t have been slain as his father and brothers. His
mother was a scheming and thoughtful woman, and she was very solicitous
concerning this her only son and his {52} possessions. So she took
counsel with herself to leave the inhabited country, and to flee to the
deserts and unfrequented wildernesses. And she permitted none to bear
her company thither but women and boys, and spiritless men, who were both
unaccustomed and unequal to war and fighting. And none dared to bring
either horses or arms where her son was, lest he should set his mind upon
them. And the youth went daily to divert himself in the forest, by
flinging sticks and staves. And one day he saw his mother's flock of
goats, and near the goats two hinds were standing. And he marvelled
greatly that these two should be without horns, while the others had
them. And he thought they had long run wild and on that account they had
lost their horns. And by activity and swiftness of foot, he drove the
hinds and the goats together into the house which there was for the goats
at the extremity of the forest. Then Peredur returned to his mother.
"Ah, mother," said he, "a marvellous thing have I seen in the wood; two
of thy goats have run wild, and lost their horns; through their having
been so long missing in the wood. And no man had ever more trouble than
I had to drive them in." Then they all arose and went to see. And when
they beheld the hinds, they were greatly astonished.

And one day they saw three knights coming along the horse-road on the
borders of the forest. And the three knights were Gwalchmai the son of
Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and Owain the son of Urien. And Owain kept on
the track of the knight who had divided the apples in Arthur's Court,
whom they were in pursuit of. "Mother," said Peredur, "what are those
yonder?" "They are angels, my son," said she. "By my faith," said
Peredur, "I will go and become an angel with them." And Peredur went to
the road, and met them. "Tell me, good soul," said Owain, "sawest thou a
knight pass this way, either to-day or yesterday?" "I know not,"
answered he, "what a knight is." "Such an one as I am," said Owain. "If
thou wilt tell me what I ask thee, I will tell thee that which thou
askest me." "Gladly will I do so," replied Owain. "What is this?"
demanded Peredur, concerning the saddle. "It is a saddle," said Owain.
Then he asked about all the accoutrements which he saw upon the men, and
the horses