Arthur was in Caerleon upon the River Usk; and he went to hunt, and Peredur went with him. And Peredur let loose his dog upon a stag, and the dog killed the stag in a desert place. Peredur rode hence, and he came to the fairest valley he had ever seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld many tents of various colors. And he marveled still more at the number of water-mills and of wind-mills that he saw. There rode up to him a tall auburn-haired man, in a workman’s garb, and Peredur inquired of him who he was.
“I am the chief miller,” said he, “of all the mills yonder.” “Wilt thou give me a lodging?” said Peredur. “I will, gladly,” he answered. And Peredur came to the miller’s house, and the miller had a fair and pleasant dwelling. Peredur asked money as a loan from the miller, that he might buy meat and liquor for himself and for the household, and he promised that he would pay him again ere he went thence. He inquired of the miller wherefore such a multitude was there assembled. And the miller said, “One thing is certain: either thou art a man from afar, or thou art not sensible. The Empress of Cristinobyl the Great is here; and she will have no one but the man who is most valiant; for riches she does not require. And it was impossible to bring food for so many thousands as are here, therefore were all these mills constructed.” That night Peredur took his rest in the miller’s house.
The next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and his horse for the tournament. Amongst the other tents he beheld one, which was the fairest he had ever seen. And he saw a beauteous maiden leaning her head out of the window of the tent, and he had never seen a maiden more lovely than she. Upon her was a garment of satin. He gazed fixedly on her, and he began to love her greatly. He remained there from morning until midday, and from midday until evening; and then the tournament was ended and he went to his lodging and drew off his armor.
He asked money of the miller, as a loan, and the miller’s wife was wroth with Peredur; nevertheless, the miller lent him the money. The next day he did in like manner as he had done the day before. And at night he came to his lodging, and took money as a loan from the miller. And the third day, as he was in the same place, gazing upon the maiden, he felt a hard blow between the neck and the shoulder, from the edge of an ax. When he looked behind him he saw that it was the miller; and the miller said to him, “Do one of two things, either turn thy head from hence, or go to the tournament.” Peredur smiled on the miller and went to the tournament.
At the tournament, all that encountered him that day he overthrew. And as many as he vanquished he sent as a gift to the Empress, and their horses and arms he sent as a gift to the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money. Peredur stayed at the tournament until all were overthrown, and he sent all the men to the Empress, and the horses and arms to the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money. The Empress sent to the Knight of the Mill to ask him to come and visit her. But Peredur went not for the first nor for the second message.
The third time she sent a hundred knights to bring him against his will, and they went to him and told him their mission from the Empress. Peredur fought with them, and caused them to be bound like stags. Then the Empress sought the advice of a wise man who was in her counsel; and he said to her: “With thy permission, I will go to him myself.” So he came to Peredur, and saluted him, and besought him, for the sake of the lady of his love, to come and visit the Empress. They went together. And Peredur went and sat down in the outer chamber of the tent, and she came and placed herself by his side. There was but little discourse between them. And Peredur took his leave, and went to his lodging.
The next day he came to visit her, and when he came into the tent there was no one chamber less decorated than the others. They knew not where he would sit. Peredur went and sat beside the Empress, and discoursed with her courteously. And while they were thus, they beheld a man enter with a goblet full of wine in his hand. He dropped upon his knee before the Empress, and besought her to give it to no one who would not fight with him for it. The Empress looked upon Peredur. “Lady,” said he, “bestow on me the goblet.” Peredur drank the wine, and sent the goblet to the miller’s wife.
And while they were thus, behold there entered a man of larger stature than the other, with a wild beast’s claw in his hand, wrought into the form of a goblet and filled with wine. He presented it to the Empress, and besought her to give it to no one but the man who would fight with him. “Lady,” said Peredur, “bestow it on me.” And she gave it to him. Peredur drank the wine, and sent the goblet to the wife of the miller.
While they were thus, behold a rough-looking, crisp-haired man, taller than either of the others, came in with a bowl in his hand full of wine; and he bent upon his knee, and gave it into the hands of the Empress, and besought her to give it to none but him who would fight with him for it. She gave it to Peredur, and he sent it to the miller’s wife. That night Peredur returned to his lodging; and the next day he accoutred himself and his horse, and went to the meadow and fought with and slew the three men, one after the other. Then Peredur proceeded to the tent, and the Empress put her arms around his neck and welcomed him. And Peredur was entertained there by the Empress, as the story relates, for fourteen years.