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