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When they had sat down, they asked the hag where were the people of the house. The hag spoke not, but muttered. Thereupon behold the people of the house entered; a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man, with a burthen of faggots on his back, and a pale slender woman, also carrying a bundle under her arm. They barely welcomed the men, and kindled a fire with the boughs. The woman cooked something, and gave them to eat, barley bread, and cheese, and milk and water.

There arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was hardly possible to go forth with safety. Being weary with their journey, they laid themselves down and sought to sleep. When they looked at the couch, it seemed to be made but of a little coarse straw full of dust and vermin, with the stems of boughs sticking up there through, for the cattle had eaten all the straw that was placed at the head and the foot. Upon it was stretched an old russet-coloured rug, threadbare and ragged; and a coarse sheet, full of slits, was upon the rug, and an ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn-out cover upon the sheet. After much suffering from the vermin, and from the discomfort of their couch, a heavy sleep fell on Rhonabwy's companions, but Rhonabwy, not being able either to sleep or to rest, thought he should suffer less if he went to lie upon the yellow calf-skin that was stretched out on the floor, and there he slept.

As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him that he was journeying with his companions across the plain of Argyngroeg, and he thought that he went towards Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. As he journeyed, he heard a mighty noise, the like whereof heard he never before; and looking behind him he beheld a youth with yellow curling hair, and with his beard newly trimmed, mounted on a chestnut horse, whereof the legs were grey from the top of the forelegs, and from the bend of the hind legs downwards. The rider wore a coat of yellow satin sewn with green silk, and on his thigh was a gold-hilted sword, with a scabbard of new leather of Cordova, belted with the skin of the deer, and clasped with gold. Over this was a scarf of yellow satin wrought with green silk, the borders whereof were likewise green. The green of the caparison of the horse, and of green his rider, was as green as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the yellow was as yellow as the blossom of the broom.

So fierce was the aspect of the knight, that fear seized upon them, and they began to flee. The knight pursued them, and when the horse breathed forth, the men became distant from him, and when he drew in his breath, they were drawn near to him, even to the horse's chest. When he had over-taken them, they besought his mercy.

"You have it gladly" said he, "fear nought."

"Ha chieftain, since thou hast mercy upon me, tell me also who thou art" said Rhonabwy.

"I will not conceal my lineage from thee, I am Iddawc the son of Mynyo, yet not by my name, but by my nickname am I best known."

"Wilt thou tell us what thy nickname is?"

"I will tell you; it is Iddawc Cordd Prydain."

"Ha chieftain" said Rhonabwy, "why art thou called thus?"

"I will tell thee. I was one of the messengers between Arthur and Medrawd his nephew, at the battle of Camlan; and I was then a reckless youth, and through my desire for battle, I kindled strife between them, and stirred up wrath, when I was sent by Arthur the Emperor to reason with Medrawd, and to show him, that he was his foster-father and his uncle, and to seek for peace, lest the sons of the Kings of the Island of Britain; and of the nobles, should be slain. Whereas Arthur charged me with the fairest sayings he could think of, I uttered unto Medrawd the harshest I could devise. Therefore am I called Iddawc Cordd Prydain, for from this did the battle of Camlan ensue. Three nights before the end of the battle of Camlan I left them, and went to the Llech Las in North Britain to do penance. There I remained doing penance seven years, and after that I gained pardon."

Then lo, they heard a mighty sound which was much louder than that which they had heard before, and when they looked round towards the sound, they beheld a ruddy youth, without beard or whiskers, noble of mien, and mounted on a stately courser. From the shoulders and the front of the knees downwards the horse was bay, and upon the man was a dress of red satin wrought with yellow silk, and yellow were the borders of his scarf. Such parts of his apparel and of the trappings of his horse as were yellow, as yellow were they as the blossom of the broom, and such as were red, were as ruddy as the ruddiest blood in the world.

Then, behold the horseman overtook them, and he asked of Iddawc a share of the little men that were with him. "That which is fitting for me to grant I will grant, and thou shalt be a companion to them as I have been."

The horseman went away. "Iddawc" inquired Rhonawby "who was that horseman?"

"Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach."

They journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as far as the ford of Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. For a mile around the ford on both sides of the road, they saw tents and encampments, and there was the clamour of a mighty host. They came to the edge of the ford, and there they beheld Arthur sitting on a flat island below the ford, having Bedwini the Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw on the other. A tall, auburn-haired youth stood before him, with his sheathed sword in his hand, and clad in a coat and cap of jet black satin. His face was white as ivory, and his eyebrows black as jet, and such part of his wrist as could be seen between his glove and his sleeve, was whiter than the lily, and thicker than a warrior's ankle.

Then came Iddawc and they that were with him, and stood before Arthur and saluted him. "Heaven grant thee good" said Arthur. "Where Iddawc, didst thou find these little men?"

"I found them, lord, up yonder on the road." Then the Emperor smiled.

"Lord" said Iddawc, "wherefore dost thou laugh?"

"Iddawc" replied Arthur, "I laugh not; but it pitieth me that men of such stature as these should have this island in their keeping, after the men that guarded it of yore."

Then said Iddawc, "Rhonabwy, dost thou see the ring with a stone set in it, that is upon the Emperor's hand?"

"I see it" he answered.

"It is one of the properties of that stone to enable thee to remember that thou seest here to-night, and hadst thou not seen the stone, thou wouldest never have been able to remember aught thereof."

After this they saw a troop coming towards the ford. "Iddawc" inquired Rhonabwy, "to whom does yonder troop belong?"

"They are the fellows of Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach. These men are honourably served with mead and bragget, and are freely beloved by the daughters of the kings of the Island of Britain. This they merit, for they were ever in the front and the rear in every peril."

He saw but one hue upon the men and the horses of this troop, for they were all as red as blood. When one of the knights rode forth from the troop, he looked like a pillar of fire glancing athwart the sky. This troop encamped above the ford.

Then they beheld another troop coming towards the ford, and these from their horses' chests upwards were whiter than the lily, and below blacker than jet. They saw one of these knights go before the rest, and spur his horse into the ford in such a manner that the water dashed over Arthur and the Bishop, and those holding counsel with them, so that they were as wet as if they had been drenched in the river. As he turned the head of his horse, the youth who stood before Arthur struck the horse over the nostrils with his sheathed sword, so that had it been with the bare blade, it would have been a marvel if the bone had not been wounded as well as the flesh. The knight drew his sword half out of the scabbard, and asked of him, "Wherefore didst thou strike my horse? Whether was it in insult or in counsel unto me?"

"Thou dost indeed lack counsel. What madness caused thee to ride so furiously as to dash the water of the ford over Arthur, and the consecrated Bishop, and their counsellors, so that they were as wet as if they had been dragged out of the river?"

"As counsel then will I take it." So he turned his horse's head round towards his army.

"Iddawc" said Rhonabwy, "who was yonder knight?"

"The most eloquent and the wisest youth that is in this island; Adaon, the son of Taliesin."

"Who was the man that struck his horse?"

"A youth of froward nature; Elphin, the son of Gwyddno."

Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing speech, saying that it was a marvel that so vast a host should be assembled in so narrow a space, and that it was a still greater marvel that those should be there at that time who had promised to be by midday in the battle of Badon, fighting with Osla Gyllellvawr. "Whether thou mayest choose to proceed or not, I will proceed."

"Thou sayest well" said Arthur, "and we will go altogether."

"Iddawc" said Rhonabwy, "who was the man who spoke so marvellously unto Arthur erewhile?"

"A man who may speak as boldly as he listeth, Caradawc Vreichvras, the son of Llyr Marini, his chief counsellor and his cousin."

Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse, and that mighty host moved forward, each troop in its order, towards Cevndigoll. When they came to the middle of the ford of the Severn, Iddawc turned his horse's head, and Rhonabwy looked along the valley of the Severn. He beheld two fair troops coming towards the ford. One troop there came of brilliant white, whereof every one of the men had a scarf of white satin with jet-black borders. The knees and the tops of the shoulders of their horses were jet-black, though they were of a pure white in every other part. Their banners were pure white, with black points to them all.

"Iddawc" said Rhonabwy, "who are yonder pure white troop?"

"They are the men of Norway, and March the son of Meirchion is their prince. He is cousin unto Arthur."

Further on he saw a troop, whereof each man wore garments of jet-black, with borders of pure white to every scarf; the tops of the shoulders and the knees of their horses were pure white. Their banners were jet-black with pure white at the point of each.

"Iddawc" said Rhonabwy, "who are the jet-black troop yonder?"

"They are the men of Denmark, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd is their prince."

When they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his army of mighty ones dismounted below Caer Badou, and he perceived that he and Iddawc journeyed the same road as Arthur. After they had dismounted he heard a great tumult and confusion amongst the host, and such as were then at the flanks turned to the centre, and such as had been in the centre moved to the flanks. Then behold, he saw a knight coming, clad both he and his horse in mail, of which the rings were whiter than the whitest lily, and the rivets redder than the ruddiest blood. He rode amongst the host.

"Iddawc" said Rhonabwy, "will yonder host flee?"

"King Arthur never fled, and if this discourse of thine were heard, thou wert a lost man, but as to the knight whom thou seest yonder, it is Kai. The fairest horseman is Kai in all Arthur's Court; and the men who are at the front of the army hasten to the rear to see Kai ride, and the men who are in the centre flee to the side, from the shock of his horse. This is the cause of the confusion of the host."

Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of Cornwall, and behold he arose with the sword of Arthur in his hand. The similitude of two serpents was upon the sword in gold. When the sword was drawn from its scabbard, it seemed as if two flames of fire burst forth from the jaws of the serpents, and then, so wonderful was the sword, that it was hard for any one to look upon it. The host became still, and the tumult ceased, and the Earl returned to the tent.

"Iddawc" said Rbonabwy, "who is the man who bore the sword of Arthur?"

"Kadwr, the Earl of Cornwall, whose duty it is to arm the King on the days of battle and warfare."

They heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn, Arthur's servant, a red rough ill-favoured man, having red whiskers with bristly hairs. Behold he came upon a tall red horse with the mane parted on each side, and he brought with him a large and beautiful sumpter pack. The huge red youth dismounted before Arthur, and he drew a golden chair out of the pack, and a carpet of diapered satin. He spread the carpet before Arthur, and there was an apple of ruddy gold at each corner thereof, and he placed the chair upon the carpet. So large was the chair that three armed warriors might have sat therein. Gwenn was the name of the carpet, and it was one of its properties that whoever was upon it no one could see him, and he could see every one. It would retain no colour but its own.

Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of Urien was standing before him. "Owain" said Arthur "wilt thou play chess?"

"I will Lord" said Owain.

The red youth brought the chess for Arthur and Owain; golden pieces and a board of silver, and they began to play.

While they were thus, and when they were best amused with their game, behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and the figure of a jet-black serpent on the top of the tent, and red glaring venomous eyes in the head of the serpent, and a red flaming tongue. And there came a young page with yellow curling hair, and blue eyes, and a newly springing beard, wearing a coat and a surcoat of yellow satin, and hose of thin greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over his hose shoes of parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps with golden clasps he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a golden hilt, in a scabbard of black leather tipped with fine gold. He came to the place where the Emperor and Owain were playing at chess.

The youth saluted Owain, and Owain marvelled that the youth should salute him and should not have saluted the Emperor Arthur. Arthur knew what was in Owain's thought, and he said to Owain, "Marvel not that the youth salutes thee now, for he saluted me erewhile; and it is unto thee that his errand is."

Then said the youth unto Owain, "Lord, is it with thy leave that the young pages and attendants of the Emperor harass and torment and worry thy Ravens? If it be not with thy leave, cause the Emperor to forbid them."

"Lord" said Owain, "thou hearest what the youth says; if it seem good to thee, forbid them from my Ravens."

"Play thy game" said he. Then the youth returned to the tent.

That game did they finish, and another they began, and when they were in the midst of the game behold, a ruddy young man with auburn curling hair and large eyes, well-grown and having his beard new-shorn, came forth from a bright yellow tent, upon the summit of which was the figure of a bright red lion. He was clad in a coat of yellow satin, falling as low as the small of his leg, and embroidered with threads of red silk. On his feet were hose of fine white buckram, and buskins of black leather were over his hose, whereon were golden clasps. In his hand a huge, heavy, three-edged sword, with a scabbard of red deer-hide, tipped with gold. He came to the place where Arthur and Owain were playing at chess.

He saluted him, and Owain was troubled at his salutation, but Arthur minded it no more than before. The youth said unto Owain, "Is it not against thy will that the attendants of the Emperor harass thy Ravens, killing some and worrying others? If against thy will it be, beseech him to forbid them."

"Lord" said Owain, "forbid thy men, if it seem good to thee."

"Play thy game" said the Emperor, and the youth returned to the tent.

That game was ended and another begun. As they were beginning the first move of the game, they beheld at a small distance from them a tent speckled yellow, the largest ever seen, and the figure of an eagle of gold upon it, and a precious stone on the eagle's head. Coming out of the tent, they saw a youth with thick yellow hair upon his head, fair and comely, and a scarf of blue satin upon him, and a brooch of gold in the scarf upon his right shoulder as large as a warrior's middle finger. Upon his feet were hose of fine Totness, and shoes of parti-coloured leather, clasped with gold, and the youth was of noble bearing, fair of face, with ruddy cheeks and large hawk's eyes. In the hand of the youth was a mighty lance, speckled yellow, with a newly sharpened head; and upon the lance a banner displayed.

Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to the place where Arthur was playing at chess with Owain. They perceived that he was wroth. Thereupon he saluted Owain, and told him that his Ravens had been killed, the chief part of them, and that such of them as were not slain were so wounded and bruised that not one of them could raise its wings a single fathom above the earth.

"Lord" said Owain, "forbid thy men."

"Play" said he "if it please thee."

Then said Owain to the youth, "Go back, and wherever thou findest the strife at the thickest, there lift up the banner and let come what pleases Heaven."

So the youth returned back to the place where the strife bore hardest upon the Ravens, and he lifted up the banner; and as he did so they all rose up in the air, wrathful and fierce and high of spirit, clapping their wings in the wind, and shaking off the weariness that was upon them. Recovering their energy and courage, furiously and with exultation did they, with one sweep, descend upon the heads of the men, who had erewhile caused them anger and pain and damage, and they seized some by the heads and others by the eyes, and some by the ears, and others by the arms, and carried them up into the air; and in the air there was a mighty tumult with the flapping of the wings of the triumphant Ravens, and with their croaking; and there was another mighty tumult with the groaning of the men, that were being torn and wounded, and some of whom were slain.

Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they played at chess; and looking they perceived a knight upon a dun-coloured horse coming towards them. Marvellous was the hue of the dun horse. Bright red was his right shoulder, and from the top of his legs to the centre of his hoof was bright yellow. Both the knight and his horse were fully equipped with heavy foreign armour. The clothing of the horse from the front opening upwards was of bright red sendal, and from thence opening downwards was of bright yellow sendal. A large gold-hilted one-edged sword had the youth upon his thigh, in a scabbard of light blue, and tipped with Spanish laton. The belt of the sword was of dark green leather with golden slides and a clasp of ivory upon it, and a buckle of jet-black upon the clasp. A helmet of gold was on the head of the knight, set with precious stones of great virtue, and at the top of the helmet was the image of a flame-coloured leopard with two ruby-red stones in its head, so that it was astounding for a warrior. However, stout his heart to look at the face of the leopard, much more at the face of the knight. He had in his hand a blue-shafted lance, but from the haft to the point it was stained crimson-red with the blood of the Ravens and their plumage.

The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain were seated at chess. And they perceived that be was harassed and vexed and weary as he came towards them. The youth saluted Arthur, and told him that the Ravens of Owain were slaying his young men and attendants. Arthur looked at Owain and said, "Forbid thy Ravens."

"Lord" answered Owain, "play thy game."

They played, and the knight returned back towards the strife, and the Ravens were not forbidden any more than before.

When they had played awhile, they heard a mighty tumult, and a wailing of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as they carried the men in their strength into the air, and, tearing them betwixt them, let them fall piecemeal to the earth. During the tumult they saw a knight coming towards them, on a light grey horse, and the left foreleg of the horse was jet-black to the centre of his hoof. The knight and the horse were fully accoutred with huge heavy blue armour. A robe of honour of yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and the borders of the robe were blue. The housings of the horse were jet-black, with borders of bright yellow. On the thigh of the youth was a sword, long, and three-edged, and heavy. The scabbard was of red cut leather, and the belt of new red deer-skin, having upon it many golden slides and a buckle of the bone of the sea-horse, the tongue of which was jet-black. A golden helmet was upon the head of the knight, wherein were set sapphire-stones of great virtue. At the top of the helmet was the figure of a flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red tongue, issuing above a foot from his mouth, and with venomous eyes, crimson-red, in his head. The knight came, bearing in his hand a thick ashen lance, the head whereof, which had been newly steeped in blood, was overlaid with silver.

The youth saluted the Emperor: "Lord" said he, "carest thou not for the slaying of thy pages, and thy young men, and the sons of the nobles of the Island of Britain, whereby it will be difficult to defend this island from hence forward forever?"

"Owain" said Arthur, "forbid thy Ravens."

"Play this game Lord" said Owain.

So they finished the game and began another; and as they were finishing that game, lo they heard a great tumult and a clamour of armed men, and a croaking of Ravens, and a flapping of wings in the air, as they flung down the armour entire to the ground, and the men and the horses piecemeal. Then they saw coming a knight on a lofty-headed piebald horse. And the left shoulder of the horse was of bright red, and its right leg from the chest to the hollow of the hoof was pure white. The knight and horse were equipped with arms of speckled yellow, variegated with Spanish laton. There was a robe of honour upon him, and upon his horse, divided in two parts, white and black, and the borders of the robe of honour were of golden purple. Above the robe he wore a sword three-edged and bright, with a golden hilt. The belt of the sword was of yellow gold work, having a clasp upon it of the eyelid of a black sea-horse, and a tongue of yellow gold to the clasp. Upon the head of the knight was a bright helmet of yellow laton, with sparkling stones of crystal in it, and at the crest of the helmet was the figure of a griffin, with a stone of many virtues in its head. He had an ashen spear in his hand, with a round shaft, coloured with azure-blue. The head of the spear was newly stained with blood, and was overlaid with fine silver.

Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur was, and he told him that the Ravens had slain his household and the sons of the chief men of this island, and he besought him to cause Owain to forbid his Ravens. Arthur besought Owain to forbid them. Then Arthur took the golden chessmen that were upon the board, and crushed them until they became as dust. Then Owain ordered Gwres the son of Rheged to lower his banner. So it was lowered, and all was peace.