The Mabinogion Vol. 1 | Page 5

I
confess to thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did not melt down into a liquid
pool, through the shame that I felt at the black man's derision. And that
night I came to the same Castle, where I had spent the night preceding.
And I was more agreeably entertained that night, than I had been the
night before; and I was better feasted, and I conversed freely with the
inmates of the Castle; and none of them alluded to my expedition to the
fountain, neither did I mention it to any. And I remained there that
night. When I arose on the morrow, I found ready saddled a dark-bay
palfrey, with nostrils as red as scarlet. And after putting on my armour,
and leaving there my blessing, I returned to my own Court. And that
horse I still possess, and he is in the stable yonder. And I declare that I
would not part with him for the best palfrey in the Island of Britain.
"Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to an adventure so
much to his own discredit; and verily it seems strange to me, that
neither before nor since have I heard of any person, besides myself,
who knew of this adventure, and that the subject of it should exist
within King Arthur's dominions, without any other person lighting
upon it."
"Now," quoth Owain, "would it not be well to go and endeavour to
discover that place?"

"By the hand of my friend," said Kai, "often dost thou utter that with
thy tongue, which thou wouldest not make good with thy deeds."
"In very truth," said Gwenhwyvar, "it were better thou wert hanged,
Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech towards a man like Owain."
"By the hand of my friend, good Lady," said Kai, "thy praise of Owain
is not greater than mine."
With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping a little.
"Yes, Lord," answered Owain, "thou hast slept awhile."
"Is it time for us to go to meat?"
"It is, Lord," said Owain.
Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and all his
household sat down to eat. And when the meal was ended, Owain
withdrew to his lodging, and made ready his horse and his arms.
On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his armour, and
mounted his charger, and travelled through distant lands, and over
desert mountains. And at length he arrived at the valley which Kynon
had described to him; and he was certain that it was the same that he
sought. And journeying along the valley, by the side of the river, he
followed its course till he came to the plain, and within sight of the
Castle. When he approached the Castle, he saw the youths shooting
their daggers, in the place where Kynon had seen them; and the yellow
man, to whom the Castle belonged, standing hard by. And no sooner
had Owain saluted the yellow man, than he was saluted by him in
return.
And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the chamber;
and when he had entered the chamber, he beheld the maidens working
at satin embroidery, in chairs of gold. And their beauty, and their
comeliness seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented to
him. And they arose to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon.

And the meal which they set before him, gave more satisfaction to
Owain than it had done to Kynon.
About the middle of the repast the yellow man asked Owain the object
of his journey. And Owain made it known to him, and said, "I am in
quest of the Knight who guards the fountain." Upon this, the yellow
man smiled, and said that he was as loth to point out that adventure to
Owain as he had been to Kynon. However he described the whole to
Owain, and they retired to rest.
The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by the
damsels, and he set forward and came to the glade where the black man
was. And the stature of the black man seemed more wonderful to
Owain, than it had done to Kynon, and Owain asked of him his road,
and he showed it to him. And Owain followed the road, as Kynon had
done, till he came to the green tree; and he beheld the fountain, and the
slab beside the fountain with the bowl upon it. And Owain took the
bowl, and threw a bowlful of water upon the slab. And lo, the thunder
was heard, and after the thunder came the shower, much more violent
than Kynon had described, and after the shower, the sky became