Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
"Drink this goblet," he said, "and it will cause thee
to change thy mind." "Evil betide me," she answered, "if I drink aught
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 Geraint been alive, he durst not have
struck her thus. But, behold, at the sound of her cry Geraint revived
from his swoon, and he sat up on the bier, and finding his sword in the
hollow of his shield, he rushed to the place where the Earl was, and
struck him a fiercely-wounding, severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting
blow upon the crown of his head, so that he clove him in twain, until his
sword was stayed by the table. Then all left the board and fled away.
And this was not so much through fear of the living as through the dread
they felt at seeing the dead man rise up to slay them. And Geraint
looked upon Enid, and he was grieved for two causes; one was, to see that
Enid had lost her colour and her wonted 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 horse is," 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 her 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 of spears
betwixt them and the sky, and they heard the trampling of horses, 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 knight pricked towards him, and couched his
lance. When Enid saw 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 Geraint?" "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 Geraint, "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," said
Geraint. 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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