Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/97

 Kilhugh rode away upon a dappled grey horse, whose bridle and saddle were of gold. His shoes and stirrups also were heavy with gold. Yet his horse did not bow the grass underfoot. His sword had a golden hilt, his war horn was ivory. He carried two spears of silver, three ells long, and steel-headed; so sharp were the spears that they would draw blood from the wind, and they were swifter than the fall of the dewdrop from the blade of reed-grass upon the earth when the dew of June is at the heaviest. A greyhound with a collar of rubies ran on either side of him, sporting like sea swallows and continually crossing over in front of the horse as Kilhugh journeyed towards Arthur's palace.

The door of the hall was shut, and the porter would not open it.

'The knife is in the meat,' he said, 'and the drink is in the horn, and none may enter but the son of a king of a privileged country, or a craftsman bringing his craft. But the guest-chamber is free to thee, and thou wilt fare as well there as in Arthur's hall, and to-morrow when the hall gate is opened thou shalt enter.'

'That will I not do,' said Kilhugh, lifting up his voice, 'and if thou dost not open the gate I will give three fatal shouts—where my shout is heard, no child will be born.'

'Against the laws of the palace thou shalt not enter,' said the porter. Nevertheless, he went hastily into the hall and spoke to Arthur:

'Half of my life is past. I have been in India, in Africa, in Greece, in the East, in the islands, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor and Fotor, in Caer Oeth and Annoeth, and in Caer Nevenhyr. I have seen heroes and kings. But never did I behold one of majesty like the man yonder at the gate.'

Arthur made a quick reply: