open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce unto those that are
chief, that thou art at the gateway?" "Say that I am here," said
Peredur, "and if it is desired that I should enter, I will go in."
And the youth came back, and opened the gate for Peredur. And when
he went into the hall, he beheld eighteen youths, lean and red-
headed, of the same height, and of the same aspect, and of the same
dress, and of the same age as the one who had opened the gate for
him. And they were well skilled in courtesy and in service. And
they disarrayed him. Then they sat down to discourse. Thereupon,
behold five maidens came from the chamber into the hall. And Peredur
was certain that he had never seen another of so fair an aspect as
the chief of the maidens. And she had an old garment of satin upon
her, which had once been handsome, but was then so tattered, that her
skin could be seen through it. And whiter was her skin than the
bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were blacker than
jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than whatever is
reddest. And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put her arms about his
neck, and made him sit down beside her. Not long after this he saw
two nuns enter, and a flask full of wine was borne by one, and six
loaves of white bread by the other. "Lady," said they, "Heaven is
witness, that there is not so much of food and liquor as this left in
yonder Convent this night." Then they went to meat, and Peredur
observed that the maiden wished to give more of the food and of the
liquor to him than to any of the others. "My sister," said Peredur,
"I will share out the food and the liquor." "Not so, my soul," said
she. "By my faith but I will." So Peredur took the bread, and he
gave an equal portion of it to each alike, as well as a cup full of
the liquor. And when it was time for them to sleep, a chamber was
prepared for Peredur, and he went to rest.