Chapter 26

CHAPTER XXVI.
PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYVED. ONCE upon a time Pwyll was at Narberth, his chief palace, where a
feast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of men.
And after the first meal Pwyll arose to walk; and he went to the top
of a mound that was above the palace, and was called Gorsedd
Arberth. "Lord," said one of the court, "it is peculiar to the mound
that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence without either
receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing a wonder." "I fear not to
receive wounds or blows," said Pwyll; "but as to the wonder, gladly
would I see it. I will therefore go and sit upon the mound."
And upon the mound he sat. And while he sat there, they saw a
lady, on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment of shining
gold around her, coming along the highway that led from the mound. "My
men," said Pwyll, "is there any among you who knows yonder lady?"
"There is not, lord," said they. "Go one of you and meet her, that
we may know who she is." And one of them arose, and as he came upon
the road to meet her, she passed by; and he followed as fast as he
could, being on foot, and the greater was his speed, the further was
she from him. And when he saw that it profited him nothing to follow
her, he returned to Pwyll, and said unto him, "Lord, it is idle for
any one in the world to follow her on foot." "Verily," said Pwyll, "go
unto the palm, and take the fleetest horse that thou seest, and go
after her."
And he took a horse and went forward. And he came to an open,
level plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he urged his
horse, the further was she from him. And he returned to the palace
where Pwyll was, and said, "Lord, it will avail nothing for any one to
follow yonder lady. I know of no horse in these realms swifter than
this, and it availed me not to pursue her." "Of a truth," said
Pwyll, "there must be some illusion here; let us go towards the
palace." So to the palace they went, and spent the day.
And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to
meat. And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, "Where are the hosts that
went yesterday to the top of the mound?" "Behold, lord, we are
here," said they. "Let us go," said he, "to the mound, and sit
there. And do thou," said he to the page who tended his, horse,
"saddle my horse well, and hasten with him to the road, and bring also
my spurs with thee." And the youth did thus. And they went and sat
upon the mound; and ere they had been there but a short time, they
beheld the lady coming by the same road, and in the same manner, and
at the same pace. "Young man," said Pwyll, "I see the lady coming;
give me my horse." And before he had mounted his horse she passed him.
And he turned after her and