perchance this misadventure has befallen him who last met with him.
And if it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight
hath changed from his thought; and if he has, I will ask him
courteously to come and visit thee." Then Kai was wroth, and he
spoke angry and spiteful words. "Gwalchmai," said he, "I know that
thou wilt bring him because he is fatigued. Little praise and
honour, nevertheless, wilt thou have from vanquishing a weary knight,
who is tired with fighting. Yet thus hast thou gained the advantage
over many. And while thy speech and thy soft words last, a coat of
thin linen were armour sufficient for thee, and thou wilt not need to
break either lance or sword in fighting with the knight in the state
he is in." Then said Gwalchmai to Kai, "Thou mightest use more
pleasant words, wert thou so minded: and it behoves thee not upon me
to wreak thy wrath and thy displeasure. Methinks I shall bring the
knight hither with me without breaking either my arm or my shoulder."
Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, "Thou speakest like a wise and prudent
man; go, and take enough of armour about thee, and choose thy horse."
And Gwalchmai accoutred himself and rode forward hastily to the place
where Peredur was.

And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the same
thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of hostility,
and said to him, "If I thought that it would be as agreeable to thee
as it would be to me, I would converse with thee. I have also a
message from Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him.
And two men have been before on this errand." "That is true," said
Peredur, "and uncourteously they came. They attacked me, and I was
annoyed thereat, for it was not pleasing to me to be drawn from the
thought that I was in, for I was thinking of the lady whom best I
love, and thus was she brought to my mind: --I was looking upon the