r them they beheld a valley which was the
fairest ever seen, and which had a large river running through it; and
there was a bridge over the river, and the high road led to the bridge.
And above the bridge, upon the opposite side of the river, they beheld a
fortified town, the fairest ever seen. And as they approached the
bridge, Geraint saw coming towards him from a thick copse a man mounted
upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace and spirited though tractable.
"Ah, knight," said Geraint, "whence comest thou?" "I come," said he
"from the valley below us." "Canst thou tell me," said Geraint, "who is
the owner of this fair valley and yonder walled town?" "I will tell
thee, willingly," said he, "Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks,
but the Welsh call him the Little King." "Can I go by yonder bridge,"
said Geraint, "and by the lower highway that is beneath the town?" Said
the knight, "Thou canst not go by his tower {47a} on the other side of
the bridge, unless thou dost intend to combat him; because it is his
custom to encounter every knight that comes upon his lands." "I declare
to Heaven," said Geraint, "that I will, nevertheless, pursue my journey
that way." {47b} "If thou dost so," said the knight, "thou wilt probably
meet with shame and disgrace in reward for thy daring." {48a} Then
Geraint proceeded along the road that led to the town, and the road
brought him to a ground that was hard, and rugged, and high, and ridgy.
{48b} And as he journeyed thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a
war-horse, strong, and large, and proudly-stepping, and wide-hoofed, and
broad-chested. And he never saw a man of smaller stature than he who was
upon the horse. And both he and his horse were completely armed. When
he had overtaken Geraint he said to him, "Tell me, chieftain, whether it
is through ignorance or through presumption that thou seekest to insult
my dignity, and to infringe my rules?" "Nay," answered Geraint, "I knew
not that this road was forbid to any." "Thou didst know it," said the
other; "come with me to my Court, to do me satisfaction." "That will I
not, by my faith," said Geraint; "I would not go even to thy Lord's
Court, excepting Arthur were thy Lord." "By the hand of Arthur himself,"
said the knight, "I will have satisfaction of thee, or receive my
overthrow at thy hands." And immediately they charged one another. And
a squire of his came to serve him with lances as he broke them. And