# Geraint, the Son of Erbin (Continued) explained — Bulfinch’s Mythology > Chapter companion for Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch. ## What happens Geraint, having grown accustomed to ease and pleasure, neglects his knightly duties and loses the respect of his court. His wife Enid, overhearing the gossip, inadvertently awakens him with her tears and lament, leading Geraint to suspect her of infidelity. He forces her to accompany him on a perilous journey in her meanest garments, forbidding her to speak. Along the way, they encounter thieves whom Geraint slays, and later he is wounded in a tournament. Enid defies his orders to warn him of danger, and after Geraint is struck down, she defends his honor against an earl who strikes her. Geraint revives, kills the earl, and is rescued by his ally Gwiffert Petit. He recovers, reconciles with Enid, and returns to his kingdom to reign prosperously. ## Themes in this chapter ### Heroism and the Quest Geraint's journey to reclaim his honor and prove his strength is a classic quest narrative, involving trials and combat. ### Love and Transformation Geraint's love for Enid initially leads to his decline, but through trials, their relationship is tested and ultimately restored. ### Jealousy and Revenge Geraint's jealousy of Enid's supposed infidelity drives the plot, leading to harsh treatment and a violent confrontation with the earl. ## Character check-ins ### Geraint Geraint, once a famed knight, becomes slothful and uxorious, then embarks on a quest with Enid after suspecting her of infidelity. ### Enid Enid, Geraint's wife, is blamed for his decline but remains loyal, enduring hardship and defending his honor. ### Erbin Erbin, Geraint's father, questions Enid about Geraint's behavior and later bids him farewell on his quest. ### Gwiffert Petit Gwiffert Petit, an ally of Geraint, rescues him after he is wounded and provides medical care. ## Key lines > Before Geraint, the scourge of the enemy, I saw steeds white with foam, And after the shout of battle a fearful torrent. I saw horses foaming at the mouth before Geraint, the terror of his foes, and after the battle cry, a dreadful flood. _This poetic excerpt from Hen extols Geraint's former martial glory._ > They began to scoff and jeer and babble of him As of a prince whose manhood was all gone, And molten down in mere uxoriousness. People started to mock and gossip about him as a prince whose courage had melted away into excessive devotion to his wife. _This passage describes the court's scorn for Geraint's neglect of his duties._ > Alas! and am I the cause that these arms and this breast have lost their glory, and the warlike fame which they once so richly enjoyed! Oh no! Am I to blame that these arms and this chest have lost their honor and the renown they once had? _Enid laments that her presence may have caused Geraint's decline in martial fame._ > The vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if I would not rather receive my death from his hand than from the hand of any other; and though he should slay me, yet will I speak to him, lest I should have the misery to witness his death. May Heaven punish me if I would not rather die by his hand than by another's; even if he kills me, I will speak to him to avoid the sorrow of seeing him die. _Enid resolves to warn Geraint of danger despite his command of silence, showing her loyalty._ > O chieftain, whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a dead man? O leader, whoever you are, what glory would you get from killing a man who is already dead? _Enid cries out to protect the wounded Geraint from further attack._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/vii-geraint-the-son-of-erbin-continued - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters