him, though he was exhausted by the heat of the sun. And the
Countess returned to the Castle, and took a flask full of precious
ointment, and gave it to one of her maidens. "Go with this," said
she, "and take with thee yonder horse and clothing, and place them
near the man we saw just now. And anoint him with this balsam, near
his heart; and if there is life in him, he will arise through the
efficacy of this balsam. Then watch what he will do."

And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the balsam
upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a
little way off, and hid herself to watch him. In a short time she
saw him begin to move his arms; and he rose up, and looked at his
person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance.
Then he perceived the horse and the garments that were near him. And
he crept forward till he was able to draw the garments to him from
off the saddle. And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted
the horse. Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and saluted
him. And he was rejoiced when he saw her, and inquired of her, what
land and what territory that was. "Truly," said the maiden, "a
widowed Countess owns yonder Castle; at the death of her husband, he
left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has but this one dwelling
that has not been wrested from her by a young Earl, who is her
neighbour, because she refused to become his wife." "That is pity,"
said Owain. And he and the maiden proceeded to the Castle; and he
alighted there, and the maiden conducted him to a pleasant chamber,
and kindled a fire and left him.

And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into her
hand. "Ha! maiden," said the Countess, "where is all the balsam?"
"Have I not used it all?" said she. "Oh, maiden," said the Countess,