Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/69

Rh and they did homage to him as vassals to their lord. I then inquired of him the way; and he became very rough in his manner. However, when I disclosed my name and my errand, he directed me further. "Take," said he, "that path that leads towards the head of the glade, and ascend the wooded steep until thou comest to its summit; and there thou wilt find an open space like to a large valley, and in the midst of it a tall tree, whose branches are greener than the greenest pine-trees. Under this tree is a fountain, and by the side of the fountain a marble slab, and on the marble slab a silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, so that it may not be carried away. Take the bowl and throw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and thou wilt hear a mighty peal of thunder, so that thou wilt think that heaven and earth are trembling with its fury. With the thunder there will come a shower so severe that it will be scarce possible for thee to endure it and live. And the shower will be of hailstones; and after the shower, the weather will become fair, but every leaf that was upon the tree will have been carried away by the shower. Then a flight of birds will come and alight upon the tree; and in thine own country thou didst never hear a strain so sweet as that which they will sing. And at the moment thou art most delighted with the song of the birds, thou wilt hear a murmuring and complaining coming towards thee along the valley. And thou wilt see a knight upon a coal-black horse, clothed in black velvet, and with a pennon of black linen upon his lance; and he will ride unto thee to encounter thee with the utmost speed. If thou fleest from him he will overtake thee, and if thou abidest here, as sure as thou art a mounted knight, he will leave thee on foot. And if thou dost not find trouble in that adventure, thou needst not seek it during the rest of thy life." Hearing this, I pressed on and found everything as the giant had told me. I charged the knight valiantly, but was overthrown. He rode off with my horse, leaving me where I was. So I returned in dejection by the way that I came, being derided for my pains by the giant, but entertained as before by my hospitable host and furnished with another palfrey. In truth I deem it strange that such an adventure should exist within King Arthur's dominions unknown to all save me.'

Arthur now wakes from his sleep and sits down to meat with his household. At dawn next day Owain takes up the quest. He too meets the hospitable host, the one-eyed giant, and the black knight, as Kynon had done. But, after breaking his lance, Owain strikes the knight so fierce a blow with his sword that he cleaves his helmet and wounds his very brain. The knight turns and flees into a great castle hotly pursued by Owain, whose horse is cut in two by the descending portcullis. The inner gate being closed, Owain finds himself caught in a trap. A damsel called Luned, on the ground that she has never seen one more faithful in the service of ladies, helps him in his distress. She gives him a ring conferring invisibility on its wearer, and promises to await him on the horse-block, where he is to place his hand upon her shoulder in token that he, though unseen, is present. When the people of the castle come to seek him, they find nothing but the half of his horse.