ad rested and pondered awhile, he looked at Peredur, and asked who
the knight was. "Lord," said one of the maidens, "he is the fairest and
gentlest youth that ever thou didst see. And for the sake of Heaven, and
of thine own dignity, have patience with him." "For thy sake I will have
patience, and I will grant him his life this night." Then Peredur came
towards them to the fire, and partook of food and liquor, and entered
into discourse with the ladies. And being elated with the liquor, he
said to the black man, "It is a marvel to me, so mighty as thou sayest
thou art, who could have put out thine eye?" "It is one of my habits,"
said the black man, "that whosoever puts to me the question which thou
hast asked, shall not escape with his life, either as a free gift, or for
a price." "Lord," said the maiden, "whatsoever he may say to thee in
jest, and through the excitement of liquor, make good that which thou
saidest and didst promise me just now." "I will do so, gladly, for thy
sake," said he. "Willingly will I grant him his life this night." And
that night thus they remained.

And the next day the black man got up, and put on his armour, and said to
Peredur, "Arise, man, and suffer death." And Peredur said unto him, "Do
one of two things, black man; if thou wilt fight with me, either throw
off thy own armour, or give arms to me, that I may encounter thee." "Ha!
man," said he, "couldst thou fight, if thou hadst arms? Take, then, what
arms thou dost choose." And thereupon the maiden came to Peredur with
such arms as pleased him; and he fought with the black man, and forced
him to crave his mercy. "Black man, thou shalt have mercy, provided thou
tell me who thou art, and who put out thine eye." "Lord, I will tell
thee, I lost it in fighting with the Black Serpent of the Carn. There is
a mound, which is called the Mound of Mourning; and on the mound there is
a earn, and in the earn there is a serpent, and on the tail of the
serpent there is a stone, and the virtues of the stone are such, that
whosoever should hold it in one hand, in the other he will have as much
gold as he may desire. And in fighting with this serpent was it that I
lost my eye. And the Black Oppressor am I called. And for this reason I
am called the Black Oppressor, that there is not a single man around me
whom I have not oppressed, and justice have I done unto none." "Tell me"
said Peredur, "how far is it hence?" "The same day that tho