BOOK VII

SIR PEREDUR

CHAPTER XXII

THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PEREDUR

At one time there was in the North of Britain a great Earl named Evrawc.  A stout knight he was, and few were the tournaments at which he was not to be found in company with six of his sons; the seventh only, who was too young to bear arms, remaining at home with his mother.  But at the last, after he had won the prize at many a tourney, Earl Evrawc was slain, and his six sons with him; and then the Countess fled with Peredur, her youngest, to a lonely spot in the midst of a forest, far from the dwellings of men; for she was minded to bring him up where he might never hear of jousts and feats of arms, that so at least one son might be left to her.

So Peredur was reared amongst women and decrepit old men, and even these were strictly commanded never to tell the boy aught of the great world beyond the forest, or what men did therein.  None the less, he grew up active and fearless, as nimble and sure-footed as the goats, and patient of much toil.

Then, one day, when Peredur was grown a tall, strong youth, there chanced what had never chanced before; for there came riding through the forest, hard by where Peredur dwelt with his mother, a knight in full armour, none other, indeed, than the good knight, Sir Owain himself.  And seeing him, Peredur cried out:  “Mother, what is that, yonder?” “An angel, my son,” said his mother.  “Then will I go and become an angel with him,” said Peredur; and before any one could stay him, he was gone.

When Sir Owain saw him approaching, he reined in his horse, and after courteous salutation, said:  “I pray thee, fair youth, tell me, hast thou seen a knight pass this way?” “I know not what a knight may be,” answered Peredur.  “Why, even such an one as I,” answered Sir Owain.  “If ye will tell me what I ask you, I will tell you what ye ask me,” said Peredur; and when Owain, laughing, consented, Peredur touched the saddle, demanding, “What is this?” “Surely, a saddle,” replied Sir Owain; and, in like manner, Peredur asked him of all the parts of his armour, and Owain answered him patiently and courteously.  Then when he had ended his questions, Peredur said:  “Ride forward; for yesterday I saw from a distance such an one as ye are, ride through the forest.”

Sir Peredur returned to his mother, and exclaimed:  “Mother, that was no angel, but a noble knight”; and hearing his words, his mother fell into a swoon.  But Peredur hastened to the spot where were tethered the horses that brought them firewood and food from afar, and from them he chose a bony piebald, which seemed the strongest and in the best condition.  Then he found a pack and fastened it on the horse’s back, in some way to resemble a saddle, and strove with twigs to imitate the trappings he had seen upon