the sigh
he heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received answer, that it did.
"Who art thou?" said Owain. "Truly," said the voice, "I am Luned, the
hand-maiden of the Countess of the Fountain." "And what dost thou here?"
said Owain. "I am imprisoned," said she, "on account of the knight who
came from Arthur's Court, and married the Countess. And he staid a short
time with her, but he afterwards departed for the Court of Arthur, and he
has not returned since. And he was the friend I loved best in the world.
And two of the pages of the Countess's chamber, traduced him, and called
him a deceiver. And I told them that they two were not a match for him
alone. So they imprisoned me in the stone vault, and said that I should
be put to death, unless he came himself, to deliver me, by a certain day;
and that is no further off, than the day after to-morrow. And I have no
one to send to seek him for me. And his name is Owain the son of Urien."
"And art thou certain, that if that knight knew all this, he would come
to thy rescue?" "I am most certain of it," said she.

When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts, between
himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten, they talked together
until the day dawned. And the next morning Owain enquired of the damsel,
if there was any place where he could get food and entertainment for that
night. "There is, lord," said she; "cross over yonder, and go along the
side of the river, and in a short time, thou wilt see a great Castle, in
which are many towers. And the Earl who owns that Castle, is the most
hospitable man in the world. There thou mayest spend the night."

Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the lion that
night over Owain.

And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford, and came in
the sight of the Castle. And he entered it, and was honourably received.
And his horse was well cared for, and plenty of fodder was placed before
him. Then the lion went and laid down in the horse's manger; so that
none of the people of the Castle dared to approach him. The treatment
which Owain met with there, was such as he had never known elsewhere, for
every one was as sorrowful, as though death had been upon him. {45} And
they went to meat. And the Earl sat upon one side of Owain; and on the
other side his only daughter. And Owain had never seen any more lovely
than she. Then the lion came and placed himself betwee