Myths & Legends of the Celtic RaceRolleston, T. W. (Thomas William)
Religion
Myths & Legends of the Celtic Race
Rolleston, T. W. (Thomas William)
Celts -- Religion; Mythology, Celtic
Owain was, of course, fired by the tale of Kymon, and next morning at the
dawn of day he rode forth to seek for the same adventure. All passed as it
had done in Kymon’s case, but Owain wounded the Black Knight so sorely
that he turned his horse and fled, Owain pursuing him hotly. They came to
a “vast and resplendent castle.” Across the drawbridge they rode, the
outer portcullis of which fell as the Black Knight passed it. But so close
at his heels was Owain that the portcullis fell behind him, cutting his
horse in two behind the saddle, and he himself remained imprisoned between
the outer gate of the drawbridge and the inner. While he was in this
predicament a maiden came to him and gave him a ring. When he wore it with
the stone reversed and clenched in his hand he would become invisible, and
when the servants of the lord of the castle came for him he was to elude
them and follow her.
This she did knowing apparently who he was, “for as a friend thou art the
most sincere, and as a lover the most devoted.”
Owain did as he was bidden, and the maiden concealed him. In that night a
great lamentation was heard in the castle—its lord had died of the wound
which Owain had given him. Soon afterwards Owain got sight of the mistress
of the castle, and love of her took entire possession of him. Luned, the
maiden who had rescued him, wooed her for him, and he became her husband,
and lord of the Castle of the Fountain and all the dominions of the Black
Knight. And he then defended the fountain with lance and sword as his
forerunner had done, and made his defeated antagonists ransom themselves
for great sums, which he bestowed among his barons and knights. Thus he
abode for three years.
*The Search for Owain*
After this time Arthur, with his nephew Gwalchmai and with Kymon for
guide, rode forth at the head of a host to search for tidings of Owain.
They came to the fountain, and here they met Owain, neither knowing the
other as their helms were down. And first Kai was overthrown, and then
Gwalchmai and Owain fought, and after a while Gwalchmai was unhelmed.
Owain said, “My lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee; take my sword and my
arms.” Said Gwalchmai, “Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword.”
Arthur ended the contention in courtesy by taking the swords of both, and
then they all rode to the Castle of the Fountain, where Owain entertained
them with great joy. And he went back with Arthur to Caerleon, promising
to his countess that he would remain there but three months and then
return.
*Owain Forgets his Lady*
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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