be shown the way thither." "If that is what thou dost prefer, thou
shalt obtain it willingly." "I do prefer it, indeed," said he. Then
they ate, and they were amply served, and they had a variety of
gifts, and abundance of liquor. And when they had finished eating
they arose. And Geraint called for his horse and his armour, and he
accoutred both himself and his horse. And all the hosts went forth
until they came to the side of the hedge, and the hedge was so lofty,
that it reached as high as they could see in the air, and upon every
stake in the hedge, except two, there was the head of a man, and the
number of stakes throughout the hedge was very great. Then said the
Little King, "May no one go in with the chieftain?" "No one may,"
said Earl Owain. "Which way can I enter?" inquired Geraint. "I know
not," said Owain, "but enter by the way that thou wilt, and that
seemeth easiest to thee."

Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into the
mist. And on leaving the mist, he came to a large orchard; and in
the orchard he saw an open space, wherein was a tent of red satin;
and the door of the tent was open, and an apple-tree stood in front
of the door of the tent; and on a branch of the apple-tree hung a
huge hunting-horn. Then he dismounted, and went into the tent; and
there was no one in the tent save one maiden sitting in a golden
chair, and another chair was opposite to her, empty. And Geraint
went to the empty chair, and sat down therein. "Ah! chieftain," said
the maiden, "I would not counsel thee to sit in that chair."
"Wherefore?" said Geraint. "The man to whom that chair belongs has
never suffered another to sit in it." "I care not," said Geraint,
"though it displease him that I sit in the chair." And thereupon
they heard a mighty tumult around the tent. And Geraint looked to
see what was the cause of the tumult. And he beheld without a knight