Book: The Mabinogion Vol. 1 (of 3)

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




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 the 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
recognised 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, "woeful
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?" enquired 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
saidest 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 earn, and in the earn there is a serpent, and on the tail of the
serpent there is a stone, and the virtues of the stone are such, that
whosoever should hold it in one hand, in the other he will have as much
gold as he may desire. And in fighting with this serpent was it that I
lost my eye. And the Black Oppressor am I called. And for this reason I
am called the Black Oppressor, that there is not a single man around me
whom I have not oppressed, and justice have I done unto none." "Tell me"
said Peredur, "how far is it hence?" "The same day that thou settest
forth, thou wilt come to the Palace of the Sons of the King of the
Tortures." "Wherefore are they called thus?" "The Addanc of the Lake
slays them once every day. When thou goest thence, thou wilt come to the
Court of the Countess of the Achievements." "What achievements are
there?" asked Peredur. "Three hundred men there are in her household,
and unto every stranger that comes to the Court, the achievements of her
household are related. And this is the manner of it,--the three hundred
men of the household sit next unto the Lady; and that not through
disrespect unto the guests, but that they may relate the achievements of
the household. And the day that thou goest thence, thou wilt reach the
Mound of Mourning, and round about the mound there are the owners of
three hundred tents guarding the serpent." "Since thou hast, indeed,
been an oppressor so long," said Peredur, "I will cause that thou
continue so no longer." So he slew him.

Then the maiden spoke, and began to converse with him. "If thou wast
poor when thou camest here, henceforth thou wilt be rich through the
treasure of the black man whom thou hast slain. Thou seest the many
lovely maidens that there are in this Court, thou shalt have her whom
thou best likest for the lady of thy love." "Lady, I came not hither
from my country to woo; but match yourselves as it liketh you with the
comely youths I see here; and none of your goods do I desire, for I need
them not." Then Peredur rode forward, and he came to the Palace of the
Sons of the King of the Tortures; and when he entered the Palace, he saw
none but women; and they rose up, and were joyful at his coming; and as
they began to discourse with him, he beheld a charger arrive, with a
saddle upon it, and a corpse in the saddle. And one of the women arose,
and took the corpse from the saddle, and anointed it in a vessel of warm
water, which was below the door, and placed precious balsam upon it; and
the man rose up alive, and came to the place where Peredur was, and
greeted him, and was joyful to see him. And two other men came in upon
their saddles, and the maiden treated these two in the same manner as she
had done the first. Then Peredur asked the chieftain wherefore it was
thus. And they told him, that there was an Addanc in a cave, which slew
them once every day. And thus they remained that night.

And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and Peredur besought
them, for the sake of the ladies of their love, to permit him to go with
them; but they refused him, saying, "If thou shouldst be slain there,
thou hast none to bring thee back to life again." And they rode forward,
and Peredur followed after them; and after they had disappeared out of
his sight, he came to a mound, whereon sat the fairest lady he had ever
beheld. "I know thy quest," said she, "thou art going to encounter the
Addanc, and he will slay thee, and that not by courage, but by craft. He
has a cave, and at the entrance of the cave there is a stone pillar, and
he sees every one that enters, and none see him; and from behind the
pillar he slays every one with a poisonous dart. And if thou wouldst
pledge me thy faith, to love me above all women, I would give thee a
stone, by which thou shouldst see him when thou goest in, and he should
not see thee." "I will, by my troth," said Peredur, "for when first I
beheld thee, I loved thee; and where shall I seek thee?" "When thou
seekest me, seek towards India." And the maiden vanished, after placing
the stone in Peredur's hand.

And he came towards a valley, through which ran a river; and the borders
of the valley were wooded, and on each side of the river were level
meadows. And on one side of the river he saw a flock of white sheep, and
on the other a flock of black sheep. And whenever one of the white sheep
bleated, one of the black sheep would cross over, and become white; and
when one of the black sheep bleated, one of the white sheep would cross
over, and become black. And he saw a tall tree by the side of the river,
one half of which was in flames from the root to the top, and the other
half was green and in full leaf. And nigh thereto he saw a youth sitting
upon a mound, and two greyhounds, white-breasted, and spotted, in
leashes, lying by his side. And certain was he, that he had never seen a
youth of so royal a bearing as he. And in the wood opposite he heard
hounds raising a herd of deer. And Peredur saluted the youth, and the
youth greeted him in return. And there were three roads leading from the
mound; two of them were wide roads, and the third was more narrow. And
Peredur enquired where the three roads went. "One of them goes to my
palace," said the youth, "and one of two things I counsel thee to do,
either to proceed to my palace, which is before thee, and where thou wilt
find my wife, or else to remain here to see the hounds chasing the roused
deer from the wood to the plain. And thou shall see the best greyhounds
thou didst ever behold, and the boldest in the chase, kill them by the
water beside us; and when it is time to go to meat, my page will come
with my horse to meet me, and thou shalt rest in my palace to-night."
"Heaven reward thee; but I cannot tarry, for onward must I go." "The
other road leads to the town, which is near here, and wherein food and
liquor may be bought; and the road which is narrower than the others goes
towards the cave of the Addanc." "With thy permission, young man, I will
go that way."

And Peredur went towards the cave. And he took the stone in his left
hand, and his lance in his right. And as he went in, he perceived the
Addanc, and he pierced him through with his lance, and cut off his head.
And as he came from the cave, behold the three companions were at the
entrance; and they saluted Peredur, and told him that there was a
prediction that he should slay that monster. And Peredur gave the head
to the young men, and they offered him in marriage whichever of the three
sisters he might choose, and half their kingdom with her. "I came not
hither to woo," said Peredur, "but if peradventure I took a wife, I
should prefer your sister to all others." And Peredur rode forward, and
he heard a noise behind him. And he looked back, and saw a man upon a
red horse, with red armour upon him; and the man rode up by his side, and
saluted him, and wished him the favour of Heaven and of man. And Peredur
greeted the youth kindly. "Lord, I come to make a request unto thee."
"What wouldest thou?" "That thou shouldest take me as thine attendant."
"Who then should I take as my attendant, if I did so?" "I will not
conceal from thee what kindred I am of. Etlym Gleddyv Coch am I called,
an Earl from the East Country." "I marvel that thou shouldest offer to
become attendant to a man whose possessions are no greater than thine
own; for I have but an earldom like thyself. But since thou desirest to
be my attendant, I will take thee joyfully."

And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and all they of the
Court were glad at their coming; and they were told it was not through
disrespect they were placed below the household, but that such was the
usage of the Court. For, whoever should overthrow the three hundred men
of her household, would sit next the Countess, and she would love him
above all men. And Peredur having overthrown the three hundred men of
her household, sat down beside her, and the Countess said, "I thank
Heaven that I have a youth so fair and so valiant as thou, since I have
not obtained the man whom best I love." "Who is he whom best thou
lovest?" "By my faith, Etlym Gleddyv Coch is the man whom I love best,
and I have never seen him." "Of a truth, Etlym is my companion; and
behold here he is, and for his sake did I come to joust with thy
household. And he could have done so better than I, had it pleased him.
And I do give thee unto him." "Heaven reward thee, fair youth, and I
will take the man whom I love above all others." And the Countess became
Etlym's bride from that moment.

And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound of Mourning. "By
thy hand, lord, but I will go with thee," said Etlym. Then they went
forwards till they came in sight of the mound and the tents. "Go unto
yonder men," said Peredur to Etlym, "and desire them to come and do me
homage." So Etlym went unto them, and said unto them thus--"Come and do
homage to my lord." "Who is thy lord?" said they. "Peredur with the
long lance is my lord," said Etlym. "Were it permitted to slay a
messenger, thou shouldest not go back to thy lord alive, for making unto
Kings, and Earls, and Barons, so arrogant a demand as to go and do him
homage." Peredur desired him to go back to them, and to give them their
choice, either to do him homage or to do battle with him. And they chose
rather to do battle. And that day Peredur overthrew the owners of a
hundred tents. And the next day he overthrew the owners of a hundred
more; and the third day the remaining hundred took counsel to do homage
to Peredur. And Peredur enquired of them, wherefore they were there. And
they told him they were guarding the serpent until he should die. "For
then should we fight for the stone among ourselves, and whoever should be
conqueror among us would have the stone." "Await here," said Peredur,
"and I will go to encounter the serpent." "Not so, lord," said they, "we
will go altogether to encounter the serpent."

"Verily," said Peredur, "that will I not permit; for if the serpent be
slain, I shall derive no more fame therefrom than one of you." Then he
went to the place where the serpent was, and slew it, and came back to
them, and said, "Reckon up what you have spent since you have been here,
and I will repay you to the full." And he paid to each what he said was
his claim. And he required of them only that they should acknowledge
themselves his vassals. And he said to Etlym, "Go back unto her whom
thou lovest best, and I will go forwards, and I will reward thee for
having been my attendant." And he gave Etlym the stone. "Heaven repay
thee and prosper thee," said Etlym.

And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley he had ever
seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld many tents of
various colours. And he marvelled still more at the number of
water-mills and of wind-mills that he saw. And there rode up with him a
tall auburn-haired man, in a workman's garb, and Peredur enquired of him
who he was. "I am the chief miller," said he, "of all the mills yonder."
"Wilt thou give me lodging?" said Peredur. "I will, gladly," he
answered. And Peredur came to the miller's house, and the miller had a
fair and pleasant dwelling. And Peredur asked money as a loan from the
miller, that he might buy meat and liquor for himself, and for the
household, and he promised that he would pay him again ere he went
thence. And he enquired of the miller, wherefore such a multitude were
there assembled. Said the miller to Peredur, "One thing is certain;
either thou art a man from afar, or thou art beside thyself. The Empress
of Cristinobyl the Great is here; and she will have no one but the man
who is most valiant; for riches does she not require. And it was
impossible to bring food for so many thousands as are here, therefore
were all these mills constructed." And that night they took their rest.

And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and his horse for
the tournament. And among the other tents, he beheld one, which was the
fairest he had ever seen. And he saw a beauteous maiden leaning her head
out of a window of the tent, and he had never seen a maiden more lovely
than she. And upon her was a garment of satin. And he gazed fixedly on
the maiden, and began to love her greatly. And he remained there, gazing
upon the maiden from morning until mid-day, and from mid-day until
evening; and then the tournament was ended; and he went to his lodging,
and drew off his armour. Then he asked money of the miller as a loan,
and the miller's wife was wroth with Peredur; nevertheless, the miller
lent him the money. And the next day he did in like manner as he had
done the day before. And at night he came to his lodging, and took money
as a loan from the miller. And the third day, as he was in the same
place, gazing upon the maiden, he felt a hard blow between the neck and
the shoulder, from the edge of an axe. And when he looked behind him, he
saw that it was the miller; and the miller said to him, "Do one of two
things: either turn thy head from hence, or go to the tournament." And
Peredur smiled on the miller, and went to the tournament; and all that
encountered him that day, he overthrew. And as many as he vanquished, he
sent as a gift to the Empress, and their horses and arms he sent as a
gift to the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money. Peredur
attended the tournament until all were overthrown, and he sent all the
men to the prison of the Empress, and the horses and arms to the wife of
the miller, in payment of the borrowed money. And the Empress sent to
the Knight of the Mill, to ask him to come and visit her. And Peredur
went not for the first nor for the second message. And the third time
she sent an hundred knights to bring him against his will, and they went
to him, and told him their mission from the Empress. And Peredur fought
well with them, and caused them to be bound like stags, and thrown into
the mill dyke. And the Empress sought advice of a wise man, who was in
her counsel; and he said to her, "With thy permission, I will go to him
myself." So he came to Peredur, and saluted him, and besought him, for
the sake of the lady of his love, to come and visit the Empress. And
they went, together with the miller. And Peredur went and sat down in
the outer chamber of the tent, and she came and placed herself by his
side. And there was but little discourse between them. And Peredur took
his leave, and went to his lodging. And the next day he came to visit
her, and when he came into the tent, there was no one chamber less
decorated than the others. And they knew not where he would sit. And
Peredur went and sat beside the Empress, and discoursed with her
courteously. And while they were thus, they beheld a black man enter
with a goblet full of wine in his hand. And he dropped upon his knee
before the Empress, and besought her to give it to no one who would not
fight with him for it. And she looked upon Peredur. "Lady," said he,
"bestow on me the goblet." And Peredur drank the wine, and gave the
goblet to the miller's wife. And while they were thus, behold there
entered a black man, of larger stature than the other, with a wild
beast's claw in his hand, wrought into the form of a goblet, and filled
with wine. And he presented it to the Empress, and besought her to give
it to no one but the man who would fight with him. "Lady," said Peredur,
"bestow it on me." And she gave it to him. And Peredur drank the wine,
and sent the goblet to the wife of the miller. And while they were thus,
behold a rough-looking crisp-haired man, taller than either of the
others, came in with a bowl in his hand full of wine; and he bent upon
his knee, and gave it into the hands of the Empress, and he besought her
to give it to none but him who would fight with him for it; and she gave
it to Peredur, and he sent it to the miller's wife. And that night
Peredur returned to his lodging; and the next day he accoutred himself
and his horse, and went to the meadow, and slew the three men. Then
Peredur proceeded to the tent, and the Empress said to him, "Goodly
Peredur, remember the faith thou didst pledge me when I gave thee the
stone, and thou didst kill the Addanc." "Lady," answered he, "thou
sayest truth, I do remember it." And Peredur was entertained by the
Empress fourteen years, as the story relates.

* * * * *

Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk, his principal palace; and in the centre
of the floor of the hall were four men sitting on a carpet of velvet,
Owain the son of Urien, and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Howel the son
of Emyr Llydaw, and Peredur of the long lance. And thereupon they saw a
black curly-headed maiden enter, riding upon a yellow mule, with jagged
thongs in her hand, to urge it on; and having a rough and hideous aspect.
Blacker were her face and her two hands than the blackest iron covered
with pitch; and her hue was not more frightful than her form. High
cheeks had she, and a face lengthened downwards, and a short nose with
distended nostrils. And one eye was of a piercing mottled grey, and the
other was as black as jet, deep sunk in her head. And her teeth were
long and yellow, more yellow were they than the flower of the broom. And
her stomach rose from the breast bone, higher than her chin. And her
back was in the shape of a crook, and her legs were large and bony. And
her figure was very thin and spare, except her feet and her legs, which
were of huge size. And she greeted Arthur and all his household, except
Peredur. And to Peredur she spoke harsh and angry words. "Peredur, I
greet thee not, seeing that thou dost not merit it. Blind was fate in
giving thee fame and favour. When thou wast in the Court of the Lame
King, and didst see there the youth bearing the streaming spear, from the
points of which were drops of blood flowing in streams, even to the hand
of the youth, and many other wonders likewise, thou didst not enquire
their meaning nor their cause. Hadst thou done so, the King would have
been restored to health, and his dominions to peace. Whereas, from
henceforth, he will have to endure battles and conflicts, and his knights
will perish, and wives will be widowed, and maidens will be left
portionless, and all this is because of thee." Then said she unto
Arthur, "May it please thee, lord, my dwelling is far hence, in the
stately castle of which thou hast heard, and therein are five hundred and
sixty-six knights of the order of Chivalry, and the lady whom best he
loves with each; and whoever would acquire fame in arms, and encounters,
and conflicts, he will gain it there, if he deserve it. And whoso would
reach the summit of fame and of honour, I know where he may find it.
There is a Castle on a lofty mountain, and there is a maiden therein, and
she is detained a prisoner there, and whoever shall set her free will
attain the summit of the fame of the world." And thereupon she rode
away.

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