So Geraint passed to his own land, Enid going with him; and soon he had driven the oppressors from their strongholds and established peace and order, so that the poor man dwelt in his little cot secure in his possessions.  But when all was done, and there was none dared defy him, Geraint abode at home, neglectful of the tournament and the chase, and all those manly exercises in which he had once excelled, content if he had but the companionship of his wife; so that his nobles murmured because he withdrew himself from their society, and the common people jeered at him for a laggard.

Now these evil rumours came to Enid’s ears, and it grieved her that she should be the cause, however unwillingly, of her husband’s dishonour; and since she could not bring herself to speak to her lord of what was in her heart, daily she grew more sorrowful, till the Prince, aware of her altered demeanour, became uneasy, not knowing its source.

So time went by till it chanced, one summer morning, that with the first rays of the sun, Enid awoke from her slumbers, and, rising, gazed upon her husband as he lay, and marvelled at his strength.  “Alas!” said she, “to be the cause that my lord suffers shame!  Surely I should find courage to tell him all, were I indeed true wife to him!” Then, by ill chance, her tears falling upon him awoke him, so that he heard her words, but brokenly, and seeing her weep and hearing her accuse herself, it came into his thought that, for all his love and care for her, she was weary of him, nay, even that perhaps she loved him not at all.  In anger and grief he called to his squire and bade him saddle his charger and a palfrey for Enid; and to her he said:  “Put on thy meanest attire, and thou shalt ride with me into the wilderness.  It seems that I have yet to win me fame; but before thou seest home again, thou shalt learn if indeed I am fallen so low as thou deemest.”  And Enid, wondering and troubled, answered, “I know naught of thy meaning, my lord.”  “Ask me nothing,” said Geraint.  So sorrowfully and in silence Enid arrayed herself, choosing for her apparel the faded robe and veil in which first her lord had seen her.

Then the squire brought them their horses; but when he would have mounted and ridden after, Geraint forbade him.  And to Enid the Prince said:  “Ride before me and turn not back, no matter what thou seest or hearest.  And unless I speak to thee, say not a word to me.”

So they rode forward along the least frequented road till they came to a vast forest, which they entered.  There Enid, as she rode in front, saw four armed men lurking by the road, and one said to the other:  “See, now is our opportunity to win much spoil at little cost; for we may easily overcome this doleful knight, and take from him his arms and lady.”  And Enid hearing them, was filled with fear and doubt; for she longed to warn her lord of his danger, yet feared to arouse his wrath, seeing he had bidden her