The Mabinogion Vol. 1 by Sir Owen Morgan Edwards and Lady Charlotte Schreiber (best big ereader txt) 📗

class="pagenum">p. 33she brought from the Court.  “I bring thee the best of news,” said Luned, “for I have compassed the object of my mission.  When wilt thou, that I should present to thee the chieftain who has come with me hither?”  “Bring him here to visit me to-morrow, at mid-day,” said the Countess, “and I will cause the town to be assembled by that time.”

And Luned returned home.  And the next day, at noon, Owain arrayed himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were high shoes of variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps, in the form of lions.  And they proceeded to the chamber of the Countess.

Right glad was the Countess of their coming.  And she gazed steadfastly upon Owain, and said, “Luned, this knight has not the look of a traveller.”  “What harm is there in that, Lady?” said Luned.  “I am certain,” said the Countess, “that no other man than this, chased the soul from the body of my lord.”  “So much the better for thee, Lady,” said Luned, “for had he not been stronger than thy lord, he could not have deprived him of life.  There is no remedy for that which is past, be it as it may.”  “Go back to thine abode,” said the Countess, “and I will take counsel.”

The next day, the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, and shewed them that her Earldom was left defenceless, and that it could not be protected but with horse and arms, and military skill.  “Therefore,” said she, “this is what I offer for your choice: either let one of you take me, or give your consent for me to take a husband from elsewhere, to defend my dominions.”

So they came to the determination, that it was p. 34better that she should have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and thereupon she sent for the Bishops and Archbishops, to celebrate her nuptials with Owain.  And the men of the Earldom did Owain homage.

And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword.  And this is the manner in which he defended it.  Whensoever a knight came there, he overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth.  And what he thus gained, he divided among his Barons, and his Knights; and no man in the whole world could be more beloved than he was by his subjects.  And it was thus for the space of three years.

It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King Arthur, he perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful.  And Gwalchmai was much grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he questioned him, saying, “Oh my Lord! what has befallen thee?”  “In sooth, Gwalchmai,” said Arthur, “I am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three years; and I shall certainly die, if the fourth year passes without my seeing him.  Now I am sure, that it is through the tale which Kynon the son of Clydno related, that I have lost Owain.”  “There is no need for thee,” said Gwalchmai, “to summon to arms thy whole dominions, on that account; for thou thyself, and the men of thy household, will be able to avenge Owain, if he be slain; or to set him free, if he be in prison; and if alive, to bring him back with thee.”  And it was settled, according to what Gwalchmai had said.

Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek Owain; and their number was three thousand, beside their attendants.  And Kynon p. 35the son of Clydno acted as their guide.  And Arthur came to the Castle, where Kynon had been before.  And when he came there the youths were shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was standing hard by.  When the yellow man saw Arthur, he greeted him, and invited him to the Castle.  And Arthur accepted his invitation, and they entered the Castle together.  And great as was the number of his retinue, their presence was scarcely observed in the Castle, so vast was its extent.  And the maidens rose up to wait on them.  And the service of the maidens appeared to them all to excel any attendance they had ever met with; and even the pages who had charge of the horses, were no worse served, that night, than Arthur himself would have been, in his own Palace.

The next morning, Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and came to the place where the black man was.  And the stature of the black man was more surprising to Arthur, than it had been represented to him.  And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed the valley, till they reached the green tree; where they saw the fountain, and the bowl and the slab.  And upon that, Kai came to Arthur, and spoke to him.  “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 advantage 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 p. 36became 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. [36]  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.  p. 37“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, [37a] and struck him with the head of his lance in the forehead, so that it broke his helmet and the headpiece, and pierced the skin, and the flesh, the breadth of the spearhead, 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 increased 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. [37b]  p. 38And the multitude that witnessed the 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.  “My lord Arthur,” said Gwalchmai, “here is Owain, who has vanquished me, and will not take my arms.”  “My lord,” said Owain, “it is he that has vanquished me, and he will not take my sword.”  “Give me your swords,” said Arthur, “and then neither of you has vanquished the other.”  Then Owain put his arms around Arthur’s neck, and they embraced.  And all the host hurried forward to see Owain, and to embrace him.  And there was nigh being a loss of life, so great was the press.

And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to depart.  “My lord,” said Owain, “this is not well of thee.  For I have been absent from thee these three years, [38] and during all that time, up to this very day, I have been preparing a banquet for thee, knowing that thou wouldest come to seek me.  Tarry with me therefore, until thou and thy attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey, and have been anointed.”

And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the Fountain, and the banquet which had been p. 39three years preparing was consumed in three months.  Never had they a more delicious or agreeable banquet.  And Arthur prepared to depart.  Then he sent an embassy to the Countess, to beseech her to permit Owain to go with him, for the space of three months, that he might shew him to the nobles, and the fair dames of the Island of Britain.  And the Countess gave her consent, although it was very painful to her.  So Owain came with Arthur to the Island of Britain.  And when he was once more amongst his kindred and friends, he remained three years, instead of three months, with them.

* * * * *

And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the City of Caerlleon upon Usk, behold a damsel entered, upon a bay horse, with a curling mane, and covered with foam; and the bridle, and as much as was seen of the saddle, were of gold.  And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow satin.  And she went up to Owain, and took the ring from off his hand.  “Thus,” said she, “shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor, the faithless, the disgraced, and the beardless.” [39]  And she turned her horse’s head, and departed.

Then his adventure came to Owain’s remembrance, and he was sorrowful.  And having finished eating, he went to his own abode, and made preparations that night.  And the next day he arose, but did not go to the Court, but wandered to the distant parts of the earth, and to uncultivated mountains.  And he remained there until all his apparel was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hair was grown long.  And he went about with the wild beasts, and fed with them, until they became familiar with him.  But at length he grew so weak, that he could no longer bear p. 40them company.  Then he descended from the mountains to the valley, and came to a park, that was the fairest in the world, and belonged to a widowed Countess.

One day the Countess