e chase. And thereupon, behold the earl arrived. "What is all this?"
asked he. "It is a sad thing," said the hoary-headed man, "the young
girl yonder has been sitting and eating with him who slew your father. He
is Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar." "Hold thy peace, then," said the earl,
"I will go in." And the earl was joyful concerning Gwalchmai. "Ha!
chieftain," said he, "it was wrong of thee to come to my Court, when thou
knewest that thou didst slay my father; and though we cannot avenge him,
Heaven will avenge him upon thee." "My soul," said Gwalchmai, "thus it
is; I came not here either to acknowledge or to deny having slain thy
father; but I am on a message from Arthur, and therefore do I crave the
space of a year until I shall return from my embassy, and then, upon my
faith, I will come back unto this palace, and do one of two things,
either acknowledge it, or deny it." And the time was granted him
willingly; and he remained there that night. And the next morning he
rode forth. And the story relates nothing further of Gwalchmai
respecting this adventure.

And Peredur rode forward. And he wandered over the whole island, seeking
tidings of the black maiden, and he could meet with none. And he came to
an unknown land, in the centre of a valley, watered by a river. And as
he traversed the valley, he beheld a horseman coming towards him, and
wearing the garments of a priest, and he besought his blessing. "Wretched
man," said he, "thou meritest no blessing, and thou wouldst not be
profited by one, seeing that thou art clad in armour on such a day as
this." "And what day is to-day?" said Peredur. "To-day is Good Friday,"
he answered. "Chide me not, that I knew not this, seeing that it is a
year to-day since I journeyed forth from my country." Then he
dismounted, and led his horse in his hand. And he had not proceeded far
along the high road before he came to a cross road, and the cross road
traversed a wood. And on the other side of the wood he saw an
unfortified castle, which appeared to be inhabited. And at the gate of
the castle there met him the priest whom he had seen before, and he asked
his blessing. "The blessing of Heaven be unto thee," said he, "it is
more fitting to travel in thy present guise, than as thou wast erewhile;
and this night thou shalt tarry with me." So he remained there that
night.

And the next day Peredur sought to go forth. "To-day may no one journey.
Thou shalt remain w