ht 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." And
Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and they took off their armour.
And 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 {76}
had been such, thou shouldst not have left me as thou didst.
Nevertheless, this was predicted of thee by the dwarf and the dwarfess,
whom Kai ill treated, and whom thou hast avenged." And hereupon, behold
there came the Queen and her handmaidens, and Peredur saluted them. And
they were rejoiced to see him, and bade him welcome. And Arthur did him
great honour and respect, and they returned towards Caerlleon.

And the first night, Peredur came to Caerlleon, to Arthur's Court, and as
he walked in the city after his repast, behold, there met him Angharad
Law Eurawc. "By my faith, sister," said Peredur, "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 he saw a valley of a circular form, the confines of which were
rocky and wooded. And the flat part of the valley was in meadows, and
there were fields betwixt the meadows and the wood. And in the bosom of
the wood he saw large black houses, of uncouth workmanship. And he
dismounted, and led his horse towards the wood. And a little way within
the wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which the road lay. And upon the
ledge was a lion bound by a chain, and sleeping. And beneath the lion he
saw a deep pit, of immense size, full of the bones of men and animals.
And Peredur drew his sword, and struck the lion, so that he fell into the
mouth of the pit, and hung there by the chain; and with a second blow he
struck the chain, and broke it, and the lion fell into the pit, and
Peredur led his horse over the rocky ledge, until he came into the
valley. And in the centre of the valley he saw a fair castle, and he
went towards it. And in the