favour of Heaven and of man. And Peredur greeted the youth kindly.
"Lord, I come to make a request unto thee." "What wouldest thou?"
"That thou shouldest take me as thine attendant." "Whom then should
I take as my attendant, if I did so?" "I will not conceal from thee
what kindred I am of. Etlym Gleddyv Coch am I called, an Earl from
the East Country." "I marvel that thou shouldest offer to become
attendant to a man whose possessions are no greater than thine own;
for I have but an earldom like thyself. But since thou desirest to
be my attendant, I will take thee joyfully."

And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and all they of
the Court were glad at their coming; and they were told it was not
through disrespect they were placed below the household, but that
such was the usage of the Court. For, whoever should overthrow the
three hundred men of her household, would sit next the Countess, and
she would love him above all men. And Peredur having overthrown the
three hundred men of her household, sat down beside her, and the
Countess said, "I thank Heaven that I have a youth so fair and so
valiant as thou, since I have not obtained the man whom best I love."
"Who is he whom best thou lovest?" "By my faith, Etlym Gleddyv Coch
is the man whom I love best, and I have never seen him." "Of a
truth, Etlym is my companion; and behold here he is, and for his sake
did I come to joust with thy household. And he could have done so
better than I, had it pleased him. And I do give thee unto him."
"Heaven reward thee, fair youth, and I will take the man whom I love
above all others." And the Countess became Etlym's bride from that
moment.

And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound of Mourning.
"By thy hand, lord, but I will go with thee," said Etlym. Then they