the
knight, set with precious stones of great virtue, and at the top of the
helmet was the image of a flame-coloured leopard with two ruby-red stones
in its head, so that it was astounding for a warrior, however stout his
heart, to look at the face of the leopard, much more at the face of the
knight. He had in his hand a blue-shafted lance, but from the haft to
the point it was stained crimson-red, with the blood of the Ravens and
their plumage.

The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain were seated at chess.
And they perceived that he was harassed and vexed and weary as he came
towards them. And the youth saluted Arthur, and told him, that the
Ravens of Owain were slaying his young men and attendants. And Arthur
looked at Owain and said, "Forbid thy Ravens." "Lord," answered Owain,
"play thy game." And they played. And the knight returned back towards
the strife, and the Ravens were not forbade any more than before.

And when they had played awhile, they heard a mighty tumult, and a
wailing of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as they carried the men in
their strength into the air, and, tearing them betwixt them, let them
fall piecemeal to the earth. And during the tumult they saw a knight
coming towards them on a light grey horse, and the left foreleg of the
horse was jet black to the centre of his hoof. And the knight and the
horse were fully accoutred with huge heavy blue armour. And a robe of
honour of yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and the borders of
the robe were blue. And the housings of the horse were jet black, with
borders of bright yellow. And on the thigh of the youth was a sword,
long, and three-edged, and heavy. And the scabbard was of red cut
leather, and the belt of new red deerskin, having upon it many golden
slides and a buckle of the bone of the sea horse, the tongue of which was
jet black. A golden helmet was upon the head of the knight, wherein were
set sapphire stones of great virtue. And at the top of the helmet was
the figure of a flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red tongue, issuing
above a foot from his mouth, and with venomous eyes, crimson-red, in his
head. And the knight came, bearing in his hand a thick ashen lance, the
head whereof, which had been newly steeped in blood, was overlaid with
silver.

And the youth saluted the Emperor: "Lord," said he, "carest thou not for
the slaying of thy pages, and thy young men, and the sons of the nobles
of the Islan