Folklore -- Ireland -- Juvenile literature; Folklore -- Wales -- Juvenile literature
Then the Countess looked again on Owain, and when she saw he was a
very goodly knight, and courageous withal, she began to return his
affection for her; and soon afterwards they were married. So Owain
defended the fountain with lance and sword; and whenever a knight
came there, he overthrew him, and ransomed him for his full worth,
and what he then obtained he divided among his barons and his
knights, so that he became very much beloved. And so three years
passed away.
III. The further Adventures of Owain
When three long years had gone by, King Arthur began to get very sad
because he heard nothing of his good knight Owain. And when the
others saw his sadness they suggested that he and the men of his
household should go and seek Owain. So they set off; and Kynon was
their guide. They spent the night at the castle of the Man in
Yellow, and he and his twenty-four damsels waited upon them with the
utmost hospitality. In the morning they set off for the wood, and,
passing the black man, they came to the fountain. Then Sir Kai
begged that he might throw the water on the slab and receive the
adventure that first befell. All happened as before, save that
several of the attendants were killed by the hail-storm; and as they
stood listening to the song of the birds, a knight clad in black
satin, riding on a coal-black horse, spurred up to Sir Kai, and in a
few minutes Sir Kai was overthrown.
Then the knight rode off, and the host of Arthur encamped as darkness
drew on.
The next day Sir Kai met the Black Knight again, and this time was
wounded very sorely. Then each of the knights in turn fought, and
all were overthrown save one, and he was called Gwalchmai. The fight
between him and the Black Knight was very fierce, but at length a
heavy blow broke the helmet of Gwalchmai, and showed his face. And,
behold, the Black Knight threw down his sword, and embraced him,
saying: "Little did I know that you were my cousin Gwalchmai." Then
did Gwalchmai know the voice of Owain, and embraced him, and brought
him to Arthur, and everyone was glad to see the long-lost knight
again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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