Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Tales -- Wales; Welsh literature -- 1100-1400 -- Translations into English
occupies thy mind, that thou dost not eat? If thou hesitatest about
going to the games, thou shall not go, and no other of thy rank shall
ever go either." "Heaven reward thee," said Geraint, "but I wish nothing
better than to go to the games, and to be shown the way thither." "If
that is what thou dost prefer, thou shalt obtain it willingly." "I do
prefer it, indeed," said he. Then they ate, and they were amply served,
and they had a variety of gifts, and abundance of liquor. And when they
had finished eating, they arose. And Geraint called for his horse and
his armour, and he accoutred both himself and his horse. And all the
hosts went forth until they came to the side of the hedge, and the hedge
was so lofty, that it reached as high as they could see in the air, and
upon every stake in the hedge, except two, there was the head of a man,
and the number of stakes throughout the hedge was very great. Then said
the Little King, "May no one go in with the chieftain?" "No one may,"
said Earl Owain. "Which way can I enter?" enquired Geraint. "I know
not," said Owain, "but enter by the way that thou wilt, and that seemeth
easiest to thee."
Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into the mist.
And on leaving the mist he came to a large orchard, and in the orchard he
saw an open space, wherein was a tent of red satin, and the door of the
tent was open, and an apple-tree stood in front of the door of the tent,
and on a branch of the apple-tree hung a huge hunting horn. Then he
dismounted, and went into the tent, and there was no one in the tent save
one maiden sitting in a golden chair, and another chair was opposite to
her, empty. And Geraint went to the empty chair, and sat down therein.
"Ah! chieftain," said the maiden, "I would not counsel thee to sit in
that chair." "Wherefore?" said Geraint. "The man to whom that chair
belongs has never suffered another to sit in it." "I care not," said
Geraint, "though it displease him that I sit in the chair." And
thereupon they heard a mighty tumult around the tent. And Geraint looked
to see what was the cause of the tumult. And he beheld without a knight
mounted upon a war-horse, proudly-snorting, high-mettled, and large of
bone, and a robe of honour in two parts was upon him and upon his horse,
and beneath it was plenty of armour. "Tell me, chieftain," said he to
Geraint, "who it was that bade thee sit there?" "Myself," answered he.
"It was wrong of thee to do me this shame and disgrace. Arise, and do me
satisfaction for thine insolence." Then Geraint arose, and they
encountered immediately, and they broke a set of lances; and a second
set; and a third; and they gave each other fierce and frequent strokes;
and at last Geraint became enraged, and he urged on his horse, and rushed
upon him, and gave him a thrust on the centre of his shield, so that it
was split, and so that the head of his lance went through his armour, and
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