er fell into a swoon. But Peredur hastened to the spot where
were tethered the horses that brought them firewood and food from
afar, and from them he chose a bony piebald, which seemed the
strongest and in the best condition. Then he found a pack and
fastened it on the horse's back, in some way to resemble a saddle,
and strove with twigs to imitate the trappings he had seen upon Sir
Owain's horse. When his preparations were complete, he returned to
the Countess, who, by then, was recovered from her swoon; and she
saw that all her trouble had been in vain, and that the time was
come when she must part with her son. "Thou wilt ride forth, my
son?" she asked. "Yea, with your leave," he answered. "Hear, then,
my counsel," said she; "go thy way to Arthur's court, for there are
the noblest and truest knights. And wheresoever thou seest a
church, fail not to say thy prayers, and whatsoever woman demands
thy aid, refuse her not."

So, bidding his mother farewell, Peredur mounted his horse, and
took in his hand a long, sharp-pointed stake. He journeyed many
days till, at last, he had come to Caerleon, where Arthur held his
court, and dismounting at the door, he entered the hall. Even as he
did so, a stranger knight, who had passed in before him, seized a
goblet and, dashing the wine in the face of Queen Guenevere, held
the goblet aloft and cried: "If any dare dispute this goblet with
me or venture to avenge the insult done to Arthur's Queen, let him
follow me to the meadow without, where I will await him."

And for sheer amazement at this insolence, none moved save Peredur,
who cried aloud: "I will seek out this man and do vengeance upon
him." Then a voice exclaimed: "Welcome, goodly Peredur, thou flower
of knighthood"; and all turned in surprise to look upon a little
misshapen dwarf, who, a year before, had craved and obtained
shelter in Arthur's court, and since then had spoken no word. But
Kay the Seneschal, in anger that a mere boy, and one so strangely
equipped as Peredur, should have taken up the Queen's quarrel when
proven knights had remained mute, struck the dwarf, crying: "Thou
art ill-bred to remain mute a year in Arthur's court, and then to
break silence in praise of such a fellow." Then Peredur, who saw
the blow, cried, as he left the hall: "Knight, hereafter ye shall
answer to me for that blow." Therewith, he mounted his piebald and
rode in haste to the meadow. And when the knight espied him, he
cried to him: "T