Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
“What thought occupies thy mind, that thou dost not eat? If thou
hesitatest about going to the games, thou shalt not go, and no other of
thy rank shall ever go either.” “Heaven reward thee,” said Geraint, “but
I wish nothing better than to go to the games, and to be shown the way
thither.” “If that is what thou dost prefer, thou shalt obtain it
willingly.” “I do prefer it, indeed,” said he. Then they ate, and they
were amply served, and they had a variety of gifts, and abundance of
liquor. And when they had finished eating they arose. And Geraint
called for his horse and his armour, and he accoutred both himself and
his horse. And all the hosts went forth until they came to the side of
the hedge, and the hedge was so lofty, that it reached as high as they
could see in the air, and upon every stake in the hedge, except two,
there was the head of a man, and the number of stakes throughout the
hedge was very great. Then said the Little King, “May no one go in with
the chieftain?” “No one may,” said Earl Owain. “Which way can I enter?”
inquired Geraint. “I know not,” said Owain, “but enter by the way that
thou wilt, and that seemeth easiest to thee.”
Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into the mist.
And on leaving the mist, he came to a large orchard; and in the orchard
he saw an open space, wherein was a tent of red satin; and the door of
the tent was open, and an apple-tree stood in front of the door of the
tent; and on a branch of the apple-tree hung a huge hunting-horn. Then
he dismounted, and went into the tent; and there was no one in the tent
save one maiden sitting in a golden chair, and another chair was opposite
to her, empty. And Geraint went to the empty chair, and sat down
therein. “Ah! chieftain,” said the maiden, “I would not counsel thee to
sit in that chair.” “Wherefore?” said Geraint. “The man to whom that
chair belongs has never suffered another to sit in it.” “I care not,”
said Geraint, “though it displease him that I sit in the chair.” And
thereupon they heard a mighty tumult around the tent. And Geraint looked
to see what was the cause of the tumult. And he beheld without a knight
mounted upon a warhorse, proudly snorting, high-mettled, and large of
bone; and a robe of honour in two parts was upon him and upon his horse,
and beneath it was plenty of armour. “Tell me, chieftain,” said he to
Geraint, “who it was that bade thee sit there?” “Myself,” answered he.
“It was wrong of thee to do me this shame and disgrace. Arise, and do me
satisfaction for thine insolence.” Then Geraint arose; and they
encountered immediately; and they broke a set of lances, and a second
set, and a third; and they gave each other fierce and frequent strokes;
and at last Geraint became enraged, and he urged on his horse, and rushed
upon him, and gave him a thrust on the centre of his shield, so that it
was split, and so that the head of his lance went through his armour, and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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