that escaped without receiving a fall, mortally severe, and
grievously painful, and desperately wounding, from the hand of
Geraint.

And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was before him, and
the maiden went on first; and near them they beheld a valley which
was the fairest ever seen, and which had a large river running
through it; and there was a bridge over the river, and the high road
led to the bridge. And above the bridge upon the opposite side of
the river, they beheld a fortified town, the fairest ever seen. And
as they approached the bridge, Geraint saw coming towards him from a
thick copse a man mounted upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace
and spirited though tractable. "Ah, knight," said Geraint, "whence
comest thou?" "I come," said he, "from the valley below us." "Canst
thou tell me," said Geraint, "who is the owner of this fair valley
and yonder walled town?" "I will tell thee, willingly," said he.
"Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks, but the Cymry call him
the Little King." "Can I go by yonder bridge," said Geraint, "and by
the lower highway that is beneath the town?" Said the knight, "Thou
canst not go by his tower on the other side of the bridge, unless
thou dost intend to combat him; because it is his custom to encounter
every knight that comes upon his lands." "I declare to Heaven," said
Geraint, "that I will, nevertheless, pursue my journey that way."
"If thou dost so," said the knight, "thou wilt probably meet with
shame and disgrace in reward for thy daring." Then Geraint proceeded
along the road that led to the town, and the road brought him to a
ground that was hard, and rugged, and high, and ridgy. And as he
journeyed thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a warhorse,
strong, and large, and proudly-stepping, and wide-hoofed, and broad-
chested. And he never saw a man of smaller stature than he who was