hunt him to-morrow at break of day; and to cause
general notice thereof to be given to-night in all quarters of the
Court." And Arryfuerys was Arthur's chief huntsman, and Arelivri was his
chief page. And all received notice; and thus it was arranged. And they
sent the youth before them. Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, "Wilt thou
permit me, Lord," said she, "to go to-morrow to see and hear the hunt of
the stag of which the young man spoke?" "I will, gladly," said Arthur.
"Then will I go," said she. And Gwalchmai said to Arthur, "Lord, if it
seem well to thee, permit that into whose hunt soever the stag shall
come, that one, be he a knight or one on foot, may cut off his head, and
give it to whom he pleases, whether to his own ladylove, or to the lady
of his friend." "I grant it gladly," said Arthur, "and let the Steward
of the Household be chastised if all are not ready to-morrow for the
chase."

And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse, and
ample entertainment. And when it was time for them all to go to sleep,
they went. And when the next day came, they arose; and Arthur called the
attendants, who guarded his couch. And these were four pages, whose
names were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy, and Ambreu the son of
Bedwor, and Amhar, the son of Arthur, and Goreu the son of Custennin. And
these men came to Arthur, and saluted him, and arrayed him in his
garments. And Arthur wondered that Gwenhwyvar did not awake, and did not
move in her bed: and the attendants wished to awaken her. "Disturb her
not," said Arthur, "for she had rather sleep than go to see the hunting."

Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from near
the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that of the
chief page. And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to Arthur, and
they took the road to the Forest.

And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar awoke, and
called to her maidens, and apparelled herself. "Maidens," said she, "I
had leave last night to go and see the hunt. Go one of you to the
stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride." And one of
them went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and Gwenhwyvar and
one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the Usk, and followed
the track of the men and the horses. And as they rode thus, they heard a
loud and rushing sound; and they looked behind them, and beheld a knig