The Lady of the Fountain

Here is the story of the Lady of the Fountain. Emperor Arthur was at Kaer Llion on Wysc. But one day he was sitting in his room with Owein, son of Uryen, Kynon, son of Klydno and Kei, son of Kynyr. Gwenhwyvar and her attendants sewed by the window.

Lady of the Fountain

It was said that there was a porter at Arthur's court, but in reality there was none: it was Glewlwyt with the strong embrace who fulfilled his functions; he received guests and people from far away; he paid them the first honors, made them acquainted with the manners and customs of the court; he indicated to those who had the right to enter the hall and the bedroom; to those who had the right to housing, their hotel. In the middle of the room sat the Emperor Arthur on a seat of green rushes covered with a mantle of yellow-red brocade; under his elbow, a cushion covered with red brocade. Men, "said Arthur," if you weren't laughing at me, I'd gladly sleep while I wait for my meal. For yourself you can chat, take jars of mead and slices of meat from Kei's hand. And the Emperor fell asleep.

Kynon, son of Klydno, demanded from Kei what the Emperor had promised them. "I want first," said Kei, "the story that was promised to me. "-" Man, "said Kynon," the best thing you have to do is fulfill Arthur's promise, then we'll tell you the best story we can know. Kei went to the kitchen and the pantry; he returned with jugs of mead, a golden goblet, and a fist full of spits bearing slices of meat. They took the slices and began to drink the mead. "Now," Kei said, "it's up to you to pay me for my story. "-" Kynon, "said Owein," pays Kei his tale. "-" In truth ", said Kynon," you are older than me, better storyteller, and you have seen more extraordinary things: pay Kei his story. "-" Start, you, with what you know most remarkable. "-" I'm starting, "said Kynon.

I was the only child of a father and a mother; I was fiery, with great presumption; I didn't believe there was anyone in the world capable of surpassing me in any feat. After having come to the end of all those presented by my country, I made my preparations and set out for the ends of the world and the deserts; in the end I came across a valley that was the most beautiful in the world, covered with trees of equal size, crossed in its entire length by a fast-flowing river. A path ran along the river; I followed him until the middle of the day and I continued across the river to nones. I came to a vast plain, at the end of which was a sparkling castle, bathed in the waves. I walked towards the castle: then came to my sight two young people with curly blond hair, each wearing a gold diadem; their dress was of yellow brocade; gold clasps tightened their instep; they had an ivory bow in their hands; the strings were of stag's nerves, their arrows, the shafts of which were of cetacean bones, had beards of peacock feathers; the heads of the poles were gold; the blades of their knives were also of gold, and the handles of cetacean bone. They were throwing their knives. A short distance from them, I saw a man with curly blond hair, in all his strength, a freshly shaved beard. He was dressed in a robe and a coat of yellow brocade; a border of gold thread bordered the mantle. He wore two high shoes of variegated cordwal on his feet, each one fastened with a button of gold. As soon as I saw him, I approached him intending to greet him, but he was such a courteous man that his greeting preceded mine. He went with me to the castle.

There were no other inhabitants than those who were in the room. There stood twenty-four maidens sewing silk by the window, and I'll tell you, Kei, I don't think I'm wrong in saying that the ugliest of them was prettier than the maiden. the most beautiful you have ever seen in the island of Brittany; the least beautiful was more charming than Gwenhwyvar, Arthur's wife, when she is most beautiful, on Christmas Day or Easter Day, for mass. They got up when I arrived. Six of them seized my horse and disarmed me; six others took my arms and washed them in a basin till nothing whiter could be seen. A third group of six put the tablecloths on the tables and prepared the meal. The fourth group of six stripped me of my traveling clothes and gave me others: shirt, bliant stockings, dress, overcoat and yellow brocade coat; there was a wide band of orfrois (gallon) on the mantle. They spread under and around us numerous cushions covered with fine red cloth. We sat down. The six who had seized my horse got rid of all his equipment in an irreproachable manner, as well as the best riders on the island of Britain. We were immediately brought silver ewers to wash ourselves with, and fine linen napkins, some green, others white.

When we were washed, the man of whom I have spoken sat down to table; I sat down next to him and all the maidens following me below me except the ones doing the duty. The table was silver, and the table linens of fine linen; as for the vessels which served at the table, not one which was not of gold, of silver, or of the horn of a wild ox. Our food was brought to us. You can believe me, Kei, there was no drink or food known to me that was not represented there, with the difference that food and drink were much better prepared than anywhere else. We arrived at halfway through the meal without the man or the virgins having said a word to me. When it seemed to my host that I was more inclined to talk than to eat, he asked me who I was. I told him I was happy to find someone to talk to and that the only fault I saw in his yard was that they were such bad talkers. Lord, "he said," we would have chatted with you already, without the fear of disturbing you in your meal, we will do it now. I let him know who I was and what the purpose of my trip was: I wanted someone who could conquer me, or myself triumph over everyone. He looked at me and smiled: "If I didn't believe," he said, "that it must have happened to you too much, I would tell you what you're looking for. I conceived great sorrow and great pain. he recognized it by my face and said to me: "Since you prefer that I tell you something disadvantageous for you rather than advantageous, I will do it: sleep here tonight. Get up early tomorrow, follow the path you are on all the way down that valley over there until you get to the wood you went through. A little before in the wood, you will meet a path branching off to the right; follow him to a great united glade; in the middle rises a mound, on the top of which you will see a great black man, as tall at least as two men of this world; he has only one foot and one eye in the middle of the forehead; in his hand he carries an iron club, and I answer you that there are not two men in the world who did not find their weight there. It's not that he's a mean man, but he's ugly. He is the guardian of the forest, and you will see a thousand wild animals grazing around him. Ask him for the road that leads out of the clearing. He will be gruff towards you, but he will show you a path that will allow you to find what you are looking for. " 

I found this night long. The next morning I got up, dressed, mounted my horse and went in front of me along the valley of the river to the wood, then I followed the forked path that the man had indicated to me, until to the clearing. When I got there, I thought I saw at least three times as many wild animals there as my host had told me. The black man was seated at the top of the mound; my host told me he was tall: he was much taller than that. The iron club which he said charged two men, I am sure, Kei, that four men of war would have found their fill: the black man held it in his hand. I greeted the black man who only answered me in a gruff manner. I asked him what power he had over these animals. "I'll show it to you, little man," he said. And to take his staff and to discharge a good blow on a deer. The latter made a loud roar, and immediately, at his voice, animals rushed in as many as the stars in the air, so much so that I had great difficulty in standing among them in the sky. clearing; add that there were snakes, vipers, all kinds of animals. He looked up at them and ordered them to go out to graze. They bowed their heads and showed him the same respect as men subjected to their lord. "You see, little man," said the black man to me, the power I have over these animals. " 

I asked him for the route. He was rude, but he still asked me where I wanted to go. I told him who I was and what I wanted. He informed me: "Take the path at the end of the clearing and walk in the direction of that rocky hill up there. When you reach the top, you will see a plain, a sort of large watered valley. In the middle you will see a big tree; the end of its branches is greener than the greenest of the pines; under the tree is a fountain and on the edge of the fountain a marble slab, and on the slab a silver basin attached to a silver chain so that they cannot be separated. Take the basin, fill it and throw the water on the slab. Immediately you will hear such a great clap of thunder that it will seem to you that the earth and the sky are trembling; the noise will be followed by a very cold shower; it is hardly if you will be able to endure it without saving your life; it will be a shower of hail. After the shower, it will be fine. There is not a leaf on the tree which the shower has not removed; after the downpour will come a flock of birds which will descend on the tree; you have never heard in your country a music comparable to their song. At the moment when you will take the most pleasure there, you will hear coming towards you along the valley moans and complaints, and immediately you will appear a knight mounted on an all black horse, dressed in all black brocade, the lance adorned with a gonfanon 'of fine all black canvas. he will attack you as quickly as possible. If you run away from him, he will overtake you; if you wait for him, rider that you are, he will leave you a pedestrian. If this time you do not find suffering, it is useless for you to seek it while you are alive. I followed the path to the top of the mound, from where I saw what the black man had told me; I went to the tree and below I saw the fountain, with the marble slab and the silver basin attached to the chain. I took the basin and I filled it with water which I threw on the slab. There was immediately the thunder and much louder than the black man had told me, and after the noise, the downpour: I was quite convinced, Kei, that neither man nor animal, surprised outside by the downpour, life would not escape. Not a hailstone was stopped by the skin or by the flesh: it penetrated to the bone. I turn the rump of my horse against the ripple, I place the ploughshare of my shield on the head of my horse and on its mane, the cover on my head, and I thus support the ripple. I cast my eyes on the tree: there was no longer a leaf. Then the weather becomes calm; immediately the birds descend on the tree and begin to sing; and I am sure, Kei, that I have never heard music like this before or after. When I took the most pleasure in hearing them, here were the complaints coming towards me along the valley, and a voice said to me: "Knight, what did you want from me? What harm have I done to you so that you do to me and to my subjects what you did to me today? Don't you know that the downpour left neither human creature nor beast alive that it surprised outside? Immediately the knight presents himself on an all-black horse, dressed in all-black brocade, with a gonfanon of fine all-black canvas. We are attacking. The shock was severe, but I was soon toppled. The knight passed the barrel of his lance through the reins of my horse, and went with the two horses, leaving me there. He did not even do me the honor of taking me prisoner; he didn't rob me either.

I returned by the path I had already taken. I found the black man at the glade, and I confess, Kei, how wonderful I wasn't ashamed, hearing the black man's mockery. I arrived that night at the castle where I had spent the previous night. They were even more courteous there than the night before, they gave me good food, and I was able to talk to the men and women as I liked. No one made the slightest allusion to my trip to the fountain. I didn't say a word to anyone either. I spent the night there. When I got up the next morning, I found a dark brown palfrey, with a red mane, as red as purple, fully equipped. After putting on my armor, I left them my blessing and returned to my court. The horse, I still have it; he's barn over there, and by God and I, Kei, I wouldn't give him away for the best stable on the Isle of Brittany yet. God knows that no one has ever confessed on their own account a less happy adventure than this. And yet, what seems most extraordinary to me is that I have never heard of anyone before or after who knew the slightest thing about this adventure, apart from what I have just told; and also that the object of this adventure is in the States of Emperor Arthur without anyone arriving on it. - "Men," said Owein, "wouldn't it be good to try to find that place? "-" By the hand of my friend, "said Kei," this is not the first time that your tongue has offered what your arm would not do. "-" Truly, "cried Gwenhwyvar," it would be better to see you hanged, Kei, than to make such outrageous remarks towards a man like Owein. "-" By the hand of my friend, "he replied," princess, you did not say more in praise of Owein than I did myself. At this point Arthur awoke and asked if he had slept for any time. - "A lot of time, lord," said Owein. - "Is it time to sit down to dinner? "-" It is time, lord, "said Owein. The horn gave the signal to go and wash, and the Emperor, with all his household, sat down to table. When the meal was over, Owein disappeared. He went to his lodgings and prepared his horse and his weapons.

The next day, as soon as he sees daybreak, he puts on his armor, rides a horse, and walks in front of him to the end of the world and towards the deserts of the mountains. At the end, he falls on the wooded valley that Kynon had indicated to him, so that he cannot doubt that it is him. he walks through the valley following the river, then he passes on the other side and walks up to the plain; he follows the plain as far as the castle. He walks towards the castle, sees the young men throwing their knives at where Kynon had seen them, and the blond man, the master of the castle, standing next to them. As Owein goes to greet him, the blond man addresses him and precedes him to the castle. He sees a room, and entering the room, virgins sewing yellow brocade, sitting in golden chairs. Owein found them much more beautiful and more graceful than Kynon had said. They stood up to serve Owein as they had done for Kynon. The food seemed even better to Owein than to Kynon. In the middle of the meal, the blond man asked Owein what trip he was on. Owein did not hide anything from him: "I would like", he said, "to meet with the knight who guards the fountain. The blond man smiles; despite the embarrassment he felt in giving Owein any directions on this subject as he did before to Kynon, he did, however, keep him fully informed. They went to bed

The next morning, Owein found his horse held by the maidens. He made his way to the black man's glade, which seemed even bigger to him than at Kynon. He asked her for the route. The black man pointed it out to him. Like Kynon, Owein followed the road to the green tree. He saw the fountain and at the edge of the slab with the basin. Owein took the basin, and threw a lot of water on the slab. Immediately there is a clap of thunder, then after the thunder, the shower, and the two much louder than Kynon had said. After the downpour, the sky clears up. When Owein looked up at the tree, there was no more leaf. At that moment the birds descended on the tree and began to sing. When he was enjoying their singing the most, he saw a knight coming along the valley. Owein went to meet him and they fought hard. They broke their two spears, drew their swords, and fenced themselves. Owein soon gave the knight such a blow that he went through the helm, the brains and the brains and reached through the skin, flesh and bones to the brains. The dark knight felt he was mortally wounded, turned back and fled. Owein pursued him and, if he could not strike him with his sword, he hugged him closely. A large shining castle appeared. They arrived at the entrance. The dark knight was allowed in, but the harrow fell on Owein. The harrow reached the end of the saddle behind him, cut the horse in half, removed the spur knobs from Owein's heel, and stopped only on the ground. The spur knurls and a section of the horse remained outside, and Owein, with the other section, between the two doors. The inner door was closed so that Owein could not escape.

He was in the greatest embarrassment, when he saw, through the joint of the door, a street in front of him, with a row of houses on both sides, and a young girl with curly blond hair, her head adorned with a gold band, dressed in yellow brocade, her feet shod in two spotted cordwal boots, heading towards the entrance. She demanded that they be opened: "Truly," said Owein, "lady, it is no more possible to open yourself from here than you yourself can deliver me from there." - "It is really great pity", said the virgin, "that we can not deliver you. It would be a woman's duty to be of service to you. Certainly I have never seen a better young man than you for a woman. If you had a friend, you would be her best friend; if you had a mistress, there would be no better lover than you; so I will do whatever I can to get you out of the situation. Hold this ring and put it on your finger. Turn the kitten inside your hand and close your hand on it. As long as you hide it, it will hide you yourself. When they come to their senses, they will run here again to deliver you to death because of the knight. They will be very irritated when they do not find you. I'll be on the stone mount there waiting for you. You will see me without my seeing you. Run up and put your hand on my shoulder; I will know that you are there. Follow me then where I go. With that, she left Owein.

He did everything the virgin had ordered him to do. The men of the court indeed came to seek Owein to put him to death, but they found only half of the horse, which made them very furious. Owein escaped from among them, went to the virgin and put a hand on her shoulder. She started walking followed by Owein and they arrived at the door of a large and beautiful room. She opened, they entered and closed the door. Owein looked around the apartment: there was not a nail that was not painted in a rich color, not a panel that was not decorated with various golden figures. The virgin lit a charcoal fire, took a silver basin with water, -and a fine white linen towel over her shoulder, she offered the water to Owein for him to wash. Then she placed a table of gilded silver in front of him, covered with a tablecloth of fine yellow linen, and brought him supper. There was no dish known to Owein which he did not see in abundance, with the difference that the dishes he saw were much better prepared than elsewhere. Nowhere had he seen so many excellent food or drink offered as there. Not a serving vessel that was not gold or silver. Owein ate and drank until late in the time of nuns. At that moment, they heard loud cries in the castle. Owein asked the virgin what those cries were: "Extreme unction is given to the master of the castle," she said. Owein went to bed. He would have been worthy of Arthur, he was so good, the bed the virgin made him, of scarlet fabrics, brocade, cendall and fine linen. Around midnight, they heard screams. What do those screams mean now? »Said Owein, -« The lord, master of the castle, has just died », replied the virgin. A little after daylight resounded cries and lamentations of inexpressible violence. Owein asked the young girl what the cries meant. "We carry," she said, "the body of the lord, master of the castle, to the cemetery. Owein got up, dressed, opened the window, and looked towards the castle. He saw neither beginning nor end to the troops who filled the streets, all fully armed; there were also many women on foot and on horseback, and all the church people in the city were there singing. It seemed to Owein that the sky resounded with the violence of the cries, the sound of trumpets, and the songs of the clergymen. In the middle of the crowd was the beer, covered with a sheet of white linen, carried by men, the least of whom was a powerful baron. Owein had assuredly never seen a suite as brilliant as this one with its brocade, silk and ash garments.

After this troop came a woman with blond hair, floating on both shoulders, soiled at their ends with blood from bruises, dressed in tattered yellow brocade clothes, her feet shod in multicolored cordwal boots. It was a wonder that the tips of her fingers were not scratched, so violently did she strike her two hands against each other. It was impossible to see such a beautiful woman, Owein was quite sure, if she had looked as usual. His cries dominated those of the people and the sound of the troop's trumpets. Seeing her Owein was inflamed with his love to the point that he was completely imbued with it. He asked the virgin who she was. "We can tell you in truth," she replied, "that she is the most beautiful of women, the most generous, the wisest and the noblest; this is my lady; it is called the Daine de la Fontaine; it's the wife of the man you killed yesterday. "-" God knows, "said Owein," that she is the woman I love the most. "-" God knows she loves you neither little nor not. The virgin got up and lit a charcoal fire, filled a pot of water and heated it. Then she took a white linen towel and put it around Owein's neck. She took a goblet of elephant bone, a silver basin, filled it with hot water, and washed Owein's head. Then she opened a wooden box, drew out a razor with an ivory handle, the blade of which had two golden grooves, shaved it and wiped its head and neck with the towel. Then she set the table in front of Owein and brought him her supper. Owein had never had a match like this, or more impeccable service. The meal finished, the virgin prepared his bed for him. "Come here to bed," she said, "and I'll go and court for you. " 

She closed the door and went to the castle. She found nothing but sadness and worry. The countess was in her room, unable, in her sadness, to bear the sight of anyone. Lunet walked up to her and greeted her. She didn't answer. The virgin got angry and said: "What happened to you, that you do not answer anyone today? "-" -Lunet ", said the countess," what an honor is yours, that you did not come to realize my pain. It was I who made you rich. It was very bad of you not to come, yes, it was very bad. "; -" In truth, "said Lunet," I would never have thought that you made so little sense. It would be better for you to seek to repair the loss of this lord than to deal with something irreparable. "-" By me and God, I will never be able to replace my Lord by another man in the world. "-" You could marry who would be worth it and maybe better. "-" By me and God, if he did not repudiate me to destroy a person whom I brought up, I would put you to death, to make in my presence such unjust comparisons. I will exile you anyway. "-" I am happy that you have no other motive for that than my desire to indicate your property to you, when you did not see it yourself. Shame on the first of us who will send to the other, me to ask for an invitation, you to do it. And Lunet left. The lady got up and went to the door of the room following Lunet; there she coughed heavily. Lunet turned around. The countess made a sign to her and she came back to her. By me and God, said the lady, you have a bad temper, but since it is my interest that you want to teach me, tell me how it could be. "-" Here is ", she said. You know that you can only maintain your domination by valor and arms. So look for someone who keeps it as soon as possible. " - " How can I do it? "-" Here is: if you cannot keep the fountain, you cannot keep your States; there can be no other man to defend the fountain than someone from Arthur's court. So I will go to court, and shame on me if I don't come back with a warrior who will guard the fountain as well or better than the one who did it before. " - " It's difficult; well, try what you say. " 

Lunet left as if she were going to Arthur's court, but she went to her room with Owein. She stayed there with him until it was time for her to be back from Arthur's court. So she dressed and went to the countess, who received her with joy: “Are you bringing news from Arthur's court? " she says. - "The best in the world, princess; I found what I went for. And when do you want me to introduce you to the lord who came with me? "-" Come with him tomorrow around noon to see me. I will have the house cleared for special maintenance. Lunet returned.

The next day, at noon, Owein put on a dress, a surcoat and a mantle of yellow brocade, embellished with a large braid of gold thread; his feet were shod in variegated cordwal shoes, closed by the figure of a golden lion. They went to the room of the lady who greeted them kindly. She considered Owein attentively: "Lunet", she said, "this lord does not look like someone who has traveled". - "What's wrong with that, princess?" ", Said Lunet -" By God and me, it was not someone other than him who brought the soul out of the body of my lord. "-" Good for you, princess; if he had not been stronger than himself, he would not have taken the soul from his body; we can do nothing more, it is a done thing. "-" Go home, "said the lady," and I will take advice. She summoned all her vassals for the next day and informed them that the county was vacant, pointing out that it could only be maintained by chivalry, arms and valor. I give you to choose: either one of you will take me, or you will allow me to choose a husband from elsewhere who can defend the State. They decided to allow her to choose a husband outside the country. So she called the bishops and archbishops to the court to celebrate her marriage to Owein. The men of the county paid homage to Owein. Owein guarded the fountain with lance and sword, behold like: any knight who came there, he knocked him down and sold him for all his value. The product he divided between his barons and his knights; so there was no one in the world more loved by his subjects than he. It was like that for three years.

One day when Gwalchmei was walking with Emperor Arthur, he looked up at him and saw him sad and worried, Gwalchmei was very sorry to see him in this state, and asked him. Lord, what happened to you? "-" By me and God, Gwalchmei, I regret after Owein who disappeared from me for three long years; if I am still a fourth without seeing it, my soul will not stay in my body. I'm sure it was as a result of Kynon, son of Klydno's story, that he disappeared from among us. "-" It is not necessary, "said Gwalchmei," that you assemble the troops of your states for this; with your people only, you can avenge Owein if he's killed, deliver him if he's a prisoner, and take him with you if he's alive. We stopped at what Gwalchmei had said. Arthur and the men in his household made their preparations to go in search of Owein. They numbered three thousand without counting the subordinates. Kynon, son of Klydno, served as their guide. They arrived at the fortified castle where Kynon had been. the young men were throwing their knives at the same place, and the blond man was standing near them. As soon as he saw Arthur, he greeted him and invited him: Arthur accepted the invitation. They went to the castle. Despite their large number, we did not notice their presence in the castle. The virgins got up to serve them. They had never before seen flawless service compared to that of the women. The service for the horsemen that night didn't hurt any more than it did for Arthur himself in his own backyard.

The next morning Arthur set off, with Kynon as his guide. They came to the black man; Arthur's stature seemed much stronger than he had been told. They climbed the top of the hill, and followed the valley to near the green tree, until they saw the fountain and the basin on the slab. So Kei goes to find Arthur, and says to him: "Lord, I know perfectly well the reason for this expedition, and I have a prayer for you - that is to let me throw water on the slab, and receive the first penalty that will come. Arthur allows him to. Kei throws water on the stone and immediately thunder breaks; after the thunder, the shower: they had never heard a noise or a shower like it. Many lower-ranking men in Arthur's retinue were killed by the downpour. As soon as the ripple ceased, the sky cleared up. When they looked up at the tree, they did not see a leaf there. The birds descended on the tree; never, assuredly, had they heard music comparable to their song. Then they saw a knight mounted on an all black horse, dressed in all black brocade, coming with a fiery gait. Kei went to meet him and fought with him. The fight was not long: Kei was thrown to the ground. The knight held out his flag; Arthur and his people did the same for the night.

When they got up the next morning, they saw the battle sign floating on the knight's spear. Kei went to find Arthur: “Lord”, he said, “I was knocked down yesterday in bad conditions, would you like me to go today to fight with the knight? – “I allow it”, said Arthur. Kei walked towards the knight, who immediately knocked him down. Then he glanced at him; and, giving him the foot of his spear on the forehead, he cut into helm, coif, skin and even flesh to the bone, the full breadth of the end of the shaft. Kei returned to his companions. So the people of Arthur's household went to fight with the knight in turn, until only Arthur and Gwalchmei were left standing. Arthur was putting on his arms to go and fight the knight, when Gwalchmei said to him: “Oh! lord, let me go first against the knight. And Arthur consented. So he went against the knight, as he was dressed in a brocade blanket sent to him by the daughter of the Count of Anjou, he and his horse, no one in the army recognized him. They attacked and fought, that day, until evening, and yet neither of them came close to knocking the other down. The next day they went to fight with thick spears, but neither of them could defeat the other. The next day they went into battle with strong, big, thick spears. Inflamed with anger, they charged until the middle of the day, and at last they gave each other such a violent shock that the girths of their horses broke, and each of them rolled over the crupper of his fallen horse. They rose quickly, drew their swords, and fought. Never, in the opinion of the spectators, had two men been seen so valiant or so strong. If there had been black night, it would have been lit by the fire that sprang from their weapons. Finally the knight gave Gwalchmei such a blow, that his helm spun off his face, so that the knight saw that it was Gwalchmei. “Sir Gwalchmei,” said Owein then, “I didn't recognize you because of your blanket; you are my cousin german. Hold my sword and my weapons. – "You are the master, Owein", replied Gwalchmei, "it is you who have conquered so take my sword." Arthur noticed them in this situation, and came to them. “Lord Arthur,” said Gwalchmei, “here is Owein who defeated me, and he does not want to receive my sword from me. – “Lord,” said Owein, “he is the victor, and he does not want my sword. – 'Give me your swords', said Arthur, 'and so neither of you will have defeated the other. Owein threw his arms around Arthur's neck, and they kissed. The army rushed towards them. there was so much rush and haste to see Owein and embrace him that there were nearly no deaths. They spent the night in their pavilions.

The next day, Arthur expressed his intention to set off. "Lord," said Owein, "this is not the way you should act. It is now three years since I left you, and this land belongs to me. From that time until today, I am preparing a banquet for you. I knew you would go look for me. So you will come with me to get rid of your fatigue, you and your men. You will have baths. They all went to the Chateau de la Dame de la Fontaine together, and the feast which had taken three years to prepare, they came to an end in three consecutive months. Never has a banquet seemed more comfortable or better to them. Arthur then thought about leaving, and sent messengers to the lady asking her to let Owein come with him, in order to show him to the gentlemen and ladies of the Isle of Brittany for three months. The lady allowed it despite the pain she felt. Owein went with Arthur to the Isle of Brittany. Once he arrived in the midst of his countrymen and feast companions, he stayed three years instead of three months.

Owein was one day at table at Kaer Llion on Wysc, when a young girl appeared, mounted on a brown horse with a curly mane; she held him by the mane. She was dressed in yellow brocade. The bridle and all that could be seen of the saddle was gold. She stepped forward in front of Owein, and took off the ring he had on his finger. This is how we treat, "she said," a deceiver, a traitor without words: shame on your beard! She turned around and left. The memory of his expedition came back to Owein, and he was overcome with sadness. The meal over, he went to his lodgings, and spent the night there in worry.

The next day he got up, but it was not to go to court; he went to the ends of the world and to the deserted mountains. And he continued thus until his clothes were worn out, and his body so to speak also; long hairs grew all over his body. He made his company with wild animals, he fed with them, so that they became familiar with him. But he ends up weakening to the point of not being able to follow them. He went down from the mountain to the valley, and walked towards a park, the most beautiful in the world, which belonged to a widowed countess. One day, the countess and her attendants went for a walk by the pond which was in the park, up to the height of the middle of the water. There they saw the shape and face of a man. They were afraid of it, but, nevertheless, they approached him, felt him, and examined him. They saw that it was all covered with moths, and that it was drying out in the sun. The countess returned to the castle. She took a vial full of a precious ointment, and put it in the hand of one of her attendants, saying: "Go with this ointment, take that horse, and take some clothes that you will put within reach of her. man from earlier. Rub him with this ointment in the direction of his heart. If there is still life in him, this ointment will make him rise. Watch what he will do. The virgin left. She sprinkled all the ointment on him, left the horse and the clothes within reach, moved away from him a little, hid herself and watched him. After a short while, she saw him scratch his arms, get up and look at her skin. he was ashamed, his appearance was so repulsive. Seeing the horse and the clothes he dragged himself around until he could pull his own clothes from the saddle and put them on. He could hardly get on the horse. Then the virgin appeared and greeted him. He was happy with her, and asked her what these areas and places were. "It is to a widowed countess," she said, "that this castle over there belongs. Her husband, when dying, had left her two counties, and today she has no other property than this home: all the rest was taken from her by a young count, her neighbor, because she did not did not want to become his wife. "-" It's sad, "said Owein. And he and the girl went to the castle.

Owen descended; the girl led him to a comfortable room, lit a fire, and left him. Then she went to the Countess and handed her the vial. "Hey, maid," said the lady, "where's all the ointment?" – “He is completely lost,” she said. “It's hard for me to blame you on that. However, it was useless for me to spend on precious ointment the value of one hundred and twenty books for I don't know who. Serve him all the same,” she added, “so that he lacks nothing. This is what the maiden did; she provided him with food, drink, fire, bed, baths, until he was restored. The hairs fell off his body in scaly clumps. This lasted three months, and her skin became whiter than it had been.

One day, Owein heard an uproar in the castle, and the sound of weapons inside. He asked the virgin what the uproar meant. "It is the count I told you about," she said, "who comes against the castle, at the head of a large army, with the intention of completing the loss of the lady. Owein asked if the Countess had horse and arms. "Yes," she said, "the best in the world. "-" Would you please ask him on loan, for me, a horse and weapons so that I can go and see the army up close? " - " I go. And she went to the countess, to whom she explained their whole conversation. The countess laughed. "By me and God," she cried, "I give her the horse and the armor forever." And he has surely never had such in his possession. I prefer him to take them than to see them fall prey to my enemies tomorrow, in spite of myself, and yet I do not know what he wants to do with them. A perfect black Gascon was brought to him, wearing a beech saddle, and full armor for horse and rider. Owein put on his armor, mounted his horse, and came out with two fully armed and mounted squires. Arriving in front of the count's army, they saw neither beginning nor end. Owein asked the squires which battle the count was in. In the battle, over there, where you see four yellow banners, two in front of him, and two behind. "-" Good, "said Owein," retrace your steps and wait for me near the entrance to the castle. They turned back, and pushed him forward until he met the Earl. He lifted it from his saddle, placed it between himself and his front pommel, and turned bridle towards the castle. In spite of all the difficulties, he arrived with the count at the gate, near the squires. They entered, and Owein gave the count as a present to the countess, saying to her: “Here is the equivalent of your blessed ointment. The army spread its flags around the castle. To save his life, the count restored his two counties to the lady; to have liberty, he gave him half of his own domains, and all his gold, silver, jewels and hostages besides as well as all his vassals. Owein left. The countess invited him to stay, but he did not want to, and headed for the ends of the world and solitude. As he walked, he heard a cry of pain in a wood, then a second, then a third. He walked that way, and saw a rocky eminence in the middle of the wood, and a grayish rock on the slope of the hill. In a cleft in the rock stood a serpent, and beside the rock was an all-black lion. Every time he tried to escape, the snake would rush at him and bite him. Owein drew his sword, and walked towards the rock. As the serpent came out of the rock, he struck it with his sword and cut it in half. He wiped his sword and resumed his journey. Suddenly he saw the lion follow him and play around him like a greyhound that he had raised himself. They walked all day until evening. When Owein found it was time to rest, he dismounted, let go of his horse in the middle of a level and shady meadow, and began to light a fire. The fire was hardly ready, when the lion had brought enough wood for three nights. Then he disappeared. In an instant he returned bringing a strong and beautiful deer which he threw in front of Owein. He stood on the other side of the fire in front of Owein. Owein took the deer, skinned it, and roasted slices on spits around the fire. All the rest of the deer he fed the lion.

While he was thus occupied, he heard a loud moan, then a second, then a third, very close to him. He asked if there was a human creature there. "Yes, certainly", it was answered. - " Who are you? Owein said. - "I am Lunet, the attendant of the lady of the fountain. " - " What are you doing here? "-" I was imprisoned because of a knight who came from Arthur's court to marry my lady; he stayed with her for some time, then he went to take a walk in Arthur's court, and he never returned. He was a friend to me, the one I loved the most in the world. One day, two valets from the countess's room spoke badly of him and called him a traitor. I told them that their two bodies were not worth his alone. It is for this reason that I was imprisoned in this stone vessel, telling me that I would lose my life if he did not come and defend me on the appointed day. I only have until the day after tomorrow, and I have no one to go and look for him: it is Owein, son of Uryen. »-« Are you sure that if this knight knew it, he would come to defend you? "-" I am sure of it by me and God. When the slices of meat were cooked enough, Owein divided them in half between himself and the virgin. They ate and conversed until the next day.

The next day, Owein asked him if there was a place where he could find food and a warm welcome for the night. "Yes lord," she said, "go there, to the crossing; follow the path along the river, and after a short time you will see a large castle with many towers. The count who owns the castle is the best man in the world when it comes to food. You can spend the night there. Never did a watcher watch his lord so well as the lion did for Owein that night. Owein fitted his horse, and walked, after crossing the ford, until he saw the castle. He came in. He was received with honor. His horse was perfectly looked after, and plenty of food was placed in front of him. The lion went to lie down in the horse's stable; so no one from the court dared approach him. Nowhere, to be sure, had Owein seen service as well done as there. But each of the inhabitants was as sad as death. They sat down to table. The Earl sat on one side of Owein, and his only daughter on the other. Never had Owein seen a more accomplished person than her. The lion went and stood under the table between the feet of Owein, who gave him all the meals that were served to him. The only flaw that Owein found there was the sadness of the inhabitants. In the middle of the meal, the count welcomed Owein had never seen a more accomplished person than she. The lion went and stood under the table between the feet of Owein, who gave him all the meals that were served to him. The only flaw that Owein found there was the sadness of the inhabitants. In the middle of the meal, the count welcomed Owein: "It is time for you," said Owein, "to be cheerful. "-" God is witness to us ", he said," that it is not towards you that we are dark, but it has come to us a great cause for sadness and concern. My two sons had gone hunting in the mountains yesterday. There is a monster there that kills and eats men. He took hold of my sons. Tomorrow is the day agreed upon between him and me when I will have to deliver this young girl to him, or else he will kill my sons in my presence. He has the face of a man, but in terms of size, he is a giant. "-" It is, certainly sad, "said Owein," and what side will you take? "-" I find, in truth, more worthy to let him destroy my sons, which he had in spite of myself, than to hand over my daughter to him, with my hand, to defile and kill her. And they talked to each other about other matters. Owein spent the night at the castle. The next day they heard an incredible noise: it was the giant who came with the two young people. The count wanted to defend the castle against him, and, at the same time, to see his two sons in safety. Owein armed himself, went out, and went to measure himself with the giant, followed by the lion. As soon as he saw Owein in arms, the giant assailed him and fought with him. The lion fought with him more successfully than Owein. "By me and God," he said to Owein, "I wouldn't be embarrassed to fight with you if you weren't helped by this animal. Owein pushed the lion into the castle, closed the door on him, and came to resume the fight against the great man. The lion roared when realizing that Owein was in danger, climbed up to the count's hall, and from there to the ramparts. From the ramparts, he jumped to Owein's sides, and gave the great man's shoulder such a claw that he tore it up to the junction of the two hips, and we could see the entrails come out of the body. The man fell dead. Owein returned his two sons to the count. The count invited Owein, but he refused, and went to the valley where Lunet was.

He saw that a large fire was being lit there; two handsome brown servants, with curly hair, brought the virgin to throw her there. Owein asked them what they wanted from him. They recounted their dispute as the virgin had recounted the night before. "Owein failed her," they added, "and that is why we are going to burn her". - "In truth," said Owein, "he was nevertheless a good knight, and I would be astonished, if he knew the virgin in this embarrassment, if he did not come and defend her. If you wanted to accept me in his place, I would go and fight with you ”. - "We want it, by the one who created us. And they went to fight against Owein. The latter found much to do with the two servants. The lion came to help him and they got the upper hand over the two servants. "Lord," they said to him, "we had only agreed to fight with you alone; however, it is more difficult for us to fight with this animal than with you. Owein put the lion where the virgin had been imprisoned, placed stones against the door, and returned to fight with them. But his strength had not yet returned to him, and the two servants had the upper hand over him. -The lion kept roaring at, because of the danger where Owein was; he ends up making a breach in the stones, and going out. In the twinkling of an eye, he killed one of the valets, and immediately afterwards the other. This is how they saved Lunet from the fire. Owein and Lunet went together to the domains of the Lady of the Fountain; and, when Owein came out, he took the lady with him to Arthur's court, and she remained his wife as long as she lived.

So he took the path to the courtyard of Du Traws (the Dark Oppressor), and fought with him. The lion did not leave Owein until he had defeated him. As soon as he got to the Dark Oppressor's court, he walked towards the room. He saw twenty-four women there, the most accomplished he had ever seen. They did not have twenty-four sous of silver on them all, and they were as sad as death. Owein asked them the cause of their sadness. They told him that they were the daughters of counts, that they had come to this place, each with the man they loved the most. On arriving here, "they added," we found a courteous welcome and respect. We were made drunk, and when we were drunk, the demon to whom this court belongs came, killed all our husbands, and took away our horses, our clothes, our gold and our silver. The bodies of our husbands are here, along with many other corpses. This, Lord, is the cause of our sadness. We really regret that you came here, lest something happen to you ”. Owein took pity on them and left. He saw a knight come to him who welcomed him with as much courtesy and affection as a brother: it was the Dark Oppressor. "God knows", said Owein, "that it is not to seek welcome from you that I have come here". - "God knows you won't get it either". And immediately they pounced on each other, and mistreated each other severely. Owein took control of him and tied both hands behind his back. The Dark Oppressor asked him thank you saying, “Lord Owein, it was predicted that you would come here to subdue me. You came, and you did. I have been a despoiler in these places, and my house has been a house of spoils; give me life, and I will become a hospice, and my house will be a hospice for the weak and the strong, as long as I live, for the salvation of your soul. Owein agreed. He spent the night there, and the next day he took with him the twenty-four women with their horses, their clothes, and all that they had brought of goods and jewels.

He went with them to Arthur's court. If Arthur had been happy to him before, after his first disappearance, he was even more so this time. Among the women, those who wanted to stay at court were completely free, the others were able to leave. Owein remained, from there, at the court of Arthur, like Penteulu, much beloved of Arthur, until he returned to his vassals, that is to say the three hundred swords of the tribe. de Kinvarch and the Ravens. Wherever he went with them he was victorious.