ah, chieftain!" said the young earl, "it is not by my fault that Earl
Ynywl is without his possessions."
"By my faith," said Geraint, "he shall not remain without them, unless
death quickly takes me hence."
"Oh, chieftain!" said he, "with regard to the disagreement between me
and Ynywl, I will gladly abide by thy counsel, and agree to what thou
mayest judge right between us."
"I but ask thee," said Geraint, "to restore to him what is his, and
what he should have received from the time he lost his possessions,
even until this day."
"That I will do gladly for thee," answered he.
"Then," said Geraint, "whosoever is here who owes homage to Ynywl, let
him come forward, and perform it on the spot." And all the men did so.
And by that treaty they abided. And his castle, and his town, and all
his possessions, were restored to Ynywl. And he received back all that
he had lost, even to the smallest jewel.
Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint. "Chieftain," said he, "behold the
maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament: I bestow her
upon thee."
"She shall go with me," said Geraint, "to the court of Arthur; and
Arthur and Gwenhwyvar they shall dispose of her as they will." And the
next day they proceeded to Arthur's court. So far concerning Geraint.
* * * * *
Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and the dogs were
divided into hunting-parties, and the dogs were let loose upon the
stag. And the last dog that was let loose was the favorite dog of
Arthur. Cavall[19] was his name. And he left all the other dogs behind
him, and turned the stag. And at the second turn, the stag came towards
the hunting-party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him. And before he
could be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his head. Then they sounded
the death-horn for slaying, and they all gathered round.
[Footnote 19: We have already become acquainted with Cavall at the
hunting of the great boar in "Kilhwch and Olwen."]
Then came Kadyriaith to Arthur, and spoke to him. "Lord," said he,
"behold, yonder is Gwenhwyvar, and none with her save only one maiden."
"Command Gildas the son of Caw, and all the scholars of the court,"
said Arthur, "to attend Gwenhwyvar to the palace." And they did so.
Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning the head
of the stag, to whom it should be given. One wished that it should be
given to the lady best beloved by him, and another to the lady whom he
loved best. And all they of the household, and the knights, disputed
sharply concerning the head. And with that they came to the palace.
And when Arthur and Gwenhwyvar heard them disputing about the head
of the stag, Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, "My lord, this is my counsel
concerning the stag's head: let it not be given away until Geraint the
son of Erbin shall return from the errand he is upon." And Gwenhwyvar
told Arthur what that errand was.
"Right gladly shall it be so," said Arthur. And thus it was settled.
And the next day Gwenhwyvar caused a watch to be set upon the ramparts
for Geraint's coming. And after mid-day they beheld an unshapely little
man upon a horse, and after him, as they supposed, a dame or a damsel,
also on horseback, and after her a knight of large stature, bowed
down, and hanging his head low and sorrowfully, and clad in broken and
worthless armor.
And before they came near to the gate, one of the watch went to
Gwenhwyvar, and told her what kind of people they saw, and what aspect
they bore. "I know not who they are," said he.
"But I know," said Gwenhwyvar. "This is the knight whom Geraint
pursued: and methinks that he comes not here by his own free will; but
Geraint has overtaken him, and avenged the insult to the maiden to the
uttermost."
And thereupon behold a porter came to the spot where Gwenhwyvar was.
"Lady," said he, "at the gate there is a knight, and I saw never a man
of so pitiful an aspect to look upon as he. Miserable and broken is the
armor that he wears; and the hue of blood is more conspicuous upon it
than its own color."
"Knowest thou his name?" said she.
"I do," said he. "He tells me that he is Edeyrn the son of Nudd."
Then she replied, "I know him not."
So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he entered. And
Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, even
though he was accompanied by the churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted
Gwenhwyvar. "Heaven protect thee!" said she.
"Lady," said he, "Geraint the son of Erbin, thy best and most valiant
servant, greets thee."
"Did he meet thee?" she asked.
"Yes," said he, "and it was not to my advantage; and that was not his
fault, but mine, lady. And Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting
thee he compelled me to come hither to do thy pleasure for the insult
which thy maiden received from the dwarf. He forgives the insult to
himself in consideration of his having put me in peril of my life. And
he imposed on me a condition manly and honorable and warrior-like,
which was to do thee justice, lady."
"Now, where did he overtake thee?"
"At the place where we were jousting, and contending for the
sparrow-hawk, in the town which is now called Cardiff. And there were
none with him save three persons of a mean and tattered condition. And
these were an aged, hoary-headed man, and a woman advanced in years,
and a fair young maiden clad in worn-out garments. And it was for
the avouchment of the love of that maiden that Geraint jousted for
the sparrow-hawk at the tournament; for he said that that maiden was
better entitled to the sparrow-hawk than this maiden who was with me.
And thereupon we encountered each other, and he left me, lady, as thou
seest."
"Sir," said she, "when thinkest thou that Geraint will be here?"
"To-morrow, lady, I think he will be here with the maiden."
Then Arthur came to him; and he saluted Arthur. And Arthur gazed a long
time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus. And, thinking that he
knew him, he inquired of him, "Art thou Edeyrn the son of Nudd?"
"I am, lord," said he, "and I have met with much trouble, and received
wounds insupportable." Then he told Arthur all his adventure.
"Well," said Arthur, "from what I hear, it behooves Gwenhwyvar to be
merciful towards thee."
"The mercy which thou desirest, lord," said she, "will I grant to him,
since it is as insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to me
as to thyself."
"Thus will it be best to do," said Arthur. "Let this man have medical
care until it be known whether he may live. And, if he live, he shall
do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by the men of the court;
and take thou sureties to that effect."
"This pleases me," said Gwenhwyvar. And Arthur became surety for
Edeyrn, and Caradawc the son of Llyr, Gwallawg the son of Llenawg,
and Owain the son of Nudd, and Gwalchmai, and many others with them.
And Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to him. He was the chief
physician.
"Take with thee Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and cause a chamber to be
prepared for him, and let him have the aid of medicine as thou wouldest
do unto myself, if I were wounded, and let none into his chamber
to molest him, but thyself and thy disciples to administer to him
remedies."
"I will do so gladly, lord," said Morgan Tud.
Then said the steward of the household, "Whither is it right, lord, to
order the maiden?"
"To Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens," said he. And the steward of the
household so ordered her. Thus far concerning them.
The next day came Geraint towards the court; and there was a watch set
on the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar, lest he should arrive unawares. And
one of the watch came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was. "Lady," said
he, "methinks that I see Geraint, and the maiden with him. He is on
horseback; but he has his walking-gear upon him, and the maiden appears
to be in white, seeming to be clad in a garment of linen."
"Assemble all the women," said Gwenhwyvar, "and come to meet Geraint,
to welcome him, and wish him joy." And Gwenhwyvar went to meet Geraint
and the maiden. And when Geraint came to the place where Gwenhwyvar
was, he saluted her. "Heaven prosper thee," said she, "and welcome
to thee. And thy career has been successful, and fortunate, and
resistless, and glorious. And Heaven reward thee, that thou hast so
proudly caused me to have retribution."
"Lady," said he, "I earnestly desired to obtain thee satisfaction
according to thy will; and behold, here is the maiden through whom thou
hadst thy revenge."
"Verily," said Gwenhwyvar, "the welcome of Heaven be unto her! and it
is fitting that we should receive her joyfully." Then they went in, and
dismounted. And Geraint came to where Arthur was, and saluted him.
"Heaven protect thee," said Arthur, "and the welcome of Heaven be unto
thee! And since Edeyrn the son of Nudd has received his overthrow and
wounds from thy hands, thou hast had a prosperous career."
"Not upon me be the blame!" said Geraint. "It was through the arrogance
of Edeyrn the son of Nudd himself that we were not friends. I would not
quit him until I knew who he was, and until the one had vanquished the
other."
"Now," said Arthur, "where is the maiden for whom I heard thou didst
give challenge?"
"She is gone with Gwenhwyvar to her chamber."
Then went Arthur to see the maiden. And Arthur, and all his companions,
and his whole court, were glad concerning the maiden. And certain were
they all, that, had her array been suitable to her beauty, they had
never seen a maid fairer than she. And Arthur gave away the maiden to
Geraint. And the usual bond made between two persons was made between
Geraint and the maiden; and the choicest of all Gwenhwyvar's apparel
was given to the maiden; and thus arrayed, she appeared comely and
graceful to all who beheld her.
And from that time she became his bride. And the next day Arthur
satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint with bountiful gifts. And the
maiden took up her abode in the palace; and she had many companions,
both men and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed than she in
the Island of Britain.
Then spake Gwenhwyvar. "Rightly did I judge," said she, "concerning the
head of the stag, that it should not be given to any until Geraint's
return; and behold, here is a fit occasion for bestowing it. Let it
be given to Enid the daughter of Ynywl, the most illustrious maiden.
And I do not believe that any will begrudge it her; for between her
and every one here there exists nothing but love and friendship." Much
applauded was this by them all, and by Arthur also. And the head of
the stag was given to Enid; and thereupon her fame increased, and her
friends thenceforward became more in number than before. And Geraint
from that time forth loved the stag, and the tournament, and hard
encounters; and he came victorious from them all. And a year, and a
second, and a third, he proceeded thus, until his fame had flown over
the face of the kingdom.
* * * * *
And once upon a time Arthur was holding his court at
Caerlleon-upon-Usk, at Whitsuntide. And behold, there came to him
ambassadors, wise and prudent, full of knowledge, and eloquent of
speech, and they saluted Arthur. "Heaven prosper you," said Arthur,
"and the welcome of Heaven be unto you! And whence do you come?"
"We come, lord," said they, "from Cornwall; and we are ambassadors from
Erbin the son of Custennin, thy uncle, and our mission is unto thee.
And he greets thee well, as an uncle should greet his nephew, and as
a vassal should greet his lord. And he represents unto thee that he
waxes heavy and feeble, and is advancing in years. And the neighboring
chiefs, knowing this, grow insolent towards him, and covet his land and
possessions. And he earnestly beseeches thee, lord, to permit Geraint
his son to return to him to protect his possessions, and to become
acquainted with his boundaries. And unto him he represents that it were
better for him to spend the flower of his youth and the prime of his
age in preserving his own boundaries than in tournaments, which are
productive of no profit, although he obtains glory in them."
"Well," said Arthur, "go and divest yourselves of your accoutrements,
and take food, and refresh yourselves after your fatigues; and before
you go forth hence, you shall have an answer."