is more conspicuous upon it than its own
colour." "Knowest thou his name?" said she. "I do," said he, "he tells
me that he is Edeyrn the son of Nudd." Then she replied, "I know him
not."

So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he entered. And
Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, even though he
was accompanied by the churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted Gwenhwyvar.
"Heaven protect thee," said she. "Lady," said he, "Geraint the son of
Erbin, thy best and most valiant servant, greets thee." "Did he meet
with thee?" she asked. "Yes," said he, "and it was not to my advantage;
and that was not his fault, but mine, Lady. And Geraint greets thee
well; and in greeting thee he compelled me to come hither to do thy
pleasure for the insult which thy maiden received from the dwarf. He
forgives the insult to himself, in consideration of his having put me in
peril of my life. And he imposed on me a condition, manly, and
honourable, and warrior-like, which was to do thee justice, Lady." "Now,
where did he overtake thee?" "At the place where we were jousting, and
contending for the Sparrow-Hawk, in the town which is now called Cardiff.
And there were none with him, save three persons, of a mean and tattered
condition. And these were an aged, hoary-headed man and a woman advanced
in years, and a fair young maiden, clad in worn-out garments. And it was
for the avouchment of the love of that maiden that Geraint jousted for
the Sparrow-Hawk at the tournament; for he said that that maiden was
better entitled to the Sparrow-Hawk than this maiden who was with me. And
thereupon we encountered each other, and he left me, Lady, as thou
seest." "Sir," said she, "when thinkest thou that Geraint will be here?"
"To-morrow, Lady, I think he will be here with the maiden."

Then Arthur came to him, and he saluted Arthur, and Arthur gazed a long
time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus. And thinking that he knew
him, he enquired of him, "Art thou Edeyrn the son of Nudd?" "I am,
Lord," said he, "and I have met with much trouble, and received wounds
unsupportable." Then he told Arthur all his adventure.

"Well," said Arthur, "from what I hear, it behoves Gwenhwyvar to be
merciful towards thee." "The mercy which thou desirest, Lord," said she,
"will I grant to him, since it is as insulting to thee that an insult
should be offered to me as to thyself." "Thus will it be best to do,"
said Arthur, "let