her rescue.  But if you will accept me in his stead, I will do battle with you.”  “We will,” said the youths, “by him who made us.”

And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them.  And with that the lion came to Owain’s assistance; and they two got the better of the young men.  And they said to him, “Chieftain, it was not

agreed that we should fight, save with thyself alone, and it is harder for us to contend with yonder animal, than with thee.”  And Owain put the lion in the place where the maiden had been imprisoned, and blocked up the door with stones.  And he went to fight with the young men as before.  But Owain had not his usual strength, [48] and the two youths pressed hard upon him.  And the lion roared incessantly at seeing Owain in trouble.  And he burst through the wall, until he found a way out, and rushed upon the young men, and instantly slew them.  So Luned was saved from being burned.

Then Owain returned with Luned, to the dominions of the Countess of the Fountain.  And when he went thence, he took the Countess with him to Arthur’s Court, and she was his wife as long as she lived.

And they took the road that led to the Court of the savage black man.  And Owain fought with him, and the lion did not quit Owain, until he had vanquished him.  And when he reached the Court of the savage black man, he entered the hall: and beheld four and twenty ladies, the fairest that could be seen.  And the garments which they had on, were not worth four and twenty pence.  And they were as sorrowful as death.  And Owain asked them the cause of their sadness.  And they said, “We are the daughters of Earls, and we all came here, with our husbands, whom we dearly loved.  And we were received with honour and rejoicing.  And we were thrown into a state of stupor, and while we were thus, the demon who owns this Castle, slew all our husbands, and took from us our horses, and our raiment, and our gold, and our silver.  And the corpses of our husbands are still in this house, and many others with them.  And this,

Chieftain, is the cause of our grief, and we are sorry that thou art come hither, lest harm should befall thee.”

And Owain was grieved, when he heard this.  And he went forth from the Castle, and he beheld a Knight approaching him, who saluted him, in a friendly and cheerful manner, as if he had been a brother.  And this was the savage black man.  “In very sooth,” said Owain, “it is not to seek thy friendship that I am here.”  “In sooth,” said he, “thou shalt not find it then.”  And with that they charged each other, and fought furiously.  And Owain overcame him, and bound his hands behind his back.  Then the black savage besought Owain to spare his life, and spoke thus, “My lord Owain,” said he, “it was foretold, that thou shouldst come hither and vanquish me, and thou hast done so.  I was a robber here, and my house was a house of spoil.  But grant me my life, and I will become the keeper of an Hospice, and I will maintain this house as an Hospice for weak and for strong, as long as I live, for the good of thy soul.”  And Owain accepted the proposal of him, and remained there that night.

And the next day he took the four and twenty ladies, and their horses, and their raiment, and what they possessed of goods, and jewels, and proceeded with them to Arthur’s Court.  And if Arthur was rejoiced when he saw him, after he had lost him the first time, his joy was now much greater.  And of those ladies, such as wished to remain in Arthur’s Court, remained there; and such as wished to depart, departed.

And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur’s Court, greatly beloved as the head of his household, until he went away with his followers; and those were the

army of three hundred ravens which Kenverchyn had left him.  And wherever Owain went with these, he was victorious.

And this is the tale of The Lady of the Fountain.