to me." "I will do so," quoth she.

"Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible for
thee to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to seek some
one who can defend them." "And how can I do that?" said the
Countess. "I will tell thee," said Luned. "Unless thou canst defend
the fountain, thou canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can
defend the fountain, except it be a knight of Arthur's household; and
I will go to Arthur's Court, and ill betide me, if I return thence
without a warrior who can guard the fountain as well as, or even
better than, he who defended it formerly." "That will be hard to
perform," said the Countess. "Go, however, and make proof of that
which thou hast promised."

Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur's Court; but she
went back to the chamber where she had left Owain; and she tarried
there with him as long as it might have taken her to have travelled
to the Court of King Arthur. And at the end of that time, she
apparelled herself and went to visit the Countess. And the Countess
was much rejoiced when she saw her, and inquired what news she
brought from the Court. "I bring thee the best of news," said Luned,
"for I have compassed the object of my mission. When wilt thou, that
I should present to thee the chieftain who has come with me hither?"
"Bring him here to visit me to-morrow, at mid-day," said the
Countess, "and I will cause the town to be assembled by that time."

And Luned returned home. And the next day, at noon, Owain arrayed
himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon
which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were high shoes
of variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps, in the