Books: The Mabinogion
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So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of the grove, and
challenged any man to fight. And a black man arose from beneath the
cromlech, mounted upon a bony horse, and both he and his horse were
clad in huge rusty armour. And they fought. And as often as Peredur
cast the black man to the earth, he would jump again into his saddle.
And Peredur dismounted, and drew his sword; and thereupon the black
man disappeared with Peredur's horse and his own, so that he could
not gain sight of him a second time. And Peredur went along the
mountain, and on the other side of the mountain he beheld a castle in
the valley, wherein was a river. And he went to the castle; and as
he entered it, he saw a hall, and the door of the hall was open, and
he went in. And there he saw a lame grey-headed man sitting on one
side of the hall, with Gwalchmai beside him. And Peredur beheld his
horse, which the black man had taken, in the same stall with that of
Gwalchmai. And they were glad concerning Peredur. And he went and
seated himself on the other side of the hoary-headed man. Then,
behold a yellow-haired youth came, and bent upon the knee before
Peredur, and besought his friendship. "Lord," said the youth, "it
was I that came in the form of the black maiden to Arthur's Court,
and when thou didst throw down the chessboard, and when thou didst
slay the black man of Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the
stag, and when thou didst go to fight the black man of the cromlech.
And I came with the bloody head in the salver, and with the lance
that streamed with blood from the point to the hand, all along the
shaft; and the head was thy cousin's, and he was killed by the
sorceresses of Gloucester, who also lamed thine uncle; and I am thy
cousin. And there is a prediction that thou art to avenge these
things." Then Peredur and Gwalchmai took counsel, and sent to Arthur
and his household, to beseech them to come against the sorceresses.
And they began to fight with them; and one of the sorceresses slew
one of Arthur's men before Peredur's face, and Peredur bade her
forbear. And the sorceress slew a man before Peredur's face a second
time, and a second time he forbad her. And the third time the
sorceress slew a man before the face of Peredur; and then Peredur
drew his sword, and smote the sorceress on the helmet; and all her
head-armour was split in two parts. And she set up a cry, and
desired the other sorceresses to flee, and told them that this was
Peredur, the man who had learnt Chivalry with them, and by whom they
were destined to be slain. Then Arthur and his household fell upon
the sorceresses, and slew the sorceresses of Gloucester every one.
And thus is it related concerning the Castle of Wonders.
GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN
Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk. And
there he held it seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upon a
time he held his Court there at Whitsuntide. For Caerlleon was the
place most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and by land.
And there were assembled nine crowned kings, who were his
tributaries, and likewise earls and barons. For they were his
invited guests at all the high festivals, unless they were prevented
by any great hindrance. And when he was at Caerlleon, holding his
Court, thirteen churches were set apart for mass. And thus were they
appointed: one church for Arthur, and his kings, and his guests; and
the second for Gwenhwyvar and her ladies; and the third for the
Steward of the Household and the suitors; and the fourth for the
Franks and the other officers; and the other nine churches were for
the nine Masters of the Household and chiefly for Cwalchmai; for he,
from the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his
birth, was the most exalted of the nine. And there was no other
arrangement respecting the churches than that which we have mentioned
above.
Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not himself
perform the office, except at one of the three high festivals, for he
had seven men to serve him, and they divided the year amongst them.
They were Grynn, and Pen Pighon, and Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and
Gwrdnei with cat's eyes, who could see as well by night as by day,
and Drem the son of Dremhitid, and Clust the son of Clustveinyd; and
these were Arthur's guards. And on Whit-Tuesday, as the King sat at
the banquet, lo! there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a
coat and a surcoat of diapered satin, and a golden-hilted sword about
his neck, and low shoes of leather upon his feet. And he came, and
stood before Arthur. "Hail to thee, Lord!" said he. "Heaven prosper
thee," he answered, "and be thou welcome. Dost thou bring any new
tidings?" "I do, Lord," he said. "I know thee not," said Arthur.
"It is a marvel to me that thou dost not know me. I am one of thy
foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and my name is Madawc, the
son of Twrgadarn." "Tell me thine errand," said Arthur. "I will do
so, Lord," said he. "In the Forest I saw a stag, the like of which
beheld I never yet." "What is there about him," asked Arthur, "that
thou never yet didst see his like?" "He is of pure white, Lord, and
he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness and pride,
so royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord, and
to know thy will concerning him." "It seems best to me," said
Arthur, "to go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day; and to cause
general notice thereof to be given to-night in all quarters of the
Court." And Arryfuerys was Arthur's chief huntsman, and Arelivri was
his chief page. And all received notice; and thus it was arranged.
And they sent the youth before them. Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur,
"Wilt thou permit me, Lord," said she, "to go to-morrow to see and
hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke?" "I will
gladly," said Arthur. "Then will I go," said she. And Gwalchmai
said to Arthur, "Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that into
whose hunt soever the stag shall come, that one, be he a knight, or
one on foot, may cut off his head, and give it to whom he pleases,
whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady of his friend." "I
grant it gladly," said Arthur, "and let the Steward of the Household
be chastised, if all are not ready to-morrow for the chase."
And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse,
and ample entertainment. And when it was time for them all to go to
sleep, they went. And when the next day came, they arose; and Arthur
called the attendants, who guarded his couch. And these were four
pages, whose names were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy, and
Ambreu the son of Bedwor, and Amhar the son of Arthur, and Goreu the
son of Custennin. And these men came to Arthur and saluted him, and
arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur wondered that Gwenhwyvar did
not awake, and did not move in her bed; and the attendants wished to
awaken her. "Disturb her not," said Arthur, "for she had rather
sleep than go to see the hunting."
Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from
near the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that
of the chief page. And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to
Arthur, and they took the road to the Forest.
And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar awoke,
and called to her maidens, and apparelled herself. "Maidens," said
she, "I had leave last night to go and see the hunt. Go one of you
to the stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride."
And one of them went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and
Gwenhwyvar and one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the
Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses. And as they
rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and they looked
behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal of mighty size;
and the rider was a fair-haired youth, bare-legged, and of princely
mien, and a golden-hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a
surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes of leather upon his
feet; and around him was a scarf of blue purple, at each corner of
which was a golden apple. And his horse stepped stately, and swift,
and proud; and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and saluted her. "Heaven
prosper thee, Geraint," said she, "I knew thee when first I saw thee
just now. And the welcome of Heaven be unto thee. And why didst
thou not go with thy lord to hunt?" "Because I knew not when he
went," said he. "I marvel, too," said she, "how he could go unknown
to me." "Indeed, lady," said he. "I was asleep, and knew not when
he went; but thou, O young man, art the most agreeable companion I
could have in the whole kingdom; and it may be, that I shall be more
amused with the hunting than they; for we shall hear the horns when
they sound, and we shall hear the dogs when they are let loose, and
begin to cry." So they went to the edge of the Forest, and there
they stood. "From this place," said she, "we shall hear when the
dogs are let loose." And thereupon, they heard a loud noise, and
they looked towards the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf
riding upon a horse, stately, and foaming, and prancing, and strong,
and spirited. And in the hand of the dwarf was a whip. And near the
dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady and
stately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold brocade. And
near her was a knight upon a warhorse of large size, with heavy and
bright armour both upon himself and upon his horse. And truly they
never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armour, of such remarkable
size. And they were all near to each other.
"Geraint," said Gwenhwyvar, "knowest thou the name of that tall
knight yonder?" "I know him not," said he, "and the strange armour
that he wears prevents my either seeing his face or his features."
"Go, maiden," said Gwenhwyvar, "and ask the dwarf who that knight
is." Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for
the maiden, when he saw her coming towards him. And the maiden
inquired of the dwarf who the knight was. "I will not tell thee," he
answered. "Since thou art so churlish as not to tell me," said she,
"I will ask him himself." "Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith,"
said he. "Wherefore?" said she. "Because thou art not of honour
sufficient to befit thee to speak to my Lord." Then the maiden
turned her horse's head towards the knight, upon which the dwarf
struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the face and the
eyes, until the blood flowed forth. And the maiden, through the hurt
she received from the blow, returned to Gwenhwyvar, complaining of
the pain. "Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee," said Geraint.
"I will go myself to know who the knight is." "Go," said Gwenhwyvar.
And Geraint went up to the dwarf. "Who is yonder knight?" said
Geraint. "I will not tell thee," said the dwarf. "Then will I ask
him himself," said he. "That wilt thou not, by my faith," said the
dwarf, "thou art not honourable enough to speak with my Lord." Said
Geraint, "I have spoken with men of equal rank with him." And he
turned his horse's head towards the knight; but the dwarf overtook
him, and struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood
coloured the scarf that Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand upon
the hilt of his sword, but he took counsel with himself, and
considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the dwarf,
and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so he returned to
where Gwenhwyvar was.
"Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly," said she. "Lady," said he,
"I will follow him yet, with thy permission; and at last he will come
to some inhabited place, where I may have arms either as a loan or
for a pledge, so that I may encounter the knight." "Go," said she,
"and do not attack him until thou hast good arms, and I shall be very
anxious concerning thee, until I hear tidings of thee." "If I am
alive," said he, "thou shalt hear tidings of me by to-morrow
afternoon;" and with that he departed.
And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon, and across
the ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair, and even, and lofty
ridge of ground, until they came to a town, and at the extremity of
the town they saw a Fortress and a Castle. And they came to the
extremity of the town. And as the knight passed through it, all the
people arose, and saluted him, and bade him welcome. And when
Geraint came into the town, he looked at every house, to see if he
knew any of those whom he saw. But he knew none, and none knew him
to do him the kindness to let him have arms either as a loan or for a
pledge. And every house he saw was full of men, and arms, and
horses. And they were polishing shields, and burnishing swords, and
washing armour, and shoeing horses. And the knight, and the lady,
and the dwarf rode up to the Castle that was in the town, and every
one was glad in the Castle. And from the battlements and the gates
they risked their necks, through their eagerness to greet them, and
to show their joy.
Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the
Castle; and when he was certain that he would do so, he looked around
him; and at a little distance from the town he saw an old palace in
ruins, wherein was a hall that was falling to decay. And as he knew
not any one in the town, he went towards the old palace; and when he
came near to the palace, he saw but one chamber, and a bridge of
marble-stone leading to it. And upon the bridge he saw sitting a
hoary-headed man, upon whom were tattered garments. And Geraint
gazed steadfastly upon him for a long time. Then the hoary-headed
man spoke to him. "Young man," he said, "wherefore art thou
thoughtful?" "I am thoughtful," said he, "because I know not where
to go to-night." "Wilt thou come forward this way, chieftain?" said
he, "and thou shalt have of 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 me. 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 unsullied 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 armour 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. "Oh!
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
honour 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. "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 armour, 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, "Oh, 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-armour, 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 honourable 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.
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