In another Whitsuntide Arthur was holding his court at Caerleon upon Usk, and there came men before him, and they saluted him. “Heaven prosper you,” said Arthur, “and the welcome of Heaven be unto you. And whence do you come?” “We come, Lord,” said they, “from Cornwall, and we are ambassadors from Erbin, the Prince of Cornwall, thy uncle. And he greets thee as well, as an uncle should greet his nephew, and as a vassal should greet his lord. And he represents unto thee that he waxes feeble, and is advancing in years. And the neighboring chiefs, knowing this, grow insolent toward him, and covet his land and possessions. And he earnestly beseeches thee, Lord, to permit Geraint, his son, to return to him, to protect his possessions, and to become acquainted with their boundaries. And unto him he represents that it were better for him to spend the flower of his youth and the prime of his age in preserving his own boundaries, than in tournaments, which are productive of no profit, although he obtains glory in them.”
“Well,” said Arthur, “go, and divest yourselves of your accoutrements, and refresh yourselves after your fatigue; and before you go forth hence you shall have an answer.” Then the ambassadors went to eat. Arthur considered that it would go hard with him to let Geraint depart from him and from his court; but neither did he think it fair that Geraint should be restrained from going to protect his dominions and his boundaries. No less was the grief and regret of Gwenhuivar, and all her women, and all her maidens, through fear that Enid would leave them.
Then Arthur spoke to Geraint about the coming of the ambassadors out of Cornwall. “Truly,” said Geraint, “I will do according to thy will concerning this embassy.” “Behold,” said Arthur, “though it grieves me to part with thee, it is my counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions, and defend thy boundaries, and to take with thee to accompany thee as many as thou wilt of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among thy friends, and among thy companions in arms.” “Heaven reward thee; and this will I do,” said Geraint. “What discourse do I hear between you?” said Gwenhuivar. “Is it of those who are to conduct Geraint to his own country?” “It is,” said Arthur. “Then it will be needful for me to consider,” said she, “concerning companions and a provision for the Lady Enid.” “Thou wilt do well,” said Arthur.
That night they went to sleep. And the next day the ambassadors were permitted to depart, and they were told that Geraint would follow them. And on the third day Geraint set forth, and many went with him. Never was there seen a fairer host journeying toward the Severn. On the other side of the Severn were the nobles of Erbin, the Prince of Cornwall, to welcome Geraint with gladness; and many of the women of the court, with his mother, came to receive Enid. There was great rejoicing and gladness throughout the court, and throughout all the country, concerning Geraint, because of the greatness of their love toward him, and of the greatness of the fame which he had gained since he went from amongst them, and because he was come to take possession of his dominions and to preserve his boundaries.
In the court they had ample entertainment, and a multitude of gifts, and a variety of minstrelsy and games. And to do honor to Geraint all the chief men of the country were invited that night to visit him. At dawn next day Erbin arose, and summoned to him Geraint, and the noble persons who had borne him company on the way. And he said to Geraint, “I am a feeble and aged man, and whilst I was able to maintain the dominion for thee and for myself, I did so. But thou art young, and in the flower of thy vigor and thy youth; henceforth do thou preserve thy possessions. Into thy hands I give them, and this day also shalt thou receive the homage of thy subjects.”
Then Erbin desired Geraint to send messengers to the men, to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that he should come to receive their homage, and whether they had anything to object to him. And they all said that it would be the fullness of joy and honor to them for Geraint to come and receive their homage. He received the homage of such as were there. After that, the followers of Arthur went; and Geraint went to bear them company, and Enid also, as far as Deganway; there they parted.
After that Geraint journeyed to the uttermost part of his dominions. And experienced guides, and the chief men of the country, went with him. And the furthermost point that they showed him he kept possession of.
As he had been used to do when he was at Arthur’s Court, he frequented tournaments. He became acquainted with valiant and mighty men, until he had gained as much fame there as he had formerly done elsewhere. He ceased not until his fame had flown over the face of the whole kingdom.
When he knew that his fame was such, he began to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one who was worth his opposing. After that he came to like staying within his palace, with minstrelsy and diversions. For a long time he abode at home. And after that he began to shut himself up in the chamber of his wife, and he gave up the friendship of his nobles, together with his hunting and his amusements, and he lost the hearts of all the host in his court; and there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him among the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing so completely their companionship for the love of his wife.
These tidings came to Erbin, Geraint’s aged father. And when Erbin heard them, he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it was she who had caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his people and the men who fought for him. “Not I, by my confession unto Heaven,” said Enid. And she knew not what she should do, for, although it were hard for her to own this to Geraint, yet it was not more easy for her to listen to what she heard, without warning Geraint concerning it. And Enid was very sorrowful.
One morning, in the summertime, Geraint lay upon the edge of Enid’s couch. Enid was without sleep in the chamber which had windows of glass. And the sun shone through the windows upon the couch. The clothes had slipped from off Geraint’s arms and his breast, and he was asleep. She gazed upon the marvelous beauty of his appearance, and she said, “Alas, and am I the cause that these arms and this breast have lost their glory and the warlike fame which they once so richly enjoyed!” And as she said this, the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon his breast.