Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

344 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[399][400]told him that her name was Luned—she was the handmaid of acountess whose husband had left her, “and he was the friend Iloved best in the world.” Two of the pages of the countess hadtraduced him, and because she defended him she was condemnedto be burned if before a year was out he (namely, Owain son ofUrien) had not appeared to deliver her. And the year would endto-morrow. On the next day Owain met the two youths leadingLuned to execution and did battle with them. With the help ofthe lion he overcame them, rescued Luned, and returned to theCastle of the Fountain, where he was reconciled with his love.And he took her with him to Arthur's Court, and she was his wifethere as long as she lived. Lastly comes an adventure in which,still aided by the lion, he vanquishes a black giant and releasesfour-and-twenty noble ladies, and the giant vows to give up hisevil ways and keep a hospice for wayfarers as long as he shouldlive.“And thenceforth Owain dwelt at Arthur's Court, greatlybeloved, as the head of his household, until he went away withhis followers; and these were the army of three hundred ravenswhich Kenverchyn 242 had left him. And wherever Owain wentwith these he was victorious. And this is the tale of the Lady ofthe Fountain.”The Tale of Enid and GeraintIn this tale, which appears to be based on the “Erec” ofChrestien de Troyes, the main interest is neither mythologicalnor adventurous, but sentimental. How Geraint found and wooedhis love as the daughter of a great lord fallen on evil days; howhe jousted for her with Edeyrn, son of Nudd—a Cymric deitytransformed into the “Knight of the Sparrowhawk”; how, lappedin love of her, he grew careless of his fame and his duty; how hemisunderstood the words she murmured over him as she deemed242 There is no other mention of this Kenverchyn or of how Owain got hisraven-army, also referred to in “The Dream of Rhonabwy.” We have hereevidently a piece of antique mythology embedded in a more modern fabric.