is." Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for
the maiden, when he saw her coming towards him. And the maiden
inquired of the dwarf who the knight was. "I will not tell thee," he
answered. "Since thou art so churlish as not to tell me," said she,
"I will ask him himself." "Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith,"
said he. "Wherefore?" said she. "Because thou art not of honour
sufficient to befit thee to speak to my Lord." Then the maiden
turned her horse's head towards the knight, upon which the dwarf
struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the face and the
eyes, until the blood flowed forth. And the maiden, through the hurt
she received from the blow, returned to Gwenhwyvar, complaining of
the pain. "Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee," said Geraint.
"I will go myself to know who the knight is." "Go," said Gwenhwyvar.
And Geraint went up to the dwarf. "Who is yonder knight?" said
Geraint. "I will not tell thee," said the dwarf. "Then will I ask
him himself," said he. "That wilt thou not, by my faith," said the
dwarf, "thou art not honourable enough to speak with my Lord." Said
Geraint, "I have spoken with men of equal rank with him." And he
turned his horse's head towards the knight; but the dwarf overtook
him, and struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood
coloured the scarf that Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand upon
the hilt of his sword, but he took counsel with himself, and
considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the dwarf,
and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so he returned to
where Gwenhwyvar was.

"Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly," said she. "Lady," said he,
"I will follow him yet, with thy permission; and at last he will come
to some inhabited place, where I may have arms either as a loan or
for a pledge, so that I may encounter the knight." "Go," said she,