Book: The Mabinogion Vol. 1 (of 3)

O >> Owen M. Edwards >> The Mabinogion Vol. 1 (of 3)




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 enquired 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 shall 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 the 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 done 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 enquired. "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 enquired 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 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 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
{72} 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 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 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 a 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 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 shall 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 {76}
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 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."

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