With the first rays of the sun he set forth , and travelled through deserts and over mountains and across rivers , and all befell him which had befallen Kynon , till he stood under the leafless tree listening to the song of the birds . Then he heard the voice , and turning to look found the knight galloping to meet him . Fiercely they fought till their lances were broken , and then they drew their swords , and a blow from Owen cut through the knight 's helmet , and pierced his skull . Feeling himself wounded unto death the knight fled , and Owen pursued him till they came to a splendid castle . Here the knight dashed across the bridge that spanned the moat , and entered the gate , but as soon as he was safe inside , the drawbridge was pulled up and caught Owen 's horse in the middle , so that half of him was inside and half out , and Owen could not dismount and knew not what to do . While he was in this sore plight a little door in the castle gate opened , and he could see a street facing him , with tall houses . Then a maiden with curling hair of gold looked through the little door and bade Owen open the gate . ` By my troth ! ' cried Owen , ' I can no more open it from here than thou art able to set me free . ' ` Well , ' said she , ' I will do my best to release thee if thou wilt do as I tell thee . Take this ring and put it on with the stone inside thy hand , and close thy fingers tight , for as long as thou dost conceal it , it will conceal thee . When the men inside have held counsel together , they will come to fetch thee to thy death , and they will be much grieved not to find thee . I will stand on the horse block yonder and thou canst see me though I can not see thee . Therefore draw near and place thy hand on my shoulder and follow me wheresoever I go . ' Upon that she went away from Owen , and when the men came out from the castle to seek him and did not find him they were sorely grieved , and they returned to the castle . Then Owen went to the maiden and placed his hand on her shoulder , and she guided him to a large room , painted all over with rich colours , and adorned with images of gold . Here she gave him meat and drink , and water to wash with and garments to wear , and he lay down upon a soft bed , with scarlet and fur to cover him , and slept gladly . In the middle of the night he woke hearing a great outcry , and he jumped up and clothed himself and went into the hall , where the maiden was standing . ` What is it ? ' he asked , and she answered that the knight who owned the castle was dead , and they were bearing his body to the church .
Never had Owen beheld such vast crowds , and following the dead knight was the most beautiful lady XXXXX the world , whose cry was louder than the shout of the men , or the braying of the trumpets .
Upon in into on over that though through to with