Peredur, son of Efrawc
part 12
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 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."
Thereupon was it 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 Peredar, 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?" inquired Peredur.
"If thou art so daring as to remain here tonight, 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 foraprice."
"Lord," said the maiden, "whatsoever he may say to thee in jest, and through the excitement of liquor, make good that which thou saidst 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 carn, and in the carn 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.
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Pwyll