Chapter 20

CHAPTER XX.
THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN. KYNON'S ADVENTURE. KING ARTHUR was at Caerleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his
chamber, and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son
of Clydno, and Kay the son of Kyner, and Guenever and her
handmaidens at needlework by the window. In the centre of the
chamber King Arthur sat, upon a seat of green rushes* over which was
spread a covering of flame-colored satin, and a cushion of red satin
was under his elbow.
Then Arthur spoke. "If I thought you would not disparage me," said
he, "I would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can entertain
one another with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon of mead and
some meat from Kay." And the king went to sleep. And Kynon the son
of Clydno asked Kay for that which Arthur had promised them. "I too
will have the good tale which he promised me," said Kay. "Nay,"
answered Kynon; "fairer will it be for thee to fulfil Arthur's
behest in the first place, and then we will tell thee the best tale
that we know." So Kay went to the kitchen and to the mead-cellar,
and returned, bearing a flagon of mead, and a golden goblet, and a
handful of skewers, upon which were broiled collops of meat. Then they
ate the collops, and began to drink the mead. "Now," said Kay, "it
is time for you to give me my story." "Kynon," said Owain, "do thou
pay to Kay the tale that is his due." "I will do so," answered Kynon. * The use of green rushes in apartments was by no means peculiar
to the court of Caerleon upon Usk. Our ancestors had a great
predilection for them, and they seem to have constituted an
essential article, not only of comfort but of luxury. The custom of
strewing the floor with rushes, it is well known, existed in England
during the Middle Ages, and also in France. "I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly
aspiring, and my daring was very great. I thought there was no
enterprise in the world too mighty for me; and after I had achieved
all the adventures that were in my own country, I equipped myself, and
set forth to journey through deserts and distant regions. And at
length it chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world,
wherein were trees all of equal growth; and a river ran through the
valley, and a path was by the side of the river. And I followed the
path until midday, and continued my journey along the remainder of the
valley until the evening; and at the extremity of a plain I came to
a large and lustrous castle, at the foot of which was a torrent. And I
approached the castle, and, there I beheld two youths with yellow
curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and clad
in a garment of yellow satin; and they had gold clasps upon their
insteps. In the hand of each