The Mabinogion | Page 8

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 wouldst 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 rose 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 bright.
And when Owain looked at the tree, there was not one leaf upon it. And
immediately the birds came, and settled upon the tree, and sang. And
when their song was most pleasing to Owain, he beheld a Knight
coming towards him through the valley, and he prepared to receive him;
and encountered him violently. Having broken both their lances, they
drew their swords, and fought blade to blade. Then Owain struck the
Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and visor, and through
the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until it wounded the very brain.
Then the black Knight felt that he had received a mortal wound, upon
which he turned his horse's head, and fled. And Owain pursued him,
and followed close upon him, although he was not near enough to
strike him with his sword. Thereupon Owain descried a vast and
resplendent Castle. And they came to the Castle gate. And the black
Knight was allowed to enter, and the portcullis was let fall upon Owain;
and it struck his horse behind the saddle, and cut him in two, and
carried away the rowels of the spurs that were upon Owain's heels. And
the portcullis