tle; at the
death of her husband, he left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has
but this one dwelling that has not been wrested from her, by a young
Earl, who is her neighbour, because she refused to become his wife."
"That is pity," said Owain. And he and the maiden proceeded to the
Castle; and he alighted there, and the maiden conducted him to a pleasant
chamber, and kindled a fire, and left him.

And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into her hand.
"Ha! maiden," said the Countess, "where is all the balsam?" "Have I not
used it all?" said she. "Oh, maiden," said the Countess, "I cannot
easily forgive thee this; it is sad for me to have wasted seven-score
pounds' worth of precious ointment, upon a stranger whom I know not.
However, maiden, wait thou upon him, until he is quite recovered."

And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink, and fire,
and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well again. And in three
months he was restored to his former guise, and became even more comely,
than he had ever been before.

One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the Castle,
and he enquired of the maiden the cause thereof. "The Earl," said she,
"whom I mentioned to thee, has come before the Castle, with a numerous
army, to subdue the Countess." And Owain enquired of her whether the
Countess had a horse and arms, in her possession. "She has the best in
the world," said the maiden. "Wilt thou go and request the loan of a
horse and arms for me," said Owain, "that I may go and look at this
army?" "I will," said the maiden.

And she came to the Countess, and told her what Owain had said. And the
Countess laughed. "Truly," said she, "I will even give him a horse and
arms, for ever; such a horse and such arms, had he never yet, and I am
glad that they should be taken by him to-day, lest my enemies should have
them against my will to-morrow. Yet I know not what he would do with
them."

The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon which was
a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and horse. And Owain
armed himself, and mounted the horse, and went forth, attended by two
pages completely equipped, with horses and arms. And when they came near
to the Earl's army, they could see neither its extent, nor its extremity.
And Owain asked the pages in which troop the Earl was. "In yonder
troop," said they, "in which are four yellow standards. Two