` Thus shall be treated the traitor and the faithless , ' said she , and turning her horse 's head she rode out of the hall . At her words Owen remembered all that he had forgotten , and sorrowful and ashamed he went to his own chamber and made ready to depart . At the dawn he set out , but he did not go back to the castle , for his heart was heavy , but he wandered far into wild places till his body was weak and thin , and his hair was long . The wild beasts were his friends , and he slept by their side , but in the end he longed to see the face of a man again , and he came down into a valley and fell asleep by a lake in the lands of a widowed countess . Now it was the time when the countess took her walk , attended by her maidens , and when they saw a man lying by the lake they shrank back in terror , for he lay so still that they thought he was dead . But when they had overcome their fright , they drew near him , and touched him , and saw that there was life in him . Then the countess hastened to the castle , and brought from it a flask full of precious ointment and gave it to one of her maidens . ` Take that horse which is grazing yonder , ' she said , ` and a suit of men 's garments , and place them near the man , and pour some of this ointment near his heart . If there is any life in him that will bring it back . But if he moves , hide thyself in the bushes near by , and see what he does . ' The damsel took the flask and did her mistress ' bidding . Soon the man began to move his arms , and then rose slowly to his feet . Creeping forward step by step he took the garments from off the saddle and put them on him , and painfully he mounted the horse . When he was seated the damsel came forth and greeted him , and glad was he when he saw her and inquired what castle that was before him . ` It belongs to a widowed countess , ' answered the maiden . ` Her husband left her two earldoms , but it is all that remains of her broad lands , for they have been torn from her by a young earl , because she would not marry him . ' ` That is a pity , ' replied Owen , but he said no more , for he was too weak to talk much . Then the maiden guided him to the castle , and kindled a fire , and brought him food . And there he stayed and was tended for three months , till he was handsomer than ever he was . At noon one day Owen heard a sound of arms outside the castle , and he asked of the maiden what it was .
` It is the earl XXXXX whom I spoke to thee , ' she answered , ` who has come with a great host to carry off my mistress . '
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