Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley he had ever
seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld many tents of
various colours. And he marvelled still more at the number of
water-mills and of wind-mills that he saw. And there rode up with him a
tall auburn-haired man, in workman’s garb, and Peredur inquired of him
who he was. “I am the chief miller,” said he, “of all the mills yonder.”
“Wilt thou give me lodging?” said Peredur. “I will, gladly,” he
answered. And Peredur came to the miller’s house, and the miller had a
fair and pleasant dwelling. And Peredur asked money as a loan from the
miller, that he might buy meat and liquor for himself and for the
household, and he promised that he would pay him again ere he went
thence. And he inquired of the miller, wherefore such a multitude was
there assembled. Said the miller to Peredur, “One thing is certain:
either thou art a man from afar, or thou art beside thyself. The Empress
of Cristinobyl the Great is here; and she will have no one but the man
who is most valiant; for riches does she not require. And it was
impossible to bring food for so many thousands as are here, therefore
were all these mills constructed.” And that night they took their rest.
And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and his horse for
the tournament. And among the other tents he beheld one, which was the
fairest he had ever seen. And he saw a beauteous maiden leaning her head
out of a window of the tent, and he had never seen a maiden more lovely
than she. And upon her was a garment of satin. And he gazed fixedly on
the maiden, and began to love her greatly. And he remained there, gazing
upon the maiden from morning until mid-day, and from mid-day until
evening; and then the tournament was ended and he went to his lodging and
drew off his armour. Then he asked money of the miller as a loan, and
the miller’s wife was wroth with Peredur; nevertheless, the miller lent
him the money. And the next day he did in like manner as he had done the
day before. And at night he came to his lodging, and took money as a
loan from the miller. And the third day, as he was in the same place,
gazing upon the maiden, he felt a hard blow between the neck and the
shoulder, from the edge of an axe. And when he looked behind him, he saw
that it was the miller; and the miller said to him, “Do one of two
things: either turn thy head from hence, or go to the tournament.” And
Peredur smiled on the miller, and went to the tournament; and all that
encountered him that day he overthrew. And as many as he vanquished he
sent as a gift to the Empress, and their horses and arms he sent as a
gift to the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money.
Peredur attended the tournament until all were overthrown, and he sent
all the men to the prison of the Empress, and the horses and arms to the
wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money. And the Empress
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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