Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the balsam upon
Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a little way
off, and hid herself to watch him. In a short time she saw him begin to
move his arms; and he rose up, and looked at his person, and became
ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance. Then he perceived the
horse and the garments that were near him. And he crept forward till he
was able to draw the garments to him from off the saddle. And he clothed
himself, and with difficulty mounted the horse. Then the damsel
discovered herself to him, and saluted him. And he was rejoiced when he
saw her, and inquired of her, what land and what territory that was.
“Truly,” said the maiden, “a widowed Countess owns yonder Castle; at the
death of her husband, he left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has
but this one dwelling that has not been wrested from her by a young Earl,
who is her neighbour, because she refused to become his wife.” “That is
pity,” said Owain. And he and the maiden proceeded to the Castle; and he
alighted there, and the maiden conducted him to a pleasant chamber, and
kindled a fire and left him.
And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into her hand.
“Ha! maiden,” said the Countess, “where is all the balsam?” “Have I not
used it all?” said she. “Oh, maiden,” said the Countess, “I cannot
easily forgive thee this; it is sad for me to have wasted seven-score
pounds’ worth of precious ointment upon a stranger whom I know not.
However, maiden, wait thou upon him, until he is quite recovered.”
And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink, and fire,
and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well again. And in three
months he was restored to his former guise, and became even more comely
than he had ever been before.
One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the Castle,
and he inquired of the maiden the cause thereof. “The Earl,” said she,
“whom I mentioned to thee, has come before the Castle, with a numerous
army, to subdue the Countess.” And Owain inquired of her whether the
Countess had a horse and arms in her possession. “She has the best in
the world,” said the maiden. “Wilt thou go and request the loan of a
horse and arms for me,” said Owain, “that I may go and look at this
army?” “I will,” said the maiden.
And she came to the Countess, and told her what Owain had said. And the
Countess laughed. “Truly,” said she, “I will even give him a horse and
arms for ever; such a horse and such arms had he never yet, and I am glad
that they should be taken by him to-day, lest my enemies should have them
against my will to-morrow. Yet I know not what he would do with them.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account