the dew-drop from the
blade of reed grass upon the earth, when the dew of June is at the
heaviest. A gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh, the blade of which was
of gold, bearing a cross of inlaid gold of the hue of the lightning of
heaven: his war-horn was of ivory. Before him were two brindled white-
breasted greyhounds, having strong collars of rubies about their necks,
reaching from the shoulder to the ear. And the one that was on the left
side bounded across to the right side, and the one on the right to the
left, and like two sea swallows sported around him. And his courser cast
up four sods with his four hoofs, like four swallows in the air, about
his head, now above, now below. About him was a four-cornered cloth of
purple, and an apple of gold was at each corner; and every one of the
apples was of the value of an hundred kine. And there was precious gold
of the value of three hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups,
from his knee to the tip of his toe. And the blade of grass bent not
beneath him, so light was his courser's tread as he journeyed towards the
gate of Arthur's palace.

Spoke the youth, "Is there a porter?" "There is; and if thou holdest not
thy peace, small will be thy welcome. {67} I am Arthur's porter every
first day of January. And during every other part of the year but this
the office is filled by Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym, and
Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head to save his feet, neither towards the
sky nor towards the earth, but like a rolling stone upon the floor of the
Court." "Open the portal." "I will not open it." "Wherefore not?" "The
knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry
in Arthur's hall, and none may enter therein but the son of a king of a
privileged country, or a craftsman bringing his craft. But there will be
refreshment for thy dogs, and for thy horses; and for thee there will be
collops cooked and peppered, and luscious wine and mirthful songs, and
food for fifty men shall be brought unto thee in the guest chamber, where
the stranger and the sons of other countries eat, who come not unto the
precincts of the Palace of Arthur. Thou wilt fare no worse there than
thou wouldest with Arthur in the Court. A lady shall smooth thy couch,
and shall lull thee with songs; and early to-morrow morning, when the
gate is open for the multitude that came hither to-day, for thee shall it
be opened first, and thou mayest si