And, as Owain one day sat at meat in the city of Caerlleon-upon-Usk, behold a damsel entered, upon a bay horse with a curling mane and covered with foam; and the bridle and so much as was seen of the saddle were of gold. And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow satin. And she came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his hand.
"Thus," said she, "shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor, the faithless, the disgraced, and the beardless."
And she turned her horse's head, and departed.
Then his adventure came to Owain's remembrance, and he was sorrowful; and, having finished eating, he went to his own abode and made preparations that night. And the next day he arose, [yet] did not go to the court, but wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to uncultivated mountains. And he remained there until all his apparel was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hair was grown long. And he went about with the wild beasts, and fed with them, until they became familiar with him. But at length he grew so weak that he could no longer bear them company. Then he descended from the mountains to the valley, and came to a park that was the fairest in the world and belonged to a widowed countess.
One day the countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a lake that was in the middle of the park; and they saw the form of a man. And they were terrified. Nevertheless, they went near him, and touched him, and looked at him. And they saw that there was life in him, though he was exhausted by the heat of the sun. And the countess returned to the castle, and took a flask full of precious ointment and gave it to one of her maidens.
"Go with this," said she, "and take with thee yonder horse and clothing, and place them near the man we saw just now. And anoint him with this balsam, near his heart; and if there is life in him he will arise through the efficacy of this balsam. Then watch what he will do."
And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the balsam upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a little way off and hid herself to watch him. In a short time she saw him begin to move his arms. And he rose up and looked at his person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance. Then he perceived the horse and the garments that were near him. And he crept forward till he was able to draw the garments to him from off the saddle. And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted the horse. Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and saluted him. And he was rejoiced when he saw her, and inquired of her what land and what territory that was.
