One Whitsuntide, as King Arthur was holding his court at Caerleon upon Usk, there entered a tall, fair-haired youth, clad in a coat and a surcoat of diapered satin, with a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes of leather upon his feet. He came and stood before Arthur. “Hail to thee, Lord,” said he. “Heaven prosper thee,” said the King, “and be thou welcome. Dost thou bring any new tidings?” “I do, Lord,” said the youth. “Then tell me thine errand,” said King Arthur.
“I am one of thy foresters in the Forest of Dean,” said the youth. “In the forest I saw a stag, the like of which I never yet beheld. He is of pure white, and he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness and pride, so royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord, and to know thy will concerning him.” “It seems best to me,” said Arthur, “to go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day.”
Then all in the palace received notice of the hunting that was to be at break of day. “Lord,” said Queen Gwenhuivar to King Arthur, “wilt thou permit me to go to-morrow to see and hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke?” “I will, gladly,” said Arthur. “Then I will go,” said she. And Gwalchmai said to Arthur, “Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that into whose hunt soever the stag shall come, may that one cut off the stag’s head, and give it to whom he pleases, whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady of his friend.” “I grant it gladly,” said Arthur. “And let the steward of the household be chastised if we are not all ready to-morrow for the chase.”
When day came, they rose, and Arthur called the attendants who guarded his couch. They came to Arthur and saluted him, and arrayed him in his garments. Arthur wondered that Gwenhuivar did not awake, and did not move in her bed. The attendants wished to awaken her. “Disturb her not,” said Arthur, “for she had rather sleep than see the hunting.”
Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from near the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that of the chief page. The whole of the Court came to Arthur, and they took the road to the forest.
After Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhuivar awoke, and she called to her maidens, and appareled herself. “Maidens,” said she, “go one of you to the stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride.” And one of her maidens went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and Gwenhuivar and one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses.
As they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and they looked behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal of mighty size; the rider was a fair-haired youth, bare-legged, and of princely mien, and a golden-hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes of leather upon his feet; and around him was a scarf of purple, at each corner of which was a golden apple. And his horse stepped stately, and swift, and proud. The youth overtook Gwenhuivar, and saluted her.
“Heaven prosper thee, Geraint,” said the Queen, “and the welcome of Heaven be unto thee. And why didst thou not go with thy lord to hunt?” “Because I knew not when he went,” said Geraint. “I was asleep.” “I was asleep, too,” said the Queen. “But thou, O young man, art the most agreeable companion I could have in the whole kingdom; and it may be, that I shall be more amused with the hunting than they; for we shall hear the horns when they sound, and we shall hear the dogs when they are let loose, and begin to cry.” So they went to the edge of the forest, and there they stood. “From this place,” said the Queen, “we shall hear when the dogs are let loose.”
While they were standing there they heard a loud noise, and they looked toward the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf riding upon a horse, stately, and foaming, and prancing, and strong, and spirited. In the hand of the dwarf was a whip. And near the dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady and stately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold brocade. Beside her was a knight upon a war horse of large size, with heavy and bright armor both upon himself and upon his horse. Those who were with the Queen thought that never before had they seen a knight, or a horse, or armor, of such remarkable size.
“Geraint,” said Gwenhuivar, “knowest thou the name of that tall knight yonder?” “I know him not,” said Geraint, “and the strange armor that he wears prevents my seeing either his face or his features.” “Go, maiden,” said Gwenhuivar, “and ask the dwarf who that knight is.” Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for the maiden, when he saw her coming toward him. The maiden inquired of the dwarf who the knight was. “I will not tell thee,” he answered. “Since thou art so churlish as not to tell me,” she said, “I will ask him himself.” “Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith,” said he. “Wherefore?” said she. “Because thou art not of sufficient honor to befit thee to speak to my lord.” Then the maiden turned her horse’s head toward the knight, upon which the dwarf struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the face and the eyes, until the blood flowed forth. And the maiden, through the hurt she received from the blow, returned to Gwenhuivar, complaining of the pain.
“Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee,” said Geraint. “I will go myself to know who the knight is.” “Go,” said Gwenhuivar. Then Geraint went up to the dwarf. “Who is yonder knight?” said Geraint. “I will not tell thee,” said the dwarf. “Then I will ask him myself,” said Geraint. “Thou wilt not, by my faith,” said the dwarf, “thou art not honorable enough to speak with my lord.” Said Geraint, “I have spoken with men of equal rank with him.” And saying that, he turned his horse’s head toward the knight; but the dwarf overtook him, and struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood colored the scarf that Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand on the hilt of his sword, but he took counsel with himself, and considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by an armed knight, so he returned to where Gwenhuivar was.
“Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly,” said she. “Lady,” said he, “I will follow him yet, with thy permission; and at last he will come to some inhabited place, where I may have arms either as a loan or for a pledge, so that I may encounter the knight.” “Go,” said she, “and do not attack him until thou hast good arms, and I shall be very anxious concerning thee, until I hear tidings of thee.” “If I am alive,” said he, “thou shalt hear tidings of me by to-morrow afternoon.” And saying that, he departed.