the Island of Britain. And when he was once more amongst his kindred
and friends, he remained three years, instead of three months, with
them.


And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon upon Usk,
behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a curling mane and
covered with foam, and the bridle and so much as was seen of the
saddle were of gold. And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow
satin. And she came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his
hand. "Thus," said she, "shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor,
the faithless, the disgraced, and the beardless." And she turned her
horse's head and departed.

Then his adventure came to Owain's remembrance, and he was sorrowful;
and having finished eating he went to his own abode and made
preparations that night. And the next day he arose but did not go to
the Court, but wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to
uncultivated mountains. And he remained there until all his apparel
was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hair was grown
long. And he went about with the wild beasts and fed with them,
until they became familiar with him; but at length he grew so weak
that he could no longer bear them company. Then he descended from
the mountains to the valley, and came to a park that was the fairest
in the world, and belonged to a widowed Countess.

One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a lake,
that was in the middle of the park. And they saw the form of a man.
And they were terrified. Nevertheless they went near him, and
touched him, and looked at him. And they saw that there was life in