shoes of variegated leather. And it was a marvel that the ends of
her fingers were not bruised, from the violence with which she smote
her hands together. Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain
ever saw, had she been in her usual guise. And her cry was louder
than the shout of the men, or the clamour of the trumpets. No sooner
had he beheld the lady, than he became inflamed with her love, so
that it took entire possession of him.

Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was. "Heaven knows,"
replied the maiden, "she may be said to be the fairest, and the most
chaste, and the most liberal, and the wisest, and the most noble of
women. And she is my mistress; and she is called the Countess of the
Fountain, the wife of him whom thou didst slay yesterday." "Verily,"
said Owain, "she is the woman that I love best." "Verily," said the
maiden, "she shall also love thee not a little."

And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a pot
with water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of white
linen, and placed it around Owain's neck; and she took a goblet of
ivory, and a silver basin, and filled them with warm water, wherewith
she washed Owain's head. Then she opened a wooden casket, and drew
forth a razor, whose haft was of ivory, and upon which were two
rivets of gold. And she shaved his beard, and she dried his head,
and his throat, with the towel. Then she rose up from before Owain,
and brought him to eat. And truly Owain had never so good a meal,
nor was he ever so well served.

When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his couch.
"Come here," said she, "and sleep, and I will go and woo for thee."
And Owain went to sleep, and the maiden shut the door of the chamber