Chapter 25 - Page 2

thyself;
and cause thy horse to be accoutred, and clothe thee in the worst
riding-dress that thou hast in thy possession. And evil betide me,"
said he, "if thou returnest here until thou knowest whether I have
lost my strength so completely as thou didst say. And if it be so,
it will then be easy for thee to seek the society thou didst wish
for of him of whom thou wast thinking." So she arose, and clothed
herself in her meanest garments. "I know nothing, lord," said she, "of
thy meaning." "Neither wilt thou know at this time," said he. * The terms of admiration in which the older writers invariably
speak of glass windows would be sufficient proof, if other evidence
were wanting, how rare an article of luxury they were in the houses of
our ancestors. They were first introduced in ecclesiastical
architecture, to which they were for a long time confined. Glass is
said not to have been employed in domestic architecture before the
fourteenth century. Then Geraint went to see Erbin. "Sir," said he, "I am going upon a
quest, and I am not certain when I may come back. Take heed,
therefore, unto thy possessions until my return." "I will do so," said
he; "but it is strange to me that thou shouldst go so suddenly. And
who will proceed with thee, since thou art not strong enough to
traverse the land of Loegyr alone?" "But one person only will go
with me." "Heaven counsel thee, my son," said Erbin, "and may many
attach themselves to thee in Loegyr." Then went Geraint to the place
where his horse was, and it was equipped with foreign armor, heavy and
shining. And he desired Enid to mount her horse, and to ride
forward, and to keep a long way before him. "And whatever thou
mayest see, and whatever thou mayest hear concerning me," said he, "do
thou not turn back. And unless I speak unto thee, say not thou one
word either." So they set forward. And he did not choose the
pleasantest and most frequented road, but that which was the wildest
and most beset by thieves and robbers and venomous animals.
And they came to a high-road, which they followed till they saw a
vast forest; and they saw four armed horsemen come forth from the
forest. When the armed men saw them, they said one to another, "Here
is a good occasion for us to capture two horses and armor, and a
lady likewise; for this we shall have no difficulty in doing against
yonder single knight, who hangs his head so pensively and heavily."
Enid heard this discourse, and she knew not what she do through fear
of Geraint, who had told her to be silent. "The vengeance of Heaven be
upon me," said she, "if I would not rather receive my death from his
hand than from the hand of any other; and though he should slay me,
yet will I speak to him, lest I should have the misery to witness