And the next day he came to visit her, and when he came into the tent
there was no one chamber less decorated than the others. And they
knew not where he would sit. And Peredur went and sat beside the
Empress, and discoursed with her courteously. And while they were
thus, they beheld a black man enter with a goblet full of wine in his
hand. And he dropped upon his knee before the Empress, and besought
her to give it to no one who would not fight with him for it. And
she looked upon Peredur. "Lady," said he, "bestow on me the goblet."
And Peredur drank the wine, and gave the goblet to the miller's wife.
And while they were thus, behold there entered a black man of larger
stature than the other, with a wild beast's claw in his hand, wrought
into the form of a goblet and filled with wine. And he presented it
to the Empress, and besought her to give it to no one but the man who
would fight with him. "Lady," said Peredur, "bestow it on me." And
she gave it to him. And Peredur drank the wine, and sent the goblet
to the wife of the miller. And while they were thus, behold a rough-
looking, crisp-haired man, taller than either of the others, came in
with a bowl in his hand full of wine; and he bent upon his knee, and
gave it into the hands of the Empress, and he besought her to give it
to none but him who would fight with him for it; and she gave it to
Peredur, and he sent it to the miller's wife. And that night Peredur
returned to his lodging; and the next day he accoutred himself and
his horse, and went to the meadow and slew the three men. Then
Peredur proceeded to the tent, and the Empress said to him, "Goodly
Peredur, remember the faith thou didst pledge me when I gave thee the
stone, and thou didst kill the Addanc." "Lady," answered he, "thou
sayest truth, I do remember it." And Peredur was entertained by the
Empress fourteen years, as the story relates.