ight.

And the people began to scoff and jeer whenever Geraint's name was
spoken. 'The Prince is no knight,' they said. 'The robbers spoil
his land and carry off his cattle, but he neither cares nor
fights. He does nothing but wait on the fair Lady Enid.'

Enid knew what the people said, and she thought, 'I must tell
Geraint, and then surely he will be ashamed, and become a brave
knight once more.' But always her courage failed.

'I think I could buckle on his armour and ride with him to battle,'
thought Enid, 'but how can I tell him he is no worthy knight?'

And her tears fell fast, and Geraint coming in, saw her weeping,
and thought, 'She weeps for the gay lords and ladies of Arthur's
court.'

Then all at once he hated his idle life. 'It has only made Enid
despise me,' he thought. 'We will go together into the wilderness,
and I will show her I can still fight.' And half in anger and half
in sadness he called for his war-horse.

Then Geraint told Enid to put on her oldest dress and ride with him
into the wilderness. And because he was angry with himself for
thinking that Enid wept for the gay knights and ladies at Arthur's
court, he would not ride with her, but told her to go on in front,
and 'whatever you see or hear, do not speak to me,' he said
sternly.

Then Enid remembered the old faded silk gown. 'I will wear that,
for he loved me in it,' she thought.

Through woods and swamps Enid and Geraint rode in silence. And
while Enid's heart cried, 'Why is Geraint angry with me?' her eyes
were busy glancing into every bush and corner, in case robbers
should attack her lord.

At last in the shadow of some trees, Enid saw three tall knights.
They were armed, and she heard them whisper, when they saw Geraint,
'This is a craven-looking knight. We will slay him, and take his
armour and his maiden.'

And Enid thought, 'Even if it makes Geraint angry, I must tell him
what the knights say, or they will attack him before he knows they
are there.' And Enid turned back. Geraint frowned as he saw her
coming to speak to him, but Enid said bravely, 'There are three
knights in front of us. They say they will fight with you.'

'I do not want your warning,' said Geraint roughly, 'but you shall
see I can fight.'

Sad and pale, Enid watched the three knights spring suddenly out of
their ambush and attack her lord.

But Geraint threw his spear at the tallest knight, and it pierced
his breast. Then with two sword thrusts, h