"I come," said he, "from the valley below us."
"Canst thou tell me," said Geraint, "who is the owner of this fair valley and yonder walled town?"
"I will tell thee willingly," said he. "Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks; but the Cymry call him the Little King."
"Can I go by yonder bridge," said Geraint, "and by the lower highway that is beneath the town?"
Said the knight, "Thou canst not go by his tower on the other side of the bridge, unless thou dost intend to combat him; because it is his custom to encounter every knight that comes upon his lands."
"I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, "that I will, nevertheless, pursue my journey that way."
"If thou dost so," said the knight, "thou wilt probably meet with shame and disgrace in reward for thy daring."
Then Geraint proceeded along the road that led to the town; and the road brought him to a ground that was hard and rugged and high and ridgy. And as he journeyed thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a war-horse strong and large and proudly-stepping and wide-hoofed and broad-chested. And he never saw a man of smaller stature than he who was upon the horse. And both he and his horse were completely armed.
When he had overtaken Geraint, he said to him, "Tell me, chieftain, whether it is through ignorance or through presumption that thou seekest to insult my dignity and to infringe my rules."
"Nay," answered Geraint, "I knew not this road was forbid to any."