and possessions. And he earnestly beseeches thee, Lord, to permit
Geraint his son to return to him, to protect his possessions, and to
become acquainted with his boundaries. And unto him he represents
that it were better for him to spend the flower of his youth and the
prime of his age in preserving his own boundaries, than in
tournaments, which are productive of no profit, although he obtains
glory in them."

"Well," said Arthur, "go, and divest yourselves of your
accoutrements, and take food, and refresh yourselves after your
fatigues; and before you go forth hence you shall have an answer."
And they went to eat. And Arthur considered that it would go hard
with him to let Geraint depart from him and from his Court; neither
did he think it fair that his cousin should be restrained from going
to protect his dominions and his boundaries, seeing that his father
was unable to do so. No less was the grief and regret of Gwenhwyvar,
and all her women, and all her damsels, through fear that the maiden
would leave them. And that day and that night were spent in
abundance of feasting. And Arthur showed Geraint the cause of the
mission, and of the coming of the ambassadors to him out of Cornwall.
"Truly," said Geraint, "be it to my advantage or disadvantage, Lord,
I will do according to thy will concerning this embassy." "Behold,"
said Arthur, "though it grieves me to part with thee, it is my
counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions, and to defend
thy boundaries, and to take with thee to accompany thee as many as
thou wilt of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among
thy friends, and among thy companions in arms." "Heaven reward thee;
and this will I do," said Geraint. "What discourse," said
Gwenhwyvar, "do I hear between you? Is it of those who are to
conduct Geraint to his country?" "It is," said Arthur. "Then it is