and one ship that was larger
than any of the others. "Behold again," said they, "the dream that our
master saw." And in the great ship they crossed the sea, and came to the
Island of Britain. And they traversed the island until they came to
Snowdon. "Behold," said they, "the rugged {122} land that our master
saw." And they went forward until they saw Anglesey before them, and
until they saw Arvon likewise. "Behold," said they, "the land our master
saw in his sleep." And they saw Aber Sain, and a castle at the mouth of
the river. The portal of the castle saw they open, and into the castle
they went, and they saw a hall in the castle. Then said they, "Behold
the hall which he saw in his sleep."

They went into the hall, and they beheld two youths playing at chess on
the golden bench. And they beheld the hoary-headed man beside the
pillar, in the ivory chair, carving chessmen. And they beheld the maiden
sitting on a chair of ruddy gold.

The messengers bent down upon their knees. "Empress of Rome, all hail!"
"Ha, gentles," said the maiden, "ye bear the seeming of honourable men,
and the badge of envoys, what mockery is this ye do to me?" "We mock
thee not, lady, but the emperor of Rome hath seen thee in his sleep, and
he has neither life nor spirit left because of thee. Thou shall have of
us therefore the choice, lady, whether thou wilt go with us and be made
empress of Rome, or that the emperor come hither and take thee for his
wife?" "Ha, lords," said the maiden, "I will not deny what you say,
neither will I believe it too well. If the emperor love me, let him come
here to seek me."

And by day and night the messengers hied them back. And when their
horses failed, they bought other fresh ones. And when they came to Rome
they saluted the emperor, and asked their boon, which was given to them
according as they named it. "We will be thy guides, lord," said they,
"over sea and over land, to the place where is the woman whom best thou
lovest, for we know her name, and her kindred, and her race."

{Picture: p123.jpg}

And immediately the emperor set forth with his army. And these men were
his guides. Towards the Island of Britain they went over the sea and the
deep. And he conquered the Island from Beli the son of Manogan, and his
sons, and drove them to the sea, and went forward even unto Arvon. And
the emperor knew the land when he saw it. And when he beheld the castle
of Aber Sain, "Look yonder