wn for
their lodging. And while they were thus, behold, a young man came to
them, and greeted them. "Heaven be propitious to thee," said they. "Good
Sirs," said he, "what preparations are you making here?" "We are taking
up our lodging," said they, "to pass the night." "It is not the custom
with him who owns the town," he answered, "to permit any of gentle birth,
unless they come to stay in his Court, to abide here; therefore, come you
to the Court." "We will come, gladly," said Geraint. And they went with
the page, and they were joyfully received. And the Earl came to the hall
to meet them, and he commanded the tables to be laid. And they washed,
and sat down. And this is the order in which they sat, Geraint on one
side of the Earl, and Enid on the other side, and next to Enid the Little
King, and then the Countess next to Geraint, and all after that as became
their rank. Then Geraint recollected the games, and thought that he
should not go to them; and on that account he did not eat. Then the Earl
looked upon Geraint, and considered, and he bethought him that his not
eating was because of the games, and it grieved him that he had ever
established those games, were it only on account of losing such a youth
as Geraint. And if Geraint had asked him to abolish the games, he would
gladly have done so. Then the Earl said to Geraint, "What thought
occupies thy mind, that thou dost not eat? If thou hesitatest about
going to the games, thou shall not go, and no other of thy rank shall
ever go either." "Heaven reward thee," said Geraint, "but I wish nothing
better than to go to the games, and to be shown the way thither." "If
that is what thou dost prefer, thou shalt obtain it willingly." "I do
prefer it, indeed," said he. Then they ate, and they were amply served,
and they had a variety of gifts, and abundance of liquor. And when they
had finished eating, they arose. And Geraint called for his horse and
his armour, and he accoutred both himself and his horse. And all the
hosts went forth until they came to the side of the hedge, and the hedge
was so lofty, that it reached as high as they could see in the air, and
upon every stake in the hedge, except two, there was the head of a man,
and the number of stakes throughout the hedge was very great. Then said
the Little King, "May no one go in with the chieftain?" "No one may,"
said Earl Owain. "Which way can I enter?" enquired Geraint. "I know
not," said Ow