n the sword was drawn from
its scabbard, it seemed as if two flames of fire burst forth from the
jaws of the serpents, and then, so wonderful was the sword, that it was
hard for any one to look upon it. And the host became still, and the
tumult ceased, and the Earl returned to the tent.

"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who is the man who bore the sword of Arthur?"
"Kadwr, the Earl of Cornwall, whose duty is to arm the King on the days
of battle and warfare."

And they heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn, Arthur's servant, a
red, rough, ill-favoured man, having red whiskers {116b} with bristly
hairs. And behold he came upon a tall red horse, with the mane parted on
each side, and he brought with him a large and beautiful sumpter pack.
And the huge red youth dismounted before Arthur, and he drew a golden
chair out of the pack, and a carpet of diapered satin. And he spread the
carpet before Arthur, and there was an apple of ruddy gold at each corner
thereof, and he placed the chair upon the carpet. And so large was the
chair that three armed warriors might have sat therein. Gwenn was the
name of the carpet, and it was one of its properties, that whoever was
upon it no one could see him, and he could see every one. And it would
retain no colour but its own.

And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of Urien was standing
before him. "Owain," said Arthur, "wilt thou play chess?" "I will,
Lord," said Owain. And the red youth brought the chess for Arthur and
Owain; golden pieces and a board of silver. And they began to play.

And while they were thus, and when they were best amused with their game,
behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and the figure of a jet
black serpent on the top of the tent, and red glaring venomous eyes in
the head of the serpent, and a red flaming tongue. And there came a
young page with yellow curling hair, and blue eyes, and a newly springing
beard, wearing a coat and a surcoat of yellow satin, and hose of thin
greenish yellow cloth upon his feet, and over his hose shoes of parti-
coloured leather, fastened at the insteps with golden clasps. And he
bore a heavy three-edged sword with a golden hilt, in a scabbard of black
leather tipped with fine gold. And he came to the place where the
Emperor and Owain were playing at chess.

And the youth saluted Owain. And Owain marvelled that the youth should
salute him and should not have saluted the Emperor Arthur. And Arthu