The Story of King Arthur and Other Celtic Heroes

by Padraic Colum

  “Tell me, my soul,” said the man to Peredur, “which of the youths, thinkest thou, plays best?” “I think,” said Peredur, “that the yellow-haired youth could draw blood from the other, if he chose.” “Arise thou, my life, and take the cudgel and the shield from the hand of the youth with the auburn hair, and draw blood from the yellow-haired youth if thou canst.” So Peredur arose, and went to play with the yellow-haired youth, and he struck him such a blow that the blood flowed. “Ah, my life,” said the man, “come now, and sit down, for thou wilt become the best fighter with the sword of any in this island; and I am thy uncle, thy mother’s brother. And with me shalt thou remain a space, in order to learn the manners and customs of different countries, and courtesy, and gentleness, and noble bearing. I will be thy teacher; and I will raise thee to the rank of knight from this time forward.”

  Now there was on the floor of the hall a huge staple to which horses were tied. And after he had trained him the hoary-headed man said to Peredur: “Take yonder sword and strike the iron staple.” So Peredur arose and struck the staple, so that he cut it in two; and the sword broke in two parts also. “Place the two parts together, and reunite them.” And Peredur placed them together, and they became entire as they were before.

  A second time he struck upon the staple, so that both it and the sword broke in two, and as before, they reunited. And the third time he gave a like blow, and placed the broken parts together, and neither the staple nor the sword would unite as before. “Youth,” said the hoary-headed man, “come now, and sit down, and my blessing be upon thee. Thou fightest best with the sword of any man in this kingdom. Thou hast arrived at two thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou hast not yet obtained; and when thou attainest to thy full power, none will be able to contend with thee.”

  About this time, Owen, the son of Urien, said: “The youth will never come into the Court until Kai has gone forth from it.” “By my faith,” said Arthur, “I will search all the deserts in the Island of Britain until I find Peredur, and then let him and his adversary do their utmost to each other.”

  Afterwards Peredur rode forward. He came to a wood, where he saw not the track either of men or of beasts, and where there was nothing but bushes and weeds. And at the upper end of the wood he saw a castle; and when he came near the gate, he found the weeds taller than he had seen elsewhere. He struck the gate with the shaft of his lance, and thereupon a lean, auburn-haired youth came to an opening in the battlements. “Say that I am here,” said Peredur, “and if it is desired that I should enter, I will go in.” The youth came back, and opened the gate for him, and Peredur went in.

  He beheld eighteen youths, lean and red-headed, of the same height, and of the same aspect, and of the same dress, and of the same age as the one who had opened the gate for him. They were well skilled in courtesy and in service. They disarrayed him. Then they sat down to discourse. Thereupon, behold, five maidens came from the chamber into the hall. And Peredur was certain that he had never seen another of so fair an aspect as the chief of the maidens. She had an old garment of satin upon her, which had once been handsome, but was then so tattered that her skin could be seen through it. Whiter was her skin than the bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were blacker than jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than whatever is reddest. The maiden welcomed Peredur, and made him sit down beside her.

  Not long after this he saw two nuns enter, and a flask full of wine was borne by one, and six loaves of white bread by the other. “Lady,” said the nuns to the maiden, “Heaven is witness that there is not so much of food and liquor as this left in the convent this night.” Then they went to eat, and Peredur observed that the maiden wished to give more of the food and of the liquor to him than to any of the others. “My sister,” said Peredur, “I will share out the food and the liquor.” “Not so, my soul,” said she. “By my faith but I will.” So Peredur took the bread, and he gave an equal portion of it to each alike, as well as a cup full of wine. And when it was time for them to sleep, a chamber was prepared for Peredur, and he went to rest.

  And when he had gone the youths spoke to the fairest and the most exalted of the maidens. “Behold, sister,” they said, “we have counsel for thee.” “What may it be?” she inquired. “Go to the youth who is in the upper chamber, and offer to become his wife, or the lady of his love, if it seem well to him.” “That were indeed unfitting,” said she. “Hitherto I have not been the lady-love of any knight, and to make him such an offer before I am wooed by him, that, truly, can I not do.” “By our confession to Heaven,” said they, “unless thou actest thus, we will leave thee here to thy enemies, to do as they will with thee.”

  Through fear that the youths would do as they said, the maiden went forth; and shedding tears, she proceeded to the chamber. With the noise of the door opening, Peredur awoke; and the maiden was weeping and lamenting. “Tell me, my sister,” said Peredur, “wherefore dost thou weep?” “I will tell thee, Lord,” said she. And then she said:

  “My father possessed these dominions as their chief, and this castle was his, and with it he held the best earldom in the kingdom; then the son of another earl sought me of my father, and I was not willing to be given unto him, and my father would not give me against my will, either to him or any earl in the world. And my father had no child except myself. After my father’s death, these dominions came into my own hands, and then was I less willing to accept him than before. So he made war upon me, and conquered all my possessions, except this one castle. Through the valour of the men whom thou hast seen, who are my foster-brothers, and the strength of the castle, it can never be taken while food and drink remain. But now our provisions are exhausted; as thou hast seen, we have been fed by the nuns, to whom the country is free. And at length they also are without supply of food or liquor. At no later date than to-morrow, the earl will come against this place with all his forces; and if I fall into his power, my fate will be no better than to be given over to the grooms of his horses. Therefore, Lord, I am come to offer to place myself in thy hands, that thou mayest succour me, either by taking me hence, or by defending me here, whichever may seem best unto thee.” “Go, my sister,” said Peredur, “and sleep; nor will I depart from thee until I do that which thou requirest, or prove whether I can assist thee or not.”

  Then the maiden went to rest; and the next morning she came to Peredur, and saluted him. “Heaven prosper thee, my soul, and what tidings dost thou bring?” “None other than that the earl and all his forces have alighted at the gate, and I never beheld any place so covered with tents, and thronged with knights.” “Truly,” said Peredur, “let my horse be made ready.” So his horse was accoutred, and he rose and sallied forth to the meadow.

  There was a knight riding proudly along the meadow, having raised the signal for battle. He and Peredur encountered, and Peredur threw the knight over his horse’s crupper to the ground. At the close of the day, one of the chief knights came to fight with him, and he overthrew him also, so that he besought his mercy. “Who art thou?” said Peredur. “Verily,” said he, “I am Master of the Household to the earl.” “And how much of the lady’s possessions is there in thy power?” “The third part, verily,” answered he. “Then,” said Peredur, “restore to her the third of her possessions in full, and all the profit thou hast made by them, and bring meat and drink for a hundred men, with their horses and arms, to her court this night. And thou shalt remain her captive, unless she wish to take thy life.” And this the man did forthwith. That night the maiden was right joyful, and all in the castle fared plenteously.

  The next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and that day he vanquished a multitude of the host. And at the close of the day, there came a proud and stately knight, and Peredur overthrew him, and he besought his mercy. “Who art thou?” said Peredur. “I am Steward of the Palace,” said he. “And how much of the lady’s possessions are under thy control?” “One third part,” answered he. “Verily,” said Peredur,
“thou shalt fully restore to the maiden her possessions, and, moreover, thou shalt give her meat and drink for two hundred men, and their horses and their arms. And for thyself, thou shalt be her captive.” And immediately it was so done.

  The third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and he vanquished more that day than on either of the days preceding. And at the close of the day, an earl came to encounter him, and he overthrew him, and the earl besought his mercy. “Who are thou?” said Peredur. “I am the Earl,” said he, “I will not conceal it from thee.” “Verily,” said Peredur, “thou shalt restore the whole of the maiden’s earldom, and thou shalt give her thine own earldom in addition thereto, and meat and drink for three hundred men, and their horses and arms, and thou thyself shalt remain in her power.” And as Peredur said, so it was.

  He tarried three weeks in the country, causing tribute and obedience to be paid to the maiden of the castle, and the government to be placed in her hands. “With thy leave,” said Peredur, “I will go hence.” “Verily, my brother,” said she, “desirest thou this?” “Yes, by my faith; and had it not been for love of thee, I should not have been here thus long.” “My soul,” said she, “who art thou?” “I am Peredur, and if ever thou art in trouble or danger, acquaint me therewith, and if I can, I will protect thee.”

  Then Peredur rode forward. In the evening he entered a valley, and at the head of the valley he came to a hermit’s cell, and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and there he spent the night. And in the morning he arose, and when he went forth, behold a shower of snow had fallen the night before, and a hawk had killed a wild fowl in front of the cell. And the noise of the horse scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the bird. Peredur stood, and compared the blackness of the raven and the whiteness of the snow, and the redness of the blood, to the hair of the lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and to her skin which was whiter than snow, and to the two red spots upon her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow appeared to be.

  At that time Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur. “Know ye,” said Arthur, “who is the knight with the long spear who stands by the brook up yonder?” “Lord,” said one of his companions, “I will go and learn who he is.” So the youth came to the place where Peredur was, and asked him what he did thus, and who he was. And from the intensity with which he thought upon the lady whom best he loved, Peredur gave him no answer. Then the youth thrust at him with his lance, and Peredur turned upon him, and struck him over his horse’s crupper to the ground. After this, four and twenty youths came to him, and he did not answer one more than another, but gave the same reception to all, bringing them with one single thrust to the ground. And then came Kai, and spoke to Peredur rudely and angrily; and Peredur cast him from him with a thrust of his spear. And while Kai lay thus, his horse returned at a wild and prancing pace. The household, when they saw the horse come back without his rider, rode forth in haste to the place where the encounter had been. And Peredur moved not from his meditation on seeing the concourse that came around Kai. Kai was brought to Arthur’s tent, and Arthur was grieved that he had met with this reverse, for he loved Kai greatly.

  “Then,” said Gwalchmai, “it is not fitting that any should disturb an honourable knight from his thought unadvisedly; for either he is pondering some damage that he has sustained, or he is thinking of the lady whom best he loves. And through such ill-advised proceeding, perchance this misadventure has befallen Kai. If it seem well to thee, Lord, I will go and see if this knight hath changed from his thought; and if he has, I will ask him courteously to come and visit thee.” Said Arthur to Gwalchmai, “Thou speakest like a wise and prudent man; go, and take enough of armour about thee, and choose thy horse.” And Gwalchmai accoutred himself, and rode forward hastily to the place where Peredur was.

  Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the same thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of hostility, and said to him, “If I thought it would be as agreeable to thee as it would be to me, I would converse with thee. I have also a message from Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him. Two men have been here before on this errand.” “That is true,” said Peredur, “and uncourteously they came. They attacked me, and I was annoyed thereat, for it was not pleasing to me to be drawn from the thought that I was in, for I was thinking of the lady whom best I love.” Said Gwalchmai, “This was not an ungentle thought, and I should marvel if it were pleasant to thee to be drawn from it.” “Tell me,” said Peredur, “is Kai in Arthur’s Court?” “He is,” said Gwalchmai, “and behold he is the knight who fought with thee last; and it would have been better for him had he not come, for his arm was broken with the fall which he had from thy spear.” “Verily,” said Peredur, “I am not sorry to have thus begun to avenge the insult to the dwarf and dwarfess.” Gwalchmai marvelled to hear him speak of the dwarf and dwarfess; and he approached him, and threw his arms around his neck, and asked him what was his name. “Peredur, I am called,” said he, “and thou, who art thou?” “I am called Gwalchmai,” he replied. “I am right glad to meet with thee,” said Peredur, “for in every country where I have been I have heard of thy fame for prowess and uprightness, and I solicit thy fellowship.” “Thou shalt have it, by my faith, and grant me thine,” said Gwalchmai. “Gladly will I do so,” answered Peredur.

  So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place where Arthur was, and when Kai saw them coming, he said, “I knew Gwalchmai needed not to fight the knight. And it is no wonder that he should gain fame; more can he do by his fair words than I by the strength of my arm.” Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and they took off their armour. Peredur put on garments like those that Gwalchmai wore, and they went together unto Arthur, and saluted him. “Behold, Lord,” said Gwalchmai, “him whom thou hast sought so long.” “Welcome unto thee, Chieftain,” said Arthur. “With me thou shalt remain; and had I known thy valour had been such, thou shouldst not have left me as thou didst; nevertheless, this was predicted of thee by the dwarf and dwarfess, whom Kai ill-treated and whom thou hast avenged.” And thereupon, behold, there came the Queen and her maidens, and Peredur saluted them. And Arthur did him great honour and respect, and they returned towards Caerleon.

  II

  One day after Peredur came to Arthur’s Court, as he walked in the city after his repast, behold there met him the lady who was called Angarrad of the Golden Hand. “By my faith, sister,” said Peredur to her, “thou art a beauteous and lovely maiden; and, were it pleasing to thee, I could love thee above all women.” “I pledge my faith,” said she, “that I do not love thee, nor will I ever do so.” “I also pledge my faith,” said Peredur, “that I will never speak a word to any Christian again, until thou come to love me above all men.”

  The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a mountain ridge, and above him he beheld a castle, and thitherward he went. And he struck upon the gate with his lance, and then, behold, a comely auburn-haired youth opened the gate, and he had the stature of a warrior, and the years of a boy. And when Peredur came into the hall, there was a tall and stately lady sitting in a chair, and many maidens around her; and the lady rejoiced at his coming. When it was time they went to meat. And after the repast was finished the lady said, “It were well for thee, Chieftain, to go elsewhere to sleep. Nine sorceresses are here, of the witches of Gloucester, and unless we can make our escape before daybreak, we shall be slain; for already they have conquered and laid waste all the country, except this one dwelling.” Peredur said no word, but he showed them that he would stay. Then they all went to rest.

  With the break of day Peredur heard a dreadful outcry. Hastily he arose, and went forth in his vest and his doublet, with his sword about his neck, and he saw a sorceress overtake one of the watch, who cried out violently. Peredur attacked the sorceress, and struck her upon the head with his sword, so that he flattened her helmet and her head-piece like a dish upon her head. “Thy mercy, goodly Peredur,” sai
d the un-Christian sorceress. “How knowest thou, hag, that I am Peredur?” “By destiny, and the foreknowledge that I should suffer harm from thee. Thou shalt take a horse and armour of me; and with me thou shalt go to learn chivalry and the use of thy arms.” Said Peredur, “Thou shalt have mercy, if thou pledge thy faith thou wilt never more injure the dominions of the Lady of the Castle.” The sorceress pledged her faith, and Peredur took surety of her, and with the permission of the Lady of the Castle he went forth with the sorceress to the Palace of the Sorceresses. And there he remained for three weeks, and then he made choice of a horse and arms, and went his way.

  And after he had left the Palace of the Sorceresses, Peredur came to that castle that he afterwards called the Castle of Wonders. First he came to a vast desert wood, and at the further end of the wood was a meadow, and at the other side of the meadow he saw a great castle. Thitherward Peredur bent his way. On the border of a lake he saw a nobleman, sitting upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment of velvet upon him. His attendants were fishing in the lake. When the hoary-headed nobleman beheld Peredur approaching, he arose and went towards the castle. Peredur saw that he was old and lame.