e he stood. And Peredur spurred his horse,
and ran at him wrathfully, furiously, fiercely, desperately, and with
mighty rage, and he gave him a thrust, deadly-wounding, severe, furious,
adroit and strong, under his jaw, and raised him out of his saddle, and
cast him a long way from him. And Peredur went back, and left the horse
and the arms with the attendant as before, and he went on foot to the
Palace.

Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth. And behold, Angharad
Law Eurawc met him. "I declare to Heaven, chieftain," said she, "woeful
is it that thou canst not speak; for couldst thou speak, I would love
thee best of all men; and, by my faith, although thou canst not, I do
love thee above all." "Heaven reward thee, my sister," said Peredur, "by
my faith, I also do love thee." Thereupon it was known that he was
Peredur. And then he held fellowship with Gwalchmai, and Owain the son
of Urien, and all the household, and he remained in Arthur's Court.

Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk; and he went to hunt, and Peredur went
with him. And Peredur let loose his dog upon a hart, and the dog killed
the hart in a desert place. And a short space from him he saw signs of a
dwelling, and towards the dwelling he went, and he beheld a hall, and at
the door of the hall he found bald swarthy youths playing at chess. And
when he entered, he beheld three maidens sitting on a bench, and they
were all clothed alike, as became persons of high rank. And he came, and
sat by them upon the bench; and one of the maidens looked steadfastly
upon Peredur, and wept. And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping.
"Through grief, that I should see so fair a youth as thou art, slain."
"Who will slay me?" enquired Peredur. "If thou art so daring as to
remain here to-night, I will tell thee." "How great soever my danger may
be from remaining here, I will listen unto thee." "This Palace is owned
by him who is my father," said the maiden, "and he slays every one who
comes hither without his leave." "What sort of a man is thy father, that
he is able to slay every one thus?"

"A man who does violence and wrong unto his neighbours, and who renders
justice unto none." And hereupon he saw the youths arise and clear the
chessmen from the board. And he heard a great tumult; and after the
tumult there came in a huge black one-eyed man, and the maidens arose to
meet him. And they disarrayed him, and he went and sat down; and after
he h