Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

343And first Kai was overthrown, and then Gwalchmai and Owainfought, and after a while Gwalchmai was unhelmed. Owain said,“My lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee; take my sword andmy arms.” Said Gwalchmai, “Thou, Owain, art the victor; takethou my sword.” Arthur ended the contention in courtesy bytaking the swords of both, and then they all rode to the Castle ofthe Fountain, where Owain entertained them with great joy. Andhe went back with Arthur to Caerleon, promising to his countessthat he would remain there but three months and then return. [398]Owain Forgets his LadyBut at the Court of Arthur he forgot his love and his duty,and remained there three years. At the end of that time a noblelady came riding upon a horse caparisoned with gold, and shesought out Owain and took the ring from his hand. “Thus,”she said, “shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor, the faithless,the disgraced, and the beardless.” Then she turned her horse'shead and departed. And Owain, overwhelmed with shame andremorse, fled from the sight of men and lived in a desolatecountry with wild beasts till his body wasted and his hair grewlong and his clothing rotted away.Owain and the LionIn this guise, when near to death from exposure and want, hewas taken in by a certain widowed countess and her maidens,and restored to strength by magic balsams; and although theybesought him to remain with them, he rode forth again, seekingfor lonely and desert lands. Here he found a lion in battle with agreat serpent. Owain slew the serpent, and the lion followed himand played about him as if it had been a greyhound that he hadreared. And it fed him by catching deer, part of which Owaincooked for himself, giving the rest to his lion to devour; and thebeast kept watch over him by night.Release of LunedOwain next finds an imprisoned damsel, whose sighs he hears,though he cannot see her nor she him. Being questioned, she