Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

346 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[402]him all knowledge of chivalry or warfare and of such thingsas war-horses or weapons. Here he grew up a simple rustic inmanner and in knowledge, but of an amazing bodily strength andactivity.He Goes Forth in Quest of AdventureOne day he saw three knights on the borders of the forest. Theywere all of Arthur's Court—Gwalchmai, Geneir, and Owain.Entranced by the sight, he asked his mother what these beingswere. “They are angels, my son,” said she. “By my faith,” saidPeredur, “I will go and become an angel with them.” He goes tomeet them, and soon learns what they are. Owain courteouslyexplains to him the use of a saddle, a shield, a sword, all theaccoutrements of warfare; and Peredur that evening picked out abony piebald draught-horse, and dressed him up in a saddle andtrappings made of twigs, and imitated from those he had seen.Seeing that he was bent on going forth to deeds of chivalry, hismother gave him her blessing and sundry instructions, and badehim seek the Court of Arthur; “there there are the best, and theboldest, and the most beautiful of men.”His First Feat of ArmsPeredur mounted his Rosinante, took for weapons a handful ofsharp-pointed stakes, and rode forth to Arthur's Court. Here thesteward, Kai, rudely repulsed him for his rustic appearance, buta dwarf and dwarfess, who had been a year at the Court withoutspeaking one word to any one there, cried: “Goodly Peredur,son of Evrawc; the welcome of Heaven be unto thee, flowerof knights and light of chivalry.” Kai chastised the dwarfs forbreaking silence by lauding such a fellow as Peredur, and whenthe latter demanded to be brought to Arthur, bade him first go andovercome a stranger knight who had just challenged the wholeCourt by throwing a goblet of wine into the face of Gwenhwyvar,and whom all shrank from meeting. Peredur went out promptly towhere the ruffian knight was swaggering up and down, awaitingan opponent, and in the combat that ensued pierced his skull