The Island of the Mighty, page 13
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 who came in the form of the maiden to Arthur’s Court, and when thou didst throw down the chess-board, and when thou didst slay the guardian of Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the stag, and when thou didst go to fight the guardian of the cromlech. And I came with the bloody head on 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 thy uncle, this nobleman. And there is a prediction that thou art to avenge these things.”
As they were being spoken about, the sorceresses came. And Peredur began to fight with them, and one of the sorceresses slew a man 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 forbade 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-armor 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 came, and they fell upon the sorceresses, and they slew the sorceresses of Gloucester every one. And thus is it related of Peredur in the Castle of Wonders.
The Story of Geraint and the Maiden Enid
I
One Whitsuntide, as King Arthur was holding his court at Caerleon upon Usk, there entered a tall, fair-haired youth, clad in a coat and a surcoat of diapered satin, with a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes of leather upon his feet. He came and stood before Arthur. “Hail to thee, Lord,” said he. “Heaven prosper thee,” said the King, “and be thou welcome. Dost thou bring any new tidings?” “I do, Lord,” said the youth. “Then tell me thine errand,” said King Arthur.
“I am one of thy foresters in the Forest of Dean,” said the youth. “In the forest I saw a stag, the like of which I never yet beheld. He is of pure white, 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.”
Then all in the palace received notice of the hunting that was to be at break of day. “Lord,” said Queen Gwenhuivar to King Arthur, “wilt thou permit me 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 I will 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, may that one cut off the stag’s 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 we are not all ready to-morrow for the chase.”
When day came, they rose, and Arthur called the attendants who guarded his couch. They came to Arthur and saluted him, and arrayed him in his garments. Arthur wondered that Gwenhuivar did not awake, and did not move in her bed. The attendants wished to awaken her. “Disturb her not,” said Arthur, “for she had rather sleep than 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. The whole of the Court came to Arthur, and they took the road to the forest.
After Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhuivar awoke, and she called to her maidens, and appareled herself. “Maidens,” said she, “go one of you to the stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride.” And one of her maidens went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and Gwenhuivar and one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses.
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; 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 purple, at each corner of which was a golden apple. And his horse stepped stately, and swift, and proud. The youth overtook Gwenhuivar, and saluted her.
“Heaven prosper thee, Geraint,” said the Queen, “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 Geraint. “I was asleep.” “I was asleep, too,” said the Queen. “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 the Queen, “we shall hear when the dogs are let loose.”
While they were standing there they heard a loud noise, and they looked toward the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf riding upon a horse, stately, and foaming, and prancing, and strong, and spirited. 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. Beside her was a knight upon a war horse of large size, with heavy and bright armor both upon himself and upon his horse. Those who were with the Queen thought that never before had they seen a knight, or a horse, or armor, of such remarkable size.
“Geraint,” said Gwenhuivar, “knowest thou the name of that tall knight yonder?” “I know him not,” said Geraint, “and the strange armor that he wears prevents my seeing either his face or his features.” “Go, maiden,” said Gwenhuivar, “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 toward him. 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,” she said, “I will ask him himself.” “Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith,” said he. “Wherefore?” said she. “Because thou art not of sufficient honor to befit thee to speak to my lord.” Then the maiden turned her horse’s head toward 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 Gwenhuivar, 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 Gwenhuivar. Then Geraint went up to the dwarf. “Who is yonder knight?” said Geraint. “I will not tell thee,” said the dwarf. “Then I will ask him myself,” said Geraint. “Thou wilt not, by my faith,” said the dwarf, “thou art not honorable enough to speak with my lord.” Said Geraint, “I have spoken with men of equal rank with him.” And saying that, he turned his horse’s head toward the knight; but the dwarf overtook him, and struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood colored the scarf that Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand on 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 an armed knight, so he returned to where Gwenhuivar 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 saying that, he departed.
The road that the knight, the dwarf, and the lady took was below the palace of Caerleon, and across the ford of the Usk. Geraint followed, 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 Geraint saw a fortress and a castle. As the knight passed through, all the people arose and saluted him, and bade him welcome. Geraint looked at every house to see if he knew any of those whom he saw there. 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 the men were polishing shields, and burnishing swords, and washing armor, and shoeing horses. 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. 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 anyone in the town, he went toward 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. 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 Geraint, “because I know not where to go to-night.” “Wilt thou come forward this way?” said the hoary-headed man, “and thou shalt have of the best that can be procured for thee.”
Geraint went forward. In the hall he dismounted, and he left there his horse. Then he went to the upper chamber with the hoary-headed man. And in the chamber he beheld an aged 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 fullness of youth.
And then he saw beside the aged woman 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. 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 disencumbered the youth, and then she furnished the horse with straw and with corn. The hoary-headed man said to her, “Go to the town, and bring hither the best that thou canst find both of food and drink.” “I will, gladly, Lord,” said she. And to the town she went.
The hoary-headed man and Geraint conversed together while the maiden was in the town. She came back, and a boy with her, bearing on his back a costrel full of mead, and a quarter of a young bullock; in her hands was a quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet bread in her veil. “I could not obtain better than this,” said she, “nor with better should I have been trusted.” “It is good enough,” said Geraint. They caused the meat to be cooked, and when their food was ready, they sat down.
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 town 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 I possessed.”
Then Geraint said, “Good sir, 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 tell thee.” And then the old earl said:
“The preparations are for the game that is to be held tomorrow by the young earl, my nephew, which will be in 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. 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. The knight whom 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.”
Said Geraint after he had heard all this, “Sir, 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 Gwenhuivar, the wife of Arthur?” And Geraint told the old earl 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 couldst have; and there is my horse also, if he seems to thee better than thine own.” “Ah, sir,” said Geraint, “Heaven reward thee. 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 to challenge for yonder maiden who is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from the tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live.” “Gladly will I permit thee,” said the old earl, “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 old earl, “it is needful for thee to be there at daybreak; and we three will be with thee.” And thus was it settled.
Before the dawn they arose, and arrayed themselves; and by the time 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 armor which was heavy, and rusty, and worthless, and of uncouth shape.
He and the knight 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 young 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 old earl and his wife, and his daughter were sorrowful.
The old earl served Geraint lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarf served the Knight of the Sparrow Hawk. Then the old earl 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 honor 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 old earl. The dwarf also brought a lance to his lord. “Bethink thee,” said he, “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.”
Geraint pricked his horse toward 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 armor, and burst his girths, so that both he and his saddle were borne to the ground over the horse’s crupper. 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. 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. When Geraint prevailed, the old earl and his wife, and daughter were glad; and when the knight prevailed, it rejoiced the young earl and his party.
Then the old earl saw Geraint receive a severe stroke, and he went up to him quickly, and he 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 Gwenhuivar, the wife of Arthur?” 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-armor, and cut through even to the skull.
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 Gwenhuivar, the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction for the insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf. As for 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 Gwenhuivar, 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. And declare thou also who thou art.” “I am Edeyrn, the son of Nudd.” Then he threw himself on 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.
