Geraint, son of Erbin
part 19
Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and it grieved him to see one of her noble mien appear so deeply afflicted.
And he said to Geraint, "My Lord, thou doest wrong not to take repose, and refresh thyself awhile; for, if thou meetest with any difficulty in thy present condition, it will not be easy for thee to surmount it."
But Geraint would do no other than proceed on his journey, and he mounted his horse in pain, and all covered with blood. And the maiden went on first, and they proceeded towards the wood which they saw before them.
And the heat of the sun was very great, and through the blood and sweat, Geraint's armour cleaved to his flesh; and when they came into the wood, he stood under a tree, to avoid the sun's heat; and his wounds pained him more than they had done at the time when he received them. And the maiden stood under another tree. And, lo! they heard the sound of horns and a tumultuous noise; and the occasion of it was, that Arthur and his company had come down to the wood. And while Geraint was considering which way he should
go to avoid them, behold, he was espied by a foot-page, who was an attendant on the Steward of the Household; and he went to the Steward, and told him what kind of man he had seen in the wood. Then the Steward caused his horse to be saddled, and he took his lance and his shield, and went to the place where Geraint was.
"Ah, knight!" said he, "what dost thou here?"
"I am standing under a shady tree, to avoid the heat and the rays of the sun."
"Wherefore is thy journey, and who art thou?"
"I seek adventures, and go where I list."
"Indeed," said Kai; then come with me to see Arthur, who is here hard by."
"That will I not, by Heaven," said Geraint.
"Thou must needs come," said Kai.
Then Geraint knew who he was, but Kai did not know Geraint. And Kai attacked Geraint as best he could. And Geraint became wroth, and he struck him with the shaft of his lance, so that he rolled headlong to the ground. But chastisement worse than this would he not inflict on him.
Scared and wildly Kai arose, and he mounted his horse, and went back to his lodging. And thence he proceeded to Gwalchmai's tent.
"Oh, Sir," said he to Gwalchmai, "I was told by one of the attendants, that he saw in the wood above a wounded knight, having on battered armour; and if thou dost right, thou wilt go and see if this be true."
"I care not if I do so," said Gwalchmai.
"Take, then, thy horse, and some of thy armour," said Kai; "for I hear that he is not over courteous to those who approach him."
So Gwalchmai took his spear and his shield, and mounted his horse, and came to the spot where Geraint was.
"Sir Knight," said he, "wherefore is thy journey?"
"I journey for my own pleasure, and to seek the adventures of the world."
"Wilt thou tell me who thou art; or wilt thou come and visit Arthur, who is near at hand?"
"I will make no alliance with thee, nor will I go and visit Arthur," said he.
And he knew that it was Gwalchmai, but Gwalchmai knew him not.
"I purpose not to leave thee," said Gwalchmai, "till I know who thou art."
And he charged him with his lance, and struck him on his shield, so that the shaft was shivered into splinters, and their horses were front to front. Then Gwalchmai gazed fixedly upon him, and he knew him.
"Ah, Geraint," said he, "is it thou that art here?"
"I am not Geraint," said he.
"Geraint thou art, by Heaven," he replied, "and a wretched and insane expedition is this."
Then he looked around, and beheld Enid, and he welcomed her gladly.
"Geraint," said Gwalchmai, "come thou and see Arthur; he is thy lord and thy cousin."
"I will not," said he, "for I am not in a fit state to go and see any one."
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Pwyll