The Mabinogion Vol. 1, Sir Owen Morgan Edwards and Lady Charlotte Schreiber [best thriller books to read TXT] 📗

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 p. 93other, 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 p. 94with 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 p. 95know 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.

Said Gwalchmai, “By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly until I have proved if I can release the maiden.”  And many of Arthur’s household joined themselves with him.  Then, likewise said Peredur, “By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly until I know the story and meaning of the lance whereof the black maiden spoke.”  And while they were equipping themselves, behold a knight came to the gate.  And he had the size and the strength of a warrior, and was equipped with arms and habiliments.  And he went forward, and saluted Arthur and all his household, except Gwalchmai.  And the knight had upon his shoulder a shield, ingrained with gold, with a fesse of azure blue upon it, and his whole armour was of the same hue.  And he said to Gwalchmai, “Thou didst slay my lord, by thy treachery and deceit, and that will I prove upon thee.”  Then Gwalchmai rose up.  “Behold,” said he, “here is my gage against thee, to maintain either in this place, or wherever else thou wilt, that I am not a traitor or deceiver.”  “Before the King whom I obey, will I that my encounter with thee take place,” said the knight.  “Willingly,” said Gwalchmai, “go forward, and I will follow thee.”  So the knight went forth, and Gwalchmai accoutred himself, and there was offered unto him abundance of armour, but he would take none but his own.  And when Gwalchmai and Peredur were equipped, they set forth to follow him, by reason of their fellowship, and of the great friendship that was between them.  And they did not go after him p. 96in company together, but each went his own way.

At the dawn of day, Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in the valley he saw a fortress, and within the fortress a vast palace, and lofty towers around it.  And he beheld a knight coming out to hunt from the other side, mounted on a spirited black snorting palfrey, that advanced at a prancing pace, proudly stepping, and nimbly bounding, and sure of foot; and this was the man to whom the palace belonged.  And Gwalchmai saluted him, “Heaven prosper thee, chieftain,” said he, “and whence comest thou?”  “I come,” answered he, “from the Court of Arthur.”  “And art thou Arthur’s vassal?”  “Yes, by my faith,” said Gwalchmai.  “I will give thee good counsel,” said the knight.  “I see that thou art tired and weary, go unto my palace, if it may please thee, and tarry there to-night.”  “Willingly, lord,” said he, “and Heaven reward thee.”  “Take this ring as a token to the porter, and go forward to yonder tower, and therein thou wilt find my sister.”  And Gwalchmai went to the gate, and shewed the ring, and proceeded to the tower.  And on entering, he beheld a large blazing fire, burning without smoke, and with a bright and lofty flame, and a beauteous and stately maiden was sitting on a chair by the fire.  And the maiden was glad at his coming, and welcomed him, and advanced to meet him.  And he went and sat beside the maiden, and they took their repast.  And when their repast was over, they discoursed pleasantly together.  And while they were thus, behold there entered a venerable hoary-headed man.  “Ah! base girl,” said he, “if thou didst think that it was right for thee to entertain and to sit by yonder man; thou wouldest not do so.”  And he withdrew his head, and went forth, “Ha! p. 97chieftain,” said the maiden, “if thou wilt do as I counsel thee, thou wilt shut the door, lest the man should have a plot against thee.”  Upon that Gwalchmai arose, and when he came near unto the door, the man, with sixty others, fully armed, were ascending the tower.  And Gwalchmai defended the door with a chessboard, that none might enter until the man should return from the chase.  And thereupon, behold the earl arrived.  “What is all this?” asked he.  “It is a sad thing,” said the hoary-headed man, “the young girl yonder has been sitting and eating with him who slew your father.  He is Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar.”  “Hold thy peace, then,” said the earl, “I will go in.”  And the earl was joyful concerning Gwalchmai.  “Ha! chieftain,” said he, “it was wrong of thee to come to my Court, when thou knewest that thou didst slay my father; and though we cannot avenge him, Heaven will avenge him upon thee.”  “My soul,” said Gwalchmai, “thus it is; I came not here either to acknowledge or to deny having slain thy father; but I am on a message from Arthur, and therefore do I crave the space of a year until I shall return from my embassy, and then, upon my faith, I will come back unto this palace, and do one of two things, either acknowledge it, or deny it.”  And the time was granted him willingly; and he remained there that night.  And the next morning he rode forth.  And the story relates nothing further of Gwalchmai respecting this adventure.

And Peredur rode forward.  And he wandered over the whole island, seeking tidings of the black maiden, and he could meet with none.  And he came to an unknown land, in the centre of a valley, watered by a river.  And as he traversed the valley, he beheld a horseman coming towards him, and wearing the p. 98garments of a priest, and he besought his blessing.  “Wretched man,” said he, “thou meritest no blessing, and thou wouldst not be profited by one, seeing that thou art clad in armour on such a day as this.”  “And what day is to-day?” said Peredur.  “To-day is Good Friday,” he answered.  “Chide me not, that I knew not this, seeing that it is a year to-day since I journeyed forth from my country.”  Then he dismounted, and led his horse in his hand.  And he had not proceeded far along the high road before he came to a cross road, and the cross road traversed a wood.  And on the other side of the wood he saw an unfortified castle, which appeared to be inhabited.  And at the gate of the castle there met him the priest whom he had seen before, and he asked his blessing.  “The blessing of Heaven be unto thee,” said he, “it is more fitting to travel in thy present guise, than as thou wast erewhile; and this night thou shalt tarry with me.”  So he remained there that night.

And the next day Peredur sought to go forth.  “To-day may no one journey.  Thou shalt remain with me to-day and to-morrow, and the day following, and I will direct thee as best I may to the place which thou art seeking.”  And the fourth day Peredur sought to go forth, and he entreated the priest to tell him how he should find the Castle of Wonders.  “What I know thereof, I will tell thee,” he replied.  “Go over yonder mountain, and on the other side of the mountain thou wilt come to a river, and in the valley wherein the river runs is a King’s Palace, wherein the King sojourned during Easter.  And if thou mayest have tidings anywhere of the Castle of Wonders, thou wilt have them there.”

Then Peredur rode forward.  And he came to the valley in which was the river, and there met him