And say not one word
unto me, unless I speak first unto thee. And I declare unto Heaven,"
said he, "if thou doest not thus, it will be to thy cost." "I will do,
as far as I can, Lord," said she, "according to thy desire." Then they
went forward through the forest; and when they left the forest, they came
to a vast plain, in the centre of which was a group of thickly tangled
copse-wood; and from out thereof they beheld three horsemen coming
towards them, well equipped with armour, both they and their horses. Then
the maiden looked steadfastly upon them; and when they had come near, she
heard them say one to another, "Behold, here is a good arrival for us,
here are coming for us four horses and four suits of armour. We shall
easily obtain them spite of yonder dolorous knight, and the maiden also
will fall into our power." "This is but too true," said she to herself,
"for my husband is tired with his former combat. The vengeance of Heaven
will be upon me, unless I warn him of this." So the maiden waited until
Geraint came up to her. "Lord," said she, "dost thou not hear the
discourse of yonder men concerning thee?" "What was it?" asked he. "They
say to one another, that they will easily obtain all this spoil." "I
declare to Heaven," he answered, "that their words are less grievous to
me than that thou wilt not be silent, and abide by my counsel." "My
Lord," said she, "I feared lest they should surprise thee unawares."
"Hold thy peace then," said he, "do not I desire silence?" {38} And
thereupon one of the horsemen couched his lance, and attacked Geraint.
And he made a thrust at him, which he thought would be very effective;
but Geraint received it carelessly, and struck it aside, and then he
rushed upon him, and aimed at the centre of his person, and from the
shock of man and horse, the quantity of his armour did not avail him, and
the head of the lance and part of the shaft passed through him, so that
he was carried to the ground an arm and a spear's length over the crupper
of his horse. And both the other horsemen came forward in their turn,
but their onset was not more successful than that of their companion. And
the maiden stood by, looking at all this; and on the one hand she was in
trouble lest Geraint should be wounded in his encounter with the men, and
on the other hand she was joyful to see him victorious. Then Geraint
dismounted, and bound the three suits of armour upon the three saddles,
and he