Here is the story of Gereint and Enid. Arthur made a habit of courting Kaerllion over Wyse. He held it there seven times in a row at Easter, five times in a row at Christmas. Once he even kept it there at Pentecost: it was, in fact, of all his domains, the place with the easiest access by sea and by land. He summoned there nine crowned kings, his vassals, as well as the counts and the barons: they were his guests at all the principal festivals, unless they were not stopped by serious impediments.
Gereint and Enid
When he held court in Kaerllion, thirteen churches were reserved for mass, here is how: one of them was intended for Arthur, his kings and his guests; a second to Gwenhwyvar and her ladies; the third to the distein (steward) and the petitioners; the fourth to Odyar the Frank and the other officers; the nine others were for the nine penteulu, and, first of all, for Gwalchmei, to whom the superiority of glory, valor and nobility had been worth to be their chief. And in none of these churches was there more men than we have just said. Glewlwyt in the strong embrace was the head porter; he only attended to this service at each of the three main feasts; but he had under his command seven men who shared the service for the year: they were Grynn, Penpighon, Llaesgynym, Gogyvwlch, Gwrddnei Llygeit Cath (with cat eyes), who saw night as well as day; Drem, son of Dremhitit; Klust, son of Klustveinyt. They served as watchmen for Arthur.
On Pentecost Tuesday, as the Emperor sat, drinking in company, entered a tall, dark young man. He wore a robe and overcoat of damask brocade, a gold-hilted sword hanging from his neck, and two low cordwal shoes at his feet. He introduced himself to Arthur.
"Good health, lord," he said.
- "God give you well", said Arthur; Welcome on his behalf. Do you bring fresh news? "
- "Yes, lord. "
- »I don't know you. "
– “I am surprised: I am your forester from the forest of Dena; my name is Madawc, son of Twrgadarn. "
- »Tell your news. "
- "Here, lord, I saw, in the forest, a stag like I have never seen. "
- "So what is special about him that you've never seen his like? "
- "He is all white, and out of pride, out of the pride of his royalty, he does not walk in the company of any other animal. I come to ask you your opinion: what is your feeling about it? "
- "What I have best to do is to go and hunt him tomorrow, in the early days of the day, and have notice given in all the lodgings. "
Ryfuerys, Arthur's chief hunter, was notified; Elivri, the leader of the pages; well everyone. This is what they stopped at. Arthur made the valet leave before them. Gwenhwyvar says to Arthur:
"Lord, will you allow me tomorrow to go and see and hear the deer hunt that the servant spoke of? "
- "Willingly", said Arthur.
- "So I will go. "
Gwalchmei then said to Arthur: "Would you not find it right, lord, to allow whoever comes to the deer during the hunt to cut off his head and give it to whomever he wishes, to his mistress or to that of his? companion, that the deer fall on a rider or a pedestrian? "
- "I will gladly allow it," replied Arthur, "and the distein be blamed if everyone is not ready for the hunt tomorrow." "
And they passed the night without excess, in songs, entertainments, talks, abundantly served, and they went to bed when they judged the time come.
The next day, when day came, they awoke. Arthur called the four pages who kept his bed: Kadyrieith, son of Porthawr Gandwy (Gandwy's porter); Amhren, son of Bedwyr; Amhar, son of Arthur; Goreu, son of Kustennin. They came, greeted him and clothed him. Arthur was surprised that Gwenhwyvar hadn't woken up and rolled over in her bed. The men wanted to wake her; but Arthur said to them:
»Do not wake her up, since she prefers to sleep than to go hunting. "
Arthur set off; he soon heard two horns ringing, one near the house of the chief hunter, the other near the chief of the squires. All the troops came to gather around Arthur, and they headed for the forest.
Arthur was out of the yard, when Gwenhwyvar awoke, called her virgins and got dressed.
"Young girls," she said, "yesterday I had permission to go and see the hunt. Let one of you go to the barn and bring what may be suitable horses for a woman to ride. "
One of them went there; but only two horses were found in the stable. Gwenhwyvar and one of the maidens mounted them, crossed the Wyse, and followed the trail of the line of men and horses. As they rode like this, they heard a loud rushing noise. They looked behind them and saw a rider on a young horse accustomed to hunting, of enormous stature: he was a young brown valet, with bare legs, with a princely air; he wore a sword with a gold handle on his hip; he wore a robe and overcoat of brocade, and his feet were shod in two low cordwal shoes. Over them, he had a coat of blue purple, adorned with a golden apple at each corner. The horse walked with its head raised and proud, with a rapid and easy gait, brief and rhythmic. The horseman reached Gwenhwyvar and greeted her.
"May God favor you, Gereint," she said; »I recognized you as soon as I saw you earlier; welcome in the name of God. Why didn't you go hunting with your lord? "
- "Because he left without my knowing it. "
- "I too was surprised that he went there without warning me. "
- »I was sleeping, princess, so that I did not notice his departure. "
- "Among all the companions that I have in this kingdom, you are indeed the young man whose company I prefer. Hunting might just be as much fun for us as it is for themselves: we will hear the horns ringing, the voices of the dogs when we unpair them and start calling. "
They came to the edge of the forest and stopped there. "We'll hear well from here," she said, "when we let go of the dogs." "
At that moment a noise was heard: they turned their eyes in that direction and saw a dwarf mounted on a tall and fat horse, with wide nostrils, devouring space, strong and valiant; the dwarf held a whip in his hand; near him was a woman on a pale white horse, perfect, with a smooth and proud step, and dressed in a dress of gold brocade; Beside her, a knight mounted on a large war horse, stained with mud, with abundant dung, covered, he and his horse, in heavy and shiny armor. They were sure they had never seen a horse, a knight and an armor whose proportions seemed more beautiful to them. They were all three close to each other.
"Gereint," said Gwenhwyvar, "do you know that great knight over there? "
- "No, I do not know him", he replied; This great foreign armor does not allow her face and physiognomy to be seen. "
- "Go, virgin", said Gwenhwyvar, "and ask the dwarf who this knight is. "
The virgin walked over to the dwarf; Seeing her coming, he waited for her.
- "Who is this knight? She asked him.
- "I will not say it", he replied.
- "Since you are too badly learned to tell me, I will ask him to himself. "
- "You will not ask him, by my faith. "
- " Why? "
- "Because you are not in a row to speak to my master. "
The virgin turned bridle towards the knight. Immediately, the dwarf gave him the whip he had in his hand across his face and eyes, so that the blood gushed profusely. The pain of the blow stopped the virgin, who returned to Gwenhwyvar complaining of her pain.
"It's very nasty," said Gereint, "what the dwarf did to you. I myself will find out who this knight is. "
- "Go", said Gwenhwyvar.
Gereint went to find the dwarf.
"Who is this knight? " he said to him.
- "I will not tell you", he replied.
- "I will ask the knight himself. "
- "You will not ask it, by my faith; you are not in a row to talk to my master. "
- "I spoke with someone who is well worth your master. "
And he turned bridle towards the knight. The dwarf reached him and struck him in the same place as the young girl, so much so that the blood stained the cloak that covered Gereint. Gereint put his hand on the hilt of his sword; but he changed his mind and reflected that it was no revenge for him to kill the dwarf and that the knight would have cheapened him, deprived as he was of his armor. He returned to Gwenhwyvar.
"You have acted as a wise and prudent man," she said.
- "Princess", he replied, "I will go after him, with your permission; in the end he will arrive at some inhabited place where I will find weapons, on loan or on pawn, so that I can try me out with him. "
- "Go," she said, "and don't come to blows with him until you have found some good weapons." I will be very worried about you before I hear from you. "
- "If I am alive, if I escape, tomorrow evening, towards nones, you will hear from me. He immediately started walking.
The path followed by the strangers passed lower than Kaerllion's courtyard. They crossed the ford on the Wyse, and walked through a level land, beautiful, fertile, high, to a strong city. They saw, towards the end of the city, ramparts and a castle and walked in that direction. As the knight walked through town, people from every household rose to greet and welcome him. Gereint, as soon as he entered the city, began to cast his eyes in every house to see if he would find some knowledge of his own, but he did not know anyone and there was no one to know him, therefore no one. whose service he could expect to procure for him weapons on loan or on pawn. All the houses were full of men, weapons, horses, people shining shields, polishing swords, cleaning armor, shoeing horses. The knight, the woman on horseback and the dwarf went to the castle. Everyone welcomed them there: at the battlements, at the doors, on all sides, people broke their necks greeting them and welcoming them. Gereint paused to see if the knight would linger there. When he was sure he was staying there, he cast his eyes around him and saw, some distance from the town, an old courtyard falling into ruins and full of holes. Since he didn't know anyone in town, he walked that way.
Arriving in front of it, he saw little more than a room from which a marble bridge started; on the deck sat a man with white hair and aged and worn clothes. Gereint stared at him for a long time.
"Valet," said the old man, "what are you thinking about? "
- "I am pensive," replied Gereint, "because I do not know where to go tonight. "
- "Do you want to come here, lord? We'll give you the best we can find. "
Gereint stepped forward and the old man preceded him to the room. Gereint dismounted in the hall, left his horse there and walked towards the bedroom with the old man. There he saw a woman of a certain age, seated on a cushion, wearing old worn brocade clothes: if she had been in her prime, Gereint thought it would have been difficult to see a more beautiful woman; beside her was a virgin wearing a shirt and a coat already old and beginning to wear out: never had Gereint seen a young girl more full of perfections in terms of face, form and beauty. The white haired man says to the virgin:
There will be no other servant but you tonight for this young man's horse. "
- "I will serve him," she replied, "as best I could, him and his horse. "
She disarmed the young man, provided his horse abundantly with straw and wheat, then went to the hall and returned to the bedroom.
"Now go to the city". said the old man to him, "and have the best meal brought here, for food and drink, that you can find. "
- "Willingly, lord. "
And she went to town.
They chatted during his absence. She soon returned accompanied by a servant carrying on his back a jug full of purchased mead, and a quarter of young beef; she had a slice of white bread in her hands, and in her coat another of more delicate bread. She went to the bedroom and said:
I couldn't bring a better meal, and I couldn't have found credit for better. "
- "It is quite good enough", replied Gereint.
And they boiled the meat. Their food ready, they sat down to table. Gereint sat down between the white haired man and his wife; the virgin served them. They ate and drank.
When the meal was over, Gereint began to talk to the old man and asked him if he was the first to have owned the courtyard where he lived.
"Yes, it's me," he replied; »I built it; the city and the castle you saw belonged to me. "
- " Oh! said Gereint, and why did you lose them? "
- "I lost, moreover, a large county, and here is why: I had a nephew, a son to my brother. I joined his States to mine, When the strength came to him, he claimed them. I kept them; he made war on me and conquered all I possessed. "
- "Would you please explain to me the reception that the knight of earlier, the woman on horseback and the dwarf had on their entry into the city, and tell me why all this activity in putting up arms? ? "
- "These are preparations for tomorrow's game that the young count is having. They are going to plant in the meadow there two forks, on which will rest a silver rod; on the rod we will place a hawk which will be the prize of the tournament. All that you have seen in the city of men and horses and armor will be there. Each will bring with him the woman he loves the most; otherwise, he will not be admitted to the game. The knight you saw won the hawk two years in a row; if he wins it a third time, we will send it to him every year from now on, without him coming himself, and we will call him the Knight of the Hawk. "
- "What advice would you give me, gentleman, about this knight, and the outrage that his dwarf has done us to me and to the virgin of Gwenhwyvar, wife of Arthur? "
Gereint then told the white haired man the story of the outrage.
"It is difficult for me," he replied, "to give you an opinion, for there is neither woman nor virgin here whom you can declare yourself the champion of. You would go fight with him that I would offer you the weapons that I once carried, as well as my horse, if you prefer it to yours. "
- »God give it back to you; I'm used to it; I will be satisfied with my horse and your weapons. Would you allow me to declare myself the champion of this virgin, your daughter, in the meeting tomorrow? If I escape the tournament, the virgin will have my faith and my love, as long as I live. If I can't believe it, she will be as flawless as before. " - " Gladly. Well, since it is with this resolution that you stop, it is necessary that tomorrow, at daybreak, your horse and your weapons be ready. The knight will indeed have a publication made: he will invite the woman he loves the most to come and take the hawk: "it is for you, he will say, that is best suited; you had it last year, two years in a row, and if there is anyone to forcefully dispute it with you, I will keep it for you. So you have to be there from daylight; we too will be there with you, the three of us. "
This was what we stopped at, and immediately we went to bed.
They got up before daybreak, and got dressed. When day came, the four of them were on the embankment of the enclosed field. There was also the knight of the hawk who had the proclamation made and invited his mistress to go and take the hawk.
- "Don't go", cried Gereint: "there is a virgin here who is more beautiful, more accomplished, nobler than you and who deserves it better. If you claim that the hawk is his return, come forward and fight with me. "
Gereint went to the end of the meadow, covered, he and his horse, with heavy, rusty, worthless weapons. They charged and broke a bundle of spears, then a second, then a third, and that in turn. They broke them as they were brought to them. When the count and his people saw the knight of the hawk winning, it was on their side nothing but shouts, joy, enthusiasm, while the white-haired man, his wife and his daughter were saddened. The old man supplied Gereint with spears as he broke them, and the dwarf the knight of the hawk. The old man approached Gereint.
"Here," he said, "take this lance which I had in my hand on the day I was crowned a knight, the shaft of which has never been broken since, and the iron of which is excellent, since no lance succeeds you. . "
Gereint, took it, thanking him. The dwarf immediately brought a spear to his master:
Here is one, "he said," which is no worse. Remember you haven't left a knight standing that long. "
- "By me and God," cried Gereint, "unless sudden death takes me away, your help will not be better off. "
And, starting from a distance, he threw his horse at full bridle, charged his adversary, warning him, and threw him a hard and cruel blow, rough, in the middle of the shield, to such an extent that the shield and the armor, in the same direction, were split, the straps broke and the knight with his saddle was thrown to the ground over the rump of his horse.
Gereint dismounted, became animated, drew his sword and attacked him with anger and impetuosity. The knight on his side stood up, drew against Gereint, and they fought on foot, with the sword, so that the armor of each of them was scratched and dented, and the sweat and blood blinded them. . When Gereint won the day, the old man, his wife and his daughter rejoiced; it was the turn of the count and his party, when the knight had the upper hand. The old man, seeing that Gereint had just received a terrible and painful blow, approached him quickly, saying:
Lord, remember the outrage you received from the dwarf; is it not to avenge him that you have come here? Remember the outrage done to Gwenhwyvar, Arthur's wife. "
Hearing these words, Gereint came to himself; he called to him all his strength, raised his sword and, falling on the knight, he discharged such a blow on the crown of the head to him, that all the armor which covered it shattered, and the skin and the flesh were cut. , that the bone of the skull was reached and that the knight bowed on his knees and, throwing down his sword, asked thanks to Gereint.
"Too late," he cried, "my unfortunate pride and my pride allowed me to ask thank you; if I do not find a little time to get back to God about my sins, and to talk to priests, your grace will be useless to me. "
- "I give you thanks", replied Gereint, "on condition that you go find Gwenhwyvar, Arthur's wife, to give him satisfaction about the outrage done to his virgin by your dwarf, because for the one that I ' have received from you and your dwarf, the evil that I have done to you is enough for me; you will not dismount your horse until you have presented yourself before Gwenhwyvar to offer her such satisfaction as will be decided at Arthur's court. "
- "I will gladly do so; now who are you "
- »I am Gereint, son of Erbin; and you? "
- "I am Edern, son of Nudd. "
They put him on his horse and they set off for Arthur's court, him, the woman he loved most and his dwarf, all three in deep mourning. The story of his own adventure ends there.
The young count and his troop then went to Gereint, greeted him and invited him to come with them to the castle.
"I do not accept," said Gereint; »Where I was last night, I will go tonight. "
- "Since you do not want an invitation, you will want me to let you miss nothing, as far as it is in my power, at the place where you were last night. I will make you have a bath, and you can rest from your fatigue and your weariness. "
- »God give it back to you; I'm going to my home. "
Gereint left with Count Ynywl, his wife and his daughter. When they got to the room, they found the young count's valets there busy in the service, in the process of repairing all the apartments, supplying them with straw and fire. In no time the bath was ready; Gereint went there, and his head was washed. Soon the count arrived with ordained knights, him fortieth, surrounded by his vassals and tournament guests. Gereint came back from the bath, and the young count begged him to come to the dining room.
So where are, "said Gereint," Count Ynywl, his wife and daughter? "
- "They are in the room over there," said a valet from the count's room, "putting on the clothes the count had brought for them. "
- "That the virgin puts on only her shirt and her coat until her arrival at Arthur's court, where Gwenhwyvar will dress her in whatever dress she wants. "
The virgin did not get dressed. Everyone went to the room. After washing, they sat down to table. At one side of Gereint sat the young count, then Count Ynywl; on the other, the virgin and her mother took their place; then each sat down according to his rank. They ate, had rich service, a number of different dishes, and began to talk. The young count invited Gereint for the next day.
"By me and God," said Gereint, "I do not accept; tomorrow I will go, with this virgin, to Arthur's court. I will have enough to do as long as Count Ynywl is in poverty and misery; I will first go and find other means of subsistence for him. "
- "Lord," said the young earl, "it is not my fault that Earl Ynywl has no estates. "
- "By my faith, he will not remain without his domains, unless sudden death takes me away. "
- "Lord, as regards the dispute between me and Ynywl, I am ready to comply with your decision, because you are disinterested in the redressing of our grievances. "
- "I only claim for him his right and compensation for his losses since the removal of his estates to this day. "
- "I will gladly do it for the love of you. "
- " Well! may all in attendance who are to be Ynywl's vassals pay homage to him immediately. All the vassals did. They stuck to these conditions of peace: they returned to Ynywl his castle, his hall, his estates and everything he had lost, even the most insignificant object.
"Lord," Ynywl said then, "the young girl you championed during the tournament is ready to do your will; here it is in your possession. "
- "I only want one thing," he replied, "and that is for the young girl to remain as she is until her arrival at Arthur's court. I want to hold it out of Arthur and Gwenhwyvar's hand. "
The next day they left for Arthur's court. Gereint's adventure ends here.
Now this is how Arthur hunted the deer. The men and the dogs were divided into hunting parties, then the dogs were released on the deer. The last one that was released was Arthur's favorite dog, Cavall. He left all the dogs aside and had the deer make a first hook; at the second, the stag came upon Arthur's party. Arthur met him and chopped off his head before anyone could hurt him. They sounded the horn, announcing the death of the stag, and all gathered in this place. Kadyrieith came to Arthur and said:
Lord, Gwenhwyvar is there, having only a maid for company. "
- "Tell Gildas," Arthur replied, "and all the clerics, to return, with Gwenhwyvar, to court." "
What they did. Everyone then set off, discussing the subject of the stag's head, in order to find out to whom it would be given: one wanted to present it to his beloved, another to his; the discussion turned sour between the people of Arthur's house and the knights until their arrival at court. Arthur and Gwenhwyvar found out. Gwenhwyvar said to him:
Here is my advice about the stag's head: don't give it to anyone until Gereint, Erbin's son, has returned from his expedition. "
And she told Arthur the reason for her trip.
"Willingly", said Arthur then; »That we do so. "
We stopped at this resolution.
The next day, Gwenhwyvar ordered watchers to be placed on the ramparts. In the afternoon, they saw in the distance a small man huddled and bent on a horse; following her, it seemed to them, a woman or a virgin, and, after her, a tall knight, a little bent, head bowed, looking sad, armor shattered and in very bad state. Before they got to the gate, one of the lookouts went to Gwenhwyvar and told him what kind of people they saw and what they looked like.
"I don't know who they are," he added.
- "I know it," said Gwenhwyvar; Here is the knight after whom Gereint has gone, and it seems to me that it is not willingly that he is coming. Gereint will have reached and will have, at the very least, avenged the outrage done to the virgin. "
At that moment, the porter came to find her.
"Princess," he said, "a knight is at the door; I've never seen anyone who hurts more to see. Its armor is shattered, in very bad condition, and you can see less of the color than the blood that covers it. "
- "Do you know who it is? "
- "I know it: he said to be Edern, the son of Nudd. For me, personally, I do not know him. "
Gwenhwyvar went to meet them as far as the door.
The knight entered: it would have hurt Gwenhwyvar to see if he had not kept his discourteous dwarf with him. Edern greeted Gwenhwyvar.
"God give you well," she said.
- "Princess", he said, "I greet you on behalf of Gereint, son of Erbin, the best and the most valiant of men. "
- "Did you meet with him? "
- "Yes, and not for my happiness; but the fault is not his, but mine. Gereint greets you; he forced me to come here not only to greet you, but to do your will about the dwarf blow to your virgin. For the one he himself received, he forgives me because of the harm he did me: he thought I was in danger of death. It was after a strong and valiant shock, courageous, warrior, that he forced me to come here to give you satisfaction, princess. "
- "And where did he meet with you? "
- "At a place where we were jousting and arguing over the hawk, in the town now called Kaerdyff (Cardiff). He only had three people with him on the outside, rather poor, dilapidated: a white haired man of a certain age, an elderly woman, a young girl of consummate beauty, all wearing old worn clothes; it is by giving himself as lover of the virgin that Gereint took part in the tournament to dispute the hawk. He said she deserved it better than this virgin accompanying me. Over that we fought, and he left me, princess, as you see me. "
- "When do you think Gereint is coming here? "
- "I think he will arrive tomorrow, princess, with the young girl. "
Arthur, at that moment, came to him. The knight greeted him. Arthur looked at him for a long time and was afraid to see him in this state. As he thought he recognized him, he asked him:
Are you not Edern, son of Nudd? "
- "Yes, it is me, but reached by very great suffering and intolerable wounds. And he told her all his misadventure.
Well, "said Arthur," from what I've just heard, Gwenhwyvar will do well to be merciful to you. "
- "I will give him thank you in the way you want, Lord, since for you humiliation is equal, an outrage reaches me, me, as well as yourself. "
- "Here is what is more correct: to have him treated until it is known if he will live; if he lives, that he gives such satisfaction as will have decided the principal personages of the court; take caution on this. If he dies, it is already too much for the death of a man like Edern for the contempt of a virgin. "
- "That's fine with me," said Gwenwyvar.
Arthur acted as guarantor for him, with Kradawc, son of Llyr; Gwallawc, son of Lleenawc; Owein, son of Nudd; Gwalchmei and many others besides that. He summoned Morgan Tut, the chief medical officer.
"Take with you," he said, "Edern, son of Nudd; make him prepare a room; make him look after him as well as me if I were wounded, and in order not to disturb his rest, do not let anyone enter his room other than you and those of your disciples who will treat him. "
- "I will gladly do it, lord," replied Morgan Tut.
The distein then said to Arthur: "Lord, where should the girl be taken? "
- "To Gwenhwyvar and her followers," he replied.
The distein entrusted it to them. Their story between them ends here.
The next day, Gereint walked to the courtyard. Gwenhwyvar had put watchers on the ramparts so that he did not arrive unexpectedly. The lookout came to find her.
"Princess," he said, "it seems to me that I see Gereint and the young girl with him: he is on horseback with a traveling suit; for her, she appears to me quite white; she appears to be wearing something like a canvas coat. "
- "Get ready all, women," said Gwenhwyvar; Come meet Gereint to welcome him and make him welcome. "
Gwenhwyvar went to meet Gereint and the virgin. Arriving near her, he greeted her.
"God give you well", she said; " welcome. You made an expedition fruitful in results, favored, with rapid success, glorious. God reward you for giving me satisfaction with so much courage. "
- "Princess", he replied, "my keenest desire was to give you all the satisfaction you could desire. Here is the virgin who gave me the opportunity to erase your outrage. "
- »God bless her; it is only fair that I give him a good face. "
They entered. Gereint dismounted, went to Arthur and greeted him.
"God give you well", said Arthur; Welcome on his behalf. Although Edern son of Nudd received pain and injury from you, your expedition was successful. "
- "The fault is not mine," replied Gereint, "but the arrogance of Edern himself, who did not want to deal with me. I didn't want to leave him until I found out who he was or that one of us had overcome the other. "
- "Well, where is the virgin whom I heard that you are the champion? "
- "She is with Gwenhwyvar, in her room. "
Arthur went to see the virgin and showed her happy face, as well as all his companions and all the people of the court. For each of them, she was undoubtedly the most beautiful virgin he had seen, if her resources had been in keeping with her beauty. Gereint received it from Arthur's hand and was united with Enid, according to the use of time. The girl was given a choice between all of Gwenhwyvar's clothes. Whoever had seen her thus dressed would have found her an air of dignity, agreeable, accomplished. They spent this day and night having an abundance of poetry and music, presents, various drinks, various games. When the time seemed right, they went to bed. It was in the room where Arthur and Gwenhwyvar's bed was that Gereint and Enid's bed was made: it was the first night they slept together.
The next day, Arthur showered the solicitors, on behalf of Gereint, with rich presents. The young woman familiarized herself with the court of Arthur and attracted so many companions, men and women, that there were not, in all the island of Brittany, a girl who was talked about more. Gwenhwyvar then said:
I had a good idea, about the stag's head, asking that it not be given away until Gereint arrived. One could not place her better than by giving her to Enid, the daughter of Ynywl, the most illustrious of young women, and I do not believe that nobody disputes her, because there is, between her and all here , other relationships than those of friendship and companionship. "
Everyone applauded, Arthur first, and we gave Enid their heads. From that moment on, his reputation grew further, as did the number of his companions. Gereint developed a taste for tournaments and tough encounters, and he always came out the winner. One year, two years, three years he indulged in it, so much so that his glory flew through the whole kingdom.
Arthur held court once at Pentecost in Kaerllion. Wise and prudent messengers arrived near him, very learned, with penetrating conversation. They greeted him.
"God give you well," said Arthur; Welcome on his behalf. Where are you from? "
- " Of Cornwall, lord,” they replied; We come, as ambassadors, from Erbin, son of Kustenhin, your uncle, our embassy is looking to you. He greets you as an uncle greets his nephew and a vassal his lord. He lets you know that he is getting heavier, weaker, that he is approaching old age, and that the owners, his neighbors, knowing it, encroach on his limits and covet his lands and his States. Erbin therefore begs you, lord, to let Gereint go to keep his property and know his limits, and to represent to him that it is better to pass on to him the flower of his youth and his strength to maintain the limits of his lands than in sterile tournaments, despite the glory he can find there. "
- "Well," said Arthur, "go disarm yourself, eat and rest from your fatigue. Before you turn around, you will have an answer. "
They went to eat.
Arthur reflected that if he could not easily let Gereint go away from him and his court, it was hardly possible or proper for him to prevent his cousin from keeping his domains and his boundaries, since his father could not. more. Gwenhwyvar's concern and regrets were no less than those of his wives, for fear that Enid would leave them. We had everything in abundance that day and that night. Arthur announced to Gereint the arrival of the Cornish ambassadors and the reason for the embassy.
“Well,” said Gereint, “whatever may happen to me afterwards for profit or loss, I will, lord, do your will about this embassy. "
- "Here in my opinion, what you have to do", said Arthur. Although your departure is painful to me, go and live on your estates and keep the limits of your lands. Take with you, to accompany you, the following you want, those you prefer from my faithful and who love you, the knights, your comrades in arms. "
- "God give it back to you", replied Gereint; »I will obey. "
- "What's all this hassle on your part? Said Gwenhwyvar. Is it about the people who would accompany Gereint to his country? "
- "That's what it is," replied Arthur.
- "So I must also think," said Gwenhwyvar, "to accompany and provide for all the lady who is in my company. "
- "You will do well", said Arthur.
And they went to bed. The next day, the messengers were dismissed, telling them that Gereint would follow them.
The third day after, Gereint set off. These are those who went with him: Gwalchmei, son of Gwyar; Riogonedd, son of the King of Ireland; Ondyaw, son of the Duke of Burgundy; Gwilym, son of the King of France; Howel, son of the Emperor of Armorica; Elivri Anaw Kyrdd; Gwynn, son of Tringat; Goreu, son of Kustennin; GweirGwrhytvawr; Garannaw, son of Golithmer; Peredur, son of Evrawc; Gwynn Llogell Gwyr, Judge of Arthur's Court; Dyvyr, son of Alun Dyvet; Gwrei, the language interpreter; Bedwyr, son of Bedrawt; Kadwri, son of Gwryon; Kei, son of Kynyr; Odyar the Frank, ystiwart (stewart) of Arthur's court.
And Edern, son of Nudd, "said Gereint," whom I hear being fit to ride, I want him to come with me too. "
- "It is really not appropriate," Arthur replied, "that you take him, although he is well, before peace has been made between him and Gwenhwyvar." "
- "But Gwenhwyvar could let him come with me on bail. "
- "If she allows it, let her do so while keeping him free of deposits; it is enough pain and suffering on this man for the outrage done by the dwarf to the virgin. "
- "Well," said Gwenhwyvar, "since you find it right, you and Gereint, I will gladly do so. "
And immediately she allowed Edern son of Nudd to go freely. Many others besides these went to drive Gereint.
They set off, forming the finest troop they had ever seen, in the direction of the Havren. On the other side were the nobles of Erbin, son of Kustennin, and his foster father at their head, to receive Gereint in a friendly manner. There were also many women of the court sent by her mother to meet Enid, daughter of Ynywl, wife of Gereint. All the people of the court, all those of the States were filled with the greatest joy and the greatest joy at the arrival of Gereint, so much they loved him, so much he had gathered glory since his departure, and also because that he came to take possession of his estates and enforce their limits. They arrived at the court. There was there for them an abundance, sumptuous profusion of all kinds of gifts, various drinks, rich service, music and various games. To honor Gereint, we had invited all the gentlemen of the States to come and see Gereint. They spent that day and the following night in appropriate relaxation. The next morning, in the early days of the day, Erbin summoned Gereint and the noble persons who had escorted him, and said to him:
I am a heavy, elderly man; as long as I was able to maintain the domains for you and for me, I did. You, you are a young man, you are in the flower of vigor and youth: it is now up to you to maintain your States. "
- "Certainly," replied Gereint, "if he had depended on me, you would not have handed over to me at this moment the possession of your domains, and you would not have taken me from Arthur's court. . "
- "I put them in your hands; take the homage of your vassals today. "Gwalchmei then said:" The best thing you have to do is satisfy the petitioners today and receive the tributes tomorrow. "
We bring together the canvassers. Kadyrieith came to them to examine their vows and ask each one what they wanted. Arthur's people began to give; then immediately came the people of Cornwall, who also began to donate. The distribution did not last long, everyone was so eager to give. None of those who presented themselves returned without being satisfied. They spent that day and the following night in proper pleasures. The next day, in the youth of the day, Erbin begged Gereint to send messengers to his vassals to ask them if it did not upset them that he had come to receive their homage, and if they had to oppose him with anger, or pity, whoever it was. Gereint sent messengers to his Cornish men to make these requests. They replied that they had no other feeling than the most complete joy and honor at the news that Gereint had come to take their homage. Gereint immediately took the homage of all of them who were there. The third night they spent it together again.
The next day Arthur's people expressed the desire to go away.
"It's too early to leave," said Gereint. Stay here with me until I have finished taking the homage of those of my nobles who succeed in reaching me. "
They stayed until he was done, then they left for Arthur's court. Gereint and Enid accompanied them to Dyganhwy. As they separated, Ondyaw, son of the Duke of Burgundy, said to Gereint:
First, go to the ends of your domains and carefully examine your boundaries. If your embarrassment becomes too much, let your companions know. "
- "God give it back to you," said Gereint; " I will do it. "
Gereint went to the extremities of his estates, having with him, as guides, the most clairvoyant nobles of his domains, and took possession of the most distant points that were shown to him. As he was accustomed to throughout his stay at Arthur's court, he sought out tournaments, got to know the bravest and strongest men, so much so that he became famous in this region as he was. had been elsewhere, and that he enriched his court, his companions and his gentlemen with the best horses, the best weapons and the most magnificent golden jewels. He did not cease until his glory had flown through the whole kingdom. But when he realized it, he began to like his rest and his ease: there was no one to resist him for a moment. He loved his wife, the continuous stay at court, the music, the entertainment, and thus remained at home quite a long time. Soon he loved the retreat in his room with his wife, so much so that he lost the hearts of his gentlemen, neglecting even hunting and entertainment, the hearts of the people of his court, and that there were secret murmurs and murmurs. mockery about her, only to separate completely from their company out of love for a woman. These words ended up reaching Erbin's ear. He repeated what he had heard in Enid, and asked him if it was she who made Gereint act like this and who made him think of separating himself from his house and his entourage.
- "No, by my faith," she replied, "I declare it before God; and there is nothing more odious to me than that. "
She did not know what to do; it was difficult for him to reveal this to Gereint; still less could she neglect to warn him of what she had heard. So she was very sorry.
One summer morning they were in bed, he on the edge, Enid awake, in the glass room. The sun was sending its rays on the bed. The clothes had slipped off her chest and her arms; he was sleeping. She began to consider how beautiful and wonderful his appearance was, and said:
Woe to me if it is because of me that those arms and that chest lose all the glory and reputation they had won. "
As she spoke, she let out copious tears, so much so that they fell on Gereint's chest. This was one of the things that woke him up with the words she had just said. Another thought stirred him: it was not out of concern for him that she had spoken thus, but out of love for another whom she preferred, and because she wanted to separate from him. . Gereint's mind was so disturbed that he called his squire.
"Have my horse and my weapons prepared right away," he said, and let them be ready. You, "he said to Enid," get up, get dressed, get your horse prepared and put on the worst coat you have for riding. Shame on me, what if you come back here before you find out if I have lost my strength as completely as you say, and if you have as much free time as you had to want to be alone with the man you are thought. "
She got up immediately and put on a neglected dress.
"I don't know anything about your thinking, lord," she said.
- "You won't know now", he replied.
And he went to Erbin.
"Lord," he said, "I'm leaving on some business, and I'm not sure when I'll be back; watch over your domains until my return. "
- "I will", he replied; »But I am surprised that you leave so suddenly. And who will go with you? for you are not a suitable man to cross the earth alone. "
- "Only one person will come with me. "
- "God advise you, my son, and may many people have recourse to you in England. "
Gereint went to fetch his horse, which he found clothed in his heavy, shiny, foreign armor. He ordered Enid to mount his horse, go ahead and take a strong lead.
Whatever you see or hear, "he added," don't retrace your steps, and, unless I'm speaking to you, don't say a single word to me. "
And they went before them.
It was neither the most pleasant nor the most frequented road that he made him take, but rather the most deserted, the one where he was most certain of finding brigands, vagabonds, venomous wild beasts. They arrived at the main road, followed it, and saw a large wood beside them. They entered it, and as they came out of the woods they saw four horsemen. They looked at them, and one of them said:
Here is a good boon for us: the two horses, the woman with, we will have it all effortlessly as far as the knight is over there, alone, with his head bowed, slumped and sad. "
Enid heard them, and, for fear of Gereint, did not know what to do: whether to tell him or to shut up.
"God's vengeance be upon me," she said at last, "if I don't like the death of her hand better than the hand of another. Should he kill me, I will warn him rather than seeing him suddenly struck dead. "
She waited for Gereint, and, when he was near her:
Lord, "she said to him," do you hear those men over there saying about you? He lifted his head and looked at her angrily:
You had nothing else to do but to observe the order which had been given to you, that is to say to be silent. Your concern is not for me any more than your warning; although you want to see me killed and torn to pieces by these people, I have not the slightest apprehension. "
At that moment, the first of them stopped his spear and rushed at Gereint. Gereint stood up to him, and not like a limp man. He let the shock pass to the side, and, throwing himself at the knight, struck him with the buckle of his shield so that the shield split, the armor broke, a good cubit of the shaft of the spear entered his body and he was thrown dead to the ground over the rump of his horse. The second knight attacked him with fury when he saw his companion killed; with a single shock, Gereint threw him to the ground and killed him like the other. The third charged him and Gereint killed him as well. Likewise, he killed the fourth.
Sad and pained, Enid watched. Gereint dismounted, stripped the dead of their armor, put them on the saddles, tied the horses together by the brake, and remounted.
This is, "he said to her," what you are going to do; you are going to take the four horses and push them in front of you; you will go ahead, as I commanded you earlier, and you will not say a word to me before I speak to you. I declare it before God, if you do not do it, it will not be with impunity ”.
- "I will do my best, Lord", she said, "to satisfy you".
They walked through the woods, and from there they passed into a vast plain. In the middle was a thick-headed, bushy copse; and they saw there coming towards them from the side of that wood three knights, mounted on well-equipped horses, and covered, they and their mounts, with armor from top to bottom. Enid watched them carefully. When they were near, she heard them say to each other -.
Here's a good bargain that won't cost any effort: we'll get all four horses and four armor on the cheap, as for that sad, downcast knight over there, not to mention the virgin. "
- "They say the truth," she said to herself; »He is tired after his fight with the men earlier. The vengeance of God be on me if I do not warn him “.
She waited for Gereint, and when he was near her:
Lord, "she said," can't you hear those men talking over there about you? "
- " What is that? “, He replied.
- "They are saying that they will have all of this for cheap loot. "
- "By me and God, what is more painful for me than the conversation of these people, it is that you do not be silent vis-à-vis me and that you do not conform to my order. "
- "Lord, I don't want you to be caught out of the blue. "
- "Shut up now. Your tenderness is not for me. "
At this moment one of the knights, lowering his lance, walked towards Gereint, and rushed at him successfully, he thought. Gereint received the shock quietly, suddenly made him pass by, and threw himself right on the knight. Such was the shock of the man and the horse, that the number of weapons was of no use to the knight, that the point of the lance came out on the other side, that he had a good part of the shaft in his body. , and Gereint threw him to the ground with the length of his arm and spear over the rump of his horse. The other two knights charged in turn and had no better luck.
The young woman had stopped and was looking. She was anxious in fear that Gereint would be hurt in his struggle with these men, and also joyful in seeing him gain the upper hand. Gereint got out, tied the three sets of armor in the three saddles, and tied the three horses together by the brake, so that he had seven horses with him. Then he went up, and ordered the young woman to push them in front.
"It is worth as much that I keep silent," he added, "because you will not comply with my order".
- "I will, lord," she said, "as far as possible; only I will not be able to hide from you the threatening and terrible remarks that I can hear about you from foreigners, like these, who prowl through deserted countries.
- "By me and God, your tenderness is not one for me. Shut up now. "
- "I will, lord, as much as possible. "
The young woman went forward, the horses in front of her, and kept her lead.
From the thicket of which we spoke a little above, they made their way through an uncovered land, of a pleasant elevation, fortunately united, rich. In the distance they saw a wood, and if they could see the nearest part of it, they could not make out the sides or the end. They went there, and on entering they saw five ardent and valiant knights, strong and solid, on big and robust warhorses, with thick bones, devouring the space, all perfectly armed, men and horses. . When they were near, Enid heard them say to each other:
Here is a good windfall for us: we will have cheaply, without any trouble, all those horses and armor, as well as the virgin, as far as that knight is over there, sagging, bent, sad. "
Enid was very worried hearing the words of these men, to the point that she did not know what to do in the world. In the end, she decided to warn Gereint. She turned bridle on her side.
"Lord," she said to him, "if you had overheard the conversation of those men over there like I overheard it, you would be more careful than you do."
Gereint smiles constrained, irritated, dreadful, bitter, and says:
I still hear you breaking all my defenses; you may soon have to repent. "
At the same time the knights met with him, and Gereint overthrown them victoriously, superbly all five. He put the five armors in the five saddles, tied the twelve horses together by the bridle and gave them to Enid.
"I don't know," he said, "what good is it for me to give you orders. For this time that my order serves as a warning to you.
The young woman walked towards the wood and kept ahead, as Gereint had commanded her. It would have been hard for Gereint to see a young woman like herself obliged, because of the horses, to such a painful walk, if anger had permitted it.
They walked through the wood which was deep; the night surprised them there.
"Young woman," he said, "it does not help us to try to walk".
- "Good, Lord", she replied; »We will do what you want«.
- "The best thing we have to do is turn away from the road in the woods to rest, and wait for daylight to travel. "
- " Gladly. "
This is what they did. He dismounted and put her to the ground.
"I'm so tired," he said, "that I can't help but sleep in the world. Watch out, you horses, and don't sleep “.
- "I will, lord. "
He slept in his armor and thus spent the night. It was not long this time of year. When Enid caught sight of the dawn, she turned her eyes to see if he was sleeping. At that moment he awoke.
"I already wanted to wake you up, quite a while ago," she said.
Out of weariness, Gereint said nothing, although he had not allowed her to speak. Gereint stood up and said:
Take the horses, go ahead, and keep your lead like you did yesterday. "
It was already a little late in the day when they left the woods and came to a fairly bare plain. There were meadows on both sides and reapers cutting the hay, and in front of them a river. He brought the horses down there, and when they had drunk, they climbed a rather steep slope. There they met a very young man, quite thin, with a napkin around his neck with something in it, they didn't know what, and in his hand a little blue jug and a bowl on it. The valet greeted Gereint.
"God give you well", said Gereint; " where do you come from? "
- "Of the city which is there in front of you. Would you find it bad, lord, that I ask where you come from yourself? "
- "No", said Gereint; "I just crossed that wood over there".
- "It is not today that you crossed it. "
- "No", he said, "I spent last night in the woods. "
- "I imagine that your situation could hardly have been good last night and that you had neither to eat nor to drink. "
- "No, certainly, by me and God! "
- "Do you want to take my advice? Accept this meal from me. "
- " What a meal? "
- "The lunch that I brought to those reapers over there, that is to say, bread, meat and wine. If you want, lord, they won't. "
- "I accept", said Gereint; God give it back to you. "
Gereint dismounted. The valet knocked Enid to the ground. They washed and ate their meal. The servant cut the bread into slices, gave them something to drink, and served them completely. When they were done, he stood up and said to Gereint:
Lord, with your permission, I'm going to fetch food from the Reapers. "
- "Go to town," replied Gereint, "first of all to keep me lodged in the best place you know and where the horses are least cramped; take whatever horse and armor you want as a reward for your service and your gift. "
- »God give it back to you; that would have been enough to pay for a service more important than mine. "
The valet went to town, booked the best and most comfortable lodgings he knew for Gereint; then he went, with his horse and his arms to court, to the count, and told him the whole story.
"Lord," he said then, "I will meet the knight to show him the accommodation. "
- "Go", said the count; "If he wished, he would find a warm welcome here".
The valet returned to Gereint and informed him that he would be well received from the count in his own courtyard. Gereint wanted only his lodging. On arriving there, he found a comfortable room, with plenty of straw and clothes, and a large and convenient place for the horses. The valet saw to it that they were well served. When they were disarmed, Gereint said to Enid:
»Go to the other side of the room and do not pass this side. Bring in, if you want the woman of the house. "
- "I will, lord", she replied, "as you say".
At this moment the hotel keeper came to Gereint, greeted him, greeted him, and asked him if he had eaten his supper. He answered yes. The valet then said to him:
Do you want a drink or something, before I go to the count? "
- "In truth, I want to", he replied.
The valet went into town and came back with some drink. They began to drink; but, almost immediately, Gereint said:
I can't help but sleep. "
- "Good", said the valet; "While you sleep, I will go see the count".
- "Go, and come back here afterwards. "
Gereint fell asleep as did Enid.
The valet went to the count, who asked him where the knight was staying.
"I must not delay," said the valet, "in going to serve him".
- "Go," said the count, "and greet him for me. Tell him I'll go see him soon. "
- " I will do it. "
It happened when it was time for them to wake up. They got up and went for a walk. When the time seemed right, they ate. The valet served them. Gereint asked the hotel keeper if he had any companions in his house whom he would be good enough to invite to come near him.
- "I have", he said.
- "Bring them here to take in abundance, at my expense, all the best that can be found to buy in the city." "
The hotelier brought there the best company he had to feast at Gereint's expense. In the meantime, the count came with twelve ordained knights to visit Gereint. The latter stood up and greeted him.
"God give you well," said the count.
They went to sit down, each according to their rank. The Earl spoke to Gereint and asked him what was the purpose of his trip.
- "No other", he replied, "than to seek adventure and do what I deem appropriate".
Then the count looked at Enid intently, fixedly. Never, he thought, had he seen a young girl more beautiful or more graceful than she; he focused all his mind and thoughts on her.
"Will you allow me," he said to Gereint, "to go and talk to that young woman over there, whom I see as sort of separated from you? "
- "Very willingly," said Gereint. He went to Enid and said to him:
Young girl, there is little pleasure for you in such a trip, in the company of this man. "
- "It is not disagreeable to me", she answered, "to follow the road which it pleases to follow".
- "You will have neither servants nor maids at your command. "
- "I prefer to follow this man than to have servants and maids. "
- "Do you want some good advice? Stay with me, and I will put my county in your possession. "
- "No, by me and God, this man is the first and the only one to whom I have ever given my faith, and I will not be unfaithful to him. "
- " You are wrong. If I kill him I'll get you as long as I want, and when I'm tired of you I'll kick you out. If you consent for the love of me, there will be indissoluble, eternal accord between us, as long as we live. "
She reflected on the count's words, and found it wiser to inspire him with presumptuous confidence on the subject of his request.
"Lord," she said, "the best thing you have to do, so as not to bring me too much shame, is to come here tomorrow and take me away, as if I don't know anything about it".
- "I will", he replied.
With that, he got up, took his leave, and left, he and his men.
For the moment, she did not tell Gereint about her meeting with the Earl, for fear of increasing his anger, worries and agitation. They went to bed when it was time. She slept a little at the start of the night. At midnight, she awoke, put Gereint's arms in order all together, so that he had only to clothe them, and, with much apprehension and fear for his step, she went to the edge of Gereint's bed and said to him in a low voice, softly:
Lord, wake up and get dressed. Listen to the interview I had with the count and his intentions towards me. "
She revealed the whole conversation to Gereint. Although he was irritated with her, he heeded the warning and dressed. She lit a candle to light him as he dressed.
"Leave the candle there," he said, "and tell the master of the house to come here. "
She obeys. The hotelier went to Gereint.
Do you know how much I owe you? " he said to him.
- "Not much, I think, Lord. "
- "Regardless of my debt, take eleven horses and eleven armor. "
- »God give it back to you, Lord; but I did not spend the value of one of these armor on you. "
- "What does it matter! You will only be richer. Will you guide me out of town? "
- " Gladly; and which way do you plan to go? "
- "I would like to go to the opposite side to the one by which we entered the city. "
The hotel keeper led him as far as he wanted. So Gereint ordered Enid to get ahead as before. She did and walked off in front of her. The hotelier returned home.
He had barely returned when he heard the greatest noise coming upon his house he had ever heard. When he looked out he saw eighty fully armed knights with Earl Dwnn at their head.
Where is the knight? He cried.
- "By your hand, lord," said the hotel keeper, "he is already some distance from here; he's been gone quite a while. "
- "Why, villain, did you let him go without warning me?" "
- "Lord, you did not order it from me; if you had, I wouldn't have let it go. "
- "Which way do you think he went? "
- " I do not know; only, it is the main street that he has taken. "
They turned bridle towards this street, saw the tracks of the horses' feet, followed them, and arrived at the main road.
Enid, when she saw the dawning of the day, looked behind her, and saw like a fog and a cloud which approached more and more. She worried, thinking it was the Earl and his retinue chasing them. At that moment, she saw a knight appear out of the cloud.
"By my faith," she said, "I will warn him, at the risk of being killed by him." I'd rather die by his hand than see him kill without warning him. "
"Lord," she said to him, "don't you see this man coming towards you followed by many others?" "
- "I see it", he replied. "No matter how much we command you to remain silent, you will never be silent. Your warning doesn't matter to me; no longer speak to me. "
He turned against the knight, and, with the first assault, threw him under the feet of his horse. He continued to topple them at the first shock, as long as only one of the Eighty Knights remained. The vanquished was always replaced by a stronger one, the count remaining apart. The count was the last to come. He smashed a first spear against him, then a second. Gereint turned against him, and, rushing forward, struck him with his spear right in the middle of his shield, so that the shield broke, as well as all the armor, in that direction, and he was thrown at him. - even over the rump of his horse on the ground, in peril of death. Gereint approached him; the sound of the horse's hooves made the count come back from his fainting.
"Lord," he said to Gereint, "your thank you. "
Gereint thanked him. Owing to the hardness of the ground on which they had been thrown and the violence of the assaults they had to undergo, not one of them left without having received from Gereint a mortally painful jump, bringing stinging pain. injuries and breaking the body.
Gereint walked away in front of him, following the road he was on. The young woman kept her lead. Near them they saw a valley, the most beautiful one had ever seen, crossed by a great river, a bridge over the river, and a road leading to the river; higher than the bridge, on the other side, there was a strong city, the most beautiful in the world. As he walked towards the bridge, Gereint saw coming from his side, through a thick brush of little extent, a knight mounted on a big and tall horse, at an even step, proud and docile.
"Knight," he said to him, "where are you from? "
- "I come," he replied, "from that valley over there. "
»Who owns this beautiful valley and this beautiful strong city? "
I'll tell you: the Franks and Saxons call him Gwiffret Petit, and the Welsh the Little King. "
- "May I go to this bridge and to the main road which passes nearest under the city walls?" "
- »Do not put your feet on the ground which is on the other side of the bridge, if you do not want to deal with him; it is his habit that not a knight passes on his lands without meeting with him. "
- "By me and God, I will follow this road in spite of himself. "
- "If this is so, I believe that you will be ashamed and insult. "
Gereint, angrily, resolutely and angrily, walked towards the road he had previously intended to follow. And it was not the one that led to the city by the bridge that he took, but the one that led to an eminence on the hard, solid, high ground, with a wide view.
He immediately saw a knight come with him, mounted on a strong and fat war horse, with a valiant walk, a wide hoof, a broad chest: never had he seen a smaller man; he was fully armed, he and his steed. Reaching Gereint he exclaimed:
Say, Lord, was it out of ignorance or presumption that you sought to make me lose my privilege and violate my law? "
- "No", replied Gereint, "I did not know that the road was closed to anyone. "
- "As you knew, come with me to my court to give me satisfaction. "
- "I will not go, by my faith; I won't even go to your lord's court, unless it's Arthur. "
- "By the hand of Arthur, I will have satisfaction of you or extreme suffering. "
And they attacked immediately.
A squire of his came to supply them with spears as they broke them. They gave each other hard, violent blows on their coins, to the point that the coins lost all their color. Gereint did not find it pleasant to fight with him, because of his small size, the difficulty of seeing him well, and the violence of the blows he also gave. They did not stop knocking until the horses fell on their knees, and Gereint finally threw him to the ground, head first. So they fought on foot. They gave each other quick and angry blows, rough and valiant, strong and searing. They pierced their helmets, cut into their brains, disrupted their armor, so that they were blinded by sweat and blood. At the end Gereint went into a fury, called to him all his strength, and with anger, swiftness, cruelly, solidly, he raised his sword and discharged a mortally violent blow on his head, penetrating like poison, furious, bitter, in the face. not that he broke all the armor of the head, the skin, the flesh, that he cut into the bone and that the sword of the little king was thrown to the far end of the field. He asked Gereint in the name of God for mercy and thank you.
- "You will have it", said Gereint, "despite your lack of courtesy and politeness, on condition of being my companion, never to do anything against me from now on, and, if you learn that I am in pain, to come and deliver me. "
- "I will, lord, with pleasure. "
When he had given him his faith, he added:
And you, lord, you will undoubtedly come with me to my court, over there, to recover from your fatigue and your weariness. "
- "I will not go, by me and God", replied Gereint.
Gwiffret the Little then saw Enid -. he found it hard to see such a noble creature as she endured so much suffering.
"Lord," he said to Gereint, "you are wrong not to indulge yourself in relaxation and rest. If you have a difficult adventure in this state, it will not be easy for you to come to an end. "
Gereint only wanted to continue his journey.
He got back on his horse, covered in blood and in pain. The young woman resumed her advance. They walked towards a wood which they saw beside them. The heat was great, and the weapons, through sweat and blood, stuck to his flesh. Arrived in the wood, he stopped under a tree, to avoid the heat. The pain of his wounds then made him feel more keenly than when they had received them. Enid was standing under another tree. At that moment they heard the sound of horns and the tumult of a large gathering: it was Arthur and his retinue descending into the wood. Gereint was wondering which road he would take to avoid them, when a pedestrian saw him: it was the valet of the yard. He went to find the distein and told him what kind of knight he had seen in the wood. The distein had his horse fitted, took his lance and shield, and went to Gereint.
"Chevalier," he said to him, "what are you doing here? "
- "I am cool under this tree, and I avoid the heat of the sun and the heat. "
– “Who are you and what is the purpose of your trip? "
– “Seek adventures and go where I please. "
– “Well”, said Kei, “come with me to visit Arthur, who is here nearby. "
– “I will not go, by me and God. "
“You will have to come. "
Gereint recognized Kei, but Kei didn't recognize Gereint. Kei charged Gereint as best he could. Gereint, irritated, struck him with the shaft of his spear under the chin and threw him to the ground, head first: that was all the harm he did him. Kei got up, all beside himself, got back on his horse and went to his lodgings. From there he went to the pavilion of Gwalchmei.
Lord, one of my servants has just told me that he saw in the woods up there a wounded knight, with armor in very poor condition. You better go see if it's true. "
"I don't care," replied Gwalchmei.
“Take your horse and some of your weapons, for I have learned that he is not kind to those who find him. "
Gwalchmei took his spear and shield, mounted his horse, and went to Gereint.
“Knight,” he said to her, “what trip are you on? "
– “I travel for my business and I seek adventure in the world. "
“Will you say who you are and come and visit Arthur, who is here near? "
“I don't want to get in touch with you right now, and I won't be going to see Arthur. "
He recognized Gwalchmei, but Gwalchmei did not recognize him.
"It will not be said," exclaimed Gwalchmei, "that I let you go before I knew who you were." "
He charged him with his spear and struck his shield so that his spear was broken and their horses head to head. Gwalchmei then looked at him attentively and recognized him.
" Oh! Gereint,” he exclaimed, “is that you? "
“I am not Gereint,” he replied.
– “You are well Gereint, by me and God. Yours is a sad and unreasonable expedition. "
Casting his eyes around him, he caught sight of Enid, saluted her, and gave her a happy countenance.
“Gereint,” said Gwalchmei, “come to Arthur, your lord and your cousin. "
“I will not go,” he replied; "I'm not in a state to present myself in front of anyone. "
At this moment, one of the squires came after Gwalchmei to look for news. Gwalchmei sent him to warn Arthur that Gereint was hurt, that he didn't want to see him and that it was a pity to see the state he was in, and all this without Gereint knowing it, apart, by voice. bass:
'Recommend Arthur,' he added, 'to bring his tent near the road, for he will not go to see him willingly, and it is not easy to compel him there in the sorry state where is he. "
The squire went to report all this to Arthur, who had his flag carried to the side of the road. Enid's soul then rejoiced. Gwalchmei tried to talk Gereint into reason all the way to Arthur's encampment, where the pages were setting up his flag on the side of the road.
“Lord,” said Gereint, “be well. "
“God give you well,” replied Arthur; " who are you? "
– “Gereint”, says Gwalchmei; of his own free will, he wouldn't have come to see you today. "
“Truly,” replied Arthur, “he's not in his right mind. At that moment, Enid approached Arthur and offered him her wishes.
“God bless you,” he replied; “Somebody put her down,” which one of the pages did.
“Alas, Enid, said he, what journey is this? »
“I don't know, my lord,” she said, “only my duty is to follow the same road as he pleases to follow himself. "
– “Lord”, said Gereint, “we will set out, with your permission. "
- " Or this? You cannot leave now unless you want to complete your loss. "
“He wouldn't allow me to invite him,” Gwalchmei said.
“He will allow it to me,” said Arthur; and, moreover, he will not go away until he is healed. "
“I would rather,” said Gereint, “that you let me go. "
– “I will do nothing about it, by me and God. "
He summoned the maidens for Enid and led her to the bedroom in Gwenhwyvar's pavilion. Gwenhwyvar and all the ladies made him welcome. They stripped her of her riding habit and put on another. Arthur called Kadyrieith, ordered him to tend a lodge for Gereint and his doctors, and instructed him not to let him want for anything he asked of him. Kadyrieith did; he brought Morgan Tut and his followers to Gereint. Arthur and his court stayed there for about a month to nurse Gereint.
When Gereint felt his solid flesh, he went to find Arthur to ask his permission to set off.
“I don't know, myself,” said Arthur, “if you are still well cured. "
"I certainly am, lord," he replied.
“I'm not trusting you on that, but the doctors who treated you. »
He called the doctors and asked them if it was true.
"It's true," says Morgan Tut.
The next day Arthur allowed him to go away. He left to complete his expedition. The same day Arthur set out.
Gereint ordered Enid to take the lead and keep the lead, as she had done before. She set off and followed the main road. As they went thus, they heard the most violent cries in the world close to them.
“Stop here, you,” Gereint told Enid, “and wait. I will see what these cries mean. "
“I will,” she replied.
He left and came to a clearing which was near the road. In the clearing he saw two horses, one with a man's saddle, the other with a woman's saddle, and a knight, dressed in his armor, dead. A young woman, dressed as a horse, lamented, leaning over the knight.
“Lady,” he said, “what happened to you? "
“We were traveling this way, me and the man I loved best, when three giants came to us, who, in defiance of all justice, killed him. "
– “Where did they go? "
“That way, by the main road. "
He returned to Enid:
“Go,” he said to her, “to the lady who is over there, and wait for me there, if I come back. "
This order pained him; however, she went to the young woman, who was painful to hear. She was convinced that Gereint would be amazed.
For him, he went after the giants and overtook them. Each of them was taller than three men and had a huge club on their shoulders. He rushed at one of them and stabbed it with his spear. He withdrew it from the body and struck the second in the same way. But the third turned against him and struck him with his club, so that he split the shield, cut into the shoulder, that all his wounds reopened and that he began to lose all his blood. Then he drew his sword, swooped down on the giant and struck him with a hard, rapid, enormous, violent, valiant blow on the top of the head, so that he split his head and his neck to the two shoulders and shot him dead. He left the dead thus, went to the place where Enid was, and at the sight of her, fell lifeless from off his horse. Enid uttered terrible, piercing, continuous, painful cries. She ran to where he had fallen and threw herself on his body. At her cries, immediately came Count Limwris and his retinue, who were following this road; they ran across the road.
'Lady,' said the Count to Enid, 'what happened to you? "
“Lord,” she replied, “the man I loved and will always love the most is killed. "
“And to you,” he said to the other lady, “what happened to you? "
“The one I loved the most too,” she said, “is killed. "
– “Who killed them? "
“The giants had killed my most beloved. The other knight went after them and came back from them in the state you see, losing excessive blood. I don't believe he left them without killing some of them, and maybe all of them. "
The count had the knight who had been left dead buried. For Gereint, he supposed that there was still a remnant of life in him. To see if he would recover, he had him carried with him to his court, on a coffin, in the hollow of his shield. The two young women accompanied him there.
When we got there, they placed Gereint, still in his beer, on a table placed in front of the room. Everyone got rid of their traveling clothes. The count begged Enid to do the same and to take another coat.
"I won't, by me and God," she said.
“Lady,” he said, “don't be so sad. "
“I'll make sure you don't have to be sad, whatever happens to this knight, whether he dies or lives. I have a good county: you will have it in your possession, and I with it. Be joyful, happy now. "
– “I will not be, I take God to witness, as long as I live henceforth. "
- " Come eat. "
– “I will not go, by me and God. "
“You will come, through me and God. And he took her to the table, in spite of herself, and insistently asked her to eat.
“I will not eat, I testify to God, until he who is on the beer over there eats. "
“Here's a word you won't be able to keep: isn't this man, in other words, dead? "
– “I will try. "
So he offered her a full cup.
Drink this cup, and your feelings will change. "
“Shame on me,” she replied, “if I drink before he drinks himself! "
“Truly,” exclaimed the Count, “I am no more advanced in being kind to you than disagreeable! "
And he gave her a slap. She uttered a piercing, violent cry. She was in greater pain than ever thinking that if Gereint had been alive, she wouldn't have been slapped like this.
At his cries, Gereint came out of his faintness, sat up, and, finding his sword in the hollow of his shield, rushed to the count and discharged him a furious and piercing blow, cooking like poison. strong and confident, on the top of the head, so that he split it in two and the sword cut into the table. Everyone left the tables and fled outside. It was not so much the fear of the living man that seized them as the spectacle of the dead rising to strike them. Gereint glanced at Enid, and a double pain went through him at seeing that Enid had lost her colors and her usual air, and at the awareness he had of her innocence.
“Lady,” he said, “do you know where our horses are? "
“I know where yours is, but I don't know where the other one went. Yours to that house over there. "
He went there, led his horse out, mounted, and, lifting Enid from the ground, placed her between him and the saddle tree in front, and rode away.
While they rode thus between two hedges, the night beginning to triumph over the day, they suddenly perceived behind them, between them and the sky, shafts of spears, and heard the sound of horses' hooves and the tumult of a troop.
“I hear coming behind us,” Gereint says; “I'll drop you off on the other side of the hedge. "
At this moment, a knight came towards him, lance lowered. And seeing him, Enid exclaimed:
"Lord, what glory will you have in killing a dead man, whoever you may be? "
– “Ciel”, he said, “could it be Gereint? "
– “Assuredly, by me and God; and who are you yourself? "
– “I am the Little King; I come to your aid, because I have learned that you are in trouble. If you had followed my advice, you would not have experienced all these misfortunes. "
“Nothing can be done,” replied Gereint, “against the will of God; great good can, however, come from good advice. "
“Certainly, and I can give you a good one in the present circumstances: you are going to come with me to the court of a son-in-law of a sister of mine, very close here, to be treated by the best doctors in the world. kingdom. "
“Gladly, let’s go,” he replied.
Enid was mounted on the horse of one of the squires, and they rode to the baron's court. They were well received. They found attention and service there. The next morning, we went in search of doctors: they did not take long to arrive, and they treated him until he was completely cured. In the meantime, he had instructed the Little King to have his weapons repaired, so that they were as good as ever. They stayed there for a month and a fortnight. The Little King then said to him:
We will go to my court now, to rest and make ourselves comfortable. "
“If you wanted to,” said Gereint, “we would walk one more day, and then we would come back. "
- " Gladly; opens the way. "
In the youth of the day, they set out.
Enid was happier and more cheerful with them than she had ever been. They came to the main road and saw that it split in two. On one of the paths, they saw a pedestrian coming towards them. Gwiffret asked him:
» Pedestrian, which side are you from? "
“From that country over there,” he replied, “to run errands. "
“Tell me,” said Gereint, “which of these two paths is it better for us to take? "
– “You better take this one; if you go to the other one, over there, you will not come back. Over there is the Clos du Nuage, and there are enchanted games. Of all those who went there, not one returned. There is the court of Earl Owein; he does not allow anyone to come and lodge in town, unless one goes to his court. "
– “By me and God, this is the way we will go. "
And then, following this road, they came to the city.
They took their lodgings in the place of the city which seemed to them the most beautiful and the most agreeable. As they were there, a young squire came up to them and saluted them.
"God gives you good," they replied.
– “Gentlemen, what preparations are yours here? "
– “We take accommodation and stay here tonight. "
“It is not the custom of the man to whom this city belongs to permit any gentleman to lodge there, unless he go to find him at his court. Come to court. "
“Willingly,” said Gereint.
They followed the squire. They were well received at court. The Count came to meet them in the hall, and ordered the tables to be prepared. They got up and went to sit down: Gereint, on one side of the count, and Enid, on the other; the Little King next to Enid and the Countess next to Gereint; each one then according to his dignity. Gereint began to think about the games, and, thinking that he would not be allowed to go, he stopped eating. The Count looked at him and thought it was for fear of going to the games. He regretted having established them, if only because of the loss of a man like Gereint. If Gereint had asked him to abolish these games forever, he would have gladly done so. He says to Gereint:
» What do you think about, that you don't eat? If you dread going to the games, you will get me not to go, and even that no one will ever go there again, out of consideration for you. "
– “God give it back to you: I want nothing more than to go there and be guided there. "
“If you prefer, I will gladly do so. "
“Yes, actually,” he replied.
They ate. They had full service, plenty of presents, plenty of drinks. When the meal was over, they got up. Gereint asked for his horse and his arms, and harnessed himself and his steed. All the troops went to the edge of the field.
The hedge rose as far as the eye could see in the air. On each of the stakes that could be seen in the field, there was a man's head, except two stakes, and you could see stakes on all sides.
"Will anyone be able to accompany the prince," said the Little King then, "or will he go alone?" "
“Nobody,” answered Owein.
– “Which side do you enter? asked Gereint.
"I don't know," said Owein. “Go whichever way you want and which seems most convenient to you. "
And without fear, without hesitation, he advanced into the cloud.
Coming out, he came to a large orchard, with an open space in the middle, where he saw a brocade pavilion with a red top. The door was open. Opposite the door was an apple tree, and a large call horn hung from a branch of the tree. Gereint dismounted and entered: there was only a maiden seated in a gilded pulpit; opposite her was another empty pulpit. Gereint sat there.
“Lord,” said the girl, “I do not advise you to sit in this pulpit. "
- " Why? "
“He who owns it never allowed another to sit on it. "
“I don't care if he finds it wrong that I sit there. "
At this moment a great noise was heard around the pavilion. Gereint went to see what it meant, and he saw a knight mounted on a war-horse, with haughty, ardent and proud nostrils, with strong bones; a coat of arms divided in two covered him and his horse, and there was full armor underneath.
“Say, lord,” he asked Gereint, “who asked you to sit there? "
- " Myself. "
“You were wrong to cause me such shame and such affront. Get up from there to give me satisfaction for your lack of courtesy. "
Gereint stood up, and immediately they fought. They broke an assortment of spears, then a second, then a third. They gave each other blows hard and stinging, fast and violent. In the end, Gereint got angry, threw his horse at full speed, threw himself on him and struck him right in the middle of his shield, so that he split it, that the point of the spear penetrated his armour, that all the straps broke, and he was thrown to the ground, over his horse's croup, the full length of Gereint's spear and arm, head first.
" Oh! lord,” he said to Gereint, “thank you, and you will have whatever you want. "
“I only want one thing,” he replied; is that there will never be such a game here again, nor cloud field, nor enchantment and magic as until now. "
“I gladly grant it to you, my lord. "
“Disappear the cloud. "
“Blow that horn yonder, and as soon as you blow, the cloud will disappear forever: it was not to disappear before a knight sounded it and felled me. "
Sad and worried was Enid where she had stood thinking of Gereint. Then Gereint went and sounded his horn, and at the first sound he heard the cloud disappeared. All the troops gathered, and everyone made peace. The Count invited Gereint and the Little King for that night. The next morning they separated. Gereint went to his States. He ruled them prosperously from there; his valor and bravery continued to maintain glory and reputation for him and Enid henceforth.
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