 Introduction of the Mabinogian Volume 2. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by JoLynn Walls Martinez. The Mabinogian Volume 2 by Anonymous. Translated by Charlotte Guest. Introduction. In the second volume, as in the first, I have given Lady Charlotte Guest's translation exactly as she wrote it. It would have been easy to make it a more faithful reproduction of the Welsh by occasionally changing a word or by making a phrase more simple and diction. But the reader would not have forgiven me for placing before him a translation that was not Lady Charlotte Guest's. I have again ventured, however, after a careful comparison of the translation with the original to put in the form of footnotes, a more accurate or more literal rendering of passages which Lady Charlotte Guest did not read or write, passages which she has omitted, and passages the real meaning of which she seems to me to have failed to grasp. The first two tales in this volume make up with the Dream of Rona Boy, the second volume of the original edition. The Dream of Rona Boy was placed in my first volume with the Lady of the Fountain and Peridour, the two tales that form the first volume of the original edition. The oldest of the tales, the Mabinogian Proper, will all be included in the third volume. Owen Edwards, Atlanticlin, June 1902. End of the introduction, recording by JoLynn Walls Martinez. Section 1 of the Mabinogian Volume 2, this is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Mabinogian Volume 2 by Anonymous, translated by Charlotte Guest. Section 1, Graint the Son of Urban. Arthur was accustomed to hold his court at Carlyon upon Usk, and there he held it seven easters and five Christmases, and once upon a time he held his court there at Witsentide, for Carlyon was the place most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and by land, and there were assembled nine crown kings who were his tributaries and likewise earls and barons, for they were his invited guests at all the high festivals unless they were prevented by any great hindrance. And when he was at Carlyon holding his court, thirteen churches were set apart for mass, and thus were they appointed one church for Arthur and his kings and his guests, and the second for Gwen Wyvar and her ladies, and the third for the steward of the household and the suitors, and the fourth for the Franks and the other officers, and the other nine churches were for the nine masters of the household and chiefly for Gwaltz, Mai, for he from the eminence of his warlike fame and from the nobleness of his birth was the most exalted of the nine, and there was no other arrangement respecting the churches than that which we have mentioned above. Gluwyd Gavilvar was the chief porter, but he did not himself perform the office except at one of the three high festivals, for he had seven men to serve him, and they divided the year amongst them. They were Grinn and Pen Pigeon, and Lace Kyman, and Gaggy Felch, and Gerd Nye, with hat's eyes, who could see as well by night as by day, and Drem the son of Drem Hytid, and Clust the son of Clust Vain Id, and these were Arthur's guards, and on Witt Tuesday, as the king sat at the banquet lo, there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and a surcoat of dye-up red satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck and lo, shoes of leather upon his feet, and he came and stood before Arthur, hailed to thee, Lord, said he, heaven prosper thee, he answered, and be thou welcome, dost thou bring any new tidings? I do, Lord, he said, I know thee not, said Arthur. It is a marvel to me that thou dost not know me. I am one of thy foresters, Lord, in the forest of Dean, and my name is Maddox, the son of Ter Godin. Tell me thine errand, said Arthur, I will do so, Lord, said he, in the forest I saw a stag, the like of which beheld I never yet. What is there about him, asked Arthur, that thou never yet didst see his life? He is a pure white, Lord, and he does not herd with any other animal through statelyness 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 tomorrow, at break of day, and to cause general notice thereof, to be given to night in all quarters of the court. And Arie, furious, was Arthur's chief huntsman, and Arie livery was his chief page. And all received notice, and thus it was arranged, and they sent the youth before them. Then Gwen Wyvar, said to Arthur, wilt thou permit me, Lord, said she, to go tomorrow to see and hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke. I will gladly, said Arthur, then will I go, said she, and Gwaltch, my, said to Arthur, Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that into whose hunt so ever the stag shall come, that one be he a knight, or one on foot, may cut off his 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 house will be chastised, if all are not ready, tomorrow for the chase. And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse, and ample entertainment, and when it was time for them all to go to sleep, they went. And when the next day came, they arose, and Arthur called the attendants, who guarded his couch, and these were four pages whose names were Caddie or Nerth, the son of Porthar, Yandwee, and Ambrou, the son of Bedwar, and Amhar, the son of Arthur, and Gauru, the son of Custinan. And these men came to Arthur, and saluted him, and arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur wondered that when Wyvar did not awake, and did not move in her bed, and the attendants wished to awaken her, disturb her not, said Arthur, for she'd rather sleep than go to 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. And the whole assembly of the multitudes came together, and they took the road to the forest. And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwen Wyvar awoke, and called to her maidens, and appareled herself. Maidens said she had left last night to go and see the hunt, go, one of you, to the stable, and order hither a horse, such as a woman may ride. And one of them went, and she found but two horses in the stable. And Gwen Wyvar, the maidens, mounted them, and went through the usk, and followed the track of the men, and the horses. And as they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound, and they looked behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter full of mighty sighs. And the rider was a fair-haired youth, bare-legged, and of princely mean, and a golden-hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a circurt of satin wore low shoes of leather upon his feet, and around him was a scarf of blue-purple, at each corner of which was a golden apple. And his horse stepped stately, and swift and proud, and he overtook Gwen Wyvar, and saluted her. Heaven prosper thee, g'raint, said she. I knew thee when first I saw thee just now, and the welcome of heaven be unto thee. And why dost thou not go with thy lord to hunt? Because I knew not when he went, said he. I marveled too, said she, how he could go unknown to me. Indeed, lady, said he, I was fast asleep, and knew not when he went, 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 she, we shall hear when the dogs are let loose. And thereupon they heard a loud noise, and they looked towards the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf riding upon a horse stately and foaming and prancing and strong and spirited. And in the hand of 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, and near her was a knight upon a warhorse of large size with heavy and bright armor both upon himself and upon his horse. And truly they never before saw a knight or a horse or armor of such remarkable size, and they were all near to each other. Garene said, Gwen, Wyvar, knowest thou the name of that tall knight yonder? I know him not, said he, and the strange armor that he wears prevents me either seeing his face or his features. Go, maiden, said Gwen, Wyvar, 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 towards him, and 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, said she, I will ask him himself. Thou shalt not ask him by my faith, said he, wherefore, said she, because thou art not of honor sufficient to be fit thee to speak to my lord. Then the maiden turned her horse's head towards 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 Gwen Wyvar, complaining of the pain. Very rudely, has the dwarf treated thee, said Gereint, I will go myself to know who the knight is. Go, said Gwen Wyvar, and Gereint went up to the dwarf. Who is yonder knight, said Gereint, I will not tell thee, said the dwarf. Then will I ask him himself, said he, that wilt thou not by my faith, said the dwarf, thou art not honorable enough to speak with my lord. Said Gereint, I have spoken with men of equal rank with him, and he turned his horse's head towards the knight, put the dwarf overtook him and struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood colored the scarf that Gereint wore. Then Gereint upon 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 the armed knight, so he returned to where Gwen Wyvar 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 shall hear tidings of me by tomorrow afternoon, and with that he departed. And the road they took was to the palace of Carlion and across the fort of the usk, and they went along a fair and even and lofty ridge of ground until they came to a town, and at the extremity of the town they saw a fortress and a castle, and they came to the extremity of the town, and as the knight passed through it all the people arose and saluted him and bat him welcome. And when Grant came into the town he looked at every house to see if he knew any of those whom he saw, but he knew none and none knew him to do him the kindness to let him have arms either as a loan or for a pledge. And every house he saw was full of men and arms and horses, and they were polishing shields and burnishing swords and washing armor and shoeing horses, and the knight and the lady and the dork rode up to the castle that was in the town, and from the battlements and the gates they risked their necks through their eagerness to greet them and to show their joy. Grant stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the castle and when he was certain that he would do so he looked around him and at a little distance from the town he saw an old palace in ruins where in was a hall that was falling to decay. And as he knew not anyone in the town he went towards the old palace and when he came near to the palace he saw but one chamber and a bridge of marble stone leading to it. And upon the bridge he saw sitting a hoary-headed man upon whom were tattered garments and Grant gazed steadfastly upon him for a long time. Then the hoary-headed man spoke to him, young man he said, wherefore art thou thoughtful? And said he, because I know not where to go tonight wilt thou come forward this way? Chieftain said he, and thou shalt have of the best that can be procured for thee. So Grant went forward and the hoary-headed man preceded him into the hall and in the hall he dismounted and he left there his horse. Then he went on to the upper chamber with the hoary-headed man and in the chamber he beheld sitting on a cushion with old tattered garments of satin upon her. And it seemed to him that he had never seen a woman fairer than she must have been when in the fullness of youth. And beside her was a maiden upon whom were a vest and a veil that were old and beginning to be worn out. And truly he never saw a maiden more full of comeliness and grace and beauty than she. And no attendant for the horse of this youth but thyself I will render the best service I am able," said she, both to him and to his horse. And the maiden disarrayed the youth and then she furnished his horse with straw and with corn and she went to the hall as before and then she returned to the chamber. And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, go to the town said he and bring hither the best that thou canst find of liquor. I will, gladly Lord," said she, and to the town went the maiden. And they conversed together while the maiden was at the town. And behold the maiden came back and a youth with her, bearing on his back a costral full of good purchased me and a quarter of a young bullock. And in the hands of the maiden was a quantity of white bread and she had some mansion bread in her veil and she came into the chamber. I could not obtain better than this, said she, nor would better should I have been trusted. It is good enough, said Geraint, and they caused the meat to be boiled and when their food was ready they sat down. And it was in this wise Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his wife and the maiden served them and they ate and drank. And when they had finished eating Geraint talked with the hoary-headed man in the first place to whom belonged the palace that he was in. Truly, said he, it was I that built it and to me also belonged the city and the castle which thou sawest. Alas, said Geraint, how is it that thou hast lost them now? I lost a great earldom as well as these, said he and this is how I lost them. I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his possessions to myself and he came to his strength. He demanded of me his property but I withheld it from him. So he made war upon me and rested from me all that I possessed. Good sir, said Geraint, wilt thou tell me wherefore came the night and the lady in the dwarf just now into the town and what is the preparation which I saw and the putting of arms in order? I will do so, said he, the preparations are for the game until tomorrow by the young earl which will be on this wise. In the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be set up and upon the two forks a silver rod and upon the silver rod a sparrow hawk and for the sparrow hawk there will be a tournament and to the tournament will go all the array thou didst see in the city of men and of horses and of arms. And with each man will go the lady and no man can joust for the sparrow hawk except the lady he loves best be with him. And the night that thou sawest has gained the sparrow hawk these two years and if he gains it the third year they will from that time send it every year to him and he himself will come here no more and he will be called the night of the sparrow hawk from that time forth. Sir, said Geraint, what is thy council to me concerning this night on account of the insult which I received from the dwarf and that which was received by the maiden of Gwen Wyvar the wife of Arthur and Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insult was that he had received. It is not easy to counsel thee inasmuch as thou hast neither dame nor maiden belonging to thee for whom thou canst joust yet I have arms here which thou couldest have and there is my horse also if he seemed to thee better than thine own Ah, sir, said he heaven reward thee but my own horse to which I am accustomed together with thine arms will suffice me and if when the appointed time shall come tomorrow thou will permit me, sir, to challenge for yonder maiden that is thy daughter I will engage if I escape from the tournament to love the maiden as long as I live and if I do not escape she will remain unsullied as before gladly will I permit thee, said the hoary-headed man and since thou dost thus resolve it is necessary that thy horse and arms should be ready tomorrow at break of day for then the night of the sparrow-hawk will make proclamation and ask the lady he loves best to take the sparrow-hawk and will he say to her thou art the fairest of women and thou dispossess it last year and the year previous and if any deny thee today by force will I defend it for thee and therefore, said the hoary-headed man it is needful for thee to be there at daybreak and we three will be with thee and thus was it settled and at night low they went to sleep and before the dawn they arose and arrayed themselves that it was day they were all for in the meadow and there was the night of the sparrow-hawk making the proclamation and asking his lady love to fetch the sparrow-hawk fetch it not, said Gereint for there is here a maiden who is fairer and more noble and more comely and who has a better claim to it than thou if thou maintainest the sparrow-hawk to be due to her come forward and do battle with me and Gereint went forward to the top of the meadow having upon himself and upon his horse armor which was heavy and rusty and worthless and of uncouth shape then they encountered each other and they broke a set of lances and they broke a second set and a third and thus they did at every onset and they broke as many lances as were brought to them and when the Earl and his company saw the night of the sparrow-hawk gaining the mastery there was shouting joy and mirth amongst them and the hoary-headed man and his wife and his daughter were sorrowful and the hoary-headed man served Gereint lances as often as he broke them and the dwarf served the night of the sparrow-hawk then the hoary-headed man came to Gereint oh, chieftain, said he since no other will hold with thee, behold, here is the lance which was in my hand on the day when I received the honour and from that time to this I never broke it and it has an excellent point then Gereint took the lance thanking the hoary-headed man and there upon the dwarf also brought a lance to his lord behold, here is a lance for thee not less good than his, said the dwarf and be think thee that no night ever withstood thee before so long as this one has done I declared to heaven, said Gereint that unless death takes me quickly hence he shall fare never the better for thy service and Gereint pricked his horse towards him from afar and warning him he rushed upon him and gave him a blow so severe and furious and fierce upon the face of his shield that he cleft it in two and broke his armour and burst his girth so that both he and his saddle were born to the ground over the horse's cropper and Gereint dismounted quickly and he was wroth and he drew his sword and rushed fiercely upon him then the night also arose and drew his sword against Gereint and they fought on foot with their swords until their aims struck sparks of fire like stars from one another and thus they continued fighting until the blood and sweat obscured the light from their eyes and when Gereint prevailed the hoary-headed man and his wife and his daughter were glad and when the night prevailed it rejoiced the Earl and his party then the hoary-headed man saw Gereint receive a severe stroke and he went up to him quickly and said to him oh chieftain, remember the treatment which thou hadst from the door and wilt thou not seek vengeance for the insult to thyself and for the insult to Gwen Wyvar the wife of Arthur and Gereint was roused and he called to him all his strength and lifted up his sword and struck the night upon the crown of his head so that he broke all his head armor and cut through all the flesh and the skin even to the skull until he wounded the bone then the night fell upon his knees and cast his sword from his hand and besought mercy of Gereint of a truth that he I relinquished my over-daring and my pride engraving thy mercy and unless I have time to commit myself to heaven for my sins and to talk with a priest thy mercy will avail me little I will grant thee grace upon this condition said Gereint that thou wilt go to Gwen Wyvar the wife of Arthur to do her satisfaction for the insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf as do myself for the insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf I am content with that which I have done unto thee dismount not from the time thou goest hence until thou comest into the presence of Gwen Wyvar to make her what atonement shall be adjudged at the court of Arthur this will I do gladly and who art thou said he I am Gereint the son of Urban and declare thou also who thou art I am Edurn the son of Mud then he threw himself upon his horse and went forward to Arthur's court and the rest went before him and the dwarf with much lamentation and thus far this story up to that time end of section 1 section 2 of the Mabinogen volume 2 by Anonymous translated by Charlotte Guest this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Gereint the son of Urban part 2 then came the little Earl and his host to Gereint and saluted him and bade him to his castle I may not go said Gereint but where I was last night there will I be tonight also since thou wilt none of my inviting thou shall have abundance of all that I can command for thee in the place thou was last night and I will order ointment for thee to recover thee from thy fatigues and from the weariness that is upon thee heaven reward thee said Gereint and I will go to my lodging and thus went Gereint and Earl in Will and his wife and his daughter and when they reached the chamber the household servants and attendants of the young Earl had arrived at the court and they arranged all the houses dressing them with straw and with fire and in a short time the ointment was ready and Gereint came there then came the young Earl with forty honorable knights from among his attendants and those who were bidden to the tournament and Gereint came from the anointing and the Earl asked him to go to the hall to eat where is the Earl in Will said Gereint and his wife and his daughter they are in the chamber yonder said the Earl's chamberlain arranging themselves in garments which the Earl has caused to be brought for them let not the damsel to invest in her veil until she come to the court of Arthur to be clad by Gwen Wybar in such garments as she may choose so the maiden did not array herself then they all entered the hall and they watched and went and sat down to meet and thus were they seated on one side of Gereint sat the young Earl and Earl in Will beyond him and on the other side of Gereint was the maiden and her mother and after these all sat according to their precedents in honor and they ate and they were served abundantly and they received a profusion of divers kind of gifts then they conversed together and the young Earl invited Gereint to visit him next day I will not by heaven say Gereint to the court of Arthur will I go with this maiden tomorrow and it is enough for me as long as Earl in Will is in poverty and trouble and I go chiefly to seek to add Gereint's Ah, Chieftain said the young Earl it is not by my fault that Earl in Will is without his possessions by my face said Gereint he shall not remain without them unless death quickly takes me hence Oh Chieftain said he with regard to the disagreement between me and in Will I will gladly abide by thy counsel and agree to what thou mayest judge right between us I but ask thee said Gereint and what he should have received from the time he lost his possessions even until this day that will I do gladly for thee answered he then said Gereint whosoever is here who owes Amish to in Will let him come forward and perform it on the spot and all the men did so and by that treaty they abided and his castle and his town and all his possessions were restored to in Will and he received back all that he had lost even to the smallest jewel then spoke Earl in Will to Gereint Chieftain said he behold the maiden for whom thou dischallenge at the tournament I bestow her upon thee she shall go with me said Gereint to the court of Arthur and Arthur and Gwen Wyvar they shall dispose of her as they will and the next day they proceeded to Arthur's court so far concerning Gereint now this is how Arthur hunted the stag the men and the dogs were divided into hunting parties and the dogs were let loose upon the stag and the last dog that was let loose was the favorite dog of Arthur Cavall was his name and he left all the other dogs behind him and turned the stag and at the second turn the stag came towards the hunting party of Arthur and Arthur set upon him and before he could be slain by any other Arthur cut off his head then they sounded the death horn for slaying and they all gathered round then came Katie Wreath to Arthur and spoke to him Lord said he behold yonder is Gwen Wyvar and none with her save only one maiden command Gilgis the son of Ca and all the scholars of the court said Arthur to attend Gwen Wyvar to the palace and they did so then they all set forth holding converse together concerning the head of the stag to whom it should be given one wish that it should be given to the lady best the love by him whom he loved best and all they of the household and the knights disputed sharply concerning the head and with that they came to the palace and when Arthur and Gwen Wyvar heard them disputing about the head of the stag Gwen Wyvar said to Arthur my lord this is my counsel concerning the stag's head let it not be given away until garrant the son of urban shall return from the errand he is upon and Gwen Wyvar told Arthur what that errand was right gladly shall it be so said Arthur and thus it was settled and the next day Gwen Wyvar caused a watch to be set upon the ramparts for garrant's coming and after midday they beheld an unshapely little man upon a horse and after him as they supposed a dame or a damsel also on horseback and after her night of large stature bowed down and hanging his head low and sorrowfully and clad in broken and worthless armor and before they came near to the gate one of the watch went to Gwen Wyvar and told her what kind of people they saw and what aspect they bore I know not who they are said he but I know said Gwen Wyvar this is the night whom garrant pursued and he thinks that he comes not here by his own free will but garrant has overtaken him and avenged the insult to the maiden to the uttermost and there upon beholder Porter came to the spot where Gwen Wyvar was lady said he at the gate there is a knight and I saw never a man of so pitiful an aspect to look upon as he miserable and broken is the armor that he wears and the hue of blood is more conspicuous upon it than its own color knowest thou his name said she I do said he he tells me that he is Edern the son of nut then she replied I know him not so Gwen Wyvar went to the gate to meet him and he entered and Gwen Wyvar was sorry when she saw the condition he was in even though he was accompanied by the churlish door then Edern saluted Gwen Wyvar heaven protect thee said she lady said he garrant the son of urban thy best and most valiant servant greets thee did he meet with thee she asked yes said he and it was not to my advantage and that was not his fault but mine lady and garrant greets thee well and in greeting thee he compelled me to come hither to do that pleasure for the insult which thy maiden received from the door he forgives the insult to himself in consideration of his having put me in peril of my life and he imposed on me a condition manly and honorable and warrior like which was to do the justice lady now where did he overtake thee at the place where we were adjusting and contending for the sparrowhawk in the town which is now called Cardiff and there were none with him save three persons of a mean and tattered condition and these were an aged hoary-headed man and a woman advanced in years and a fair young maiden clad in worn out garments and it was for the abouchment of the love of that maiden that garrant jousted for the sparrowhawk at the tournament for he said that that maiden was better entitled to the sparrowhawk than this maiden who was with me and there upon we encountered each other and he left me lady as thou seeest sir said she when thinkest thou that garrant will be here tomorrow lady i think he will be here with the maiden then Arthur came to him and he saluted Arthur and Arthur gazed a long time upon him and was amazed to see him thus and thinking that he knew him he inquired of him art thou he during the son of nut i am lord said he and i've met with much trouble and received wounds unsupportable then he told Arthur all his prevention well said Arthur from what i hear it behooves when why bar to be merciful towards thee the mercy which thou desirous lord said she will i grant to him since it is as insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to me as to thyself thus will it be best to do said Arthur let this man have medical care until it be known whether he may live and if he live he shall do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by the men of the court and take thou sureties to that effect and if he die too much will it be the death of such a youth as he during for an insult to a maiden this pleases me said when why bar and Arthur became surety for he during and car out dog the son of car wall the son of lannog and Owen the son of nut and go watch my and many others with them and Arthur cause Morgan to be called to him he was the chief physician take with thee he during the son of nut chamber to be prepared for him and let him have the aid of medicine as thou wouldst do unto myself if I were wounded and let none into his chamber to molest him but thyself and thy disciples to administer to him remedies I will do so gladly Lord said Morgan tug then said the steward of the household wither is it right Lord to order the maiden to Gwen why bar and her and maidens said he and the steward of the household with them the next day came great towards the court and there was a watch set on the ramparts by Gwen why bar bestie should arrive on a wares and one of the watch came to the place where Gwen why bar was lady said he me thinks that I see great and the maiden with him he is on horseback but he has his walking gear upon him and the maiden appears to be in white seeming to be clad in a garment of linen assemble all the women said Gwen why bar and wish him joy and Gwen why bar went to meet great and the maiden and when great came to the place where Gwen why bar was he saluted her heaven prosperity said she and welcome to thee and thy career has been successful unfortunate and resistless and glorious and heaven reward thee that thou has so proudly caused me to have retribution lady said he I earnestly desired to obtain the satisfaction according to thy name thou has thy revenge barely said Gwen by bar welcome of heaven be unto her and it is fitting that we should receive her joyfully then they went in and dismounted and great came to where Arthur was and saluted him heaven protect thee said Arthur and the welcome of heaven be unto thee and since he turned the son of nut has received his overthrow and wounds from thy hands thou has had a prosperous career not upon me be the arrogance of he learned the son of nut himself that we were not friends I would not quit him until I knew who he was and until the one had banquished the other now said Arthur where is the maiden for whom I heard thou disgive challenge she has gone with Gwen why bar to her chamber then went Arthur to see the maiden and Arthur and all his companions and his whole court were glad concerning the maiden and certain where they all that had her being a maid fairer than she and Arthur gave away the maiden to and the usual bond made between two persons was made between and the maiden and the choices of all Gwen why bars per apparel was given to the maiden and thus she appeared commonly and graceful to all who be held her and that day and that night were spent in abundance of menstrual Z and ample gifts of liquor and the multitude of games and when it was time for them to go to sleep why bar was the couch of grant and unit was prepared and from that time she became his bride and the next day Arthur satisfied all the claimants upon grant with bountiful gifts and the maiden took up her a boat in the palace and she had many companions both men and women and there was no maiden more esteemed than she in the island of Britain then spake Gwen why bar rightly did I judge said she concerning the head of the stag that it should not be here is a fit occasion for bestowing it let it be given to Enid the daughter of in will the most illustrious maiden and I do not believe that any will begrudge it her for between her and everyone here there exist nothing but love and friendship much applauded was this by them all and by Arthur also and the head of the stag was given to Enid and there upon her fame increased and her friends then forward became more in number than before and grant from that time forth love and the tournament and heart encounters and he came victorious from them all and a year and a second and a third he proceeded best until his fame had flown over the face of the kingdom and once upon a time Arthur was holding his court at Carlyon upon us get wits and tight and behold there came to him ambassadors wise and prudent full of knowledge and eloquent of speech and they saluted Arthur heaven prosper you said Arthur and the welcome of heaven be unto you and whence do you come we come today from Cornwall and we are ambassadors from urban the son of custom and thy uncle and our mission is unto thee and he greets thee well as an uncle should greet his nephew and as a vassal should greet his lord and he represents unto thee that he rocks is heavy and feeble and is advancing in years and the neighboring chiefs knowing this grow insolent towards him and covet his land and possessions and he earnestly besieges the lord to permit grant his son to return to him to his possessions and to become acquainted with his boundaries and unto him he represents that it were better for him to spend the flower of his youth and the prime of his age in preserving his own boundaries than in tournaments which are productive of no profit although he obtains glory in them well said Arthur go and divest yourselves of your accoutrements and take food and refresh yourselves after your fatigues before you go forth hence you shall have an answer and they went to him and we go hard with him to let grant depart from him and from his court neither did he think it fair that his cousin should be restrained from going to protect his dominions and his boundaries seeing that his father was unable to do so no less was the grief and regret of Gwen Wyvar and all her women and all her damsels through fear that the maiden would leave them and that day and that night were spent in abundance of feasting and Arthur showed grant the cause of the woman out of Cornwall truly said grant be it to my advantage or disadvantage Lord I will do according to thy will concerning this embassy behold said Arthur though it grieves me to part with thee it is my counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions and to defend thy boundaries and to take with thee to accompany thee as many as thou wilt of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones and among thy friends and among thy companions and arms with thee and this will I do said grant what discourse said Gwen Wyvar do I hear between you is it of those who are to conduct grant to his country it is said Arthur then is it needful for me to consider said she concerning companions and a provision for the lady that is with me that will do well said Arthur and that night they went to sleep and the next day the ambassadors were permitted to depart and they were told that grant should follow them Gwaltj, Mai, the son of Gwar, and Ryo Ghaned the son of the king of Ireland and Andhya, the son of the Duke of Burgundy, Gwilan the son of the ruler of the Franks Hau, the son of Emmer, of Brittany Ilivri, and Nauk, Kerd Gwyn, the son of Tringad Goru, the son of Kastennan Gweir, Gwerd Gur, Hyde, Var Gorana, the son of Golithmer, Peridur, the son of Evdrok, Gwin Logell, Gur, a judge in the court of Arthur, Diver, the son of Elan, of David, Gwe Gwalstad, Haithed Bedwer, the son of Bedrod, Hadri, the son of Gurran, Cai, the son of Keener, Odiar, the Frank, the steward of Arthur's court, and he during the son of Nutt said, I think that I shall have enough of knighthood with me, yes, that Arthur, but it will not be fitting although he is well, until peace shall be made between him and Gwyn Wyvar. Gwyn Wyvar can permit him to go with me if he gives sureties. If she please she can let him go without sureties for enough of pain and affliction has he suffered for the insult which the maiden received from the dwarf. Truly, said Gwyn Wyvar, since it seems well to thee and to Gorain, I will do this gladly, Lord, then she permitted Edern freely to depart, and many of the women of the court with his mother came to receive Enid, the daughter of Enwyl, his wife, and there was great rejoicing and gladness throughout the whole court, and throughout all the country concerning Gorain because of the greatness of their love towards him and of the greatness of the fame which he had with his mother, and with his mother, and with his mother, and with his mother, and with his mother, and with his mother, and with his mother, and with his mother, certainly with this grace, it gives him and of the greatness of the fame which he had gained since he went from amongst them, and because he was come to take possession of his dominions and to preserve his boundaries, and they came to the court, and in the court they had ample entertainment and a multitude of gifts and abundance of liquor, and a sufficiency of service, and a next day, Urbina rose, and summoned to him Geraint, and the noble persons who had borne him company. And he said to Geraint, I am a feeble and an aged man, and whilst I was able to maintain the dominion for thee, and for myself I did so. But thou art young, and in the flower of thy vigor, and of thy youth, henceforth do thou preserve thy possessions. Truly said Geraint, with my consent, thou shalt not give the power over thy dominions at this time into my hands, and thou shalt not take me from Arthur's court into thy hands, will I give them, said Urbina, and this day also shalt that receive the homage of thy subjects. Then said Gwaltz, my, it were better for thee to satisfy those who have boons to ask today, and tomorrow thou canst receive the homage of thy dominions, so all that had boons to ask were summoned into one place. And Cady Rife came to them to know what were their requests, and everyone asked that which he desired, and the followers of Arthur began to make gifts, and immediately the men of Cornwall came and gave also. And they were not long in giving, so eager was everyone to bestow gifts, and of those who came to ask gifts none departed unsatisfied, and that day and that night were spent in the utmost enjoyment. And the next day at dawn, Urbina desired Geraint to send messengers to the men to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that he should come to receive their homage and whether they had anything to object to him. Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of Cornwall to ask them this, and they all said that it would be the fullness of joy and honor to them for Geraint to come and receive their homage. So he received the homage of such as were there, and they remained with him till the third night, and the day after the followers of Arthur intended to go away. It is too soon for you to go away yet, said he, stayed with me until I finished receiving the homage of my chief men who have agreed to come to me, and they remained with him until he had done so. Then they set forth towards the court of Arthur, and Geraint went to bear them company, and he needed also, as far as dig on why there they parted. Then on YAH, the son of the Duke of Burgundy, said to Geraint, go first of all and visit the uttermost parts of thy dominions, and see well to the boundaries of thy territories, and if thou hast any trouble respecting them, send unto thy companions. Heaven reward thee, said Geraint, and this will I do, and Geraint journeyed to the uttermost part of his dominions, and experienced guides, and the chief men of his country went with him, and the furthest point that they showed him he kept possession of. And as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur's court, he frequented tournaments, and he became acquainted with valiant and mighty men, until he had gained as much fame there as he had formerly done elsewhere. And he enriched his court and his companions and his nobles with the best horses and the best arms, and with the best and most valuable jewels, and he ceased not until his fame had flown over the face of the whole kingdom. And when he knew that it was thus, he began to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one who was worth his opposing. And he loved his wife and liked to continue in the palace with menstrual zee and diversions, and for a long time he abode at home. And after that he began to shut himself up in the chamber of his wife, and he took no delight in anything besides in so much that he gave up the friendship of his nobles, together with his hunting and his amusements, and lost the hearts of all the hosts in his court. And there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him among the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing so completely their companionship for the love of his wife. And these tidings came to Urban, and when Urban had heard these things he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it was she that had caused grain to act thus, and to forsake his people and his hosts. Not I, by my confession unto heaven, said she, there's nothing more hateful to me than this, and she knew not what she should do for, although it was hard for her to own this to grain, yet was it not more easy for her to listen to what she heard without warning grain concerning it, and she was very sorrowful. And one morning in the summertime they were upon their couch and grain lay upon the edge of it, and Enid was without sleep in the apartment which had windows of glass, and the sun shone upon the couch, and the clothes had slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he was asleep. Then she gazed upon the marvelous beauty of his appearance, and she said, Alas, and am I the cause that these arms and this breast have lost their glory, and the warlike fame which they once so richly enjoyed, and as she said this the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon his breast, and the tears she shed, and the words she had spoken awoke him. And another thing contributed to awaken him, and that was the idea that it was not in thinking of him that she spoke thus, but that it was because she loved some of the man more than him, and that she wished for other society, and thereupon Garene was troubled in his mind, and he called his squire, and when he came to him, go quick me, said he, and prepare my horse and my arms, and make them ready, and do thou arrive, said he, to Enid, and appare thyself and cause thy horse to be a kutrid, and clothe thee in the worst writing dress that thou hast in thy possession. And evil b'tide me, said he, if thou returnest here until thou knowest whether I have lost my strength so completely as thou dost say, and if it be so, it will then be easy for thee to seek the society thou dost wish for, of him of whom thou wast thinking. So she arose and clothe herself in her meanest garments. I know nothing, Lord, such ye of thy meaning, neither wealth thou know at this time, said he. Then Garene went to see Urban, sir, said he, I am going upon a quest, and I am not certain when I may come back, take heed, therefore, unto thy possessions until my return. I will do so, said he, but it is strange to me that thou shouldst go so suddenly, and who will proceed with thee, since thou art not strong enough to traverse the land of Liga alone, but one person only will go with me, heaven counts of thee my sons at Urban, and may many attach themselves to thee in Liga. Then Garene went to the place where his horse was, and it was equipped with foreign armor, heavy and shiny, and he desired Enid to mount her horse and to ride forward and to keep a long way before him. And whatever thou mayest see, and whatever thou mayest hear concerning me, said he, do thou not turn back? And unless I speak unto thee, say not thou one word either. And they set forward, and he did not choose the pleasantest and most frequented road but that which was the wildest and most beset by thieves and robbers and venomous animals. And they came to a high road which they followed till they saw a vast forest, and they went towards it, and they saw four armed horsemen come forth from the forest. When they had beheld them, one of them said to the other, behold, here is a good occasion for us to capture two horses, and armor, and a lady likewise, for this we shall have no difficulty in doing against yonder single night, who hangs his head so pensively and heavily. And Enid heard this discourse, and she knew not what she should do through fear of Garene who had told her to be silent. The vengeance of heaven be upon me, she said, if I would not rather receive my death from his hand than from the hand of any other, and though he should slay me, yet will I speak to him lest I should have the misery to witness his death. So she waited for Garene until he came near to her. Lord said, she didst thou hear the words of those men concerning thee. Then he lifted up his eyes, and looked at her angrily. Thou hadst only said he to hold thy peace as I bade thee. I wish but for silence, and not for warning. And though thou shouldst desire to see my defeat and my death by the hands of those men, yet do I feel no dread. Then the foremost of them couched his lance and rushed upon Garene, and he received him, and that not feebly, but he let the thrust go by him, while he struck the horsemen upon the center of his shield in such a manner that his shield was split and his armor broken, and so that her cubits length of the shaft of Garene's lance passed through his body, and sent him to the earth the length of the lance over his horse's cropper. Then the second horsemen attacked him furiously, being wroth at the death of his companion, but with one thrust Garene overthrew him also, and killed him as he had done the other. Then the third set upon him, and he killed him in like manner, and thus also he slew the fourth. That and sorrowful was the maiden as she saw all this. Garene dismounted his horse, and took the arms of the men he had slain, and placed them upon their saddles and tied together the reins of their horses, and he mounted his horse again. Behold, what thou must doest he take the four horses, and drive them before thee, and proceed forward as I bade thee just now, and say not one word unto me, unless I speak first unto thee, and I declare unto heaven, said he, if thou doest not thus, it will be to thy cost. I will do as far as I can, Lord, said she, according to thy desire. Then they went forward through the forest, and when they left the forest, they came to a vast plain in the center of which was a group of thickly tangled cops wood. And from out there they beheld three horsemen coming towards them, well equipped with armor, both they and their horses. Then the maiden looked steadfastly upon them, and when they had come near, she heard them say one to another. Behold, here is a good arrival for us. Here are coming for us four horses and four suits of armor. We shall easily obtain them, spite of yonder dolerous night, and the maiden also will fall into our power. This is but true, true, said she to herself, for my husband is tired with his former combat. The vengeance of heaven will be upon me unless I warn him of this. So the maiden waited until Garene came up to her. Lord, said she, dost thou not hear the discourse of yonder men concerning thee? What was it asked thee, they say to one another, that they will easily obtain all this spoil? I declare to heaven he answered that their words are less grievous to me than that thou wilt not be silent and abide by my counsel. My Lord, said she, I feared lest they should surprise thee unawares. Hold thy peace, then, said he, do not I desire silence. And thereupon one of the horsemen couched his lance and attacked Garene, and he made a thrust at him, which he thought would be very effective. But Garene received it carelessly and struck it aside, and then he rushed upon him and aimed at the center of his person. And from the shock of man and horse, the quantity of his armor did not avail him and the head of the lance and part of the shaft passed through him, so that he was carried to the ground and arm and a spear's length over the cupper of his horse. And both the other horsemen came forward in their turn, but their onset was not more successful than that of their companion. And the maidens stood by, looking at all this, and on the one hand she was in trouble, lest Garene should be wounded in his encounter with the men, and on the other hand she was joyful to see him victorious. Then Garene dismounted and bound the three suits of armor upon the three saddles, and he fastened the reins of all the horses together so that he had seven horses with him, and he mounted his own horse and commanded the maiden to drive forward the others. It is no more use for me to speak to thee than to refrain, for that will not attend to my advice. I will do so as far as I am able, Lord, said she, but I cannot conceal from thee the fierce and threatening words which I may hear against thee, Lord, from such strange people as those that haunt this wilderness. I declare to heaven, said he that I desire not, but silence, therefore hold thy peace. I will, Lord, while I can. And the maiden went on with the horses before her, and she pursued her way straight onwards, and from the cops would already mention they journeyed over a vast and very open plain, and at a great distance from them they beheld a wood, and they could see neither end nor boundary to the wood except on that side that was nearest to them, and they went towards it. Then there came from out the wood five horsemen, eager and bold and mighty and strong, mounted upon charges that were powerful, and large of bone and high meddled and proudly snorting, and both men and the horses were well equipped with arms, and when they drew near to them, enid heard them say, behold, here is a fine booty coming to us which we shall obtain easily and without labor, for we shall have no trouble in taking all those horses and arms, and the lady also from yonder single night, so doorful and sad. Soly grieve was the maiden upon hearing this discourse so that she knew not in the world what she should do. At last, however, she determined to warn Garene, so she turned her horse's head towards him. Gord said, she, if thou hast heard, as I did, what yonder horsemen said concerning thee, thy heaviness would be greater than it is. Angrily and bitterly did Garene smile upon her, and he said, thee, do I hear, doing everything that I forbade thee, but it may be that thou wilt repent this yet, and immediately behold, the men met them, and victorious and gallantly did Garene overcome them all five, and he placed the five suits of armor upon the five saddles and tied together the reins of the twelve horses and gave them in charge to Enid. I know not, said he, what good it is for me to order thee, but this time I charge thee in a special manner. So the maiden went forward towards the wood, keeping in advance of Garene as he had desired her, and it grieved him as much as his wrath would permit to see a maiden so illustrious as she, having so much trouble with the care of the horses. Then they reached the wood, and it was both deep and vast, and in the wood night overtook them. Maiden said he, it is vain to attempt proceeding forward, where, Lord, said she, whatsoever thou wishest we will do, it would be best for us he answered to turn out of the wood and to rest and wait for the day in order to pursue our journey. That will we gladly, said she, and they did so, having dismounted himself, he took her down from her horse. I cannot, by any means, refrain from sleep, through weariness, said he, do thou therefore watch the horses and sleep not? I will, Lord, said she, then he went to sleep in his armor, and thus passed the night, which was not long at that season, and when she saw the dawn of day appear, she looked around her to see if he were waking, and thereupon he woke. My Lord, she said, I have desired to await thee for some time, but he spoke nothing to her about fatigue as he had desired her to be silent. Then he arose and said unto her, take the horses and ride on, and keep straight on before thee, as thou didst yesterday. And early in the day they left the wood, and they came to an open country with meadows, on one hand, and mowers mowing the meadows. And there was a river before them, and the horses bent down and drank the water, and they went up out of the river by a lofty steep, and there they met a slender stripling with a satchel about his neck, and they saw that there was something in the satchel, but they knew not what it was. And he had a small blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth of the pitcher, and the youth saluted, grain, heaven prosper thee, said, grain, and whence dost thou come, I come, said he, from the city that lies before thee. My Lord, he added, will it be displeasing to thee if I ask whence thou comest also? By no means through yonder wood did I come, thou cameest not through the wood today. No, he replied, we were in the wood last night. I warrant, said the youth, that thy condition there last night was not the most pleasant, that thou hadst neither meat nor drink. Know by my faith, said he, what thou follow my counsel, said the youth, and take thy meal from me, what sort of meal, he inquired, the breakfast which is sent for yonder mowers, nothing less than bread and meat and wine, and if thou wilt serve, they shall have none of it. I will, said he, and heaven reward thee for it. End of Grant, the Son of Urban, Part 2. Section 3 of the Mabinogen, Volume 2 by Anonymous, translated by Charlotte Guest. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Grant, the Son of Urban. So, Grant alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off her horse, then they washed and took their repast, and the youth cut the bread and slices and gave them drink and served them with all, and when they had finished their youth arose and said to Grant, my Lord, with thy permission, I will now go and fetch some food for the mowers. Go first to the town, said Grant, and take a lodging for me in the best place that thou knowest, and the most commodious one for the horses, and take thou whichever horse and arms, thou choosest in payment for thy service and thy gift. Heaven reward thee, Lord, said the youth, and this would be ample to repay service as much greater than those I rendered unto thee. And to the town went the youth, and he took the best and the most pleasant lodgings that he knew, and after that he went to the palace, having the horse and armor with him, and proceeded to the place where the earl was and told him all his adventure. I go now, Lord, said he to meet the young man and to conduct him to his lodging. Go, gladly, said the earl, and write joyfully, shall he be received here, if he so come. And the youth went to meet Grant and told him that he would be received gladly by the earl in his own palace, but he would go only to his lodgings. And he had a goodly chamber in which was plenty of straw and draperies and a spacious and commodious place he had for the horses, and the youth prepared for them plenty of prowlbender. And after they had disarrayed themselves, Grant spoke thus to Enid, goes, said he, to the other side of the chamber, and come not to this side of the house, and thou mayest call to thee the woman of the house if thou wilt. I will do, Lord, said she, as thou sayest. And thereupon the man of the house came to Grant and welcomed him. O chief, then he said, hast thou taken thy meal? I have, said he, then the youth spoke to him and inquired if he would not drink something before he met the earl. Truly I will, said he, so the youth went into the town and brought them drink, and they drank. I must need sleep, said Grant. Well, said the youth, and whilst thou sleepest, I will go to see the earl. Go gladly, he said, and come here again when I required thee, and Grant went to sleep, and so did Enid also. And the youth came to the place where the earl was, and the earl asked him where the lodgings of the night were, and he told him, I must go, said the youth, to wait on him in the evening. Go, answered the earl, and greet him well from me, and tell him that in the evening I will go to see him. This will I do, said the youth, so he came when it was time for them to awake, and they arose and went forth, and when it was time for them to take their food, they took it, and the youth served them, and Grant inquired of the man of the house, whether there were any of his companions that he wished to invite to him, and he said that there were, bring them hither, and entertain them at my cost, with the best thou canst buy in the town. And the man of the house brought there those whom he chose, and feasted them at Grant's expense. Thereupon, behold, the earl came to visit Grant, and his twelve honorable knights with him. And Grant rose up and welcomed him, heaven preserve thee, said the earl, then they all sat down according to their precedence and honor, and the earl conversed with Grant and inquired of him the object of his journey. I have none, he replied, but to seek adventures, and to follow my own inclination. Then the earl cast his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her steadfastly, and he thought he had never seen a maiden fairer or more comely than she. And he said all his thoughts and his affections upon her. Then he asked of Grant, have I thy permission to go and converse with Yonder maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee. Thou hast gladly said he, so the earl went to the place where the maiden was and spake with her. Ah, maiden said he, it cannot be pleasant to thee to journey thus with Yonder man. It is not unpleasant to me, said she, to journey the same road that he journeys. Thou hast neither youths nor maidens to serve thee, said he. Truly she replied, it is more pleasant for me to follow Yonder man than to be served by youths and maidens. I will give thee good counsel, said he. All my earl then will I place in thy possession if thou wilt dwell with me. That will I not by heaven, she said. Yonder man was the first to whom my faith was ever pledged, and shall I prove in constant to him. Thou art in the wrong, said the earl. If I slay the man Yonder, I can keep thee with me as long as I choose. And when thou no longer pleases me, I can turn thee away. But if thou goest with me thy own goodwill, I protest that our union shall continue eternal and undivided as long as I remain alive. Then she pondered these words of his, and she considered that it was advisable to encourage him in his request. Behold then, chieftain, this is most expedient for thee to do, to save me any needless imputation. Come here tomorrow and take me away as though I knew nothing thereof. I will do so, said he. So he arose and took his leave and went forth with his attendants, and she told not then to garrant any of the conversation which she had had with the earl lest it should rouse his anger and cause him uneasiness and care. And at the usual hour they went to sleep, and at the beginning of the night, Enid slept a little, and at midnight she arose and placed all garrant's armor together so that it might be ready to put on. And although fearful of her errand, she came to the side of garrant's bed and she spoke to him softly and gently, saying, my Lord, arise, and clothe thyself for these were the words of the earl to me and his intention concerning me. So she told garrant all that had passed, and although he was wroth with her, he took warning and clothed himself and she lighted a candle that he might have light to do so. Leave there the candle, said he, and desire the man of the house to come here. Then she went and the man of the house came to him, thus thou know how much I owe thee. Ask garrant, I think thou o'est but little. Take the eleven horses and the eleven suits of armor. Heaven reward thee, Lord, said he, but I spent not the value of one suit of armor upon thee. For that reason, said he, thou wilt be the richer, and thou wilt thou come to guide me out of the town. I will gladly, said he, and in which direction thus thou intend to go. I wish to leave the town by a different way from that by which I entered it. So the man of the lodgings accompanied him as far as he desired. Then he bade the maiden to go on before him, and she did so, and went straight forward, and his host returned home. And he had only just reached his house when behold the greatest tumult, approach that was ever heard. And when he looked out, he saw four score knights in complete armor around the house with the earl dorm at their head. Where is the knight that was here, said the earl? By thy hand, said he, he went hence some time ago. Wherefore, villain, said he, didst thou let him go without informing me? My Lord, thou didst not command me to do so, else would I not have allowed him to depart. What way does thou think that he took? I know not except that he went along the high road, and they turned their horses heads that way, and seeing the tracks of the horses upon the high road, they followed. And when the maiden beheld the dawning of the day, she looked behind her and saw vast clouds of dust coming nearer and nearer to her, and thereupon she became uneasy, and she thought that it was the earl and his host coming after them. And thereupon she beheld a knight appearing through the mist. By my faith, said she, though he should slay me, it were better for me to receive my death at his hands than to see him killed without warning him. My Lord, she said to him, seeest thou yonder man hastening after thee, and many others with him? I do see him, said he, and in despite of all my orders, I see that thou wilt never keep silence. Then he turned upon the knight and with the first thrust he threw him down under his horse's feet, and as long as there remained one of the four score knights, he overthrew every one of them at the first onset. And from the weakest to the strongest, they all attacked him, one after the other, except the earl. And last of all, the earl came against him also, and he broke his lance, and then he broke a second, but Garene turned upon him and struck him with his lance upon the center of his shield so that by that single thrust the shield was split and all his armor broken, and he himself was brought over his horse's quepre to the ground and was in peril of his light. And Garene drew near to him and at the noise of the trampling of his horse, the earl revived. Mercy, Lord, said he to Garene, and Garene granted him mercy, but through the hardness of the ground where they had fallen and the violence of the stroke which they had received, there was not a single night amongst them that escaped without receiving a fall mortally severe and grievously painful and desperately wounding from the hand of Garene. And Garene journeyed along the high road that was before him and the maiden went on first and near them they beheld the valley which was the fairest ever seen in which had a large river running through it and there was a bridge over the river and the high road led to the bridge and above the bridge upon the opposite side of the river they beheld the fortified town, the fairest ever seen. And as they approached the bridge, Garene saw coming towards him from a thick cops, a man mounted upon a large and lofty steed even of pace and spirited though tractable. Ah, Knight, said Garene, whence come us thou? I come, said he from the valley below us, canst thou tell me, said Garene, who is the owner of this fair valley and yonder walled town? I will tell thee willingly, said he, Gwiford Pettit, he is called by the Franks, but the Welsh called him the little king. Can I go by yonder bridge, said Garene, and by the lower highway that is beneath the town? Said the Knight, thou canst not go by his tower on the other side of the bridge unless thou dost intend to combat him because it is his custom to encounter every knight that comes upon his lands. I declare to heaven, said Garene, that I will nevertheless pursue my journey that way. If thou dost so, said the Knight, thou wilt probably meet with shame and disgrace and reward for thy daring. Then Garene proceeded along the road that led to the town and the road brought him to a ground that was hard and rugged and high and ridgy. And as he journeyed thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a war horse, strong and large and proudly stepping and wide hoofed and broad-chested. And he never saw a man of smaller stature than he who was upon the horse. And both he and his horse were completely armed. When he had overtaken Garene, he said to him, tell me, Chieftain, whether it is through ignorance or through presumption, that thou seekest to insult my dignity and to infringe my rules. Garene answered, Garene, I knew not that this road was forbidden to any. Thou didst know it, said the other, come with me to my court to do me satisfaction. That will I not, by my faith, said Garene, I would not go even to thy Lord's court, accepting Arthur were thy Lord. By the hand of Arthur himself, said the Knight, I will have satisfaction of thee or receive my overthrow at thy hands. And immediately they charged one another and a squire of his came to serve him with lances as he broke them. And they gave each other such hard and severe strokes that their shields lost all their color. But it was very difficult for Garene to fight with him on account of his small size, for he was hardly able to get a full aim at him with all the efforts he could make. And they fought thus until their horses were brought down upon their knees and at length Garene threw the knight headlong to the ground and then they fought on foot and they gave one another blows so boldly fierce, so frequent and so severely powerful that their helmets were pierced and their skull caps were broken and their arms were shattered and the light of their eyes was darkened by sweat and blood. At the last Garene became enraged and he called to him all his strength and boldly angry and swiftly resolute and furiously determined. He lifted up his sword and struck him on the crown of his head, a blow so mortally painful, so violent, so fierce and so penetrating that it cut through all his head armor and his skin and his flesh until it wounded the very bone and the sword flew out of the hand of the little king to the furthest end of the plane and he besought Garene that he would have mercy and compassion upon him. Though thou hast been neither courteous nor just, said Garene, thou shalt have mercy upon condition that thou wilt become my ally and engage never to fight against me again but to come to my assistance whenever thou hearest of my being in trouble. This will I do gladly, Lord said he, so he pledged him his faith thereof and now Lord come with me, said he to my court yonder to recover from thy weariness and fatigue. That will I not by heaven, said he. Then Gwifred Pettit beheld Enid where she stood and it grieved him to see one of her noble means appear so deeply afflicted and he said to Garene, my Lord thou doest wrong not to take repose and refresh thyself a while for if thou meetest with any difficulty in thy present condition it will not be easy for thee to surmount it but Garene would do no other than proceed on his journey and he mounted his horse in pain and all covered with blood and the maiden went on first and they proceeded towards the wood which they saw before them. And the heat of the sun was very great and through the blood and sweat Garene's armor cleaved to his flesh and when they came into the wood he stood under a tree to avoid the sun's heat and his wounds painted more than they had done at the time when he received them and the maiden stood under another tree and lo, they heard the sound of horns and a tumultuous noise and the occasion of it was that Arthur and his company had come down to the wood and while Garene was considering which way he should go to avoid them behold he was despised by a foot page who was an attendant on the steward of the household and he went to the steward and told him what kind of man he had seen in the wood then the steward caused his horse to be settled and he took his lance and his shield and went to the place where Garene was a night said he what does thou hear I am standing under a shady tree to avoid the heat and the rays of the sun wherefore is thy journey and who art thou I seek adventures and go where I list indeed said Kai then come with me to see Arthur who is here hard by that will I not by heaven said Garene thou must needs come said Kai then Garene knew who he was but Kai did not know Garene and Kai attacked Garene as best as he could and Garene became wrought and he struck him with the shaft of his lance so that he rolled headlong to the ground but Chas Tisement worse than this would he not inflict on him scared and wildly Kai arose and he mounted his horse and went back to his lodging and then he proceeded to gouache my tent oh sir said he to gouache my I was told by one of the attendants that he saw in the wood above a wounded knight having embattled armor and if thou dost write thou wilt go and see if this be true I care not if I do so said gouache my take then thy horse and some of thy armor said Kai for I hear that he is not over courteous to those who approach him so gouache my took his spear and his shield and mounted his horse and came to the spot where Garene was sir knight said he wherefore is thy journey I journey for my own pleasure and to seek the adventures of the world wilt thou tell me who thou art or wilt thou come and visit Arthur who was near at hand I will make no alliance with thee nor will I go and visit Arthur said he and he knew that it was gouache my but gouache my knew him not I proposed not to lead thee said gouache my till I know who thou art and he charged him with his lance and struck him on his shield so that the shaft was shivered into splinters and their horses were front to front then gouache my gaze fixedly upon him and he knew him ah Garene said he is it thou that art here I am not Garene said he Garene thou art by heaven he replied and a wretched and insane expedition is this then he looked around and beheld Enid and he welcomed her gladly Garene said gouache my come thou and see Arthur he is thy lord and thy cousin I will not set he for I am not in a fit state to go and see anyone thereupon behold one of the pages came after gouache my to speak to him so he sent him to a prize Arthur that Garene was there wounded and that he would not go to visit him and that it was pityable to see the plight that he was in and this he did without Garene's knowledge in as much as he spoke in a whisper to the page entreat Arthur said he to have his tent brought near to the road for he will not meet him willingly and it is not easy to compel him in the mood he is in so the page came to Arthur and told him this then he caused his tent to be removed unto the side of the road and the maiden rejoiced in her heart and gouache my let Garene onwards along the road till they came to the place where Arthur was encamped and the pages were pitching his tent by the roadside Lord said Garene all hail unto thee heaven prosper thee and who art thou said Arthur it is Garene said gouache my and of his own free will would he not come to meet thee verily said Arthur he is bereft of his reason then came Enid and saluted Arthur heaven protect thee said he and thereupon he caused one of the pages to take her from her horse alas Enid said Arthur what expedition is this I know not Lord said she say that it behooves me to journey by the same road that he journeys my Lord said Garene with thy permission we will depart wither wilt thou go said Arthur thou canst not proceed now unless it be unto thy death he will not suffer himself to be invited by me said gouache my but by me he will said Arthur and moreover he does not go from here until he is healed I'd rather Lord said Garene that thou wouldest let me go forth that will I not I declare to heaven said he then he caused a maiden to be sent forward to conduct Enid to the tent where Gwen Wyvar's chamber was and Gwen Wyvar and all her women were joyful at her coming and they took off her riding dress and placed other garments upon her Arthur also called Katie Rife and ordered him to pitch a tent for Garene and the physicians and he enjoined him to provide him with abundance of all that might be requisite for him and Katie Rife did as he had commanded him and Morgan Tudd and his disciples were brought to Garene and Arthur and his host remained there nearly a month whilst Garene was being healed and when he was fully recovered Garene came to Arthur and asked his permission to depart I know not if thou art quite well in truth I am Lord said Garene I shall not believe thee concerning that but the physicians that were with thee so Arthur caused the physicians to be summoned to him and asked them if it were true it is true Lord said Morgan Tudd so the next day Arthur permitted him to go forth and he pursued his journey and on the same day Arthur removed Vence and Garene desired Enid to go on and to keep before him as she had formally done and she went forward along the high road and as they journeyed thus they heard an exceeding loud wailing near to them stay thou here said he and I will go and see what is the cause of this wailing I will said she then he went forward into an open glade that was near the road and in the glade he saw two horses one having a man's saddle and the other a woman's saddle upon it and behold there was a nightline dead in his armor and a young damsel in a riding dress standing over him lamenting our lady said Garene what hath befallen thee behold she answered I journeyed here with my beloved husband when lo three giants came upon us and without any cause in the world they slew him which way went they hence said Garene yonder by the high road she replied so he returned to Enid go said he to the lady that is below yonder and await me there till I come she was sad when he ordered her to do thus but nevertheless she went to the damsel whom it was Ruth to hear and she felt certain that Garene would never return meanwhile Garene followed the giants and overtook them and each of them was greater of stature than three other men and a huge club was on the shoulder of each then he rushed upon one of them and thrust his lance through his body and having drawn it forth again he pierced another of them through likewise but the third turned upon him and struck him with his club so that he split his shield and crushed his shoulder then opened his wounds anew and all his blood began to flow from him but Garene drew his sword and attacked the giant and gave him a blow on the crown of his head so severe in fierce and violent that his head and his neck were split down to his shoulders and he fell dead so Garene left him thus and returned to Enid and when he saw her he fell down lifeless from his horse piercing and loud and thrilling was the cry that Enid uttered and she came and stood over him where he had fallen and at the sound of her cries came the Earl of Lamoors and the host that journeyed with him whom her lamentations brought out of their road and the Earl said to Enid alas lady what hath befallen thee ah good sir said she the only man I have loved or ever shall love is slain then he said to the other and what is the cause of thy grief they have slain my beloved husband also said she and who was it that slew them some giants she answered slew my best beloved and the other night went in pursuit of them and came back in the state thou seest his blood flowing excessively but it appears to me that he did not leave the giants without killing some of them if not all the Earl calls the night that was dead to be buried but he thought that there still remains some life in Garene and to see if he yet would live he had him carried with him in the hollow of his shield and upon a beer and the two damsels went to the court and when they arrived there Garene was placed upon a litter couch in front of the table that was in the hall then they all took off their traveling gear and the Earl besought Enoch to do the same and to clothe herself in other garments I will not by heaven said she I'll lady said he be not so sorrowful for this matter it were hard to persuade me to be otherwise said she I will act towards thee in such wise that thou needest not be sorrowful whether yonder night live or die behold a good earldom together with myself will I bestow on thee be therefore happy and joyful I declare to heaven said she that henceforth I shall never be joyful while I live come then said he and eat no by heaven I will not she answered but by heaven thou shalt set he so he took her with him to the table against her will and many times desired her to eat I call heaven to witness said she that I will not eat until the man that is upon yonder beer shall eat likewise thou canst not fulfill that said the Earl yonder man is dead already I will prove that I can said she then he offered her a goblet of liquor drink this goblet he said and it will cause thee to change thy mind evil b'tide me she answered if I drink ought until he drink also truly said the Earl it is of no more avail for me to be gentle with thee than ungentle and he gave her a box in the ear thereupon she raised a loud and piercing shriek and her lamentations were much greater than they had been before for she considered in her mind that had grant been alive he does not have struck her thus but behold at the sound of her cry grant revived from his swoon and he sat up on the beer and finding his sword in the hollow of his shield he rushed to the place where the Earl was and struck him of fiercely wounding severely venomous and sternly smiting blow upon the crown of his head so that he clothe him in twain until his sword was stayed by the table he had all left the board and fled away and this was not so much through fear of the living as through the dread they felt that seeing the dead man rise up to slay them and grant looked upon Enid and he was grieved for two causes one was to see that Enid had lost her color and her wanted aspect and the other to know that she was in the right lady said he knowest thou where our horses are I know Lord where thy horses she replied but I know not where is the other thy horse is in the house yonder so he went to the house and brought forth his horse and mounted him and took up Enid from the ground and placed upon the horse with him and he rode forward and their road lay between two hedges and the night was gaining on the day and lo they saw behind them the shafts and spears twix them in the sky and they heard the trampling forces and the noise of a host approaching I hear something following us said he and I will put thee on the other side of the hedge and thus he did and thereupon behold a night tricked towards him and couched his lance when he did all this she cried out saying oh chieftain whoever thou art what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a dead man oh heaven said he is it garrant yes in truth said she and who art thou I am the little king he answered coming to thy assistance for I heard that thou wast in trouble and if thou hadst followed my advice none of these hardships would have befallen thee nothing can happen said garrant without the will of heaven though much good results from counsel yes said the little king and I know good counsel for thee now come with me to the court of a son-in-law of my sister which is near here and thou shalt have the best medical assistance in the kingdom I will do so gladly and Enid was placed upon the horse of one of the little king's squires and they went forward to the baron's palace and they were received there with gladness and they met with hospitality and attention and the next morning they went to seek positions and it was not long before they came and they attended garrant until he was perfectly well and while garrant was under medical care the little king caused his armor to be repaired until it was as good as it had ever been and they remained there a fortnight and a month then the little king said to garrant now will we go towards my own court to take rest and amuse ourselves not so sick garrant we will first journey for one day more and return again with all my hearts of the little king do thou go then and early in the day they set forth and more gladly and more joyfully did Enid journey with them that day then she had ever done and they came to the main road and when they reached a place where the road divided in two they beheld a man on foot coming towards them along one of these roads and Gryfford asked the man whence he came I come said he from an errand in the country tell me said garrant which is the best for me to follow of these two roads that is the best for thee to follow answered he for if thou go astide this one thou wilt never return below us said he there is a hedge of mist and within it are enchanted games and no one who has gone there has ever returned and the court of the Earl O. Wayne is there and he permits no one to go to lodge in the town except he will go to his court I declare to heaven said garrant that we will take the lower road and they went along it until they came to the town and they took the fairest and pleasantest place in the town for their lodging and while they were thus behold a young man came to them and greeted them heaven be propitious to thee said they good sir said he what preparations are you making here we are taking up our lodging said they to pass the night it is not the custom with him who owns the town he answered to permit any of gentle birth unless they come to stay in his court to abide here therefore come you to the court we will come gladly said garrant and they went with the page and they were joyfully received and the Earl came to the hall to meet them and he commanded the tables to be laid and they watched and sat down and this is the order in which they sat garrant on one side of the Earl and enid on the other side and next enid the little king and then the countess next to garrant and all after that has became their rank then garrant recollected the games and thought that he should not go to them and on that account he did not eat then the Earl looked upon garrant and considered and he thought him that his not eating was because of the games and it grieved him that he had ever established those games were it only on account of losing such a youth as garrant and if garrant had asked him to abolish the games he would gladly have done so then the Earl said to garrant what thought occupies thy mind that thou dost not eat if thou hesitatest about going to the games thou shalt not go and no other of thy rank shall ever go either heaven reward thee said garrant but I wish nothing better than to go to the games and to be shown the way thither if that is what thou dost prefer thou shalt obtain it willingly I do prefer it indeed said he then they ate and they were amply served and they had a variety of gifts and abundance of liquor and when they had finished eating they arose and garrant called for his horse and his armor and he accoutred both himself and his horse and all the hosts went forth until they came to the side of the hedge and the hedge was so lofty that it reached as high as they could see in the air and upon every stake in the hedge except two there was a the head of a man and the number of stakes throughout the hedge was very great then said the little king may no one go in with the chieftain no one may set a wane which way can I enter inquire garrant I know not set a wane but enter by the way that thou wilt and that seemeth easiest to thee then fearlessly and unhesitatingly garrant dash forward into the mist and on leaving the mist he came to a large orchard and in the orchard he saw an open space wherein was a tent of red satin and the door of the tent was open and an apple tree stood in front of the door of the tent and on a branch of the apple tree hung a huge hunting horn then he dismounted and went into the tent and there was no one in the tent save one maiden sitting in a golden chair and another chair was opposite to her empty and garrant went to the empty chair and sat down there in ah chieftain said the maiden I would not counsel thee to sit in that chair wherefore said garrant the man to whom that chair belongs has never suffered another to sit in it I care not said garrant though it displeases him that I sit in the chair and thereupon they heard a mighty tumult around the tent and garrant looked to see what was the cause of the tumult and he beheld without a knight mounted upon a warhorse proudly snorting high meddled and large of bone and a robe of honor in two parts was upon him and upon his horse and beneath it was plenty of armor tell me chieftain said he to garrant who it was that bad thee sit there myself answered he it was wrong of thee to do meet this shame and disgrace arise and do me satisfaction for thine insolence then garrant arose and they encountered immediately and they broke a set of lances and a second set and a third and they gave each other fears and frequent strokes and at last garrant became enraged and he urged on his horse and rushed upon him and gave him a thrust on the center of his shield so that it was split and so that the head of his lance went through his armor and his girth were broken and he himself was born headlong to the ground the length of garrant's lance and arm over his horse's cropper oh my lord said he thy mercy and thou shalt have what thou wilt I only desire so garrant that this game shall no longer exist here nor the hedge of mist nor magic nor enchantment thou shalt have this gladly lord he replied cause then the mist to disappear from this place said garrant sound yonder horn said he and when thou soundest it the mist will vanish but it will not go hence unless the horn be blown by the night by whom I am vanquished and sad and sorrowful was enid where she remained through anxiety concerning garrant then garrant went and sounded the horn and at the first blast he gave the mist vanished and all the hosts came together and they all became reconciled to each other and the Earl invited garrant and the little king to stay with him that night and the next morning they separated and garrant went towards his own dominions and thenceforth he reigned prospecie and his warlike fame and splendor lasted with renown and honor both to him and to enid from that time forward End of Section 3