bushes and weeds. And at the upper end of the wood he saw a vast castle,
wherein were many strong towers; and when he came near the gate, he found
the weeds taller than he had done elsewhere. And he struck the gate with
the shaft of his lance, and thereupon behold a lean auburn-haired youth
came to an opening in the battlements. "Choose thou, chieftain," said
he. "Whether shall I open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce unto
those that are chief, that thou art at the gateway?" "Say that I am
here," said Peredur, "and if it is desired that I should enter, I will go
in." And the youth came back, and opened the gate for Peredur. And when
he went into the hall, he beheld eighteen youths, lean and red-headed, of
the same height and of the same aspect, and of the same dress, and of the
same age as the one who had opened the gate for him. And they were well
skilled in courtesy and in service. And they disarrayed him. Then they
sat down to discourse. Thereupon, behold five maidens came from the
chamber into the hall. And Peredur was certain that he had never seen
another of so fair an aspect as the chief of the maidens. And she had an
old garment of satin upon her, which had once been handsome, but was then
so tattered, that her skin could be seen through it. And whiter was her
skin than the bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were
blacker than jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than
whatever is reddest. And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put her arms
about his neck, and made him sit down beside her. Not long after this he
saw two nuns enter and a flask full of wine was borne by one, and six
loaves of white bread by the other. "Lady," said they, "Heaven is
witness, that there is not so much of food and liquor as this left in
yonder Convent this night." Then they went to meat, and Peredur observed
that the maiden wished to give more of the food and of the liquor to him
than to any of the others. "My sister," said Peredur, "I will share out
the food and the liquor." "Not so, my soul," said she. "By my faith,
but I will." So Peredur took the bread, and he gave an equal portion of
it to each alike, as well as a cup full of the liquor. And when it was
time for them to sleep, a chamber was prepared for Peredur, and he went
to rest.

"Behold, sister," said the youths to the fairest and most exalted of the
maidens, "we have counsel for thee." "What may it be?" she enquired.