PEREDUR (MABINOGION)
	(translated by Lady Charlotte Guest [London: Ballantyne Press, 1910])

nd Peredur rode forward.  And he came to a vast and desert wood, on the
confines of which was a lake.  And on the other side was a fair castle. 
And on the border of the lake he saw a venerable hoary-headed man sitting
upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment of velvet upon him.  And his
attendants were fishing in the lake.  When the hoary-headed man beheld
Peredur approaching, he arose, and sent towards the castle.  And the old
man was lame.  Peredur rode to the palace, and the door was open, and he
entered the hall.  And there was the hoary-headed man sitting on a
cushion, and a large blazing fire burning before him.  And the household
and the company arose to meet Peredur, and disarrayed him.  And the man
asked the youth to sit on the cushion; and they sat down, and conversed
together.  When it was time, the tables were laid, and they went to meat. 
And when they had finished their meal, the man inquired of Peredur, if he
knew well how to fight with the sword. 
	"I know not," said Peredur, "but were I to be taught, doubtless I
should." 
	"Whoever can play well with the cudgel and shield, will also be
able to fight with a sword."  And the man had two sons; the one had yellow
hair, and the other auburn.  "Arise, youth," said he, "and play with the
cudgel and shield."  And so did they. 
	"Tell me, my soul," said the man, "which of the youths thinkest
thou plays best?" 
	"I think," said Peredur, "that the yellow-haired youth could draw
blood from the other, if he chose." 
	"Arise thou, my life, and take the cudgel and the shield from the
hand of the youth with the auburn hair, and draw blood from the
yellow-haired youth, it thou canst." 
	So Peredur arose, and he went to play with the yellow-haired
youth; and he lifted up his arm, and struck him such a mighty blow, that
his brow fell over his eye, and the blood flowed forth. 
	"Ah, my life," said the man, "come now, and sit down, for thou
wilt become the best fighter with the sword of any in this island; and I
am thy uncle, thy mother's brother.  And with me thou shalt remain a
space, in order to learn the manners and customs of different countries,
and courtesy, and gentleness, and noble bearing.  Leave, then, the habits
and the discourse of thy mother, and I will be thy teacher; and I will
raise thee to the rank of knight from this time forward.  And thus do
thou.  If thou seest ought to cause thee wonder, ask not the meaning of
it; if no one has the courtesy to inform thee, the reproach will not fall
upon thee, but upon me that am thy teacher." 
	And they had abundance of honor and service.  And when it was
time, they went to sleep.  At the break of day, Peredur arose, and took
his horse, and with his uncle's permission, he rode forth.  And he came to
a vast desert wood, and at the further end of the wood was a meadow, and
on the other side of the meadow he saw a large castle.  And thitherward
Peredur bent his way, and he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the
hall.  And he beheld a stately hoary-headed man sitting on one side of the
hall, and many pages around him, who arose to receive and to honour
Peredur.  And they placed him by the side of the owner of the palace. 
Then they discoursed together; and when it was time to eat, they caused
Peredur to sit beside the nobleman during the repast.  And when they had
eaten and drank as much as they desired, the nobleman asked Peredur,
whither he could fight with a sword? 
	"Were I to receive instruction," said Peredur, "I think I could." 
	Now, there was on the floor of the hall a huge staple, as large as
a warrior could grasp.  "Take yonder sword," said the man to Peredur, "and
strike the iron staple."  So Peredur arose, and struck the staple, so that
he cut it in two; and the sword broke into two parts also.  "Place the two
parts together, and reunite them," and Peredur placed them together, and
they became entire as they were before.  And a second time he struck upon
the staple, so that both it and the sword were broke in two, and as before
they reunited.  And the third time he gave it a like blow, and placed the
broken parts together, and neither the staple not the sword would unite,
as before. 
	"Youth," said the nobleman, "come now and sit down, and my
blessing be upon thee.  Thou fightest best with the sword of any man in
the kingdom.  Thou hast arrived at two-thirds of thy strength, and the
other third thou hast not yet obtained; and when thou attainest to thy
full power, none will be able to contend with thee.  I am thy uncle, thy
mother's brother, and I am brother to the man in whose house thou wast
last night." 
	Then Peredur and his uncle discoursed together, and he beheld two
youths enter the hall, and proceed up to the chamber, bearing a spear of
mighty size, with three streams of blood flowing from the point to the
ground.  And when all the company saw this, they began wailing and
lamenting.  But for all that, the man did not break off his discourse with
Peredur.  And as he did not tell Peredur the meaning of what he saw, he
forebore to ask him concerning it.  And when the clamour had a little
subsided, behold two maidens entered, and a large salver between them, in
which was a man's head, surrounded by a profusion of blood.  And thereupon
the company of the court made so great an outcry, that it was irksome to
be in the same hall with them.  But at length they were silent.  And when
time was that they should sleep, Peredur was brought into a fair
chamber.... 

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