Peredur, son of Efrawc
part 14
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."
"Whom 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 inquired 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.
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Pwyll