Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/68

40 On this showing it is obvious that, in order to get back to the ultimate Celtic basis of the tale, we must take into account not only Chretien's Yvain but also The Lady of the Fountain. It will be advisable first to resume the story and then to consider it in connexion with Yvain.

King Arthur, holding his court at Caerlleon upon Usk, one day sleeps before his repast, after bidding Owain, Kynon, and Kai entertain each other with tales and good cheer. Kai provides meet and drink, while Kynon begins a tale. 'I once set forth on a journey to discover whether any man was stronger than myself. I came to the fairest valley in the world, where stood a large and lustrous castle. Near it were two princely youths engaged in shooting, and a richly-clad man who brought me courteously to the castle. In it dwelt none save four and twenty beauteous damsels. They tended me and my horse, and we all made merry at a feast. After the feast I told the man who I was and what I sought. He bade me sleep there the night and go on my way the next morning. "A little way within the wood," said he, "thou wilt meet with a road branching off to the right, by which thou must proceed, until thou comest to a large sheltered glade with a mound in the centre. And thou wilt see a black man of great stature on the top of the mound. He is not smaller in size than two of the men of this world. He has but one foot; and one eye in the middle of his forehead. And he has a club of iron, and it is certain that there are no two men in the world who would not find their burden in that club. And he is not a comely man, but on the contrary he is exceedingly ill-favoured; and he is the woodward of that wood. And thou wilt see a thousand wild animals grazing around him. Inquire of him the way out of the glade, and he will reply to thee briefly, and will point out the road by which thou shalt find that which thou art in quest of." On the morrow I found the one-eyed giant, as directed, and asked him what power he held over the wild animals around him. Hereupon he took his club and struck a stag a great blow so that it brayed aloud, and at its braying the beasts flocked together. The giant bade them go and feed;