Chapter 29 - Page 2

than the fall of the
dew-drop from the blade of reed-grass, when the dew of June is at
the heaviest. A gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh, the blade of
which was gilded, bearing a cross of inlaid gold of the hue of the
lightning of heaven. His war-horn was of ivory. Before him were two
brindled, white-breasted greyhounds, having strong collars of rubies
about their necks, reaching from the shoulder to the ear. And the
one that was upon the left side bounded across to the right side,
and the one on the right to the left, and, like two sea-swallows,
sported around him. And his courser cast up four sods, with his four
hoofs, like four swallows in the air, about his head, now above, now
below. About him was a four-cornered cloth of purple, and an apple
of gold was at each corner, and every one of the apples was of the
value of an hundred kine. And there was precious gold of the value
of three hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups, from
his knee to the tip of his toe. And the blade of grass bent not
beneath him, so light was his courser's tread, as he journeyed
toward the gate of Arthur's palace.
Spoke the youth: "Is there a porter?" "There is; and if thou holdest
not thy peace, small will be thy welcome. I am Arthur's porter every
first day of January." "Open the portal." "I will not open it."
"Wherefore not?" "The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the
horn, and there is revelry in Arthur's hall; and none may enter
therein but the son of a king of a privileged country, or a
craftsman bringing his craft. But there will be refreshment for thy
dogs and for thy horse; and for thee there will be collops cooked
and peppered, and luscious wine, and mirthful songs; and food for
fifty men shall be brought unto thee in the guest-chamber, where the
stranger and the sons of other countries eat, who come not into the
precincts of the palace of Arthur. Thou wilt fare no worse there
than thou wouldst with Arthur in the court. A lady shall smooth thy
couch, and shall lull thee with songs; and early to-morrow morning,
when the gate is open for the multitude that come hither to-day, for
thee shall it be opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place that
thou shalt choose in Arthur's hall, from the upper end to the
lower." Said the youth: "That will I not do. If thou openest the gate,
it is well. If thou dost not open it, I will bring disgrace upon thy
lord, and evil report upon thee. And I will set up three shouts at
this very gate, than which none were ever heard more deadly." "What
clamor soever thou mayest make," said Glewlwyd the porter, "against
the laws of Arthur's palace, shalt thou not enter therein, until I
first go and speak with Arthur."
Then Glewlwyd went into the hall. And Arthur