I am Luned , ' replied a voice from a cave so hidden by bushes and green hanging plants that Owen had not seen it . ` And what dost thou here ? ' cried he . ' I am held captive in this cave on account of the knight who married the countess and left her , for the pages spoke ill of him , and because I told them that no man living was his equal they dragged me here and said I should die unless he should come to deliver me by a certain day , and that is no further than the day after to-morrow . His name is Owen the son of Urien , but I have none to send to tell him of my danger , or of a surety he would deliver me . ' Owen held his peace , but gave the maiden some of the meat , and bade her be of good cheer . Then , followed by the lion , he set out for a great castle on the other side of the plain , and men came and took his horse and placed it in a manger , and the lion went after and lay down on the straw . Hospitable and kind were all within the castle , but so full of sorrow that it might have been thought death was upon them . At length , when they had eaten and drunk , Owen prayed the earl to tell him the reason of their grief . ` Yesterday , ' answered the earl , ` my two sons were seized , while thy were hunting , by a monster who dwells on those mountains yonder , and he vows that he will not let them go unless I give him my daughter to wife . ' ` That shall never be , ' said Owen ; ` but what form hath this monster ? ' ` In shape he is a man , but in stature he is a giant , ' replied the earl , ` and it were better by far that he should slay my sons than that I should give up my daughter . ' Early next morning the dwellers in the castle were awakened by a great clamour , and they found that the giant had arrived with the two young men . Swiftly Owen put on his armour and went forth to meet the giant , and the lion followed at his heels . And when the great beast beheld the hard blows which the giant dealt his master he flew at his throat , and much trouble had the monster in beating him off . ` Truly , ' said the giant , ' I should find no difficulty in fighting thee , if it were not for that lion . ' When he heard that Owen felt shame that he could not overcome the giant with his own sword , so he took the lion and shut him up in one of the towers of the castle , and returned to the fight . But from the sound of the blows the lion knew that the combat was going ill for Owen , so he climbed up till he reached the top of the tower , where there was a door on to the roof , and from the tower he sprang on to the walls , and from the walls to the ground . Then with a loud roar he leaped upon the giant , who fell dead under the blow of his paw . Now the gloom of the castle was turned into rejoicing , and the earl begged Owen to stay with him till he could make him a feast , but the knight said he had other work to do , and rode back to the place where he had left Luned , and the lion followed at his heels .
When he came there he saw a great fire kindled , and two youths leading out the maiden XXXXX cast her upon the pile .
In after for if of that to unless upon within