Peredur, son of Efrawc
part 17
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 chess-board, 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 garments of a priest; and he besought his blessing.
"Wretched man," said he, " thou meritest no blessing, and thou wouldest 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.
"Today is Good Friday," he answered. "Chide me not that I knew not this, seeing that it is a year today 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.
"Today 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 any-where 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 a number of men going to hunt, and in the midst of them was a man of exalted rank, and Peredur saluted him.
"Choose, chieftain," said the man, " whether thou wilt go with me to the chase, or wilt proceed to my palace, and I will dispatch one of my household to commend thee to my daughter, who is there, and who will entertain thee with food and liquor until I return from hunting; and whatever may be thine errand, such as I can obtain for thee thou shalt gladly have."
And the King sent a little yellow page with him as an attendant; and when they came to the palace the lady had arisen, and was about to wash before meat. Peredur went forward, and she saluted him joyfully, and placed him by her side. And they took their repast. And whatsoever Peredur said unto her, she laughed loudly, so that all in the palace could hear. Then spoke the yellow page to the lady.
"By my faith," said he, "this youth is already thy husband; or if he be not, thy mind and thy thoughts are set upon him."
And the little yellow page went unto the King, and told him that it seemed to him that the youth whom he had met with was his daughter's husband, or if he were not so already that he would shortly become so unless he were cautious.
"What is thy counsel in this matter, youth?" said the King.
"My counsel is," he replied, "that thou set strong men upon him, to seize him, until thou hast ascertained the truth respecting this."
So he set strong men upon Peredur, who seized him and cast him into prison. And the maiden went before her father, and asked him wherefore he had caused the youth from Arthur's Court to be imprisoned.
"In truth," he answered, "he shall not be free tonight, nor tomorrow, nor the day following, and he shall not come from where he is."
She replied not to what the King had said, but she went to the youth.
"Is it unpleasant to thee to be here?" said she.
"I should not care if I were not," he replied.
"Thy couch and thy treatment shall be in no wise inferior to that of the King himself, and thou shalt have the best entertainment that the palace affords. And if it were more pleasing to thee that my couch should be here, that I might discourse with thee, it should be so, cheerfully."
"This can I not refuse," said Peredur.
And he remained in prison that night. And the maiden provided all that she had promised him.
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Pwyll