Book: The Mabinogion Vol. 1 (of 3)

O >> Owen M. Edwards >> The Mabinogion Vol. 1 (of 3)




And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of the
chamber, and looked towards the Castle; and he could see neither the
bounds, nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets. And they
were fully armed; and a vast number of women were with them, both on
horseback, and on foot; and all the ecclesiastics in the city, singing.
And it seemed to Owain that the sky resounded with the vehemence of their
cries, and with the noise of the trumpets, and with the singing of the
ecclesiastics. {29a} In the midst of the throng, he beheld the bier,
over which was a veil of white linen; and wax tapers were burning beside,
and around it, and none that supported the bier was lower in rank than a
powerful {29b} Baron.

Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with satin, and silk, and
sendall. And following the train, he beheld a lady with yellow hair
falling over her shoulders, and stained with blood; and about her a dress
of yellow satin, which was torn. Upon her feet were shoes of variegated
leather. And it was a marvel that the ends of her fingers were not
bruised, from the violence with which she smote her hands together. Truly
she would have been the fairest lady Owain ever saw, had she been in her
usual guise. And her cry was louder than the shout of the men, or the
clamour of the trumpets. {30} No sooner had he beheld the lady, than he
became inflamed with her love, so that it took entire possession of him.

Then he enquired of the maiden who the lady was. "Heaven knows," replied
the maiden, "she may be said to be the fairest, and the most chaste, and
the most liberal, and the wisest, and the most noble of women. And she
is my mistress; and she is called the Countess of the Fountain, the wife
of him whom thou didst slay yesterday." "Verily," said Owain, "she is
the woman that I love best." "Verily," said the maiden, "she shall also
love thee not a little."

And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a pot with
water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of white linen, and
placed it around Owain's neck; and she took a goblet of ivory, and a
silver basin, and filled them with warm water, wherewith she washed
Owain's head. Then she opened a wooden casket, and drew forth a razor,
whose haft was of ivory, and upon which were two rivets of gold. And she
shaved his beard, and she dried his head, and his throat, with the towel.
Then she rose up from before Owain, and brought him to eat. And truly
Owain had never so good a meal, nor was he ever so well served.

When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his couch. "Come
here," said she, "and sleep, and I will go and woo for thee." And Owain
went to sleep, and the maiden shut the door of the chamber after her, and
went towards the Castle. When she came there, she found nothing but
mourning, and sorrow; and the Countess in her chamber could not bear the
sight of any one through grief. Luned came and saluted her, but the
Countess answered her not. And the maiden bent down towards her, and
said, "What aileth thee, that thou answerest no one to-day?" "Luned,"
said the Countess, "what change hath befallen thee, that thou hast not
come to visit me in my grief? It was wrong in thee, and I having made
thee rich; it was wrong in thee that thou didst not come to see me in my
distress. That was wrong in thee." "Truly," said Luned, "I thought thy
good sense was greater than I find it to be. Is it well for thee to
mourn after that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst not
have?" "I declare to heaven," said the Countess, "that in the whole
world there is not a man equal to him." "Not so," said Luned, "for an
ugly man would be as good as, or better than he." {31} "I declare to
heaven," said the Countess, "that were it not repugnant to me to cause to
be put to death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee executed,
for making such a comparison to me. As it is, I will banish thee." "I
am glad," said Luned, "that thou hast no other cause to do so, than that
I would have been of service to thee when thou didst not know what was to
thine advantage. And henceforth evil betide whichever of us shall make
the first advance towards reconciliation to the other; whether I should
seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine own accord shouldest seek
to invite me."

With that Luned went forth; and the Countess arose and followed her to
the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly. And when Luned
looked back, the Countess beckoned to her; and she returned to the
Countess. "In truth," said the Countess, "evil is thy disposition; but
if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it to me." "I will do
so," quoth she.

"Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible for thee
to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to seek some one who
can defend them." "And how can I do that?" said the Countess. "I will
tell thee," said Luned, "unless thou canst defend the fountain, thou
canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can defend the fountain,
except it be a knight of Arthur's household; and I will go to Arthur's
court, and ill betide me, if I return thence without a warrior who can
guard the fountain, as well as, or even better than, he who defended it
formerly." "That will be hard to perform," said the Countess. "Go,
however, and make proof of that which thou hast promised."

Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur's court; but she
went back to the chamber where she had left Owain; and she tarried there
with him as long as it might have taken her to have travelled to the
Court of King Arthur. And at the end of that time, she apparelled
herself, and went to visit the Countess. And the Countess was much
rejoiced when she saw her, and enquired what news she brought from the
Court. "I bring thee the best of news," said Luned, "for I have
compassed the object of my mission. When wilt thou, that I should
present to thee the chieftain who has come with me hither?" "Bring him
here to visit me to-morrow, at mid-day," said the Countess, "and I will
cause the town to be assembled by that time."

And Luned returned home. And the next day, at noon, Owain arrayed
himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon
which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were high shoes of
variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps, in the form of
lions. And they proceeded to the chamber of the Countess.

Right glad was the Countess of their coming. And she gazed steadfastly
upon Owain, and said, "Luned, this knight has not the look of a
traveller." "What harm is there in that, Lady?" said Luned. "I am
certain," said the Countess, "that no other man than this, chased the
soul from the body of my lord." "So much the better for thee, Lady,"
said Luned, "for had he not been stronger than thy lord, he could not
have deprived him of life. There is no remedy for that which is past, be
it as it may." "Go back to thine abode," said the Countess, "and I will
take counsel."

The next day, the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, and
shewed them that her Earldom was left defenceless, and that it could not
be protected but with horse and arms, and military skill. "Therefore,"
said she, "this is what I offer for your choice: either let one of you
take me, or give your consent for me to take a husband from elsewhere, to
defend my dominions."

So they came to the determination, that it was better that she should
have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and thereupon she sent
for the Bishops and Archbishops, to celebrate her nuptials with Owain.
And the men of the Earldom did Owain homage.

And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword. And this is the
manner in which he defended it. Whensoever a knight came there, he
overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth. And what he thus gained,
he divided among his Barons, and his Knights; and no man in the whole
world could be more beloved than he was by his subjects. And it was thus
for the space of three years.

It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King Arthur, he
perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And Gwalchmai was much
grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he questioned him, saying, "Oh
my Lord! what has befallen thee?" "In sooth, Gwalchmai," said Arthur, "I
am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three years; and I
shall certainly die, if the fourth year passes without my seeing him. Now
I am sure, that it is through the tale which Kynon the son of Clydno
related, that I have lost Owain." "There is no need for thee," said
Gwalchmai, "to summon to arms thy whole dominions, on that account; for
thou thyself, and the men of thy household, will be able to avenge Owain,
if he be slain; or to set him free, if he be in prison; and if alive, to
bring him back with thee." And it was settled, according to what
Gwalchmai had said.

Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek Owain;
and their number was three thousand, beside their attendants. And Kynon
the son of Clydno acted as their guide. And Arthur came to the Castle,
where Kynon had been before. And when he came there the youths were
shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was standing hard by. When
the yellow man saw Arthur, he greeted him, and invited him to the Castle.
And Arthur accepted his invitation, and they entered the Castle together.
And great as was the number of his retinue, their presence was scarcely
observed in the Castle, so vast was its extent. And the maidens rose up
to wait on them. And the service of the maidens appeared to them all to
excel any attendance they had ever met with; and even the pages who had
charge of the horses, were no worse served, that night, than Arthur
himself would have been, in his own Palace.

The next morning, Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and
came to the place where the black man was. And the stature of the black
man was more surprising to Arthur, than it had been represented to him.
And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed the valley,
till they reached the green tree; where they saw the fountain, and the
bowl and the slab. And upon that, Kai came to Arthur, and spoke to him.
"My Lord," said he, "I know the meaning of all this, and my request is,
that thou wilt permit me to throw the water on the slab, and to receive
the first advantage that may befall." And Arthur gave him leave.

Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately there
came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower. And such a
thunderstorm they had never known before. And many of the attendants who
were in Arthur's train were killed by the shower. After the shower had
ceased, the sky became clear. And on looking at the tree, they beheld it
completely leafless. Then the birds descended upon the tree. And the
song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain they had ever heard
before. Then they beheld a Knight, on a coal-black horse, clothed in
black satin, coming rapidly towards them. And Kai met him and
encountered him, and it was not long before Kai was overthrown. And the
Knight withdrew. {36} And Arthur and his host encamped for the night.

And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of combat
upon the lance of the Knight; and Kai came to Arthur, and spoke to him.
"My Lord," said he, "though I was overthrown yesterday, if it seem good
to thee, I would gladly meet the Knight again to-day." "Thou mayst do
so," said Arthur. And Kai went towards the Knight. And on the spot he
overthrew Kai, {37a} and struck him with the head of his lance in the
forehead, so that it broke his helmet and the headpiece, and pierced the
skin, and the flesh, the breadth of the spearhead, even to the bone. And
Kai returned to his companions.

After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after the other,
to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was not overthrown by
him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai. And Arthur armed himself to encounter
the Knight. "Oh, my lord," said Gwalchmai, "permit me to fight with him
first." And Arthur permitted him. And he went forth to meet the Knight,
having over himself and his horse, a satin robe of honour which had been
sent him by the daughter of the Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was
not known by any of the host. And they charged each other, and fought
all that day until the evening. And neither of them was able to unhorse
the other.

The next day they fought with strong lances; and neither of them could
obtain the mastery.

And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances. And they
were increased with rage, and fought furiously, even until noon. And
they gave each other such a shock, that the girths of their horses were
broken, so that they fell over their horses' cruppers to the ground. And
they rose up speedily, and drew their swords, and resumed the combat.
{37b} And the multitude that witnessed the encounter felt assured that
they had never before seen two men so valiant, or so powerful. And had
it been midnight, it would have been light from the fire that flashed
from their weapons. And the Knight gave Gwalchmai a blow that turned his
helmet from off his face, so that the Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai.
Then Owain said, "My lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee for my cousin,
owing to the robe of honour, that enveloped thee; take my sword and my
arms." Said Gwalchmai, "Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my
sword." And with that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced
towards them. "My lord Arthur," said Gwalchmai, "here is Owain, who has
vanquished me, and will not take my arms." "My lord," said Owain, "it is
he that has vanquished me, and he will not take my sword." "Give me your
swords," said Arthur, "and then neither of you has vanquished the other."
Then Owain put his arms around Arthur's neck, and they embraced. And all
the host hurried forward to see Owain, and to embrace him. And there was
nigh being a loss of life, so great was the press.

And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to depart.
"My lord," said Owain, "this is not well of thee. For I have been absent
from thee these three years, {38} and during all that time, up to this
very day, I have been preparing a banquet for thee, knowing that thou
wouldest come to seek me. Tarry with me therefore, until thou and thy
attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey, and have been
anointed."

And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the Fountain, and
the banquet which had been three years preparing was consumed in three
months. Never had they a more delicious or agreeable banquet. And
Arthur prepared to depart. Then he sent an embassy to the Countess, to
beseech her to permit Owain to go with him, for the space of three
months, that he might shew him to the nobles, and the fair dames of the
Island of Britain. And the Countess gave her consent, although it was
very painful to her. So Owain came with Arthur to the Island of Britain.
And when he was once more amongst his kindred and friends, he remained
three years, instead of three months, with them.

* * * * *

And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the City of Caerlleon upon Usk,
behold a damsel entered, upon a bay horse, with a curling mane, and
covered with foam; and the bridle, and as much as was seen of the saddle,
were of gold. And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow satin. And
she went up to Owain, and took the ring from off his hand. "Thus," said
she, "shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor, the faithless, the
disgraced, and the beardless." {39} And she turned her horse's head, and
departed.

Then his adventure came to Owain's remembrance, and he was sorrowful. And
having finished eating, he went to his own abode, and made preparations
that night. And the next day he arose, but did not go to the Court, but
wandered to the distant parts of the earth, and to uncultivated
mountains. And he remained there until all his apparel was worn out, and
his body was wasted away, and his hair was grown long. And he went about
with the wild beasts, and fed with them, until they became familiar with
him. But at length he grew so weak, that he could no longer bear them
company. Then he descended from the mountains to the valley, and came to
a park, that was the fairest in the world, and belonged to a widowed
Countess.

One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a lake, that
was in the middle of the park. And they saw the form of a man. And they
were terrified. Nevertheless they went near him, and touched him, and
looked at him. And they saw that there was life in him, though he was
exhausted by the heat of the sun. And the Countess returned to the
Castle, and took a flask full of precious ointment, and gave it to one of
her maidens. "Go with this," said she, "and take with thee yonder horse,
and clothing, and place them near the man we saw just now. And anoint
him with this balsam, near his heart; and if there is life in him, he
will arise, through the efficacy of this balsam. Then watch what he will
do."

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 arose 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 enquired 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 enquired 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 enquired 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."

The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon which was
a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and horse. And Owain
armed himself, and mounted the horse, and went forth, attended by two
pages completely equipped, with horses and arms. And when they came near
to the Earl's army, they could see neither its extent, nor its extremity.
And Owain asked the pages in which troop the Earl was. "In yonder
troop," said they, "in which are four yellow standards. Two of them are
before, and two behind him." "Now," said Owain, "do you return and await
me near the portal of the Castle." So they returned, and Owain pressed
forward, until he met the Earl. And Owain drew him completely out of his
saddle, and turned his horse's head towards the Castle, and, though it
was with difficulty, he brought the Earl to the portal, where the pages
awaited him. And in they came. And Owain presented the Earl as a gift
to the Countess. And said to her, "Behold a requittal to thee for thy
blessed balsam."

The army encamped around the Castle. And the Earl restored to the
Countess the two Earldoms, he had taken from her, as a ransom for his
life; and for his freedom, he gave her the half of his own dominions, and
all his gold, and his silver, and his jewels, besides hostages.

And Owain took his departure. And the Countess and all her subjects
besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather to wander through distant
lands and deserts.

And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood. And it was
repeated a second and a third time. And Owain went towards the spot, and
behold a huge craggy mound, in the middle of the wood; on the side of
which was a grey rock. And there was a cleft in the rock, and a serpent
was within the cleft. And near the rock, stood a black lion, and every
time the lion sought to go thence, the serpent darted towards him to
attack him. And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew near to the rock;
and as the serpent sprung out, he struck him with his sword, and cut him
in two. And he dried his sword, and went on his way, as before. But
behold the lion followed him, and played about him, as though it had been
a greyhound, that he had reared.

They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening. And when it
was time for Owain to take his rest, he dismounted, and turned his horse
loose in a flat and wooded meadow. And he struck fire, and when the fire
was kindled, the lion brought him fuel enough to last for three nights.
And the lion disappeared. And presently the lion returned, bearing a
fine large roebuck. And he threw it down before Owain, who went towards
the fire with it.

And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops of its
flesh upon skewers, around the fire. The rest of the buck he gave to the
lion to devour. While he was doing this, he heard a deep sigh near him,
and a second, and a third. And Owain called out to know whether the sigh
he heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received answer, that it did.
"Who art thou?" said Owain. "Truly," said the voice, "I am Luned, the
hand-maiden of the Countess of the Fountain." "And what dost thou here?"
said Owain. "I am imprisoned," said she, "on account of the knight who
came from Arthur's Court, and married the Countess. And he staid a short
time with her, but he afterwards departed for the Court of Arthur, and he
has not returned since. And he was the friend I loved best in the world.
And two of the pages of the Countess's chamber, traduced him, and called
him a deceiver. And I told them that they two were not a match for him
alone. So they imprisoned me in the stone vault, and said that I should
be put to death, unless he came himself, to deliver me, by a certain day;
and that is no further off, than the day after to-morrow. And I have no
one to send to seek him for me. And his name is Owain the son of Urien."
"And art thou certain, that if that knight knew all this, he would come
to thy rescue?" "I am most certain of it," said she.

When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts, between
himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten, they talked together
until the day dawned. And the next morning Owain enquired of the damsel,
if there was any place where he could get food and entertainment for that
night. "There is, lord," said she; "cross over yonder, and go along the
side of the river, and in a short time, thou wilt see a great Castle, in
which are many towers. And the Earl who owns that Castle, is the most
hospitable man in the world. There thou mayest spend the night."

Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the lion that
night over Owain.

And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford, and came in
the sight of the Castle. And he entered it, and was honourably received.
And his horse was well cared for, and plenty of fodder was placed before
him. Then the lion went and laid down in the horse's manger; so that
none of the people of the Castle dared to approach him. The treatment
which Owain met with there, was such as he had never known elsewhere, for
every one was as sorrowful, as though death had been upon him. {45} And
they went to meat. And the Earl sat upon one side of Owain; and on the
other side his only daughter. And Owain had never seen any more lovely
than she. Then the lion came and placed himself between Owain's feet,
and he fed him with every kind of food, that he took himself. And he
never saw any thing equal to the sadness of the people.

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