honour. And the Earl conversed with Geraint, and inquired of him the
object of his journey. "I have none," he replied, "but to seek
adventures, and to follow my own inclination." Then the Earl cast
his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her steadfastly. And he thought
he had never seen a maiden fairer or more comely than she. And he
set all his thoughts and his affections upon her. Then he asked of
Geraint, "Have I thy permission to go and converse with yonder
maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee?" "Thou hast it
gladly," said he. So the Earl went to the place where the maiden
was, and spake with her. "Ah, maiden," said he, "it cannot be
pleasant to thee to journey thus with yonder man!" "It is not
unpleasant to me," said she, "to journey the same road that he
journeys." "Thou hast neither youths nor maidens to serve thee,"
said he. "Truly," she replied, "it is more pleasant for me to follow
yonder man, than to be served by youths and maidens." "I will give
thee good counsel," said he. "All my Earldom will I place in thy
possession, if thou wilt dwell with me." "That will I not, by
Heaven," she said; "yonder man was the first to whom my faith was
ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant to him!" "Thou art in the
wrong," said the Earl; "if I slay the man yonder, I can keep thee
with me as long as I choose; and when thou no longer pleasest me I
can turn thee away. But if thou goest with me by thine own good
will, I protest that our union shall continue eternal and undivided
as long as I remain alive." Then she pondered these words of his,
and she considered that it was advisable to encourage him in his
request. "Behold, then, chieftain, this is most expedient for thee
to do to save me any needless imputation; come here to-morrow, and
take me away as though I knew nothing thereof." "I will do so," said
he. So he arose, and took his leave, and went forth with his
attendants. And she told not then to Geraint any of the conversation