is they merit, for they were
ever in the front and the rear in every peril." And he saw but one hue
upon the men and the horses of this troop, for they were all as red as
blood. And when one of the knights rode forth from the troop, he looked
like a pillar of fire glancing athwart the sky. And this troop encamped
above the ford.

Then they beheld another troop coming towards the ford, and these from
their horses' chests upwards were whiter than the lily, and below blacker
than jet. And they saw one of these knights go before the rest, and spur
his horse into the ford in such a manner that the water dashed over
Arthur and the Bishop, and those holding counsel with them, so that they
were as wet as if they had been drenched in the river. And as he turned
the head of his horse, the youth who stood before Arthur struck the horse
over the nostrils with his sheathed sword, so that had it been with the
bare blade it would have been a marvel if the bone had not been wounded
as well as the flesh. And the knight drew his sword half out of the
scabbard, and asked of him, "Wherefore didst thou strike my horse?
Whether was it in insult or in counsel unto me?" "Thou dost indeed lack
counsel. What madness caused thee to ride so furiously as to dash the
water of the ford over Arthur, and the consecrated Bishop, and their
counsellors, so that they were as wet as if they had been dragged out of
the river?" "As counsel then will I take it." So he turned his horse's
head round towards his army.

"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who was yonder knight?" "The most eloquent and
the wisest youth that is in this Island; Adaon the son of Taliesin." "Who
was the man that struck his horse?" "A youth of froward nature; Elphin
the son of Gwyddno."

Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing speech, saying
that it was a marvel that so vast a host should be assembled in so narrow
a space, and that it was a still greater marvel that those should be
there at that time who had promised to be by mid-day in the battle of
Badon, fighting with Osla Gyllellvawr. "Whether thou mayest choose to
proceed or not, I will proceed." "Thou sayest well," said Arthur, "and
we will go all together." "Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who was the man who
spoke so marvellously unto Arthur erewhile?" "A man who may speak as
boldly as he listeth, Caradawc Vreichvras, the son of Llyr Marini, his
chief counsellor and his cousin."

Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy beh