Jules Verne - "The Mysterious Island"

Hector St. John de Crevecoeur - "Letters from an American Farmer"

Rudyard Kipling - "Kim"

G. K. Chesterton - "A Miscellany of Men"

New Philadelphia Book Publisher Highlights Local Talent
Book and Publishing News from Publishers Newswire(tm)

Looking for Child to be on Cover of a New Book, 'The Model Child'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

FlatSigned Press Alleges Don Imus Remarks Damage Legacy of President Gerald R. Ford
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nathan Yungerberg, an accomplished model scout and professional child photographer is launching a nation-wide casting call to find the cover model for his highly anticipated book release, 'The Model Child: A Parents Guide to the Child Modeling Industry' (ISBN: 978-0-9817018-0-6).

Books: The Mabinogion

U >> Unknown >> The Mabinogion




"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 doing thus?"
said Owain. "This iron coat," said Peredur, "will never come from
off him; not by my efforts, at any rate." 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 revenge 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.

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 thee, 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 inquired 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 should." "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, youths," 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 a space, in order to learn the manners and
customs of different countries, and courtesy, and gentleness, and
noble bearing. Leave, then, the habits and the discourse of thy
mother, and I will be thy teacher; and I will raise thee to the rank
of knight from this time forward. And thus do thou. If thou seest
aught to cause thee wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has
the courtesy to inform thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee,
but upon me that am thy teacher." And they had abundance of honour
and service. And when it was time they went to sleep. At the break
of day, Peredur arose, and took his horse, and with his uncle's
permission he rode forth. And he came to a vast desert wood, and at
the further end of the wood was a meadow, and on the other side of
the meadow he saw a large castle. And thitherward Peredur bent his
way, and he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the hall. And
he beheld a stately hoary-headed man sitting on one side of the hall,
and many pages around him, who arose to receive and to honour
Peredur. And they placed him by the side of the owner of the palace.
Then they discoursed together; and when it was time to eat, they
caused Peredur to sit beside the nobleman during the repast. And
when they had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, the nobleman
asked Peredur whether he could fight with a sword? "Were I to
receive instruction," said Peredur, "I think I could." Now, there
was on the floor of the hall a huge staple, as large as a warrior
could grasp. "Take yonder sword," said the man to Peredur, "and
strike the iron staple." So Peredur arose and struck the staple, so
that he cut it in two; and the sword broke into two parts also.
"Place the two parts together, and reunite them," and Peredur placed
them together, and they became entire as they were before. And a
second time he struck upon the staple, so that both it and the sword
broke in two, and as before they reunited. And the third time he
gave a like blow, and placed the broken parts together, and neither
the staple nor the sword would unite as before. "Youth," said the
nobleman, "come now, and sit down, and my blessing be upon thee.
Thou fightest best with the sword of any man in the kingdom. Thou
hast arrived at two-thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou
hast not yet obtained; and when thou attainest to thy full power,
none will be able to contend with thee. I am thy uncle, thy mother's
brother, and I am brother to the man in whose house thou wast last
night." Then Peredur and his uncle discoursed together, and he
beheld two youths enter the hall, and proceed up to the chamber,
bearing a spear of mighty size, with three streams of blood flowing
from the point to the ground. And when all the company saw this,
they began wailing and lamenting. But for all that, the man did not
break off his discourse with Peredur. And as he did not tell Peredur
the meaning of what he saw, he forbore to ask him concerning it. And
when the clamour had a little subsided, behold two maidens entered,
with a large salver between them, in which was a man's head,
surrounded by a profusion of blood. And thereupon the company of the
court made so great an outcry, that it was irksome to be in the same
hall with them. But at length they were silent. And when time was
that they should sleep, Peredur was brought into a fair chamber.

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 inquired 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 shalt 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 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." 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
inquired. "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 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 head-piece 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 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.