Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
and took his leave, and went forth with his attendants. And she told not
then to Geraint 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
Geraint’s armour together, so that it might be ready to put on. And
although fearful of her errand, she came to the side of Geraint’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 Geraint 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. “Dost thou
know how much I owe thee?” asked Geraint. “I think thou owest but
little.” “Take the eleven horses and the eleven suits of armour.”
“Heaven reward thee, lord,” said he, “but I spent not the value of one
suit of armour upon thee.” “For that reason,” said he, “thou wilt be the
richer. And now, wilt thou come to guide me out of the town?” “I will,
gladly,” said he, “and in which direction dost 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 approached that was
ever heard. And when he looked out, he saw fourscore knights in complete
armour around the house, with the Earl Dwnn 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 dost 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, “seest thou yonder man hastening after thee, and
many others with him?” “I do see him,” said he; “and in despite of all
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