Part One
ARTHUR
was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk. And there he held it
seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upon a time he held his Court there
at Whitsuntide. For Caerlleon was the place most easy of access in his
dominions, both by sea and by land. And there were assembled nine crowned kings,
who were his tributaries, and likewise earls and barons. For they were his
invited guests at all the high festivals, unless they were prevented by any
great hindrance. And when he was at Caerlleon, holding his Court. thirteen
churches were set apart for mass. And thus were they appointed: one church for
Arthur, and his Kings, and his guests; and the second for Gwenhwyvar and her
ladies; and the third for the Steward of the Household and the suitors; and the
fourth for the Franks and the other officers; and the other nine churches were
for the nine Masters of the Household and chiefly for Gwalchmai; for he, from
the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his birth, was the
most exalted of the nine. And there was no other arrangement respecting the
churches than that which we have mentioned above.
Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not himself perform the
office, except at one of the three high festivals, for he had seven men to serve
him, and they divided the year amongst them. They were Grynn, and Pen Pighon,
and Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and Gwrdnei with cat's eyes, who could see as
well by night as by day, and Drem the son of Dremhitid, and Clust the son of
Clustveinyd; and these were Arthur's guards. And on Whit-Tuesday, as the King
sat at the banquet, lo! there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat
and a surcoat of diapered satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and
low shoes of leather upon his feet. And he came, and stood before Arthur.
"Hail to thee, lord!" said he.
"Heaven prosper thee," he answered, "and be thou welcome. Dost
thou bring any new tidings?"
"I do, Lord," he said.
"I know thee not," said Arthur.
"It is a marvel to me that thou dost not know me. I am one of thy
foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and my name is Madawc, the son of
Twrgadarn."
"Tell me thine errand," said Arthur.
"I will do so, Lord," said he. "In the Forest I saw a stag, the
like of which beheld I never yet."
"What is there about him," asked Arthur, "that thou never yet
didst see his like?"
"He is of pure white, Lord, and he does not herd with any other animal
through stateliness and pride, so royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy
counsel, Lord, and to know thy will concerning him."
"It seems best to me," said Arthur, "to go and hunt him tomorrow
at break of day; and to cause general notice thereof to be given to-night in all
quarters of the Court." And Arryfuerys was Arthur's chief huntsman, and
Arelivri was his chief page. And all received notice; and thus it was arranged.
And they sent the youth before them.
Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, "Wilt thou permit me, Lord," said she,
to go to-morrow to see and hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man
spoke?"
"I will, gladly," said Arthur. "Then will I go," said she.
And Gwalchmai said to Arthur, "Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that
into whose hunt soever the stag shall come, that one, be he a knight, or one on
foot, may cut off his head, and give it to whom he pleases, whether to his own
lady-love, or to the lady of his friend."
"I grant it gladly," said Arthur, "and let the Steward of the
Household be chastised, if all are not ready to-morrow for the chase."
And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse, and ample
entertainment. And when it was time for them all to go to sleep, they went. And
when the next day came, they arose; and Arthur called the attendants, who
guarded his couch. And these were four pages, whose names were Cadyrnerth the
son of Porthawr, Gandwy, and Ambreu, the son of Bedwor, and Amhar the son of
Arthur, and Goreu the son of Custennin. And these men came to Arthur and saluted
him, and arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur wondered that Gwenhwyvar did
not awake, and did not move in her bed; and the attendants wished to awaken her.
"Disturb her not," said Arthur, "for she had rather sleep than go
to see the hunting."
Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from near the
lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that of the chief page.
And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to Arthur, and they took the road
to the Forest.
And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar awoke, and called to
her maidens, and apparelled herself. "Maidens," said she, "I had
leave last night to go and see the hunt. Go one of you to the Stable, and order
hither a horse such as a woman may ride." And one them went, and she found
but two horses in the stable, and Gwenhwyvar and one of her maidens mounted
them, and went through the Usk, and followed the track of the men and the
horses. And as they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and they
looked behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal of mighty size; and
the rider was a fairhaired youth, bare-legged, and of princely mien, and a
goldenhilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a surcoat of satin were upon
him, and two low shoes of leather upon his feet; and around him was a scarf of
blue purple, at each corner of which was a golden apple. And his horse stepped
stately, and swift, and proud; and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and saluted her.
"Heaven prosper thee, Geraint," said she, "I knew thee when first
I saw thee just now. And the welcome of heaven be unto thee. And why didst thou
not go with thy lord to hunt?"
"Because I knew not when he went," said he. "I marvel, too,"
said she, "how he could go unknown to me."
"Indeed, lady," said he. "I was asleep, and knew not when he
went; but thou, O young man, art the most agreeable companion I could have in
the whole kingdom; and it may be, that I shall be more amused with the hunting
than they; for we shall hear the horns when they sound, and we shall hear the
dogs when they are let loose, and begin to cry." So they went to the edge
of the Forest, and there they stood. "From this place," said she,
"we shall hear when the dogs are let loose." And thereupon, they heard
a loud noise, and they looked towards the spot whence it came, and they beheld a
dwarf riding upon a horse, stately, and foaming, and prancing, and strong, and
spirited. And in the hand of the dwarf was a whip. And near the dwarf they saw a
lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady and stately pace; and she was
clothed in a garment of gold brocade. And near her was a knight upon a warhorse
of large size, with heavy and bright armour both upon himself and upon his
horse. And truly they never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armour, of such
remarkable size. And they were all near to each other.
"Geraint," said Gwenhwyvar, " knowest thou the name of that tall
knight yonder?"
"I know him not," said he, and the strange armour that he wears
prevents my either seeing his face or his features."
"Go, maiden," said Gwenhwyar, "and ask the dwarf who that knight
is." Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for the
maiden, when he saw her coming towards him. And the maiden inquired of the dwarf
who the knight was.
"I will not tell thee," he answered.
"Since thou art so churlish as not to tell me," said she, "I will
ask him himself."
"Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith," said he.
"Wherefore?" said she.
"Because thou art not of honour sufficient to befit thee to speak to my
Lord." Then the maiden turned her horse's head towards the knight, upon
which the dwarf struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the face
and the eyes, until the blood flowed forth. And the maiden, through the hurt she
received from the blow, returned to Gwenhwyvar, complaining of the pain.
"Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee," said Geraint. "I will
go myself to know who the knight is."
"Go," said Gwenhwyvar. And Geraint went up to the dwarf.
"Who is yonder knight?" said Geraint.
"I will not tell thee," said the dwarf.
"Then will I ask him himself," said he.
"That wilt thou not, by my faith," said the dwarf, "thou art not
honourable enough to speak with my Lord."
Said Geraint, "I have spoken with men of equal rank with him." And he
turned, his horse's head towards the knight; but the dwarf overtook him, and
struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood coloured the scarf that
Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand upon the hilt of his sword, but he took
counsel with himself, and considered that it would be no vengeance for him to
slay the dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so he returned
to where Gwenhwyvar. was.
"Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly," said she. "Lady,"
said he, "I will follow him yet, with thy permission; and at last he will
come to some inhabited place, where I may have arms either as a loan or for a
pledge, so that I may encounter the knight."
"Go," said she, " and do not attack him until thou hast good
arms, and I shall be very anxious concerning thee, until I hear tidings of
thee."
"If I am alive," said he, "thou shalt hear tidings of me by
to-morrow afternoon;" and with that he departed.
And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon, and across the ford of
the Usk; and they went along a fair, and even, and lofty ridge of ground, until
they came to a town. and at the extremity of the town they saw a Fortress and a
Castle. And they came to the extremity of the town. And as the knight passed
through it, all the people arose, and saluted him, and bade him welcome. And
when Geraint came into the town, he looked at every house, to see if he knew any
of those whom he saw. But he knew none, and none knew him to do him the kindness
to let him have arms either as a loan or for a pledge. And every house he saw
was full of men, and arms, and horses. And they were polishing shields, and
burnishing swords, and washing armour, and shoeing horses. And the knight, and
the lady, and the dwarf, rode up to the Castle that was in the town, and every
one was glad in the Castle. And from the battlements and the gates they risked
their necks, through their eagerness to greet them, and to show their joy.
Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the Castle; and
when he was certain that he would do so, he looked around him; and at a little
distance from the town he saw an old palace in ruins, wherein was a hall that
was falling to decay. And as he knew not any one in the town, he went towards
the old palace; and when he came near to the palace, he saw but one chamber, and
a bridge of marblestone leading to it. And upon the bridge he saw sitting a
hoary-headed man, upon whom were tattered garments. And Geraint gazed
steadfastly upon him for a long time. Then the hoary-headed man spoke to him.
"Young man," he said, wherefore art thou thoughtful?"
"I am thoughtful," said he, "because I know not where to go
to-night."
"Wilt thou come forward this way, chieftain?" said he, "and thou
shalt have of the best that can be procured for thee." So Geraint went
forward. And the hoary-beaded man preceded him into the hall. And in the hall he
dismounted, and he left there his horse. Then he went on to the upper chamber
with the hoary-headed man. And in the chamber he beheld an old decrepit woman,
sitting on a cushion, with old, tattered garments of satin upon her; and it
seemed to him that he had never seen a woman fairer than she must have been,
when in the fulness of youth. And beside her was a maiden, upon whom were a vest
and a veil, that were old, and beginning to be worn out. And truly, he never saw
a maiden more full of comeliness, and grace, and beauty, than she. And the
hoary-headed man said to the maiden, "There is no attendant for the horse
of this youth but thyself."
"I will render the best service I am able," said she, "both to
him and to his horse." And the maiden disarrayed the youth, and then she
furnished his horse with straw and with corn. And she went to the hall as
before, and then she returned to the chamber. And the hoary-headed man said to
the maiden, "Go to the town," said he, "and bring hither the best
that thou canst find both of food and of liquor."
"I will, gladly, Lord," said she. And to the town went the maiden. And
they conversed together while the maiden was at the town. And, behold! the
maiden came back, and a youth with her, bearing on his back a costrel full of
good purchased mead, and a quarter of a young bullock. And in the hands of the
maiden was a quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet bread in her
veil, and she came into the chamber.
"I could not obtain better than this," said she, "nor with better
should I have been trusted."
"It is good enough," said Geraint. And they caused the meat to be
boiled; and when their food was ready, they sat down. And it was on this wise;
Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his wife, and the maiden served
them. And they ate and drank.
And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary-headed man, and
he asked him in the first place, to whom belonged the palace that he was in.
"Truly," said he, "it was I that built it, and to me also
belonged the city and the castle which thou sawest."
"Alas!" said Geraint, "how is it that thou hast lost them
now?"
"I lost a great Earldom as well as these," said he; "and this is
how I lost them. I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his
possessions to myself; and when he came to his strength, he demanded of me his
property, but I withheld it from him. So he made war upon me, and wrested from
me all that I possessed."
"Good Sir," said Geraint, "wilt thou tell me wherefore came the
knight, and the lady, and the dwarf, just now into the town, and what is the
preparation which I saw, and the putting of arms in order?"
"I will do so," said he. "The preparations are for the game that
is to be held tomorrow by the young Earl, which will be on this wise. In the
midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be set up, and upon the two
forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a, Sparrow-Hawk, and for the
Sparrow-Hawk there will be a tournament. And to the tournament will go all the
array thou didst see in the city, of men, and of horses, and of arms. And with
each man will go the lady he loves best; and no man can joust for the
Sparrow-Hawk, except the lady be loves best be with him. And the knight that
thou sawest has gained the Sparrow-Hawk these two years; and if he gains it the
third year, they will, from that time, send it every year to him, and he himself
will come here no more. And he will be called the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk
from that time forth."
"Sir," said Geraint, "what is thy counsel to me concerning this
knight, on account of the insult which I received from the dwarf, and that which
was received by the maiden of Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur ?" And Geraint
told the hoary-headed man what the insult was that he had received. "It is
not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou hast neither dame nor maiden
belonging to thee, for whom thou caust joust. Yet, I have arms here, which thou
couldest have; and there is my horse also, if he seem to thee better than thine
own."
"Ah! Sir," said he, "Heaven reward thee. But my own horse, to
which I am accustomed, together with thy arms, will suffice me. And if, when the
appointed time shall come to-morrow, thou wilt permit me, Sir, to challenge for
yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from the
tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live; and if I do not escape, she
will remain unsullied as before."
"Gladly will I permit thee," said the hoary-headed man; "and
since thou dost thus resolve, it is necessary that thy horse and arms should be
ready to-morrow at break of day. For then, the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk will
make proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best, to take the Sparrow-Hawk.
'For,' will he say to her, 'thou art the fairest of women, and thou didst
possess it last year, and the year previous ; and if any deny it thee to-day, by
force will I defend it for thee.' And therefore," said the hoary-headed
man, "it is needful for thee to be there at daybreak; and we three will be
with thee." And thus was it settled.
And at night, lo! they went to sleep; and before the dawn they arose, and
arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were all four in the
meadow. And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk making the proclamation,
and asking his lady-love to fetch the Sparrow-Hawk. "Fetch it not,"
said Geraint, "for there is here a maiden, who is fairer, and more noble,
and more comely, and who has a better claim to it than thou."
"If thou maintainest the Sparrow-Hawk to be due to her, come forward, and
do battle with me." And Geraint went forward to the top of the meadow,
having upon himself and upon his horse armour which was heavy, and rusty, and
worthless, and of uncouth shape. Then they encountered each other, and they
broke a set of lances, and they broke a second set, and a third. And thus they
did at every onset, and they broke as many lances as were brought to them. And
when the Earl and his company saw the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk gaining the
mastery, there was shouting, and joy, and mirth amongst them. And the
hoary-headed man, and his wife, and his daughter, were sorrowful. And the
hoary-headed man served Geraint lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarf
served the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk. Then the hoary-headed man came to
Geraint. "Oh! chieftain," said he, "since no other will hold with
thee, behold, here is the lance which was in my hand on the day when I received
the honour of knighthood; and from that time to this I never broke it. And it
has an excellent point." Then Geraint took the lance, thanking the
hoary-headed man. And thereupon the dwarf also brought a lance to his lord.
"Behold, here is a lance for thee, not less good than his," said the
dwarf. "And bethink thee, that no knight ever withstood thee before so long
as this one has done."
"I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, "that unless death takes me
quickly hence, he shall fare never the better for thy service." And Geraint
pricked his horse towards him from afar, and warning him, he rushed upon him,
and gave him a blow so severe, and furious, and fierce, upon the face of his
shield, that he cleft it in two, and broke his armour, and burst his girths, so
that both he and his saddle were borne to the ground over the horse's crupper.
And Geraint dismounted quickly. And he was wroth, and he drew his sword, and
rushed fiercely upon him. Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against
Geraint. And they fought on foot with their swords until their arms struck
sparks of fire like stars from one another; and thus they continued fighting
until the blood and sweat obscured the light from their eyes. And when Geraint
prevailed, the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and his daughter, were glad; and
when the knight prevailed, it rejoiced the Earl and his party. Then the
hoary-headed man saw Geraint receive a severe stroke, and he went up to him
quickly, and said to him, "Oh, chieftain, remember the treatment which thou
hadst from the dwarf; and wilt thou not seek vengeance for the insult to
thyself, and for the insult to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur!" And Geraint
was roused by what he said to him, and he called to him all his strength, and
lifted up his sword, and struck the knight upon the crown of his head, so that
he broke all his head-armour, and cut through all the flesh and the skin, even
to the skull, until he wounded the bone.
Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from his hand, and
besought mercy of Geraint. "Of a truth," said he, "I relinquish
my overdaring and my pride in craving thy mercy; and unless I have time to
commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to talk with a priest, thy mercy will
avail me little."
"I will grant thee grace upon this condition," said Geraint,
"that thou wilt go to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction
for the insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf. As to myself, for the
insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf, I am content with that which I
have done unto thee. Dismount not from the time thou goest hence until thou
comest into the presence of Gwenhwyvar, to make her what atonement shall be
adjudged at the Court of Arthur."
"This will I do gladly. And who art thou?" said he.
"I am Geraint the son of Erbin. And declare thou also who thou art?"
"I am Edeyrn the son of Nudd." Then he threw himself upon his horse,
and went forward to Arthur's Court, and the lady he loved best went before him
and the dwarf, with much lamentation. And thus far this story up to that time.