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King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his
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chamber; and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son
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of Clydno, and Kai the son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her
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handmaidens at needlework by the window. And if it should be said
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handmaidens at needlework by the window.  And if it should be said
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that there was a porter at Arthur's palace, there was none. Glewlwyd
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that there was a porter at Arthur's palace, there was none.  Glewlwyd
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Gavaelvawr was there, acting as porter, to welcome guests and
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strangers, and to receive them with honour, and to inform them of the
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manners and customs of the Court; and to direct those who came to the
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Hall or to the presence-chamber, and those who came to take up their lodging.
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In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of green
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rushes, over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured satin, and
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a cushion of red satin was under his elbow.
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Then Arthur spoke, "If I thought you would not disparage me," said
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he, "I would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can entertain
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one another with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon of mead and
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some meat from Kai." And the King went to sleep. And Kynon the son
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some meat from Kai."  And the King went to sleep.  And Kynon the son
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of Clydno asked Kai for that which Arthur had promised them. "I,
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of Clydno asked Kai for that which Arthur had promised them.  "I,
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too, will have the good tale which he promised to me," said Kai.
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"Nay," answered Kynon, "fairer will it be for thee to fulfill
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Arthur's behest, in the first place, and then we will tell thee the
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best tale that we know." So Kai went to the kitchen and to the mead-
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best tale that we know."  So Kai went to the kitchen and to the mead-
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cellar, and returned bearing a flagon of mead and a golden goblet,
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and a handful of skewers, upon which were broiled collops of meat.
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Then they ate the collops and began to drink the mead. "Now," said
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Then they ate the collops and began to drink the mead.  "Now," said
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Kai, "it is time for you to give me my story." "Kynon," said Owain,
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Kai, "it is time for you to give me my story."  "Kynon," said Owain,
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"do thou pay to Kai the tale that is his due." "Truly," said Kynon,
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"do thou pay to Kai the tale that is his due."  "Truly," said Kynon,
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"thou are older, and art a better teller of tales, and hast seen more
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marvellous things than I; do thou therefore pay Kai his tale."
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"Begin thyself," quoth Owain, "with the best that thou knowest." "I
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"Begin thyself," quoth Owain, "with the best that thou knowest."  "I
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will do so," answered Kynon.
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"I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly
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aspiring, and my daring was very great. I thought there was no
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aspiring, and my daring was very great.  I thought there was no
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enterprise in the world too mighty for me, and after I had achieved
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all the adventures that were in my own country, I equipped myself,
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and set forth to journey through deserts and distant regions. And at
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and set forth to journey through deserts and distant regions.  And at
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length it chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world,
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wherein were trees of equal growth; and a river ran through the
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valley, and a path was by the side of the river. And I followed the
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valley, and a path was by the side of the river.  And I followed the
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path until mid-day, and continued my journey along the remainder of
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the valley until the evening; and at the extremity of a plain I came
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to a large and lustrous Castle, at the foot of which was a torrent.
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And I approached the Castle, and there I beheld two youths with
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yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and
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clad in a garment of yellow satin, and they had gold clasps upon
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their insteps. In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung
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their insteps.  In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung
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with the sinews of the stag; and their arrows had shafts of the bone
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of the whale, and were winged with peacock's feathers; the shafts
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also had golden heads. And they had daggers with blades of gold, and
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also had golden heads.  And they had daggers with blades of gold, and
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with hilts of the bone of the whale. And they were shooting their daggers.
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with hilts of the bone of the whale.  And they were shooting their daggers.
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"And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of life, with
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his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of yellow satin;
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and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace. On his feet
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and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace.  On his feet
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were shoes of variegated leather, fastened by two bosses of gold.
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When I saw him, I went towards him and saluted him, and such was his
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courtesy that he no sooner received my greeting than he returned it.
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And he went with me towards the Castle. Now there were no dwellers
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And he went with me towards the Castle.  Now there were no dwellers
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in the Castle except those who were in one hall. And there I saw
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in the Castle except those who were in one hall.  And there I saw
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four-and-twenty damsels, embroidering satin at a window. And this I
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four-and-twenty damsels, embroidering satin at a window.  And this I
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tell thee, Kai, that the least fair of them was fairer than the
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fairest maid thou hast ever beheld in the Island of Britain, and the
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least lovely of them was more lovely than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of
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Arthur, when she has appeared loveliest at the Offering, on the day
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of the Nativity, or at the feast of Easter. They rose up at my
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of the Nativity, or at the feast of Easter.  They rose up at my
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coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me of my armour;
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and six others took my arms, and washed them in a vessel until they
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were perfectly bright. And the third six spread cloths upon the
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were perfectly bright.  And the third six spread cloths upon the
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tables and prepared meat. And the fourth six took off my soiled
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tables and prepared meat.  And the fourth six took off my soiled
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garments, and placed others upon me; namely, an under-vest and a
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doublet of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of