spread the carpet before Arthur, and there was an apple of ruddy gold
at each corner thereof, and he placed the chair upon the carpet. And
so large was the chair that three armed warriors might have sat
therein. Gwenn was the name of the carpet, and it was one of its
properties that whoever was upon it no one could see him, and he
could see every one. And it would retain no colour but its own.

And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of Urien was
standing before him. "Owain," said Arthur, "wilt thou play chess?"
"I will, Lord," said Owain. And the red youth brought the chess for
Arthur and Owain; golden pieces and a board of silver. And they
began to play.

And while they were thus, and when they were best amused with their
game, behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and the figure
of a jet-black serpent on the top of the tent, and red glaring
venomous eyes in the head of the serpent, and a red flaming tongue.
And there came a young page with yellow curling hair, and blue eyes,
and a newly-springing beard, wearing a coat and a surcoat of yellow
satin, and hose of thin greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over
his hose shoes of parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps
with golden clasps. And he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a
golden hilt, in a scabbard of black leather tipped with fine gold.
And he came to the place where the Emperor and Owain were playing at
chess.

And the youth saluted Owain. And Owain marvelled that the youth
should salute him and should not have saluted the Emperor Arthur.
And Arthur knew what was in Owain's thought. And he said to Owain,
"Marvel not that the youth salutes thee now, for he saluted me