and immediately Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought mercy
of Peredur. "Mercy shalt thou have," said he, "upon these terms,
that thou take this woman in marriage, and do her all the honour and
reverence in thy power, seeing thou hast, without cause, slain her
wedded husband; and that thou go to Arthur's Court, and shew him that
it was I that overthrew thee, to do him honour and service; and that
thou tell him that I will never come to his Court again until I have
met with the tall man that is there, to take vengeance upon him for
his insult to the dwarf and dwarfess." And he took the knight's
assurance, that he would perform all this. Then the knight provided
the lady with a horse and garments that were suitable for her, and
took her with him to Arthur's Court. And he told Arthur all that had
occurred, and gave the defiance to Kai. And Arthur and all his
household reproved Kai, for having driven such a youth as Peredur
from his Court.

Said Owain the son of Urien, "This youth will never come into the
Court until Kai has gone forth from it." "By my faith," said Arthur,
"I will search all the deserts in the Island of Britain, until I find
Peredur, and then let him and his adversary do their utmost to each
other."

Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to a desert wood, where he
saw not the track either of men or animals, and where there was
nothing but bushes and weeds. And at the upper end of the wood he
saw a vast castle, wherein were many strong towers; and when he came
near the gate, he found the weeds taller than he had seen them
elsewhere. And he struck the gate with the shaft of his lance, and
thereupon behold a lean, auburn-haired youth came to an opening in
the battlements. "Choose thou, chieftain," said he, "whether shall I