Owain struck the Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and
visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until it
wounded the very brain. Then the black Knight felt that he had
received a mortal wound, upon which he turned his horse's head, and
fled. And Owain pursued him, and followed close upon him, although
he was not near enough to strike him with his sword. Thereupon Owain
descried a vast and resplendent Castle. And they came to the Castle
gate. And the black Knight was allowed to enter, and the portcullis
was let fall upon Owain; and it struck his horse behind the saddle,
and cut him in two, and carried away the rowels of the spurs that
were upon Owain's heels. And the portcullis descended to the floor.
And the rowels of the spurs and part of the horse were without, and
Owain with the other part of the horse remained between the two
gates, and the inner gate was closed, so that Owain could not go
thence; and Owain was in a perplexing situation. And while he was in
this state, he could see through an aperture in the gate, a street
facing him, with a row of houses on each side. And he beheld a
maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet of gold upon her
head; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin, and on her feet
were shoes of variegated leather. And she approached the gate, and
desired that it should be opened. "Heaven knows, Lady," said Owain,
"it is no more possible for me to open to thee from hence, than it is
for thee to set me free." "Truly," said the damsel, "it is very sad
that thou canst not be released, and every woman ought to succour
thee, for I never saw one more faithful in the service of ladies than
thou. As a friend thou art the most sincere, and as a lover the most
devoted. Therefore," quoth she, "whatever is in my power to do for
thy release, I will do it. Take this ring and put it on thy finger,
with the stone inside thy hand; and close thy hand upon the stone.
And as long as thou concealest it, it will conceal thee. When they