The Mabinogion · 16 of 192 · tr. Lady Charlotte Guest
Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAINk
“My lord,” said he, “I know the meaning of all this, and my request is, that thou wilt permit me to throw the water on the slab, and to receive the first adventure that may befall.” And Arthur gave him leave.
Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately there came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower.
And such a thunderstorm they had never known before, and many of the attendants who were in Arthur’s train were killed by the shower.
After the shower had ceased the sky became clear; and on looking at the tree they beheld it completely leafless.
Then the birds descended upon the tree, and the song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain they had ever heard before.
Then they beheld a knight on a coal-black horse, clothed in black satin, coming rapidly towards them.
And Kai met him and encountered him, and it was not long before Kai was overthrown.
And the knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host encamped for the night.
And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of combat upon the lance of the Knight.
And Kai came to Arthur, and spoke to him: “My lord,” said he, “though I was overthrown yesterday, if it seem good to thee, I would gladly meet the Knight again to-day.” “Thou mayst do so,” said Arthur.
And Kai went towards the Knight.
And on the spot he overthrew Kai, and struck him with the head of his lance in the forehead, so that it broke his helmet and the head-piece, and pierced the skin and the flesh, the breadth of the spear-head, even to the bone.
And Kai returned to his companions.
After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after the other, to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was not overthrown by him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai.
And Arthur armed himself to encounter the Knight.
“Oh, my lord,” said Gwalchmai, “permit me to fight with him first.” And Arthur permitted him.
And he went forth to meet the Knight, having over himself and his horse a satin robe of honour which had been sent him by the daughter of the Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was not known by any of the host.
And they charged each other, and fought all that day until the evening, and neither of them was able to unhorse the other.
The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither of them could obtain the mastery.
And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances.
And they were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even until noon.
And they gave each other such a shock that the girths of their horses were broken, so that they fell over their horses’ cruppers to the ground.
And they rose up speedily, and drew their swords, and resumed the combat; and the multitude that witnessed their encounter felt assured that they had never before seen two men so valiant or so powerful.
And had it been midnight, it would have been light from the fire that flashed from their weapons.
And the Knight gave Gwalchmai a blow that turned his helmet from off his face, so that the Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai.
Then Owain said, “My lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee for my cousin, owing to the robe of honour that enveloped thee; take my sword and my arms.” Said Gwalchmai, “Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword.” And with that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced towards them.
Themes
◆Animismcosmology
The doctrine and worldview that natural phenomena, places, and objects possess inherent spirit, soul, or personality — and that the cosmos is populated by countless local, plural, embodied divine agents: kami in mountain and tree, sidhe in cairn and well, landwights in field and stone, nymphs in spring and grove, haltija in forest and lake, lares and penates in household and threshold, Iamblichean daemons in element and place. Distinct from monotheism (single transcendent God), pantheism (one underlying substance), and emanation_hierarchy (cascading single source); animism's signature is the plurality, locality, and embodied-in-landscape character of the divine.
The slab, tree, and birds exhibit agency and supernatural responsiveness to human action, reflecting a worldview where natural objects possess inherent spirit or power.
The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.
The earthly act of pouring water corresponds directly to the heavenly phenomenon of thunder, suggesting a structural link between micro and macro realms.
The Stoic and Plotinian doctrine that all parts of the cosmos are bound by hidden affinities, so that a movement in one part resonates through the whole; the metaphysical basis for astrology, magic, and divination.
The localized action of pouring water on the slab resonates through the cosmos to produce a thunderstorm, illustrating hidden affinities between parts of the whole.
Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.
Kai performs a specific ritual action (throwing water on the slab) to invoke a supernatural event, engaging with magical forces through material means.