Granting her full forgiveness, Gareth now rode beside her, fought more bravely still, and, after defeating many knights, delivered her sister from captivity, and secured Lynette’s promise to become his wife as soon as he had been admitted to the Round Table.  When he returned to Arthur’s court this honor was immediately awarded him, for his prowess had won the admiration of all, and he was duly married on St. Michaelmas Day.

“And he that told the tale in older times
Says that Sir Gareth wedded Lyoners,
But he that told it later, says Lynette.” 

                                              TENNYSON, Gareth and Lynette.

[Sidenote:  Geraint and Enid.] Gareth’s brother, Geraint, was also an honored member of the Round Table.  After distinguishing himself by many deeds of valor he married Enid the Fair, the only daughter of an old and impoverished knight whom he delivered from the tyranny of his oppressor and restored to all his former state.  Taking his fair wife away with him to his lonely manor, Geraint surrounded her with every comfort, and, forgetting his former high aspirations, spent all his time at home, hoping thereby to please her.

“He compass’d her with sweet observances
And worship, never leaving her, and grew
Forgetful of his promise to the King. 
Forgetful of the falcon and the hunt,
Forgetful of the tilt and tournament,
Forgetful of his glory and his name,
Forgetful of his princedom and its cares. 
And this forgetfulness was hateful to her.” 

                                                TENNYSON, Geraint and Enid.

Enid, however, soon perceived that her husband was forgetting both honor and duty to linger by her side.  One day, while he lay asleep before her, she, in an outburst of wifely love, poured out her heart, and ended her confession by declaring that since Geraint neglected everything for her sake only, she must be an unworthy wife.

Geraint awoke too late to overhear the first part of her speech; but, seeing her tears, and catching the words “unworthy wife,” he immediately imagined that she had ceased to love him, and that she received the attentions of another.  In his anger Geraint (whom the French and German poems call Erec) rose from his couch, and sternly bade his wife don her meanest apparel and silently follow him through the world.

    “The page he bade with speed
    Prepare his own strong steed,
    Dame Enid’s palfrey there beside;
    He said that he would ride
    For pastime far away: 
    So forward hastened they.” 
                HARTMANN VON AVE, Erek and Enid (Bayard Taylor’s tr.)

Patiently Enid did her husband’s bidding, watched him fight the knights by the way, and bound up his wounds.  She suffered intensely from his incomprehensible coldness and displeasure; but she stood all his tests so nobly that he finally recognized how greatly he had misjudged her.  He then restored her to her rightful place, and loved her more dearly than ever before.