The Mabinogion | Page 9

descended to the floor. And the rowels of the spurs and
part of the horse were without, and Owain with the other part of the
horse remained between the two gates, and the inner gate was closed,
so that Owain could not go thence; and Owain was in a perplexing
situation. And while he was in this state, he could see through an
aperture in the gate, a street facing him, with a row of houses on each
side. And he beheld a maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet

of gold upon her head; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin, and
on her feet were shoes of variegated leather. And she approached the
gate, and desired that it should be opened. "Heaven knows, Lady," said
Owain, "it is no more possible for me to open to thee from hence, than
it is for thee to set me free." "Truly," said the damsel, "it is very sad
that thou canst not be released, and every woman ought to succour thee,
for I never saw one more faithful in the service of ladies than thou. As a
friend thou art the most sincere, and as a lover the most devoted.
Therefore," quoth she, "whatever is in my power to do for thy release, I
will do it. Take this ring and put it on thy finger, with the stone inside
thy hand; and close thy hand upon the stone. And as long as thou
concealest it, it will conceal thee. When they have consulted together,
they will come forth to fetch thee, in order to put thee to death; and
they will be much grieved that they cannot find thee. And I will await
thee on the horseblock yonder; and thou wilt be able to see me, though
I cannot see thee; therefore come and place thy hand upon my shoulder,
that I may know that thou art near me. And by the way that I go hence,
do thou accompany me."
Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden had
told him. And the people of the Castle came to seek Owain, to put him
to death, and when they found nothing but the half of his horse, they
were sorely grieved.
And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, and
placed his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and Owain
followed her, until they came to the door of a large and beautiful
chamber, and the maiden opened it, and they went in, and closed the
door. And Owain looked around the chamber, and behold there was not
even a single nail in it that was not painted with gorgeous colours; and
there was not a single panel that had not sundry images in gold
portrayed upon it.
The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, and put a
towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain water to wash.
Then she placed before him a silver table, inlaid with gold; upon which
was a cloth of yellow linen; and she brought him food. And of a truth,

Owain had never seen any kind of meat that was not there in abundance,
but it was better cooked there than he had ever found it in any other
place. Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of meat and drink, as
there. And there was not one vessel from which he was served, that was
not of gold or of silver. And Owain ate and drank, until late in the
afternoon, when lo, they heard a mighty clamour in the Castle; and
Owain asked the maiden what that outcry was. "They are administering
extreme unction," said she, "to the Nobleman who owns the Castle."
And Owain went to sleep.
The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was meet for Arthur
himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and satin, and sendal, and fine linen.
In the middle of the night they heard a woful outcry. "What outcry
again is this?" said Owain. "The Nobleman who owned the Castle is
now dead," said the maiden. And a little after daybreak, they heard an
exceeding loud clamour and wailing. And Owain asked the maiden
what was the cause of it. "They are bearing to the church the body of
the Nobleman who owned the Castle."
And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of the
chamber, and looked towards the Castle; and he could see neither the
bounds, nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets. And they were
fully armed; and a vast number of women were with them, both on
horseback and on foot; and all the ecclesiastics in the city, singing.