of mist, and within it are enchanted games, and no one who has gone
there has ever returned. And the Court of the Earl Owain is there,
and he permits no one to go to lodge in the town, except he will go
to his Court." "I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, "that we will
take the lower road." And they went along it until they came to the
town. And they took the fairest and pleasantest place in the town
for their lodging. And while they were thus, behold, a young man
came to them, and greeted them. "Heaven be propitious to thee," said
they. "Good Sirs," said he, "what preparations are you making here?"
"We are taking up our lodging," said they, "to pass the night." "It
is not the custom with him who owns the town," he answered, "to
permit any of gentle birth, unless they come to stay in his Court, to
abide here; therefore, come ye to the Court." "We will come,
gladly," said Geraint. And they went with the page, and they were
joyfully received. And the Earl came to the hall to meet them, and
he commanded the tables to be laid. And they washed, and sat down.
And this is the order in which they sat: Geraint on one side of the
Earl, and Enid on the other side, and next to Enid the Little King,
and then the Countess next to Geraint; and all after that as became
their rank. Then Geraint recollected the games, and thought that he
should not go to them; and on that account he did not eat. Then the
Earl looked upon Geraint, and considered, and he bethought him that
his not eating was because of the games, and it grieved him that he
had ever established those games, were it only on account of losing
such a youth as Geraint. And if Geraint had asked him to abolish the
games, he would gladly have done so. Then the Earl said to Geraint,
"What thought occupies thy mind, that thou dost not eat? If thou
hesitatest about going to the games, thou shalt not go, and no other
of thy rank shall ever go either." "Heaven reward thee," said
Geraint, "but I wish nothing better than to go to the games, and to