The Story.

[Padraic Brown <pbrown@nova.umuc.edu>]

Note that both versions lack the "final chapter" as it were; pending my
actually getting around to writing it in Kernu.  

	La Adventura la Guimier.

In nnolach, cant il Roys Marx map Merchion, il rech onorú le Kernow, eoer
a Castre Dore, ys yn fhestals de dies cyntheck al medhmis le Duman ys
tenès, e thots lor nkingethes fhort amb lo fuat collectús.  e wherment il
Roys Arts map Uthoer Pendraccú, il rech for tot lor mBrittanor yen ac h-
ollor, eoer il ospes onorú, e dos hArth, la kathedra a la destra le Marx.
il Roys Marx ac h-il Roys Arts y thrava choses reyal ys adouont: yn nzon
d'arew blanch yn mbal de mhareteren dhuv yn anouls d'or ambel ngutheluch.
tralcue en ilalla in la ndom le Roy March ne nyen rhech nel altoer rech yn
ngames o yn mbrach o y chalelles o y h-armilles o yn mbal o y h-oses y plu
bhoun ys tenès.  per comedher, cascun nyens de wechtialles maboun  sa
herant supoery mes: navuat mech menus ke dew turcci castús e dheck, e da
cascun lor ndurcci avut yn mbatella mag d'argent, rescrivús co marth;
caldren mbech d'arew blanch ac h-ysplendurós, llen co nystúv le moten,
fuat possús dos chascun ncuartim luch, dos en ne yen lor nommen navut rhen
il ystender lor mbreich pel tener cel ke li plecherew; patelles fighel, co
ncalidez lor fhoerni, co mban renew de yen mil formes, eoer intoer cascun
dew khingethes; trenchi de chassen rescrivús co marth, llen co fhruttes,
eoer supoery mes le Roy March possús co lewoer.  pocien — uins rudd, wins
blanccós, medhú duls, ystuts e phocien altoer co lewoer — des fhlasccen
lor servillini tan dyn ncasechú lor mbrigi fluev.

Tant mult ys erant y kingeti — da en avut yn numers plu mag kel numers de
tot lor nkingeti de tot lor neduoagri in la nystorea le Bretten — ke yen
servillins e threwcents y phocien pery ospeis ys decantasont e yen
servilla e thrawcents y phatelles vacuefachent plu rapedhment pery ospeis
sa detheniont e rephossont.  e yen bards e threwcents, inco ce quen il
magan Taliesin e il Tremmelpilae, ys cantasont e de chrouthes ben cosonúes
e fhinn ys tansont e yen violadurs e threwcent, inco ce quen il Xristians
le Meytoer e la Bonnawen Ysmonion, in ngwioles deis dhorses llanar e deis
h- yscawoelles rotund ys tansont e y yen youwadurs e threwcent deis
bhombardes phothent e ácer achy bhinen fociferós e refort achy chalumelles
duls e flen achy yaithes achy dhondannes achy phibolles ach h-y thambour
ach h-y thempen ach h-y thambourinnes ach h-y h-ousiquelles, y rheoles e
xiches e straspelles e chascun mod le baill e dhans pery ospeis ys
youwasont.

Cosy khingethes fort ac h-ystut y sevas gweni fort e finn sessont, al
menus, cosy khingethes da ke avuat gweni.  ay thrichlinnes mesemes, le
ngostudú le dun le Roy March seccunt, sa rechlinasont.  y thanni, in y seu
luches, altement e chaldement ys comardevont; e do chascun ladh ys erant y
hornamenti de whireds: y choruni lor mbreich le pin in y chollumhes
casseyns herant possúes.  y bhreich le colenn e le uchelwets eoer possús
in ce cascun luch bel e bhoun; e cist li Rigi Meirch e thot lor naltri
alla daplechu; ac h-ys la fhestals e la mbachacien ys inwheidasont.

In noch le oultemh menus daw le festals le Roy March, cant y khingethi ac
h-y seu weni ys comedhevens, cel yst maps ystrá ninawant lis totiv ys
aparu; ac h-ys dela nderre Ewrow, de trant li mori.  ys yn ncames de lains
berrech, ac h-yn mbals de pel le arth co nyn ncathen le argent blanch
ambel seu ngutheluch lew alligú ys adut.  ys yn nzon le bombech preciós de
nCathay ys adut; e sa de colurs diwers ac h-ysplendurós fachú.  il Roys
Marx le mbenweneth sich li dedai-el, e ys coin nguth le rech
walenteasot-el: "dosforet condeco le mbenweneth, o mharre d'Ewrow!  dos
foront la pociú e la wechtiala ac h-y dhoni maboun ac h-yn mbenweneth
boun!"

E cel yst maps le Rhoy mMarch e thot lor naltres sich ys le mbenweneth lis
dedai, e ys co mbenechez walenteasot-els: "prosperitat do the, ac h-il
tots lor cosi maboun, o Rhoy Mharch, rech onorú for lor nKernowi, aci in
le nCastre nDore, il tewos trechlenns lath ac h-yspaciós, e do the o hArt
Phendraccú, rech for lor mBritannor yen ac h-ollor; ac h-yn mbenweneth
mhestiv doi teu khingethes reselent e fhort, Torcci Ferech pothent e
mhascul le isel le Pryden, a cein supoery lechtelles preciós de ceder
rescrivúes co marth de Liben sethent!  eo vus ortam: o heroes, mhapi le
eroes e nebothes le eroes!, ke ne vus inweniath spech ke y vustras rhosas
dhuls foraont wourti mordent e ámar."  cel ist fant, ys doi khingethes e
doi rheys ys geniposu.

Il maps courtès ac h-astut ys ochelles le yen e thots ys captasot ke ne
yen in le ndrichlen le Roy March ne si movuont pass.  ne yen lor ngingethi
la seva ncen ys comedhu; ne yen lor ngweni ne le seu mhin ne le seu
mmedhen sa bevès; ne yen lor servillini le mbocien ys decantasot; ne yen
lor servilli ys phatelles ne sa dettenès ne sa reboseus; ne yen lor
mbardi, inco ce quen il magan Taliesin e il Tremmelpilae, nyn laidam nyn
mbaladh ys cantasot; nyn y chroudhes ben consonúes ys ne tansont pepill;
ne yen lor mhioladurs, inco ce quen il Xristians le Meytoer e la Bonnawen
Ysmonion, in ngwioles deis dhorses llanar e deis h-yscawoelles rotund ys
tansont; ne yen lor nyouwadurs deis bhombardes phothent e ácer ney bhinen
fociferós e refort ney chalumelles duls e flen ney yaithes ney dhondannes
ney phibolles ney thambour ney thempen ney thambourinnes ney
h-ousiquelles, y rheoles e xiches e straspelles e chascun mod le baill e
dhans pery ospeis ys ne youwasont cuech.

Il maps de la ndeua bolga yn mhirgula long e rhegracel le consell, peryn
ndruidh fachúe e flen de mmagich pothent e flen de nerthes marawilós ys
detrayu.  il maps in le lav le destre la mhirgul, ke il yen e thots
poteusont wedher-la, ys fortenès; la nectasot, ac h-ech alla!, sa in yn
mbals de ncondech e whaletatam rhesalent se whors.  il yen e thots co
mmarawel ys dowhedhevont; ac h-ys cel maps lis dechu: "a'ur, for-w yn mbal
vus wedeth; e do li cela ista cualitats: ce que gwenna connubi ke le mbal
adhoa, e si do cela ista wein avuet cyn infedelitat, tot nus la mheritatem
ngweduremus."  a'ur, il cascun kingets do kei avu yn ngwenna pery dhor le
seu ochelles wedeit, per saver si do li sevi gwein avuet cyn ninfedelitat.

A'ur, Guenwyvar le cabel d'or, la gwenna bel e finna le Arth, la Rigú lor
mBritannor, eoer la prims l'adventur sorgapher.  trans le sol pawementú,
co mbroch e co nyerves dopossú, sa wadu, com'yn nardhea sor yn lacolind,
ndacet ach h-elegant.  cant sa le mbal le maph adou-si, del yscawoel al
dheyt il pals ys contremev e conmhibrav, cawsi peryn ndogadur ach h-ys
sevas forveches rheserrúes.  in le yen ndems, eoer plu long ke deverew; in
l'altoer tems, eoer plu bhrew.  a'ur eoer rudd, a'ur eoer kerú, a'ur eoer
duv.  "per ys sachramentes lor meu sengoggi!, do li mevi gwein ay yn
infedelitat!", dechu il Roys Arts.

La Rigú Guenwyuer furiosement le mbal sa deppoulsait, ais sevas cubickles
vugent; y khingethes ach h-y wennes ach h-y rheys la nzeva nnudèz deochlar
sa poneus.  sa le ndruidh ke le mbal ys fechi sa y chornes sa damboneus;
sa le mmap le Ewrow, ke a Chastren nDore lo ys tetuli, lo tersares y
chornes sa damboneus; dafant "eo in le mbosch ach h-y therres fherech, meu
dhies amby arboels wireds tenent, eo wolim wiwer; an-que eo wiwam
commhosco in le cist ndrichlen, pery te o rhoy i pery vu o khingethi
deridúe!"

Il senesals le Arth, e do li il noms le Kae, e ke eoer ais fhestals le Roy
March, la seva ngwen ys forllamasot, "weni cerch, mha dhama bhel!;
proisti-ty e the provi de kos genem fort!  Mays, si dos avura yn
infidelitat, deponi-ty l'adventur e dom eviti la ninfamea ke in me sa
gadura!"  la cella gwenna, stolúe de colurs diwers, co mmedhen
remistaristament, le mbeth le destoer doi seneistoer sa boneus.  e pery
ist e cell, sa al mmaph sa weneit e le mbal amby seva ngoirp sa h-adou.
ach h-ys a'ur com'y h-ali lor nawes voletants ach h-ys a'ur com'y fholi
pery went transpellúes; ach h-a'ur ys si collocasot; le ndot le dors la
wen dois ochellev lor nkingethi e lor ngweni e lor rheys nudhefachent.  e
fhestiffachteor tot co la cista nadventur.  ys en le senesal nCae namasont
pass, e l'oportunitat per ilariarsi ys achapiont.  la gwena le mbal othiós
sa deppoulsait, e la seva nudèz wethent, sa vus, la Rigen secuent; y
dherisien lor nkingethi e le mbal fugient.  yn mBards kingets senós, kos
pila ter in neduoagre fu rompúe, li meip ys propenckasot e sich
walenteasot-el: "o mharre finne, dos avura llacenti y phlu bhoun e dos
avura yn ncena ngran a la cella fhestals, si ty la mmeva ngwen le
mbroversi ty concez; sa at yn gwena mbel, e da hay yn ncorth le plu
bhoun!"  fu conseú; e si abaru yn ngwena santós, yn ngwena ngentils, le
mbal adhoement.  cant per yn ndems amb li coil le wen il pals ys ses, san
mowersi, il Bards rendru, yn nom waleteú.  mays ech alla!, il pals ys
desaparasot!, e ce yen linea e ce yen ndassell per techerla ys poneus.  sa
le mbal othiós sa deppouslsait, co lachrimes le penetencien sa vus; e dol
mBardh yn mhacem co mbrodicien condorckúe e dois ochelles il
eduowendichien.

Yns alch lor ngweni altras l'adventur sa sorchapiont; e la ndoma e la
fhata mesmi sa permhonivont; e y sevas infedelitats herant llenefachúes,
an-que il Caratacos fort e mhaboun li seva wein ys llamasot: "weni-ty, mha
Ghuimier la phlu bhell, la Bhardha hOuchell le mewos chordh; dos avura cel
pals pothent, ty en nast fu pun incostancea nonck co mi."

Cella gwena la plu bella lor ngweni le isel le Pryden, co rhuvurin e co yn
mbeth n'infirm pass, si prosteta e le mbal le map sa aggapès.  dol dors lo
sa adou, le mbal, e ys volitasot.  doi palli sa dafatasot: "esso-ty
tranchel, thy phale, e nem al infamea me ponas rhen!"  e ech alla!, il
pals tranchel se poneus; e comu la seva pels finna e lew, il pals do li co
perfechien devin accomodasot; cawsi peryn ndogadur le Ter fachu.  y mhult
erant y khingethi ke co ngran lodacien la colodasont, e y mhult herant y
wen ke co ngran lodacien la colodasont.

Avut en yns alch lor nkingethi ke nerant rhen persuadús ke la gwena le
kingeth jowenck Carataco forat la gwena la plu boun le isel la Briten.  il
domnos Ereccs, ben wersú henny arthes le agre, eoer il rix lor ncuerimoni;
ach h-il Roys Arts costeta, fant ke yn yen lor ngweni plu fhamós le
sorceder l'adventur sa deverew; il ke yn mbart le seva onur preserwarew.

In noch le festals li cercam, cell il maps il mesmes le facem mbell e le
ystutes gran ninawant ys kingethiv aparu.  il maps ys ochelles lor ndot ne
captasot, mays il cascun om ce adventur ys yspectasot.  ys yn nemendacien
le adventur le noch senn, co la nGuimier ys yspectasot.  il maps co nyn
mbeth ne ninfirm pass for lis ys si prosteta, e whalenteant ys totiv:
"wesseyl, wesseyl, o khingethi fort e fherech in le ndun le Roy mMarch map
Merchion, for le nKernow ambi li meir il Rech, for le Rech nIodhual lor
nDumnonor il Bodeowichtoer!"  e dois cuerimoniuriv, il maps rendent ys
fasot: "aci commico eo le mbenn le turch ferech in la man le destra eo
tenem!, o khingethi refort e chupedh, e do li la ista cualitats: do ce
quei wein ke li rhuet ‘o phenne mats le turch ferech, in le meu corth ay
veritats o nay ke fallàz le miseream?' eo vois dechu, ys yn rhespons nois
datura.  me le ncorp de le mbenn eo detetuli, li fant: ‘co la mheritat
rhesponni'; e cela ista adventura vu sathesfara."

Il maps de breich finn, yn ndunich blanch adoent, ce nkiste rescrivúe
henny lathes co mbictures violent e bhellicos de cupoer ys aphri.  dela
nkiste ys yn ngos in naluth ndechúe ys saccasot; e ce cosa fu yn mbenns le
turch, perfectment coservú, do li canquen yn milawns.

"Me serw!" la Keridowenna, doi Ereich la gwenna, fatasot, "eo la tricarèz
le fil me bo provent!"  cel ista fant, il penns le turch y h-ochelles ys
aphri, durant la gwenna li propincuav, y sevi luches redhintimath casant.
puinyasement sa le mbenn del mmap sa rapu.  sa lo tenes; e rhuasot, la
seva contrerhespons odent: "o phenne mats le turch ferech, in le meu corth
ay veritats o nay ke fallàz le miseriam?"  e il penns le turch in acel
moment yn rhespons li dedai-la, co nguth llar e bhuccatós: "doi teu cordi
nay la veritats pun!  ay fallàz le miserien!  ty ne as outh yn ngwena wer!
y fratrib Mhatacki ach h-Ittacki, deis tevi fidelitats rhui, o wenna
magna."  Y khingethi reterrorittús le parlar e le buar ys chapetasont;
durant yns alch lor naltri lor nkingethi ys fratrib forwhedevont; e dois
fratrib y penni dew co ninfamea depossús.  la Keridowenna le mbenn le
turch sa deppoulsait e le ndrichlen sa vugi, la seva mmagna ninfamea e la
ninfamea do Erecki fort dolatúe, pery cistes sa lachrimasot.

Metroccos, il fils alumno li Rigi Eirth, la seva mbovre ngwenna, e do li
il nom Pendrocca, li penni le turch ys methu.  li meip ben stolú ystant
acerch le mhoch, ke le mbenn ys tent, sa reseperrittasot.  il penns y
h-ochelles ys aphri e co ndemoer sa gremu.  il penns li rendru y dhentes
ponent e sa fu perfichúe.  "forwadi-ty, wenna!  fachi-ty ke ti dechu eo!",
il Metroccos dela cathedra a la mes alt li poneus.  do li penni la
Pendrocca ystendu, la manu condremu, e sa vugi ante ke ys potheus
rhesponner; e ys y h-ochelles ys closès, comu dormir.  ai! ke povre gwen
san nculph!

Avu yn ndrancuiltats durant ke la Guimier le cabel d'or per le mbenn
acchaper sa mhonev.  sa li ruasot: "o phenne mats le torch ferech, in le
ncorth ay veritats o nay ke fallàz le miseriam?  nem rhen wer al
ndighernobardh le meu chordh?"  san dhubitacien, il penns y h-ochelles ys
aphri ach h-ys dechu: "o Ghuimier bhella e bhoun lor mbronei mhinn lor
nzullis wirets!  Nay unill yn ngwenna de plu wherèz al ndigernobardh le
seu chordh!"  supoery ngiste de cupoer sa le mbenn sa deposeus, ach h-ys
la seu fhorm wer ys assumu: yn ndorx ferech e phothent; ambisaltant,
carinitant, ydentiponent, ach h-in ladh le cascun rampant!  dois astiv
pilivcue dois cladimoriv scuthivcue y khingethi ach h-y whenni khingethi
ys datenduont; durant ke y servillini ach h-y servilli del ndurch finn con
nderrore bouants ys vugiont.  dol ndrichlenn avu kaos frangent e
chlamurant.

marcci naw henny nystavoel coin ngorth frangeú ys mhoruont, ali cascun yen
	ke moremorasot;
matren naw henny nCastre nDore la lach nachra sa dedhiont, ali cascun yen
	ke la lach bhoun dedhai;
phleint naw henny nKernow la ndethinn ys rhenspuont, ali cascun yen ke
	mamanasot;
catti naw henny mBritten transpery nder soer yen mbeth ys se whorsont e
	bhacciasont, ali cascun yen ke ne whorsont pun ne mbacciasont
	cuech.

ell il rewastament le torch; dol ndrichlenn avu tumulth e chonfusiú ach
h-ys soereci ais phethes la Guimier, tan dhocels comun ngats tan thimedhs
comun luchets, ys se collocasot. 

Denew avu colodacien magnès per cista wein la plu mheritant.  mays denew
avu cei celles lor nkingethi ne sathesfachús mech; ach h-il rix lor
ncuerimoni fu Gauwannos, il sustenent fort e rheselent le onur le Roy Arth
e le poboel e lor ndribui de nComrow.


*************************************************************************
	The Adventure of Guimier.

At midwinter, when King Mark map Merchion, the honoured King of Kernow,
was at Castle Dore, he held a fifteen day feast for the second half of
December; and all his redoubtable knights were gathered about.  And indeed
King Arthur Pendragon map Uther, King of the Britons one and all, was the
honoured guest, and to him the chair at Marks right.  King Mark and King
Arthur each wore the three royal trappings: a girdle of white bronze; a
cloak of black marten and a golden ring about the neck.  For there in the
house of King Mark, neither one king nor the other king had a better shirt
or britches or shoes or armrings or cloak or hosen.  For the feast, every
class of excellent victual was set upon the table: there were not less
than two stuffed boars and ten, and to each of the boars there was a great
silver platter, skillfully carved; small couldrons of splendurous white
bronze, filled with mutton stew, were set every four places, for there was
no need for any man to stretch his arm to get what would please him;
stoneware platters, yet with the oven's warmth, with fresh bread in a
thousand shapes were between every two warriors; trenchers of oak artfully
carved, filled with fruits, were upon the table of King Mark and in
plentiful numbers.  Drinks - red wine, white wine, sweet mead, dark beer
and all other drinks galore - flowed from the serving lads' flaggons as if
from some hillside cascade.

So many were the warriors there - and indeed their number was greater than
the number of all the warriors of all the strifes and battles in the
history of Britain - that one serving lad and three hundred poured out the
drink for the guests; one serving girl and threehundred took away and
replaced the rapidly emptying platters for the guests.  One bard and
threehundred, amongst whom the great Taliesin and Tremmelpila, sang and
played upon lovely well-tuned harps.  One fiddler and threehundred,
amongst whom Xristian le Meytoer and Bonnawen Ysmonion, played upon flat-
backed slope-shouldered viols.  One player and threehundred played upon
powerful and piercing bombards, vociferous and strenuous biniou, sweet and
full chalumeaux, and also upon various gaidas, dondannes, pibolles, drums,
tabours, tambourines and bones; knocking out reels, jigs strathspeys and
every class of dance beside for the guests.

With the stout and strong warriors sat their brave and lovely wives; at
least, with those warriors that had wives.  They all reclined at the same
table, following the custom of King Mark's castle.  The fires burnt high
and warm in their places; and in every place there were ornaments of
green: wreaths of pine branches upon the oaken columns; boughs of holly
and mistletoe were hung in every right and bonny place; and all of this
pleased King mark and the others there, and they all enjoyed the feast and
merriment.

On the last night but two of King Mark's feast, when the warriors and
their wives were eating, a certain foreign fellow came before them all;
and he from Ireland [or possibly Iran] across the sea.  He wore a shirt of
truly fine goat wool, a cloak of bear fur and a chain of white silver
around his smoothe throat.  He also wore a girdle of precious silk form
Cathay, and it made of diverse and splendurous colours.  King Mark gave
him a greeting thus, welcoming him with a kingly voice: "Let there be with
thee a welcome, o man of Ireland [or Iran]!  Let there be to thee drink
and victual and excellent gifts and a right good welcome!"

The fellow gave a greeting to King Mark and to all of the others there,
welcoming them with a gracious voice: "prosperity [be] to thee, and all
good things, o King Mark, honoured king over the Kernow, here in Castle
Dore, thy wide and spacious feasthall; and to thee o Arthur Pendragon,
king over the Britons one and all; and a festive welcome to your excellent
and brave warriors, powerful and masculine Wild Boars of the Isle of
Prydain, sitting at meat upon benches of precious Lebanese ceder,
excellently carved with great skill!  I exhort ye: o heroes, sons of
heroes, and grandsons of heroes!, that ye not discover your sweet roses
were naught but bitter and biting weeds."  Saying this, he genuflected
deeply to the kings and to the warriors.

That courteous and clever fellow thouroughly captured the eyes of one and
all; so that not one within King Mark's feasthall moved a muscle.  Not one
of the warriors ate his meat; not one of women drank her wine or mead; not
one of the serving lads decanted drink; not one of the serving girls
cleared or replaced the platters; not one of the bards, amongst whom the
great Taliesin and Tremmelpila, sang any lay or ballad nor played upon
lovely well-tuned harps; not one of the fiddlers, amongst whom Xristians
le Meytoer and Bonnawen Ysmonion, played upon flat-backed slope-
shouldered viols; not one player played upon powerful and piercing
bombards, vociferous and strenuous biniou, sweet and full chalumeaux, or
indeed upon various gaidas, dondannes, pibolles, drums, tabours,
tambourines and bones; there was no knocking out of reels, jigs
strathspeys or any class of dance beside for the guests.

The fellow took out of his bag a long and slender wand made of hazel;
charged with potent magic and wonderous powers by a druid.  He held the
wand aloft in his right hand, that all might see; he flicked it, and lo!,
it became a cloak of epitomously excellent weave and quality.  One and all
stared in amazement; and he said to them: "now ye see before you a cloak;
and to it this quality: whatever married woman that put on the cloak, and
has about her some infidelity, we shall know the truth."  Now, every
warrior for whom there was a wife looked at her from the corners of his
eyes, to detect any inconstancies.

Now, Gwennevere of the golden hair, the lovely and beautiful wife to King
Arthur, Queen over the Britons, was the first to take up the adventure.
She went across the heather and herb bestrewn pavements like a heron
across an enchanted lake, silent and elegant.  When she put on the cloak,
it shook and quook from shoulder to toe, as if shorn by some tailor and
his snips.  At once it was longer than it ought to be; at once it was too
short.  Now it was red, now it was blue, now it was black.  "By the oaths
my people swear!, my own wife is inconstant!"  said King Arthur.

Queen Gwenhwyvar furiously cast aside the cloak, fleeing to her
apartments; and leaving the warriors and the women and the kings to stare
after her nakedness.  She cursed with strong curses [literally ‘she put
the horns to'] the druid who fashioned the cloak; she thrice cursed the
Irish [or Iranian] fellow that brought it to Castle Dore, saying: "I had
rather live in the forrests and the wild places, passing my days amongst
the greenwood trees; before that I abide with you in this hall, derided by
thee o king and you o warriors!"

Arthur's seneschal, Cei, who was at King Mark's feast, called out to his
wife, "come now, my pretty dame!; stand forth and prove what sort thou
are!  But if there is to thee some infidelity, leave aside the adventure
and spare the dishonour that would befall me!"  That same woman, dressed
in diverse colours and mead-addled, stumbled about [literally ‘she put the
right foot to the left side'].  By this and that she came to the lad and
put draped the cloak about her body.  And now it was like the fluttering
wings of birds, now like the wind-driven leaves; and then it settled;
leaving her entire backside bare to the eyes of the warriors, the women
and the kings.  Everyone became merry at this adventure; for they held no
great love for Kay, and they took this opportunity to amuse themselves.
The woman cast aside the hated cloak, and seeing her nakedness, she fled,
following the Queen; leaving behind the derision of the warriors and the
cloak.  An old warrior bard, whose spear was thrice broken in strife and
battle, approached the lad and welcomed him thus: "o beautiful man, there
shall be to thee placenta of the best sort [a peculiar Dumnonian pastry],
there shall be to thee a great meal at this feast, if thou but conceed to
alow my wife to prove herself.  She is a lovely woman with a heart of the
best class!"  It was allowed; and she appeared to be a saintly, gentle
woman as she put on the cloak.  When for a time the cloak settled about
her throat without moving, the bard smiled, a joyful man.  But lo!, the
cloak dissappeared!, and left naught but a thread and a tassle to cover
her.  She cast aside the hated cloak and fled shedding tears of remorse;
while the bard's was a face contorted with base  treason and in the eyes
the fire of ardent revenge.

Several other women took up the adventure; and fell to the same doom and
fate.  Their inconstancies were made clear, until the brave and good
Caratacos called to his wife: "Come forth, my Guimier most beautiful, the
High Bard of my heart; the potent cloak shall rightly be thinem for thou
have never once been unfaithful to me."

That most beautiful of the women of the Isle of Prydain stepped forth with
a light blush but a firm step and accepted the lad's cloak.  She put the
cloak around her back, and it fluttered.  She said to the cloak: "Be
still, thou cloak! and bring no shame upon me."  And lo!, the cloak became
still; and it fit itself to her form with divine perfection; as if
fashioned by an Otherworldly tailor.  Many were the warriors praised her
with great praise; and many were the women who praised her with great
praise.

There were some warriors that were not persuaded that the wife of the
young warrior Caratacos should be the best woman in the Isle of Britain.
Lord Erec, well versed in the arts of combat, was the leader of the
complainers; and King Arthur agreed with them, saying that one of the more
famous women ought to succeed at the adventure; which would in part
preserve his honour.

On the next night of the festival, the same clever fellow of the pleasant
face came before the warriors.  He did not capture their eyes, but every
man there awaited some adventure.  They awaited an emmendation of the
previous night's adventure, with respect to Guimier.  With a bold step the
lad came before them and he greeted them all: "Wassail, wassail, o bold
and fierce warriors within the castle of King Mark map Merchion, king over
Kernow around the sea, conqueror of King Judal of the [eastern] Dumnonii!"
And to the complainers the smiling lad said: "Here I have the head of a
savage wild boar in my right hand!, o mighty and impetuous warriors, and
to him this quality: whatever woman that ask him ‘o my good head of the
boar, is there in my heart verity or naught but the most miserable
fallacy?', I say to you, he shall give us a response.  I separated the
body from the head myself, saying to him: ‘answer with the truth'; and
this adventure shall satisfy you."

The lad of the beautiful arms, wearing a white tunic, opened a copper box
carved upon the sides with violent and warlike scenes; and from within he
took out something wrapped in leather; and that thing was a wild boar
head, perfectly preserved, although it was a thousand years old.

"That suits me!" said Ceridwen, Erec's wife; "I'll prove this fellow's
base trickery!"  That said, the boarshead opened his eyes, and while she
approached, he searched her inmost places.  She contentiously snapped up
the head.  She held it and asked: "O my good head of the boar, is there in
my heart verity or naught but the most miserable fallacy?"  And at that
very instant the head of the boar gave an answer, with a powerful voice:
"There is no speck of verity to thy heart!  There is only the most
miserable fallacy!  No true woman are thou!  O great lady, pray ask the
brothers Mattaccos and Ittaccos where thy fidelity lies."  The terrified
warriors began talking and calling out; while some of the warriors cast
their eyes towards the brothers.  But they had their heads bowed in shame.
Ceridwen cast aside the boarshead and fled the hall; bemoaning her great
shame and the shame heaped upon Erec.

Metroccos, the foster son of King Arthur, sent his poor wife Pendrocca to
the head of the boar.  She shuffled forth towards the well-dressed lad
standing at the fire pit, holding the head.  The head opened his eyes, and
she moaned fearfully.  The head grinned toothily, and she was transfixed.
"Go forth, woman!  Do as I tell thee!" yelled Metroccos from his chair at
the high table.  Pendrocca reached out towards the head with a trembling
hand; but she fled before he could answer.  And he closed his eyes as if
to sleep.  Ah! poor guiltless woman!

A hush came over the place as Guimier of the golden hair went forth to
accept the head.  She asked him: "O my good head of the boar, is there in
my heart verity or naught but the most miserable fallacy?  Have I not ever
been true to the chief bard of my heart?"  Without hesitation the head
opened his eyes and said: "O fair and lovely Guimier of the white breast
and the queenly green eyes!  There is not one woman truer to the chief
bard of her heart!"  She set the head upon the copper box, and it assumed
its true shape: a potent wild boar, leaping about, careening, snarling and
rampaging on all sides!  The warriors and warrior women reached for long
spears and stabbing spears, for greatswords and shields; while the serving
lads and serving girls fled the wild boar screaming with terror.  The
whole feasthall was upset into crashing and clattering chaos.

Nine horses in the stable died of a shattered heart for every one
	that survived;
Nine mothers in Castle Dore gave sour milk for every one that gave good
	milk;
Nine babes in Kernow refused the breast for every one that suckled;
Nine cats all Britain turned about on one foot yowling for every one that
	did not turn about on one foot yowling.

Thus the havoc wreaked upon Britain because of the boar; and there was
tumult and confusion in the feasthall until he came to rest at Guimier's
feet; docile as a housecat, timid as a mouse.

Again there was much acclaim for this most deserving woman.  But again
there were some warriors who were not satisfied; and the chief of these
was Gauwannos, the brave support of King Arthur's honour and the honour of
all Comro.