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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 |