The Mabinogion Vol. 1 by Sir Owen Morgan Edwards and Lady Charlotte Schreiber (best big ereader txt) 📗

And Peredur dismounted, and entered the tent.  And the maiden was glad at his coming, and bade him welcome.  At the entrance of the p. 55tent 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 p. 56with 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 avenge 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. [56]  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, “Ha ha!” 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 p. 57art 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, “Ha ha! 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, “show 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 p. 58knight ran at him furiously, and struck him a violent blow [58] with the shaft of his spear, between the neck and the shoulder.  “Ha ha! 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 p. 59doing thus?” said Owain.  “This iron coat,” said Peredur, “will never come from off him; not by my efforts, at any rate.” [59a]  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 avenge 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. [59b]

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 p. 60thee, 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 enquired 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 p. 61should.”  “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, youth,” 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