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+The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mabinogion, by Lady Charlotte Guest
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
+will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
+using this eBook.
+
+Title: The Mabinogion
+
+Author: Lady Charlotte Guest
+
+Release Date: May 22, 2002 [eBook #5160]
+[Most recently updated: October 4, 2021]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+Produced by: David Price
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MABINOGION ***
+
+
+
+
+                              THE MABINOGION
+
+
+                    TRANSLATED BY LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+Introduction
+The Lady of the Fountain
+Peredur the Son of Evrawc
+Geraint the son of Erbin
+Kilhwch and Olwen
+The dream of Rhonabwy
+Pwyll Prince of Dyved
+Branwen the daughter of Llyr
+Manawyddan the son of Llyr
+Math the son of Mathonwy
+The dream of Maxen Wledig
+The story of Lludd and Llevelys
+Taliesin
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+Whilst engaged on the Translations contained in these volumes, and on the
+Notes appended to the various Tales, I have found myself led unavoidably
+into a much more extensive course of reading than I had originally
+contemplated, and one which in great measure bears directly upon the
+earlier Mediæval Romance.
+
+Before commencing these labours, I was aware, generally, that there
+existed a connexion between the Welsh Mabinogion and the Romance of the
+Continent; but as I advanced, I became better acquainted with the
+closeness and extent of that connexion, its history, and the proofs by
+which it is supported.
+
+At the same time, indeed, I became aware, and still strongly feel, that
+it is one thing to collect facts, and quite another to classify and draw
+from them their legitimate conclusions; and though I am loth that what
+has been collected with some pains, should be entirely thrown away, it is
+unwillingly, and with diffidence, that I trespass beyond the acknowledged
+province of a translator.
+
+In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there arose into general
+notoriety in Europe, a body of “Romance,” which in various forms retained
+its popularity till the Reformation.  In it the plot, the incidents, the
+characters, were almost wholly those of Chivalry, that bond which united
+the warriors of France, Spain, and Italy, with those of pure Teutonic
+descent, and embraced more or less firmly all the nations of Europe,
+excepting only the Slavonic races, not yet risen to power, and the Celts,
+who had fallen from it.  It is not difficult to account for this latter
+omission.  The Celts, driven from the plains into the mountains and
+islands, preserved their liberty, and hated their oppressors with fierce,
+and not causeless, hatred.  A proud and free people, isolated both in
+country and language, were not likely to adopt customs which implied
+brotherhood with their foes.
+
+Such being the case, it is remarkable that when the chief romances are
+examined, the name of many of the heroes and their scenes of action are
+found to be Celtic, and those of persons and places famous in the
+traditions of Wales and Brittany.  Of this the romances of Ywaine and
+Gawaine, Sir Perceval de Galles, Eric and Enide, Mort d’Arthur, Sir
+Lancelot, Sir Tristan, the Graal, &c., may be cited as examples.  In some
+cases a tendency to triads, and other matters of internal evidence, point
+in the same direction.
+
+It may seem difficult to account for this.  Although the ancient dominion
+of the Celts over Europe is not without enduring evidence in the names of
+the mountains and streams, the great features of a country, yet the loss
+of their prior language by the great mass of the Celtic nations in
+Southern Europe (if indeed their successors in territory be at all of
+their blood), prevents us from clearly seeing, and makes us wonder, how
+stories, originally embodied in the Celtic dialects of Great Britain and
+France, could so influence the literature of nations to whom the Celtic
+languages were utterly unknown.  Whence then came these internal marks,
+and these proper names of persons and places, the features of a story
+usually of earliest date and least likely to change?
+
+These romances were found in England, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden,
+and even Iceland, as early as the beginning of the thirteenth and end of
+the twelfth century.  The Germans, who propagated them through the
+nations of the North, derived them certainly from France.  Robert Wace
+published his Anglo-Norman Romance of the Brut d’Angleterre about 1155.
+Sir Tristan was written in French prose in 1170; and The Chevalier au
+Lion, Chevalier de l’Epée, and Sir Lancelot du Lac, in metrical French,
+by Chrestien de Troyes, before 1200.
+
+From these facts it is to be argued that the further back these romances
+are traced, the more clearly does it appear that they spread over the
+Continent from the North-west of France.  The older versions, it may be
+remarked, are far more simple than the later corruptions.  In them there
+is less allusion to the habits and usages of Chivalry, and the Welsh
+names and elements stand out in stronger relief.  It is a great step to
+be able to trace the stocks of these romances back to Wace, or to his
+country and age.  For Wace’s work was not original.  He himself, a native
+of Jersey, appears to have derived much of it from the “Historia
+Britonum” of Gruffydd ab Arthur, commonly known as “Geoffrey of
+Monmouth,” born 1128, who himself professes to have translated from a
+British original.  It is, however, very possible that Wace may have had
+access, like Geoffrey, to independent sources of information.
+
+To the claims set up on behalf of Wace and Geoffrey, to be regarded as
+the channels by which the Cymric tales passed into the Continental
+Romance, may be added those of a third almost contemporary author.
+Layamon, a Saxon priest, dwelling, about 1200, upon the banks of the
+upper Severn, acknowledges for the source of his British history, the
+_English_ Bede, the _Latin_ Albin, and the _French_ Wace.  The last-named
+however is by very much his chief, and, for Welsh matters, his only
+avowed authority.  His book, nevertheless, contains a number of names and
+stories relating to Wales, of which no traces appear in Wace, or indeed
+in Geoffrey, but which he was certainly in a very favourable position to
+obtain for himself.  Layamon, therefore, not only confirms Geoffrey in
+some points, but it is clear, that, professing to follow Wace, he had
+independent access to the great body of Welsh literature then current.
+Sir F. Madden has put this matter very clearly, in his recent edition of
+Layamon.  The Abbé de la Rue, also, was of opinion that Gaimar, an
+Anglo-Norman, in the reign of Stephen, usually regarded as a translator
+of Geoffrey of Monmouth, had access to a Welsh independent authority.
+
+In addition to these, is to be mentioned the English version of Sir
+Tristrem, which Sir Walter Scott considered to be derived from a distinct
+Celtic source, and not, like the later Amadis, Palmerin, and Lord
+Berners’s Canon of Romance, imported into English literature by
+translation from the French.  For the Auntours of Arthur, recently
+published by the Camden Society, their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to hint
+at a similar claim.
+
+Here then are various known channels, by which portions of Welsh and
+Armoric fiction crossed the Celtic border, and gave rise to the more
+ornate, and widely-spread romance of the Age of Chivalry.  It is not
+improbable that there may have existed many others.  It appears then that
+a large portion of the stocks of Mediæval Romance proceeded from Wales.
+We have next to see in what condition they are still found in that
+country.
+
+That Wales possessed an ancient literature, containing various lyric
+compositions, and certain triads, in which are arranged historical facts
+or moral aphorisms, has been shown by Sharon Turner, who has established
+the high antiquity of many of these compositions.
+
+The more strictly Romantic Literature of Wales has been less fortunate,
+though not less deserving of critical attention.  Small portions only of
+it have hitherto appeared in print, the remainder being still hidden in
+the obscurity of ancient Manuscripts: of these the chief is supposed to
+be the Red Book of Hergest, now in the Library of Jesus College, Oxford,
+and of the fourteenth century.  This contains, besides poems, the prose
+romances known as Mabinogion.  The Black Book of Caermarthen, preserved
+at Hengwrt, and considered not to be of later date than the twelfth
+century, is said to contain poems only. {1}
+
+The Mabinogion, however, though thus early recorded in the Welsh tongue,
+are in their existing form by no means wholly Welsh.  They are of two
+tolerably distinct classes.  Of these, the older contains few allusions
+to Norman customs, manners, arts, arms, and luxuries.  The other, and
+less ancient, are full of such allusions, and of ecclesiastical terms.
+Both classes, no doubt, are equally of Welsh root, but the former are not
+more overlaid or corrupted, than might have been expected, from the
+communication that so early took place between the Normans and the Welsh;
+whereas the latter probably migrated from Wales, and were brought back
+and re-translated after an absence of centuries, with a load of Norman
+additions.  Kilhwch and Olwen, and the dream of Rhonabwy, may be cited as
+examples of the older and purer class; the Lady of the Fountain, Peredur,
+and Geraint ab Erbin, of the later, or decorated.
+
+Besides these, indeed, there are a few tales, as Amlyn and Amic, Sir
+Bevis of Hamtoun, the Seven Wise Masters, and the story of Charlemagne,
+so obviously of foreign extraction, and of late introduction into Wales,
+not presenting even a Welsh name, or allusion, and of such very slender
+intrinsic merit, that although comprised in the Llyvr Coch, they have not
+a shadow of claim to form part of the Canon of Welsh Romance.  Therefore,
+although I have translated and examined them, I have given them no place
+in these volumes.
+
+There is one argument in favour of the high antiquity in Wales of many of
+the Mabinogion, which deserves to be mentioned here.  This argument is
+founded on the topography of the country.  It is found that Saxon names
+of places are very frequently definitions of the nature of the locality
+to which they are attached, as Clifton, Deepden, Bridge-ford, Thorpe,
+Ham, Wick, and the like; whereas those of Wales are more frequently
+commemorative of some event, real or supposed, said to have happened on
+or near the spot, or bearing allusion to some person renowned in the
+story of the country or district.  Such are “Llyn y Morwynion,” the Lake
+of the Maidens; “Rhyd y Bedd,” the Ford of the Grave; “Bryn Cyfergyr,”
+the Hill of Assault; and so on.  But as these names could not have
+preceded the events to which they refer, the events themselves must be
+not unfrequently as old as the early settlement in the country.  And as
+some of these events and fictions are the subjects of, and are explained
+by, existing Welsh legends, it follows that the legends must be, in some
+shape or other, of very remote antiquity.  It will be observed that this
+argument supports _remote_ antiquity only for such legends as are
+connected with the greater topographical features, as mountains, lakes,
+rivers, seas, which must have been named at an early period in the
+inhabitation of the country by man.  But there exist, also, legends
+connected with the lesser features, as pools, hills, detached rocks,
+caves, fords, and the like, places not necessarily named by the earlier
+settlers, but the names of which are, nevertheless, probably very old,
+since the words of which they are composed are in many cases not retained
+in the colloquial tongue, in which they must once have been included, and
+are in some instances lost from the language altogether, so much so as to
+be only partially explicable even by scholars.  The argument applies
+likewise, in their degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial
+earth-works.
+
+Conclusions thus drawn, when established, rest upon a very firm basis.
+They depend upon the number and appositeness of the facts, and it would
+be very interesting to pursue this branch of evidence in detail.  In
+following up this idea, the names to be sought for might thus be
+classed:—
+
+I.  Names of the great features, involving proper names and actions.
+
+Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur both involve more than a mere name.  Idris
+and Arthur must have been invested with heroic qualifications to have
+been placed in such “seats.”
+
+II.  Names of lesser features, as “Bryn y Saeth,” Hill of the Dart; “Llyn
+Llyngclys,” Lake of the Engulphed Court; “Ceven y Bedd,” the Ridge of the
+Grave; “Rhyd y Saeson,” the Saxons’ Ford.
+
+III.  Names of mixed natural and artificial objects, as “Coeten Arthur,”
+Arthur’s Coit; “Cerrig y Drudion,” the Crag of the Heroes; which involve
+actions.  And such as embody proper names only, as “Cerrig Howell,” the
+Crag of Howell; “Caer Arianrod,” the Camp of Arianrod; “Bron Goronwy,”
+the Breast (of the Hill) of Goronwy; “Castell mab Wynion,” the Castle of
+the son of Wynion; “Nant Gwrtheyrn,” the Rill of Vortigern.
+
+The selection of names would demand much care and discretion.  The
+translations should be indisputable, and, where known, the connexion of a
+name with a legend should be noted.  Such a name as “Mochdrev,”
+Swine-town, would be valueless unless accompanied by a legend.
+
+It is always valuable to find a place or work called after an individual,
+because it may help to support some tradition of his existence or his
+actions.  But it is requisite that care be taken not to push the
+etymological dissection too far.  Thus, “Caer Arianrod” should be taken
+simply as the “Camp of Arianrod,” and not rendered the “Camp of the
+silver circle,” because the latter, though it might possibly have
+something to do with the reason for which the name was borne by Arianrod
+herself, had clearly no reference to its application to her camp.
+
+It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has been advanced:—
+
+I.  That we have throughout Europe, at an early period, a great body of
+literature, known as Mediæval Romance, which, amidst much that is wholly
+of Teutonic origin and character, includes certain well-marked traces of
+an older Celtic nucleus.
+
+II.  Proceeding backwards in time, we find these romances, their
+ornaments falling away at each step, existing towards the twelfth
+century, of simpler structure, and with less encumbered Celtic features,
+in the works of Wace, and other Bards of the Langue d’Oil.
+
+III.  We find that Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, and other early British
+and Anglo-Saxon historians, and minstrels, on the one hand, transmitted
+to Europe the rudiments of its after romance, much of which, on the other
+hand, they drew from Wales.
+
+IV.  Crossing into Wales we find, in the Mabinogion, the evident
+counterpart of the Celtic portion of the continental romance, mixed up,
+indeed, with various reflex additions from beyond the border, but still
+containing ample internal evidence of a Welsh original.
+
+V.  Looking at the connexion between divers of the more ancient
+Mabinogion, and the topographical nomenclature of part of the country, we
+find evidence of the great, though indefinite, antiquity of these tales,
+and of an origin, which, if not indigenous, is certainly derived from no
+European nation.
+
+It was with a general belief in some of these conclusions, that I
+commenced my labours, and I end them with my impressions strongly
+confirmed.  The subject is one not unworthy of the talents of a Llwyd or
+a Prichard.  It might, I think, be shown, by pursuing the inquiry, that
+the Cymric nation is not only, as Dr. Prichard has proved it to be, an
+early offshoot of the Indo-European family, and a people of unmixed
+descent, but that when driven out of their conquests by the later
+nations, the names and exploits of their heroes, and the compositions of
+their bards, spread far and wide among the invaders, and affected
+intimately their tastes and literature for many centuries, and that it
+has strong claims to be considered the cradle of European Romance.
+
+                                                                  C. E. G.
+
+DOWLAIS, _August 29th_, _1848_.
+
+
+
+
+THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN
+
+
+King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his chamber;
+and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son of Clydno,
+and Kai the son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens at
+needlework by the window.  And if it should be said that there was a
+porter at Arthur’s palace, there was none.  Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was
+there, acting as porter, to welcome guests and strangers, and to receive
+them with honour, and to inform them of the manners and customs of the
+Court; and to direct those who came to the Hall or to the
+presence-chamber, and those who came to take up their lodging.
+
+In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of green rushes,
+over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured satin, and a cushion
+of red satin was under his elbow.
+
+Then Arthur spoke, “If I thought you would not disparage me,” said he, “I
+would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can entertain one another
+with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon of mead and some meat from
+Kai.”  And the King went to sleep.  And Kynon the son of Clydno asked Kai
+for that which Arthur had promised them.  “I, too, will have the good
+tale which he promised to me,” said Kai.  “Nay,” answered Kynon, “fairer
+will it be for thee to fulfill Arthur’s behest, in the first place, and
+then we will tell thee the best tale that we know.”  So Kai went to the
+kitchen and to the mead-cellar, and returned bearing a flagon of mead and
+a golden goblet, and a handful of skewers, upon which were broiled
+collops of meat.  Then they ate the collops and began to drink the mead.
+“Now,” said Kai, “it is time for you to give me my story.”  “Kynon,” said
+Owain, “do thou pay to Kai the tale that is his due.”  “Truly,” said
+Kynon, “thou are older, and art a better teller of tales, and hast seen
+more marvellous things than I; do thou therefore pay Kai his tale.”
+“Begin thyself,” quoth Owain, “with the best that thou knowest.”  “I will
+do so,” answered Kynon.
+
+“I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly
+aspiring, and my daring was very great.  I thought there was no
+enterprise in the world too mighty for me, and after I had achieved all
+the adventures that were in my own country, I equipped myself, and set
+forth to journey through deserts and distant regions.  And at length it
+chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world, wherein were
+trees of equal growth; and a river ran through the valley, and a path was
+by the side of the river.  And I followed the path until mid-day, and
+continued my journey along the remainder of the valley until the evening;
+and at the extremity of a plain I came to a large and lustrous Castle, at
+the foot of which was a torrent.  And I approached the Castle, and there
+I beheld two youths with yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of
+gold upon his head, and clad in a garment of yellow satin, and they had
+gold clasps upon their insteps.  In the hand of each of them was an ivory
+bow, strung with the sinews of the stag; and their arrows had shafts of
+the bone of the whale, and were winged with peacock’s feathers; the
+shafts also had golden heads.  And they had daggers with blades of gold,
+and with hilts of the bone of the whale.  And they were shooting their
+daggers.
+
+“And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of life, with his
+beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of yellow satin; and round
+the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace.  On his feet were shoes of
+variegated leather, fastened by two bosses of gold.  When I saw him, I
+went towards him and saluted him, and such was his courtesy that he no
+sooner received my greeting than he returned it.  And he went with me
+towards the Castle.  Now there were no dwellers in the Castle except
+those who were in one hall.  And there I saw four-and-twenty damsels,
+embroidering satin at a window.  And this I tell thee, Kai, that the
+least fair of them was fairer than the fairest maid thou hast ever beheld
+in the Island of Britain, and the least lovely of them was more lovely
+than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur, when she has appeared loveliest at
+the Offering, on the day of the Nativity, or at the feast of Easter.
+They rose up at my coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me
+of my armour; and six others took my arms, and washed them in a vessel
+until they were perfectly bright.  And the third six spread cloths upon
+the tables and prepared meat.  And the fourth six took off my soiled
+garments, and placed others upon me; namely, an under-vest and a doublet
+of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin
+with a broad gold band upon the mantle.  And they placed cushions both
+beneath and around me, with coverings of red linen; and I sat down.  Now
+the six maidens who had taken my horse, unharnessed him, as well as if
+they had been the best squires in the Island of Britain.  Then, behold,
+they brought bowls of silver wherein was water to wash, and towels of
+linen, some green and some white; and I washed.  And in a little while
+the man sat down to the table.  And I sat next to him, and below me sat
+all the maidens, except those who waited on us.  And the table was of
+silver, and the cloths upon the table were of linen; and no vessel was
+served upon the table that was not either of gold or of silver, or of
+buffalo-horn.  And our meat was brought to us.  And verily, Kai, I saw
+there every sort of meat and every sort of liquor that I have ever seen
+elsewhere; but the meat and the liquor were better served there than I
+have ever seen them in any other place.
+
+“Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one of the
+damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceived that it
+would be more agreeable to me to converse than to eat any more, he began
+to inquire of me who I was.  I said I was glad to find that there was
+some one who would discourse with me, and that it was not considered so
+great a crime at that Court for people to hold converse together.
+‘Chieftain,’ said the man, ‘we would have talked to thee sooner, but we
+feared to disturb thee during thy repast; now, however, we will
+discourse.’  Then I told the man who I was, and what was the cause of my
+journey; and said that I was seeking whether any one was superior to me,
+or whether I could gain the mastery over all.  The man looked upon me,
+and he smiled and said, ‘If I did not fear to distress thee too much, I
+would show thee that which thou seekest.’  Upon this I became anxious and
+sorrowful, and when the man perceived it, he said, ‘If thou wouldest
+rather that I should show thee thy disadvantage than thine advantage, I
+will do so.  Sleep here to-night, and in the morning arise early, and
+take the road upwards through the valley until thou reachest the wood
+through which thou camest hither.  A little way within the wood thou wilt
+meet with a road branching off to the right, by which thou must proceed,
+until thou comest to a large sheltered glade with a mound in the centre.
+And thou wilt see a black man of great stature on the top of the mound.
+He is not smaller in size than two of the men of this world.  He has but
+one foot; and one eye in the middle of his forehead.  And he has a club
+of iron, and it is certain that there are no two men in the world who
+would not find their burden in that club.  And he is not a comely man,
+but on the contrary he is exceedingly ill-favoured; and he is the
+woodward of that wood.  And thou wilt see a thousand wild animals grazing
+around him.  Inquire of him the way out of the glade, and he will reply
+to thee briefly, and will point out the road by which thou shalt find
+that which thou art in quest of.’
+
+“And long seemed that night to me.  And the next morning I arose and
+equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straight through the
+valley to the wood; and I followed the cross-road which the man had
+pointed out to me, till at length I arrived at the glade.  And there was
+I three times more astonished at the number of wild animals that I
+beheld, than the man had said I should be.  And the black man was there,
+sitting upon the top of the mound.  Huge of stature as the man had told
+me that he was, I found him to exceed by far the description he had given
+me of him.  As for the iron club which the man had told me was a burden
+for two men, I am certain, Kai, that it would be a heavy weight for four
+warriors to lift; and this was in the black man’s hand.  And he only
+spoke to me in answer to my questions.  Then I asked him what power he
+held over those animals. ‘I will show thee, little man,’ said he.  And he
+took his club in his hand, and with it he struck a stag a great blow so
+that he brayed vehemently, and at his braying the animals came together,
+as numerous as the stars in the sky, so that it was difficult for me to
+find room in the glade to stand among them.  There were serpents, and
+dragons, and divers sorts of animals.  And he looked at them, and bade
+them go and feed; and they bowed their heads, and did him homage as
+vassals to their lord.
+
+“Then the black man said to me, ‘Seest thou now, little man, what power I
+hold over these animals?’  Then I inquired of him the way, and he became
+very rough in his manner to me; however, he asked me whither I would go?
+And when I told him who I was and what I sought, he directed me.  ‘Take,’
+said he, ‘that path that leads towards the head of the glade, and ascend
+the wooded steep until thou comest to its summit; and there thou wilt
+find an open space like to a large valley, and in the midst of it a tall
+tree, whose branches are greener than the greenest pine-trees.  Under
+this tree is a fountain, and by the side of the fountain a marble slab,
+and on the marble slab a silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, so
+that it may not be carried away.  Take the bowl and throw a bowlful of
+water upon the slab, and thou wilt hear a mighty peal of thunder, so that
+thou wilt think that heaven and earth are trembling with its fury.  With
+the thunder there will come a shower so severe that it will be scarce
+possible for thee to endure it and live.  And the shower will be of
+hailstones; and after the shower, the weather will become fair, but every
+leaf that was upon the tree will have been carried away by the shower.
+Then a flight of birds will come and alight upon the tree; and in thine
+own country thou didst never hear a strain so sweet as that which they
+will sing.  And at the moment thou art most delighted with the song of
+the birds, thou wilt hear a murmuring and complaining coming towards thee
+along the valley.  And thou wilt see a knight upon a coal-black horse,
+clothed in black velvet, and with a pennon of black linen upon his lance;
+and he will ride unto thee to encounter thee with the utmost speed.  If
+thou fleest from him he will overtake thee, and if thou abidest there, as
+sure as thou art a mounted knight, he will leave thee on foot.  And if
+thou dost not find trouble in that adventure, thou needest not seek it
+during the rest of thy life.’
+
+“So I journeyed on, until I reached the summit of the steep, and there I
+found everything as the black man had described it to me.  And I went up
+to the tree, and beneath it I saw the fountain, and by its side the
+marble slab, and the silver bowl fastened by the chain.  Then I took the
+bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab; and thereupon, behold,
+the thunder came, much more violent than the black man had led me to
+expect; and after the thunder came the shower; and of a truth I tell
+thee, Kai, that there is neither man nor beast that can endure that
+shower and live.  For not one of those hailstones would be stopped,
+either by the flesh or by the skin, until it had reached the bone.  I
+turned my horse’s flank towards the shower, and placed the beak of my
+shield over his head and neck, while I held the upper part of it over my
+own head.  And thus I withstood the shower.  When I looked on the tree
+there was not a single leaf upon it, and then the sky became clear, and
+with that, behold the birds lighted upon the tree, and sang.  And truly,
+Kai, I never heard any melody equal to that, either before or since.  And
+when I was most charmed with listening to the birds, lo, a murmuring
+voice was heard through the valley, approaching me and saying, ‘Oh,
+Knight, what has brought thee hither?  What evil have I done to thee,
+that thou shouldst act towards me and my possessions as thou hast this
+day?  Dost thou not know that the shower to-day has left in my dominions
+neither man nor beast alive that was exposed to it?’  And thereupon,
+behold, a Knight on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet,
+and with a tabard of black linen about him.  And we charged each other,
+and, as the onset was furious, it was not long before I was overthrown.
+Then the Knight passed the shaft of his lance through the bridle rein of
+my horse, and rode off with the two horses, leaving me where I was.  And
+he did not even bestow so much notice upon me as to imprison me, nor did
+he despoil me of my arms.  So I returned along the road by which I had
+come.  And when I reached the glade where the black man was, I confess to
+thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did not melt down into a liquid pool,
+through the shame that I felt at the black man’s derision.  And that
+night I came to the same castle where I had spent the night preceding.
+And I was more agreeably entertained that night than I had been the night
+before; and I was better feasted, and I conversed freely with the inmates
+of the castle, and none of them alluded to my expedition to the fountain,
+neither did I mention it to any; and I remained there that night.  When I
+arose on the morrow, I found, ready saddled, a dark bay palfrey, with
+nostrils as red as scarlet; and after putting on my armour, and leaving
+there my blessing, I returned to my own Court.  And that horse I still
+possess, and he is in the stable yonder.  And I declare that I would not
+part with him for the best palfrey in the Island of Britain.
+
+“Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to an adventure so
+much to his own discredit, and verily it seems strange to me, that
+neither before nor since have I heard of any person besides myself who
+knew of this adventure, and that the subject of it should exist within
+King Arthur’s dominions, without any other person lighting upon it.”
+
+“Now,” quoth Owain, “would it not be well to go and endeavour to discover
+that place?”
+
+“By the hand of my friend,” said Kai, “often dost thou utter that with
+thy tongue which thou wouldst not make good with thy deeds.”
+
+“In very truth,” said Gwenhwyvar, “it were better thou wert hanged, Kai,
+than to use such uncourteous speech towards a man like Owain.”
+
+“By the hand of my friend, good Lady,” said Kai, “thy praise of Owain is
+not greater than mine.”
+
+With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping a little.
+
+“Yes, Lord,” answered Owain, “thou hast slept awhile.”
+
+“Is it time for us to go to meat?”
+
+“It is, Lord,” said Owain.
+
+Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and all his household
+sat down to eat.  And when the meal was ended, Owain withdrew to his
+lodging, and made ready his horse and his arms.
+
+On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his armour, and mounted
+his charger, and travelled through distant lands and over desert
+mountains.  And at length he arrived at the valley which Kynon had
+described to him; and he was certain that it was the same that he sought.
+And journeying along the valley by the side of the river, he followed its
+course till he came to the plain and within sight of the Castle.  When he
+approached the Castle, he saw the youths shooting their daggers in the
+place where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow man, to whom the Castle
+belonged, standing hard by.  And no sooner had Owain saluted the yellow
+man than he was saluted by him in return.
+
+And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the chamber, and
+when he had entered the chamber he beheld the maidens working at satin
+embroidery, in chairs of gold.  And their beauty and their comeliness
+seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented to him.  And they
+rose to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon, and the meal which
+they set before him gave more satisfaction to Owain than it had done to
+Kynon.
+
+About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the object of
+his journey.  And Owain made it known to him, and said, “I am in quest of
+the Knight who guards the fountain.”  Upon this the yellow man smiled,
+and said that he was as loth to point out that adventure to Owain as he
+had been to Kynon.  However, he described the whole to Owain, and they
+retired to rest.
+
+The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by the damsels,
+and he set forward and came to the glade where the black man was.  And
+the stature of the black man seemed more wonderful to Owain than it had
+done to Kynon, and Owain asked of him his road, and he showed it to him.
+And Owain followed the road, as Kynon had done, till he came to the green
+tree; and he beheld the fountain, and the slab beside the fountain, with
+the bowl upon it.  And Owain took the bowl, and threw a bowlful of water
+upon the slab.  And, lo, the thunder was heard, and after the thunder
+came the shower, much more violent than Kynon had described, and after
+the shower the sky became bright.  And when Owain looked at the tree,
+there was not one leaf upon it.  And immediately the birds came, and
+settled upon the tree, and sang.  And when their song was most pleasing
+to Owain, he beheld a Knight coming towards him through the valley, and
+he prepared to receive him; and encountered him violently.  Having broken
+both their lances, they drew their swords, and fought blade to blade.
+Then Owain struck the Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and
+visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until it
+wounded the very brain.  Then the black Knight felt that he had received
+a mortal wound, upon which he turned his horse’s head, and fled.  And
+Owain pursued him, and followed close upon him, although he was not near
+enough to strike him with his sword.  Thereupon Owain descried a vast and
+resplendent Castle.  And they came to the Castle gate.  And the black
+Knight was allowed to enter, and the portcullis was let fall upon Owain;
+and it struck his horse behind the saddle, and cut him in two, and
+carried away the rowels of the spurs that were upon Owain’s heels.  And
+the portcullis descended to the floor.  And the rowels of the spurs and
+part of the horse were without, and Owain with the other part of the
+horse remained between the two gates, and the inner gate was closed, so
+that Owain could not go thence; and Owain was in a perplexing situation.
+And while he was in this state, he could see through an aperture in the
+gate, a street facing him, with a row of houses on each side.  And he
+beheld a maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet of gold upon
+her head; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin, and on her feet
+were shoes of variegated leather.  And she approached the gate, and
+desired that it should be opened.  “Heaven knows, Lady,” said Owain, “it
+is no more possible for me to open to thee from hence, than it is for
+thee to set me free.”  “Truly,” said the damsel, “it is very sad that
+thou canst not be released, and every woman ought to succour thee, for I
+never saw one more faithful in the service of ladies than thou.  As a
+friend thou art the most sincere, and as a lover the most devoted.
+Therefore,” quoth she, “whatever is in my power to do for thy release, I
+will do it.  Take this ring and put it on thy finger, with the stone
+inside thy hand; and close thy hand upon the stone.  And as long as thou
+concealest it, it will conceal thee.  When they have consulted together,
+they will come forth to fetch thee, in order to put thee to death; and
+they will be much grieved that they cannot find thee.  And I will await
+thee on the horseblock yonder; and thou wilt be able to see me, though I
+cannot see thee; therefore come and place thy hand upon my shoulder, that
+I may know that thou art near me.  And by the way that I go hence, do
+thou accompany me.”
+
+Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden had told
+him.  And the people of the Castle came to seek Owain, to put him to
+death, and when they found nothing but the half of his horse, they were
+sorely grieved.
+
+And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, and placed
+his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and Owain followed
+her, until they came to the door of a large and beautiful chamber, and
+the maiden opened it, and they went in, and closed the door.  And Owain
+looked around the chamber, and behold there was not even a single nail in
+it that was not painted with gorgeous colours; and there was not a single
+panel that had not sundry images in gold portrayed upon it.
+
+The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, and put a
+towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain water to wash.  Then
+she placed before him a silver table, inlaid with gold; upon which was a
+cloth of yellow linen; and she brought him food.  And of a truth, Owain
+had never seen any kind of meat that was not there in abundance, but it
+was better cooked there than he had ever found it in any other place.
+Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of meat and drink, as there.
+And there was not one vessel from which he was served, that was not of
+gold or of silver.  And Owain ate and drank, until late in the afternoon,
+when lo, they heard a mighty clamour in the Castle; and Owain asked the
+maiden what that outcry was.  “They are administering extreme unction,”
+said she, “to the Nobleman who owns the Castle.”  And Owain went to
+sleep.
+
+The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was meet for Arthur
+himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and satin, and sendal, and fine
+linen.  In the middle of the night they heard a woful outcry.  “What
+outcry again is this?” said Owain.  “The Nobleman who owned the Castle is
+now dead,” said the maiden.  And a little after daybreak, they heard an
+exceeding loud clamour and wailing.  And Owain asked the maiden what was
+the cause of it.  “They are bearing to the church the body of the
+Nobleman who owned the Castle.”
+
+And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of the
+chamber, and looked towards the Castle; and he could see neither the
+bounds, nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets.  And they
+were fully armed; and a vast number of women were with them, both on
+horseback and on foot; and all the ecclesiastics in the city, singing.
+And it seemed to Owain that the sky resounded with the vehemence of their
+cries, and with the noise of the trumpets, and with the singing of the
+ecclesiastics.  In the midst of the throng, he beheld the bier, over
+which was a veil of white linen; and wax tapers were burning beside and
+around it, and none that supported the bier was lower in rank than a
+powerful Baron.
+
+Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with satin, and silk, and
+sendal.  And following the train, he beheld a lady with yellow hair
+falling over her shoulders, and stained with blood; and about her a dress
+of yellow satin, which was torn.  Upon her feet were shoes of variegated
+leather.  And it was a marvel that the ends of her fingers were not
+bruised, from the violence with which she smote her hands together.
+Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain ever saw, had she been
+in her usual guise.  And her cry was louder than the shout of the men, or
+the clamour of the trumpets.  No sooner had he beheld the lady, than he
+became inflamed with her love, so that it took entire possession of him.
+
+Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was.  “Heaven knows,” replied
+the maiden, “she may be said to be the fairest, and the most chaste, and
+the most liberal, and the wisest, and the most noble of women.  And she
+is my mistress; and she is called the Countess of the Fountain, the wife
+of him whom thou didst slay yesterday.”  “Verily,” said Owain, “she is
+the woman that I love best.”  “Verily,” said the maiden, “she shall also
+love thee not a little.”
+
+And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a pot with
+water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of white linen, and
+placed it around Owain’s neck; and she took a goblet of ivory, and a
+silver basin, and filled them with warm water, wherewith she washed
+Owain’s head.  Then she opened a wooden casket, and drew forth a razor,
+whose haft was of ivory, and upon which were two rivets of gold.  And she
+shaved his beard, and she dried his head, and his throat, with the towel.
+Then she rose up from before Owain, and brought him to eat.  And truly
+Owain had never so good a meal, nor was he ever so well served.
+
+When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his couch.  “Come
+here,” said she, “and sleep, and I will go and woo for thee.”  And Owain
+went to sleep, and the maiden shut the door of the chamber after her, and
+went towards the Castle.  When she came there, she found nothing but
+mourning, and sorrow; and the Countess in her chamber could not bear the
+sight of any one through grief.  Luned came and saluted her, but the
+Countess answered her not.  And the maiden bent down towards her, and
+said, “What aileth thee, that thou answerest no one to-day?”  “Luned,”
+said the Countess, “what change hath befallen thee, that thou hast not
+come to visit me in my grief?  It was wrong in thee, and I having made
+thee rich; it was wrong in thee that thou didst not come to see me in my
+distress.  That was wrong in thee.”  “Truly,” said Luned, “I thought thy
+good sense was greater than I find it to be.  Is it well for thee to
+mourn after that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst not
+have?”  “I declare to heaven,” said the Countess, “that in the whole
+world there is not a man equal to him.”  “Not so,” said Luned, “for an
+ugly man would be as good as, or better than he.”  “I declare to heaven,”
+said the Countess, “that were it not repugnant to me to cause to be put
+to death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee executed, for
+making such a comparison to me.  As it is, I will banish thee.”  “I am
+glad,” said Luned, “that thou hast no other cause to do so, than that I
+would have been of service to thee where thou didst not know what was to
+thine advantage.  And henceforth evil betide whichever of us shall make
+the first advance towards reconciliation to the other; whether I should
+seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine own accord shouldst send
+to invite me.”
+
+With that Luned went forth: and the Countess arose and followed her to
+the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly.  And when Luned
+looked back, the Countess beckoned to her; and she returned to the
+Countess.  “In truth,” said the Countess, “evil is thy disposition; but
+if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it to me.”  “I will do
+so,” quoth she.
+
+“Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible for thee
+to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to seek some one who
+can defend them.”  “And how can I do that?” said the Countess.  “I will
+tell thee,” said Luned.  “Unless thou canst defend the fountain, thou
+canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can defend the fountain,
+except it be a knight of Arthur’s household; and I will go to Arthur’s
+Court, and ill betide me, if I return thence without a warrior who can
+guard the fountain as well as, or even better than, he who defended it
+formerly.”  “That will be hard to perform,” said the Countess.  “Go,
+however, and make proof of that which thou hast promised.”
+
+Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur’s Court; but she
+went back to the chamber where she had left Owain; and she tarried there
+with him as long as it might have taken her to have travelled to the
+Court of King Arthur.  And at the end of that time, she apparelled
+herself and went to visit the Countess.  And the Countess was much
+rejoiced when she saw her, and inquired what news she brought from the
+Court.  “I bring thee the best of news,” said Luned, “for I have
+compassed the object of my mission.  When wilt thou, that I should
+present to thee the chieftain who has come with me hither?”  “Bring him
+here to visit me to-morrow, at mid-day,” said the Countess, “and I will
+cause the town to be assembled by that time.”
+
+And Luned returned home.  And the next day, at noon, Owain arrayed
+himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon
+which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were high shoes of
+variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps, in the form of
+lions.  And they proceeded to the chamber of the Countess.
+
+Right glad was the Countess of their coming, and she gazed steadfastly
+upon Owain, and said, “Luned, this knight has not the look of a
+traveller.”  “What harm is there in that, lady?” said Luned.  “I am
+certain,” said the Countess, “that no other man than this chased the soul
+from the body of my lord.”  “So much the better for thee, lady,” said
+Luned, “for had he not been stronger than thy lord he could not have
+deprived him of life.  There is no remedy for that which is past, be it
+as it may.”  “Go back to thine abode,” said the Countess, “and I will
+take counsel.”
+
+The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, and showed
+them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that it could not be
+protected but with horse and arms, and military skill.  “Therefore,” said
+she, “this is what I offer for your choice: either let one of you take
+me, or give your consent for me to take a husband from elsewhere to
+defend my dominions.”
+
+So they came to the determination that it was better that she should have
+permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and, thereupon, she sent for
+the bishops and archbishops to celebrate her nuptials with Owain.  And
+the men of the earldom did Owain homage.
+
+And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword.  And this is the
+manner in which he defended it: Whensoever a knight came there he
+overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth, and what he thus gained
+he divided among his barons and his knights; and no man in the whole
+world could be more beloved than he was by his subjects.  And it was thus
+for the space of three years.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King Arthur, he
+perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful.  And Gwalchmai was much
+grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he questioned him, saying, “Oh,
+my lord! what has befallen thee?”  “In sooth, Gwalchmai,” said Arthur, “I
+am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three years, and I
+shall certainly die if the fourth year passes without my seeing him.  Now
+I am sure, that it is through the tale which Kynon the son of Clydno
+related, that I have lost Owain.”  “There is no need for thee,” said
+Gwalchmai, “to summon to arms thy whole dominions on this account, for
+thou thyself and the men of thy household will be able to avenge Owain,
+if he be slain; or to set him free, if he be in prison; and, if alive, to
+bring him back with thee.”  And it was settled according to what
+Gwalchmai had said.
+
+Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek Owain,
+and their number was three thousand, besides their attendants.  And Kynon
+the son of Clydno acted as their guide.  And Arthur came to the Castle
+where Kynon had been before, and when he came there the youths were
+shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was standing hard by.
+When the yellow man saw Arthur he greeted him, and invited him to the
+Castle; and Arthur accepted his invitation, and they entered the Castle
+together.  And great as was the number of his retinue, their presence was
+scarcely observed in the Castle, so vast was its extent.  And the maidens
+rose up to wait on them, and the service of the maidens appeared to them
+all to excel any attendance they had ever met with; and even the pages
+who had charge of the horses were no worse served, that night, than
+Arthur himself would have been in his own palace.
+
+The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and
+came to the place where the black man was.  And the stature of the black
+man was more surprising to Arthur than it had been represented to him.
+And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed the valley
+till they reached the green tree, where they saw the fountain, and the
+bowl, and the slab.  And upon that, Kai came to Arthur and spoke to him.
+“My lord,” said he, “I know the meaning of all this, and my request is,
+that thou wilt permit me to throw the water on the slab, and to receive
+the first adventure that may befall.”  And Arthur gave him leave.
+
+Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately there
+came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower.  And such a
+thunderstorm they had never known before, and many of the attendants who
+were in Arthur’s train were killed by the shower.  After the shower had
+ceased the sky became clear; and on looking at the tree they beheld it
+completely leafless.  Then the birds descended upon the tree, and the
+song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain they had ever heard
+before.  Then they beheld a knight on a coal-black horse, clothed in
+black satin, coming rapidly towards them.  And Kai met him and
+encountered him, and it was not long before Kai was overthrown.  And the
+knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host encamped for the night.
+
+And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of combat
+upon the lance of the Knight.  And Kai came to Arthur, and spoke to him:
+“My lord,” said he, “though I was overthrown yesterday, if it seem good
+to thee, I would gladly meet the Knight again to-day.”  “Thou mayst do
+so,” said Arthur.  And Kai went towards the Knight.  And on the spot he
+overthrew Kai, and struck him with the head of his lance in the forehead,
+so that it broke his helmet and the head-piece, and pierced the skin and
+the flesh, the breadth of the spear-head, even to the bone.  And Kai
+returned to his companions.
+
+After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after the other,
+to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was not overthrown by
+him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai.  And Arthur armed himself to encounter
+the Knight.  “Oh, my lord,” said Gwalchmai, “permit me to fight with him
+first.”  And Arthur permitted him.  And he went forth to meet the Knight,
+having over himself and his horse a satin robe of honour which had been
+sent him by the daughter of the Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was
+not known by any of the host.  And they charged each other, and fought
+all that day until the evening, and neither of them was able to unhorse
+the other.
+
+The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither of them could
+obtain the mastery.
+
+And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances.  And they
+were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even until noon.  And they
+gave each other such a shock that the girths of their horses were broken,
+so that they fell over their horses’ cruppers to the ground.  And they
+rose up speedily, and drew their swords, and resumed the combat; and the
+multitude that witnessed their encounter felt assured that they had never
+before seen two men so valiant or so powerful.  And had it been midnight,
+it would have been light from the fire that flashed from their weapons.
+And the Knight gave Gwalchmai a blow that turned his helmet from off his
+face, so that the Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai.  Then Owain said,
+“My lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee for my cousin, owing to the robe
+of honour that enveloped thee; take my sword and my arms.”  Said
+Gwalchmai, “Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword.”  And with
+that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced towards them.
+“My lord Arthur,” said Gwalchmai, “here is Owain, who has vanquished me,
+and will not take my arms.”  “My lord,” said Owain, “it is he that has
+vanquished me, and he will not take my sword.”  “Give me your swords,”
+said Arthur, “and then neither of you has vanquished the other.”  Then
+Owain put his arms around Arthur’s neck, and they embraced.  And all the
+host hurried forward to see Owain, and to embrace him; and there was nigh
+being a loss of life, so great was the press.
+
+And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to depart.
+“My lord,” said Owain, “this is not well of thee; for I have been absent
+from thee these three years, and during all that time, up to this very
+day, I have been preparing a banquet for thee, knowing that thou wouldst
+come to seek me.  Tarry with me, therefore, until thou and thy attendants
+have recovered the fatigues of the journey, and have been anointed.”
+
+And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the Fountain, and
+the banquet which had been three years preparing was consumed in three
+months.  Never had they a more delicious or agreeable banquet.  And
+Arthur prepared to depart.  Then he sent an embassy to the Countess, to
+beseech her to permit Owain to go with him for the space of three months,
+that he might show him to the nobles and the fair dames of the Island of
+Britain.  And the Countess gave her consent, although it was very painful
+to her.  So Owain came with Arthur to the Island of Britain.  And when he
+was once more amongst his kindred and friends, he remained three years,
+instead of three months, with them.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon upon Usk,
+behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a curling mane and covered
+with foam, and the bridle and so much as was seen of the saddle were of
+gold.  And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow satin.  And she
+came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his hand.  “Thus,” said she,
+“shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor, the faithless, the
+disgraced, and the beardless.”  And she turned her horse’s head and
+departed.
+
+Then his adventure came to Owain’s remembrance, and he was sorrowful; and
+having finished eating he went to his own abode and made preparations
+that night.  And the next day he arose but did not go to the Court, but
+wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to uncultivated mountains.
+And he remained there until all his apparel was worn out, and his body
+was wasted away, and his hair was grown long.  And he went about with the
+wild beasts and fed with them, until they became familiar with him; but
+at length he grew so weak that he could no longer bear them company.
+Then he descended from the mountains to the valley, and came to a park
+that was the fairest in the world, and belonged to a widowed Countess.
+
+One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a lake, that
+was in the middle of the park.  And they saw the form of a man.  And they
+were terrified.  Nevertheless they went near him, and touched him, and
+looked at him.  And they saw that there was life in him, though he was
+exhausted by the heat of the sun.  And the Countess returned to the
+Castle, and took a flask full of precious ointment, and gave it to one of
+her maidens.  “Go with this,” said she, “and take with thee yonder horse
+and clothing, and place them near the man we saw just now.  And anoint
+him with this balsam, near his heart; and if there is life in him, he
+will arise through the efficacy of this balsam.  Then watch what he will
+do.”
+
+And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the balsam upon
+Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a little way
+off, and hid herself to watch him.  In a short time she saw him begin to
+move his arms; and he rose up, and looked at his person, and became
+ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance.  Then he perceived the
+horse and the garments that were near him.  And he crept forward till he
+was able to draw the garments to him from off the saddle.  And he clothed
+himself, and with difficulty mounted the horse.  Then the damsel
+discovered herself to him, and saluted him.  And he was rejoiced when he
+saw her, and inquired of her, what land and what territory that was.
+“Truly,” said the maiden, “a widowed Countess owns yonder Castle; at the
+death of her husband, he left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has
+but this one dwelling that has not been wrested from her by a young Earl,
+who is her neighbour, because she refused to become his wife.”  “That is
+pity,” said Owain.  And he and the maiden proceeded to the Castle; and he
+alighted there, and the maiden conducted him to a pleasant chamber, and
+kindled a fire and left him.
+
+And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into her hand.
+“Ha! maiden,” said the Countess, “where is all the balsam?”  “Have I not
+used it all?” said she.  “Oh, maiden,” said the Countess, “I cannot
+easily forgive thee this; it is sad for me to have wasted seven-score
+pounds’ worth of precious ointment upon a stranger whom I know not.
+However, maiden, wait thou upon him, until he is quite recovered.”
+
+And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink, and fire,
+and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well again.  And in three
+months he was restored to his former guise, and became even more comely
+than he had ever been before.
+
+One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the Castle,
+and he inquired of the maiden the cause thereof.  “The Earl,” said she,
+“whom I mentioned to thee, has come before the Castle, with a numerous
+army, to subdue the Countess.”  And Owain inquired of her whether the
+Countess had a horse and arms in her possession.  “She has the best in
+the world,” said the maiden.  “Wilt thou go and request the loan of a
+horse and arms for me,” said Owain, “that I may go and look at this
+army?”  “I will,” said the maiden.
+
+And she came to the Countess, and told her what Owain had said.  And the
+Countess laughed.  “Truly,” said she, “I will even give him a horse and
+arms for ever; such a horse and such arms had he never yet, and I am glad
+that they should be taken by him to-day, lest my enemies should have them
+against my will to-morrow.  Yet I know not what he would do with them.”
+
+The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon which was
+a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and horse.  And Owain
+armed himself, and mounted the horse, and went forth, attended by two
+pages completely equipped, with horses and arms.  And when they came near
+to the Earl’s army, they could see neither its extent nor its extremity.
+And Owain asked the pages in which troop the Earl was.  “In yonder
+troop,” said they, “in which are four yellow standards.  Two of them are
+before, and two behind him.”  “Now,” said Owain, “do you return and await
+me near the portal of the Castle.”  So they returned, and Owain pressed
+forward until he met the Earl.  And Owain drew him completely out of his
+saddle, and turned his horse’s head towards the Castle, and though it was
+with difficulty, he brought the Earl to the portal, where the pages
+awaited him.  And in they came.  And Owain presented the Earl as a gift
+to the Countess.  And said to her, “Behold a requital to thee for thy
+blessed balsam.”
+
+The army encamped around the Castle.  And the Earl restored to the
+Countess the two Earldoms he had taken from her, as a ransom for his
+life; and for his freedom he gave her the half of his own dominions, and
+all his gold, and his silver, and his jewels, besides hostages.
+
+And Owain took his departure.  And the Countess and all her subjects
+besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather to wander through distant
+lands and deserts.
+
+And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood.  And it was
+repeated a second and a third time.  And Owain went towards the spot, and
+beheld a huge craggy mound, in the middle of the wood; on the side of
+which was a grey rock.  And there was a cleft in the rock, and a serpent
+was within the cleft.  And near the rock stood a black lion, and every
+time the lion sought to go thence, the serpent darted towards him to
+attack him.  And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew near to the rock;
+and as the serpent sprang out, he struck him with his sword, and cut him
+in two.  And he dried his sword, and went on his way, as before.  But
+behold the lion followed him, and played about him, as though it had been
+a greyhound that he had reared.
+
+They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening.  And when it
+was time for Owain to take his rest, he dismounted, and turned his horse
+loose in a flat and wooded meadow.  And he struck fire, and when the fire
+was kindled, the lion brought him fuel enough to last for three nights.
+And the lion disappeared.  And presently the lion returned, bearing a
+fine large roebuck.  And he threw it down before Owain, who went towards
+the fire with it.
+
+And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops of its
+flesh upon skewers, around the fire.  The rest of the buck he gave to the
+lion to devour.  While he was doing this, he heard a deep sigh near him,
+and a second, and a third.  And Owain called out to know whether the sigh
+he heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received answer that it did.
+“Who art thou?” said Owain.  “Truly,” said the voice, “I am Luned, the
+handmaiden of the Countess of the Fountain.”  “And what dost thou here?”
+said Owain.  “I am imprisoned,” said she, “on account of the knight who
+came from Arthur’s Court, and married the Countess.  And he stayed a
+short time with her, but he afterwards departed for the Court of Arthur,
+and has not returned since.  And he was the friend I loved best in the
+world.  And two of the pages in the Countess’s chamber traduced him, and
+called him a deceiver.  And I told them that they two were not a match
+for him alone.  So they imprisoned me in the stone vault, and said that I
+should be put to death, unless he came himself to deliver me, by a
+certain day; and that is no further off than the day after to-morrow.
+And I have no one to send to seek him for me.  And his name is Owain the
+son of Urien.”  “And art thou certain that if that knight knew all this,
+he would come to thy rescue?”  “I am most certain of it,” said she.
+
+When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts, between
+himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten, they talked together,
+until the day dawned.  And the next morning Owain inquired of the damsel,
+if there was any place where he could get food and entertainment for that
+night.  “There is, Lord,” said she; “cross over yonder, and go along the
+side of the river, and in a short time thou wilt see a great Castle, in
+which are many towers, and the Earl who owns that Castle is the most
+hospitable man in the world.  There thou mayst spend the night.”
+
+Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the lion that
+night over Owain.
+
+And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford, and came in
+sight of the Castle.  And he entered it, and was honourably received.
+And his horse was well cared for, and plenty of fodder was placed before
+him.  Then the lion went and lay down in the horse’s manger; so that none
+of the people of the Castle dared to approach him.  The treatment which
+Owain met with there was such as he had never known elsewhere, for every
+one was as sorrowful as though death had been upon him.  And they went to
+meat; and the Earl sat upon one side of Owain, and on the other side his
+only daughter.  And Owain had never seen any more lovely than she.  Then
+the lion came and placed himself between Owain’s feet, and he fed him
+with every kind of food that he took himself.  And he never saw anything
+equal to the sadness of the people.
+
+In the middle of the repast the Earl began to bid Owain welcome.  “Then,”
+said Owain, “behold, it is time for thee to be cheerful.”  “Heaven
+knows,” said the Earl, “that it is not thy coming that makes us
+sorrowful, but we have cause enough for sadness and care.”  “What is
+that?” said Owain.  “I have two sons,” replied the Earl, “and yesterday
+they went to the mountains to hunt.  Now there is on the mountain a
+monster who kills men and devours them, and he seized my sons; and
+to-morrow is the time he has fixed to be here, and he threatens that he
+will then slay my sons before my eyes, unless I will deliver into his
+hands this my daughter.  He has the form of a man, but in stature he is
+no less than a giant.”
+
+“Truly,” said Owain, “that is lamentable.  And which wilt thou do?”
+“Heaven knows,” said the Earl, “it will be better that my sons should be
+slain against my will, than that I should voluntarily give up my daughter
+to him to ill-treat and destroy.”  Then they talked about other things,
+and Owain stayed there that night.
+
+The next morning they heard an exceeding great clamour, which was caused
+by the coming of the giant with the two youths.  And the Earl was anxious
+both to protect his Castle and to release his two sons.  Then Owain put
+on his armour and went forth to encounter the giant, and the lion
+followed him.  And when the giant saw that Owain was armed, he rushed
+towards him and attacked him.  And the lion fought with the giant much
+more fiercely than Owain did.  “Truly,” said the giant, “I should find no
+difficulty in fighting with thee, were it not for the animal that is with
+thee.”  Upon that Owain took the lion back to the Castle and shut the
+gate upon him, and then he returned to fight the giant, as before.  And
+the lion roared very loud, for he heard that it went hard with Owain.
+And he climbed up till he reached the top of the Earl’s hall, and thence
+he got to the top of the Castle, and he sprang down from the walls and
+went and joined Owain.  And the lion gave the giant a stroke with his
+paw, which tore him from his shoulder to his hip, and his heart was laid
+bare, and the giant fell down dead.  Then Owain restored the two youths
+to their father.
+
+The Earl besought Owain to remain with him, and he would not, but set
+forward towards the meadow where Luned was.  And when he came there he
+saw a great fire kindled, and two youths with beautiful curling auburn
+hair were leading the maiden to cast her into the fire.  And Owain asked
+them what charge they had against her.  And they told him of the compact
+that was between them, as the maiden had done the night before.  “And,”
+said they, “Owain has failed her, therefore we are taking her to be
+burnt.”  “Truly,” said Owain, “he is a good knight, and if he knew that
+the maiden was in such peril, I marvel that he came not to her rescue;
+but if you will accept me in his stead, I will do battle with you.”  “We
+will,” said the youths, “by him who made us.”
+
+And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them.  And with that
+the lion came to Owain’s assistance, and they two got the better of the
+young men.  And they said to him, “Chieftain, it was not agreed that we
+should fight save with thyself alone, and it is harder for us to contend
+with yonder animal than with thee.”  And Owain put the lion in the place
+where the maiden had been imprisoned, and blocked up the door with
+stones, and he went to fight with the young men, as before.  But Owain
+had not his usual strength, and the two youths pressed hard upon him.
+And the lion roared incessantly at seeing Owain in trouble; and he burst
+through the wall until he found a way out, and rushed upon the young men,
+and instantly slew them.  So Luned was saved from being burned.
+
+Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the Countess of the
+Fountain.  And when he went thence he took the Countess with him to
+Arthur’s Court, and she was his wife as long as she lived.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+And then he took the road that led to the Court of the savage black man,
+and Owain fought with him, and the lion did not quit Owain until he had
+vanquished him.  And when he reached the Court of the savage black man he
+entered the hall, and beheld four-and-twenty ladies, the fairest that
+could be seen.  And the garments which they had on were not worth
+four-and-twenty pence, and they were as sorrowful as death.  And Owain
+asked them the cause of their sadness.  And they said, “We are the
+daughters of Earls, and we all came here with our husbands, whom we
+dearly loved.  And we were received with honour and rejoicing.  And we
+were thrown into a state of stupor, and while we were thus, the demon who
+owns this Castle slew all our husbands, and took from us our horses, and
+our raiment, and our gold, and our silver; and the corpses of our
+husbands are still in this house, and many others with them.  And this,
+Chieftain, is the cause of our grief, and we are sorry that thou art come
+hither, lest harm should befall thee.”
+
+And Owain was grieved when he heard this.  And he went forth from the
+Castle, and he beheld a knight approaching him, who saluted him in a
+friendly and cheerful manner, as if he had been a brother.  And this was
+the savage black man.  “In very sooth,” said Owain, “it is not to seek
+thy friendship that I am here.”  “In sooth,” said he, “thou shalt not
+find it then.”  And with that they charged each other, and fought
+furiously.  And Owain overcame him, and bound his hands behind his back.
+Then the black savage besought Owain to spare his life, and spoke thus:
+“My lord Owain,” said he, “it was foretold that thou shouldst come hither
+and vanquish me, and thou hast done so.  I was a robber here, and my
+house was a house of spoil; but grant me my life, and I will become the
+keeper of an Hospice, and I will maintain this house as an Hospice for
+weak and for strong, as long as I live, for the good of thy soul.”  And
+Owain accepted this proposal of him, and remained there that night.
+
+And the next day he took the four-and-twenty ladies, and their horses,
+and their raiment, and what they possessed of goods and jewels, and
+proceeded with them to Arthur’s Court.  And if Arthur was rejoiced when
+he saw him, after he had lost him the first time, his joy was now much
+greater.  And of those ladies, such as wished to remain in Arthur’s Court
+remained there, and such as wished to depart departed.
+
+And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur’s Court greatly beloved, as the
+head of his household, until he went away with his followers; and those
+were the army of three hundred ravens which Kenverchyn had left him.  And
+wherever Owain went with these he was victorious.
+
+And this is the tale of THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
+
+
+
+
+PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC
+
+
+Earl Evrawc owned the Earldom of the North.  And he had seven sons.  And
+Evrawc maintained himself not so much by his own possessions as by
+attending tournaments, and wars, and combats.  And, as it often befalls
+those who join in encounters and wars, he was slain, and six of his sons
+likewise.  Now the name of his seventh son was Peredur, and he was the
+youngest of them.  And he was not of an age to go to wars and encounters,
+otherwise he might have been slain as well as his father and brothers.
+His mother was a scheming and thoughtful woman, and she was very
+solicitous concerning this her only son and his possessions.  So she took
+counsel with herself to leave the inhabited country, and to flee to the
+deserts and unfrequented wildernesses.  And she permitted none to bear
+her company thither but women and boys, and spiritless men, who were both
+unaccustomed and unequal to war and fighting.  And none dared to bring
+either horses or arms where her son was, lest he should set his mind upon
+them.  And the youth went daily to divert himself in the forest, by
+flinging sticks and staves.  And one day he saw his mother’s flock of
+goats, and near the goats two hinds were standing.  And he marvelled
+greatly that these two should be without horns, while the others had
+them.  And he thought they had long run wild, and on that account they
+had lost their horns.  And by activity and swiftness of foot, he drove
+the hinds and the goats together into the house which there was for the
+goats at the extremity of the forest.  Then Peredur returned to his
+mother.  “Ah, mother,” said he, “a marvellous thing have I seen in the
+wood; two of thy goats have run wild, and lost their horns, through their
+having been so long missing in the wood.  And no man had ever more
+trouble than I had to drive them in.”  Then they all arose and went to
+see.  And when they beheld the hinds they were greatly astonished.
+
+And one day they saw three knights coming along the horse-road on the
+borders of the forest.  And the three knights were Gwalchmai the son of
+Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and Owain the son of Urien.  And Owain kept on
+the track of the knight who had divided the apples in Arthur’s Court,
+whom they were in pursuit of.  “Mother,” said Peredur, “what are those
+yonder?”  “They are angels, my son,” said she.  “By my faith,” said
+Peredur, “I will go and become an angel with them.”  And Peredur went to
+the road, and met them.  “Tell me, good soul,” said Owain, “sawest thou a
+knight pass this way, either to-day or yesterday?”  “I know not,”
+answered he, “what a knight is.”  “Such an one as I am,” said Owain.  “If
+thou wilt tell me what I ask thee, I will tell thee that which thou
+askest me.”  “Gladly will I do so,” replied Owain.  “What is this?”
+demanded Peredur, concerning the saddle.  “It is a saddle,” said Owain.
+Then he asked about all the accoutrements which he saw upon the men, and
+the horses, and the arms, and what they were for, and how they were used.
+And Owain shewed him all these things fully, and told him what use was
+made of them.  “Go forward,” said Peredur, “for I saw such an one as thou
+inquirest for, and I will follow thee.”
+
+Then Peredur returned to his mother and her company, and he said to her,
+“Mother, those were not angels, but honourable knights.”  Then his mother
+swooned away.  And Peredur went to the place where they kept the horses
+that carried firewood, and that brought meat and drink from the inhabited
+country to the desert.  And he took a bony piebald horse, which seemed to
+him the strongest of them.  And he pressed a pack into the form of a
+saddle, and with twisted twigs he imitated the trappings which he had
+seen upon the horses.  And when Peredur came again to his mother, the
+Countess had recovered from her swoon.  “My son,” said she, “desirest
+thou to ride forth?”  “Yes, with thy leave,” said he.  “Wait, then, that
+I may counsel thee before thou goest.”  “Willingly,” he answered; “speak
+quickly.”  “Go forward, then,” she said, “to the Court of Arthur, where
+there are the best, and the boldest, and the most bountiful of men.  And
+wherever thou seest a church, repeat there thy Paternoster unto it.  And
+if thou see meat and drink, and have need of them, and none have the
+kindness or the courtesy to give them to thee, take them thyself.  If
+thou hear an outcry, proceed towards it, especially if it be the outcry
+of a woman.  If thou see a fair jewel, possess thyself of it, and give it
+to another, for thus thou shalt obtain praise.  If thou see a fair woman,
+pay thy court to her, whether she will or no; for thus thou wilt render
+thyself a better and more esteemed man than thou wast before.”
+
+After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and taking a handful of
+sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he rode forth.  And he journeyed two
+days and two nights in the woody wildernesses, and in desert places,
+without food and without drink.  And then he came to a vast wild wood,
+and far within the wood he saw a fair even glade, and in the glade he saw
+a tent, and the tent seeming to him to be a church, he repeated his
+Paternoster to it.  And he went towards it, and the door of the tent was
+open.  And a golden chair was near the door.  And on the chair sat a
+lovely auburn-haired maiden, with a golden frontlet on her forehead, and
+sparkling stones in the frontlet, and with a large gold ring on her hand.
+And Peredur dismounted, and entered the tent.  And the maiden was glad at
+his coming, and bade him welcome.  At the entrance of the tent he saw
+food, and two flasks full of wine, and two loaves of fine wheaten flour,
+and collops of the flesh of the wild boar.  “My mother told me,” said
+Peredur, “wheresoever I saw meat and drink, to take it.”  “Take the meat
+and welcome, chieftain,” said she.  So Peredur took half of the meat and
+of the liquor himself, and left the rest to the maiden.  And when Peredur
+had finished eating, he bent upon his knee before the maiden.  “My
+mother,” said he, “told me, wheresoever I saw a fair jewel, to take it.”
+“Do so, my soul,” said she.  So Peredur took the ring.  And he mounted
+his horse, and proceeded on his journey.
+
+After this, behold the knight came to whom the tent belonged; and he was
+the Lord of the Glade.  And he saw the track of the horse, and he said to
+the maiden, “Tell me who has been here since I departed.”  “A man,” said
+she, “of wonderful demeanour.”  And she described to him what Peredur’s
+appearance and conduct had been.  “Tell me,” said he, “did he offer thee
+any wrong?”  “No,” answered the maiden, “by my faith, he harmed me not.”
+“By my faith, I do not believe thee; and until I can meet with him, and
+revenge the insult he has done me, and wreak my vengeance upon him, thou
+shalt not remain two nights in the same house.”  And the knight arose,
+and set forth to seek Peredur.
+
+Meanwhile Peredur journeyed on towards Arthur’s Court.  And before he
+reached it, another knight had been there, who gave a ring of thick gold
+at the door of the gate for holding his horse, and went into the Hall
+where Arthur and his household, and Gwenhwyvar and her maidens, were
+assembled.  And the page of the chamber was serving Gwenhwyvar with a
+golden goblet.  Then the knight dashed the liquor that was therein upon
+her face, and upon her stomacher, and gave her a violent blow on the
+face, and said, “If any have the boldness to dispute this goblet with me,
+and to revenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar, let him follow me to the meadow,
+and there I will await him.”  So the knight took his horse, and rode to
+the meadow.  And all the household hung down their heads, lest any of
+them should be requested to go and avenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar.  For
+it seemed to them, that no one would have ventured on so daring an
+outrage, unless he possessed such powers, through magic or charms, that
+none could be able to take vengeance upon him.  Then, behold, Peredur
+entered the Hall, upon the bony piebald horse, with the uncouth trappings
+upon it; and in this way he traversed the whole length of the Hall.  In
+the centre of the Hall stood Kai.  “Tell me, tall man,” said Peredur, “is
+that Arthur yonder?”  “What wouldest thou with Arthur?” asked Kai.  “My
+mother told me to go to Arthur, and receive the honour of knighthood.”
+“By my faith,” said he, “thou art all too meanly equipped with horse and
+with arms.”  Thereupon he was perceived by all the household, and they
+threw sticks at him.  Then, behold, a dwarf came forward.  He had already
+been a year at Arthur’s Court, both he and a female dwarf.  They had
+craved harbourage of Arthur, and had obtained it; and during the whole
+year, neither of them had spoken a single word to any one.  When the
+dwarf beheld Peredur, “Haha!” said he, “the welcome of Heaven be unto
+thee, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, the chief of warriors, and flower of
+knighthood.”  “Truly,” said Kai, “thou art ill-taught to remain a year
+mute at Arthur’s Court, with choice of society; and now, before the face
+of Arthur and all his household, to call out, and declare such a man as
+this the chief of warriors, and the flower of knighthood.”  And he gave
+him such a box on the ear that he fell senseless to the ground.  Then
+exclaimed the female dwarf, “Haha! goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc; the
+welcome of Heaven be unto thee, flower of knights, and light of
+chivalry.”  “Of a truth, maiden,” said Kai, “thou art ill-bred to remain
+mute for a year at the Court of Arthur, and then to speak as thou dost of
+such a man as this.”  And Kai kicked her with his foot, so that she fell
+to the ground senseless.  “Tall man,” said Peredur, “shew me which is
+Arthur.”  “Hold thy peace,” said Kai, “and go after the knight who went
+hence to the meadow, and take from him the goblet, and overthrow him, and
+possess thyself of his horse and arms, and then thou shalt receive the
+order of knighthood.”  “I will do so, tall man,” said Peredur.  So he
+turned his horse’s head towards the meadow.  And when he came there, the
+knight was riding up and down, proud of his strength, and valour, and
+noble mien.  “Tell me,” said the knight, “didst thou see any one coming
+after me from the Court?”  “The tall man that was there,” said he,
+“desired me to come, and overthrow thee, and to take from thee the
+goblet, and thy horse and thy armour for myself.”  “Silence!” said the
+knight; “go back to the Court, and tell Arthur, from me, either to come
+himself, or to send some other to fight with me; and unless he do so
+quickly, I will not wait for him.”  “By my faith,” said Peredur, “choose
+thou whether it shall be willingly or unwillingly, but I will have the
+horse, and the arms, and the goblet.”  And upon this the knight ran at
+him furiously, and struck him a violent blow with the shaft of his spear,
+between the neck and the shoulder.  “Haha! lad,” said Peredur, “my
+mother’s servants were not used to play with me in this wise; therefore,
+thus will I play with thee.”  And thereupon he struck him with a
+sharp-pointed fork, and it hit him in the eye, and came out at the back
+of his neck, so that he instantly fell down lifeless.
+
+“Verily,” said Owain the son of Urien to Kai, “thou wert ill-advised,
+when thou didst send that madman after the knight.  For one of two things
+must befall him.  He must either be overthrown, or slain.  If he is
+overthrown by the knight, he will be counted by him to be an honourable
+person of the Court, and an eternal disgrace will it be to Arthur and his
+warriors.  And if he is slain, the disgrace will be the same, and
+moreover, his sin will be upon him; therefore will I go to see what has
+befallen him.”  So Owain went to the meadow, and he found Peredur
+dragging the man about.  “What art thou doing thus?” said Owain.  “This
+iron coat,” said Peredur, “will never come from off him; not by my
+efforts, at any rate.”  And Owain unfastened his armour and his clothes.
+“Here, my good soul,” said he, “is a horse and armour better than thine.
+Take them joyfully, and come with me to Arthur, to receive the order of
+knighthood, for thou dost merit it.”  “May I never shew my face again if
+I go,” said Peredur; “but take thou the goblet to Gwenhwyvar, and tell
+Arthur, that wherever I am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what
+profit and service I am able.  And say that I will not come to his Court
+until I have encountered the tall man that is there, to revenge the
+injury he did to the dwarf and dwarfess.”  And Owain went back to the
+Court, and related all these things to Arthur and Gwenhwyvar, and to all
+the household.
+
+And Peredur rode forward.  And as he proceeded, behold a knight met him.
+“Whence comest thou?” said the knight.  “I come from Arthur’s Court,”
+said Peredur.  “Art thou one of his men?” asked he.  “Yes, by my faith,”
+he answered.  “A good service, truly, is that of Arthur.”  “Wherefore
+sayest thou so?” said Peredur.  “I will tell thee,” said he; “I have
+always been Arthur’s enemy, and all such of his men as I have ever
+encountered I have slain.”  And without further parlance they fought, and
+it was not long before Peredur brought him to the ground, over his
+horse’s crupper.  Then the knight besought his mercy.  “Mercy thou shalt
+have,” said Peredur, “if thou wilt make oath to me, that thou wilt go to
+Arthur’s Court, and tell him that it was I that overthrew thee, for the
+honour of his service; and say, that I will never come to the Court until
+I have avenged the insult offered to the dwarf and dwarfess.”  The knight
+pledged him his faith of this, and proceeded to the Court of Arthur, and
+said as he had promised, and conveyed the threat to Kai.
+
+And Peredur rode forward.  And within that week he encountered sixteen
+knights, and overthrew them all shamefully.  And they all went to
+Arthur’s Court, taking with them the same message which the first knight
+had conveyed from Peredur, and the same threat which he had sent to Kai.
+And thereupon Kai was reproved by Arthur; and Kai was greatly grieved
+thereat.
+
+And Peredur rode forward.  And he came to a vast and desert wood, on the
+confines of which was a lake.  And on the other side was a fair castle.
+And on the border of the lake he saw a venerable, hoary-headed man,
+sitting upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment of velvet upon him.
+And his attendants were fishing in the lake.  When the hoary-headed man
+beheld Peredur approaching, he arose and went towards the castle.  And
+the old man was lame.  Peredur rode to the palace, and the door was open,
+and he entered the hall.  And there was the hoary-headed man sitting on a
+cushion, and a large blazing fire burning before him.  And the household
+and the company arose to meet Peredur, and disarrayed him.  And the man
+asked the youth to sit on the cushion; and they sat down, and conversed
+together.  When it was time, the tables were laid, and they went to meat.
+And when they had finished their meal, the man inquired of Peredur if he
+knew well how to fight with the sword.  “I know not,” said Peredur, “but
+were I to be taught, doubtless I should.”  “Whoever can play well with
+the cudgel and shield, will also be able to fight with a sword.”  And the
+man had two sons; the one had yellow hair, and the other auburn.  “Arise,
+youths,” said he, “and play with the cudgel and the shield.”  And so did
+they.  “Tell me, my soul,” said the man, “which of the youths thinkest
+thou plays best.”  “I think,” said Peredur, “that the yellow-haired youth
+could draw blood from the other, if he chose.”  “Arise thou, my life, and
+take the cudgel and the shield from the hand of the youth with the auburn
+hair, and draw blood from the yellow-haired youth if thou canst.”  So
+Peredur arose, and went to play with the yellow-haired youth; and he
+lifted up his arm, and struck him such a mighty blow, that his brow fell
+over his eye, and the blood flowed forth.  “Ah, my life,” said the man,
+“come now, and sit down, for thou wilt become the best fighter with the
+sword of any in this island; and I am thy uncle, thy mother’s brother.
+And with me shalt thou remain a space, in order to learn the manners and
+customs of different countries, and courtesy, and gentleness, and noble
+bearing.  Leave, then, the habits and the discourse of thy mother, and I
+will be thy teacher; and I will raise thee to the rank of knight from
+this time forward.  And thus do thou.  If thou seest aught to cause thee
+wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has the courtesy to inform
+thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee, but upon me that am thy
+teacher.”  And they had abundance of honour and service.  And when it was
+time they went to sleep.  At the break of day, Peredur arose, and took
+his horse, and with his uncle’s permission he rode forth.  And he came to
+a vast desert wood, and at the further end of the wood was a meadow, and
+on the other side of the meadow he saw a large castle.  And thitherward
+Peredur bent his way, and he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the
+hall.  And he beheld a stately hoary-headed man sitting on one side of
+the hall, and many pages around him, who arose to receive and to honour
+Peredur.  And they placed him by the side of the owner of the palace.
+Then they discoursed together; and when it was time to eat, they caused
+Peredur to sit beside the nobleman during the repast.  And when they had
+eaten and drunk as much as they desired, the nobleman asked Peredur
+whether he could fight with a sword?  “Were I to receive instruction,”
+said Peredur, “I think I could.”  Now, there was on the floor of the hall
+a huge staple, as large as a warrior could grasp.  “Take yonder sword,”
+said the man to Peredur, “and strike the iron staple.”  So Peredur arose
+and struck the staple, so that he cut it in two; and the sword broke into
+two parts also.  “Place the two parts together, and reunite them,” and
+Peredur placed them together, and they became entire as they were before.
+And a second time he struck upon the staple, so that both it and the
+sword broke in two, and as before they reunited.  And the third time he
+gave a like blow, and placed the broken parts together, and neither the
+staple nor the sword would unite as before.  “Youth,” said the nobleman,
+“come now, and sit down, and my blessing be upon thee.  Thou fightest
+best with the sword of any man in the kingdom.  Thou hast arrived at
+two-thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou hast not yet
+obtained; and when thou attainest to thy full power, none will be able to
+contend with thee.  I am thy uncle, thy mother’s brother, and I am
+brother to the man in whose house thou wast last night.”  Then Peredur
+and his uncle discoursed together, and he beheld two youths enter the
+hall, and proceed up to the chamber, bearing a spear of mighty size, with
+three streams of blood flowing from the point to the ground.  And when
+all the company saw this, they began wailing and lamenting.  But for all
+that, the man did not break off his discourse with Peredur.  And as he
+did not tell Peredur the meaning of what he saw, he forbore to ask him
+concerning it.  And when the clamour had a little subsided, behold two
+maidens entered, with a large salver between them, in which was a man’s
+head, surrounded by a profusion of blood.  And thereupon the company of
+the court made so great an outcry, that it was irksome to be in the same
+hall with them.  But at length they were silent.  And when time was that
+they should sleep, Peredur was brought into a fair chamber.
+
+And the next day, with his uncle’s permission, he rode forth.  And he
+came to a wood, and far within the wood he heard a loud cry, and he saw a
+beautiful woman with auburn hair, and a horse with a saddle upon it,
+standing near her, and a corpse by her side.  And as she strove to place
+the corpse upon the horse, it fell to the ground, and thereupon she made
+a great lamentation.  “Tell me, sister,” said Peredur, “wherefore art
+thou bewailing?”  “Oh! accursed Peredur, little pity has my ill-fortune
+ever met with from thee.”  “Wherefore,” said Peredur, “am I accursed?”
+“Because thou wast the cause of thy mother’s death; for when thou didst
+ride forth against her will, anguish seized upon her heart, so that she
+died; and therefore art thou accursed.  And the dwarf and the dwarfess
+that thou sawest at Arthur’s Court were the dwarfs of thy father and
+mother; and I am thy foster-sister, and this was my wedded husband, and
+he was slain by the knight that is in the glade in the wood; and do not
+thou go near him, lest thou shouldest be slain by him likewise.”  “My
+sister, thou dost reproach me wrongfully; through my having so long
+remained amongst you, I shall scarcely vanquish him; and had I continued
+longer, it would, indeed, be difficult for me to succeed.  Cease,
+therefore, thy lamenting, for it is of no avail, and I will bury the
+body, and then I will go in quest of the knight, and see if I can do
+vengeance upon him.”  And when he had buried the body, they went to the
+place where the knight was, and found him riding proudly along the glade;
+and he inquired of Peredur whence he came.  “I come from Arthur’s Court.”
+“And art thou one of Arthur’s men?”  “Yes, by my faith.”  “A profitable
+alliance, truly, is that of Arthur.”  And without further parlance, they
+encountered one another, and immediately Peredur overthrew the knight,
+and he besought mercy of Peredur.  “Mercy shalt thou have,” said he,
+“upon these terms, that thou take this woman in marriage, and do her all
+the honour and reverence in thy power, seeing thou hast, without cause,
+slain her wedded husband; and that thou go to Arthur’s Court, and shew
+him that it was I that overthrew thee, to do him honour and service; and
+that thou tell him that I will never come to his Court again until I have
+met with the tall man that is there, to take vengeance upon him for his
+insult to the dwarf and dwarfess.”  And he took the knight’s assurance,
+that he would perform all this.  Then the knight provided the lady with a
+horse and garments that were suitable for her, and took her with him to
+Arthur’s Court.  And he told Arthur all that had occurred, and gave the
+defiance to Kai.  And Arthur and all his household reproved Kai, for
+having driven such a youth as Peredur from his Court.
+
+Said Owain the son of Urien, “This youth will never come into the Court
+until Kai has gone forth from it.”  “By my faith,” said Arthur, “I will
+search all the deserts in the Island of Britain, until I find Peredur,
+and then let him and his adversary do their utmost to each other.”
+
+Then Peredur rode forward.  And he came to a desert wood, where he saw
+not the track either of men or animals, and where there was nothing but
+bushes and weeds.  And at the upper end of the wood he saw a vast castle,
+wherein were many strong towers; and when he came near the gate, he found
+the weeds taller than he had seen them elsewhere.  And he struck the gate
+with the shaft of his lance, and thereupon behold a lean, auburn-haired
+youth came to an opening in the battlements.  “Choose thou, chieftain,”
+said he, “whether shall I open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce
+unto those that are chief, that thou art at the gateway?”  “Say that I am
+here,” said Peredur, “and if it is desired that I should enter, I will go
+in.”  And the youth came back, and opened the gate for Peredur.  And when
+he went into the hall, he beheld eighteen youths, lean and red-headed, of
+the same height, and of the same aspect, and of the same dress, and of
+the same age as the one who had opened the gate for him.  And they were
+well skilled in courtesy and in service.  And they disarrayed him.  Then
+they sat down to discourse.  Thereupon, behold five maidens came from the
+chamber into the hall.  And Peredur was certain that he had never seen
+another of so fair an aspect as the chief of the maidens.  And she had an
+old garment of satin upon her, which had once been handsome, but was then
+so tattered, that her skin could be seen through it.  And whiter was her
+skin than the bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were
+blacker than jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than
+whatever is reddest.  And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put her arms
+about his neck, and made him sit down beside her.  Not long after this he
+saw two nuns enter, and a flask full of wine was borne by one, and six
+loaves of white bread by the other.  “Lady,” said they, “Heaven is
+witness, that there is not so much of food and liquor as this left in
+yonder Convent this night.”  Then they went to meat, and Peredur observed
+that the maiden wished to give more of the food and of the liquor to him
+than to any of the others.  “My sister,” said Peredur, “I will share out
+the food and the liquor.”  “Not so, my soul,” said she.  “By my faith but
+I will.”  So Peredur took the bread, and he gave an equal portion of it
+to each alike, as well as a cup full of the liquor.  And when it was time
+for them to sleep, a chamber was prepared for Peredur, and he went to
+rest.
+
+“Behold, sister,” said the youths to the fairest and most exalted of the
+maidens, “we have counsel for thee.”  “What may it be?” she inquired.
+“Go to the youth that is in the upper chamber, and offer to become his
+wife, or the lady of his love, if it seem well to him.”  “That were
+indeed unfitting,” said she.  “Hitherto I have not been the lady-love of
+any knight, and to make him such an offer before I am wooed by him, that,
+truly, can I not do.”  “By our confession to Heaven, unless thou actest
+thus, we will leave thee here to thy enemies, to do as they will with
+thee.”  And through fear of this, the maiden went forth; and shedding
+tears, she proceeded to the chamber.  And with the noise of the door
+opening, Peredur awoke; and the maiden was weeping and lamenting.  “Tell
+me, my sister,” said Peredur, “wherefore dost thou weep?”  “I will tell
+thee, lord,” said she.  “My father possessed these dominions as their
+chief, and this palace was his, and with it he held the best earldom in
+the kingdom; then the son of another earl sought me of my father, and I
+was not willing to be given unto him, and my father would not give me
+against my will, either to him or any earl in the world.  And my father
+had no child except myself.  And after my father’s death, these dominions
+came into my own hands, and then was I less willing to accept him than
+before.  So he made war upon me, and conquered all my possessions, except
+this one house.  And through the valour of the men whom thou hast seen,
+who are my foster-brothers, and the strength of the house, it can never
+be taken while food and drink remain.  And now our provisions are
+exhausted; but, as thou hast seen, we have been fed by the nuns, to whom
+the country is free.  And at length they also are without supply of food
+or liquor.  And at no later date than to-morrow, the earl will come
+against this place with all his forces; and if I fall into his power, my
+fate will be no better than to be given over to the grooms of his horses.
+Therefore, lord, I am come to offer to place myself in thy hands, that
+thou mayest succour me, either by taking me hence, or by defending me
+here, whichever may seem best unto thee.”  “Go, my sister,” said he, “and
+sleep; nor will I depart from thee until I do that which thou requirest,
+or prove whether I can assist thee or not.”  The maiden went again to
+rest; and the next morning she came to Peredur, and saluted him.  “Heaven
+prosper thee, my soul, and what tidings dost thou bring?”  “None other,
+than that the earl and all his forces have alighted at the gate, and I
+never beheld any place so covered with tents, and thronged with knights
+challenging others to the combat.”  “Truly,” said Peredur, “let my horse
+be made ready.”  So his horse was accoutred, and he arose and sallied
+forth to the meadow.  And there was a knight riding proudly along the
+meadow, having raised the signal for battle.  And they encountered, and
+Peredur threw the knight over his horse’s crupper to the ground.  And at
+the close of the day, one of the chief knights came to fight with him,
+and he overthrew him also, so that he besought his mercy.  “Who art
+thou?” said Peredur.  “Verily,” said he, “I am Master of the Household to
+the earl.”  “And how much of the countess’s possessions is there in thy
+power?”  “The third part, verily,” answered he.  “Then,” said Peredur,
+“restore to her the third of her possessions in full, and all the profit
+thou hast made by them, and bring meat and drink for a hundred men, with
+their horses and arms, to her court this night.  And thou shalt remain
+her captive, unless she wish to take thy life.”  And this he did
+forthwith.  And that night the maiden was right joyful, and they fared
+plenteously.
+
+And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and that day he
+vanquished a multitude of the host.  And at the close of the day, there
+came a proud and stately knight, and Peredur overthrew him, and he
+besought his mercy.  “Who art thou?” said Peredur.  “I am Steward of the
+Palace,” said he.  “And how much of the maiden’s possessions are under
+thy control?”  “One-third part,” answered he.  “Verily,” said Peredur,
+“thou shalt fully restore to the maiden her possessions, and, moreover,
+thou shalt give her meat and drink for two hundred men, and their horses
+and their arms.  And for thyself, thou shalt be her captive.”  And
+immediately it was so done.
+
+And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and he vanquished
+more that day than on either of the preceding.  And at the close of the
+day, an earl came to encounter him, and he overthrew him, and he besought
+his mercy.  “Who art thou?” said Peredur.  “I am the earl,” said he.  “I
+will not conceal it from thee.”  “Verily,” said Peredur, “thou shalt
+restore the whole of the maiden’s earldom, and shalt give her thine own
+earldom in addition thereto, and meat and drink for three hundred men,
+and their horses and arms, and thou thyself shalt remain in her power.”
+And thus it was fulfilled.  And Peredur tarried three weeks in the
+country, causing tribute and obedience to be paid to the maiden, and the
+government to be placed in her hands.  “With thy leave,” said Peredur, “I
+will go hence.”  “Verily, my brother, desirest thou this?”  “Yes, by my
+faith; and had it not been for love of thee, I should not have been here
+thus long.”  “My soul,” said she, “who art thou?”  “I am Peredur the son
+of Evrawc from the North; and if ever thou art in trouble or in danger,
+acquaint me therewith, and if I can, I will protect thee.”
+
+So Peredur rode forth.  And far thence there met him a lady, mounted on a
+horse that was lean, and covered with sweat; and she saluted the youth.
+“Whence comest thou, my sister?”  Then she told him the cause of her
+journey.  Now she was the wife of the Lord of the Glade.  “Behold,” said
+he, “I am the knight through whom thou art in trouble, and he shall
+repent it, who has treated thee thus.”  Thereupon, behold a knight rode
+up, and he inquired of Peredur, if he had seen a knight such as he was
+seeking.  “Hold thy peace,” said Peredur, “I am he whom thou seekest; and
+by my faith, thou deservest ill of thy household for thy treatment of the
+maiden, for she is innocent concerning me.”  So they encountered, and
+they were not long in combat ere Peredur overthrew the knight, and he
+besought his mercy.  “Mercy thou shalt have,” said Peredur, “so thou wilt
+return by the way thou camest, and declare that thou holdest the maiden
+innocent, and so that thou wilt acknowledge unto her the reverse thou
+hast sustained at my hands.”  And the knight plighted him his faith
+thereto.
+
+Then Peredur rode forward.  And above him he beheld a castle, and
+thitherward he went.  And he struck upon the gate with his lance, and
+then, behold, a comely auburn-haired youth opened the gate, and he had
+the stature of a warrior, and the years of a boy.  And when Peredur came
+into the hall, there was a tall and stately lady sitting in a chair, and
+many handmaidens around her; and the lady rejoiced at his coming.  And
+when it was time, they went to meat.  And after their repast was
+finished, “It were well for thee, chieftain,” said she, “to go elsewhere
+to sleep.”  “Wherefore can I not sleep here?” said Peredur.  “Nine
+sorceresses are here, my soul, of the sorceresses of Gloucester, and
+their father and their mother are with them; and unless we can make our
+escape before daybreak, we shall be slain; and already they have
+conquered and laid waste all the country, except this one dwelling.”
+“Behold,” said Peredur, “I will remain here to-night, and if you are in
+trouble, I will do you what service I can; but harm shall you not receive
+from me.”  So they went to rest.  And with the break of day, Peredur
+heard a dreadful outcry.  And he hastily arose, and went forth in his
+vest and his doublet, with his sword about his neck, and he saw a
+sorceress overtake one of the watch, who cried out violently.  Peredur
+attacked the sorceress, and struck her upon the head with his sword, so
+that he flattened her helmet and her head-piece like a dish upon her
+head.  “Thy mercy, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, and the mercy of
+Heaven.”  “How knowest thou, hag, that I am Peredur?”  “By destiny, and
+the foreknowledge that I should suffer harm from thee.  And thou shalt
+take a horse and armour of me; and with me thou shalt go to learn
+chivalry and the use of thy arms.”  Said Peredur, “Thou shalt have mercy,
+if thou pledge thy faith thou wilt never more injure the dominions of the
+Countess.”  And Peredur took surety of this, and with permission of the
+Countess, he set forth with the sorceress to the palace of the
+sorceresses.  And there he remained for three weeks, and then he made
+choice of a horse and arms, and went his way.
+
+And in the evening he entered a valley, and at the head of the valley he
+came to a hermit’s cell, and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and there he
+spent the night.  And in the morning he arose, and when he went forth,
+behold a shower of snow had fallen the night before, and a hawk had
+killed a wild fowl in front of the cell.  And the noise of the horse
+scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the bird.  And Peredur
+stood, and compared the blackness of the raven and the whiteness of the
+snow, and the redness of the blood, to the hair of the lady that best he
+loved, which was blacker than jet, and to her skin which was whiter than
+the snow, and to the two red spots upon her cheeks, which were redder
+than the blood upon the snow appeared to be.
+
+Now Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur.  “Know ye,” said
+Arthur, “who is the knight with the long spear that stands by the brook
+up yonder?”  “Lord,” said one of them, “I will go and learn who he is.”
+So the youth came to the place where Peredur was, and asked him what he
+did thus, and who he was.  And from the intensity with which he thought
+upon the lady whom best he loved, he gave him no answer.  Then the youth
+thrust at Peredur with his lance, and Peredur turned upon him, and struck
+him over his horse’s crupper to the ground.  And after this,
+four-and-twenty youths came to him, and he did not answer one more than
+another, but gave the same reception to all, bringing them with one
+single thrust to the ground.  And then came Kai, and spoke to Peredur
+rudely and angrily; and Peredur took him with his lance under the jaw,
+and cast him from him with a thrust, so that he broke his arm and his
+shoulder-blade, and he rode over him one-and-twenty times.  And while he
+lay thus, stunned with the violence of the pain that he had suffered, his
+horse returned back at a wild and prancing pace.  And when the household
+saw the horse come back without his rider, they rode forth in haste to
+the place where the encounter had been.  And when they first came there,
+they thought that Kai was slain; but they found that if he had a skilful
+physician, he yet might live.  And Peredur moved not from his meditation,
+on seeing the concourse that was around Kai.  And Kai was brought to
+Arthur’s tent, and Arthur caused skilful physicians to come to him.  And
+Arthur was grieved that Kai had met with this reverse, for he loved him
+greatly.
+
+“Then,” said Gwalchmai, “it is not fitting that any should disturb an
+honourable knight from his thought unadvisedly; for either he is
+pondering some damage that he has sustained, or he is thinking of the
+lady whom best he loves.  And through such ill-advised proceeding,
+perchance this misadventure has befallen him who last met with him.  And
+if it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight hath
+changed from his thought; and if he has, I will ask him courteously to
+come and visit thee.”  Then Kai was wroth, and he spoke angry and
+spiteful words.  “Gwalchmai,” said he, “I know that thou wilt bring him
+because he is fatigued.  Little praise and honour, nevertheless, wilt
+thou have from vanquishing a weary knight, who is tired with fighting.
+Yet thus hast thou gained the advantage over many.  And while thy speech
+and thy soft words last, a coat of thin linen were armour sufficient for
+thee, and thou wilt not need to break either lance or sword in fighting
+with the knight in the state he is in.”  Then said Gwalchmai to Kai,
+“Thou mightest use more pleasant words, wert thou so minded: and it
+behoves thee not upon me to wreak thy wrath and thy displeasure.
+Methinks I shall bring the knight hither with me without breaking either
+my arm or my shoulder.”  Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, “Thou speakest
+like a wise and prudent man; go, and take enough of armour about thee,
+and choose thy horse.”  And Gwalchmai accoutred himself and rode forward
+hastily to the place where Peredur was.
+
+And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the same
+thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of hostility, and
+said to him, “If I thought that it would be as agreeable to thee as it
+would be to me, I would converse with thee.  I have also a message from
+Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him.  And two men have
+been before on this errand.”  “That is true,” said Peredur, “and
+uncourteously they came.  They attacked me, and I was annoyed thereat,
+for it was not pleasing to me to be drawn from the thought that I was in,
+for I was thinking of the lady whom best I love, and thus was she brought
+to my mind:—I was looking upon the snow, and upon the raven, and upon the
+drops of the blood of the bird that the hawk had killed upon the snow.
+And I bethought me that her whiteness was like that of the snow, and that
+the blackness of her hair and her eyebrows like that of the raven, and
+that the two red spots upon her cheeks were like the two drops of blood.”
+Said Gwalchmai, “This was not an ungentle thought, and I should marvel if
+it were pleasant to thee to be drawn from it.”  “Tell me,” said Peredur,
+“is Kai in Arthur’s Court?”  “He is,” said he, “and behold he is the
+knight that fought with thee last; and it would have been better for him
+had he not come, for his arm and his shoulder-blade were broken with the
+fall which he had from thy spear.”  “Verily,” said Peredur, “I am not
+sorry to have thus begun to avenge the insult to the dwarf and dwarfess.”
+Then Gwalchmai marvelled to hear him speak of the dwarf and the dwarfess;
+and he approached him, and threw his arms around his neck, and asked him
+what was his name.  “Peredur the son of Evrawc am I called,” said he;
+“and thou, Who art thou?”  “I am called Gwalchmai,” he replied.  “I am
+right glad to meet with thee,” said Peredur, “for in every country where
+I have been I have heard of thy fame for prowess and uprightness, and I
+solicit thy fellowship.”  “Thou shalt have it, by my faith, and grant me
+thine,” said he, “Gladly will I do so,” answered Peredur.
+
+So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place where Arthur was,
+and when Kai saw them coming, he said, “I knew that Gwalchmai needed not
+to fight the knight.  And it is no wonder that he should gain fame; more
+can he do by his fair words than I by the strength of my arm.”  And
+Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and they took off their armour.
+And Peredur put on garments like those that Gwalchmai wore, and they went
+together unto Arthur, and saluted him.  “Behold, lord,” said Gwalchmai,
+“him whom thou hast sought so long.”  “Welcome unto thee, chieftain,”
+said Arthur.  “With me thou shalt remain; and had I known thy valour had
+been such, thou shouldst not have left me as thou didst; nevertheless,
+this was predicted of thee by the dwarf and the dwarfess, whom Kai
+ill-treated and whom thou hast avenged.”  And hereupon, behold there came
+the Queen and her handmaidens, and Peredur saluted them.  And they were
+rejoiced to see him, and bade him welcome.  And Arthur did him great
+honour and respect, and they returned towards Caerlleon.
+
+And the first night Peredur came to Caerlleon to Arthur’s Court, and as
+he walked in the city after his repast, behold, there met him Angharad
+Law Eurawc.  “By my faith, sister,” said Peredur, “thou art a beauteous
+and lovely maiden; and, were it pleasing to thee, I could love thee above
+all women.”  “I pledge my faith,” said she, “that I do not love thee, nor
+will I ever do so.”  “I also pledge my faith,” said Peredur, “that I will
+never speak a word to any Christian again, until thou come to love me
+above all men.”
+
+The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a mountain-ridge,
+and he saw a valley of a circular form, the confines of which were rocky
+and wooded.  And the flat part of the valley was in meadows, and there
+were fields betwixt the meadows and the wood.  And in the bosom of the
+wood he saw large black houses of uncouth workmanship.  And he
+dismounted, and led his horse towards the wood.  And a little way within
+the wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which the road lay.  And upon the
+ledge was a lion bound by a chain, and sleeping.  And beneath the lion he
+saw a deep pit of immense size, full of the bones of men and animals.
+And Peredur drew his sword and struck the lion, so that he fell into the
+mouth of the pit and hung there by the chain; and with a second blow he
+struck the chain and broke it, and the lion fell into the pit; and
+Peredur led his horse over the rocky ledge, until he came into the
+valley.  And in the centre of the valley he saw a fair castle, and he
+went towards it.  And in the meadow by the castle he beheld a huge grey
+man sitting, who was larger than any man he had ever before seen.  And
+two young pages were shooting the hilts of their daggers, of the bone of
+the sea-horse.  And one of the pages had red hair, and the other auburn.
+And they went before him to the place where the grey man was, and Peredur
+saluted him.  And the grey man said, “Disgrace to the beard of my
+porter.”  Then Peredur understood that the porter was the lion.—And the
+grey man and the pages went together into the castle, and Peredur
+accompanied them; and he found it a fair and noble place.  And they
+proceeded to the hall, and the tables were already laid, and upon them
+was abundance of food and liquor.  And thereupon he saw an aged woman and
+a young woman come from the chamber; and they were the most stately women
+he had ever seen.  Then they washed and went to meat, and the grey man
+sat in the upper seat at the head of the table, and the aged woman next
+to him.  And Peredur and the maiden were placed together, and the two
+young pages served them.  And the maiden gazed sorrowfully upon Peredur,
+and Peredur asked the maiden wherefore she was sad.  “For thee, my soul;
+for, from when I first beheld thee, I have loved thee above all men.  And
+it pains me to know that so gentle a youth as thou should have such a
+doom as awaits thee to-morrow.  Sawest thou the numerous black houses in
+the bosom of the wood?  All these belong to the vassals of the grey man
+yonder, who is my father.  And they are all giants.  And to-morrow they
+will rise up against thee, and will slay thee.  And the Round Valley is
+this valley called.”  “Listen, fair maiden, wilt thou contrive that my
+horse and arms be in the same lodging with me to-night?”  “Gladly will I
+cause it so to be, by Heaven, if I can.”
+
+And when it was time for them to sleep rather than to carouse, they went
+to rest.  And the maiden caused Peredur’s horse and arms to be in the
+same lodging with him.  And the next morning Peredur heard a great tumult
+of men and horses around the castle.  And Peredur arose, and armed
+himself and his horse, and went to the meadow.  Then the aged woman and
+the maiden came to the grey man: “Lord,” said they, “take the word of the
+youth, that he will never disclose what he has seen in this place, and we
+will be his sureties that he keep it.”  “I will not do so, by my faith,”
+said the grey man.  So Peredur fought with the host, and towards evening
+he had slain the one-third of them without receiving any hurt himself.
+Then said the aged woman, “Behold, many of thy host have been slain by
+the youth; do thou, therefore, grant him mercy.”  “I will not grant it,
+by my faith,” said he.  And the aged woman and the fair maiden were upon
+the battlements of the castle, looking forth.  And at that juncture,
+Peredur encountered the yellow-haired youth and slew him.  “Lord,” said
+the maiden, “grant the young man mercy.”  “That will I not do, by
+Heaven,” he replied; and thereupon Peredur attacked the auburn-haired
+youth, and slew him likewise.  “It were better that thou hadst accorded
+mercy to the youth before he had slain thy two sons; for now scarcely
+wilt thou thyself escape from him.”  “Go, maiden, and beseech the youth
+to grant mercy unto us, for we yield ourselves into his hands.”  So the
+maiden came to the place where Peredur was, and besought mercy for her
+father, and for all such of his vassals as had escaped alive.  “Thou
+shalt have it, on condition that thy father and all that are under him go
+and render homage to Arthur, and tell him that it was his vassal Peredur
+that did him this service.”  “This will we do willingly, by Heaven.”
+“And you shall also receive baptism; and I will send to Arthur, and
+beseech him to bestow this valley upon thee and upon thy heirs after thee
+for ever.”  Then they went in, and the grey man and the tall woman
+saluted Peredur.  And the grey man said unto him, “Since I have possessed
+this valley I have not seen any Christian depart with his life, save
+thyself.  And we will go to do homage to Arthur, and to embrace the faith
+and be baptized.”  Then said Peredur, “To Heaven I render thanks that I
+have not broken my vow to the lady that best I love, which was, that I
+would not speak one word unto any Christian.”
+
+That night they tarried there.  And the next day, in the morning, the
+grey man, with his company, set forth to Arthur’s Court; and they did
+homage unto Arthur, and he caused them to be baptized.  And the grey man
+told Arthur that it was Peredur that had vanquished them.  And Arthur
+gave the valley to the grey man and his company, to hold it of him as
+Peredur had besought.  And with Arthur’s permission, the grey man went
+back to the Round Valley.
+
+Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast tract of desert,
+in which no dwellings were.  And at length he came to a habitation, mean
+and small.  And there he heard that there was a serpent that lay upon a
+gold ring, and suffered none to inhabit the country for seven miles
+around.  And Peredur came to the place where he heard the serpent was.
+And angrily, furiously, and desperately fought he with the serpent; and
+at last he killed it, and took away the ring.  And thus he was for a long
+time without speaking a word to any Christian.  And therefrom he lost his
+colour and his aspect, through extreme longing after the Court of Arthur,
+and the society of the lady whom best he loved, and of his companions.
+Then he proceeded forward to Arthur’s Court, and on the road there met
+him Arthur’s household going on a particular errand, with Kai at their
+head.  And Peredur knew them all, but none of the household recognized
+him.  “Whence comest thou, chieftain?” said Kai.  And this he asked him
+twice and three times, and he answered him not.  And Kai thrust him
+through the thigh with his lance.  And lest he should be compelled to
+speak, and to break his vow, he went on without stopping.  “Then,” said
+Gwalchmai, “I declare to Heaven, Kai, that thou hast acted ill in
+committing such an outrage on a youth like this, who cannot speak.”
+
+And Gwalchmai returned back to Arthur’s Court.  “Lady,” said he to
+Gwenhwyvar, “seest thou how wicked an outrage Kai has committed upon this
+youth who cannot speak; for Heaven’s sake, and for mine, cause him to
+have medical care before I come back, and I will repay thee the charge.”
+
+And before the men returned from their errand, a knight came to the
+meadow beside Arthur’s Palace, to dare some one to the encounter.  And
+his challenge was accepted; and Peredur fought with him, and overthrew
+him.  And for a week he overthrew one knight every day.
+
+And one day, Arthur and his household were going to Church, and they
+beheld a knight who had raised the signal for combat.  “Verily,” said
+Arthur, “by the valour of men, I will not go hence until I have my horse
+and my arms to overthrow yonder boor.”  Then went the attendants to fetch
+Arthur’s horse and arms.  And Peredur met the attendants as they were
+going back, and he took the horse and arms from them, and proceeded to
+the meadow; and all those who saw him arise and go to do battle with the
+knight, went upon the tops of the houses, and the mounds, and the high
+places, to behold the combat.  And Peredur beckoned with his hand to the
+knight to commence the fight.  And the knight thrust at him, but he was
+not thereby moved from where he stood.  And Peredur spurred his horse,
+and ran at him wrathfully, furiously, fiercely, desperately, and with
+mighty rage, and he gave him a thrust, deadly-wounding, severe, furious,
+adroit, and strong, under his jaw, and raised him out of his saddle, and
+cast him a long way from him.  And Peredur went back, and left the horse
+and the arms with the attendant as before, and he went on foot to the
+Palace.
+
+Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth.  And behold, Angharad
+Law Eurawc met him.  “I declare to Heaven, chieftain,” said she, “woful
+is it that thou canst not speak; for couldst thou speak, I would love
+thee best of all men; and by my faith, although thou canst not, I do love
+thee above all.”  “Heaven reward thee, my sister,” said Peredur, “by my
+faith I also do love thee.”  Thereupon it was known that he was Peredur.
+And then he held fellowship with Gwalchmai, and Owain the son of Urien,
+and all the household, and he remained in Arthur’s Court.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk; and he went to hunt, and Peredur went
+with him.  And Peredur let loose his dog upon a hart, and the dog killed
+the hart in a desert place.  And a short space from him he saw signs of a
+dwelling, and towards the dwelling he went, and he beheld a hall, and at
+the door of the hall he found bald swarthy youths playing at chess.  And
+when he entered, he beheld three maidens sitting on a bench, and they
+were all clothed alike, as became persons of high rank.  And he came, and
+sat by them upon the bench; and one of the maidens looked steadfastly
+upon Peredur, and wept.  And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping.
+“Through grief, that I should see so fair a youth as thou art, slain.”
+“Who will slay me?” inquired Peredur.  “If thou art so daring as to
+remain here to-night, I will tell thee.”  “How great soever my danger may
+be from remaining here, I will listen unto thee.”  “This Palace is owned
+by him who is my father,” said the maiden, “and he slays every one who
+comes hither without his leave.”  “What sort of a man is thy father, that
+he is able to slay every one thus?”  “A man who does violence and wrong
+unto his neighbours, and who renders justice unto none.”  And hereupon he
+saw the youths arise and clear the chessmen from the board.  And he heard
+a great tumult; and after the tumult there came in a huge black one-eyed
+man, and the maidens arose to meet him.  And they disarrayed him, and he
+went and sat down; and after he had rested and pondered awhile, he looked
+at Peredur, and asked who the knight was.  “Lord,” said one of the
+maidens, “he is the fairest and gentlest youth that ever thou didst see.
+And for the sake of Heaven, and of thine own dignity, have patience with
+him.”  “For thy sake I will have patience, and I will grant him his life
+this night.”  Then Peredur came towards them to the fire, and partook of
+food and liquor, and entered into discourse with the ladies.  And being
+elated with the liquor, he said to the black man, “It is a marvel to me,
+so mighty as thou sayest thou art, who could have put out thine eye.”
+“It is one of my habits,” said the black man, “that whosoever puts to me
+the question which thou hast asked, shall not escape with his life,
+either as a free gift or for a price.”  “Lord,” said the maiden,
+“whatsoever he may say to thee in jest, and through the excitement of
+liquor, make good that which thou saidst and didst promise me just now.”
+“I will do so, gladly, for thy sake,” said he.  “Willingly will I grant
+him his life this night.”  And that night thus they remained.
+
+And the next day the black man got up, and put on his armour, and said to
+Peredur, “Arise, man, and suffer death.”  And Peredur said unto him, “Do
+one of two things, black man; if thou wilt fight with me, either throw
+off thy own armour, or give arms to me, that I may encounter thee.”  “Ha,
+man,” said he, “couldst thou fight, if thou hadst arms?  Take, then, what
+arms thou dost choose.”  And thereupon the maiden came to Peredur with
+such arms as pleased him; and he fought with the black man, and forced
+him to crave his mercy.  “Black man, thou shalt have mercy, provided thou
+tell me who thou art, and who put out thine eye.”  “Lord, I will tell
+thee; I lost it in fighting with the Black Serpent of the Carn.  There is
+a mound, which is called the Mound of Mourning; and on the mound there is
+a carn, and in the carn there is a serpent, and on the tail of the
+serpent there is a stone, and the virtues of the stone are such, that
+whosoever should hold it in one hand, in the other he will have as much
+gold as he may desire.  And in fighting with this serpent was it that I
+lost my eye.  And the Black Oppressor am I called.  And for this reason I
+am called the Black Oppressor, that there is not a single man around me
+whom I have not oppressed, and justice have I done unto none.”  “Tell
+me,” said Peredur, “how far is it hence?”  “The same day that thou
+settest forth, thou wilt come to the Palace of the Sons of the King of
+the Tortures.”  “Wherefore are they called thus?”  “The Addanc of the
+Lake slays them once every day.  When thou goest thence, thou wilt come
+to the Court of the Countess of the Achievements.”  “What achievements
+are there?” asked Peredur.  “Three hundred men there are in her
+household, and unto every stranger that comes to the Court, the
+achievements of her household are related.  And this is the manner of
+it,—the three hundred men of the household sit next unto the Lady; and
+that not through disrespect unto the guests, but that they may relate the
+achievements of the household.  And the day that thou goest thence, thou
+wilt reach the Mound of Mourning, and round about the mound there are the
+owners of three hundred tents guarding the serpent.”  “Since thou hast,
+indeed, been an oppressor so long,” said Peredur, “I will cause that thou
+continue so no longer.”  So he slew him.
+
+Then the maiden spoke, and began to converse with him.  “If thou wast
+poor when thou camest here, henceforth thou wilt be rich through the
+treasure of the black man whom thou hast slain.  Thou seest the many
+lovely maidens that there are in this Court; thou shalt have her whom
+thou best likest for the lady of thy love.”  “Lady, I came not hither
+from my country to woo; but match yourselves as it liketh you with the
+comely youths I see here; and none of your goods do I desire, for I need
+them not.”  Then Peredur rode forward, and he came to the Palace of the
+Sons of the King of the Tortures; and when he entered the Palace, he saw
+none but women; and they rose up, and were joyful at his coming; and as
+they began to discourse with him, he beheld a charger arrive, with a
+saddle upon it, and a corpse in the saddle.  And one of the women arose,
+and took the corpse from the saddle, and anointed it in a vessel of warm
+water, which was below the door, and placed precious balsam upon it; and
+the man rose up alive, and came to the place where Peredur was, and
+greeted him, and was joyful to see him.  And two other men came in upon
+their saddles, and the maiden treated these two in the same manner as she
+had done the first.  Then Peredur asked the chieftain wherefore it was
+thus.  And they told him, that there was an Addanc in a cave, which slew
+them once every day.  And thus they remained that night.
+
+And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and Peredur besought
+them, for the sake of the ladies of their love, to permit him to go with
+them; but they refused him, saying, “If thou shouldst be slain there,
+thou hast none to bring thee back to life again.”  And they rode forward,
+and Peredur followed after them; and, after they had disappeared out of
+his sight, he came to a mound, whereon sat the fairest lady he had ever
+beheld.  “I know thy quest,” said she; “thou art going to encounter the
+Addanc, and he will slay thee, and that not by courage, but by craft.  He
+has a cave, and at the entrance of the cave there is a stone pillar, and
+he sees every one that enters, and none see him; and from behind the
+pillar he slays every one with a poisonous dart.  And if thou wouldst
+pledge me thy faith to love me above all women, I would give thee a
+stone, by which thou shouldst see him when thou goest in, and he should
+not see thee.”  “I will, by my troth,” said Peredur, “for when first I
+beheld thee I loved thee; and where shall I seek thee?”  “When thou
+seekest me, seek towards India.”  And the maiden vanished, after placing
+the stone in Peredur’s hand.
+
+And he came towards a valley, through which ran a river; and the borders
+of the valley were wooded, and on each side of the river were level
+meadows.  And on one side of the river he saw a flock of white sheep, and
+on the other a flock of black sheep.  And whenever one of the white sheep
+bleated, one of the black sheep would cross over and become white; and
+when one of the black sheep bleated, one of the white sheep would cross
+over and become black.  And he saw a tall tree by the side of the river,
+one half of which was in flames from the root to the top, and the other
+half was green and in full leaf.  And nigh thereto he saw a youth sitting
+upon a mound, and two greyhounds, white-breasted and spotted, in leashes,
+lying by his side.  And certain was he that he had never seen a youth of
+so royal a bearing as he.  And in the wood opposite he heard hounds
+raising a herd of deer.  And Peredur saluted the youth, and the youth
+greeted him in return.  And there were three roads leading from the
+mound; two of them were wide roads, and the third was more narrow.  And
+Peredur inquired where the three roads went.  “One of them goes to my
+palace,” said the youth; “and one of two things I counsel thee to do;
+either to proceed to my palace, which is before thee, and where thou wilt
+find my wife, or else to remain here to see the hounds chasing the roused
+deer from the wood to the plain.  And thou shalt see the best greyhounds
+thou didst ever behold, and the boldest in the chase, kill them by the
+water beside us; and when it is time to go to meat, my page will come
+with my horse to meet me, and thou shalt rest in my palace to-night.”
+“Heaven reward thee; but I cannot tarry, for onward must I go.”  “The
+other road leads to the town, which is near here, and wherein food and
+liquor may be bought; and the road which is narrower than the others goes
+towards the cave of the Addanc.”  “With thy permission, young man, I will
+go that way.”
+
+And Peredur went towards the cave.  And he took the stone in his left
+hand, and his lance in his right.  And as he went in he perceived the
+Addanc, and he pierced him through with his lance, and cut off his head.
+And as he came from the cave, behold the three companions were at the
+entrance; and they saluted Peredur, and told him that there was a
+prediction that he should slay that monster.  And Peredur gave the head
+to the young men, and they offered him in marriage whichever of the three
+sisters he might choose, and half their kingdom with her.  “I came not
+hither to woo,” said Peredur, “but if peradventure I took a wife, I
+should prefer your sister to all others.”  And Peredur rode forward, and
+he heard a noise behind him.  And he looked back, and saw a man upon a
+red horse, with red armour upon him; and the man rode up by his side, and
+saluted him, and wished him the favour of Heaven and of man.  And Peredur
+greeted the youth kindly.  “Lord, I come to make a request unto thee.”
+“What wouldest thou?”  “That thou shouldest take me as thine attendant.”
+“Whom then should I take as my attendant, if I did so?”  “I will not
+conceal from thee what kindred I am of.  Etlym Gleddyv Coch am I called,
+an Earl from the East Country.”  “I marvel that thou shouldest offer to
+become attendant to a man whose possessions are no greater than thine
+own; for I have but an earldom like thyself.  But since thou desirest to
+be my attendant, I will take thee joyfully.”
+
+And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and all they of the
+Court were glad at their coming; and they were told it was not through
+disrespect they were placed below the household, but that such was the
+usage of the Court.  For, whoever should overthrow the three hundred men
+of her household, would sit next the Countess, and she would love him
+above all men.  And Peredur having overthrown the three hundred men of
+her household, sat down beside her, and the Countess said, “I thank
+Heaven that I have a youth so fair and so valiant as thou, since I have
+not obtained the man whom best I love.”  “Who is he whom best thou
+lovest?”  “By my faith, Etlym Gleddyv Coch is the man whom I love best,
+and I have never seen him.”  “Of a truth, Etlym is my companion; and
+behold here he is, and for his sake did I come to joust with thy
+household.  And he could have done so better than I, had it pleased him.
+And I do give thee unto him.”  “Heaven reward thee, fair youth, and I
+will take the man whom I love above all others.”  And the Countess became
+Etlym’s bride from that moment.
+
+And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound of Mourning.  “By
+thy hand, lord, but I will go with thee,” said Etlym.  Then they went
+forwards till they came in sight of the mound and the tents.  “Go unto
+yonder men,” said Peredur to Etlym, “and desire them to come and do me
+homage.”  So Etlym went unto them, and said unto them thus,—“Come and do
+homage to my lord.”  “Who is thy lord?” said they.  “Peredur with the
+long lance is my lord,” said Etlym.  “Were it permitted to slay a
+messenger, thou shouldest not go back to thy lord alive, for making unto
+Kings, and Earls, and Barons so arrogant a demand as to go and do him
+homage.”  Peredur desired him to go back to them, and to give them their
+choice, either to do him homage, or to do battle with him.  And they
+chose rather to do battle.  And that day Peredur overthrew the owners of
+a hundred tents; and the next day he overthrew the owners of a hundred
+more; and the third day the remaining hundred took counsel to do homage
+to Peredur.  And Peredur inquired of them, wherefore they were there.
+And they told him they were guarding the serpent until he should die.
+“For then should we fight for the stone among ourselves, and whoever
+should be conqueror among us would have the stone.”  “Await here,” said
+Peredur, “and I will go to encounter the serpent.”  “Not so, lord,” said
+they; “we will go altogether to encounter the serpent.”  “Verily,” said
+Peredur, “that will I not permit; for if the serpent be slain, I shall
+derive no more fame therefrom than one of you.”  Then he went to the
+place where the serpent was, and slew it, and came back to them, and
+said, “Reckon up what you have spent since you have been here, and I will
+repay you to the full.”  And he paid to each what he said was his claim.
+And he required of them only that they should acknowledge themselves his
+vassals.  And he said to Etlym, “Go back unto her whom thou lovest best,
+and I will go forwards, and I will reward thee for having been my
+attendant.”  And he gave Etlym the stone.  “Heaven repay thee and prosper
+thee,” said Etlym.
+
+And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley he had ever
+seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld many tents of
+various colours.  And he marvelled still more at the number of
+water-mills and of wind-mills that he saw.  And there rode up with him a
+tall auburn-haired man, in workman’s garb, and Peredur inquired of him
+who he was.  “I am the chief miller,” said he, “of all the mills yonder.”
+“Wilt thou give me lodging?” said Peredur.  “I will, gladly,” he
+answered.  And Peredur came to the miller’s house, and the miller had a
+fair and pleasant dwelling.  And Peredur asked money as a loan from the
+miller, that he might buy meat and liquor for himself and for the
+household, and he promised that he would pay him again ere he went
+thence.  And he inquired of the miller, wherefore such a multitude was
+there assembled.  Said the miller to Peredur, “One thing is certain:
+either thou art a man from afar, or thou art beside thyself.  The Empress
+of Cristinobyl the Great is here; and she will have no one but the man
+who is most valiant; for riches does she not require.  And it was
+impossible to bring food for so many thousands as are here, therefore
+were all these mills constructed.”  And that night they took their rest.
+
+And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and his horse for
+the tournament.  And among the other tents he beheld one, which was the
+fairest he had ever seen.  And he saw a beauteous maiden leaning her head
+out of a window of the tent, and he had never seen a maiden more lovely
+than she.  And upon her was a garment of satin.  And he gazed fixedly on
+the maiden, and began to love her greatly.  And he remained there, gazing
+upon the maiden from morning until mid-day, and from mid-day until
+evening; and then the tournament was ended and he went to his lodging and
+drew off his armour.  Then he asked money of the miller as a loan, and
+the miller’s wife was wroth with Peredur; nevertheless, the miller lent
+him the money.  And the next day he did in like manner as he had done the
+day before.  And at night he came to his lodging, and took money as a
+loan from the miller.  And the third day, as he was in the same place,
+gazing upon the maiden, he felt a hard blow between the neck and the
+shoulder, from the edge of an axe.  And when he looked behind him, he saw
+that it was the miller; and the miller said to him, “Do one of two
+things: either turn thy head from hence, or go to the tournament.”  And
+Peredur smiled on the miller, and went to the tournament; and all that
+encountered him that day he overthrew.  And as many as he vanquished he
+sent as a gift to the Empress, and their horses and arms he sent as a
+gift to the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money.
+Peredur attended the tournament until all were overthrown, and he sent
+all the men to the prison of the Empress, and the horses and arms to the
+wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money.  And the Empress
+sent to the Knight of the Mill, to ask him to come and visit her.  And
+Peredur went not for the first nor for the second message.  And the third
+time she sent a hundred knights to bring him against his will, and they
+went to him and told him their mission from the Empress.  And Peredur
+fought well with them, and caused them to be bound like stags, and thrown
+into the mill-dyke.  And the Empress sought advice of a wise man who was
+in her counsel; and he said to her, “With thy permission, I will go to
+him myself.”  So he came to Peredur, and saluted him, and besought him,
+for the sake of the lady of his love, to come and visit the Empress.  And
+they went, together with the miller.  And Peredur went and sat down in
+the outer chamber of the tent, and she came and placed herself by his
+side.  And there was but little discourse between them.  And Peredur took
+his leave, and went to his lodging.
+
+And the next day he came to visit her, and when he came into the tent
+there was no one chamber less decorated than the others.  And they knew
+not where he would sit.  And Peredur went and sat beside the Empress, and
+discoursed with her courteously.  And while they were thus, they beheld a
+black man enter with a goblet full of wine in his hand.  And he dropped
+upon his knee before the Empress, and besought her to give it to no one
+who would not fight with him for it.  And she looked upon Peredur.
+“Lady,” said he, “bestow on me the goblet.”  And Peredur drank the wine,
+and gave the goblet to the miller’s wife.  And while they were thus,
+behold there entered a black man of larger stature than the other, with a
+wild beast’s claw in his hand, wrought into the form of a goblet and
+filled with wine.  And he presented it to the Empress, and besought her
+to give it to no one but the man who would fight with him.  “Lady,” said
+Peredur, “bestow it on me.”  And she gave it to him.  And Peredur drank
+the wine, and sent the goblet to the wife of the miller.  And while they
+were thus, behold a rough-looking, crisp-haired man, taller than either
+of the others, came in with a bowl in his hand full of wine; and he bent
+upon his knee, and gave it into the hands of the Empress, and he besought
+her to give it to none but him who would fight with him for it; and she
+gave it to Peredur, and he sent it to the miller’s wife.  And that night
+Peredur returned to his lodging; and the next day he accoutred himself
+and his horse, and went to the meadow and slew the three men.  Then
+Peredur proceeded to the tent, and the Empress said to him, “Goodly
+Peredur, remember the faith thou didst pledge me when I gave thee the
+stone, and thou didst kill the Addanc.”  “Lady,” answered he, “thou
+sayest truth, I do remember it.”  And Peredur was entertained by the
+Empress fourteen years, as the story relates.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk, his principal palace; and in the centre
+of the floor of the hall were four men sitting on a carpet of velvet,
+Owain the son of Urien, and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Howel the son
+of Emyr Llydaw, and Peredur of the long lance.  And thereupon they saw a
+black curly-headed maiden enter, riding upon a yellow mule, with jagged
+thongs in her hand to urge it on; and having a rough and hideous aspect.
+Blacker were her face and her two hands than the blackest iron covered
+with pitch; and her hue was not more frightful than her form.  High
+cheeks had she, and a face lengthened downwards, and a short nose with
+distended nostrils.  And one eye was of a piercing mottled grey, and the
+other was as black as jet, deep-sunk in her head.  And her teeth were
+long and yellow, more yellow were they than the flower of the broom.  And
+her stomach rose from the breast-bone, higher than her chin.  And her
+back was in the shape of a crook, and her legs were large and bony.  And
+her figure was very thin and spare, except her feet and her legs, which
+were of huge size.  And she greeted Arthur and all his household except
+Peredur.  And to Peredur she spoke harsh and angry words.  “Peredur, I
+greet thee not, seeing that thou dost not merit it.  Blind was fate in
+giving thee fame and favour.  When thou wast in the Court of the Lame
+King, and didst see there the youth bearing the streaming spear, from the
+points of which were drops of blood flowing in streams, even to the hand
+of the youth, and many other wonders likewise, thou didst not inquire
+their meaning nor their cause.  Hadst thou done so, the King would have
+been restored to health, and his dominions to peace.  Whereas from
+henceforth, he will have to endure battles and conflicts, and his knights
+will perish, and wives will be widowed, and maidens will be left
+portionless, and all this is because of thee.”  Then said she unto
+Arthur, “May it please thee, lord, my dwelling is far hence, in the
+stately castle of which thou hast heard, and therein are five hundred and
+sixty-six knights of the order of Chivalry, and the lady whom best he
+loves with each; and whoever would acquire fame in arms, and encounters,
+and conflicts, he will gain it there, if he deserve it.  And whoso would
+reach the summit of fame and of honour, I know where he may find it.
+There is a castle on a lofty mountain, and there is a maiden therein, and
+she is detained a prisoner there, and whoever shall set her free will
+attain the summit of the fame of the world.”  And thereupon she rode
+away.
+
+Said Gwalchmai, “By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly until I have
+proved if I can release the maiden.”  And many of Arthur’s household
+joined themselves with him.  Then, likewise, said Peredur, “By my faith,
+I will not rest tranquilly until I know the story and the meaning of the
+lance whereof the black maiden spoke.”  And while they were equipping
+themselves, behold a knight came to the gate.  And he had the size and
+the strength of a warrior, and was equipped with arms and habiliments.
+And he went forward, and saluted Arthur and all his household, except
+Gwalchmai.  And the knight had upon his shoulder a shield, ingrained with
+gold, with a fesse of azure blue upon it, and his whole armour was of the
+same hue.  And he said to Gwalchmai, “Thou didst slay my lord by thy
+treachery and deceit, and that will I prove upon thee.”  Then Gwalchmai
+rose up.  “Behold,” said he, “here is my gage against thee, to maintain,
+either in this place or wherever else thou wilt, that I am not a traitor
+or deceiver.”  “Before the King whom I obey, will I that my encounter
+with thee take place,” said the knight.  “Willingly,” said Gwalchmai; “go
+forward, and I will follow thee.”  So the knight went forth, and
+Gwalchmai accoutred himself, and there was offered unto him abundance of
+armour, but he would take none but his own.  And when Gwalchmai and
+Peredur were equipped, they set forth to follow him, by reason of their
+fellowship and of the great friendship that was between them.  And they
+did not go after him in company together, but each went his own way.
+
+At the dawn of day Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in the valley he saw a
+fortress, and within the fortress a vast palace and lofty towers around
+it.  And he beheld a knight coming out to hunt from the other side,
+mounted on a spirited black snorting palfrey, that advanced at a prancing
+pace, proudly stepping, and nimbly bounding, and sure of foot; and this
+was the man to whom the palace belonged.  And Gwalchmai saluted him.
+“Heaven prosper thee, chieftain,” said he, “and whence comest thou?”  “I
+come,” answered Gwalchmai, “from the Court of Arthur.”  “And art thou
+Arthur’s vassal?”  “Yes, by my faith,” said Gwalchmai.  “I will give thee
+good counsel,” said the knight.  “I see that thou art tired and weary; go
+unto my palace, if it may please thee, and tarry there to-night.”
+“Willingly, lord,” said he, “and Heaven reward thee.”  “Take this ring as
+a token to the porter, and go forward to yonder tower, and therein thou
+wilt find my sister.”  And Gwalchmai went to the gate, and showed the
+ring, and proceeded to the tower.  And on entering he beheld a large
+blazing fire, burning without smoke and with a bright and lofty flame,
+and a beauteous and stately maiden was sitting on a chair by the fire.
+And the maiden was glad at his coming, and welcomed him, and advanced to
+meet him.  And he went and sat beside the maiden, and they took their
+repast.  And when their repast was over, they discoursed pleasantly
+together.  And while they were thus, behold there entered a venerable
+hoary-headed man.  “Ah! base girl,” said he, “if thou didst think it was
+right for thee to entertain and to sit by yonder man, thou wouldest not
+do so.”  And he withdrew his head, and went forth.  “Ah! chieftain,” said
+the maiden, “if thou wilt do as I counsel thee, thou wilt shut the door,
+lest the man should have a plot against thee.”  Upon that Gwalchmai
+arose, and when he came near unto the door, the man, with sixty others,
+fully armed, were ascending the tower.  And Gwalchmai defended the door
+with a chessboard, that none might enter until the man should return from
+the chase.  And thereupon, behold the Earl arrived.  “What is all this?”
+asked he.  “It is a sad thing,” said the hoary-headed man; “the young
+girl yonder has been sitting and eating with him who slew your father.
+He is Gwalchmai, the son of Gwyar.”  “Hold thy peace, then,” said the
+Earl, “I will go in.”  And the Earl was joyful concerning Gwalchmai.
+“Ha! chieftain,” said he, “it was wrong of thee to come to my court, when
+thou knewest that thou didst slay my father; and though we cannot avenge
+him, Heaven will avenge him upon thee.”  “My soul,” said Gwalchmai, “thus
+it is: I came not here either to acknowledge or to deny having slain thy
+father; but I am on a message from Arthur, and therefore do I crave the
+space of a year until I shall return from my embassy, and then, upon my
+faith, I will come back unto this palace, and do one of two things,
+either acknowledge it, or deny it.”  And the time was granted him
+willingly; and he remained there that night.  And the next morning he
+rode forth.  And the story relates nothing further of Gwalchmai
+respecting this adventure.
+
+And Peredur rode forward.  And he wandered over the whole island, seeking
+tidings of the black maiden, and he could meet with none.  And he came to
+an unknown land, in the centre of a valley, watered by a river.  And as
+he traversed the valley he beheld a horseman coming towards him, and
+wearing the garments of a priest; and he besought his blessing.
+“Wretched man,” said he, “thou meritest no blessing, and thou wouldest
+not be profited by one, seeing that thou art clad in armour on such a day
+as this.”  “And what day is to-day?” said Peredur.  “To-day is Good
+Friday,” he answered.  “Chide me not that I knew not this, seeing that it
+is a year to-day since I journeyed forth from my country.”  Then he
+dismounted, and led his horse in his hand.  And he had not proceeded far
+along the high road before he came to a cross road, and the cross road
+traversed a wood.  And on the other side of the wood he saw an
+unfortified castle, which appeared to be inhabited.  And at the gate of
+the castle there met him the priest whom he had seen before, and he asked
+his blessing.  “The blessing of Heaven be unto thee,” said he, “it is
+more fitting to travel in thy present guise than as thou wast erewhile;
+and this night thou shalt tarry with me.”  So he remained there that
+night.
+
+And the next day Peredur sought to go forth.  “To-day may no one journey.
+Thou shalt remain with me to-day and to-morrow, and the day following,
+and I will direct thee as best I may to the place which thou art
+seeking.”  And the fourth day Peredur sought to go forth, and he
+entreated the priest to tell him how he should find the Castle of
+Wonders.  “What I know thereof I will tell thee,” he replied.  “Go over
+yonder mountain, and on the other side of the mountain thou wilt come to
+a river, and in the valley wherein the river runs is a King’s palace,
+wherein the King sojourned during Easter.  And if thou mayest have
+tidings anywhere of the Castle of Wonders, thou wilt have them there.”
+
+Then Peredur rode forward.  And he came to the valley in which was the
+river, and there met him a number of men going to hunt, and in the midst
+of them was a man of exalted rank, and Peredur saluted him.  “Choose,
+chieftain,” said the man, “whether thou wilt go with me to the chase, or
+wilt proceed to my palace, and I will dispatch one of my household to
+commend thee to my daughter, who is there, and who will entertain thee
+with food and liquor until I return from hunting; and whatever may be
+thine errand, such as I can obtain for thee thou shalt gladly have.”  And
+the King sent a little yellow page with him as an attendant; and when
+they came to the palace the lady had arisen, and was about to wash before
+meat.  Peredur went forward, and she saluted him joyfully, and placed him
+by her side.  And they took their repast.  And whatsoever Peredur said
+unto her, she laughed loudly, so that all in the palace could hear.  Then
+spoke the yellow page to the lady.  “By my faith,” said he, “this youth
+is already thy husband; or if he be not, thy mind and thy thoughts are
+set upon him.”  And the little yellow page went unto the King, and told
+him that it seemed to him that the youth whom he had met with was his
+daughter’s husband, or if he were not so already that he would shortly
+become so unless he were cautious.  “What is thy counsel in this matter,
+youth?” said the King.  “My counsel is,” he replied, “that thou set
+strong men upon him, to seize him, until thou hast ascertained the truth
+respecting this.”  So he set strong men upon Peredur, who seized him and
+cast him into prison.  And the maiden went before her father, and asked
+him wherefore he had caused the youth from Arthur’s Court to be
+imprisoned.  “In truth,” he answered, “he shall not be free to-night, nor
+to-morrow, nor the day following, and he shall not come from where he
+is.”  She replied not to what the King had said, but she went to the
+youth.  “Is it unpleasant to thee to be here?” said she.  “I should not
+care if I were not,” he replied.  “Thy couch and thy treatment shall be
+in no wise inferior to that of the King himself, and thou shalt have the
+best entertainment that the palace affords.  And if it were more pleasing
+to thee that my couch should be here, that I might discourse with thee,
+it should be so, cheerfully.”  “This can I not refuse,” said Peredur.
+And he remained in prison that night.  And the maiden provided all that
+she had promised him.
+
+And the next day Peredur heard a tumult in the town.  “Tell me, fair
+maiden, what is that tumult?” said Peredur.  “All the King’s hosts and
+his forces have come to the town to-day.”  “And what seek they here?” he
+inquired.  “There is an Earl near this place who possesses two Earldoms,
+and is as powerful as a King; and an engagement will take place between
+them to-day.”  “I beseech thee,” said Peredur, “to cause a horse and arms
+to be brought, that I may view the encounter, and I promise to come back
+to my prison again.”  “Gladly,” said she, “will I provide thee with horse
+and arms.”  So she gave him a horse and arms, and a bright scarlet robe
+of honour over his armour, and a yellow shield upon his shoulder.  And he
+went to the combat; and as many of the Earl’s men as encountered him that
+day he overthrew; and he returned to his prison.  And the maiden asked
+tidings of Peredur, and he answered her not a word.  And she went and
+asked tidings of her father, and inquired who had acquitted himself best
+of the household.  And he said that he knew not, but that it was a man
+with a scarlet robe of honour over his armour, and a yellow shield upon
+his shoulder.  Then she smiled, and returned to where Peredur was, and
+did him great honour that night.  And for three days did Peredur slay the
+Earl’s men; and before any one could know who he was, he returned to his
+prison.  And the fourth day Peredur slew the Earl himself.  And the
+maiden went unto her father, and inquired of him the news.  “I have good
+news for thee,” said the King; “the Earl is slain, and I am the owner of
+his two Earldoms.”  “Knowest thou, lord, who slew him?”  “I do not know,”
+said the King.  “It was the knight with the scarlet robe of honour and
+the yellow shield.”  “Lord,” said she, “I know who that is.”  “By
+Heaven!” he exclaimed, “who is he?”  “Lord,” she replied, “he is the
+knight whom thou hast imprisoned.”  Then he went unto Peredur, and
+saluted him, and told him that he would reward the service he had done
+him, in any way he might desire.  And when they went to meat, Peredur was
+placed beside the King, and the maiden on the other side of Peredur.  “I
+will give thee,” said the King, “my daughter in marriage, and half my
+kingdom with her, and the two Earldoms as a gift.”  “Heaven reward thee,
+lord,” said Peredur, “but I came not here to woo.”  “What seekest thou
+then, chieftain?”  “I am seeking tidings of the Castle of Wonders.”  “Thy
+enterprise is greater, chieftain, than thou wilt wish to pursue,” said
+the maiden, “nevertheless, tidings shalt thou have of the Castle, and
+thou shalt have a guide through my father’s dominions, and a sufficiency
+of provisions for thy journey, for thou art, O chieftain, the man whom
+best I love.”  Then she said to him, “Go over yonder mountain, and thou
+wilt find a lake, and in the middle of the lake there is a Castle, and
+that is the Castle that is called the Castle of Wonders; and we know not
+what wonders are therein, but thus is it called.”
+
+And Peredur proceeded towards the Castle, and the gate of the Castle was
+open.  And when he came to the hall, the door was open, and he entered.
+And he beheld a chessboard in the hall, and the chessmen were playing
+against each other, by themselves.  And the side that he favoured lost
+the game, and thereupon the others set up a shout, as though they had
+been living men.  And Peredur was wroth, and took the chessmen in his
+lap, and cast the chessboard into the lake.  And when he had done thus,
+behold the black maiden came in, and she said to him, “The welcome of
+Heaven be not unto thee.  Thou hadst rather do evil than good.”  “What
+complaint hast thou against me, maiden?” said Peredur.  “That thou hast
+occasioned unto the Empress the loss of her chessboard, which she would
+not have lost for all her empire.  And the way in which thou mayest
+recover the chessboard is, to repair to the Castle of Ysbidinongyl, where
+is a black man, who lays waste the dominions of the Empress; and if thou
+canst slay him, thou wilt recover the chessboard.  But if thou goest
+there, thou wilt not return alive.”  “Wilt thou direct me thither?” said
+Peredur.  “I will show thee the way,” she replied.  So he went to the
+Castle of Ysbidinongyl, and he fought with the black man.  And the black
+man besought mercy of Peredur.  “Mercy will I grant thee,” said he, “on
+condition that thou cause the chessboard to be restored to the place
+where it was when I entered the hall.”  Then the maiden came to him, and
+said, “The malediction of Heaven attend thee for thy work, since thou
+hast left that monster alive, who lays waste all the possessions of the
+Empress.”  “I granted him his life,” said Peredur, “that he might cause
+the chessboard to be restored.”  “The chessboard is not in the place
+where thou didst find it; go back, therefore, and slay him,” answered
+she.  So Peredur went back, and slew the black man.  And when he returned
+to the palace, he found the black maiden there.  “Ah! maiden,” said
+Peredur, “where is the Empress?”  “I declare to Heaven that thou wilt not
+see her now, unless thou dost slay the monster that is in yonder forest.”
+“What monster is there?”  “It is a stag that is as swift as the swiftest
+bird; and he has one horn in his forehead, as long as the shaft of a
+spear, and as sharp as whatever is sharpest.  And he destroys the
+branches of the best trees in the forest, and he kills every animal that
+he meets with therein; and those that he doth not slay perish of hunger.
+And what is worse than that, he comes every night, and drinks up the
+fish-pond, and leaves the fishes exposed, so that for the most part they
+die before the water returns again.”  “Maiden,” said Peredur, “wilt thou
+come and show me this animal?”  “Not so,” said the maiden, “for he has
+not permitted any mortal to enter the forest for above a twelvemonth.
+Behold, here is a little dog belonging to the Empress, which will rouse
+the stag, and will chase him towards thee, and the stag will attack
+thee.”  Then the little dog went as a guide to Peredur, and roused the
+stag, and brought him towards the place where Peredur was.  And the stag
+attacked Peredur, and he let him pass by him, and as he did so, he smote
+off his head with his sword.  And while he was looking at the head of the
+stag, he saw a lady on horseback coming towards him.  And she took the
+little dog in the lappet of her cap, and the head and the body of the
+stag lay before her.  And around the stag’s neck was a golden collar.
+“Ha! chieftain,” said she, “uncourteously hast thou acted in slaying the
+fairest jewel that was in my dominions.”  “I was entreated so to do; and
+is there any way by which I can obtain thy friendship?”  “There is,” she
+replied.  “Go thou forward unto yonder mountain, and there thou wilt find
+a grove; and in the grove there is a cromlech; do thou there challenge a
+man three times to fight, and thou shalt have my friendship.”
+
+So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of the grove, and
+challenged any man to fight.  And a black man arose from beneath the
+cromlech, mounted upon a bony horse, and both he and his horse were clad
+in huge rusty armour.  And they fought.  And as often as Peredur cast the
+black man to the earth, he would jump again into his saddle.  And Peredur
+dismounted, and drew his sword; and thereupon the black man disappeared
+with Peredur’s horse and his own, so that he could not gain sight of him
+a second time.  And Peredur went along the mountain, and on the other
+side of the mountain he beheld a castle in the valley, wherein was a
+river.  And he went to the castle; and as he entered it, he saw a hall,
+and the door of the hall was open, and he went in.  And there he saw a
+lame grey-headed man sitting on one side of the hall, with Gwalchmai
+beside him.  And Peredur beheld his horse, which the black man had taken,
+in the same stall with that of Gwalchmai.  And they were glad concerning
+Peredur.  And he went and seated himself on the other side of the
+hoary-headed man.  Then, behold a yellow-haired youth came, and bent upon
+the knee before Peredur, and besought his friendship.  “Lord,” said the
+youth, “it was I that came in the form of the black maiden to Arthur’s
+Court, and when thou didst throw down the chessboard, and when thou didst
+slay the black man of Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the stag,
+and when thou didst go to fight the black man of the cromlech.  And I
+came with the bloody head in the salver, and with the lance that streamed
+with blood from the point to the hand, all along the shaft; and the head
+was thy cousin’s, and he was killed by the sorceresses of Gloucester, who
+also lamed thine uncle; and I am thy cousin.  And there is a prediction
+that thou art to avenge these things.”  Then Peredur and Gwalchmai took
+counsel, and sent to Arthur and his household, to beseech them to come
+against the sorceresses.  And they began to fight with them; and one of
+the sorceresses slew one of Arthur’s men before Peredur’s face, and
+Peredur bade her forbear.  And the sorceress slew a man before Peredur’s
+face a second time, and a second time he forbad her.  And the third time
+the sorceress slew a man before the face of Peredur; and then Peredur
+drew his sword, and smote the sorceress on the helmet; and all her
+head-armour was split in two parts.  And she set up a cry, and desired
+the other sorceresses to flee, and told them that this was Peredur, the
+man who had learnt Chivalry with them, and by whom they were destined to
+be slain.  Then Arthur and his household fell upon the sorceresses, and
+slew the sorceresses of Gloucester every one.  And thus is it related
+concerning the Castle of Wonders.
+
+
+
+
+GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN
+
+
+Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk.  And there
+he held it seven Easters and five Christmases.  And once upon a time he
+held his Court there at Whitsuntide.  For Caerlleon was the place most
+easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and by land.  And there were
+assembled nine crowned kings, who were his tributaries, and likewise
+earls and barons.  For they were his invited guests at all the high
+festivals, unless they were prevented by any great hindrance.  And when
+he was at Caerlleon, holding his Court, thirteen churches were set apart
+for mass.  And thus were they appointed: one church for Arthur, and his
+kings, and his guests; and the second for Gwenhwyvar and her ladies; and
+the third for the Steward of the Household and the suitors; and the
+fourth for the Franks and the other officers; and the other nine churches
+were for the nine Masters of the Household and chiefly for Gwalchmai; for
+he, from the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his
+birth, was the most exalted of the nine.  And there was no other
+arrangement respecting the churches than that which we have mentioned
+above.
+
+Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not himself perform
+the office, except at one of the three high festivals, for he had seven
+men to serve him, and they divided the year amongst them.  They were
+Grynn, and Pen Pighon, and Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and Gwrdnei with
+cat’s eyes, who could see as well by night as by day, and Drem the son of
+Dremhitid, and Clust the son of Clustveinyd; and these were Arthur’s
+guards.  And on Whit-Tuesday, as the King sat at the banquet, lo! there
+entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and a surcoat of
+diapered satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes
+of leather upon his feet.  And he came, and stood before Arthur.  “Hail
+to thee, Lord!” said he.  “Heaven prosper thee,” he answered, “and be
+thou welcome.  Dost thou bring any new tidings?”  “I do, Lord,” he said.
+“I know thee not,” said Arthur.  “It is a marvel to me that thou dost not
+know me.  I am one of thy foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and my
+name is Madawc, the son of Twrgadarn.”  “Tell me thine errand,” said
+Arthur.  “I will do so, Lord,” said he.  “In the Forest I saw a stag, the
+like of which beheld I never yet.”  “What is there about him,” asked
+Arthur, “that thou never yet didst see his like?”  “He is of pure white,
+Lord, and he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness and
+pride, so royal is his bearing.  And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord,
+and to know thy will concerning him.”  “It seems best to me,” said
+Arthur, “to go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day; and to cause
+general notice thereof to be given to-night in all quarters of the
+Court.”  And Arryfuerys was Arthur’s chief huntsman, and Arelivri was his
+chief page.  And all received notice; and thus it was arranged.  And they
+sent the youth before them.  Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, “Wilt thou
+permit me, Lord,” said she, “to go to-morrow to see and hear the hunt of
+the stag of which the young man spoke?”  “I will gladly,” said Arthur.
+“Then will I go,” said she.  And Gwalchmai said to Arthur, “Lord, if it
+seem well to thee, permit that into whose hunt soever the stag shall
+come, that one, be he a knight, or one on foot, may cut off his head, and
+give it to whom he pleases, whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady
+of his friend.”  “I grant it gladly,” said Arthur, “and let the Steward
+of the Household be chastised, if all are not ready to-morrow for the
+chase.”
+
+And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse, and
+ample entertainment.  And when it was time for them all to go to sleep,
+they went.  And when the next day came, they arose; and Arthur called the
+attendants, who guarded his couch.  And these were four pages, whose
+names were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy, and Ambreu the son of
+Bedwor, and Amhar the son of Arthur, and Goreu the son of Custennin.  And
+these men came to Arthur and saluted him, and arrayed him in his
+garments.  And Arthur wondered that Gwenhwyvar did not awake, and did not
+move in her bed; and the attendants wished to awaken her.  “Disturb her
+not,” said Arthur, “for she had rather sleep than go to see the hunting.”
+
+Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from near
+the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that of the
+chief page.  And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to Arthur, and
+they took the road to the Forest.
+
+And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar awoke, and
+called to her maidens, and apparelled herself.  “Maidens,” said she, “I
+had leave last night to go and see the hunt.  Go one of you to the
+stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride.”  And one of
+them went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and Gwenhwyvar and
+one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the Usk, and followed
+the track of the men and the horses.  And as they rode thus, they heard a
+loud and rushing sound; and they looked behind them, and beheld a knight
+upon a hunter foal of mighty size; and the rider was a fair-haired youth,
+bare-legged, and of princely mien, and a golden-hilted sword was at his
+side, and a robe and a surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes
+of leather upon his feet; and around him was a scarf of blue purple, at
+each corner of which was a golden apple.  And his horse stepped stately,
+and swift, and proud; and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and saluted her.
+“Heaven prosper thee, Geraint,” said she, “I knew thee when first I saw
+thee just now.  And the welcome of Heaven be unto thee.  And why didst
+thou not go with thy lord to hunt?”  “Because I knew not when he went,”
+said he.  “I marvel, too,” said she, “how he could go unknown to me.”
+“Indeed, lady,” said he.  “I was asleep, and knew not when he went; but
+thou, O young man, art the most agreeable companion I could have in the
+whole kingdom; and it may be, that I shall be more amused with the
+hunting than they; for we shall hear the horns when they sound, and we
+shall hear the dogs when they are let loose, and begin to cry.”  So they
+went to the edge of the Forest, and there they stood.  “From this place,”
+said she, “we shall hear when the dogs are let loose.”  And thereupon,
+they heard a loud noise, and they looked towards the spot whence it came,
+and they beheld a dwarf riding upon a horse, stately, and foaming, and
+prancing, and strong, and spirited.  And in the hand of the dwarf was a
+whip.  And near the dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse,
+of steady and stately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold
+brocade.  And near her was a knight upon a warhorse of large size, with
+heavy and bright armour both upon himself and upon his horse.  And truly
+they never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armour, of such remarkable
+size.  And they were all near to each other.
+
+“Geraint,” said Gwenhwyvar, “knowest thou the name of that tall knight
+yonder?”  “I know him not,” said he, “and the strange armour that he
+wears prevents my either seeing his face or his features.”  “Go, maiden,”
+said Gwenhwyvar, “and ask the dwarf who that knight is.”  Then the maiden
+went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for the maiden, when he saw
+her coming towards him.  And the maiden inquired of the dwarf who the
+knight was.  “I will not tell thee,” he answered.  “Since thou art so
+churlish as not to tell me,” said she, “I will ask him himself.”  “Thou
+shalt not ask him, by my faith,” said he.  “Wherefore?” said she.
+“Because thou art not of honour sufficient to befit thee to speak to my
+Lord.”  Then the maiden turned her horse’s head towards the knight, upon
+which the dwarf struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the
+face and the eyes, until the blood flowed forth.  And the maiden, through
+the hurt she received from the blow, returned to Gwenhwyvar, complaining
+of the pain.  “Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee,” said Geraint.  “I
+will go myself to know who the knight is.”  “Go,” said Gwenhwyvar.  And
+Geraint went up to the dwarf.  “Who is yonder knight?” said Geraint.  “I
+will not tell thee,” said the dwarf.  “Then will I ask him himself,” said
+he.  “That wilt thou not, by my faith,” said the dwarf, “thou art not
+honourable enough to speak with my Lord.”  Said Geraint, “I have spoken
+with men of equal rank with him.”  And he turned his horse’s head towards
+the knight; but the dwarf overtook him, and struck him as he had done the
+maiden, so that the blood coloured the scarf that Geraint wore.  Then
+Geraint put his hand upon the hilt of his sword, but he took counsel with
+himself, and considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the
+dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so he returned to
+where Gwenhwyvar was.
+
+“Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly,” said she.  “Lady,” said he, “I
+will follow him yet, with thy permission; and at last he will come to
+some inhabited place, where I may have arms either as a loan or for a
+pledge, so that I may encounter the knight.”  “Go,” said she, “and do not
+attack him until thou hast good arms, and I shall be very anxious
+concerning thee, until I hear tidings of thee.”  “If I am alive,” said
+he, “thou shalt hear tidings of me by to-morrow afternoon;” and with that
+he departed.
+
+And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon, and across the
+ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair, and even, and lofty ridge of
+ground, until they came to a town, and at the extremity of the town they
+saw a Fortress and a Castle.  And they came to the extremity of the town.
+And as the knight passed through it, all the people arose, and saluted
+him, and bade him welcome.  And when Geraint came into the town, he
+looked at every house, to see if he knew any of those whom he saw.  But
+he knew none, and none knew him to do him the kindness to let him have
+arms either as a loan or for a pledge.  And every house he saw was full
+of men, and arms, and horses.  And they were polishing shields, and
+burnishing swords, and washing armour, and shoeing horses.  And the
+knight, and the lady, and the dwarf rode up to the Castle that was in the
+town, and every one was glad in the Castle.  And from the battlements and
+the gates they risked their necks, through their eagerness to greet them,
+and to show their joy.
+
+Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the Castle;
+and when he was certain that he would do so, he looked around him; and at
+a little distance from the town he saw an old palace in ruins, wherein
+was a hall that was falling to decay.  And as he knew not any one in the
+town, he went towards the old palace; and when he came near to the
+palace, he saw but one chamber, and a bridge of marble-stone leading to
+it.  And upon the bridge he saw sitting a hoary-headed man, upon whom
+were tattered garments.  And Geraint gazed steadfastly upon him for a
+long time.  Then the hoary-headed man spoke to him.  “Young man,” he
+said, “wherefore art thou thoughtful?”  “I am thoughtful,” said he,
+“because I know not where to go to-night.”  “Wilt thou come forward this
+way, chieftain?” said he, “and thou shalt have of the best that can be
+procured for thee.”  So Geraint went forward.  And the hoary-headed man
+preceded him into the hall.  And in the hall he dismounted, and he left
+there his horse.  Then he went on to the upper chamber with the
+hoary-headed man.  And in the chamber he beheld an old decrepit woman,
+sitting on a cushion, with old, tattered garments of satin upon her; and
+it seemed to him that he had never seen a woman fairer than she must have
+been, when in the fulness of youth.  And beside her was a maiden, upon
+whom were a vest and a veil, that were old, and beginning to be worn out.
+And truly, he never saw a maiden more full of comeliness, and grace, and
+beauty than she.  And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, “There is
+no attendant for the horse of this youth but thyself.”  “I will render
+the best service I am able,” said she, “both to him and to his horse.”
+And the maiden disarrayed the youth, and then she furnished his horse
+with straw and with corn.  And she went to the hall as before, and then
+she returned to the chamber.  And the hoary-headed man said to the
+maiden, “Go to the town,” said he, “and bring hither the best that thou
+canst find both of food and of liquor.”  “I will, gladly, Lord,” said
+she.  And to the town went the maiden.  And they conversed together while
+the maiden was at the town.  And, behold! the maiden came back, and a
+youth with her, bearing on his back a costrel full of good purchased
+mead, and a quarter of a young bullock.  And in the hands of the maiden
+was a quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet bread in her
+veil, and she came into the chamber.  “I could not obtain better than
+this,” said she, “nor with better should I have been trusted.”  “It is
+good enough,” said Geraint.  And they caused the meat to be boiled; and
+when their food was ready, they sat down.  And it was on this wise;
+Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his wife, and the maiden
+served them.  And they ate and drank.
+
+And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary-headed
+man, and he asked him in the first place, to whom belonged the palace
+that he was in.  “Truly,” said he, “it was I that built it, and to me
+also belonged the city and the castle which thou sawest.”  “Alas!” said
+Geraint, “how is it that thou hast lost them now?”  “I lost a great
+Earldom as well as these,” said he; “and this is how I lost them.  I had
+a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his possessions to myself;
+and when he came to his strength, he demanded of me his property, but I
+withheld it from him.  So he made war upon me, and wrested from me all
+that I possessed.”  “Good Sir,” said Geraint, “wilt thou tell me
+wherefore came the knight, and the lady, and the dwarf, just now into the
+town, and what is the preparation which I saw, and the putting of arms in
+order?”  “I will do so,” said he.  “The preparations are for the game
+that is to be held to-morrow by the young Earl, which will be on this
+wise.  In the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be set up,
+and upon the two forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a
+Sparrow-Hawk, and for the Sparrow-Hawk there will be a tournament.  And
+to the tournament will go all the array thou didst see in the city, of
+men, and of horses, and of arms.  And with each man will go the lady he
+loves best; and no man can joust for the Sparrow-Hawk, except the lady he
+loves best be with him.  And the knight that thou sawest has gained the
+Sparrow-Hawk these two years; and if he gains it the third year, they
+will, from that time, send it every year to him, and he himself will come
+here no more.  And he will be called the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk from
+that time forth.”  “Sir,” said Geraint, “what is thy counsel to me
+concerning this knight, on account of the insult which I received from
+the dwarf, and that which was received by the maiden of Gwenhwyvar, the
+wife of Arthur?”  And Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insult
+was that he had received.  “It is not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as
+thou hast neither dame nor maiden belonging to thee, for whom thou canst
+joust.  Yet, I have arms here, which thou couldest have; and there is my
+horse also, if he seem to thee better than thine own.”  “Ah!  Sir,” said
+he, “Heaven reward thee.  But my own horse, to which I am accustomed,
+together with thy arms, will suffice me.  And if, when the appointed time
+shall come to-morrow, thou wilt permit me, Sir, to challenge for yonder
+maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from the
+tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live; and if I do not escape,
+she will remain unsullied as before.”  “Gladly will I permit thee,” said
+the hoary-headed man, “and since thou dost thus resolve, it is necessary
+that thy horse and arms should be ready to-morrow at break of day.  For
+then the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk will make proclamation, and ask the
+lady he loves best to take the Sparrow-Hawk.  ‘For,’ will he say to her,
+‘thou art the fairest of women, and thou didst possess it last year, and
+the year previous; and if any deny it thee to-day, by force will I defend
+it for thee.’  And therefore,” said the hoary-headed man, “it is needful
+for thee to be there at daybreak; and we three will be with thee.”  And
+thus was it settled.
+
+And at night, lo! they went to sleep; and before the dawn they arose, and
+arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were all four
+in the meadow.  And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk making the
+proclamation, and asking his lady-love to fetch the Sparrow-Hawk.  “Fetch
+it not,” said Geraint, “for there is here a maiden, who is fairer, and
+more noble, and more comely, and who has a better claim to it than thou.”
+“If thou maintainest the Sparrow-Hawk to be due to her, come forward, and
+do battle with me.”  And Geraint went forward to the top of the meadow,
+having upon himself and upon his horse armour which was heavy, and rusty,
+and worthless, and of uncouth shape.  Then they encountered each other,
+and they broke a set of lances, and they broke a second set, and a third.
+And thus they did at every onset, and they broke as many lances as were
+brought to them.  And when the Earl and his company saw the Knight of the
+Sparrow-Hawk gaining the mastery, there was shouting, and joy, and mirth
+amongst them.  And the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and his daughter
+were sorrowful.  And the hoary-headed man served Geraint lances as often
+as he broke them, and the dwarf served the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk.
+Then the hoary-headed man came to Geraint.  “Oh! chieftain,” said he,
+“since no other will hold with thee, behold, here is the lance which was
+in my hand on the day when I received the honour of knighthood; and from
+that time to this I never broke it.  And it has an excellent point.”
+Then Geraint took the lance, thanking the hoary-headed man.  And
+thereupon the dwarf also brought a lance to his lord.  “Behold, here is a
+lance for thee, not less good than his,” said the dwarf.  “And bethink
+thee, that no knight ever withstood thee before so long as this one has
+done.”  “I declare to Heaven,” said Geraint, “that unless death takes me
+quickly hence, he shall fare never the better for thy service.”  And
+Geraint pricked his horse towards him from afar, and warning him, he
+rushed upon him, and gave him a blow so severe, and furious, and fierce,
+upon the face of his shield, that he cleft it in two, and broke his
+armour, and burst his girths, so that both he and his saddle were borne
+to the ground over the horse’s crupper.  And Geraint dismounted quickly.
+And he was wroth, and he drew his sword, and rushed fiercely upon him.
+Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against Geraint.  And they
+fought on foot with their swords until their arms struck sparks of fire
+like stars from one another; and thus they continued fighting until the
+blood and sweat obscured the light from their eyes.  And when Geraint
+prevailed, the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and his daughter were
+glad; and when the knight prevailed, it rejoiced the Earl and his party.
+Then the hoary-headed man saw Geraint receive a severe stroke, and he
+went up to him quickly, and said to him, “Oh, chieftain, remember the
+treatment which thou hadst from the dwarf; and wilt thou not seek
+vengeance for the insult to thyself, and for the insult to Gwenhwyvar the
+wife of Arthur!”  And Geraint was roused by what he said to him, and he
+called to him all his strength, and lifted up his sword, and struck the
+knight upon the crown of his head, so that he broke all his head-armour,
+and cut through all the flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he
+wounded the bone.
+
+Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from his hand,
+and besought mercy of Geraint.  “Of a truth,” said he, “I relinquish my
+overdaring and my pride in craving thy mercy; and unless I have time to
+commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to talk with a priest, thy mercy
+will avail me little.”  “I will grant thee grace upon this condition,”
+said Geraint, “that thou wilt go to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur, to do
+her satisfaction for the insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf.
+As to myself, for the insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf, I
+am content with that which I have done unto thee.  Dismount not from the
+time thou goest hence until thou comest into the presence of Gwenhwyvar,
+to make her what atonement shall be adjudged at the Court of Arthur.”
+“This will I do gladly.  And who art thou?” said he.  “I am Geraint the
+son of Erbin.  And declare thou also who thou art.”  “I am Edeyrn the son
+of Nudd.”  Then he threw himself upon his horse, and went forward to
+Arthur’s Court, and the lady he loved best went before him and the dwarf,
+with much lamentation.  And thus far this story up to that time.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Then came the little Earl and his hosts to Geraint, and saluted him, and
+bade him to his castle.  “I may not go,” said Geraint, “but where I was
+last night, there will I be to-night also.”  “Since thou wilt none of my
+inviting, thou shalt have abundance of all that I can command for thee,
+in the place thou wast last night.  And I will order ointment for thee,
+to recover thee from thy fatigues, and from the weariness that is upon
+thee.”  “Heaven reward thee,” said Geraint, “and I will go to my
+lodging.”  And thus went Geraint, and Earl Ynywl, and his wife, and his
+daughter.  And when they reached the chamber, the household servants and
+attendants of the young Earl had arrived at the Court, and they arranged
+all the houses, dressing them with straw and with fire; and in a short
+time the ointment was ready, and Geraint came there, and they washed his
+head.  Then came the young Earl, with forty honourable knights from among
+his attendants, and those who were bidden to the tournament.  And Geraint
+came from the anointing.  And the Earl asked him to go to the hall to
+eat.  “Where is the Earl Ynywl,” said Geraint, “and his wife, and his
+daughter?”  “They are in the chamber yonder,” said the Earl’s
+chamberlain, “arraying themselves in garments which the Earl has caused
+to be brought for them.”  “Let not the damsel array herself,” said he,
+“except in her vest and her veil, until she come to the Court of Arthur,
+to be clad by Gwenhwyvar in such garments as she may choose.”  So the
+maiden did not array herself.
+
+Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and went, and sat down
+to meat.  And thus were they seated.  On one side of Geraint sat the
+young Earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him; and on the other side of Geraint
+were the maiden and her mother.  And after these all sat according to
+their precedence in honour.  And they ate.  And they were served
+abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers kind of gifts.  Then
+they conversed together.  And the young Earl invited Geraint to visit him
+next day.  “I will not, by Heaven,” said Geraint.  “To the Court of
+Arthur will I go with this maiden to-morrow.  And it is enough for me, as
+long as Earl Ynywl is in poverty and trouble; and I go chiefly to seek to
+add to his maintenance.”  “Ah, chieftain,” said the young Earl, “it is
+not by my fault that Earl Ynywl is without his possessions.”  “By my
+faith,” said Geraint, “he shall not remain without them, unless death
+quickly takes me hence.”  “Oh, chieftain,” said he, “with regard to the
+disagreement between me and Ynywl, I will gladly abide by thy counsel,
+and agree to what thou mayest judge right between us.”  “I but ask thee,”
+said Geraint, “to restore to him what is his, and what he should have
+received from the time he lost his possessions, even until this day.”
+“That I will do gladly, for thee,” answered he.  “Then,” said Geraint,
+“whosoever is here who owes homage to Ynywl, let him come forward, and
+perform it on the spot.”  And all the men did so.  And by that treaty
+they abided.  And his castle, and his town, and all his possessions were
+restored to Ynywl.  And he received back all that he had lost, even to
+the smallest jewel.
+
+Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint.  “Chieftain,” said he, “behold the
+maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament, I bestow her upon
+thee.”  “She shall go with me,” said Geraint, “to the Court of Arthur;
+and Arthur and Gwenhwyvar they shall dispose of her as they will.”  And
+the next day they proceeded to Arthur’s Court.  So far concerning
+Geraint.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag.  The men and the dogs were
+divided into hunting parties, and the dogs were let loose upon the stag.
+And the last dog that was let loose was the favourite dog of Arthur.
+Cavall was his name.  And he left all the other dogs behind him, and
+turned the stag.  And at the second turn, the stag came towards the
+hunting party of Arthur.  And Arthur set upon him.  And before he could
+be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his head.  Then they sounded the
+death horn for slaying, and they all gathered round.
+
+Then came Kadyrieith to Arthur, and spoke to him.  “Lord,” said he,
+“behold, yonder is Gwenhwyvar, and none with her save only one maiden.”
+“Command Gildas the son of Caw, and all the scholars of the Court,” said
+Arthur, “to attend Gwenhwyvar to the palace.”  And they did so.
+
+Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning the head of
+the stag, to whom it should be given.  One wished that it should be given
+to the lady best beloved by him, and another to the lady whom he loved
+best.  And all they of the household, and the knights, disputed sharply
+concerning the head.  And with that they came to the palace.  And when
+Arthur and Gwenhwyvar heard them disputing about the head of the stag,
+Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, “My lord, this is my counsel concerning the
+stag’s head; let it not be given away until Geraint the son of Erbin
+shall return from the errand he is upon.”  And Gwenhwyvar told Arthur
+what that errand was.  “Right gladly shall it be so,” said Arthur.  And
+thus it was settled.  And the next day Gwenhwyvar caused a watch to be
+set upon the ramparts for Geraint’s coming.  And after mid-day they
+beheld an unshapely little man upon a horse, and after him, as they
+supposed, a dame or a damsel, also on horseback, and after her a knight
+of large stature, bowed down, and hanging his head low and sorrowfully,
+and clad in broken and worthless armour.
+
+And before they came near to the gate, one of the watch went to
+Gwenhwyvar, and told her what kind of people they saw, and what aspect
+they bore.  “I know not who they are,” said he.  “But I know,” said
+Gwenhwyvar; “this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, and methinks that
+he comes not here by his own free will.  But Geraint has overtaken him,
+and avenged the insult to the maiden to the uttermost.”  And thereupon,
+behold a porter came to the spot where Gwenhwyvar was.  “Lady,” said he,
+“at the gate there is a knight, and I saw never a man of so pitiful an
+aspect to look upon as he.  Miserable and broken is the armour that he
+wears, and the hue of blood is more conspicuous upon it than its own
+colour.”  “Knowest thou his name?” said she.  “I do,” said he; “he tells
+me that he is Edeyrn the son of Nudd.”  Then she replied, “I know him
+not.”
+
+So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he entered.  And
+Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, even though he
+was accompanied by the churlish dwarf.  Then Edeyrn saluted Gwenhwyvar.
+“Heaven protect thee,” said she.  “Lady,” said he, “Geraint the son of
+Erbin, thy best and most valiant servant, greets thee.”  “Did he meet
+thee?” she asked.  “Yes,” said he, “and it was not to my advantage; and
+that was not his fault, but mine, Lady.  And Geraint greets thee well;
+and in greeting thee he compelled me to come hither to do thy pleasure
+for the insult which thy maiden received from the dwarf.  He forgives the
+insult to himself, in consideration of his having put me in peril of my
+life.  And he imposed on me a condition, manly, and honourable, and
+warrior-like, which was to do thee justice, Lady.”  “Now, where did he
+overtake thee?”  “At the place where we were jousting, and contending for
+the Sparrow-Hawk, in the town which is now called Cardiff.  And there
+were none with him save three persons, of a mean and tattered condition.
+And these were an aged, hoary-headed man, and a woman advanced in years,
+and a fair young maiden, clad in worn-out garments.  And it was for the
+avouchment of the love of that maiden that Geraint jousted for the
+Sparrow-Hawk at the tournament, for he said that that maiden was better
+entitled to the Sparrow-Hawk than this maiden who was with me.  And
+thereupon we encountered each other, and he left me, Lady, as thou
+seest.”  “Sir,” said she, “when thinkest thou that Geraint will be here?”
+“To-morrow, Lady, I think he will be here with the maiden.”
+
+Then Arthur came to him, and he saluted Arthur; and Arthur gazed a long
+time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus.  And thinking that he knew
+him, he inquired of him, “Art thou Edeyrn the son of Nudd?”  “I am,
+Lord,” said he, “and I have met with much trouble, and received wounds
+unsupportable.”  Then he told Arthur all his adventure.  “Well,” said
+Arthur, “from what I hear, it behoves Gwenhwyvar to be merciful towards
+thee.”  “The mercy which thou desirest, Lord,” said she, “will I grant to
+him, since it is as insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to
+me as to thyself.”  “Thus will it be best to do,” said Arthur; “let this
+man have medical care until it be known whether he may live.  And if he
+live, he shall do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by the men of
+the Court; and take thou sureties to that effect.  And if he die, too
+much will be the death of such a youth as Edeyrn for an insult to a
+maiden.”  “This pleases me,” said Gwenhwyvar.  And Arthur became surety
+for Edeyrn, and Caradawc the son of Llyr, Gwallawg the son of Llenawg,
+and Owain the son of Nudd, and Gwalchmai, and many others with them.  And
+Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to him.  He was the chief
+physician.  “Take with thee Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and cause a chamber
+to be prepared for him, and let him have the aid of medicine as thou
+wouldst do unto myself, if I were wounded, and let none into his chamber
+to molest him, but thyself and thy disciples, to administer to him
+remedies.”  “I will do so gladly, Lord,” said Morgan Tud.  Then said the
+steward of the household, “Whither is it right, Lord, to order the
+maiden?”  “To Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens,” said he.  And the steward
+of the household so ordered her.  Thus far concerning them.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+The next day came Geraint towards the Court; and there was a watch set on
+the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar, lest he should arrive unawares.  And one of
+the watch came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was.  “Lady,” said he,
+“methinks that I see Geraint, and the maiden with him.  He is on
+horseback, but he has his walking gear upon him, and the maiden appears
+to be in white, seeming to be clad in a garment of linen.”  “Assemble all
+the women,” said Gwenhwyvar, “and come to meet Geraint, to welcome him,
+and wish him joy.”  And Gwenhwyvar went to meet Geraint and the maiden.
+And when Geraint came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was, he saluted her.
+“Heaven prosper thee,” said she, “and welcome to thee.  And thy career
+has been successful, and fortunate, and resistless, and glorious.  And
+Heaven reward thee, that thou hast so proudly caused me to have
+retribution.”  “Lady,” said he, “I earnestly desired to obtain thee
+satisfaction according to thy will; and, behold, here is the maiden
+through whom thou hadst thy revenge.”  “Verily,” said Gwenhwyvar, “the
+welcome of Heaven be unto her; and it is fitting that we should receive
+her joyfully.”  Then they went in, and dismounted.  And Geraint came to
+where Arthur was, and saluted him.  “Heaven protect thee,” said Arthur,
+“and the welcome of Heaven be unto thee.  And since Edeyrn the son of
+Nudd has received his overthrow and wounds from thy hands, thou hast had
+a prosperous career.”  “Not upon me be the blame,” said Geraint, “it was
+through the arrogance of Edeyrn the son of Nudd himself that we were not
+friends.  I would not quit him until I knew who he was, and until the one
+had vanquished the other.”  “Now,” said Arthur, “where is the maiden for
+whom I heard thou didst give challenge?”  “She is gone with Gwenhwyvar to
+her chamber.”
+
+Then went Arthur to see the maiden.  And Arthur, and all his companions,
+and his whole Court, were glad concerning the maiden.  And certain were
+they all, that had her array been suitable to her beauty, they had never
+seen a maid fairer than she.  And Arthur gave away the maiden to Geraint.
+And the usual bond made between two persons was made between Geraint and
+the maiden, and the choicest of all Gwenhwyvar’s apparel was given to the
+maiden; and thus arrayed, she appeared comely and graceful to all who
+beheld her.  And that day and that night were spent in abundance of
+minstrelsy, and ample gifts of liquor, and a multitude of games.  And
+when it was time for them to go to sleep, they went.  And in the chamber
+where the couch of Arthur and Gwenhwyvar was, the couch of Geraint and
+Enid was prepared.  And from that time she became his bride.  And the
+next day Arthur satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint with bountiful
+gifts.  And the maiden took up her abode in the palace; and she had many
+companions, both men and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed
+than she in the Island of Britain.
+
+Then spake Gwenhwyvar.  “Rightly did I judge,” said she, “concerning the
+head of the stag, that it should not be given to any until Geraint’s
+return; and, behold, here is a fit occasion for bestowing it.  Let it be
+given to Enid the daughter of Ynywl, the most illustrious maiden.  And I
+do not believe that any will begrudge it her, for between her and every
+one here there exists nothing but love and friendship.”  Much applauded
+was this by them all, and by Arthur also.  And the head of the stag was
+given to Enid.  And thereupon her fame increased, and her friends
+thenceforward became more in number than before.  And Geraint from that
+time forth loved the stag, and the tournament, and hard encounters; and
+he came victorious from them all.  And a year, and a second, and a third,
+he proceeded thus, until his fame had flown over the face of the kingdom.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+And once upon a time Arthur was holding his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk,
+at Whitsuntide.  And, behold, there came to him ambassadors, wise and
+prudent, full of knowledge, and eloquent of speech, and they saluted
+Arthur.  “Heaven prosper you,” said Arthur, “and the welcome of Heaven be
+unto you.  And whence do you come?”  “We come, Lord,” said they, “from
+Cornwall; and we are ambassadors from Erbin the son of Custennin, thy
+uncle, and our mission is unto thee.  And he greets thee well, as an
+uncle should greet his nephew, and as a vassal should greet his lord.
+And he represents unto thee that he waxes heavy and feeble, and is
+advancing in years.  And the neighbouring chiefs, knowing this, grow
+insolent towards him, and covet his land and possessions.  And he
+earnestly beseeches thee, Lord, to permit Geraint his son to return to
+him, to protect his possessions, and to become acquainted with his
+boundaries.  And unto him he represents that it were better for him to
+spend the flower of his youth and the prime of his age in preserving his
+own boundaries, than in tournaments, which are productive of no profit,
+although he obtains glory in them.”
+
+“Well,” said Arthur, “go, and divest yourselves of your accoutrements,
+and take food, and refresh yourselves after your fatigues; and before you
+go forth hence you shall have an answer.”  And they went to eat.  And
+Arthur considered that it would go hard with him to let Geraint depart
+from him and from his Court; neither did he think it fair that his cousin
+should be restrained from going to protect his dominions and his
+boundaries, seeing that his father was unable to do so.  No less was the
+grief and regret of Gwenhwyvar, and all her women, and all her damsels,
+through fear that the maiden would leave them.  And that day and that
+night were spent in abundance of feasting.  And Arthur showed Geraint the
+cause of the mission, and of the coming of the ambassadors to him out of
+Cornwall.  “Truly,” said Geraint, “be it to my advantage or disadvantage,
+Lord, I will do according to thy will concerning this embassy.”
+“Behold,” said Arthur, “though it grieves me to part with thee, it is my
+counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions, and to defend thy
+boundaries, and to take with thee to accompany thee as many as thou wilt
+of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among thy friends,
+and among thy companions in arms.”  “Heaven reward thee; and this will I
+do,” said Geraint.  “What discourse,” said Gwenhwyvar, “do I hear between
+you?  Is it of those who are to conduct Geraint to his country?”  “It
+is,” said Arthur.  “Then it is needful for me to consider,” said she,
+“concerning companions and a provision for the lady that is with me?”
+“Thou wilt do well,” said Arthur.
+
+And that night they went to sleep.  And the next day the ambassadors were
+permitted to depart, and they were told that Geraint should follow them.
+And on the third day Geraint set forth, and many went with him.
+Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Riogonedd the son of the king of Ireland,
+and Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy, Gwilim the son of the ruler
+of the Franks, Howel the son of Emyr of Brittany, Elivry, and Nawkyrd,
+Gwynn the son of Tringad, Goreu the son of Custennin, Gweir Gwrhyd Vawr,
+Garannaw the son of Golithmer, Peredur the son of Evrawc, Gwynnllogell,
+Gwyr a judge in the Court of Arthur, Dyvyr the son of Alun of Dyved,
+Gwrei Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Bedwyr the son of Bedrawd, Hadwry the son of
+Gwryon, Kai the son of Kynyr, Odyar the Frank, the Steward of Arthur’s
+Court, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd.  Said Geraint, “I think that I shall
+have enough of knighthood with me.”  “Yes,” said Arthur, “but it will not
+be fitting for thee to take Edeyrn with thee, although he is well, until
+peace shall be made between him and Gwenhwyvar.”  “Gwenhwyvar can permit
+him to go with me, if he give sureties.”  “If she please, she can let him
+go without sureties, for enough of pain and affliction has he suffered
+for the insult which the maiden received from the dwarf.”  “Truly,” said
+Gwenhwyvar, “since it seems well to thee and to Geraint, I will do this
+gladly, Lord.”  Then she permitted Edeyrn freely to depart.  And many
+there were who accompanied Geraint, and they set forth; and never was
+there seen a fairer host journeying towards the Severn.  And on the other
+side of the Severn were the nobles of Erbin the son of Custennin, and his
+foster-father at their head, to welcome Geraint with gladness; and many
+of the women of the Court, with his mother, came to receive Enid the
+daughter of Ynywl, his wife.  And there was great rejoicing and gladness
+throughout the whole Court, and throughout all the country, concerning
+Geraint, because of the greatness of their love towards him, and of the
+greatness of the fame which he had gained since he went from amongst
+them, and because he was come to take possession of his dominions and to
+preserve his boundaries.  And they came to the Court.  And in the Court
+they had ample entertainment, and a multitude of gifts and abundance of
+liquor, and a sufficiency of service, and a variety of minstrelsy and of
+games.  And to do honour to Geraint, all the chief men of the country
+were invited that night to visit him.  And they passed that day and that
+night in the utmost enjoyment.  And at dawn next day Erbin arose, and
+summoned to him Geraint, and the noble persons who had borne him company.
+And he said to Geraint, “I am a feeble and aged man, and whilst I was
+able to maintain the dominion for thee and for myself, I did so.  But
+thou art young, and in the flower of thy vigour and of thy youth;
+henceforth do thou preserve thy possessions.”  “Truly,” said Geraint,
+“with my consent thou shalt not give the power over thy dominions at this
+time into my hands, and thou shalt not take me from Arthur’s Court.”
+“Into thy hands will I give them,” said Erbin, “and this day also shalt
+thou receive the homage of thy subjects.”
+
+Then said Gwalchmai, “It were better for thee to satisfy those who have
+boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou canst receive the homage of thy
+dominions.”  So all that had boons to ask were summoned into one place.
+And Kadyrieith came to them, to know what were their requests.  And every
+one asked that which he desired.  And the followers of Arthur began to
+make gifts, and immediately the men of Cornwall came, and gave also.  And
+they were not long in giving, so eager was every one to bestow gifts.
+And of those who came to ask gifts, none departed unsatisfied.  And that
+day and that night were spent in the utmost enjoyment.
+
+And the next day, at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send messengers to
+the men, to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that he should
+come to receive their homage, and whether they had anything to object to
+him.  Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of Cornwall, to ask them
+this.  And they all said that it would be the fulness of joy and honour
+to them for Geraint to come and receive their homage.  So he received the
+homage of such as were there.  And they remained with him till the third
+night.  And the day after the followers of Arthur intended to go away.
+“It is too soon for you to go away yet,” said he, “stay with me until I
+have finished receiving the homage of my chief men, who have agreed to
+come to me.”  And they remained with him until he had done so.  Then they
+set forth towards the Court of Arthur; and Geraint went to bear them
+company, and Enid also, as far as Diganhwy: there they parted.  Then
+Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy said to Geraint, “Go first of all
+and visit the uppermost parts of thy dominions, and see well to the
+boundaries of thy territories; and if thou hast any trouble respecting
+them, send unto thy companions.”  “Heaven reward thee,” said Geraint,
+“and this will I do.”  And Geraint journeyed to the uttermost part of his
+dominions.  And experienced guides, and the chief men of his country,
+went with him.  And the furthermost point that they showed him he kept
+possession of.
+
+And, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur’s Court, he
+frequented tournaments.  And he became acquainted with valiant and mighty
+men, until he had gained as much fame there as he had formerly done
+elsewhere.  And he enriched his Court, and his companions, and his
+nobles, with the best horses and the best arms, and with the best and
+most valuable jewels, and he ceased not until his fame had flown over the
+face of the whole kingdom.  And when he knew that it was thus, he began
+to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one who was worth his
+opposing.  And he loved his wife, and liked to continue in the palace,
+with minstrelsy and diversions.  And for a long time he abode at home.
+And after that he began to shut himself up in the chamber of his wife,
+and he took no delight in anything besides, insomuch that he gave up the
+friendship of his nobles, together with his hunting and his amusements,
+and lost the hearts of all the host in his Court; and there was murmuring
+and scoffing concerning him among the inhabitants of the palace, on
+account of his relinquishing so completely their companionship for the
+love of his wife.  And these tidings came to Erbin.  And when Erbin had
+heard these things, he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it
+was she that had caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his people
+and his hosts.  “Not I, by my confession unto Heaven,” said she, “there
+is nothing more hateful to me than this.”  And she knew not what she
+should do, for, although it was hard for her to own this to Geraint, yet
+was it not more easy for her to listen to what she heard, without warning
+Geraint concerning it.  And she was very sorrowful.
+
+And one morning in the summer time, they were upon their couch, and
+Geraint lay upon the edge of it.  And Enid was without sleep in the
+apartment, which had windows of glass.  And the sun shone upon the couch.
+And the clothes had slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he was
+asleep.  Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his appearance, and
+she said, “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!”
+And as she said this, the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon
+his breast.  And the tears she shed, and the words she had spoken, awoke
+him; and another thing contributed to awaken him, and that was the idea
+that it was not in thinking of him that she spoke thus, but that it was
+because she loved some other man more than him, and that she wished for
+other society, and thereupon Geraint was troubled in his mind, and he
+called his squire; and when he came to him, “Go quickly,” said he, “and
+prepare my horse and my arms, and make them ready.  And do thou arise,”
+said he to Enid, “and apparel thyself; and cause thy horse to be
+accoutred, and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress that thou hast in
+thy possession.  And evil betide me,” said he, “if thou returnest here
+until thou knowest whether I have lost my strength so completely as thou
+didst say.  And if it be so, it will then be easy for thee to seek the
+society thou didst wish for of him of whom thou wast thinking.”  So she
+arose, and clothed herself in her meanest garments.  “I know nothing,
+Lord,” said she, “of thy meaning.”  “Neither wilt thou know at this
+time,” said he.
+
+Then Geraint went to see Erbin.  “Sir,” said he, “I am going upon a
+quest, and I am not certain when I may come back.  Take heed, therefore,
+unto thy possessions, until my return.”  “I will do so,” said he, “but it
+is strange to me that thou shouldest go so suddenly.  And who will
+proceed with thee, since thou art not strong enough to traverse the land
+of Lloegyr alone?”  “But one person only will go with me.”  “Heaven
+counsel thee, my son,” said Erbin, “and may many attach themselves to
+thee in Lloegyr.”  Then went Geraint to the place where his horse was,
+and it was equipped with foreign armour, heavy and shining.  And he
+desired Enid to mount her horse, and to ride forward, and to keep a long
+way before him.  “And whatever thou mayest see, and whatever thou mayest
+hear concerning me,” said he, “do thou not turn back.  And unless I speak
+unto thee, say not thou one word either.”  And they set forward.  And he
+did not choose the pleasantest and most frequented road, but that which
+was the wildest and most beset by thieves, and robbers, and venomous
+animals.  And they came to a high road, which they followed till they saw
+a vast forest, and they went towards it, and they saw four armed horsemen
+come forth from the forest.  When the horsemen had beheld them, one of
+them said to the others, “Behold, here is a good occasion for us to
+capture two horses and armour, and a lady likewise; for this we shall
+have no difficulty in doing against yonder single knight, who hangs his
+head so pensively and heavily.”  And Enid heard this discourse, and she
+knew not what she should do through fear of Geraint, who had told her to
+be silent.  “The vengeance of Heaven be upon me,” she said, “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.”  So she waited for Geraint
+until he came near to her.  “Lord,” said she, “didst thou hear the words
+of those men concerning thee?”  Then he lifted up his eyes, and looked at
+her angrily.  “Thou hadst only,” said he, “to hold thy peace as I bade
+thee.  I wish but for silence, and not for warning.  And though thou
+shouldest desire to see my defeat and my death by the hands of those men,
+yet do I feel no dread.”  Then the foremost of them couched his lance,
+and rushed upon Geraint.  And he received him, and that not feebly.  But
+he let the thrust go by him, while he struck the horseman upon the centre
+of his shield in such a manner that his shield was split, and his armour
+broken, and so that a cubit’s length of the shaft of Geraint’s lance
+passed through his body, and sent him to the earth, the length of the
+lance over his horse’s crupper.  Then the second horseman attacked him
+furiously, being wroth at the death of his companion.  But with one
+thrust Geraint overthrew him also, and killed him as he had done the
+other.  Then the third set upon him, and he killed him in like manner.
+And thus also he slew the fourth.  Sad and sorrowful was the maiden as
+she saw all this.  Geraint dismounted from his horse, and took the arms
+of the men he had slain, and placed them upon their saddles, and tied
+together the reins of their horses, and he mounted his horse again.
+“Behold what thou must do,” said he; “take the four horses, and drive
+them before thee, and proceed forward, as I bade thee just now.  And say
+not one word unto me, unless I speak first unto thee.  And I declare unto
+Heaven,” said he, “if thou doest not thus, it will be to thy cost.”  “I
+will do, as far as I can, Lord,” said she, “according to thy desire.”
+Then they went forward through the forest; and when they left the forest,
+they came to a vast plain, in the centre of which was a group of thickly
+tangled copse-wood; and from out thereof they beheld three horsemen
+coming towards them, well equipped with armour, both they and their
+horses.  Then the maiden looked steadfastly upon them; and when they had
+come near, she heard them say one to another, “Behold, here is a good
+arrival for us; here are coming for us four horses and four suits of
+armour.  We shall easily obtain them spite of yonder dolorous knight, and
+the maiden also will fall into our power.”  “This is but too true,” said
+she to herself, “for my husband is tired with his former combat.  The
+vengeance of Heaven will be upon me, unless I warn him of this.”  So the
+maiden waited until Geraint came up to her.  “Lord,” said she, “dust thou
+not hear the discourse of yonder men concerning thee?”  “What was it?”
+asked he.  “They say to one another, that they will easily obtain all
+this spoil.”  “I declare to Heaven,” he answered, “that their words are
+less grievous to me than that thou wilt not be silent, and abide by my
+counsel.”  “My Lord,” said she, “I feared lest they should surprise thee
+unawares.”  “Hold thy peace, then,” said he, “do not I desire silence?”
+And thereupon one of the horsemen couched his lance, and attacked
+Geraint.  And he made a thrust at him, which he thought would be very
+effective; but Geraint received it carelessly, and struck it aside, and
+then he rushed upon him, and aimed at the centre of his person, and from
+the shock of man and horse, the quantity of his armour did not avail him,
+and the head of the lance and part of the shaft passed through him, so
+that he was carried to the ground an arm and a spear’s length over the
+crupper of his horse.  And both the other horsemen came forward in their
+turn, but their onset was not more successful than that of their
+companion.  And the maiden stood by, looking at all this; and on the one
+hand she was in trouble lest Geraint should be wounded in his encounter
+with the men, and on the other hand she was joyful to see him victorious.
+Then Geraint dismounted, and bound the three suits of armour upon the
+three saddles, and he fastened the reins of all the horses together, so
+that he had seven horses with him.  And he mounted his own horse, and
+commanded the maiden to drive forward the others.  “It is no more use for
+me to speak to thee than to refrain, for thou wilt not attend to my
+advice.”  “I will do so, as far as I am able, Lord,” said she; “but I
+cannot conceal from thee the fierce and threatening words which I may
+hear against thee, Lord, from such strange people as those that haunt
+this wilderness.”  “I declare to Heaven,” said he, “that I desire nought
+but silence; therefore, hold thy peace.”  “I will, Lord, while I can.”
+And the maiden went on with the horses before her, and she pursued her
+way straight onwards.  And from the copse-wood already mentioned, they
+journeyed over a vast and dreary open plain.  And at a great distance
+from them they beheld a wood, and they could see neither end nor boundary
+to the wood, except on that side that was nearest to them, and they went
+towards it.  Then there came from out the wood five horsemen, eager, and
+bold, and mighty, and strong, mounted upon chargers that were powerful,
+and large of bone, and high-mettled, and proudly snorting, and both the
+men and the horses were well equipped with arms.  And when they drew near
+to them, Enid heard them say, “Behold, here is a fine booty coming to us,
+which we shall obtain easily and without labour, for we shall have no
+trouble in taking all those horses and arms, and the lady also, from
+yonder single knight, so doleful and sad.”
+
+Sorely grieved was the maiden upon hearing this discourse, so that she
+knew not in the world what she should do.  At last, however, she
+determined to warn Geraint; so she turned her horse’s head towards him.
+“Lord,” said she, “if thou hadst heard as I did what yonder horsemen said
+concerning thee, thy heaviness would be greater than it is.”  Angrily and
+bitterly did Geraint smile upon her, and he said, “Thee do I hear doing
+everything that I forbade thee; but it may be that thou will repent this
+yet.”  And immediately, behold, the men met them, and victoriously and
+gallantly did Geraint overcome them all five.  And he placed the five
+suits of armour upon the five saddles, and tied together the reins of the
+twelve horses, and gave them in charge to Enid.  “I know not,” said he,
+“what good it is for me to order thee; but this time I charge thee in an
+especial manner.”  So the maiden went forward towards the wood, keeping
+in advance of Geraint, as he had desired her; and it grieved him as much
+as his wrath would permit, to see a maiden so illustrious as she having
+so much trouble with the care of the horses.  Then they reached the wood,
+and it was both deep and vast; and in the wood night overtook them.  “Ah,
+maiden,” said he, “it is vain to attempt proceeding forward!”  “Well,
+Lord,” said she, “whatsoever thou wishest, we will do.”  “It will be best
+for us,” he answered, “to turn out of the wood, and to rest, and wait for
+the day, in order to pursue our journey.”  “That will we, gladly,” said
+she.  And they did so.  Having dismounted himself, he took her down from
+her horse.  “I cannot, by any means, refrain from sleep, through
+weariness,” said he.  “Do thou, therefore, watch the horses, and sleep
+not.”  “I will, Lord,” said she.  Then he went to sleep in his armour,
+and thus passed the night, which was not long at that season.  And when
+she saw the dawn of day appear, she looked around her, to see if he were
+waking, and thereupon he woke.  “My Lord,” she said, “I have desired to
+awake thee for some time.”  But he spake nothing to her about fatigue, as
+he had desired her to be silent.  Then he arose, and said unto her, “Take
+the horses, and ride on; and keep straight on before thee as thou didst
+yesterday.”  And early in the day they left the wood, and they came to an
+open country, with meadows on one hand, and mowers mowing the meadows.
+And there was a river before them, and the horses bent down, and drank
+the water.  And they went up out of the river by a lofty steep; and there
+they met a slender stripling, with a satchel about his neck, and they saw
+that there was something in the satchel, but they knew not what it was.
+And he had a small blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth of
+the pitcher.  And the youth saluted Geraint.  “Heaven prosper thee,” said
+Geraint, “and whence dost thou come?”  “I come,” said he, “from the city
+that lies before thee.  My Lord,” he added, “will it be displeasing to
+thee if I ask whence thou comest also?”  “By no means—through yonder wood
+did I come.”  “Thou camest not through the wood to-day.”  “No,” he
+replied, “we were in the wood last night.”  “I warrant,” said the youth,
+“that thy condition there last night was not the most pleasant, and that
+thou hadst neither meat nor drink.”  “No, by my faith,” said he.  “Wilt
+thou follow my counsel,” said the youth, “and take thy meal from me?”
+“What sort of meal?” he inquired.  “The breakfast which is sent for
+yonder mowers, nothing less than bread and meat and wine; and if thou
+wilt, Sir, they shall have none of it.”  “I will,” said he, “and Heaven
+reward thee for it.”
+
+So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off her horse.
+Then they washed, and took their repast.  And the youth cut the bread in
+slices, and gave them drink, and served them withal.  And when they had
+finished, the youth arose, and said to Geraint, “My Lord, with thy
+permission, I will now go and fetch some food for the mowers.”  “Go,
+first, to the town,” said Geraint, “and take a lodging for me in the best
+place that thou knowest, and the most commodious one for the horses, and
+take thou whichever horse and arms thou choosest in payment for thy
+service and thy gift.”  “Heaven reward thee, Lord,” said the youth, “and
+this would be ample to repay services much greater than those I have
+rendered unto thee.”  And to the town went the youth, and he took the
+best and the most pleasant lodgings that he knew; and after that he went
+to the palace, having the horse and armour with him, and proceeded to the
+place where the Earl was, and told him all his adventure.  “I go now,
+Lord,” said he, “to meet the young man, and to conduct him to his
+lodging.”  “Go, gladly,” said the Earl, “and right joyfully shall he be
+received here, if he so come.”  And the youth went to meet Geraint, and
+told him that he would be received gladly by the Earl in his own palace;
+but he would go only to his lodgings.  And he had a goodly chamber, in
+which was plenty of straw, and drapery, and a spacious and commodious
+place he had for the horses; and the youth prepared for them plenty of
+provender.  And after they had disarrayed themselves, Geraint spoke thus
+to Enid: “Go,” said he, “to the other side of the chamber, and come not
+to this side of the house; and thou mayest call to thee the woman of the
+house, if thou wilt.”  “I will do, Lord,” said she, “as thou sayest.”
+And thereupon the man of the house came to Geraint, and welcomed him.
+“Oh, chieftain,” he said, “hast thou taken thy meal?”  “I have,” said he.
+Then the youth spoke to him, and inquired if he would not drink something
+before he met the Earl.  “Truly I will,” said he.  So the youth went into
+the town, and brought them drink.  And they drank.  “I must needs sleep,”
+said Geraint.  “Well,” said the youth; “and whilst thou sleepest, I will
+go to see the Earl.”  “Go, gladly,” he said, “and come here again when I
+require thee.”  And Geraint went to sleep; and so did Enid also.
+
+And the youth came to the place where the Earl was, and the Earl asked
+him where the lodgings of the knight were, and he told him.  “I must go,”
+said the youth, “to wait on him in the evening.”  “Go,” answered the
+Earl, “and greet him well from me, and tell him that in the evening I
+will go to see him.”  “This will I do,” said the youth.  So he came when
+it was time for them to awake.  And they arose, and went forth.  And when
+it was time for them to take their food, they took it.  And the youth
+served them.  And Geraint inquired of the man of the house, whether there
+were any of his companions that he wished to invite to him, and he said
+that there were.  “Bring them hither, and entertain them at my cost with
+the best thou canst buy in the town.”
+
+And the man of the house brought there those whom he chose, and feasted
+them at Geraint’s expense.  Thereupon, behold, the Earl came to visit
+Geraint, and his twelve honourable knights with him.  And Geraint rose
+up, and welcomed him.  “Heaven preserve thee,” said the Earl.  Then they
+all sat down according to their precedence in honour.  And the Earl
+conversed with Geraint, and inquired of him the object of his journey.
+“I have none,” he replied, “but to seek adventures, and to follow my own
+inclination.”  Then the Earl cast his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her
+steadfastly.  And he thought he had never seen a maiden fairer or more
+comely than she.  And he set all his thoughts and his affections upon
+her.  Then he asked of Geraint, “Have I thy permission to go and converse
+with yonder maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee?”  “Thou hast
+it gladly,” said he.  So the Earl went to the place where the maiden was,
+and spake with her.  “Ah, maiden,” said he, “it cannot be pleasant to
+thee to journey thus with yonder man!”  “It is not unpleasant to me,”
+said she, “to journey the same road that he journeys.”  “Thou hast
+neither youths nor maidens to serve thee,” said he.  “Truly,” she
+replied, “it is more pleasant for me to follow yonder man, than to be
+served by youths and maidens.”  “I will give thee good counsel,” said he.
+“All my Earldom will I place in thy possession, if thou wilt dwell with
+me.”  “That will I not, by Heaven,” she said; “yonder man was the first
+to whom my faith was ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant to him!”
+“Thou art in the wrong,” said the Earl; “if I slay the man yonder, I can
+keep thee with me as long as I choose; and when thou no longer pleasest
+me I can turn thee away.  But if thou goest with me by thine own good
+will, I protest that our union shall continue eternal and undivided as
+long as I remain alive.”  Then she pondered these words of his, and she
+considered that it was advisable to encourage him in his request.
+“Behold, then, chieftain, this is most expedient for thee to do to save
+me any needless imputation; come here to-morrow, and take me away as
+though I knew nothing thereof.”  “I will do so,” said he.  So he arose,
+and took his leave, and went forth with his attendants.  And she told not
+then to Geraint any of the conversation which she had had with the Earl,
+lest it should rouse his anger, and cause him uneasiness and care.
+
+And at the usual hour they went to sleep.  And at the beginning of the
+night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she arose, and placed all
+Geraint’s armour together, so that it might be ready to put on.  And
+although fearful of her errand, she came to the side of Geraint’s bed;
+and she spoke to him softly and gently, saying, “My Lord, arise, and
+clothe thyself, for these were the words of the Earl to me, and his
+intention concerning me.”  So she told Geraint all that had passed.  And
+although he was wroth with her, he took warning, and clothed himself.
+And she lighted a candle, that he might have light to do so.  “Leave
+there the candle,” said he, “and desire the man of the house to come
+here.”  Then she went, and the man of the house came to him.  “Dost thou
+know how much I owe thee?” asked Geraint.  “I think thou owest but
+little.”  “Take the eleven horses and the eleven suits of armour.”
+“Heaven reward thee, lord,” said he, “but I spent not the value of one
+suit of armour upon thee.”  “For that reason,” said he, “thou wilt be the
+richer.  And now, wilt thou come to guide me out of the town?”  “I will,
+gladly,” said he, “and in which direction dost thou intend to go?”  “I
+wish to leave the town by a different way from that by which I entered
+it.”  So the man of the lodgings accompanied him as far as he desired.
+Then he bade the maiden to go on before him; and she did so, and went
+straight forward, and his host returned home.  And he had only just
+reached his house, when, behold, the greatest tumult approached that was
+ever heard.  And when he looked out, he saw fourscore knights in complete
+armour around the house, with the Earl Dwnn at their head.  “Where is the
+knight that was here?” said the Earl.  “By thy hand,” said he, “he went
+hence some time ago.”  “Wherefore, villain,” said he, “didst thou let him
+go without informing me?”  “My Lord, thou didst not command me to do so,
+else would I not have allowed him to depart.”  “What way dost thou think
+that he took?”  “I know not, except that he went along the high road.”
+And they turned their horses’ heads that way, and seeing the tracks of
+the horses upon the high road, they followed.  And when the maiden beheld
+the dawning of the day, she looked behind her, and saw vast clouds of
+dust coming nearer and nearer to her.  And thereupon she became uneasy,
+and she thought that it was the Earl and his host coming after them.  And
+thereupon she beheld a knight appearing through the mist.  “By my faith,”
+said she, “though he should slay me, it were better for me to receive my
+death at his hands, than to see him killed without warning him.  My
+Lord,” she said to him, “seest thou yonder man hastening after thee, and
+many others with him?”  “I do see him,” said he; “and in despite of all
+my orders, I see that thou wilt never keep silence.”  Then he turned upon
+the knight, and with the first thrust he threw him down under his horse’s
+feet.  And as long as there remained one of the fourscore knights, he
+overthrew every one of them at the first onset.  And from the weakest to
+the strongest, they all attacked him one after the other, except the
+Earl: and last of all the Earl came against him also.  And he broke his
+lance, and then he broke a second.  But Geraint turned upon him, and
+struck him with his lance upon the centre of his shield, so that by that
+single thrust the shield was split, and all his armour broken, and he
+himself was brought over his horse’s crupper to the ground, and was in
+peril of his life.  And Geraint drew near to him; and at the noise of the
+trampling of his horse the Earl revived.  “Mercy, Lord,” said he to
+Geraint.  And Geraint granted him mercy.  But through the hardness of the
+ground where they had fallen, and the violence of the stroke which they
+had received, there was not a single knight amongst them that escaped
+without receiving a fall, mortally severe, and grievously painful, and
+desperately wounding, from the hand of Geraint.
+
+And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was before him, and the
+maiden went on first; and near them they beheld a valley which was the
+fairest ever seen, and which had a large river running through it; and
+there was a bridge over the river, and the high road led to the bridge.
+And above the bridge upon the opposite side of the river, they beheld a
+fortified town, the fairest ever seen.  And as they approached the
+bridge, Geraint saw coming towards him from a thick copse a man mounted
+upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace and spirited though tractable.
+“Ah, knight,” said Geraint, “whence comest thou?”  “I come,” said he,
+“from the valley below us.”  “Canst thou tell me,” said Geraint, “who is
+the owner of this fair valley and yonder walled town?”  “I will tell
+thee, willingly,” said he.  “Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks,
+but the Cymry call him the Little King.”  “Can I go by yonder bridge,”
+said Geraint, “and by the lower highway that is beneath the town?”  Said
+the knight, “Thou canst not go by his tower on the other side of the
+bridge, unless thou dost intend to combat him; because it is his custom
+to encounter every knight that comes upon his lands.”  “I declare to
+Heaven,” said Geraint, “that I will, nevertheless, pursue my journey that
+way.”  “If thou dost so,” said the knight, “thou wilt probably meet with
+shame and disgrace in reward for thy daring.”  Then Geraint proceeded
+along the road that led to the town, and the road brought him to a ground
+that was hard, and rugged, and high, and ridgy.  And as he journeyed
+thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a warhorse, strong, and
+large, and proudly-stepping, and wide-hoofed, and broad-chested.  And he
+never saw a man of smaller stature than he who was upon the horse.  And
+both he and his horse were completely armed.  When he had overtaken
+Geraint, he said to him, “Tell me, chieftain, whether it is through
+ignorance or through presumption that thou seekest to insult my dignity,
+and to infringe my rules.”  “Nay,” answered Geraint, “I knew not this
+road was forbid to any.”  “Thou didst know it,” said the other; “come
+with me to my Court, to give me satisfaction.”  “That will I not, by my
+faith,” said Geraint; “I would not go even to thy Lord’s Court, excepting
+Arthur were thy Lord.”  “By the hand of Arthur himself,” said the knight,
+“I will have satisfaction of thee, or receive my overthrow at thy hands.”
+And immediately they charged one another.  And a squire of his came to
+serve him with lances as he broke them.  And they gave each other such
+hard and severe strokes that their shields lost all their colour.  But it
+was very difficult for Geraint to fight with him on account of his small
+size, for he was hardly able to get a full aim at him with all the
+efforts he could make.  And they fought thus until their horses were
+brought down upon their knees; and at length Geraint threw the knight
+headlong to the ground; and then they fought on foot, and they gave one
+another blows so boldly fierce, so frequent, and so severely powerful,
+that their helmets were pierced, and their skullcaps were broken, and
+their arms were shattered, and the light of their eyes was darkened by
+sweat and blood.  At the last Geraint became enraged, and he called to
+him all his strength; and boldly angry, and swiftly resolute, and
+furiously determined, he lifted up his sword, and struck him on the crown
+of his head a blow so mortally painful, so violent, so fierce, and so
+penetrating, that it cut through all his head armour, and his skin, and
+his flesh, until it wounded the very bone, and the sword flew out of the
+hand of the Little King to the furthest end of the plain, and he besought
+Geraint that he would have mercy and compassion upon him.  “Though thou
+hast been neither courteous nor just,” said Geraint, “thou shalt have
+mercy, upon condition that thou wilt become my ally, and engage never to
+fight against me again, but to come to my assistance whenever thou
+hearest of my being in trouble.”  “This will I do, gladly, Lord,” said
+he.  So he pledged him his faith thereof.  “And now, Lord, come with me,”
+said he, “to my Court yonder, to recover from thy weariness and fatigue.”
+“That will I not, by Heaven,” said he.
+
+Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and it grieved him to
+see one of her noble mien appear so deeply afflicted.  And he said to
+Geraint, “My Lord, thou doest wrong not to take repose, and refresh
+thyself awhile; for, if thou meetest with any difficulty in thy present
+condition, it will not be easy for thee to surmount it.”  But Geraint
+would do no other than proceed on his journey, and he mounted his horse
+in pain, and all covered with blood.  And the maiden went on first, and
+they proceeded towards the wood which they saw before them.
+
+And the heat of the sun was very great, and through the blood and sweat,
+Geraint’s armour cleaved to his flesh; and when they came into the wood,
+he stood under a tree, to avoid the sun’s heat; and his wounds pained him
+more than they had done at the time when he received them.  And the
+maiden stood under another tree.  And lo! they heard the sound of horns,
+and a tumultuous noise; and the occasion of it was, that Arthur and his
+company had come down to the wood.  And while Geraint was considering
+which way he should go to avoid them, behold, he was espied by a
+foot-page, who was an attendant on the Steward of the Household; and he
+went to the Steward, and told him what kind of man he had seen in the
+wood.  Then the Steward caused his horse to be saddled, and he took his
+lance and his shield, and went to the place where Geraint was.  “Ah,
+knight!” said he, “what dost thou here?”  “I am standing under a shady
+tree, to avoid the heat and the rays of the sun.”  “Wherefore is thy
+journey, and who art thou?”  “I seek adventures, and go where I list.”
+“Indeed,” said Kai; “then come with me to see Arthur, who is here hard
+by.”  “That will I not, by Heaven,” said Geraint.  “Thou must needs
+come,” said Kai.  Then Geraint knew who he was, but Kai did not know
+Geraint.  And Kai attacked Geraint as best he could.  And Geraint became
+wroth, and he struck him with the shaft of his lance, so that he rolled
+headlong to the ground.  But chastisement worse than this would he not
+inflict on him.
+
+Scared and wildly Kai arose, and he mounted his horse, and went back to
+his lodging.  And thence he proceeded to Gwalchmai’s tent.  “Oh, Sir,”
+said he to Gwalchmai, “I was told by one of the attendants, that he saw
+in the wood above a wounded knight, having on battered armour; and if
+thou dost right, thou wilt go and see if this be true.”  “I care not if I
+do so,” said Gwalchmai.  “Take, then, thy horse, and some of thy armour,”
+said Kai; “for I hear that he is not over courteous to those who approach
+him.”  So Gwalchmai took his spear and his shield, and mounted his horse,
+and came to the spot where Geraint was.  “Sir Knight,” said he,
+“wherefore is thy journey?”  “I journey for my own pleasure, and to seek
+the adventures of the world.”  “Wilt thou tell me who thou art; or wilt
+thou come and visit Arthur, who is near at hand?”  “I will make no
+alliance with thee, nor will I go and visit Arthur,” said he.  And he
+knew that it was Gwalchmai, but Gwalchmai knew him not.  “I purpose not
+to leave thee,” said Gwalchmai, “till I know who thou art.”  And he
+charged him with his lance, and struck him on his shield, so that the
+shaft was shivered into splinters, and their horses were front to front.
+Then Gwalchmai gazed fixedly upon him, and he knew him.  “Ah, Geraint,”
+said he, “is it thou that art here?”  “I am not Geraint,” said he.
+“Geraint thou art, by Heaven,” he replied, “and a wretched and insane
+expedition is this.”  Then he looked around, and beheld Enid, and he
+welcomed her gladly.  “Geraint,” said Gwalchmai, “come thou and see
+Arthur; he is thy lord and thy cousin.”  “I will not,” said he, “for I am
+not in a fit state to go and see any one.”  Thereupon, behold, one of the
+pages came after Gwalchmai to speak to him.  So he sent him to apprise
+Arthur that Geraint was there wounded, and that he would not go to visit
+him, and that it was pitiable to see the plight that he was in.  And this
+he did without Geraint’s knowledge, inasmuch as he spoke in a whisper to
+the page.  “Entreat Arthur,” said he, “to have his tent brought near to
+the road, for he will not meet him willingly, and it is not easy to
+compel him in the mood he is in.”  So the page came to Arthur, and told
+him this.  And he caused his tent to be removed unto the side of the
+road.  And the maiden rejoiced in her heart.  And Gwalchmai led Geraint
+onwards along the road, till they came to the place where Arthur was
+encamped, and the pages were pitching his tent by the roadside.  “Lord,”
+said Geraint, “all hail unto thee.”  “Heaven prosper thee; and who art
+thou?” said Arthur.  “It is Geraint,” said Gwalchmai, “and of his own
+free will would he not come to meet thee.”  “Verily,” said Arthur, “he is
+bereft of his reason.”  Then came Enid, and saluted Arthur.  “Heaven
+protect thee,” said he.  And thereupon he caused one of the pages to take
+her from her horse.  “Alas! Enid,” said Arthur, “what expedition is
+this?”  “I know not, Lord,” said she, “save that it behoves me to journey
+by the same road that he journeys.”  “My Lord,” said Geraint, “with thy
+permission we will depart.”  “Whither wilt thou go?” said Arthur.  “Thou
+canst not proceed now, unless it be unto thy death.”  “He will not suffer
+himself to be invited by me,” said Gwalchmai.  “But by me he will,” said
+Arthur; “and, moreover, he does not go from here until he is healed.”  “I
+had rather, Lord,” said Geraint, “that thou wouldest let me go forth.”
+“That will I not, I declare to Heaven,” said he.  Then he caused a maiden
+to be sent for to conduct Enid to the tent where Gwenhwyvar’s chamber
+was.  And Gwenhwyvar and all her women were joyful at her coming; and
+they took off her riding-dress, and placed other garments upon her.
+Arthur also called Kadyrieith, and ordered him to pitch a tent for
+Geraint and the physicians; and he enjoined him to provide him with
+abundance of all that might be requisite for him.  And Kadyrieith did as
+he had commanded him.  And Morgan Tud and his disciples were brought to
+Geraint.
+
+And Arthur and his hosts remained there nearly a month, whilst Geraint
+was being healed.  And when he was fully recovered, Geraint came to
+Arthur, and asked his permission to depart.  “I know not if thou art
+quite well.”  “In truth I am, Lord,” said Geraint.  “I shall not believe
+thee concerning that, but the physicians that were with thee.”  So Arthur
+caused the physicians to be summoned to him, and asked them if it were
+true.  “It is true, Lord,” said Morgan Tud.  So the next day Arthur
+permitted him to go forth, and he pursued his journey.  And on the same
+day Arthur removed thence.  And Geraint desired Enid to go on, and to
+keep before him, as she had formerly done.  And she went forward along
+the high road.  And as they journeyed thus, they heard an exceeding loud
+wailing near to them.  “Stay thou here,” said he, “and I will go and see
+what is the cause of this wailing.”  “I will,” said she.  Then he went
+forward unto an open glade that was near the road.  And in the glade he
+saw two horses, one having a man’s saddle, and the other a woman’s saddle
+upon it.  And, behold, there was a knight lying dead in his armour, and a
+young damsel in a riding-dress standing over him, lamenting.  “Ah! Lady,”
+said Geraint, “what hath befallen thee?”  “Behold,” she answered, “I
+journeyed here with my beloved husband, when, lo! three giants came upon
+us, and without any cause in the world, they slew him.”  “Which way went
+they hence?” said Geraint.  “Yonder by the high road,” she replied.  So
+he returned to Enid.  “Go,” said he, “to the lady that is below yonder,
+and await me there till I come.”  She was sad when he ordered her to do
+thus, but nevertheless she went to the damsel, whom it was ruth to hear,
+and she felt certain that Geraint would never return.  Meanwhile Geraint
+followed the giants, and overtook them.  And each of them was greater of
+stature than three other men, and a huge club was on the shoulder of
+each.  Then he rushed upon one of them, and thrust his lance through his
+body.  And having drawn it forth again, he pierced another of them
+through likewise.  But the third turned upon him, and struck him with his
+club, so that he split his shield, and crushed his shoulder, and opened
+his wounds anew, and all his blood began to flow from him.  But Geraint
+drew his sword, and attacked the giant, and gave him a blow on the crown
+of his head so severe, and fierce, and violent, that his head and his
+neck were split down to his shoulders, and he fell dead.  So Geraint left
+him thus, and returned to Enid.  And when he saw her, he fell down
+lifeless from his horse.  Piercing, and loud, and thrilling was the cry
+that Enid uttered.  And she came and stood over him where he had fallen.
+And at the sound of her cries came the Earl of Limours, and the host that
+journeyed with him, whom her lamentations brought out of their road.  And
+the Earl said to Enid, “Alas, Lady, what hath befallen thee?”  “Ah! good
+Sir,” said she, “the only man I have loved, or ever shall love, is
+slain.”  Then he said to the other, “And what is the cause of thy grief?”
+“They have slain my beloved husband also,” said she.  “And who was it
+that slew them?”  “Some giants,” she answered, “slew my best-beloved, and
+the other knight went in pursuit of them, and came back in the state thou
+seest, his blood flowing excessively; but it appears to me that he did
+not leave the giants without killing some of them, if not all.”  The Earl
+caused the knight that was dead to be buried, but he thought that there
+still remained some life in Geraint; and to see if he yet would live, he
+had him carried with him in the hollow of his shield, and upon a bier.
+And the two damsels went to the Court; and when they arrived there,
+Geraint was placed upon a litter-couch in front of the table that was in
+the hall.  Then they all took off their travelling gear, and the Earl
+besought Enid to do the same, and to clothe herself in other garments.
+“I will not, by Heaven,” said she.  “Ah! Lady,” said he, “be not so
+sorrowful for this matter.”  “It were hard to persuade me to be
+otherwise,” said she.  “I will act towards thee in such wise, that thou
+needest not be sorrowful, whether yonder knight live or die.  Behold, a
+good Earldom, together with myself, will I bestow on thee; be, therefore,
+happy and joyful.”  “I declare to Heaven,” said she, “that henceforth I
+shall never be joyful while I live.”  “Come, then,” said he, “and eat.”
+“No, by Heaven, I will not,” she answered.  “But, by Heaven, thou shalt,”
+said he.  So he took her with him to the table against her will, and many
+times desired her to eat.  “I call Heaven to witness,” said she, “that I
+will not eat until the man that is upon yonder bier shall eat likewise.”
+“Thou canst not fulfil that,” said the Earl, “yonder man is dead
+already.”  “I will prove that I can,” said she.  Then he offered her a
+goblet of liquor.  “Drink this goblet,” he said, “and it will cause thee
+to change thy mind.”  “Evil betide me,” she answered, “if I drink aught
+until he drink also.”  “Truly,” said the Earl, “it is of no more avail
+for me to be gentle with thee than ungentle.”  And he gave her a box on
+the ear.  Thereupon she raised a loud and piercing shriek, and her
+lamentations were much greater than they had been before, for she
+considered in her mind that had Geraint been alive, he durst not have
+struck her thus.  But, behold, at the sound of her cry, Geraint revived
+from his swoon, and he sat up on the bier, and finding his sword in the
+hollow of his shield, he rushed to the place where the Earl was, and
+struck him a fiercely-wounding, severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting
+blow upon the crown of his head, so that he clove him in twain, until his
+sword was stayed by the table.  Then all left the board, and fled away.
+And this was not so much through fear of the living as through the dread
+they felt at seeing the dead man rise up to slay them.  And Geraint
+looked upon Enid, and he was grieved for two causes; one was, to see that
+Enid had lost her colour and her wonted aspect, and the other, to know
+that she was in the right.  “Lady,” said he, “knowest thou where our
+horses are?”  “I know, Lord, where thy horse is,” she replied, “but I
+know not where is the other.  Thy horse is in the house yonder.”  So he
+went to the house, and brought forth his horse, and mounted him, and took
+up Enid from the ground, and placed her upon the horse with him.  And he
+rode forward.  And their road lay between two hedges.  And the night was
+gaining on the day.  And lo! they saw behind them the shafts of spears
+betwixt them and the sky, and they heard the trampling of horses, and the
+noise of a host approaching.  “I hear something following us,” said he,
+“and I will put thee on the other side of the hedge.”  And thus he did.
+And thereupon, behold, a knight pricked towards him, and couched his
+lance.  When Enid saw this, she cried out, saying, “Oh! chieftain,
+whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a dead man?”
+“Oh! Heaven,” said he, “is it Geraint?”  “Yes, in truth,” said she.  “And
+who art thou?”  “I am the Little King,” he answered, “coming to thy
+assistance, for I heard that thou wast in trouble.  And if thou hadst
+followed my advice, none of these hardships would have befallen thee.”
+“Nothing can happen,” said Geraint, “without the will of Heaven, though
+much good results from counsel.”  “Yes,” said the Little King, “and I
+know good counsel for thee now.  Come with me to the court of a
+son-in-law of my sister, which is near here, and thou shalt have the best
+medical assistance in the kingdom.”  “I will do so gladly,” said Geraint.
+And Enid was placed upon the horse of one of the Little King’s squires,
+and they went forward to the Baron’s palace.  And they were received
+there with gladness, and they met with hospitality and attention.  And
+the next morning they went to seek physicians; and it was not long before
+they came, and they attended Geraint until he was perfectly well.  And
+while Geraint was under medical care, the Little King caused his armour
+to be repaired, until it was as good as it had ever been.  And they
+remained there a fortnight and a month.
+
+Then the Little King said to Geraint, “Now will we go towards my own
+Court, to take rest, and amuse ourselves.”  “Not so,” said Geraint, “we
+will first journey for one day more, and return again.”  “With all my
+heart,” said the Little King, “do thou go then.”  And early in the day
+they set forth.  And more gladly and more joyfully did Enid journey with
+them that day than she had ever done.  And they came to the main road.
+And when they reached a place where the road divided in two, they beheld
+a man on foot coming towards them along one of these roads, and Gwiffert
+asked the man whence he came.  “I come,” said he, “from an errand in the
+country.”  “Tell me,” said Geraint, “which is the best for me to follow
+of these two roads?”  “That is the best for thee to follow,” answered he,
+“for if thou goest by this one, thou wilt never return.  Below us,” said
+he, “there is a hedge of mist, and within it are enchanted games, and no
+one who has gone there has ever returned.  And the Court of the Earl
+Owain is there, and he permits no one to go to lodge in the town, except
+he will go to his Court.”  “I declare to Heaven,” said Geraint, “that we
+will take the lower road.”  And they went along it until they came to the
+town.  And they took the fairest and pleasantest place in the town for
+their lodging.  And while they were thus, behold, a young man came to
+them, and greeted them.  “Heaven be propitious to thee,” said they.
+“Good Sirs,” said he, “what preparations are you making here?”  “We are
+taking up our lodging,” said they, “to pass the night.”  “It is not the
+custom with him who owns the town,” he answered, “to permit any of gentle
+birth, unless they come to stay in his Court, to abide here; therefore,
+come ye to the Court.”  “We will come, gladly,” said Geraint.  And they
+went with the page, and they were joyfully received.  And the Earl came
+to the hall to meet them, and he commanded the tables to be laid.  And
+they washed, and sat down.  And this is the order in which they sat:
+Geraint on one side of the Earl, and Enid on the other side, and next to
+Enid the Little King, and then the Countess next to Geraint; and all
+after that as became their rank.  Then Geraint recollected the games, and
+thought that he should not go to them; and on that account he did not
+eat.  Then the Earl looked upon Geraint, and considered, and he bethought
+him that his not eating was because of the games, and it grieved him that
+he had ever established those games, were it only on account of losing
+such a youth as Geraint.  And if Geraint had asked him to abolish the
+games, he would gladly have done so.  Then the Earl said to Geraint,
+“What thought occupies thy mind, that thou dost not eat?  If thou
+hesitatest about going to the games, thou shalt not go, and no other of
+thy rank shall ever go either.”  “Heaven reward thee,” said Geraint, “but
+I wish nothing better than to go to the games, and to be shown the way
+thither.”  “If that is what thou dost prefer, thou shalt obtain it
+willingly.”  “I do prefer it, indeed,” said he.  Then they ate, and they
+were amply served, and they had a variety of gifts, and abundance of
+liquor.  And when they had finished eating they arose.  And Geraint
+called for his horse and his armour, and he accoutred both himself and
+his horse.  And all the hosts went forth until they came to the side of
+the hedge, and the hedge was so lofty, that it reached as high as they
+could see in the air, and upon every stake in the hedge, except two,
+there was the head of a man, and the number of stakes throughout the
+hedge was very great.  Then said the Little King, “May no one go in with
+the chieftain?”  “No one may,” said Earl Owain.  “Which way can I enter?”
+inquired Geraint.  “I know not,” said Owain, “but enter by the way that
+thou wilt, and that seemeth easiest to thee.”
+
+Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into the mist.
+And on leaving the mist, he came to a large orchard; and in the orchard
+he saw an open space, wherein was a tent of red satin; and the door of
+the tent was open, and an apple-tree stood in front of the door of the
+tent; and on a branch of the apple-tree hung a huge hunting-horn.  Then
+he dismounted, and went into the tent; and there was no one in the tent
+save one maiden sitting in a golden chair, and another chair was opposite
+to her, empty.  And Geraint went to the empty chair, and sat down
+therein.  “Ah! chieftain,” said the maiden, “I would not counsel thee to
+sit in that chair.”  “Wherefore?” said Geraint.  “The man to whom that
+chair belongs has never suffered another to sit in it.”  “I care not,”
+said Geraint, “though it displease him that I sit in the chair.”  And
+thereupon they heard a mighty tumult around the tent.  And Geraint looked
+to see what was the cause of the tumult.  And he beheld without a knight
+mounted upon a warhorse, proudly snorting, high-mettled, and large of
+bone; and a robe of honour in two parts was upon him and upon his horse,
+and beneath it was plenty of armour.  “Tell me, chieftain,” said he to
+Geraint, “who it was that bade thee sit there?”  “Myself,” answered he.
+“It was wrong of thee to do me this shame and disgrace.  Arise, and do me
+satisfaction for thine insolence.”  Then Geraint arose; and they
+encountered immediately; and they broke a set of lances, and a second
+set, and a third; and they gave each other fierce and frequent strokes;
+and at last Geraint became enraged, and he urged on his horse, and rushed
+upon him, and gave him a thrust on the centre of his shield, so that it
+was split, and so that the head of his lance went through his armour, and
+his girths were broken, and he himself was borne headlong to the ground
+the length of Geraint’s lance and arm, over his horse’s crupper.  “Oh, my
+Lord!” said he, “thy mercy, and thou shalt have what thou wilt.”  “I only
+desire,” said Geraint, “that this game shall no longer exist here, nor
+the hedge of mist, nor magic, nor enchantment.”  “Thou shalt have this
+gladly, Lord,” he replied.  “Cause, then, the mist to disappear from this
+place,” said Geraint.  “Sound yonder horn,” said he, “and when thou
+soundest it, the mist will vanish; but it will not go hence unless the
+horn be blown by the knight by whom I am vanquished.”  And sad and
+sorrowful was Enid where she remained, through anxiety concerning
+Geraint.  Then Geraint went and sounded the horn.  And at the first blast
+he gave, the mist vanished.  And all the hosts came together, and they
+all became reconciled to each other.  And the Earl invited Geraint and
+the Little King to stay with him that night.  And the next morning they
+separated.  And Geraint went towards his own dominions; and thenceforth
+he reigned prosperously, and his warlike fame and splendour lasted with
+renown and honour both to him and to Enid from that time forth.
+
+
+
+
+KILHWCH AND OLWEN
+OR THE
+TWRCH TRWYTH
+
+
+Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, and the
+wife that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd.  And
+after their union, the people put up prayers that they might have an
+heir.  And they had a son through the prayers of the people.  From the
+time of her pregnancy Goleuddydd became wild, and wandered about, without
+habitation; but when her delivery was at hand, her reason came back to
+her.  Then she went to a mountain where there was a swineherd, keeping a
+herd of swine.  And through fear of the swine the queen was delivered.
+And the swineherd took the boy, and brought him to the palace; and he was
+christened, and they called him Kilhwch, because he had been found in a
+swine’s burrow.  Nevertheless the boy was of gentle lineage, and cousin
+unto Arthur; and they put him out to nurse.
+
+After this the boy’s mother, Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd,
+fell sick.  Then she called her husband unto her, and said to him, “Of
+this sickness I shall die, and thou wilt take another wife.  Now wives
+are the gift of the Lord, but it would be wrong for thee to harm thy son.
+Therefore I charge thee that thou take not a wife until thou see a briar
+with two blossoms upon my grave.”  And this he promised her.  Then she
+besought him to dress her grave every year, that nothing might grow
+thereon.  So the queen died.  Now the king sent an attendant every
+morning to see if anything were growing upon the grave.  And at the end
+of the seventh year the master neglected that which he had promised to
+the queen.
+
+One day the king went to hunt, and he rode to the place of burial to see
+the grave, and to know if it were time that he should take a wife; and
+the king saw the briar.  And when he saw it, the king took counsel where
+he should find a wife.  Said one of his counsellors, “I know a wife that
+will suit thee well, and she is the wife of King Doged.”  And they
+resolved to go to seek her; and they slew the king, and brought away his
+wife and one daughter that she had along with her.  And they conquered
+the king’s lands.
+
+On a certain day, as the lady walked abroad, she came to the house of an
+old crone that dwelt in the town, and that had no tooth in her head.  And
+the queen said to her, “Old woman, tell me that which I shall ask thee,
+for the love of Heaven.  Where are the children of the man who has
+carried me away by violence?”  Said the crone, “He has not children.”
+Said the queen, “Woe is me, that I should have come to one who is
+childless!”  Then said the hag, “Thou needest not lament on account of
+that, for there is a prediction he shall have an heir by thee, and by
+none other.  Moreover, be not sorrowful, for he has one son.”
+
+The lady returned home with joy; and she asked her consort, “Wherefore
+hast thou concealed thy children from me?”  The king said, “I will do so
+no longer.”  And he sent messengers for his son, and he was brought to
+the Court.  His stepmother said unto him, “It were well for thee to have
+a wife, and I have a daughter who is sought of every man of renown in the
+world.”  “I am not yet of an age to wed,” answered the youth.  Then said
+she unto him, “I declare to thee, that it is thy destiny not to be suited
+with a wife until thou obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.”
+And the youth blushed, and the love of the maiden diffused itself through
+all his frame, although he had never seen her.  And his father inquired
+of him, “What has come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?”  “My
+stepmother has declared to me that I shall never have a wife until I
+obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.”  “That will be easy
+for thee,” answered his father.  “Arthur is thy cousin.  Go, therefore,
+unto Arthur, to cut thy hair, and ask this of him as a boon.”
+
+And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled grey, of four
+winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs, having a bridle of
+linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle of costly gold.  And in
+the youth’s hand were two spears of silver, sharp, well-tempered, headed
+with steel, three ells in length, of an edge to wound the wind, and cause
+blood to flow, and swifter than the fall of the dewdrop from the blade of
+reed-grass upon the earth when the dew of June is at the heaviest.  A
+gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh, the blade of which was of gold,
+bearing a cross of inlaid gold of the hue of the lightning of heaven: his
+war-horn was of ivory.  Before him were two brindled white-breasted
+greyhounds, having strong collars of rubies about their necks, reaching
+from the shoulder to the ear.  And the one that was on the left side
+bounded across to the right side, and the one on the right to the left,
+and like two sea-swallows sported around him.  And his courser cast up
+four sods with his four hoofs, like four swallows in the air, about his
+head, now above, now below.  About him was a four-cornered cloth of
+purple, and an apple of gold was at each corner, and every one of the
+apples was of the value of an hundred kine.  And there was precious gold
+of the value of three hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups,
+from his knee to the tip of his toe.  And the blade of grass bent not
+beneath him, so light was his courser’s tread as he journeyed towards the
+gate of Arthur’s Palace.
+
+Spoke the youth, “Is there a porter?”  “There is; and if thou holdest not
+thy peace, small will be thy welcome.  I am Arthur’s porter every first
+day of January.  And during every other part of the year but this, the
+office is filled by Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym, and
+Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head to save his feet, neither towards the
+sky nor towards the earth, but like a rolling stone upon the floor of the
+court.”  “Open the portal.”  “I will not open it.”  “Wherefore not?”
+“The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is
+revelry in Arthur’s Hall, and none may enter therein but the son of a
+king of a privileged country, or a craftsman bringing his craft.  But
+there will be refreshment for thy dogs, and for thy horses; and for thee
+there will be collops cooked and peppered, and luscious wine and mirthful
+songs, and food for fifty men shall be brought unto thee in the guest
+chamber, where the stranger and the sons of other countries eat, who come
+not unto the precincts of the Palace of Arthur.  Thou wilt fare no worse
+there than thou wouldest with Arthur in the Court.  A lady shall smooth
+thy couch, and shall lull thee with songs; and early to-morrow morning,
+when the gate is open for the multitude that come hither to-day, for thee
+shall it be opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place that thou
+shalt choose in Arthur’s Hall, from the upper end to the lower.”  Said
+the youth, “That will I not do.  If thou openest the gate, it is well.
+If thou dost not open it, I will bring disgrace upon thy Lord, and evil
+report upon thee.  And I will set up three shouts at this very gate, than
+which none were ever more deadly, from the top of Pengwaed in Cornwall to
+the bottom of Dinsol, in the North, and to Esgair Oervel, in Ireland.
+And all the women in this Palace that are pregnant shall lose their
+offspring; and such as are not pregnant, their hearts shall be turned by
+illness, so that they shall never bear children from this day forward.”
+“What clamour soever thou mayest make,” said Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr,
+“against the laws of Arthur’s Palace shalt thou not enter therein, until
+I first go and speak with Arthur.”
+
+Then Glewlwyd went into the Hall.  And Arthur said to him, “Hast thou
+news from the gate?”—“Half of my life is past, and half of thine.  I was
+heretofore in Kaer Se and Asse, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor and Fotor;
+and I have been heretofore in India the Great and India the Lesser; and I
+was in the battle of Dau Ynyr, when the twelve hostages were brought from
+Llychlyn.  And I have also been in Europe, and in Africa, and in the
+islands of Corsica, and in Caer Brythwch, and Brythach, and Verthach; and
+I was present when formerly thou didst slay the family of Clis the son of
+Merin, and when thou didst slay Mil Du the son of Ducum, and when thou
+didst conquer Greece in the East.  And I have been in Caer Oeth and
+Annoeth, and in Caer Nevenhyr; nine supreme sovereigns, handsome men, saw
+we there, but never did I behold a man of equal dignity with him who is
+now at the door of the portal.”  Then said Arthur, “If walking thou didst
+enter in here, return thou running.  And every one that beholds the
+light, and every one that opens and shuts the eye, let them shew him
+respect, and serve him, some with gold-mounted drinking-horns, others
+with collops cooked and peppered, until food and drink can be prepared
+for him.  It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou sayest he is, in
+the wind and the rain.”  Said Kai, “By the hand of my friend, if thou
+wouldest follow my counsel, thou wouldest not break through the laws of
+the Court because of him.”  “Not so, blessed Kai.  It is an honour to us
+to be resorted to, and the greater our courtesy the greater will be our
+renown, and our fame, and our glory.”
+
+And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before him; and
+although all dismounted upon the horseblock at the gate, yet did he not
+dismount, but rode in upon his charger.  Then said Kilhwch, “Greeting be
+unto thee, Sovereign Ruler of this Island; and be this greeting no less
+unto the lowest than unto the highest, and be it equally unto thy guests,
+and thy warriors, and thy chieftains—let all partake of it as completely
+as thyself.  And complete be thy favour, and thy fame, and thy glory,
+throughout all this Island.”  “Greeting unto thee also,” said Arthur;
+“sit thou between two of my warriors, and thou shalt have minstrels
+before thee, and thou shalt enjoy the privileges of a king born to a
+throne, as long as thou remainest here.  And when I dispense my presents
+to the visitors and strangers in this Court, they shall be in thy hand at
+my commencing.”  Said the youth, “I came not here to consume meat and
+drink; but if I obtain the boon that I seek, I will requite it thee, and
+extol thee; and if I have it not, I will bear forth thy dispraise to the
+four quarters of the world, as far as thy renown has extended.”  Then
+said Arthur, “Since thou wilt not remain here, chieftain, thou shalt
+receive the boon whatsoever thy tongue may name, as far as the wind
+dries, and the rain moistens, and the sun revolves, and the sea
+encircles, and the earth extends; save only my ship; and my mantle; and
+Caledvwlch, my sword; and Rhongomyant, my lance; and Wynebgwrthucher, my
+shield; and Carnwenhau, my dagger; and Gwenhwyvar, my wife.  By the truth
+of Heaven, thou shalt have it cheerfully, name what thou wilt.”  “I would
+that thou bless my hair.”  “That shall be granted thee.”
+
+And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors, whereof the loops were of
+silver, and he combed his hair.  And Arthur inquired of him who he was.
+“For my heart warms unto thee, and I know that thou art come of my blood.
+Tell me, therefore, who thou art.”  “I will tell thee,” said the youth.
+“I am Kilhwch, the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, by
+Goleuddydd, my mother, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd.”  “That is true,”
+said Arthur; “thou art my cousin.  Whatsoever boon thou mayest ask, thou
+shalt receive, be it what it may that thy tongue shall name.”  “Pledge
+the truth of Heaven and the faith of thy kingdom thereof.”  “I pledge it
+thee, gladly.”  “I crave of thee then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the
+daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr; and this boon I likewise seek at the
+hands of thy warriors.  I seek it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl
+Galldonyd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, and Greid the son of Eri, and
+Kynddelig Kyvarwydd, and Tathal Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys the son of
+Baeddan, and Crychwr the son of Nes, and Cubert the son of Daere, and
+Percos the son of Poch, and Lluber Beuthach, and Corvil Bervach, and
+Gwynn the son of Nudd, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Gadwy the son of
+Geraint, and Prince Fflewddur Fflam, and Ruawn Pebyr the son of Dorath,
+and Bradwen the son of Moren Mynawc, and Moren Mynawc himself, and
+Dalldav the son of Kimin Côv, and the son of Alun Dyved, and the son of
+Saidi, and the son of Gwryon, and Uchtryd Ardywad Kad, and Kynwas
+Curvagyl, and Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras, and Isperyr Ewingath, and Gallcoyt
+Govynynat, and Duach, and Grathach, and Nerthach, the sons of Gwawrddur
+Kyrvach (these men came forth from the confines of hell), and Kilydd
+Canhastyr, and Canastyr Kanllaw, and Cors Cant-Ewin, and Esgeir Gulhwch
+Govynkawn, and Drustwrn Hayarn, and Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, and Lloch
+Llawwynnyawc, and Aunwas Adeiniawc, and Sinnoch the son of Seithved, and
+Gwennwynwyn the son of Naw, and Bedyw the son of Seithved, and Gobrwy the
+son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, and Echel Vorddwyttwll himself, and Mael the
+son of Roycol, and Dadweir Dallpenn, and Garwyli the son of Gwythawc
+Gwyr, and Gwythawc Gwyr himself, and Gormant the son of Ricca, and Menw
+the son of Teirgwaedd, and Digon the son of Alar, and Selyf the son of
+Smoit, and Gusg the son of Atheu, and Nerth the son of Kedarn, and
+Drudwas the son of Tryffin, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Twrch the son
+of Annwas, and Iona king of France, and Sel the son of Selgi, and Teregud
+the son of Iaen, and Sulyen the son of Iaen, and Bradwen the son of Iaen,
+and Moren the son of Iaen, and Siawn the son of Iaen, and Cradawc the son
+of Iaen.  (They were men of Caerdathal, of Arthur’s kindred on his
+father’s side.)  Dirmyg the son of Kaw, and Justic the son of Kaw, and
+Etmic the son of Kaw, and Anghawd the son of Kaw, and Ovan the son of
+Kaw, and Kelin the son of Kaw, and Connyn the son of Kaw, and Mabsant the
+son of Kaw, and Gwyngad the son of Kaw, and Llwybyr the son of Kaw, and
+Coth the son of Kaw, and Meilic the son of Kaw, and Kynwas the son of
+Kaw, and Ardwyad the son of Kaw, and Ergyryad the son of Kaw, and Neb the
+son of Kaw, and Gilda the son of Kaw, and Calcas the son of Kaw, and
+Hueil the son of Kaw (he never yet made a request at the hand of any
+Lord).  And Samson Vinsych, and Taliesin the chief of the bards, and
+Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and Llary the son of Prince Kasnar, and
+Ysperni the son of Fflergant king of Armorica, and Saranhon the son of
+Glythwyr, and Llawr Eilerw, and Annyanniawc the son of Menw the son of
+Teirgwaedd, and Gwynn the son of Nwyvre, and Fflam the son of Nwyvre, and
+Geraint the son of Erbin, and Ermid the son of Erbin, and Dyvel the son
+of Erbin, and Gwynn the son of Ermid, and Kyndrwyn the son of Ermid, and
+Hyveidd Unllenn, and Eiddon Vawr Vrydic, and Reidwn Arwy, and Gormant the
+son of Ricca (Arthur’s brother by his mother’s side; the Penhynev of
+Cornwall was his father), and Llawnrodded Varvawc, and Nodawl Varyf
+Twrch, and Berth the son of Kado, and Rheidwn the son of Beli, and
+Iscovan Hael, and Iscawin the son of Panon, and Morvran the son of Tegid
+(no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by reason of his ugliness; all
+thought he was an auxiliary devil.  Hair had he upon him like the hair of
+a stag).  And Sandde Bryd Angel (no one touched him with a spear in the
+battle of Camlan because of his beauty; all thought he was a ministering
+angel).  And Kynwyl Sant (the third man that escaped from the battle of
+Camlan, and he was the last who parted from Arthur on Hengroen his
+horse).  And Uchtryd the son of Erim, and Eus the son of Erim, and Henwas
+Adeinawg the son of Erim, and Henbedestyr the son of Erim, and Sgilti
+Yscawndroed the son of Erim. (Unto these three men belonged these three
+qualities,—With Henbedestyr there was not any one who could keep pace,
+either on horseback or on foot; with Henwas Adeinawg, no four-footed
+beast could run the distance of an acre, much less could it go beyond it;
+and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when he intended to go upon a message for
+his Lord, he never sought to find a path, but knowing whither he was to
+go, if his way lay through a wood he went along the tops of the trees.
+During his whole life, a blade of reed grass bent not beneath his feet,
+much less did one ever break, so lightly did he tread.)  Teithi Hên the
+son of Gwynhan (his dominions were swallowed up by the sea, and he
+himself hardly escaped, and he came to Arthur; and his knife had this
+peculiarity, that from the time that he came there no haft would ever
+remain upon it, and owing to this a sickness came over him, and he pined
+away during the remainder of his life, and of this he died).  And
+Carneddyr the son of Govynyon Hên, and Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav
+Gyssevin, Arthur’s champion, and Llysgadrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu Hên
+(uncles unto Arthur were they, his mother’s brothers).  Kulvanawyd the
+son of Goryon, and Llenlleawg Wyddel from the headland of Ganion, and
+Dyvynwal Moel, and Dunard king of the North, Teirnon Twryf Bliant, and
+Tegvan Gloff, and Tegyr Talgellawg, Gwrdinal the son of Ebrei, and
+Morgant Hael, Gwystyl the son of Rhun the son of Nwython, and Llwyddeu
+the son of Nwython, and Gwydre the son of Llwyddeu (Gwenabwy the daughter
+of [Kaw] was his mother, Hueil his uncle stabbed him, and hatred was
+between Hueil and Arthur because of the wound).  Drem the son of Dremidyd
+(when the gnat arose in the morning with the sun, he could see it from
+Gelli Wic in Cornwall, as far off as Pen Blathaon in North Britain).  And
+Eidyol the son of Ner, and Glwyddyn Saer (who constructed Ehangwen,
+Arthur’s Hall).  Kynyr Keinvarvawc (when he was told he had a son born he
+said to his wife, ‘Damsel, if thy son be mine, his heart will be always
+cold, and there will be no warmth in his hands; and he will have another
+peculiarity, if he is my son he will always be stubborn; and he will have
+another peculiarity, when he carries a burden, whether it be large or
+small, no one will be able to see it, either before him or at his back;
+and he will have another peculiarity, no one will be able to resist fire
+and water so well as he will; and he will have another peculiarity, there
+will never be a servant or an officer equal to him’).  Henwas, and
+Henwyneb (an old companion to Arthur).  Gwallgoyc (another; when he came
+to a town, though there were three hundred houses in it, if he wanted
+anything, he would not let sleep come to the eyes of any one whilst he
+remained there).  Berwyn the son of Gerenhir, and Paris king of France,
+and Osla Gyllellvawr (who bore a short broad dagger.  When Arthur and his
+hosts came before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow place where
+they might pass the water, and would lay the sheathed dagger across the
+torrent, and it would form a bridge sufficient for the armies of the
+three Islands of Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, with their
+spoil).  Gwyddawg the son of Menestyr (who slew Kai, and whom Arthur
+slew, together with his brothers, to revenge Kai).  Garanwyn the son of
+Kai, and Amren the son of Bedwyr, and Ely Amyr, and Rheu Rhwyd Dyrys, and
+Rhun Rhudwern, and Eli, and Trachmyr (Arthur’s chief huntsmen).  And
+Llwyddeu the son of Kelcoed, and Hunabwy the son of Gwryon, and Gwynn
+Godyvron, and Gweir Datharwenniddawg, and Gweir the son of Cadell the son
+of Talaryant, and Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir, and Gweir Paladyr Hir (the uncles
+of Arthur, the brothers of his mother).  The sons of Llwch Llawwynnyawg
+(from beyond the raging sea).  Llenlleawg Wyddel, and Ardderchawg
+Prydain.  Cas the son of Saidi, Gwrvan Gwallt Avwyn, and Gwyllennhin the
+king of France, and Gwittart the son of Oedd king of Ireland.  Garselit
+Wyddel, Panawr Pen Bagad, and Ffleudor the son of Nav, Gwynnhyvar mayor
+of Cornwall and Devon (the ninth man that rallied the battle of Camlan).
+Keli and Kueli, and Gilla Coes Hydd (he would clear three hundred acres
+at one bound: the chief leaper of Ireland was he).  Sol, and Gwadyn
+Ossol, and Gwadyn Odyeith.  (Sol could stand all day upon one foot.
+Gwadyn Ossol, if he stood upon the top of the highest mountain in the
+world, it would become a level plain under his feet.  Gwadyn Odyeith, the
+soles of his feet emitted sparks of fire when they struck upon things
+hard, like the heated mass when drawn out of the forge.  He cleared the
+way for Arthur when he came to any stoppage.)  Hirerwm and Hiratrwm.
+(The day they went on a visit three Cantrevs provided for their
+entertainment, and they feasted until noon and drank until night, when
+they went to sleep.  And then they devoured the heads of the vermin
+through hunger, as if they had never eaten anything.  When they made a
+visit they left neither the fat nor the lean, neither the hot nor the
+cold, the sour nor the sweet, the fresh nor the salt, the boiled nor the
+raw.)  Huarwar the son of Aflawn (who asked Arthur such a boon as would
+satisfy him.  It was the third great plague of Cornwall when he received
+it.  None could get a smile from him but when he was satisfied).  Gware
+Gwallt Euryn.  The two cubs of Gast Rhymi, Gwyddrud and Gwyddneu Astrus.
+Sugyn the son of Sugnedydd (who would suck up the sea on which were three
+hundred ships so as to leave nothing but a dry strand.  He was
+broad-chested).  Rhacymwri, the attendant of Arthur (whatever barn he was
+shown, were there the produce of thirty ploughs within it, he would
+strike it with an iron flail until the rafters, the beams, and the boards
+were no better than the small oats in the mow upon the floor of the
+barn).  Dygyflwng and Anoeth Veidawg.  And Hir Eiddyl, and Hir Amreu
+(they were two attendants of Arthur).  And Gwevyl the son of Gwestad (on
+the day that he was sad, he would let one of his lips drop below his
+waist, while he turned up the other like a cap upon his head).  Uchtryd
+Varyf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the eight-and-forty
+rafters which were in Arthur’s Hall).  Elidyr Gyvarwydd.  Yskyrdav and
+Yscudydd (two attendants of Gwenhwyvar were they.  Their feet were swift
+as their thoughts when bearing a message).  Brys the son of Bryssethach
+(from the Hill of the Black Fernbrake in North Britain).  And Grudlwyn
+Gorr.  Bwlch, and Kyfwlch, and Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Kyfwlch, the
+grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch.  (Their three shields were three gleaming
+glitterers; their three spears were three pointed piercers; their three
+swords were three grinding gashers; Glas, Glessic, and Gleisad.  Their
+three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall.  Their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd, and
+Drwgdyddwd, and Llwyrdyddwg.  Their three wives, Och, and Garym, and
+Diaspad.  Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Neved, and Eissiwed.
+Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll.  Their three
+hand-maids, Eheubryd the daughter of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrn the daughter of
+Nerth, Ewaedan the daughter of Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyll the half-man.)
+Dwnn Diessic Unbenn, Eiladyr the son of Pen Llarcau, Kynedyr Wyllt the
+son of Hettwn Talaryant, Sawyl Ben Uchel, Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar,
+Gwalhaved the son of Gwyar, Gwrhyr Gwastawd Ieithoedd (to whom all
+tongues were known), and Kethcrwm the Priest.  Clust the son of
+Clustveinad (though he were buried seven cubits beneath the earth, he
+would hear the ant fifty miles off rise from her nest in the morning).
+Medyr the son of Methredydd (from Gelli Wic he could, in a twinkling,
+shoot the wren through the two legs upon Esgeir Oervel in Ireland).
+Gwiawn Llygad Cath (who could cut a haw from the eye of the gnat without
+hurting him).  Ol the son of Olwydd (seven years before he was born his
+father’s swine were carried off, and when he grew up a man he tracked the
+swine, and brought them back in seven herds).  Bedwini the Bishop (who
+blessed Arthur’s meat and drink).  For the sake of the golden-chained
+daughters of this island.  For the sake of Gwenhwyvar its chief lady, and
+Gwennhwyach her sister, and Rathtyeu the only daughter of Clemenhill, and
+Rhelemon the daughter of Kai, and Tannwen the daughter of Gweir
+Datharwenîddawg.  Gwenn Alarch the daughter of Kynwyl Canbwch.  Eurneid
+the daughter of Clydno Eiddin.  Eneuawc the daughter of Bedwyr.  Enrydreg
+the daughter of Tudvathar.  Gwennwledyr the daughter of Gwaledyr Kyrvach.
+Erddudnid the daughter of Tryffin.  Eurolwen the daughter of Gwdolwyn
+Gorr.  Teleri the daughter of Peul.  Indeg the daughter of Garwy Hir.
+Morvudd the daughter of Urien Rheged.  Gwenllian Deg the majestic maiden.
+Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint.  (She was the most splendid
+maiden in the three Islands of the mighty, and in the three Islands
+adjacent, and for her Gwythyr the son of Greidawl and Gwynn the son of
+Nudd fight every first of May until the day of doom.)  Ellylw the
+daughter of Neol Kynn-Crog (she lived three ages).  Essyllt Vinwen and
+Essyllt Vingul.”  And all these did Kilhwch the son of Kilydd adjure to
+obtain his boon.
+
+Then said Arthur, “Oh! chieftain, I have never heard of the maiden of
+whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will gladly send messengers
+in search of her.  Give me time to seek her.”  And the youth said, “I
+will willingly grant from this night to that at the end of the year to do
+so.”  Then Arthur sent messengers to every land within his dominions to
+seek for the maiden; and at the end of the year Arthur’s messengers
+returned without having gained any knowledge or intelligence concerning
+Olwen more than on the first day.  Then said Kilhwch, “Every one has
+received his boon, and I yet lack mine.  I will depart and bear away thy
+honour with me.”  Then said Kai, “Rash chieftain! dost thou reproach
+Arthur?  Go with us, and we will not part until thou dost either confess
+that the maiden exists not in the world, or until we obtain her.”
+Thereupon Kai rose up.  Kai had this peculiarity, that his breath lasted
+nine nights and nine days under water, and he could exist nine nights and
+nine days without sleep.  A wound from Kai’s sword no physician could
+heal.  Very subtle was Kai.  When it pleased him he could render himself
+as tall as the highest tree in the forest.  And he had another
+peculiarity,—so great was the heat of his nature, that, when it rained
+hardest, whatever he carried remained dry for a handbreadth above and a
+handbreadth below his hand; and when his companions were coldest, it was
+to them as fuel with which to light their fire.
+
+And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any enterprise upon which
+Kai was bound.  None was equal to him in swiftness throughout this island
+except Arthur and Drych Ail Kibddar.  And although he was one-handed,
+three warriors could not shed blood faster than he on the field of
+battle.  Another property he had; his lance would produce a wound equal
+to those of nine opposing lances.
+
+And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, “Go thou upon this expedition
+with the chieftain.”  For as good a guide was he in a land which he had
+never seen as he was in his own.
+
+He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, because he knew all tongues.
+
+He called Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, because he never returned home
+without achieving the adventure of which he went in quest.  He was the
+best of footmen and the best of knights.  He was nephew to Arthur, the
+son of his sister, and his cousin.
+
+And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order that if they went
+into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an illusion over them,
+so that none might see them whilst they could see every one.
+
+They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein they saw a
+great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of the world.  And
+they journeyed that day until the evening, and when they thought they
+were nigh to the castle, they were no nearer to it than they had been in
+the morning.  And the second and the third day they journeyed, and even
+then scarcely could they reach so far.  And when they came before the
+castle, they beheld a vast flock of sheep, which was boundless and
+without an end.  And upon the top of a mound there was a herdsman,
+keeping the sheep.  And a rug made of skins was upon him; and by his side
+was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed nine winters old.  Never had he
+lost even a lamb from his flock, much less a large sheep.  He let no
+occasion ever pass without doing some hurt and harm.  All the dead trees
+and bushes in the plain he burnt with his breath down to the very ground.
+
+Then said Kai, “Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou and salute yonder
+man.”  “Kai,” said he, “I engaged not to go further than thou thyself.”
+“Let us go then together,” answered Kai.  Said Menw the son of
+Teirgwaedd, “Fear not to go thither, for I will cast a spell upon the
+dog, so that he shall injure no one.”  And they went up to the mound
+whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him, “How dost thou fare, O
+herdsman?”  “No less fair be it to you than to me.”  “Truly, art thou the
+chief?”  “There is no hurt to injure me but my own.” {5}  “Whose are the
+sheep that thou dost keep, and to whom does yonder castle belong?”
+“Stupid are ye, truly!  Through the whole world is it known that this is
+the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr.”  “And who art thou?”  “I am called
+Custennin the son of Dyfnedig, and my brother Yspaddaden Penkawr
+oppressed me because of my possessions.  And ye also, who are ye?”  “We
+are an embassy from Arthur, come to seek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden
+Penkawr.”  “Oh men! the mercy of Heaven be upon you, do not that for all
+the world.  None who ever came hither on this quest has returned alive.”
+And the herdsman rose up.  And as he arose, Kilhwch gave unto him a ring
+of gold.  And he sought to put on the ring, but it was too small for him,
+so he placed it in the finger of his glove.  And he went home, and gave
+the glove to his spouse to keep.  And she took the ring from the glove
+when it was given her, and she said, “Whence came this ring, for thou art
+not wont to have good fortune?”  “I went,” said he, “to the sea to seek
+for fish, and lo, I saw a corpse borne by the waves.  And a fairer corpse
+than it did I never behold.  And from its finger did I take this ring.”
+“O man! does the sea permit its dead to wear jewels?  Show me then this
+body.”  “Oh wife, him to whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here in
+the evening.”  “And who is he?” asked the woman, “Kilhwch the son of
+Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd the daughter of Prince
+Anlawdd, his mother, who is come to seek Olwen as his wife.”  And when
+she heard that, her feelings were divided between the joy that she had
+that her nephew, the son of her sister, was coming to her, and sorrow
+because she had never known any one depart alive who had come on that
+quest.
+
+And they went forward to the gate of Custennin the herdsman’s dwelling.
+And when she heard their footsteps approaching, she ran out with joy to
+meet them.  And Kai snatched a billet out of the pile.  And when she met
+them she sought to throw her arms about their necks.  And Kai placed the
+log between her two hands, and she squeezed it so that it became a
+twisted coil.  “Oh woman,” said Kai, “if thou hadst squeezed me thus,
+none could ever again have set their affections on me.  Evil love were
+this.”  They entered into the house, and were served; and soon after they
+all went forth to amuse themselves.  Then the woman opened a stone chest
+that was before the chimney-corner, and out of it arose a youth with
+yellow curling hair.  Said Gwrhyr, “It is a pity to hide this youth.  I
+know that it is not his own crime that is thus visited upon him.”  “This
+is but a remnant,” said the woman.  “Three-and-twenty of my sons has
+Yspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more hope of this one than of the
+others.”  Then said Kai, “Let him come and be a companion with me, and he
+shall not be slain unless I also am slain with him.”  And they ate.  And
+the woman asked them, “Upon what errand come you here?”  “We come to seek
+Olwen for this youth.”  Then said the woman, “In the name of Heaven,
+since no one from the castle hath yet seen you, return again whence you
+came.”  “Heaven is our witness, that we will not return until we have
+seen the maiden.”  Said Kai, “Does she ever come hither, so that she may
+be seen?”  “She comes here every Saturday to wash her head, and in the
+vessel where she washes, she leaves all her rings, and she never either
+comes herself or sends any messengers to fetch them.”
+
+“Will she come here if she is sent to?”  “Heaven knows that I will not
+destroy my soul, nor will I betray those that trust me; unless you will
+pledge me your faith that you will not harm her, I will not send to her.”
+“We pledge it,” said they.  So a message was sent, and she came.
+
+The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and about her
+neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious emeralds and
+rubies.  More yellow was her head than the flower of the broom, and her
+skin was whiter than the foam of the wave, and fairer were her hands and
+her fingers than the blossoms of the wood anemone amidst the spray of the
+meadow fountain.  The eye of the trained hawk, the glance of the
+three-mewed falcon was not brighter than hers.  Her bosom was more snowy
+than the breast of the white swan, her cheek was redder than the reddest
+roses.  Whoso beheld her was filled with her love.  Four white trefoils
+sprung up wherever she trod.  And therefore was she called Olwen.
+
+She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the foremost bench;
+and as soon as he saw her he knew her.  And Kilhwch said unto her, “Ah!
+maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come away with me, lest they
+speak evil of thee and of me.  Many a day have I loved thee.”  “I cannot
+do this, for I have pledged my faith to my father not to go without his
+counsel, for his life will last only until the time of my espousals.
+Whatever is, must be.  But I will give thee advice if thou wilt take it.
+Go, ask me of my father, and that which he shall require of thee, grant
+it, and thou wilt obtain me; but if thou deny him anything, thou wilt not
+obtain me, and it will be well for thee if thou escape with thy life.”
+“I promise all this, if occasion offer,” said he.
+
+She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed her to the
+castle.  And they slew the nine porters that were at the nine gates in
+silence.  And they slew the nine watch-dogs without one of them barking.
+And they went forward to the hall.
+
+“The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee, Yspaddaden Penkawr,”
+said they.  “And you, wherefore come you?”  “We come to ask thy daughter
+Olwen, for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon.”
+“Where are my pages and my servants?  Raise up the forks beneath my two
+eyebrows which have fallen over my eyes, that I may see the fashion of my
+son-in-law.”  And they did so.  “Come hither to-morrow, and you shall
+have an answer.”
+
+They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of the three
+poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them.  And Bedwyr
+caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspaddaden Penkawr grievously with
+it through the knee.  Then he said, “A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly.
+I shall ever walk the worse for his rudeness, and shall ever be without a
+cure.  This poisoned iron pains me like the bite of a gadfly.  Cursed be
+the smith who forged it, and the anvil whereon it was wrought!  So sharp
+is it!”
+
+That night also they took up their abode in the house of Custennin the
+herdsman.  The next day with the dawn they arrayed themselves in haste
+and proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall, and they said,
+“Yspaddaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration of her dower
+and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee and to her two kinswomen
+likewise.  And unless thou wilt do so, thou shalt meet with thy death on
+her account.”  Then he said, “Her four great-grandmothers, and her four
+great-grandsires are yet alive, it is needful that I take counsel of
+them.”  “Be it so,” answered they, “we will go to meat.”  As they rose
+up, he took the second dart that was beside him, and cast it after them.
+And Menw the son of Gwaedd caught it, and flung it back at him, and
+wounded him in the centre of the breast, so that it came out at the small
+of his back.  “A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly,” said he, “the hard
+iron pains me like the bite of a horse-leech.  Cursed be the hearth
+whereon it was heated, and the smith who formed it!  So sharp is it!
+Henceforth, whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my breath,
+and a pain in my chest, and I shall often loathe my food.”  And they went
+to meat.
+
+And the third day they returned to the palace.  And Yspaddaden Penkawr
+said to them, “Shoot not at me again unless you desire death.  Where are
+my attendants?  Lift up the forks of my eyebrows which have fallen over
+my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-law.”  Then they
+arose, and, as they did so, Yspaddaden Penkawr took the third poisoned
+dart and cast it at them.  And Kilhwch caught it and threw it vigorously,
+and wounded him through the eyeball, so that the dart came out at the
+back of his head.  “A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly!  As long as I
+remain alive, my eyesight will be the worse.  Whenever I go against the
+wind, my eyes will water; and peradventure my head will burn, and I shall
+have a giddiness every new moon.  Cursed be the fire in which it was
+forged.  Like the bite of a mad dog is the stroke of this poisoned iron.”
+And they went to meat.
+
+And the next day they came again to the palace, and they said, “Shoot not
+at us any more, unless thou desirest such hurt, and harm, and torture as
+thou now hast, and even more.”  “Give me thy daughter, and if thou wilt
+not give her, thou shalt receive thy death because of her.”  “Where is he
+that seeks my daughter?  Come hither where I may see thee.”  And they
+placed him a chair face to face with him.
+
+Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, “Is it thou that seekest my daughter?”  “It is
+I,” answered Kilhwch.  “I must have thy pledge that thou wilt not do
+towards me otherwise than is just, and when I have gotten that which I
+shall name, my daughter thou shalt have.”  “I promise thee that
+willingly,” said Kilhwch, “name what thou wilt.”  “I will do so,” said
+he.
+
+“Seest thou yonder vast hill?”  “I see it.”  “I require that it be rooted
+up, and that the grubbings be burned for manure on the face of the land,
+and that it be ploughed and sown in one day, and in one day that the
+grain ripen.  And of that wheat I intend to make food and liquor fit for
+the wedding of thee and my daughter.  And all this I require done in one
+day.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which will not be so.
+No husbandman can till or prepare this land, so wild is it, except
+Amaethon the son of Don, and he will not come with thee by his own free
+will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Govannon the son of Don to come to the headland to rid the iron, he will
+do no work of his own good will except for a lawful king, and thou wilt
+not be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the two
+dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked together, to plough the wild land yonder
+stoutly.  He will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not
+be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the
+yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do I require.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the two
+horned oxen, one of which is beyond, and the other this side of the
+peaked mountain, yoked together in the same plough.  And these are
+Nynniaw and Peibaw whom God turned into oxen on account of their sins.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  Seest
+thou yonder red tilled ground?”
+
+“I see it.”
+
+“When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine bushels of flax were
+sown therein, and none has yet sprung up, neither white nor black; and I
+have the measure by me still.  I require to have the flax to sow in the
+new land yonder, that when it grows up it may make a white wimple for my
+daughter’s head, on the day of thy wedding.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  Honey
+that is nine times sweeter than the honey of the virgin swarm, without
+scum and bees, do I require to make bragget for the feast.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“The vessel of Llwyr the son of Llwyryon, which is of the utmost value.
+There is no other vessel in the world that can hold this drink.  Of his
+free will thou wilt not get it, and thou canst not compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  The
+basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir, if the whole world should come together,
+thrice nine men at a time, the meat that each of them desired would be
+found within it.  I require to eat therefrom on the night that my
+daughter becomes thy bride.  He will give it to no one of his own free
+will, and thou canst not compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  The
+horn of Gwlgawd Gododin to serve us with liquor that night.  He will not
+give it of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  The
+harp of Teirtu to play to us that night.  When a man desires that it
+should play, it does so of itself, and when he desires that it should
+cease, it ceases.  And this he will not give of his own free will, and
+thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  The
+cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, the steward of Odgar the son of Aedd, king
+of Ireland, to boil the meat for thy marriage feast.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  It is
+needful for me to wash my head, and shave my beard, and I require the
+tusk of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd to shave myself withal, neither shall I
+profit by its use if it be not plucked alive out of his head.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  There
+is no one in the world that can pluck it out of his head except Odgar the
+son of Aedd, king of Ireland.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  I will
+not trust any one to keep the tusk except Gado of North Britain.  Now the
+threescore Cantrevs of North Britain are under his sway, and of his own
+free will he will not come out of his kingdom, and thou wilt not be able
+to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  I must
+spread out my hair in order to shave it, and it will never be spread out
+unless I have the blood of the jet-black sorceress, the daughter of the
+pure white sorceress, from Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  I will
+not have the blood unless I have it warm, and no vessels will keep warm
+the liquid that is put therein except the bottles of Gwyddolwyd Gorr,
+which preserve the heat of the liquor that is put into them in the east,
+until they arrive at the west.  And he will not give them of his own free
+will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  Some
+will desire fresh milk, and it will not be possible to have fresh milk
+for all, unless we have the bottles of Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd, wherein no
+liquor ever turns sour.  And he will not give them of his own free will,
+and thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is not a comb or scissors with which I can
+arrange my hair, on account of its rankness, except the comb and scissors
+that are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son of Prince Tared.
+He will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to
+compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  It
+will not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth without Drudwyn the whelp of
+Greid, the son of Eri.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is not a leash that can hold him, except the
+leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is no collar that will hold the leash except
+the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  The
+chain of Kilydd Canhastyr to fasten the collar to the leash.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is not a huntsman who can hunt with this dog,
+except Mabon the son of Modron.  He was taken from his mother when three
+nights old, and it is not known where he now is, nor whether he is living
+or dead.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  Gwynn
+Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, that is as swift as the wave, to carry Mabon
+the son of Modron to hunt the boar Trwyth.  He will not give him of his
+own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  Thou
+wilt not get Mabon, for it is not known where he is, unless thou find
+Eidoel, his kinsman in blood, the son of Aer.  For it would be useless to
+seek for him.  He is his cousin.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Garselit the Gwyddelian is the chief huntsman of Ireland; the Twrch
+Trwyth can never be hunted without him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  A
+leash made from the beard of Dillus Varvawc, for that is the only one
+that can hold those two cubs.  And the leash will be of no avail unless
+it be plucked from his beard while he is alive, and twitched out with
+wooden tweezers.  While he lives he will not suffer this to be done to
+him, and the leash will be of no use should he be dead, because it will
+be brittle.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is no huntsman that can hold those two whelps
+except Kynedyr Wyllt, the son of Hettwn Glafyrawc; he is nine times more
+wild than the wildest beast upon the mountains.  Him wilt thou never get,
+neither wilt thou ever get my daughter.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  It is
+not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth without Gwynn the son of Nudd, whom
+God has placed over the brood of devils in Annwvyn, lest they should
+destroy the present race.  He will never be spared thence.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  There
+is not a horse in the world that can carry Gwynn to hunt the Twrch
+Trwyth, except Du, the horse of Mor of Oerveddawg.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  Until
+Gilennhin the king of France shall come, the Twrch Trwyth cannot be
+hunted.  It will be unseemly for him to leave his kingdom for thy sake,
+and he will never come hither.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  The
+Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without the son of Alun Dyved; he is
+well skilled in letting loose the dogs.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  The
+Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Aned and Aethlem.  They are
+as swift as the gale of wind, and they were never let loose upon a beast
+that they did not kill him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; Arthur
+and his companions to hunt the Twrch Trwyth.  He is a mighty man, and he
+will not come for thee, neither wilt thou be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  The
+Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Bwlch, and Kyfwlch [and
+Sefwlch], the grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch.  Their three shields are
+three gleaming glitterers.  Their three spears are three pointed
+piercers.  Their three swords are three griding gashers, Glas, Glessic,
+and Clersag.  Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall.  Their three
+horses, Hwyrdydwg, and Drwgdydwg, and Llwyrdydwg.  Their three wives,
+Och, and Garam, and Diaspad.  Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and
+Vyned, and Eissiwed.  Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and
+Gwaethav Oll.  Their three hand-maids [Eheubryd, the daughter of Kyfwlch;
+Gorasgwrn, the daughter of Nerth; and Gwaedan, the daughter of Kynvelyn].
+These three men shall sound the horn, and all the others shall shout, so
+that all will think that the sky is falling to the earth.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  The
+sword of Gwrnach the Giant; he will never be slain except therewith.  Of
+his own free will he will not give it, either for a price or as a gift,
+and thou wilt never be able to compel him.”
+
+“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think that
+it will not be easy.”
+
+“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights without sleep, in seeking
+this, and if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtain my daughter.”
+
+“Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman Arthur will
+obtain for me all these things.  And I shall gain thy daughter, and thou
+shalt lose thy life.”
+
+“Go forward.  And thou shalt not be chargeable for food or raiment for my
+daughter while thou art seeking these things; and when thou hast
+compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter for thy wife.”
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they beheld a
+vast castle, which was the largest in the world.  And lo, a black man,
+huger than three of the men of this world, came out from the castle.  And
+they spoke unto him, “Whence comest thou, O man?”  “From the castle which
+you see yonder.”  “Whose castle is that?” asked they.  “Stupid are ye
+truly, O men.  There is no one in the world that does not know to whom
+this castle belongs.  It is the castle of Gwrnach the Giant.”  “What
+treatment is there for guests and strangers that alight in that castle?”
+“Oh!  Chieftain, Heaven protect thee.  No guest ever returned thence
+alive, and no one may enter therein unless he brings with him his craft.”
+
+Then they proceeded towards the gate.  Said Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd,
+“Is there a porter?”  “There is.  And thou, if thy tongue be not mute in
+thy head, wherefore dost thou call?”  “Open the gate.”  “I will not open
+it.”  “Wherefore wilt thou not?”  “The knife is in the meat, and the
+drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in the hall of Gwrnach the
+Giant, and except for a craftsman who brings his craft, the gate will not
+be opened to-night.”  “Verily, porter,” then said Kai, “my craft bring I
+with me.”  “What is thy craft?”  “The best burnisher of swords am I in
+the world.”  “I will go and tell this unto Gwrnach the Giant, and I will
+bring thee an answer.”
+
+So the porter went in, and Gwrnach said to him, “Hast thou any news from
+the gate?”  “I have.  There is a party at the door of the gate who desire
+to come in.”  “Didst thou inquire of them if they possessed any art?”  “I
+did inquire,” said he, “and one told me that he was well skilled in the
+burnishing of swords.”  “We have need of him then.  For some time have I
+sought for some one to polish my sword, and could find no one.  Let this
+man enter, since he brings with him his craft.”  The porter thereupon
+returned and opened the gate.  And Kai went in by himself, and he saluted
+Gwrnach the Giant.  And a chair was placed for him opposite to Gwrnach.
+And Gwrnach said to him, “Oh man! is it true that is reported of thee,
+that thou knowest how to burnish swords?”  “I know full well how to do
+so,” answered Kai.  Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to him.  And
+Kai took a blue whetstone from under his arm, and asked him whether he
+would have it burnished white or blue.  “Do with it as it seems good to
+thee, and as thou wouldest if it were thine own.”  Then Kai polished one
+half of the blade and put it in his hand.  “Will this please thee?” asked
+he.  “I would rather than all that is in my dominions that the whole of
+it were like unto this.  It is a marvel to me that such a man as thou
+should be without a companion.”  “Oh! noble sir, I have a companion,
+albeit he is not skilled in this art.”  “Who may he be?”  “Let the porter
+go forth, and I will tell him whereby he may know him.  The head of his
+lance will leave its shaft, and draw blood from the wind, and will
+descend upon its shaft again.”  Then the gate was opened, and Bedwyr
+entered.  And Kai said, “Bedwyr is very skilful, although he knows not
+this art.”
+
+And there was much discourse among those who were without, because that
+Kai and Bedwyr had gone in.  And a young man who was with them, the only
+son of Custennin the herdsman, got in also.  And he caused all his
+companions to keep close to him as he passed the three wards, and until
+he came into the midst of the castle.  And his companions said unto the
+son of Custennin, “Thou hast done this!  Thou art the best of all men.”
+And thenceforth he was called Goreu, the son of Custennin.  Then they
+dispersed to their lodgings, that they might slay those who lodged
+therein, unknown to the Giant.
+
+The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand of Gwrnach the
+Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work.  And the Giant said, “The
+work is good, I am content therewith.”  Said Kai, “It is thy scabbard
+that hath rusted thy sword, give it to me that I may take out the wooden
+sides of it and put in new ones.”  And he took the scabbard from him, and
+the sword in the other hand.  And he came and stood over against the
+Giant, as if he would have put the sword into the scabbard; and with it
+he struck at the head of the Giant, and cut off his head at one blow.
+Then they despoiled the castle, and took from it what goods and jewels
+they would.  And again on the same day, at the beginning of the year,
+they came to Arthur’s Court, bearing with them the sword of Gwrnach the
+Giant.
+
+Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said, “Which of
+these marvels will it be best for us to seek first?”  “It will be best,”
+said they, “to seek Mabon the son of Modron; and he will not be found
+unless we first find Eidoel the son of Aer, his kinsman.”  Then Arthur
+rose up, and the warriors of the Islands of Britain with him, to seek for
+Eidoel; and they proceeded until they came before the Castle of Glivi,
+where Eidoel was imprisoned.  Glivi stood on the summit of his castle,
+and he said, “Arthur, what requirest thou of me, since nothing remains to
+me in this fortress, and I have neither joy nor pleasure in it; neither
+wheat nor oats?  Seek not therefore to do me harm.”  Said Arthur, “Not to
+injure thee came I hither, but to seek for the prisoner that is with
+thee.”  “I will give thee my prisoner, though I had not thought to give
+him up to any one; and therewith shalt thou have my support and my aid.”
+
+His followers said unto Arthur, “Lord, go thou home, thou canst not
+proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as these.”  Then
+said Arthur, “It were well for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to go
+upon this quest, for thou knowest all languages, and art familiar with
+those of the birds and the beasts.  Thou, Eidoel, oughtest likewise to go
+with my men in search of thy cousin.  And as for you, Kai and Bedwyr, I
+have hope of whatever adventure ye are in quest of, that ye will achieve
+it.  Achieve ye this adventure for me.”
+
+They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri.  And Gwrhyr
+adjured her for the sake of Heaven, saying, “Tell me if thou knowest
+aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken when three nights old
+from between his mother and the wall.”  And the Ousel answered, “When I
+first came here, there was a smith’s anvil in this place, and I was then
+a young bird; and from that time no work has been done upon it, save the
+pecking of my beak every evening, and now there is not so much as the
+size of a nut remaining thereof; yet the vengeance of Heaven be upon me,
+if during all that time I have ever heard of the man for whom you
+inquire.  Nevertheless I will do that which is right, and that which it
+is fitting that I should do for an embassy from Arthur.  There is a race
+of animals who were formed before me, and I will be your guide to them.”
+
+So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of Redynvre.  “Stag of
+Redynvre, behold we are come to thee, an embassy from Arthur, for we have
+not heard of any animal older than thou.  Say, knowest thou aught of
+Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when three nights
+old?”  The Stag said, “When first I came hither, there was a plain all
+around me, without any trees save one oak sapling, which grew up to be an
+oak with an hundred branches.  And that oak has since perished, so that
+now nothing remains of it but the withered stump; and from that day to
+this I have been here, yet have I never heard of the man for whom you
+inquire.  Nevertheless, being an embassy from Arthur, I will be your
+guide to the place where there is an animal which was formed before I
+was.”
+
+So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd.  “Owl of
+Cwm Cawlwyd, here is an embassy from Arthur; knowest thou aught of Mabon
+the son of Modron, who was taken after three nights from his mother?”
+“If I knew I would tell you.  When first I came hither, the wide valley
+you see was a wooded glen.  And a race of men came and rooted it up.  And
+there grew there a second wood; and this wood is the third.  My wings,
+are they not withered stumps?  Yet all this time, even until to-day, I
+have never heard of the man for whom you inquire.  Nevertheless, I will
+be the guide of Arthur’s embassy until you come to the place where is the
+oldest animal in this world, and the one that has travelled most, the
+Eagle of Gwern Abwy.”
+
+Gwrhyr said, “Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to thee an embassy from
+Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who
+was taken from his mother when he was three nights old.”  The Eagle said,
+“I have been here for a great space of time, and when I first came hither
+there was a rock here, from the top of which I pecked at the stars every
+evening; and now it is not so much as a span high.  From that day to this
+I have been here, and I have never heard of the man for whom you inquire,
+except once when I went in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw.  And when
+I came there, I struck my talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve
+me as food for a long time.  But he drew me into the deep, and I was
+scarcely able to escape from him.  After that I went with my whole
+kindred to attack him, and to try to destroy him, but he sent messengers,
+and made peace with me; and came and besought me to take fifty fish
+spears out of his back.  Unless he know something of him whom you seek, I
+cannot tell who may.  However, I will guide you to the place where he
+is.”
+
+So they went thither; and the Eagle said, “Salmon of Llyn Llyw, I have
+come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest
+aught concerning Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken away at three
+nights old from his mother.”  “As much as I know I will tell thee.  With
+every tide I go along the river upwards, until I come near to the walls
+of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong as I never found
+elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give credence thereto, let one of
+you go thither upon each of my two shoulders.”  So Kai and Gwrhyr
+Gwalstawt Ieithoedd went upon the two shoulders of the salmon, and they
+proceeded until they came unto the wall of the prison, and they heard a
+great wailing and lamenting from the dungeon.  Said Gwrhyr, “Who is it
+that laments in this house of stone?”  “Alas, there is reason enough for
+whoever is here to lament.  It is Mabon the son of Modron who is here
+imprisoned; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine, neither
+that of Lludd Llaw Ereint, nor that of Greid the son of Eri.”  “Hast thou
+hope of being released for gold or for silver, or for any gifts of
+wealth, or through battle and fighting?”  “By fighting will whatever I
+may gain be obtained.”
+
+Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told him where
+Mabon the son of Modron was imprisoned.  And Arthur summoned the warriors
+of the Island, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester, to the place
+where Mabon was in prison.  Kai and Bedwyr went upon the shoulders of the
+fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked the castle.  And Kai broke
+through the wall into the dungeon, and brought away the prisoner upon his
+back, whilst the fight was going on between the warriors.  And Arthur
+returned home, and Mabon with him at liberty.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Said Arthur, “Which of the marvels will it be best for us now to seek
+first?”  “It will be best to seek for the two cubs of Gast Rhymhi.”  “Is
+it known,” asked Arthur, “where she is?”  “She is in Aber Deu Cleddyf,”
+said one.  Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, in Aber Cleddyf, and
+he inquired of him whether he had heard of her there.  “In what form may
+she be?”  “She is in the form of a she-wolf,” said he; “and with her
+there are two cubs.”  “She has often slain my herds, and she is there
+below in a cave in Aber Cleddyf.”
+
+So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went by land,
+to hunt her.  And they surrounded her and her two cubs, and God did
+change them again for Arthur into their own form.  And the host of Arthur
+dispersed themselves into parties of one and two.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+On a certain day, as Gwythyr the son of Greidawl was walking over a
+mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry.  And when he heard it,
+he sprang forward, and went towards it.  And when he came there, he drew
+his sword, and smote off an ant-hill close to the earth, whereby it
+escaped being burned in the fire.  And the ants said to him, “Receive
+from us the blessing of Heaven, and that which no man can give we will
+give thee.”  Then they fetched the nine bushels of flax-seed which
+Yspaddaden Penkawr had required of Kilhwch, and they brought the full
+measure without lacking any, except one flax-seed, and that the lame
+pismire brought in before night.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon carn on the summit of Plinlimmon, in
+the highest wind that ever was in the world, they looked around them, and
+saw a great smoke towards the south, afar off, which did not bend with
+the wind.  Then said Kai, “By the hand of my friend, behold, yonder is
+the fire of a robber!”  Then they hastened towards the smoke, and they
+came so near to it, that they could see Dillus Varvawc scorching a wild
+boar.  “Behold, yonder is the greatest robber that ever fled from
+Arthur,” said Bedwyr unto Kai.  “Dost thou know him?”  “I do know him,”
+answered Kai, “he is Dillus Varvawc, and no leash in the world will be
+able to hold Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri, save a leash made
+from the beard of him thou seest yonder.  And even that will be useless,
+unless his beard be plucked alive with wooden tweezers; for if dead, it
+will be brittle.”  “What thinkest thou that we should do concerning
+this?” said Bedwyr.  “Let us suffer him,” said Kai, “to eat as much as he
+will of the meat, and after that he will fall asleep.”  And during that
+time they employed themselves in making the wooden tweezers.  And when
+Kai knew certainly that he was asleep, he made a pit under his feet, the
+largest in the world, and he struck him a violent blow, and squeezed him
+into the pit.  And there they twitched out his beard completely with the
+wooden tweezers; and after that they slew him altogether.
+
+And from thence they both went to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, and took the
+leash made of Dillus Varvawc’s beard with them, and they gave it into
+Arthur’s hand.  Then Arthur composed this Englyn—
+
+   Kai made a leash
+   Of Dillus son of Eurei’s beard.
+   Were he alive, thy death he’d be.
+
+And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the Island could
+scarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur.  And thenceforth, neither in
+Arthur’s troubles, nor for the slaying of his men, would Kai come forward
+to his aid for ever after.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Said Arthur, “Which of the marvels is it best for us now to seek?”  “It
+is best for us to seek Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri.”
+
+A little while before this, Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint,
+and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, were betrothed.  And before she had
+become his bride, Gwyn ap Nudd came and carried her away by force; and
+Gwythyr the son of Greidawl gathered his host together, and went to fight
+with Gwyn ap Nudd.  But Gwyn overcame him, and captured Greid the son of
+Eri, and Glinneu the son of Taran, and Gwrgwst Ledlwm, and Dynvarth his
+son.  And he captured Penn the son of Nethawg, and Nwython, and Kyledyr
+Wyllt his son.  And they slew Nwython, and took out his heart, and
+constrained Kyledyr to eat the heart of his father.  And therefrom
+Kyledyr became mad.  When Arthur heard of this, he went to the North, and
+summoned Gwyn ap Nudd before him, and set free the nobles whom he had put
+in prison, and made peace between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of
+Griedawl.  And this was the peace that was made:—that the maiden should
+remain in her father’s house, without advantage to either of them, and
+that Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl should fight for her
+every first of May, from thenceforth until the day of doom, and that
+whichever of them should then be conqueror should have the maiden.
+
+And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he obtained Mygdwn,
+Gweddw’s horse, and the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin.
+
+And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him Mabon the son of
+Mellt, and Gware Gwallt Euryn, to seek the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic.
+And when he had got them, he went to the West of Ireland, in search of
+Gwrgi Seven; and Odgar the son of Aedd king of Ireland went with him.
+And thence went Arthur into the North, and captured Kyledyr Wyllt; and he
+went after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd.  And Mabon the son of Mellt came with
+the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic in his hand, and Drudwyn, the cub of
+Greid the son of Eri.  And Arthur went himself to the chase, leading his
+own dog Cavall.  And Kaw, of North Britain, mounted Arthur’s mare
+Llamrei, and was first in the attack.  Then Kaw, of North Britain,
+wielded a mighty axe, and absolutely daring he came valiantly up to the
+boar, and clave his head in twain.  And Kaw took away the tusk.  Now the
+boar was not slain by the dogs that Yspaddaden had mentioned, but by
+Cavall, Arthur’s own dog.
+
+And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and his host departed
+to Gelli Wic in Cornwall.  And thence he sent Menw the son of Teirgwaedd
+to see if the precious things were between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth,
+since it were useless to encounter him if they were not there.  Albeit it
+was certain where he was, for he had laid waste the third part of
+Ireland.  And Menw went to seek for him, and he met with him in Ireland,
+in Esgeir Oervel.  And Menw took the form of a bird; and he descended
+upon the top of his lair, and strove to snatch away one of the precious
+things from him, but he carried away nothing but one of his bristles.
+And the boar rose up angrily and shook himself so that some of his venom
+fell upon Menw, and he was never well from that day forward.
+
+After this Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of Aedd king of
+Ireland, to ask for the cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, his purveyor.  And
+Odgar commanded him to give it.  But Diwrnach said, “Heaven is my
+witness, if it would avail him anything even to look at it, he should not
+do so.”  And the embassy of Arthur returned from Ireland with this
+denial.  And Arthur set forward with a small retinue, and entered into
+Prydwen, his ship, and went over to Ireland.  And they proceeded into the
+house of Diwrnach Wyddel.  And the hosts of Odgar saw their strength.
+When they had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, Arthur demanded to
+have the cauldron.  And he answered, “If I would have given it to any
+one, I would have given it at the word of Odgar king of Ireland.”
+
+When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose and seized hold of the
+cauldron, and placed it upon the back of Hygwyd, Arthur’s servant, who
+was brother, by the mother’s side, to Arthur’s servant, Cachamwri.  His
+office was always to carry Arthur’s cauldron, and to place fire under it.
+And Llenlleawg Wyddel seized Caledvwlch, and brandished it.  And they
+slew Diwrnach Wyddel and his company.  Then came the Irish and fought
+with them.  And when he had put them to flight, Arthur with his men went
+forward to the ship, carrying away the cauldron full of Irish money.  And
+he disembarked at the house of Llwydden the son of Kelcoed, at Porth
+Kerddin in Dyved.  And there is the measure of the cauldron.
+
+Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were in the three
+Islands of Britain, and in the three Islands adjacent, and all that were
+in France and in Armorica, in Normandy and in the Summer Country, and all
+that were chosen footmen and valiant horsemen.  And with all these he
+went into Ireland.  And in Ireland there was great fear and terror
+concerning him.  And when Arthur had landed in the country, there came
+unto him the saints of Ireland and besought his protection.  And he
+granted his protection unto them, and they gave him their blessing.  Then
+the men of Ireland came unto Arthur, and brought him provisions.  And
+Arthur went as far as Esgeir Oervel in Ireland, to the place where the
+Boar Trwyth was with his seven young pigs.  And the dogs were let loose
+upon him from all sides.  That day until evening the Irish fought with
+him, nevertheless he laid waste the fifth part of Ireland.  And on the
+day following the household of Arthur fought with him, and they were
+worsted by him, and got no advantage.  And the third day Arthur himself
+encountered him, and he fought with him nine nights and nine days without
+so much as killing even one little pig.  The warriors inquired of Arthur
+what was the origin of that swine; and he told them that he was once a
+king, and that God had transformed him into a swine for his sins.
+
+Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to speak with
+him.  And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and alighted upon the top of
+the lair, where he was with the seven young pigs.  And Gwrhyr Gwalstawt
+Ieithoedd asked him, “By him who turned you into this form, if you can
+speak, let some one of you, I beseech you, come and talk with Arthur.”
+Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer to him.  (Now his bristles were like
+silver wire, and whether he went through the wood or through the plain,
+he was to be traced by the glittering of his bristles.)  And this was the
+answer that Grugyn made: “By him who turned us into this form, we will
+not do so, and we will not speak with Arthur.  That we have been
+transformed thus is enough for us to suffer, without your coming here to
+fight with us.”  “I will tell you.  Arthur comes but to fight for the
+comb, and the razor, and the scissors which are between the two ears of
+Twrch Trwyth.”  Said Grugyn, “Except he first take his life, he will
+never have those precious things.  And to-morrow morning we will rise up
+hence, and we will go into Arthur’s country, and there will we do all the
+mischief that we can.”
+
+So they set forth through the sea towards Wales.  And Arthur and his
+hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered Prydwen, that they might
+encounter them without delay.  Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis in
+Dyved, and Arthur came to Mynyw.  The next day it was told to Arthur that
+they had gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing the cattle of
+Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at Aber Gleddyf, of man
+and beast, before the coming of Arthur.
+
+Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as Preseleu, and
+Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and Arthur sent men to hunt
+him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drudwyn the whelp of Greid the son of Eri,
+and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, in another quarter, with the two dogs of
+Glythmyr Ledewic, and Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur’s own dog.  And all
+the warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver.  And there came there
+the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had gained much fame at the
+slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and they went on from Glyn Nyver, and
+came to Cwm Kerwyn.
+
+And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of Arthur’s champions,
+Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc of Allt Clwyd, and Rheidwn the son
+of Eli Atver, and Iscovan Hael.  And after he had slain these men, he
+made a second stand in the same place.  And there he slew Gwydre the son
+of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew the son of Ysgawd, and Iscawyn
+the son of Panon; and there he himself was wounded.
+
+And the next morning before it was day, some of the men came up with him.
+And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr, and Penpingon, three attendants upon
+Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, so that Heaven knows he had not an attendant
+remaining, excepting only Llaesgevyn, a man from whom no one ever derived
+any good.  And together with these he slew many of the men of that
+country, and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur’s chief Architect.
+
+Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he slew Madawc the son
+of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of Tringad, the son of Neved, and Eiryawn
+Penllorau.  Thence he went to Aberteivi, where he made another stand, and
+where he slew Kyflas the son of Kynan, and Gwilenhin king of France.
+Then he went as far as Glyn Ystu, and there the men and the dogs lost
+him.
+
+Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he asked him if he knew
+aught of Twrch Trwyth.  And he said that he did not.
+
+And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as Dyffryn Llychwr.
+And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad closed with them and
+killed all the huntsmen, so that there escaped but one man only.  And
+Arthur and his hosts came to the place where Grugyn and Llwydawg were.
+And there he let loose the whole of the dogs upon them, and with the
+shout and barking that was set up, Twrch Trwyth came to their assistance.
+
+And from the time that they came across the Irish sea, Arthur had never
+got sight of him until then.  So he set men and dogs upon him, and
+thereupon he started off and went to Mynydd Amanw.  And there one of his
+young pigs was killed.  Then they set upon him life for life, and Twrch
+Llawin was slain, and then there was slain another of the swine, Gwys was
+his name.  After that he went on to Dyffryn Amanw, and there Banw and
+Bennwig were killed.  Of all his pigs there went with him alive from that
+place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad.
+
+Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook him there, and he
+made a stand.  And there he slew Echel Forddwytwll, and Garwyli the son
+of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and many men and dogs likewise.  And thence they went
+to Llwch Tawy.  Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from them there, and went to
+Din Tywi.  And thence he proceeded to Ceredigiawn, and Eli and Trachmyr
+with him, and a multitude likewise.  Then he came to Garth Gregyn, and
+there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in the midst of them, and slew Rhudvyw
+Rhys and many others with him.  Then Llwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw,
+and there the men of Armorica met him, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the
+king of Armorica, and Llygatrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur’s uncles, his
+mother’s brothers, and there was he himself slain.
+
+Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and Arthur
+summoned all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary of the Severn,
+and he said to the warriors of this Island, “Twrch Trwyth has slain many
+of my men, but, by the valour of warriors, while I live he shall not go
+into Cornwall.  And I will not follow him any longer, but I will oppose
+him life to life.  Do ye as ye will.”  And he resolved that he would send
+a body of knights, with the dogs of the Island, as far as Euyas, who
+should return thence to the Severn, and that tried warriors should
+traverse the Island, and force him into the Severn.  And Mabon the son of
+Modron came up with him at the Severn, upon Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of
+Gweddw, and Goreu the son of Custennin, and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd;
+this was betwixt Llyn Lliwan and Aber Gwy.  And Arthur fell upon him
+together with the champions of Britain.  And Osla Kyllellvawr drew near,
+and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and Kacmwri the servant of Arthur, and
+Gwyngelli, and they seized hold of him, catching him first by his feet,
+and plunged him in the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him.  On the one
+side, Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed and snatched his razor
+from him, and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him on the other side, upon
+another steed, in the Severn, and took from him the scissors.  But before
+they could obtain the comb, he had regained the ground with his feet, and
+from the moment that he reached the shore, neither dog, nor man, nor
+horse could overtake him until he came to Cornwall.  If they had had
+trouble in getting the jewels from him, much more had they in seeking to
+save the two men from being drowned.  Kacmwri, as they drew him forth,
+was dragged by two millstones into the deep.  And as Osla Kyllellvawr was
+running after the boar, his knife had dropped out of the sheath, and he
+had lost it, and after that, the sheath became full of water, and its
+weight drew him down into the deep, as they were drawing him forth.
+
+Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook the boar in
+Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before was mere play to
+what they encountered in seeking the comb.  But from one difficulty to
+another, the comb was at length obtained.  And then he was hunted from
+Cornwall, and driven straight forward into the deep sea.  And thenceforth
+it was never known whither he went; and Aned and Aethlem with him.  Then
+went Arthur to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, to anoint himself, and to rest
+from his fatigues.
+
+Said Arthur, “Is there any one of the marvels yet unobtained?”  Said one
+of his men, “There is—the blood of the witch Orddu, the daughter of the
+witch Orwen, of Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell.”  Arthur set
+forth towards the North, and came to the place where was the witch’s
+cave.  And Gwyn ab Nudd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, counselled him
+to send Kacmwri, and Hygwyd his brother, to fight with the witch.  And as
+they entered the cave, the witch seized upon them, and she caught Hygwyd
+by the hair of his head, and threw him on the floor beneath her.  And
+Kacmwri caught her by the hair of her head, and dragged her to the earth
+from off Hygwyd, but she turned again upon them both, and drove them both
+out with kicks and with cuffs.
+
+And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants almost slain, and he
+sought to enter the cave; but Gwyn and Gwythyr said unto him, “It would
+not be fitting or seemly for us to see thee squabbling with a hag.  Let
+Hiramreu and Hireidil go to the cave.”  So they went.  But if great was
+the trouble of the first two that went, much greater was that of these
+two.  And Heaven knows that not one of the four could move from the spot,
+until they placed them all upon Llamrei, Arthur’s mare.  And then Arthur
+rushed to the door of the cave, and at the door he struck at the witch,
+with Carnwennan his dagger, and clove her in twain, so that she fell in
+two parts.  And Kaw, of North Britain, took the blood of the witch and
+kept it.
+
+Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu the son of Custennin with him, and as
+many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr.  And they took the marvels with
+them to his court.  And Kaw of North Britain came and shaved his beard,
+skin, and flesh clean off to the very bone from ear to ear.  “Art thou
+shaved, man?” said Kilhwch.  “I am shaved,” answered he.  “Is thy
+daughter mine now?”  “She is thine,” said he, “but therefore needest thou
+not thank me, but Arthur who hath accomplished this for thee.  By my free
+will thou shouldest never have had her, for with her I lose my life.”
+Then Goreu the son of Custennin seized him by the hair of his head, and
+dragged him after him to the keep, and cut off his head and placed it on
+a stake on the citadel.  Then they took possession of his castle, and of
+his treasures.
+
+And that night Olwen became Kilhwch’s bride, and she continued to be his
+wife as long as she lived.  And the hosts of Arthur dispersed themselves,
+each man to his own country.  And thus did Kilhwch obtain Olwen, the
+daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.
+
+
+
+
+THE DREAM OF RHONABWY
+
+
+Madawc the son of Maredudd possessed Powys within its boundaries, from
+Porfoed to Gwauan in the uplands of Arwystli.  And at that time he had a
+brother, Iorwerth the son of Maredudd, in rank not equal to himself.  And
+Iorwerth had great sorrow and heaviness because of the honour and power
+that his brother enjoyed, which he shared not.  And he sought his fellows
+and his foster-brothers, and took counsel with them what he should do in
+this matter.  And they resolved to dispatch some of their number to go
+and seek a maintenance for him.  Then Madawc offered him to become Master
+of the Household and to have horses, and arms, and honour, and to fare
+like as himself.  But Iorwerth refused this.
+
+And Iorwerth made an inroad into Loegria, slaying the inhabitants, and
+burning houses, and carrying away prisoners.  And Madawc took counsel
+with the men of Powys, and they determined to place an hundred men in
+each of the three Commots of Powys to seek for him.  And thus did they in
+the plains of Powys from Aber Ceirawc, and in Allictwn Ver, and in Rhyd
+Wilure, on the Vyrnwy, the three best Commots of Powys.  So he was none
+the better, he nor his household, in Powys, nor in the plains thereof.
+And they spread these men over the plains as far as Nillystwn Trevan.
+
+Now one of the men who was upon this quest was called Rhonabwy.  And
+Rhonabwy and Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a man of Mawddwy, and Cadwgan Vras, a man
+of Moelvre in Kynlleith, came together to the house of Heilyn Goch the
+son of Cadwgan the son of Iddon.  And when they came near to the house,
+they saw an old hall, very black and having an upright gable, whence
+issued a great smoke; and on entering, they found the floor full of
+puddles and mounds; and it was difficult to stand thereon, so slippery
+was it with the mire of cattle.  And where the puddles were, a man might
+go up to his ankles in water and dirt.  And there were boughs of holly
+spread over the floor, whereof the cattle had browsed the sprigs.  When
+they came to the hall of the house, they beheld cells full of dust, and
+very gloomy, and on one side an old hag making a fire.  And whenever she
+felt cold, she cast a lapful of chaff upon the fire, and raised such a
+smoke, that it was scarcely to be borne, as it rose up the nostrils.  And
+on the other side was a yellow calf-skin on the floor; a main privilege
+was it to any one who should get upon that hide.
+
+And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where were the people of
+the house.  And the hag spoke not, but muttered.  Thereupon behold the
+people of the house entered; a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man, with a
+burthen of faggots on his back, and a pale slender woman, also carrying a
+bundle under her arm.  And they barely welcomed the men, and kindled a
+fire with the boughs.  And the woman cooked something, and gave them to
+eat, barley bread, and cheese, and milk and water.
+
+And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was hardly possible
+to go forth with safety.  And being weary with their journey, they laid
+themselves down and sought to sleep.  And when they looked at the couch,
+it seemed to be made but of a little coarse straw full of dust and
+vermin, with the stems of boughs sticking up there-through, for the
+cattle had eaten all the straw that was placed at the head and the foot.
+And upon it was stretched an old russet-coloured rug, threadbare and
+ragged; and a coarse sheet, full of slits, was upon the rug, and an
+ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn-out cover upon the sheet.  And after much
+suffering from the vermin, and from the discomfort of their couch, a
+heavy sleep fell on Rhonabwy’s companions.  But Rhonabwy, not being able
+either to sleep or to rest, thought he should suffer less if he went to
+lie upon the yellow calf-skin that was stretched out on the floor.  And
+there he slept.
+
+As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him that he was
+journeying with his companions across the plain of Argyngroeg, and he
+thought that he went towards Rhyd y Groes on the Severn.  As he
+journeyed, he heard a mighty noise, the like whereof heard he never
+before; and looking behind him, he beheld a youth with yellow curling
+hair, and with his beard newly trimmed, mounted on a chestnut horse,
+whereof the legs were grey from the top of the forelegs, and from the
+bend of the hindlegs downwards.  And the rider wore a coat of yellow
+satin sewn with green silk, and on his thigh was a gold-hilted sword,
+with a scabbard of new leather of Cordova, belted with the skin of the
+deer, and clasped with gold.  And over this was a scarf of yellow satin
+wrought with green silk, the borders whereof were likewise green.  And
+the green of the caparison of the horse, and of his rider, was as green
+as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the yellow was as yellow as the
+blossom of the broom.  So fierce was the aspect of the knight, that fear
+seized upon them, and they began to flee.  And the knight pursued them.
+And when the horse breathed forth, the men became distant from him, and
+when he drew in his breath, they were drawn near to him, even to the
+horse’s chest.  And when he had overtaken them, they besought his mercy.
+“You have it gladly,” said he, “fear nought.”  “Ha, chieftain, since thou
+hast mercy upon me, tell me also who thou art,” said Rhonabwy.  “I will
+not conceal my lineage from thee, I am Iddawc the son of Mynyo, yet not
+by my name, but by my nickname am I best known.”  “And wilt thou tell us
+what thy nickname is?”  “I will tell you; it is Iddawc Cordd Prydain.”
+“Ha, chieftain,” said Rhonabwy, “why art thou called thus?”  “I will tell
+thee.  I was one of the messengers between Arthur and Medrawd his nephew,
+at the battle of Camlan; and I was then a reckless youth, and through my
+desire for battle, I kindled strife between them, and stirred up wrath,
+when I was sent by Arthur the Emperor to reason with Medrawd, and to show
+him, that he was his foster-father and his uncle, and to seek for peace,
+lest the sons of the Kings of the Island of Britain, and of the nobles,
+should be slain.  And whereas Arthur charged me with the fairest sayings
+he could think of, I uttered unto Medrawd the harshest I could devise.
+And therefore am I called Iddawc Cordd Prydain, for from this did the
+battle of Camlan ensue.  And three nights before the end of the battle of
+Camlan I left them, and went to the Llech Las in North Britain to do
+penance.  And there I remained doing penance seven years, and after that
+I gained pardon.”
+
+Then lo! they heard a mighty sound which was much louder than that which
+they had heard before, and when they looked round towards the sound, they
+beheld a ruddy youth, without beard or whiskers, noble of mien, and
+mounted on a stately courser.  And from the shoulders and the front of
+the knees downwards the horse was bay.  And upon the man was a dress of
+red satin wrought with yellow silk, and yellow were the borders of his
+scarf.  And such parts of his apparel and of the trappings of his horse
+as were yellow, as yellow were they as the blossom of the broom, and such
+as were red, were as ruddy as the ruddiest blood in the world.
+
+Then, behold the horseman overtook them, and he asked of Iddawc a share
+of the little men that were with him.  “That which is fitting for me to
+grant I will grant, and thou shalt be a companion to them as I have
+been.”  And the horseman went away.  “Iddawc,” inquired Rhonabwy, “who
+was that horseman?”  “Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach.”
+
+And they journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as far as the ford of
+Rhyd y Groes on the Severn.  And for a mile around the ford on both sides
+of the road, they saw tents and encampments, and there was the clamour of
+a mighty host.  And they came to the edge of the ford, and there they
+beheld Arthur sitting on a flat island below the ford, having Bedwini the
+Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw on the other.
+And a tall, auburn-haired youth stood before him, with his sheathed sword
+in his hand, and clad in a coat and cap of jet-black satin.  And his face
+was white as ivory, and his eyebrows black as jet, and such part of his
+wrist as could be seen between his glove and his sleeve, was whiter than
+the lily, and thicker than a warrior’s ankle.
+
+Then came Iddawc and they that were with him, and stood before Arthur and
+saluted him.  “Heaven grant thee good,” said Arthur.  “And where, Iddawc,
+didst thou find these little men?”  “I found them, lord, up yonder on the
+road.”  Then the Emperor smiled.  “Lord,” said Iddawc, “wherefore dost
+thou laugh?”  “Iddawc,” replied Arthur, “I laugh not; but it pitieth me
+that men of such stature as these should have this island in their
+keeping, after the men that guarded it of yore.”  Then said Iddawc,
+“Rhonabwy, dost thou see the ring with a stone set in it, that is upon
+the Emperor’s hand?”  “I see it,” he answered.  “It is one of the
+properties of that stone to enable thee to remember that thou seest here
+to-night, and hadst thou not seen the stone, thou wouldest never have
+been able to remember aught thereof.”
+
+After this they saw a troop coming towards the ford.  “Iddawc,” inquired
+Rhonabwy, “to whom does yonder troop belong?”  “They are the fellows of
+Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach.  And these men are honourably
+served with mead and bragget, and are freely beloved by the daughters of
+the kings of the Island of Britain.  And this they merit, for they were
+ever in the front and the rear in every peril.”  And he saw but one hue
+upon the men and the horses of this troop, for they were all as red as
+blood.  And when one of the knights rode forth from the troop, he looked
+like a pillar of fire glancing athwart the sky.  And this troop encamped
+above the ford.
+
+Then they beheld another troop coming towards the ford, and these from
+their horses’ chests upwards were whiter than the lily, and below blacker
+than jet.  And they saw one of these knights go before the rest, and spur
+his horse into the ford in such a manner that the water dashed over
+Arthur and the Bishop, and those holding counsel with them, so that they
+were as wet as if they had been drenched in the river.  And as he turned
+the head of his horse, the youth who stood before Arthur struck the horse
+over the nostrils with his sheathed sword, so that, had it been with the
+bare blade, it would have been a marvel if the bone had not been wounded
+as well as the flesh.  And the knight drew his sword half out of the
+scabbard, and asked of him, “Wherefore didst thou strike my horse?
+Whether was it in insult or in counsel unto me?”  “Thou dost indeed lack
+counsel.  What madness caused thee to ride so furiously as to dash the
+water of the ford over Arthur, and the consecrated Bishop, and their
+counsellors, so that they were as wet as if they had been dragged out of
+the river?”  “As counsel then will I take it.”  So he turned his horse’s
+head round towards his army.
+
+“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who was yonder knight?”  “The most eloquent and
+the wisest youth that is in this island; Adaon, the son of Taliesin.”
+“Who was the man that struck his horse?”  “A youth of froward nature;
+Elphin, the son of Gwyddno.”
+
+Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing speech, saying
+that it was a marvel that so vast a host should be assembled in so narrow
+a space, and that it was a still greater marvel that those should be
+there at that time who had promised to be by mid-day in the battle of
+Badon, fighting with Osla Gyllellvawr.  “Whether thou mayest choose to
+proceed or not, I will proceed.”  “Thou sayest well,” said Arthur, “and
+we will go altogether.”  “Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who was the man who
+spoke so marvellously unto Arthur erewhile?”  “A man who may speak as
+boldly as he listeth, Caradawc Vreichvras, the son of Llyr Marini, his
+chief counsellor and his cousin.”
+
+Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse, and that mighty host
+moved forward, each troop in its order, towards Cevndigoll.  And when
+they came to the middle of the ford of the Severn, Iddawc turned his
+horse’s head, and Rhonabwy looked along the valley of the Severn.  And he
+beheld two fair troops coming towards the ford.  One troop there came of
+brilliant white, whereof every one of the men had a scarf of white satin
+with jet-black borders.  And the knees and the tops of the shoulders of
+their horses were jet-black, though they were of a pure white in every
+other part.  And their banners were pure white, with black points to them
+all.
+
+“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who are yonder pure white troop?”  “They are
+the men of Norway, and March the son of Meirchion is their prince.  And
+he is cousin unto Arthur.”  And further on he saw a troop, whereof each
+man wore garments of jet-black, with borders of pure white to every
+scarf; and the tops of the shoulders and the knees of their horses were
+pure white.  And their banners were jet-black with pure white at the
+point of each.
+
+“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who are the jet-black troop yonder?”  “They are
+the men of Denmark, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd is their prince.”
+
+And when they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his army of mighty ones
+dismounted below Caer Badou, and he perceived that he and Iddawc
+journeyed the same road as Arthur.  And after they had dismounted he
+heard a great tumult and confusion amongst the host, and such as were
+then at the flanks turned to the centre, and such as had been in the
+centre moved to the flanks.  And then, behold, he saw a knight coming,
+clad, both he and his horse, in mail, of which the rings were whiter than
+the whitest lily, and the rivets redder than the ruddiest blood.  And he
+rode amongst the host.
+
+“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “will yonder host flee?”  “King Arthur never
+fled, and if this discourse of thine were heard, thou wert a lost man.
+But as to the knight whom thou seest yonder, it is Kai.  The fairest
+horseman is Kai in all Arthur’s Court; and the men who are at the front
+of the army hasten to the rear to see Kai ride, and the men who are in
+the centre flee to the side, from the shock of his horse.  And this is
+the cause of the confusion of the host.”
+
+Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of Cornwall, and behold
+he arose with the sword of Arthur in his hand.  And the similitude of two
+serpents was upon the sword in gold.  And when the sword was drawn from
+its scabbard, it seemed as if two flames of fire burst forth from the
+jaws of the serpents, and then, so wonderful was the sword, that it was
+hard for any one to look upon it.  And the host became still, and the
+tumult ceased, and the Earl returned to the tent.
+
+“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who is the man who bore the sword of Arthur?”
+“Kadwr, the Earl of Cornwall, whose duty it is to arm the King on the
+days of battle and warfare.”
+
+And they heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn, Arthur’s servant, a
+red, rough, ill-favoured man, having red whiskers with bristly hairs.
+And behold he came upon a tall red horse with the mane parted on each
+side, and he brought with him a large and beautiful sumpter pack.  And
+the huge red youth dismounted before Arthur, and he drew a golden chair
+out of the pack, and a carpet of diapered satin.  And he spread the
+carpet before Arthur, and there was an apple of ruddy gold at each corner
+thereof, and he placed the chair upon the carpet.  And so large was the
+chair that three armed warriors might have sat therein.  Gwenn was the
+name of the carpet, and it was one of its properties that whoever was
+upon it no one could see him, and he could see every one.  And it would
+retain no colour but its own.
+
+And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of Urien was standing
+before him.  “Owain,” said Arthur, “wilt thou play chess?”  “I will,
+Lord,” said Owain.  And the red youth brought the chess for Arthur and
+Owain; golden pieces and a board of silver.  And they began to play.
+
+And while they were thus, and when they were best amused with their game,
+behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and the figure of a
+jet-black serpent on the top of the tent, and red glaring venomous eyes
+in the head of the serpent, and a red flaming tongue.  And there came a
+young page with yellow curling hair, and blue eyes, and a newly-springing
+beard, wearing a coat and a surcoat of yellow satin, and hose of thin
+greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over his hose shoes of
+parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps with golden clasps.  And
+he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a golden hilt, in a scabbard of
+black leather tipped with fine gold.  And he came to the place where the
+Emperor and Owain were playing at chess.
+
+And the youth saluted Owain.  And Owain marvelled that the youth should
+salute him and should not have saluted the Emperor Arthur.  And Arthur
+knew what was in Owain’s thought.  And he said to Owain, “Marvel not that
+the youth salutes thee now, for he saluted me erewhile; and it is unto
+thee that his errand is.”  Then said the youth unto Owain, “Lord, is it
+with thy leave that the young pages and attendants of the Emperor harass
+and torment and worry thy Ravens?  And if it be not with thy leave, cause
+the Emperor to forbid them.”  “Lord,” said Owain, “thou hearest what the
+youth says; if it seem good to thee, forbid them from my Ravens.”  “Play
+thy game,” said he.  Then the youth returned to the tent.
+
+That game did they finish, and another they began, and when they were in
+the midst of the game, behold, a ruddy young man with auburn curling hair
+and large eyes, well-grown, and having his beard new-shorn, came forth
+from a bright yellow tent, upon the summit of which was the figure of a
+bright red lion.  And he was clad in a coat of yellow satin, falling as
+low as the small of his leg, and embroidered with threads of red silk.
+And on his feet were hose of fine white buckram, and buskins of black
+leather were over his hose, whereon were golden clasps.  And in his hand
+a huge, heavy, three-edged sword, with a scabbard of red deer-hide,
+tipped with gold.  And he came to the place where Arthur and Owain were
+playing at chess.  And he saluted him.  And Owain was troubled at his
+salutation, but Arthur minded it no more than before.  And the youth said
+unto Owain, “Is it not against thy will that the attendants of the
+Emperor harass thy Ravens, killing some and worrying others?  If against
+thy will it be, beseech him to forbid them.”  “Lord,” said Owain, “forbid
+thy men, if it seem good to thee.”  “Play thy game,” said the Emperor.
+And the youth returned to the tent.
+
+And that game was ended and another begun.  And as they were beginning
+the first move of the game, they beheld at a small distance from them a
+tent speckled yellow, the largest ever seen, and the figure of an eagle
+of gold upon it, and a precious stone on the eagle’s head.  And coming
+out of the tent, they saw a youth with thick yellow hair upon his head,
+fair and comely, and a scarf of blue satin upon him, and a brooch of gold
+in the scarf upon his right shoulder as large as a warrior’s middle
+finger.  And upon his feet were hose of fine Totness, and shoes of
+parti-coloured leather, clasped with gold, and the youth was of noble
+bearing, fair of face, with ruddy cheeks and large hawk’s eyes.  In the
+hand of the youth was a mighty lance, speckled yellow, with a
+newly-sharpened head; and upon the lance a banner displayed.
+
+Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to the place where
+Arthur was playing at chess with Owain.  And they perceived that he was
+wroth.  And thereupon he saluted Owain, and told him that his Ravens had
+been killed, the chief part of them, and that such of them as were not
+slain were so wounded and bruised that not one of them could raise its
+wings a single fathom above the earth.  “Lord,” said Owain, “forbid thy
+men.”  “Play,” said he, “if it please thee.”  Then said Owain to the
+youth, “Go back, and wherever thou findest the strife at the thickest,
+there lift up the banner, and let come what pleases Heaven.”
+
+So the youth returned back to the place where the strife bore hardest
+upon the Ravens, and he lifted up the banner; and as he did so they all
+rose up in the air, wrathful and fierce and high of spirit, clapping
+their wings in the wind, and shaking off the weariness that was upon
+them.  And recovering their energy and courage, furiously and with
+exultation did they, with one sweep, descend upon the heads of the men,
+who had erewhile caused them anger and pain and damage, and they seized
+some by the heads and others by the eyes, and some by the ears, and
+others by the arms, and carried them up into the air; and in the air
+there was a mighty tumult with the flapping of the wings of the
+triumphant Ravens, and with their croaking; and there was another mighty
+tumult with the groaning of the men, that were being torn and wounded,
+and some of whom were slain.
+
+And Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they played at chess;
+and, looking, they perceived a knight upon a dun-coloured horse coming
+towards them.  And marvellous was the hue of the dun horse.  Bright red
+was his right shoulder, and from the top of his legs to the centre of his
+hoof was bright yellow.  Both the knight and his horse were fully
+equipped with heavy foreign armour.  The clothing of the horse from the
+front opening upwards was of bright red sendal, and from thence opening
+downwards was of bright yellow sendal.  A large gold-hilted one-edged
+sword had the youth upon his thigh, in a scabbard of light blue, and
+tipped with Spanish laton.  The belt of the sword was of dark green
+leather with golden slides and a clasp of ivory upon it, and a buckle of
+jet-black upon the clasp.  A helmet of gold was on the head of the
+knight, set with precious stones of great virtue, and at the top of the
+helmet was the image of a flame-coloured leopard with two ruby-red stones
+in its head, so that it was astounding for a warrior, however stout his
+heart, to look at the face of the leopard, much more at the face of the
+knight.  He had in his hand a blue-shafted lance, but from the haft to
+the point it was stained crimson-red with the blood of the Ravens and
+their plumage.
+
+The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain were seated at chess.
+And they perceived that he was harassed and vexed and weary as he came
+towards them.  And the youth saluted Arthur, and told him that the Ravens
+of Owain were slaying his young men and attendants.  And Arthur looked at
+Owain and said, “Forbid thy Ravens.”  “Lord,” answered Owain, “play thy
+game.”  And they played.  And the knight returned back towards the
+strife, and the Ravens were not forbidden any more than before.
+
+And when they had played awhile, they heard a mighty tumult, and a
+wailing of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as they carried the men in
+their strength into the air, and, tearing them betwixt them, let them
+fall piecemeal to the earth.  And during the tumult they saw a knight
+coming towards them, on a light grey horse, and the left foreleg of the
+horse was jet-black to the centre of his hoof.  And the knight and the
+horse were fully accoutred with huge heavy blue armour.  And a robe of
+honour of yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and the borders of
+the robe were blue.  And the housings of the horse were jet-black, with
+borders of bright yellow.  And on the thigh of the youth was a sword,
+long, and three-edged, and heavy.  And the scabbard was of red cut
+leather, and the belt of new red deer-skin, having upon it many golden
+slides and a buckle of the bone of the sea-horse, the tongue of which was
+jet-black.  A golden helmet was upon the head of the knight, wherein were
+set sapphire-stones of great virtue.  And at the top of the helmet was
+the figure of a flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red tongue, issuing
+above a foot from his mouth, and with venomous eyes, crimson-red, in his
+head.  And the knight came, bearing in his hand a thick ashen lance, the
+head whereof, which had been newly steeped in blood, was overlaid with
+silver.
+
+And the youth saluted the Emperor: “Lord,” said he, “carest thou not for
+the slaying of thy pages, and thy young men, and the sons of the nobles
+of the Island of Britain, whereby it will be difficult to defend this
+island from henceforward for ever?”  “Owain,” said Arthur, “forbid thy
+Ravens.”  “Play this game, Lord,” said Owain.
+
+So they finished the game and began another; and as they were finishing
+that game, lo, they heard a great tumult and a clamour of armed men, and
+a croaking of Ravens, and a flapping of wings in the air, as they flung
+down the armour entire to the ground, and the men and the horses
+piecemeal.  Then they saw coming a knight on a lofty-headed piebald
+horse.  And the left shoulder of the horse was of bright red, and its
+right leg from the chest to the hollow of the hoof was pure white.  And
+the knight and horse were equipped with arms of speckled yellow,
+variegated with Spanish laton.  And there was a robe of honour upon him,
+and upon his horse, divided in two parts, white and black, and the
+borders of the robe of honour were of golden purple.  And above the robe
+he wore a sword three-edged and bright, with a golden hilt.  And the belt
+of the sword was of yellow goldwork, having a clasp upon it of the eyelid
+of a black sea-horse, and a tongue of yellow gold to the clasp.  Upon the
+head of the knight was a bright helmet of yellow laton, with sparkling
+stones of crystal in it, and at the crest of the helmet was the figure of
+a griffin, with a stone of many virtues in its head.  And he had an ashen
+spear in his hand, with a round shaft, coloured with azure blue.  And the
+head of the spear was newly stained with blood, and was overlaid with
+fine silver.
+
+Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur was, and he told him
+that the Ravens had slain his household and the sons of the chief men of
+this island, and he besought him to cause Owain to forbid his Ravens.
+And Arthur besought Owain to forbid them.  Then Arthur took the golden
+chessmen that were upon the board, and crushed them until they became as
+dust.  Then Owain ordered Gwres the son of Rheged to lower his banner.
+So it was lowered, and all was peace.
+
+Then Rhonabwy inquired of Iddawc who were the first three men that came
+to Owain, to tell him his Ravens were being slain.  Said Iddawc, “They
+were men who grieved that Owain should suffer loss, his fellow-chieftains
+and companions, Selyv the son of Kynan Garwyn of Powys, and Gwgawn
+Gleddyvrudd, and Gwres the son of Rheged, he who bears the banner in the
+day of battle and strife.”  “Who,” said Rhonabwy, “were the last three
+men who came to Arthur, and told him that the Ravens were slaughtering
+his men?”  “The best of men,” said Iddawc, “and the bravest, and who
+would grieve exceedingly that Arthur should have damage in aught;
+Blathaon the son of Mawrheth, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince
+Deorthach, and Hyveidd Unllenn.”
+
+And with that behold four-and-twenty knights came from Osla Gyllellvawr,
+to crave a truce of Arthur for a fortnight and a month.  And Arthur rose
+and went to take counsel.  And he came to where a tall, auburn,
+curly-headed man was a little way off, and there he assembled his
+counsellors.  Bedwini, the Bishop, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and
+March the son of Meirchawn, and Caradawc Vreichvras, and Gwalchmai the
+son of Gwyar, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of
+Prince Deorthach, and Rhiogan the son of the King of Ireland, and
+Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav, Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, Gwilym the son
+of Rhwyf Freinc, and Daned the son of Ath, and Goreu Custennin, and Mabon
+the son of Modron, and Peredur Paladyr Hir, and Hyveidd Unllenn, and
+Twrch the son of Perif, and Nerth the son of Kadarn, and Gobrwy the son
+of Echel Vorddwyttwll, Gwair the son of Gwestyl, and Gadwy the son of
+Geraint, Trystan the son of Tallwch, Moryen Manawc, Granwen the son of
+Llyr, and Llacheu the son of Arthur, and Llawvrodedd Varvawc, and Kadwr
+Earl of Cornwall, Morvran the son of Tegid, and Rhyawd the son of
+Morgant, and Dyvyr the son of Alun Dyved, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd,
+Adaon the son of Taliesin, Llary the son of Kasnar Wledig, and Fflewddur
+Fflam, and Greidawl Galldovydd, Gilbert the son of Kadgyffro, Menw the
+son of Teirgwaedd, Gwrthmwl Wledig, Cawrdav the son of Caradawc
+Vreichvras, Gildas the son of Kaw, Kadyriaith the son of Saidi, and many
+of the men of Norway and Denmark, and many of the men of Greece, and a
+crowd of the men of the host came to that council.
+
+“Iddawc,” said Rhonabwy, “who was the auburn haired man to whom they came
+just now?”  “Rhun the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, a man whose prerogative it
+is, that he may join in counsel with all.”  “And wherefore did they admit
+into counsel with men of such dignity as are yonder a stripling so young
+as Kadyriaith the son of Saidi?”  “Because there is not throughout
+Britain a man better skilled in counsel than he.”
+
+Thereupon, behold, bards came and recited verses before Arthur, and no
+man understood those verses but Kadyriaith only, save that they were in
+Arthur’s praise.
+
+And lo, there came four-and-twenty asses with their burdens of gold and
+of silver, and a tired way-worn man with each of them, bringing tribute
+to Arthur from the Islands of Greece.  Then Kadyriaith the son of Saidi
+besought that a truce might be granted to Osla Gyllellvawr for the space
+of a fortnight and a month, and that the asses and the burdens they
+carried might be given to the bards, to be to them as the reward for
+their stay and that their verse might be recompensed during the time of
+the truce.  And thus it was settled.
+
+“Rhonabwy,” said Iddawc, “would it not be wrong to forbid a youth who can
+give counsel so liberal as this from coming to the councils of his Lord?”
+
+Then Kai arose, and he said, “Whosoever will follow Arthur, let him be
+with him to-night in Cornwall, and whosoever will not, let him be opposed
+to Arthur even during the truce.”  And through the greatness of the
+tumult that ensued, Rhonabwy awoke.  And when he awoke he was upon the
+yellow calf-skin, having slept three nights and three days.
+
+And this tale is called the Dream of Rhonabwy.  And this is the reason
+that no one knows the dream without a book, neither bard nor gifted seer;
+because of the various colours that were upon the horses, and the many
+wondrous colours of the arms and of the panoply, and of the precious
+scarfs, and of the virtue-bearing stones.
+
+
+
+
+PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED
+
+
+Pwyll PRINCE OF DYVED was lord of the seven Cantrevs of Dyved; and once
+upon a time he was at Narberth his chief palace, and he was minded to
+go and hunt, and the part of his dominions in which it pleased him to
+hunt was Glyn Cuch.  So he set forth from Narberth that night, and went
+as far as Llwyn Diarwyd.  And that night he tarried there, and early on
+the morrow he rose and came to Glyn Cuch, when he let loose the dogs in
+the wood, and sounded the horn, and began the chase.  And as he
+followed the dogs, he lost his companions; and whilst he listened to
+the hounds, he heard the cry of other hounds, a cry different from his
+own, and coming in the opposite direction.
+
+And he beheld a glade in the wood forming a level plain, and as his dogs
+came to the edge of the glade, he saw a stag before the other dogs.  And
+lo, as it reached the middle of the glade, the dogs that followed the
+stag overtook it and brought it down.  Then looked he at the colour of
+the dogs, staying not to look at the stag, and of all the hounds that he
+had seen in the world, he had never seen any that were like unto these.
+For their hair was of a brilliant shining white, and their ears were red;
+and as the whiteness of their bodies shone, so did the redness of their
+ears glisten.  And he came towards the dogs, and drove away those that
+had brought down the stag, and set his own dogs upon it.
+
+And as he was setting on his dogs he saw a horseman coming towards him
+upon a large light-grey steed, with a hunting horn round his neck, and
+clad in garments of grey woollen in the fashion of a hunting garb.  And
+the horseman drew near and spoke unto him thus.  “Chieftain,” said he, “I
+know who thou art, and I greet thee not.”  “Peradventure,” said Pwyll,
+“thou art of such dignity that thou shouldest not do so.”  “Verily,”
+answered he, “it is not my dignity that prevents me.”  “What is it then,
+O Chieftain?” asked he.  “By Heaven, it is by reason of thine own
+ignorance and want of courtesy.”  “What discourtesy, Chieftain, hast thou
+seen in me?”  “Greater discourtesy saw I never in man,” said he, “than to
+drive away the dogs that were killing the stag and to set upon it thine
+own.  This was discourteous, and though I may not be revenged upon thee,
+yet I declare to Heaven that I will do thee more dishonour than the value
+of an hundred stags.”  “O Chieftain,” he replied, “if I have done ill I
+will redeem thy friendship.”  “How wilt thou redeem it?”  “According as
+thy dignity may be, but I know not who thou art?”  “A crowned king am I
+in the land whence I come.”  “Lord,” said he, “may the day prosper with
+thee, and from what land comest thou?”  “From Annwvyn,” {2} answered he;
+“Arawn, a King of Annwvyn, am I.”  “Lord,” said he, “how may I gain thy
+friendship?”  “After this manner mayest thou,” he said.  “There is a man
+whose dominions are opposite to mine, who is ever warring against me, and
+he is Havgan, a King of Annwvyn, and by ridding me of this oppression,
+which thou canst easily do, shalt thou gain my friendship.”  “Gladly will
+I do this,” said he.  “Show me how I may.”  “I will show thee.  Behold
+thus it is thou mayest.  I will make firm friendship with thee; and this
+will I do.  I will send thee to Annwvyn in my stead, and I will give thee
+the fairest lady thou didst ever behold to be thy companion, and I will
+put my form and semblance upon thee, so that not a page of the chamber,
+nor an officer, nor any other man that has always followed me shall know
+that it is not I.  And this shall be for the space of a year from
+to-morrow, and then we will meet in this place.”  “Yes,” said he; “but
+when I shall have been there for the space of a year, by what means shall
+I discover him of whom thou speakest?”  “One year from this night,” he
+answered, “is the time fixed between him and me that we should meet at
+the Ford; be thou there in my likeness, and with one stroke that thou
+givest him, he shall no longer live.  And if he ask thee to give him
+another, give it not, how much soever he may entreat thee, for when I did
+so, he fought with me next day as well as ever before.”  “Verily,” said
+Pwyll, “what shall I do concerning my kingdom?”  Said Arawn, “I will
+cause that no one in all thy dominions, neither man nor woman, shall know
+that I am not thou, and I will go there in thy stead.”  “Gladly then,”
+said Pwyll, “will I set forward.”  “Clear shall be thy path, and nothing
+shall detain thee, until thou come into my dominions, and I myself will
+be thy guide!”
+
+So he conducted him until he came in sight of the palace and its
+dwellings.  “Behold,” said he, “the Court and the kingdom in thy power.
+Enter the Court, there is no one there who will know thee, and when thou
+seest what service is done there, thou wilt know the customs of the
+Court.”
+
+So he went forward to the Court, and when he came there, he beheld
+sleeping-rooms, and halls, and chambers, and the most beautiful buildings
+ever seen.  And he went into the hall to disarray, and there came youths
+and pages and disarrayed him, and all as they entered saluted him.  And
+two knights came and drew his hunting-dress from about him, and clothed
+him in a vesture of silk and gold.  And the hall was prepared, and behold
+he saw the household and the host enter in, and the host was the most
+comely and the best equipped that he had ever seen.  And with them came
+in likewise the Queen, who was the fairest woman that he had ever yet
+beheld.  And she had on a yellow robe of shining satin; and they washed
+and went to the table, and sat, the Queen upon one side of him, and one
+who seemed to be an Earl on the other side.
+
+And he began to speak with the Queen, and he thought, from her speech,
+that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of converse and of cheer
+that ever was.  And they partook of meat, and drink, with songs and with
+feasting; and of all the Courts upon the earth, behold this was the best
+supplied with food and drink, and vessels of gold and royal jewels.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and feasting, and
+diversions, and discourse with his companions until the night that was
+fixed for the conflict.  And when that night came, it was remembered even
+by those who lived in the furthest part of his dominions, and he went to
+the meeting, and the nobles of the kingdom with him.  And when he came to
+the Ford, a knight arose and spake thus.  “Lords,” said he, “listen well.
+It is between two kings that this meeting is, and between them only.
+Each claimeth of the other his land and territory, and do all of you
+stand aside and leave the fight to be between them.”
+
+Thereupon the two kings approached each other in the middle of the Ford,
+and encountered, and at the first thrust, the man who was in the stead of
+Arawn struck Havgan on the centre of the boss of his shield, so that it
+was cloven in twain, and his armour was broken, and Havgan himself was
+borne to the ground an arm’s and a spear’s length over the crupper of his
+horse, and he received a deadly blow.  “O Chieftain,” said Havgan, “what
+right hast thou to cause my death?  I was not injuring thee in anything,
+and I know not wherefore thou wouldest slay me.  But, for the love of
+Heaven, since thou hast begun to slay me, complete thy work.”  “Ah,
+Chieftain,” he replied, “I may yet repent doing that unto thee, slay thee
+who may, I will not do so.”  “My trusty Lords,” said Havgan, “bear me
+hence.  My death has come.  I shall be no more able to uphold you.”  “My
+Nobles,” also said he who was in the semblance of Arawn, “take counsel
+and know who ought to be my subjects.”  “Lord,” said the Nobles, “all
+should be, for there is no king over the whole of Annwvyn but thee.”
+“Yes,” he replied, “it is right that he who comes humbly should be
+received graciously, but he that doth not come with obedience, shall be
+compelled by the force of swords.”  And thereupon he received the homage
+of the men, and he began to conquer the country; and the next day by noon
+the two kingdoms were in his power.  And thereupon he went to keep his
+tryst, and came to Glyn Cuch.
+
+And when he came there, the King of Annwvyn was there to meet him, and
+each of them was rejoiced to see the other.  “Verily,” said Arawn, “may
+Heaven reward thee for thy friendship towards me.  I have heard of it.
+When thou comest thyself to thy dominions,” said he, “thou wilt see that
+which I have done for thee.”  “Whatever thou hast done for me, may Heaven
+repay it thee.”
+
+Then Arawn gave to Pwyll Prince of Dyved his proper form and semblance,
+and he himself took his own; and Arawn set forth towards the Court of
+Annwvyn; and he was rejoiced when he beheld his hosts, and his household,
+whom he had not seen so long; but they had not known of his absence, and
+wondered no more at his coming than usual.  And that day was spent in joy
+and merriment; and he sat and conversed with his wife and his nobles.
+And when it was time for them rather to sleep than to carouse, they went
+to rest.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Pwyll Prince of Dyved came likewise to his country and dominions, and
+began to inquire of the nobles of the land, how his rule had been during
+the past year, compared with what it had been before.  “Lord,” said they,
+“thy wisdom was never so great, and thou wast never so kind or so free in
+bestowing thy gifts, and thy justice was never more worthily seen than in
+this year.”  “By Heaven,” said he, “for all the good you have enjoyed,
+you should thank him who hath been with you; for behold, thus hath this
+matter been.”  And thereupon Pwyll related the whole unto them.  “Verily,
+Lord,” said they, “render thanks unto Heaven that thou hast such a
+fellowship, and withhold not from us the rule which we have enjoyed for
+this year past.”  “I take Heaven to witness that I will not withhold it,”
+answered Pwyll.
+
+And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was between them,
+and each sent unto the other horses, and greyhounds, and hawks, and all
+such jewels as they thought would be pleasing to each other.  And by
+reason of his having dwelt that year in Annwvyn, and having ruled there
+so prosperously, and united the two kingdoms in one day by his valour and
+prowess, he lost the name of Pwyll Prince of Dyved, and was called Pwyll
+Chief of Annwvyn from that time forward.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth his chief palace, where a feast
+had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of men.  And
+after the first meal, Pwyll arose to walk, and he went to the top of a
+mound that was above the palace, and was called Gorsedd Arberth.  “Lord,”
+said one of the Court, “it is peculiar to the mound that whosoever sits
+upon it cannot go thence, without either receiving wounds or blows, or
+else seeing a wonder.”  “I fear not to receive wounds and blows in the
+midst of such a host as this, but as to the wonder, gladly would I see
+it.  I will go therefore and sit upon the mound.”
+
+And upon the mound he sat.  And while he sat there, they saw a lady, on a
+pure white horse of large size, with a garment of shining gold around
+her, coming along the highway that led from the mound; and the horse
+seemed to move at a slow and even pace, and to be coming up towards the
+mound.  “My men,” said Pwyll, “is there any among you who knows yonder
+lady?”  “There is not, Lord,” said they.  “Go one of you and meet her,
+that we may know who she is.”  And one of them arose, and as he came upon
+the road to meet her, she passed by, and he followed as fast as he could,
+being on foot; and the greater was his speed, the further was she from
+him.  And when he saw that it profited him nothing to follow her, he
+returned to Pwyll, and said unto him, “Lord, it is idle for any one in
+the world to follow her on foot.”  “Verily,” said Pwyll, “go unto the
+palace, and take the fleetest horse that thou seest, and go after her.”
+
+And he took a horse and went forward.  And he came to an open level
+plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he urged his horse, the
+further was she from him.  Yet she held the same pace as at first.  And
+his horse began to fail; and when his horse’s feet failed him, he
+returned to the place where Pwyll was.  “Lord,” said he, “it will avail
+nothing for any one to follow yonder lady.  I know of no horse in these
+realms swifter than this, and it availed me not to pursue her.”  “Of a
+truth,” said Pwyll, “there must be some illusion here.  Let us go towards
+the palace.”  So to the palace they went, and they spent that day.  And
+the next day they arose, and that also they spent until it was time to go
+to meat.  And after the first meal, “Verily,” said Pwyll, “we will go the
+same party as yesterday to the top of the mound.  And do thou,” said he
+to one of his young men, “take the swiftest horse that thou knowest in
+the field.”  And thus did the young man.  And they went towards the
+mound, taking the horse with them.  And as they were sitting down they
+beheld the lady on the same horse, and in the same apparel, coming along
+the same road.  “Behold,” said Pwyll, “here is the lady of yesterday.
+Make ready, youth, to learn who she is.”  “My lord,” said he, “that will
+I gladly do.”  And thereupon the lady came opposite to them.  So the
+youth mounted his horse; and before he had settled himself in his saddle,
+she passed by, and there was a clear space between them.  But her speed
+was no greater than it had been the day before.  Then he put his horse
+into an amble, and thought that notwithstanding the gentle pace at which
+his horse went, he should soon overtake her.  But this availed him not;
+so he gave his horse the reins.  And still he came no nearer to her than
+when he went at a foot’s pace.  And the more he urged his horse, the
+further was she from him.  Yet she rode not faster than before.  When he
+saw that it availed not to follow her, he returned to the place where
+Pwyll was.  “Lord,” said he, “the horse can no more than thou hast seen.”
+“I see indeed that it avails not that any one should follow her.  And by
+Heaven,” said he, “she must needs have an errand to some one in this
+plain, if her haste would allow her to declare it.  Let us go back to the
+palace.”  And to the palace they went, and they spent that night in songs
+and feasting, as it pleased them.
+
+And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to meat.
+And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, “Where are the hosts that went
+yesterday and the day before to the top of the mound?”  “Behold, Lord, we
+are here,” said they.  “Let us go,” said he, “to the mound, to sit there.
+And do thou,” said he to the page who tended his horse, “saddle my horse
+well, and hasten with him to the road, and bring also my spurs with
+thee.”  And the youth did thus.  And they went and sat upon the mound;
+and ere they had been there but a short time, they beheld the lady coming
+by the same road, and in the same manner, and at the same pace.  “Young
+man,” said Pwyll, “I see the lady coming; give me my horse.”  And no
+sooner had he mounted his horse than she passed him.  And he turned after
+her and followed her.  And he let his horse go bounding playfully, and
+thought that at the second step or the third he should come up with her.
+But he came no nearer to her than at first.  Then he urged his horse to
+his utmost speed, yet he found that it availed nothing to follow her.
+Then said Pwyll, “O maiden, for the sake of him whom thou best lovest,
+stay for me.”  “I will stay gladly,” said she, “and it were better for
+thy horse hadst thou asked it long since.”  So the maiden stopped, and
+she threw back that part of her headdress which covered her face.  And
+she fixed her eyes upon him, and began to talk with him.  “Lady,” asked
+he, “whence comest thou, and whereunto dost thou journey?”  “I journey on
+mine own errand,” said she, “and right glad am I to see thee.”  “My
+greeting be unto thee,” said he.  Then he thought that the beauty of all
+the maidens, and all the ladies that he had ever seen, was as nothing
+compared to her beauty.  “Lady,” he said, “wilt thou tell me aught
+concerning thy purpose?”  “I will tell thee,” said she.  “My chief quest
+was to seek thee.”  “Behold,” said Pwyll, “this is to me the most
+pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come; and wilt thou tell me who
+thou art?”  “I will tell thee, Lord,” said she.  “I am Rhiannon, the
+daughter of Heveydd Hên, and they sought to give me to a husband against
+my will.  But no husband would I have, and that because of my love for
+thee, neither will I yet have one unless thou reject me.  And hither have
+I come to hear thy answer.”  “By Heaven,” said Pwyll, “behold this is my
+answer.  If I might choose among all the ladies and damsels in the world,
+thee would I choose.”  “Verily,” said she, “if thou art thus minded, make
+a pledge to meet me ere I am given to another.”  “The sooner I may do so,
+the more pleasing will it be unto me,” said Pwyll, “and wheresoever thou
+wilt, there will I meet with thee.”  “I will that thou meet me this day
+twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd.  And I will cause a feast to be
+prepared, so that it be ready against thou come.”  “Gladly,” said he,
+“will I keep this tryst.”  “Lord,” said she, “remain in health, and be
+mindful that thou keep thy promise; and now I will go hence.”  So they
+parted, and he went back to his hosts and to them of his household.  And
+whatsoever questions they asked him respecting the damsel, he always
+turned the discourse upon other matters.  And when a year from that time
+was gone, he caused a hundred knights to equip themselves and to go with
+him to the palace of Heveydd Hên.  And he came to the palace, and there
+was great joy concerning him, with much concourse of people and great
+rejoicing, and vast preparations for his coming.  And the whole Court was
+placed under his orders.
+
+And the hall was garnished and they went to meat, and thus did they sit;
+Heveydd Hên was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon on the other.  And all
+the rest according to their rank.  And they ate and feasted and talked
+one with another, and at the beginning of the carousal after the meat,
+there entered a tall auburn-haired youth, of royal bearing, clothed in a
+garment of satin.  And when he came into the hall, he saluted Pwyll and
+his companions.  “The greeting of Heaven be unto thee, my soul,” said
+Pwyll, “come thou and sit down.”  “Nay,” said he, “a suitor am I, and I
+will do mine errand.”  “Do so willingly,” said Pwyll.  “Lord,” said he,
+“my errand is unto thee, and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come.”
+“What boon soever thou mayest ask of me, as far as I am able, thou shalt
+have.”  “Ah,” said Rhiannon, “wherefore didst thou give that answer?”
+“Has he not given it before the presence of these nobles?” asked the
+youth.  “My soul,” said Pwyll, “what is the boon thou askest?”  “The lady
+whom best I love is to be thy bride this night; I come to ask her of
+thee, with the feast and the banquet that are in this place.”  And Pwyll
+was silent because of the answer which he had given.  “Be silent as long
+as thou wilt,” said Rhiannon.  “Never did man make worse use of his wits
+than thou hast done.”  “Lady,” said he, “I knew not who he was.”  “Behold
+this is the man to whom they would have given me against my will,” said
+she.  “And he is Gwawl the son of Clud, a man of great power and wealth,
+and because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me upon him lest shame
+befall thee.”  “Lady,” said he, “I understand not thine answer.  Never
+can I do as thou sayest.”  “Bestow me upon him,” said she, “and I will
+cause that I shall never be his.”  “By what means will that be?” asked
+Pwyll.  “In thy hand will I give thee a small bag,” said she.  “See that
+thou keep it well, and he will ask of thee the banquet, and the feast,
+and the preparations which are not in thy power.  Unto the hosts and the
+household will I give the feast.  And such will be thy answer respecting
+this.  And as concerns myself, I will engage to become his bride this
+night twelvemonth.  And at the end of the year be thou here,” said she,
+“and bring this bag with thee, and let thy hundred knights be in the
+orchard up yonder.  And when he is in the midst of joy and feasting, come
+thou in by thyself, clad in ragged garments, and holding thy bag in thy
+hand, and ask nothing but a bagful of food, and I will cause that if all
+the meat and liquor that are in these seven Cantrevs were put into it, it
+would be no fuller than before.  And after a great deal has been put
+therein, he will ask thee whether thy bag will ever be full.  Say thou
+then that it never will, until a man of noble birth and of great wealth
+arise and press the food in the bag with both his feet, saying, ‘Enough
+has been put therein;’ and I will cause him to go and tread down the food
+in the bag, and when he does so, turn thou the bag, so that he shall be
+up over his head in it, and then slip a knot upon the thongs of the bag.
+Let there be also a good bugle horn about thy neck, and as soon as thou
+hast bound him in the bag, wind thy horn, and let it be a signal between
+thee and thy knights.  And when they hear the sound of the horn, let them
+come down upon the palace.”  “Lord,” said Gwawl, “it is meet that I have
+an answer to my request.”  “As much of that thou hast asked as it is in
+my power to give, thou shalt have,” replied Pwyll.  “My soul,” said
+Rhiannon unto him, “as for the feast and the banquet that are here, I
+have bestowed them upon the men of Dyved, and the household, and the
+warriors that are with us.  These can I not suffer to be given to any.
+In a year from to-night a banquet shall be prepared for thee in this
+palace, that I may become thy bride.”
+
+So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to
+Dyved.  And they both spent that year until it was the time for the feast
+at the palace of Heveydd Hên.  Then Gwawl the son of Clud set out to the
+feast that was prepared for him, and he came to the palace, and was
+received there with rejoicing.  Pwyll, also, the Chief of Annwvyn, came
+to the orchard with his hundred knights, as Rhiannon had commanded him,
+having the bag with him.  And Pwyll was clad in coarse and ragged
+garments, and wore large clumsy old shoes upon his feet.  And when he
+knew that the carousal after the meat had begun, he went towards the
+hall, and when he came into the hall, he saluted Gwawl the son of Clud,
+and his company, both men and women.  “Heaven prosper thee,” said Gwawl,
+“and the greeting of Heaven be unto thee.”  “Lord,” said he, “may Heaven
+reward thee, I have an errand unto thee.”  “Welcome be thine errand, and
+if thou ask of me that which is just, thou shalt have it gladly.”  “It is
+fitting,” answered he.  “I crave but from want, and the boon that I ask
+is to have this small bag that thou seest filled with meat.”  “A request
+within reason is this,” said he, “and gladly shalt thou have it.  Bring
+him food.”  A great number of attendants arose and began to fill the bag,
+but for all that they put into it, it was no fuller than at first.  “My
+soul,” said Gwawl, “will thy bag be ever full?”  “It will not, I declare
+to Heaven,” said he, “for all that may be put into it, unless one
+possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, shall arise and tread down
+with both his feet the food that is within the bag, and shall say,
+‘Enough has been put therein.’”  Then said Rhiannon unto Gwawl the son of
+Clud, “Rise up quickly.”  “I will willingly arise,” said he.  So he rose
+up, and put his two feet into the bag.  And Pwyll turned up the sides of
+the bag, so that Gwawl was over his head in it.  And he shut it up
+quickly and slipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his horn.  And
+thereupon behold his household came down upon the palace.  And they
+seized all the host that had come with Gwawl, and cast them into his own
+prison.  And Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes, and his
+tattered array; and as they came in, every one of Pwyll’s knights struck
+a blow upon the bag, and asked, “What is here?”  “A Badger,” said they.
+And in this manner they played, each of them striking the bag, either
+with his foot or with a staff.  And thus played they with the bag.  Every
+one as he came in asked, “What game are you playing at thus?”  “The game
+of Badger in the Bag,” said they.  And then was the game of Badger in the
+Bag first played.
+
+“Lord,” said the man in the bag, “if thou wouldest but hear me, I merit
+not to be slain in a bag.”  Said Heveydd Hên, “Lord, he speaks truth.  It
+were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deserves not this.”
+“Verily,” said Pwyll, “I will do thy counsel concerning him.”  “Behold
+this is my counsel then,” said Rhiannon; “thou art now in a position in
+which it behoves thee to satisfy suitors and minstrels; let him give unto
+them in thy stead, and take a pledge from him that he will never seek to
+revenge that which has been done to him.  And this will be punishment
+enough.”  “I will do this gladly,” said the man in the bag.  “And gladly
+will I accept it,” said Pwyll, “since it is the counsel of Heveydd and
+Rhiannon.”  “Such then is our counsel,” answered they.  “I accept it,”
+said Pwyll.  “Seek thyself sureties.”  “We will be for him,” said
+Heveydd, “until his men be free to answer for him.”  And upon this he was
+let out of the bag, and his liegemen were liberated.  “Demand now of
+Gwawl his sureties,” said Heveydd, “we know which should be taken for
+him.”  And Heveydd numbered the sureties.  Said Gwawl, “Do thou thyself
+draw up the covenant.”  “It will suffice me that it be as Rhiannon said,”
+answered Pwyll.  So unto that covenant were the sureties pledged.
+“Verily, Lord,” said Gwawl, “I am greatly hurt, and I have many bruises.
+I have need to be anointed; with thy leave I will go forth.  I will leave
+nobles in my stead, to answer for me in all that thou shalt require.”
+“Willingly,” said Pwyll, “mayest thou do thus.”  So Gwawl went towards
+his own possessions.
+
+And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his host, and for
+them also of the palace, and they went to the tables and sat down.  And
+as they had sat that time twelvemonth, so sat they that night.  And they
+ate, and feasted, and spent the night in mirth and tranquillity.  And the
+time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll and Rhiannon went to their
+chamber.
+
+And next morning at the break of day, “My Lord,” said Rhiannon, “arise
+and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels.  Refuse no one to-day
+that may claim thy bounty.”  “Thus shall it be gladly,” said Pwyll, “both
+to-day and every day while the feast shall last.”  So Pwyll arose, and he
+caused silence to be proclaimed, and desired all the suitors and the
+minstrels to show and to point out what gifts were to their wish and
+desire.  And this being done, the feast went on, and he denied no one
+while it lasted.  And when the feast was ended, Pwyll said unto Heveydd,
+“My Lord, with thy permission I will set out for Dyved to-morrow.”
+“Certainly,” said Heveydd, “may Heaven prosper thee.  Fix also a time
+when Rhiannon may follow thee.”  “By Heaven,” said Pwyll, “we will go
+hence together.”  “Willest thou this, Lord?” said Heveydd.  “Yes, by
+Heaven,” answered Pwyll.
+
+And the next day, they set forward towards Dyved, and journeyed to the
+palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready for them.  And there
+came to them great numbers of the chief men and the most noble ladies of
+the land, and of these there was none to whom Rhiannon did not give some
+rich gift, either a bracelet, or a ring, or a precious stone.  And they
+ruled the land prosperously both that year and the next.
+
+And in the third year the nobles of the land began to be sorrowful at
+seeing a man whom they loved so much, and who was moreover their lord and
+their foster-brother, without an heir.  And they came to him.  And the
+place where they met was Preseleu, in Dyved.  “Lord,” said they, “we know
+that thou art not so young as some of the men of this country, and we
+fear that thou mayest not have an heir of the wife whom thou hast taken.
+Take therefore another wife of whom thou mayest have heirs.  Thou canst
+not always continue with us, and though thou desire to remain as thou
+art, we will not suffer thee.”  “Truly,” said Pwyll, “we have not long
+been joined together, and many things may yet befall.  Grant me a year
+from this time, and for the space of a year we will abide together, and
+after that I will do according to your wishes.”  So they granted it.  And
+before the end of a year a son was born unto him.  And in Narberth was he
+born; and on the night that he was born, women were brought to watch the
+mother and the boy.  And the women slept, as did also Rhiannon, the
+mother of the boy.  And the number of the women that were brought into
+the chamber was six.  And they watched for a good portion of the night,
+and before midnight every one of them fell asleep, and towards break of
+day they awoke; and when they awoke, they looked where they had put the
+boy, and behold he was not there.  “Oh,” said one of the women, “the boy
+is lost?”  “Yes,” said another, “and it will be small vengeance if we are
+burnt or put to death because of the child.”  Said one of the women, “Is
+there any counsel for us in the world in this matter?”  “There is,”
+answered another, “I offer you good counsel.”  “What is that?” asked
+they.  “There is here a stag-hound bitch, and she has a litter of whelps.
+Let us kill some of the cubs, and rub the blood on the face and hands of
+Rhiannon, and lay the bones before her, and assert that she herself hath
+devoured her son, and she alone will not be able to gainsay us six.”  And
+according to this counsel it was settled.  And towards morning Rhiannon
+awoke, and she said, “Women, where is my son?”  “Lady,” said they, “ask
+us not concerning thy son, we have nought but the blows and the bruises
+we got by struggling with thee, and of a truth we never saw any woman so
+violent as thou, for it was of no avail to contend with thee.  Hast thou
+not thyself devoured thy son?  Claim him not therefore of us.”  “For
+pity’s sake,” said Rhiannon; “the Lord God knows all things.  Charge me
+not falsely.  If you tell me this from fear, I assert before Heaven that
+I will defend you.”  “Truly,” said they, “we would not bring evil on
+ourselves for any one in the world.”  “For pity’s sake,” said Rhiannon,
+“you will receive no evil by telling the truth.”  But for all her words,
+whether fair or harsh, she received but the same answer from the women.
+
+And Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn arose, and his household, and his hosts.
+And this occurrence could not be concealed, but the story went forth
+throughout the land, and all the nobles heard it.  Then the nobles came
+to Pwyll, and besought him to put away his wife, because of the great
+crime which she had done.  But Pwyll answered them, that they had no
+cause wherefore they might ask him to put away his wife, save for her
+having no children.  “But children has she now had, therefore will I not
+put her away; if she has done wrong, let her do penance for it.”
+
+So Rhiannon sent for the teachers and the wise men, and as she preferred
+doing penance to contending with the women, she took upon her a penance.
+And the penance that was imposed upon her was, that she should remain in
+that palace of Narberth until the end of seven years, and that she should
+sit every day near unto a horseblock that was without the gate.  And that
+she should relate the story to all who should come there, whom she might
+suppose not to know it already; and that she should offer the guests and
+strangers, if they would permit her, to carry them upon her back into the
+palace.  But it rarely happened that any would permit.  And thus did she
+spend part of the year.
+
+Now at that time Teirnyon Twryv Vliant was Lord of Gwent Is Coed, and he
+was the best man in the world.  And unto his house there belonged a mare,
+than which neither mare nor horse in the kingdom was more beautiful.  And
+on the night of every first of May she foaled, and no one ever knew what
+became of the colt.  And one night Teirnyon talked with his wife: “Wife,”
+said he, “it is very simple of us that our mare should foal every year,
+and that we should have none of her colts.”  “What can be done in the
+matter?” said she.  “This is the night of the first of May,” said he.
+“The vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if I learn not what it is that takes
+away the colts.”  So he caused the mare to be brought into a house, and
+he armed himself, and began to watch that night.  And in the beginning of
+the night, the mare foaled a large and beautiful colt.  And it was
+standing up in the place.  And Teirnyon rose up and looked at the size of
+the colt, and as he did so he heard a great tumult, and after the tumult
+behold a claw came through the window into the house, and it seized the
+colt by the mane.  Then Teirnyon drew his sword, and struck off the arm
+at the elbow, so that portion of the arm together with the colt was in
+the house with him.  And then did he hear a tumult and wailing, both at
+once.  And he opened the door, and rushed out in the direction of the
+noise, and he could not see the cause of the tumult because of the
+darkness of the night, but he rushed after it and followed it.  Then he
+remembered that he had left the door open, and he returned.  And at the
+door behold there was an infant boy in swaddling-clothes, wrapped around
+in a mantle of satin.  And he took up the boy, and behold he was very
+strong for the age that he was of.
+
+Then he shut the door, and went into the chamber where his wife was.
+“Lady,” said he, “art thou sleeping?”  “No, lord,” said she, “I was
+asleep, but as thou camest in I did awake.”  “Behold, here is a boy for
+thee if thou wilt,” said he, “since thou hast never had one.”  “My lord,”
+said she, “what adventure is this?”  “It was thus,” said Teirnyon; and he
+told her how it all befell.  “Verily, lord,” said she, “what sort of
+garments are there upon the boy?”  “A mantle of satin,” said he.  “He is
+then a boy of gentle lineage,” she replied.  “My lord,” she said, “if
+thou wilt, I shall have great diversion and mirth.  I will call my women
+unto me, and tell them that I have been pregnant.”  “I will readily grant
+thee to do this,” he answered.  And thus did they, and they caused the
+boy to be baptized, and the ceremony was performed there; and the name
+which they gave unto him was Gwri Wallt Euryn, because what hair was upon
+his head was as yellow as gold.  And they had the boy nursed in the Court
+until he was a year old.  And before the year was over he could walk
+stoutly.  And he was larger than a boy of three years old, even one of
+great growth and size.  And the boy was nursed the second year, and then
+he was as large as a child six years old.  And before the end of the
+fourth year, he would bribe the grooms to allow him to take the horses to
+water.  “My lord,” said his wife unto Teirnyon, “where is the colt which
+thou didst save on the night that thou didst find the boy?”  “I have
+commanded the grooms of the horses,” said he, “that they take care of
+him.”  “Would it not be well, lord,” said she, “if thou wert to cause him
+to be broken in, and given to the boy, seeing that on the same night that
+thou didst find the boy, the colt was foaled and thou didst save him?”
+“I will not oppose thee in this matter,” said Teirnyon.  “I will allow
+thee to give him the colt.”  “Lord,” said she, “may Heaven reward thee; I
+will give it him.”  So the horse was given to the boy.  Then she went to
+the grooms and those who tended the horses, and commanded them to be
+careful of the horse, so that he might be broken in by the time that the
+boy could ride him.
+
+And while these things were going forward, they heard tidings of Rhiannon
+and her punishment.  And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, by reason of the pity
+that he felt on hearing this story of Rhiannon and her punishment,
+inquired closely concerning it, until he had heard from many of those who
+came to his court.  Then did Teirnyon, often lamenting the sad history,
+ponder within himself, and he looked steadfastly on the boy, and as he
+looked upon him, it seemed to him that he had never beheld so great a
+likeness between father and son, as between the boy and Pwyll the Chief
+of Annwvyn.  Now the semblance of Pwyll was well known to him, for he had
+of yore been one of his followers.  And thereupon he became grieved for
+the wrong that he did, in keeping with him a boy whom he knew to be the
+son of another man.  And the first time that he was alone with his wife,
+he told her that it was not right that they should keep the boy with
+them, and suffer so excellent a lady as Rhiannon to be punished so
+greatly on his account, whereas the boy was the son of Pwyll the Chief of
+Annwvyn.  And Teirnyon’s wife agreed with him, that they should send the
+boy to Pwyll.  “And three things, lord,” said she, “shall we gain
+thereby.  Thanks and gifts for releasing Rhiannon from her punishment;
+and thanks from Pwyll for nursing his son and restoring him unto him; and
+thirdly, if the boy is of gentle nature, he will be our foster-son, and
+he will do for us all the good in his power.”  So it was settled
+according to this counsel.
+
+And no later than the next day was Teirnyon equipped, and two other
+knights with him.  And the boy, as a fourth in their company, went with
+them upon the horse which Teirnyon had given him.  And they journeyed
+towards Narberth, and it was not long before they reached that place.
+And as they drew near to the palace, they beheld Rhiannon sitting beside
+the horseblock.  And when they were opposite to her, “Chieftain,” said
+she, “go not further thus, I will bear every one of you into the palace,
+and this is my penance for slaying my own son and devouring him.”  “Oh,
+fair lady,” said Teirnyon, “think not that I will be one to be carried
+upon thy back.”  “Neither will I,” said the boy.  “Truly, my soul,” said
+Teirnyon, “we will not go.”  So they went forward to the palace, and
+there was great joy at their coming.  And at the palace a feast was
+prepared, because Pywll was come back from the confines of Dyved.  And
+they went into the hall and washed, and Pwyll rejoiced to see Teirnyon.
+And in this order they sat.  Teirnyon between Pwyll and Rhiannon, and
+Teirnyon’s two companions on the other side of Pwyll, with the boy
+between them.  And after meat they began to carouse and to discourse.
+And Teirnyon’s discourse was concerning the adventure of the mare and the
+boy, and how he and his wife had nursed and reared the child as their
+own.  “And behold here is thy son, lady,” said Teirnyon.  “And whosoever
+told that lie concerning thee, has done wrong.  And when I heard of thy
+sorrow, I was troubled and grieved.  And I believe that there is none of
+this host who will not perceive that the boy is the son of Pwyll,” said
+Teirnyon.  “There is none,” said they all, “who is not certain thereof.”
+“I declare to Heaven,” said Rhiannon, “that if this be true, there is
+indeed an end to my trouble.”  “Lady,” said Pendaran Dyved, “well hast
+thou named thy son Pryderi, {3} and well becomes him the name of Pryderi
+son of Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn.”  “Look you,” said Rhiannon, “will not his
+own name become him better?”  “What name has he?” asked Pendaran Dyved.
+“Gwri Wallt Euryn is the name that we gave him.”  “Pryderi,” said
+Pendaran, “shall his name be.”  “It were more proper,” said Pwyll, “that
+the boy should take his name from the word his mother spoke when she
+received the joyful tidings of him.”  And thus was it arranged.
+
+“Teirnyon,” said Pwyll, “Heaven reward thee that thou hast reared the boy
+up to this time, and, being of gentle lineage, it were fitting that he
+repay thee for it.”  “My lord,” said Teirnyon, “it was my wife who nursed
+him, and there is no one in the world so afflicted as she at parting with
+him.  It were well that he should bear in mind what I and my wife have
+done for him.”  “I call Heaven to witness,” said Pwyll, “that while I
+live I will support thee and thy possessions, as long as I am able to
+preserve my own.  And when he shall have power, he will more fitly
+maintain them than I.  And if this counsel be pleasing unto thee, and to
+my nobles, it shall be that, as thou hast reared him up to the present
+time, I will give him to be brought up by Pendaran Dyved, from
+henceforth.  And you shall be companions, and shall both be
+foster-fathers unto him.”  “This is good counsel,” said they all.  So the
+boy was given to Pendaran Dyved, and the nobles of the land were sent
+with him.  And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, and his companions, set out for his
+country, and his possessions, with love and gladness.  And he went not
+without being offered the fairest jewels and the fairest horses, and the
+choicest dogs; but he would take none of them.
+
+Thereupon they all remained in their own dominions.  And Pryderi, the son
+of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn, was brought up carefully as was fit, so
+that he became the fairest youth, and the most comely, and the best
+skilled in all good games, of any in the kingdom.  And thus passed years
+and years, until the end of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn’s life came, and
+he died.
+
+And Pryderi ruled the seven Cantrevs of Dyved prosperously, and he was
+beloved by his people, and by all around him.  And at length he added
+unto them the three Cantrevs of Ystrad Tywi, and the four Cantrevs of
+Cardigan; and these were called the Seven Cantrevs of Seissyllwch.  And
+when he made this addition, Pryderi the son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn
+desired to take a wife.  And the wife he chose was Kicva, the daughter of
+Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of Gloyw Wallt Lydan, the son of Prince Casnar, one
+of the nobles of this Island.
+
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion.
+
+
+
+
+BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR
+HERE IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THE MABINOGI
+
+
+Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this island, and
+he was exalted from the crown of London.  And one afternoon he was at
+Harlech in Ardudwy, at his Court, and he sat upon the rock of Harlech,
+looking over the sea.  And with him were his brother Manawyddan the son
+of Llyr, and his brothers by the mother’s side, Nissyen and Evnissyen,
+and many nobles likewise, as was fitting to see around a king.  His two
+brothers by the mother’s side were the sons of Eurosswydd, by his mother,
+Penardun, the daughter of Beli son of Manogan.  And one of these youths
+was a good youth and of gentle nature, and would make peace between his
+kindred, and cause his family to be friends when their wrath was at the
+highest; and this one was Nissyen; but the other would cause strife
+between his two brothers when they were most at peace.  And as they sat
+thus, they beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of Ireland, and
+making towards them, and they came with a swift motion, the wind being
+behind them, and they neared them rapidly.  “I see ships afar,” said the
+king, “coming swiftly towards the land.  Command the men of the Court
+that they equip themselves, and go and learn their intent.”  So the men
+equipped themselves and went down towards them.  And when they saw the
+ships near, certain were they that they had never seen ships better
+furnished.  Beautiful flags of satin were upon them.  And behold one of
+the ships outstripped the others, and they saw a shield lifted up above
+the side of the ship, and the point of the shield was upwards, in token
+of peace.  And the men drew near that they might hold converse.  Then
+they put out boats and came towards the land.  And they saluted the king.
+Now the king could hear them from the place where he was, upon the rock
+above their heads.  “Heaven prosper you,” said he, “and be ye welcome.
+To whom do these ships belong, and who is the chief amongst you?”
+“Lord,” said they, “Matholwch, king of Ireland, is here, and these ships
+belong to him.”  “Wherefore comes he?” asked the king, “and will he come
+to the land?”  “He is a suitor unto thee, lord,” said they, “and he will
+not land unless he have his boon.”  “And what may that be?” inquired the
+king.  “He desires to ally himself with thee, lord,” said they, “and he
+comes to ask Branwen the daughter of Llyr, that, if it seem well to thee,
+the Island of the Mighty may be leagued with Ireland, and both become
+more powerful.”  “Verily,” said he, “let him come to land, and we will
+take counsel thereupon.”  And this answer was brought to Matholwch.  “I
+will go willingly,” said he.  So he landed, and they received him
+joyfully; and great was the throng in the palace that night, between his
+hosts and those of the Court; and next day they took counsel, and they
+resolved to bestow Branwen upon Matholwch.  Now she was one of the three
+chief ladies of this island, and she was the fairest damsel in the world.
+
+And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she should become his
+bride.  And they went thence, and towards Aberffraw the hosts proceeded;
+Matholwch and his host in their ships; Bendigeid Vran and his host by
+land, until they came to Aberffraw.  And at Aberffraw they began the
+feast and sat down.  And thus sat they.  The King of the Island of the
+Mighty and Manawyddan the son of Llyr on one side, and Matholwch on the
+other side, and Branwen the daughter of Llyr beside him.  And they were
+not within a house, but under tents.  No house could ever contain
+Bendigeid Vran.  And they began the banquet and caroused and discoursed.
+And when it was more pleasing to them to sleep than to carouse, they went
+to rest, and that night Branwen became Matholwch’s bride.
+
+And next day they arose, and all they of the Court, and the officers
+began to equip and to range the horses and the attendants, and they
+ranged them in order as far as the sea.
+
+And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man of whom it is spoken
+above, came by chance into the place, where the horses of Matholwch were,
+and asked whose horses they might be.  “They are the horses of Matholwch
+king of Ireland, who is married to Branwen, thy sister; his horses are
+they.”  “And is it thus they have done with a maiden such as she, and
+moreover my sister, bestowing her without my consent?  They could have
+offered no greater insult to me than this,” said he.  And thereupon he
+rushed under the horses and cut off their lips at the teeth, and their
+ears close to their heads, and their tails close to their backs, and
+wherever he could clutch their eyelids, he cut them to the very bone, and
+he disfigured the horses and rendered them useless.
+
+And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch, saying that the horses
+were disfigured, and injured so that not one of them could ever be of any
+use again.  “Verily, lord,” said one, “it was an insult unto thee, and as
+such was it meant.”  “Of a truth, it is a marvel to me, that if they
+desire to insult me, they should have given me a maiden of such high rank
+and so much beloved of her kindred, as they have done.”  “Lord,” said
+another, “thou seest that thus it is, and there is nothing for thee to do
+but to go to thy ships.”  And thereupon towards his ships he set out.
+
+And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch was quitting the Court
+without asking leave, and messengers were sent to inquire of him
+wherefore he did so.  And the messengers that went were Iddic the son of
+Anarawd, and Heveydd Hir.  And these overtook him and asked of him what
+he designed to do, and wherefore he went forth.  “Of a truth,” said he,
+“if I had known I had not come hither.  I have been altogether insulted,
+no one had ever worse treatment than I have had here.  But one thing
+surprises me above all.”  “What is that?” asked they.  “That Branwen the
+daughter of Llyr, one of the three chief ladies of this island, and the
+daughter of the King of the Island of the Mighty, should have been given
+me as my bride, and that after that I should have been insulted; and I
+marvel that the insult was not done me before they had bestowed upon me a
+maiden so exalted as she.”  “Truly, lord, it was not the will of any that
+are of the Court,” said they, “nor of any that are of the council, that
+thou shouldest have received this insult; and as thou hast been insulted,
+the dishonour is greater unto Bendigeid Vran than unto thee.”  “Verily,”
+said he, “I think so.  Nevertheless he cannot recall the insult.”  These
+men returned with that answer to the place where Bendigeid Vran was, and
+they told him what reply Matholwch had given them.  “Truly,” said he,
+“there are no means by which we may prevent his going away at enmity with
+us, that we will not take.”  “Well, lord,” said they, “send after him
+another embassy.”  “I will do so,” said he.  “Arise, Manawyddan son of
+Llyr, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and go after him, and tell
+him that he shall have a sound horse for every one that has been injured.
+And beside that, as an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff of
+silver, as large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of the
+breadth of his face.  And show unto him who it was that did this, and
+that it was done against my will; but that he who did it is my brother,
+by the mother’s side, and therefore it would be hard for me to put him to
+death.  And let him come and meet me,” said he, “and we will make peace
+in any way he may desire.”
+
+The embassy went after Matholwch, and told him all these sayings in a
+friendly manner, and he listened thereunto.  “Men,” said he, “I will take
+counsel.”  So to the council he went.  And in the council they considered
+that if they should refuse this, they were likely to have more shame
+rather than to obtain so great an atonement.  They resolved therefore to
+accept it, and they returned to the Court in peace.
+
+Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after the fashion of a
+hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at the beginning of the
+feast, so sat they there.  And Matholwch and Bendigeid Vran began to
+discourse; and behold it seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they talked,
+that Matholwch was not so cheerful as he had been before.  And he thought
+that the chieftain might be sad, because of the smallness of the
+atonement which he had, for the wrong that had been done him.  “Oh, man,”
+said Bendigeid Vran, “thou dost not discourse to-night so cheerfully as
+thou wast wont.  And if it be because of the smallness of the atonement,
+thou shalt add thereunto whatsoever thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I
+will pay thee the horses.”  “Lord,” said he, “Heaven reward thee.”  “And
+I will enhance the atonement,” said Bendigeid Vran, “for I will give unto
+thee a cauldron, the property of which is, that if one of thy men be
+slain to-day, and be cast therein, to-morrow he will be as well as ever
+he was at the best, except that he will not regain his speech.”  And
+thereupon he gave him great thanks, and very joyful was he for that
+cause.
+
+And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as long as the
+trained horses lasted.  And then they journeyed into another commot,
+where they paid him with colts until the whole had been paid, and from
+thenceforth that commot was called Talebolion.
+
+And a second night sat they together.  “My lord,” said Matholwch, “whence
+hadst thou the cauldron which thou hast given me?”  “I had it of a man
+who had been in thy land,” said he, “and I would not give it except to
+one from there.”  “Who was it?” asked he.  “Llassar Llaesgyvnewid; he
+came here from Ireland with Kymideu Kymeinvoll, his wife, who escaped
+from the Iron House in Ireland, when it was made red hot around them, and
+fled hither.  And it is a marvel to me that thou shouldst know nothing
+concerning the matter.”  “Something I do know,” said he, “and as much as
+I know I will tell thee.  One day I was hunting in Ireland, and I came to
+the mound at the head of the lake, which is called the Lake of the
+Cauldron.  And I beheld a huge yellow-haired man coming from the lake
+with a cauldron upon his back.  And he was a man of vast size, and of
+horrid aspect, and a woman followed after him.  And if the man was tall,
+twice as large as he was the woman, and they came towards me and greeted
+me.  ‘Verily,’ asked I, ‘wherefore are you journeying?’  ‘Behold, this,’
+said he to me, ‘is the cause that we journey.  At the end of a month and
+a fortnight this woman will have a son; and the child that will be born
+at the end of the month and the fortnight will be a warrior fully armed.’
+So I took them with me and maintained them.  And they were with me for a
+year.  And that year I had them with me not grudgingly.  But thenceforth
+was there murmuring, because that they were with me.  For, from the
+beginning of the fourth month they had begun to make themselves hated and
+to be disorderly in the land; committing outrages, and molesting and
+harassing the nobles and ladies; and thenceforward my people rose up and
+besought me to part with them, and they bade me to choose between them
+and my dominions.  And I applied to the council of my country to know
+what should be done concerning them; for of their own free will they
+would not go, neither could they be compelled against their will, through
+fighting.  And [the people of the country] being in this strait, they
+caused a chamber to be made all of iron.  Now when the chamber was ready,
+there came there every smith that was in Ireland, and every one who owned
+tongs and hammer.  And they caused coals to be piled up as high as the
+top of the chamber.  And they had the man, and the woman, and the
+children, served with plenty of meat and drink; but when it was known
+that they were drunk, they began to put fire to the coals about the
+chamber, and they blew it with bellows until the house was red hot all
+around them.  Then was there a council held in the centre of the floor of
+the chamber.  And the man tarried until the plates of iron were all of a
+white heat; and then, by reason of the great heat, the man dashed against
+the plates with his shoulder and struck them out, and his wife followed
+him; but except him and his wife none escaped thence.  And then I
+suppose, lord,” said Matholwch unto Bendigeid Vran, “that he came over
+unto thee.”  “Doubtless he came here,” said he, “and gave unto me the
+cauldron.”  “In what manner didst thou receive them?”  “I dispersed them
+through every part of my dominions, and they have become numerous and are
+prospering everywhere, and they fortify the places where they are with
+men and arms, of the best that were ever seen.”
+
+That night they continued to discourse as much as they would, and had
+minstrelsy and carousing, and when it was more pleasant to them to sleep
+than to sit longer, they went to rest.  And thus was the banquet carried
+on with joyousness; and when it was finished, Matholwch journeyed towards
+Ireland, and Branwen with him, and they went from Aber Menei with
+thirteen ships, and came to Ireland.  And in Ireland was there great joy
+because of their coming.  And not one great man or noble lady visited
+Branwen unto whom she gave not either a clasp, or a ring, or a royal
+jewel to keep, such as it was honourable to be seen departing with.  And
+in these things she spent that year in much renown, and she passed her
+time pleasantly, enjoying honour and friendship.  And in the meanwhile it
+chanced that she became pregnant, and in due time a son was born unto
+her, and the name that they gave him was Gwern the son of Matholwch, and
+they put the boy out to be foster-nursed, in a place where were the best
+men of Ireland.
+
+And behold in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on account of
+the insult which Matholwch had received in Cambria, and the payment made
+him for his horses.  And his foster-brothers, and such as were nearest
+unto him, blamed him openly for that matter.  And he might have no peace
+by reason of the tumult until they should revenge upon him this disgrace.
+And the vengeance which they took was to drive away Branwen from the same
+chamber with him, and to make her cook for the Court; and they caused the
+butcher after he had cut up the meat to come to her and give her every
+day a blow on the ear, and such they made her punishment.
+
+“Verily, lord,” said his men to Matholwch, “forbid now the ships and the
+ferry boats and the coracles, that they go not into Cambria, and such as
+come over from Cambria hither, imprison them that they go not back for
+this thing to be known there.”  And he did so; and it was thus for not
+less than three years.
+
+And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading trough, and
+she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what manner of man her
+brother was.  And she wrote a letter of her woes, and the despite with
+which she was treated, and she bound the letter to the root of the bird’s
+wing, and sent it towards Britain.  And the bird came to this island, and
+one day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer Seiont in Arvon, conferring
+there, and it alighted upon his shoulder and ruffled its feathers, so
+that the letter was seen, and they knew that the bird had been reared in
+a domestic manner.
+
+Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it.  And when he had
+read the letter he grieved exceedingly at the tidings of Branwen’s woes.
+And immediately he began sending messengers to summon the island
+together.  And he caused sevenscore and four countries to come unto him,
+and he complained to them himself of the grief that his sister endured.
+So they took counsel.  And in the council they resolved to go to Ireland,
+and to leave seven men as princes here, and Caradawc, the son of Bran, as
+the chief of them, and their seven knights.  In Edeyrnion were these men
+left.  And for this reason were the seven knights placed in the town.
+Now the names of these seven men were, Caradawc the son of Bran, and
+Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and Iddic the son of Anarawc
+Gwalltgrwn, and Fodor the son of Ervyll, and Gwlch Minascwrn, and Llassar
+the son of Llaesar Llaesgygwyd, and Pendaran Dyved as a young page with
+them.  And these abode as seven ministers to take charge of this island;
+and Caradawc the son of Bran was the chief amongst them.
+
+Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed towards Ireland,
+and it was not far across the sea, and he came to shoal water.  It was
+caused by two rivers; the Lli and the Archan were they called; and the
+nations covered the sea.  Then he proceeded with what provisions he had
+on his own back, and approached the shore of Ireland.
+
+Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the seashore, and they came to
+Matholwch.  “Lord,” said they, “greeting be unto thee.”  “Heaven protect
+you,” said he, “have you any news?”  “Lord,” said they, “we have
+marvellous news, a wood have we seen upon the sea, in a place where we
+never yet saw a single tree.”  “This is indeed a marvel,” said he; “saw
+you aught else?”  “We saw, lord,” said they, “a vast mountain beside the
+wood, which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on the top of the
+mountain, and a lake on each side of the ridge.  And the wood, and the
+mountain, and all these things moved.”  “Verily,” said he, “there is none
+who can know aught concerning this, unless it be Branwen.”
+
+Messengers then went unto Branwen.  “Lady,” said they, “what thinkest
+thou that this is?”  “The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have come
+hither on hearing of my ill-treatment and my woes.”  “What is the forest
+that is seen upon the sea?” asked they.  “The yards and the masts of
+ships,” she answered.  “Alas,” said they, “what is the mountain that is
+seen by the side of the ships?”  “Bendigeid Vran, my brother,” she
+replied, “coming to shoal water; there is no ship that can contain him in
+it.”  “What is the lofty ridge with the lake on each side thereof?”  “On
+looking towards this island he is wroth, and his two eyes, one on each
+side of his nose, are the two lakes beside the ridge.”
+
+The warriors and the chief men of Ireland were brought together in haste,
+and they took counsel.  “Lord,” said the nobles unto Matholwch, “there is
+no other counsel than to retreat over the Linon (a river which is in
+Ireland), and to keep the river between thee and him, and to break down
+the bridge that is across the river, for there is a loadstone at the
+bottom of the river that neither ship nor vessel can pass over.”  So they
+retreated across the river, and broke down the bridge.
+
+Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with him by the bank of the
+river.  “Lord,” said his chieftains, “knowest thou the nature of this
+river, that nothing can go across it, and there is no bridge over it?”
+“What,” said they, “is thy counsel concerning a bridge?”  “There is
+none,” said he, “except that he who will be chief, let him be a bridge.
+I will be so,” said he.  And then was that saying first uttered, and it
+is still used as a proverb.  And when he had lain down across the river,
+hurdles were placed upon him, and the host passed over thereby.
+
+And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch came to him, and
+saluted him, and gave him greeting in the name of Matholwch, his kinsman,
+and showed how that of his goodwill he had merited of him nothing but
+good.  “For Matholwch has given the kingdom of Ireland to Gwern the son
+of Matholwch, thy nephew and thy sister’s son.  And this he places before
+thee, as a compensation for the wrong and despite that has been done unto
+Branwen.  And Matholwch shall be maintained wheresoever thou wilt, either
+here or in the Island of the Mighty.”  Said Bendigeid Vran, “Shall not I
+myself have the kingdom?  Then peradventure I may take counsel concerning
+your message.  From this time until then no other answer will you get
+from me.”  “Verily,” said they, “the best message that we receive for
+thee, we will convey it unto thee, and do thou await our message unto
+him.”  “I will wait,” answered he, “and do you return quickly.”
+
+The messengers set forth and came to Matholwch.  “Lord,” said they,
+“prepare a better message for Bendigeid Vran.  He would not listen at all
+to the message that we bore him.”  “My friends,” said Matholwch, “what
+may be your counsel?”  “Lord,” said they, “there is no other counsel than
+this alone.  He was never known to be within a house, make therefore a
+house that will contain him and the men of the Island of the Mighty on
+the one side, and thyself and thy host on the other; and give over thy
+kingdom to his will, and do him homage.  So by reason of the honour thou
+doest him in making him a house, whereas he never before had a house to
+contain him, he will make peace with thee.”  So the messengers went back
+to Bendigeid Vran, bearing him this message.
+
+And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved that he should
+accept this, and this was all done by the advice of Branwen, and lest the
+country should be destroyed.  And this peace was made, and the house was
+built both vast and strong.  But the Irish planned a crafty device, and
+the craft was that they should put brackets on each side of the hundred
+pillars that were in the house, and should place a leathern bag on each
+bracket, and an armed man in every one of them.  Then Evnissyen came in
+before the host of the Island of the Mighty, and scanned the house with
+fierce and savage looks, and descried the leathern bags which were around
+the pillars.  “What is in this bag?” asked he of one of the Irish.
+“Meal, good soul,” said he.  And Evnissyen felt about it until he came to
+the man’s head, and he squeezed the head until he felt his fingers meet
+together in the brain through the bone.  And he left that one and put his
+hand upon another, and asked what was therein.  “Meal,” said the
+Irishman.  So he did the like unto every one of them, until he had not
+left alive, of all the two hundred men, save one only; and when he came
+to him, he asked what was there.  “Meal, good soul,” said the Irishman.
+And he felt about until he felt the head, and he squeezed that head as he
+had done the others.  And, albeit he found that the head of this one was
+armed, he left him not until he had killed him.  And then he sang an
+Englyn:—
+
+   “There is in this bag a different sort of meal,
+   The ready combatant, when the assault is made
+   By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle.”
+
+Thereupon came the hosts unto the house.  The men of the Island of
+Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the men of the Island of
+the Mighty on the other.  And as soon as they had sat down there was
+concord between them; and the sovereignty was conferred upon the boy.
+When the peace was concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy unto him, and
+from Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and he was beloved by
+all that beheld him.  And from Manawyddan the boy was called by Nissyen
+the son of Eurosswydd, and the boy went unto him lovingly.  “Wherefore,”
+said Evnissyen, “comes not my nephew the son of my sister unto me?
+Though he were not king of Ireland, yet willingly would I fondle the
+boy.”  “Cheerfully let him go to thee,” said Bendigeid Vran, and the boy
+went unto him cheerfully.  “By my confession to Heaven,” said Evnissyen
+in his heart, “unthought of by the household is the slaughter that I will
+this instant commit.”
+
+Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and before any one in the
+house could seize hold of him, he thrust the boy headlong into the
+blazing fire.  And when Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, she
+strove to leap into the fire also, from the place where she sat between
+her two brothers.  But Bendigeid Vran grasped her with one hand, and his
+shield with the other.  Then they all hurried about the house, and never
+was there made so great a tumult by any host in one house as was made by
+them, as each man armed himself.  Then said Morddwydtyllyon, “The
+gadflies of Morddwydtyllyon’s Cow!”  And while they all sought their
+arms, Bendigeid Vran supported Branwen between his shield and his
+shoulder.
+
+Then the Irish kindled a fire under the cauldron of renovation, and they
+cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until it was full, and the next
+day they came forth fighting-men as good as before, except that they were
+not able to speak.  Then when Evnissyen saw the dead bodies of the men of
+the Island of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated, he said in his heart,
+“Alas! woe is me, that I should have been the cause of bringing the men
+of the Island of the Mighty into so great a strait.  Evil betide me if I
+find not a deliverance therefrom.”  And he cast himself among the dead
+bodies of the Irish, and two unshod Irishmen came to him, and, taking him
+to be one of the Irish, flung him into the cauldron.  And he stretched
+himself out in the cauldron, so that he rent the cauldron into four
+pieces, and burst his own heart also.
+
+In consequence of that the men of the Island of the Mighty obtained such
+success as they had; but they were not victorious, for only seven men of
+them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran himself was wounded in the foot with
+a poisoned dart.  Now the seven men that escaped were Pryderi,
+Manawyddan, Gluneu Eil Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc, Grudyen the son of Muryel,
+and Heilyn the son of Gwynn Hen.
+
+And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off his head.
+“And take you my head,” said he, “and bear it even unto the White Mount,
+in London, and bury it there, with the face towards France.  And a long
+time will you be upon the road.  In Harlech you will be feasting seven
+years, the birds of Rhiannon singing unto you the while.  And all that
+time the head will be to you as pleasant company as it ever was when on
+my body.  And at Gwales in Penvro you will be fourscore years, and you
+may remain there, and the head with you uncorrupted, until you open the
+door that looks towards Aber Henvelen, and towards Cornwall.  And after
+you have opened that door, there you may no longer tarry, set forth then
+to London to bury the head, and go straight forward.”
+
+So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward therewith.  And
+Branwen was the eighth with them, and they came to land at Aber Alaw, in
+Talebolyon, and they sat down to rest.  And Branwen looked towards
+Ireland and towards the Island of the Mighty, to see if she could descry
+them.  “Alas,” said she, “woe is me that I was ever born; two islands
+have been destroyed because of me!”  Then she uttered a loud groan, and
+there broke her heart.  And they made her a four-sided grave, and buried
+her upon the banks of the Alaw.
+
+Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Harlech, bearing the head
+with them; and as they went, behold there met them a multitude of men and
+of women.  “Have you any tidings?” asked Manawyddan.  “We have none,”
+said they, “save that Caswallawn the son of Beli has conquered the Island
+of the Mighty, and is crowned king in London.”  “What has become,” said
+they, “of Caradawc the son of Bran, and the seven men who were left with
+him in this island?”  “Caswallawn came upon them, and slew six of the
+men, and Caradawc’s heart broke for grief thereof; for he could see the
+sword that slew the men, but knew not who it was that wielded it.
+Caswallawn had flung upon him the Veil of Illusion, so that no one could
+see him slay the men, but the sword only could they see.  And it liked
+him not to slay Caradawc, because he was his nephew, the son of his
+cousin.  And now he was the third whose heart had broke through grief.
+Pendaran Dyved, who had remained as a young page with these men, escaped
+into the wood,” said they.
+
+Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to rest, and they
+provided meat and liquor, and sat down to eat and to drink.  And there
+came three birds, and began singing unto them a certain song, and all the
+songs they had ever heard were unpleasant compared thereto; and the birds
+seemed to them to be at a great distance from them over the sea, yet they
+appeared as distinct as if they were close by, and at this repast they
+continued seven years.
+
+And at the close of the seventh year they went forth to Gwales in Penvro.
+And there they found a fair and regal spot overlooking the ocean; and a
+spacious hall was therein.  And they went into the hall, and two of its
+doors were open, but the third door was closed, that which looked towards
+Cornwall.  “See, yonder,” said Manawyddan, “is the door that we may not
+open.”  And that night they regaled themselves and were joyful.  And of
+all they had seen of food laid before them, and of all they had heard of,
+they remembered nothing; neither of that, nor of any sorrow whatsoever.
+And there they remained fourscore years, unconscious of having ever spent
+a time more joyous and mirthful.  And they were not more weary than when
+first they came, neither did they, any of them, know the time they had
+been there.  And it was not more irksome to them having the head with
+them, than if Bendigeid Vran had been with them himself.  And because of
+these fourscore years, it was called “the Entertaining of the noble
+Head.”  The entertaining of Branwen and Matholwch was in the time that
+they went to Ireland.
+
+One day said Heilyn the son of Gwynn, “Evil betide me, if I do not open
+the door to know if that is true which is said concerning it.”  So he
+opened the door and looked towards Cornwall and Aber Henvelen.  And when
+they had looked, they were as conscious of all the evils they had ever
+sustained, and of all the friends and companions they had lost, and of
+all the misery that had befallen them, as if all had happened in that
+very spot; and especially of the fate of their lord.  And because of
+their perturbation they could not rest, but journeyed forth with the head
+towards London.  And they buried the head in the White Mount, and when it
+was buried, this was the third goodly concealment; and it was the third
+ill-fated disclosure when it was disinterred, inasmuch as no invasion
+from across the sea came to this island while the head was in that
+concealment.
+
+And thus is the story related of those who journeyed over from Ireland.
+
+In Ireland none were left alive, except five pregnant women in a cave in
+the Irish wilderness; and to these five women in the same night were born
+five sons, whom they nursed until they became grown-up youths.  And they
+thought about wives, and they at the same time desired to possess them,
+and each took a wife of the mothers of their companions, and they
+governed the country and peopled it.
+
+And these five divided it amongst them, and because of this partition are
+the five divisions of Ireland still so termed.  And they examined the
+land where the battles had taken place, and they found gold and silver
+until they became wealthy.
+
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi, concerning the blow given to
+Branwen, which was the third unhappy blow of this island; and concerning
+the entertainment of Bran, when the hosts of sevenscore countries and ten
+went over to Ireland to revenge the blow given to Branwen; and concerning
+the seven years’ banquet in Harlech, and the singing of the birds of
+Rhiannon, and the sojourning of the head for the space of fourscore
+years.
+
+
+
+
+MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR
+HERE IS THE THIRD PORTION OF THE MABINOGI
+
+
+When the seven men of whom we spoke above had buried the head of
+Bendigeid Vran, in the White Mount in London, with its face towards
+France; Manawyddan gazed upon the town of London, and upon his
+companions, and heaved a great sigh; and much grief and heaviness came
+upon him.  “Alas, Almighty Heaven, woe is me,” he exclaimed, “there is
+none save myself without a resting-place this night.”  “Lord,” said
+Pryderi, “be not so sorrowful.  Thy cousin is king of the Island of the
+Mighty, and though he should do thee wrong, thou hast never been a
+claimant of land or possessions.  Thou art the third disinherited
+prince.”  “Yea,” answered he, “but although this man is my cousin, it
+grieveth me to see any one in the place of my brother Bendigeid Vran,
+neither can I be happy in the same dwelling with him.”  “Wilt thou follow
+the counsel of another?” said Pryderi.  “I stand in need of counsel,” he
+answered, “and what may that counsel be?”  “Seven Cantrevs remain unto
+me,” said Pryderi, “wherein Rhiannon my mother dwells.  I will bestow her
+upon thee and the seven Cantrevs with her, and though thou hadst no
+possessions but those Cantrevs only, thou couldst not have seven Cantrevs
+fairer than they.  Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw, is my wife, and
+since the inheritance of the Cantrevs belongs to me, do thou and Rhiannon
+enjoy them, and if thou ever desire any possessions thou wilt take
+these.”  “I do not, Chieftain,” said he; “Heaven reward thee for thy
+friendship.”  “I would show thee the best friendship in the world if thou
+wouldst let me.”  “I will, my friend,” said he, “and Heaven reward thee.
+I will go with thee to seek Rhiannon and to look at thy possessions.”
+“Thou wilt do well,” he answered.  “And I believe that thou didst never
+hear a lady discourse better than she, and when she was in her prime none
+was ever fairer.  Even now her aspect is not uncomely.”
+
+They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at length to
+Dyved, and a feast was prepared for them against their coming to
+Narberth, which Rhiannon and Kicva had provided.  Then began Manawyddan
+and Rhiannon to sit and to talk together, and from their discourse his
+mind and his thoughts became warmed towards her, and he thought in his
+heart he had never beheld any lady more fulfilled of grace and beauty
+than she.  “Pryderi,” said he, “I will that it be as thou didst say.”
+“What saying was that?” asked Rhiannon.  “Lady,” said Pryderi, “I did
+offer thee as a wife to Manawyddan the son of Llyr.”  “By that will I
+gladly abide,” said Rhiannon.  “Right glad am I also,” said Manawyddan;
+“may Heaven reward him who hath shown unto me friendship so perfect as
+this.”
+
+And before the feast was over she became his bride.  Said Pryderi, “Tarry
+ye here the rest of the feast, and I will go into Lloegyr to tender my
+homage unto Caswallawn the son of Beli.”  “Lord,” said Rhiannon,
+“Caswallawn is in Kent, thou mayest therefore tarry at the feast, and
+wait until he shall be nearer.”  “We will wait,” he answered.  So they
+finished the feast.  And they began to make the circuit of Dyved, and to
+hunt, and to take their pleasure.  And as they went through the country,
+they had never seen lands more pleasant to live in, nor better hunting
+grounds, nor greater plenty of honey and fish.  And such was the
+friendship between those four, that they would not be parted from each
+other by night nor by day.
+
+And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford, and
+tendered his homage; and honourable was his reception there, and highly
+was he praised for offering his homage.
+
+And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took their ease
+and pleasure.  And they began a feast at Narberth, for it was the chief
+palace; and there originated all honour.  And when they had ended the
+first meal that night, while those who served them ate, they arose and
+went forth, and proceeded all four to the Gorsedd of Narberth, and their
+retinue with them.  And as they sat thus, behold, a peal of thunder, and
+with the violence of the thunderstorm, lo there came a fall of mist, so
+thick that not one of them could see the other.  And after the mist it
+became light all around.  And when they looked towards the place where
+they were wont to see cattle, and herds, and dwellings, they saw nothing
+now, neither house, nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor
+dwelling; but the houses of the Court empty, and desert, and uninhabited,
+without either man or beast within them.  And truly all their companions
+were lost to them, without their knowing aught of what had befallen them,
+save those four only.
+
+“In the name of Heaven,” cried Manawyddan, “where are they of the Court,
+and all my host beside these?  Let us go and see.”  So they came into the
+hall, and there was no man; and they went on to the castle and to the
+sleeping-place, and they saw none; and in the mead-cellar and in the
+kitchen there was nought but desolation.  So they four feasted, and
+hunted, and took their pleasure.  Then they began to go through the land
+and all the possessions that they had, and they visited the houses and
+dwellings, and found nothing but wild beasts.  And when they had consumed
+their feast and all their provisions, they fed upon the prey they killed
+in hunting, and the honey of the wild swarms.  And thus they passed the
+first year pleasantly, and the second; but at the last they began to be
+weary.
+
+“Verily,” said Manawyddan, “we must not bide thus.  Let us go into
+Lloegyr, and seek some craft whereby we may gain our support.”  So they
+went into Lloegyr, and came as far as Hereford.  And they betook
+themselves to making saddles.  And Manawyddan began to make housings, and
+he gilded and coloured them with blue enamel, in the manner that he had
+seen it done by Llasar Llaesgywydd.  And he made the blue enamel as it
+was made by the other man.  And therefore is it still called Calch Lasar
+[blue enamel], because Llasar Llaesgywydd had wrought it.
+
+And as long as that workmanship could be had of Manawyddan, neither
+saddle nor housing was bought of a saddler throughout all Hereford; till
+at length every one of the saddlers perceived that they were losing much
+of their gain, and that no man bought of them, but him who could not get
+what he sought from Manawyddan.  Then they assembled together, and agreed
+to slay him and his companions.
+
+Now they received warning of this, and took counsel whether they should
+leave the city.  “By Heaven,” said Pryderi, “it is not my counsel that we
+should quit the town, but that we should slay these boors.”  “Not so,”
+said Manawyddan, “for if we fight with them, we shall have evil fame, and
+shall be put in prison.  It were better for us to go to another town to
+maintain ourselves.”  So they four went to another city.
+
+“What craft shall we take?” said Pryderi.  “We will make shields,” said
+Manawyddan.  “Do we know anything about that craft?” said Pryderi.  “We
+will try,” answered he.  There they began to make shields, and fashioned
+them after the shape of the good shields they had seen; and they
+enamelled they, as them had done the saddles.  And they prospered in that
+place, so that not a shield was asked for in the whole town, but such as
+was had of them.  Rapid therefore was their work, and numberless were the
+shields they made.  But at last they were marked by the craftsmen, who
+came together in haste, and their fellow-townsmen with them, and agreed
+that they should seek to slay them.  But they received warning, and heard
+how the men had resolved on their destruction.  “Pryderi,” said
+Manawyddan, “these men desire to slay us.”  “Let us not endure this from
+these boors, but let us rather fall upon them and slay them.”  “Not so,”
+he answered; “Caswallawn and his men will hear of it, and we shall be
+undone.  Let us go to another town.”  So to another town they went.
+
+“What craft shall we take?” said Manawyddan.  “Whatsoever thou wilt that
+we know,” said Pryderi.  “Not so,” he replied, “but let us take to making
+shoes, for there is not courage enough among cordwainers either to fight
+with us or to molest us.”  “I know nothing thereof,” said Pryderi.  “But
+I know,” answered Manawyddan; “and I will teach thee to stitch.  We will
+not attempt to dress the leather, but we will buy it ready dressed and
+will make the shoes from it.”
+
+So he began by buying the best cordwal that could be had in the town, and
+none other would he buy except the leather for the soles; and he
+associated himself with the best goldsmith in the town, and caused him to
+make clasps for the shoes, and to gild the clasps, and he marked how it
+was done until he learnt the method.  And therefore was he called one of
+the three makers of Gold Shoes; and, when they could be had from him, not
+a shoe nor hose was bought of any of the cordwainers in the town.  But
+when the cordwainers perceived that their gains were failing (for as
+Manawyddan shaped the work, so Pryderi stitched it), they came together
+and took counsel, and agreed that they would slay them.
+
+“Pryderi,” said Manawyddan, “these men are minded to slay us.”
+“Wherefore should we bear this from the boorish thieves?” said Pryderi.
+“Rather let us slay them all.”  “Not so,” said Manawyddan, “we will not
+slay them, neither will we remain in Lloegyr any longer.  Let us set
+forth to Dyved and go to see it.”
+
+So they journeyed along until they came to Dyved, and they went forward
+to Narberth.  And there they kindled fire and supported themselves by
+hunting.  And thus they spent a month.  And they gathered their dogs
+around them, and tarried there one year.
+
+And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to hunt, and they ranged
+their dogs and went forth from the palace.  And some of the dogs ran
+before them and came to a small bush which was near at hand; but as soon
+as they were come to the bush, they hastily drew back and returned to the
+men, their hair bristling up greatly.  “Let us go near to the bush,” said
+Pryderi, “and see what is in it.”  And as they came near, behold, a wild
+boar of a pure white colour rose up from the bush.  Then the dogs, being
+set on by the men, rushed towards him; but he left the bush and fell back
+a little way from the men, and made a stand against the dogs without
+retreating from them, until the men had come near.  And when the men came
+up, he fell back a second time, and betook him to flight.  Then they
+pursued the boar until they beheld a vast and lofty castle, all newly
+built, in a place where they had never before seen either stone or
+building.  And the boar ran swiftly into the castle and the dogs after
+him.  Now when the boar and the dogs had gone into the castle, they began
+to wonder at finding a castle in a place where they had never before seen
+any building whatsoever.  And from the top of the Gorsedd they looked and
+listened for the dogs.  But so long as they were there they heard not one
+of the dogs nor aught concerning them.
+
+“Lord,” said Pryderi, “I will go into the castle to get tidings of the
+dogs.”  “Truly,” he replied, “thou wouldst be unwise to go into this
+castle, which thou hast never seen till now.  If thou wouldst follow my
+counsel, thou wouldst not enter therein.  Whosoever has cast a spell over
+this land has caused this castle to be here.”  “Of a truth,” answered
+Pryderi, “I cannot thus give up my dogs.”  And for all the counsel that
+Manawyddan gave him, yet to the castle he went.
+
+When he came within the castle, neither man nor beast, nor boar nor dogs,
+nor house nor dwelling saw he within it.  But in the centre of the castle
+floor he beheld a fountain with marble work around it, and on the margin
+of the fountain a golden bowl upon a marble slab, and chains hanging from
+the air, to which he saw no end.
+
+And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and with the rich
+workmanship of the bowl, and he went up to the bowl and laid hold of it.
+And when he had taken hold of it his hands stuck to the bowl, and his
+feet to the slab on which the howl was placed, and all his joyousness
+forsook him, so that he could not utter a word.  And thus he stood.
+
+And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the day.  And late
+in the evening, being certain that he should have no tidings of Pryderi
+or of the dogs, he went back to the palace.  And as he entered, Rhiannon
+looked at him.  “Where,” said she, “are thy companion and thy dogs?”
+“Behold,” he answered, “the adventure that has befallen me.”  And he
+related it all unto her.  “An evil companion hast thou been,” said
+Rhiannon, “and a good companion hast thou lost.”  And with that word she
+went out, and proceeded towards the castle according to the direction
+which he gave her.  The gate of the castle she found open.  She was
+nothing daunted, and she went in.  And as she went in, she perceived
+Pryderi laying hold of the bowl, and she went towards him.  “Oh, my
+lord,” said she, “what dost thou do here?”  And she took hold of the bowl
+with him; and as she did so her hands became fast to the bowl, and her
+feet to the slab, and she was not able to utter a word.  And with that,
+as it became night, lo, there came thunder upon them, and a fall of mist,
+and thereupon the castle vanished, and they with it.
+
+When Kicva the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw saw that there was no one in the
+palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so that she cared not
+whether she lived or died.  And Manawyddan saw this.  “Thou art in the
+wrong,” said he, “if through fear of me thou grievest thus.  I call
+Heaven to witness that thou hast never seen friendship mere pure than
+that which I will bear thee, as long as Heaven will that thou shouldst be
+thus.  I declare to thee that were I in the dawn of youth I would keep my
+faith unto Pryderi, and unto thee also will I keep it.  Be there no fear
+upon thee, therefore,” said he, “for Heaven is my witness that thou shalt
+meet with all the friendship thou canst wish, and that it is in my power
+to show thee, as long as it shall please Heaven to continue us in this
+grief and woe.”  “Heaven reward thee,” she said, “and that is what I
+deemed of thee.”  And the damsel thereupon took courage and was glad.
+
+“Truly, lady,” said Manawyddan, “it is not fitting for us to stay here,
+we have lost our dogs, and we cannot get food.  Let us go into Lloegyr;
+it is easiest for us to find support there.”  “Gladly, lord,” said she,
+“we will do so.”  And they set forth together to Lloegyr.
+
+“Lord,” said she, “what craft wilt thou follow?  Take up one that is
+seemly.”  “None other will I take,” answered he, “save that of making
+shoes, as I did formerly.”  “Lord,” said she, “such a craft becomes not a
+man so nobly born as thou.”  “By that however will I abide,” said he.
+
+So he began his craft, and he made all his work of the finest leather he
+could get in the town, and, as he had done at the other place, he caused
+gilded clasps to be made for the shoes.  And except himself all the
+cordwainers in the town were idle, and without work.  For as long as they
+could be had from him, neither shoes nor hose were bought elsewhere.  And
+thus they tarried there a year, until the cordwainers became envious, and
+took counsel concerning him.  And he had warning thereof, and it was told
+him how the cordwainers had agreed together to slay him.
+
+“Lord,” said Kicva, “wherefore should this be borne from these boors?”
+“Nay,” said he, “we will go back unto Dyved.”  So towards Dyved they set
+forth.
+
+Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved, took with him a
+burden of wheat.  And he proceeded towards Narberth, and there he dwelt.
+And never was he better pleased than when he saw Narberth again, and the
+lands where he had been wont to hunt with Pryderi and with Rhiannon.  And
+he accustomed himself to fish, and to hunt the deer in their covert.  And
+then he began to prepare some ground, and he sowed a croft, and a second,
+and a third.  And no wheat in the world ever sprung up better.  And the
+three crofts prospered with perfect growth, and no man ever saw fairer
+wheat than it.
+
+And thus passed the seasons of the year until the harvest came.  And he
+went to look at one of his crofts, and behold it was ripe.  “I will reap
+this to-morrow,” said he.  And that night he went back to Narberth, and
+on the morrow in the grey dawn he went to reap the croft, and when he
+came there he found nothing but the bare straw.  Every one of the ears of
+the wheat was cut from off the stalk, and all the ears carried entirely
+away, and nothing but the straw left.  And at this he marvelled greatly.
+
+Then he went to look at another croft, and behold that also was ripe.
+“Verily,” said he, “this will I reap to-morrow.”  And on the morrow he
+came with the intent to reap it, and when he came there he found nothing
+but the bare straw.  “Oh, gracious Heaven,” he exclaimed, “I know that
+whosoever has begun my ruin is completing it, and has also destroyed the
+country with me.”
+
+Then he went to look at the third croft, and when he came there, finer
+wheat had there never been seen, and this also was ripe.  “Evil betide
+me,” said he, “if I watch not here to-night.  Whoever carried off the
+other corn will come in like manner to take this.  And I will know who it
+is.”  So he took his arms, and began to watch the croft.  And he told
+Kicva all that had befallen.  “Verily,” said she, “what thinkest thou to
+do?”  “I will watch the croft to-night,” said he.
+
+And he went to watch the croft.  And at midnight, lo, there arose the
+loudest tumult in the world.  And he looked, and behold the mightiest
+host of mice in the world, which could neither be numbered nor measured.
+And he knew not what it was until the mice had made their way into the
+croft, and each of them climbing up the straw and bending it down with
+its weight, had cut off one of the ears of wheat, and had carried it
+away, leaving there the stalk, and he saw not a single stalk there that
+had not a mouse to it.  And they all took their way, carrying the ears
+with them.
+
+In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice, but he could no more come
+up with them than if they had been gnats, or birds in the air, except one
+only, which though it was but sluggish, went so fast that a man on foot
+could scarce overtake it.  And after this one he went, and he caught it
+and put it in his glove, and tied up the opening of the glove with a
+string, and kept it with him, and returned to the palace.  Then he came
+to the hall where Kicva was, and he lighted a fire, and hung the glove by
+the string upon a peg.  “What hast thou there, lord?” said Kicva.  “A
+thief,” said he, “that I found robbing me.”  “What kind of thief may it
+be, lord, that thou couldst put into thy glove?” said she.  “Behold I
+will tell thee,” he answered.  Then he showed her how his fields had been
+wasted and destroyed, and how the mice came to the last of the fields in
+his sight.  “And one of them was less nimble than the rest, and is now in
+my glove; to-morrow I will hang it, and before Heaven, if I had them, I
+would hang them all.”  “My lord,” said she, “this is marvellous; but yet
+it would be unseemly for a man of dignity like thee to be hanging such a
+reptile as this.  And if thou doest right, thou wilt not meddle with the
+creature, but wilt let it go.”  “Woe betide me,” said he, “if I would not
+hang them all could I catch them, and such as I have I will hang.”
+“Verily, lord,” said she, “there is no reason that I should succour this
+reptile, except to prevent discredit unto thee.  Do therefore, lord, as
+thou wilt.”  “If I knew of any cause in the world wherefore thou shouldst
+succour it, I would take thy counsel concerning it,” said Manawyddan,
+“but as I know of none, lady, I am minded to destroy it.”  “Do so
+willingly then,” said she.
+
+And then he went to the Gorsedd of Narberth, taking the mouse with him.
+And he set up two forks on the highest part of the Gorsedd.  And while he
+was doing this, behold he saw a scholar coming towards him, in old and
+poor and tattered garments.  And it was now seven years since he had seen
+in that place either man or beast, except those four persons who had
+remained together until two of them were lost.
+
+“My lord,” said the scholar, “good day to thee.”  “Heaven prosper thee,
+and my greeting be unto thee.  And whence dost thou come, scholar?” asked
+he.  “I come, lord, from singing in Lloegyr; and wherefore dost thou
+inquire?”  “Because for the last seven years,” answered he, “I have seen
+no man here save four secluded persons, and thyself this moment.”
+“Truly, lord,” said he, “I go through this land unto mine own.  And what
+work art thou upon, lord?”  “I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing
+me,” said he.  “What manner of thief is that?” asked the scholar.  “I see
+a creature in thy hand like unto a mouse, and ill does it become a man of
+rank equal to thine to touch a reptile such as this.  Let it go forth
+free.”  “I will not let it go free, by Heaven,” said he; “I caught it
+robbing me, and the doom of a thief will I inflict upon it, and I will
+hang it.”  “Lord,” said he, “rather than see a man of rank equal to thine
+at such a work as this, I would give thee a pound which I have received
+as alms, to let the reptile go forth free.”  “I will not let it go free,”
+said he, “by Heaven, neither will I sell it.”  “As thou wilt, lord,” he
+answered; “except that I would not see a man of rank equal to thine
+touching such a reptile, I care nought.”  And the scholar went his way.
+
+And as he was placing the crossbeam upon the two forks, behold a priest
+came towards him upon a horse covered with trappings.  “Good day to thee,
+lord,” said he.  “Heaven prosper thee,” said Manawyddan; “thy blessing.”
+“The blessing of Heaven be upon thee.  And what, lord, art thou doing?”
+“I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me,” said he.  “What manner
+of thief, lord?” asked he.  “A creature,” he answered, “in form of a
+mouse.  It has been robbing me, and I am inflicting upon it the doom of a
+thief.”  “Lord,” said he, “rather than see thee touch this reptile, I
+would purchase its freedom.”  “By my confession to Heaven, neither will I
+sell it nor set it free.”  “It is true, lord, that it is worth nothing to
+buy; but rather than see thee defile thyself by touching such a reptile
+as this, I will give thee three pounds to let it go.”  “I will not, by
+Heaven,” said he, “take any price for at.  As it ought, so shall it be
+hanged.”  “Willingly, lord, do thy good pleasure.”  And the priest went
+his way.
+
+Then he noosed the string around the mouse’s neck, and as he was about to
+draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop’s retinue with his sumpter-horses,
+and his attendants.  And the bishop himself came towards him.  And he
+stayed his work.  “Lord bishop,” said he, “thy blessing.”  “Heaven’s
+blessing be unto thee,” said he; “what work art thou upon?”  “Hanging a
+thief that I caught robbing me,” said he.  “Is not that a mouse that I
+see in thy hand?”  “Yes,” answered he.  “And she has robbed me.”  “Aye,”
+said he, “since I have come at the doom of this reptile, I will ransom it
+of thee.  I will give thee seven pounds for it, and that rather than see
+a man of rank equal to thine destroying so vile a reptile as this.  Let
+it loose and thou shalt have the money.”  “I declare to Heaven that I
+will not set it loose.”  “If thou wilt not loose it for this, I will give
+thee four-and-twenty pounds of ready money to set it free.”  “I will not
+set it free, by Heaven, for as much again,” said he.  “If thou wilt not
+set it free for this, I will give thee all the horses that thou seest in
+this plain, and the seven loads of baggage, and the seven horses that
+they are upon.”  “By Heaven, I will not,” he replied.  “Since for this
+thou wilt not, do so at what price soever thou wilt.”  “I will do so,”
+said he.  “I will that Rhiannon and Pryderi be free,” said he.  “That
+thou shalt have,” he answered.  “Not yet will I loose the mouse, by
+Heaven.”  “What then wouldst thou?”  “That the charm and the illusion be
+removed from the seven Cantrevs of Dyved.”  “This shalt thou have also;
+set therefore the mouse free.”  “I will not set it free, by Heaven,” said
+he.  “I will know who the mouse may be.”  “She is my wife.”  “Even though
+she be, I will not set her free.  Wherefore came she to me?”  “To despoil
+thee,” he answered.  “I am Llwyd the son of Kilcoed, and I cast the charm
+over the seven Cantrevs of Dyved.  And it was to avenge Gwawl the son of
+Clud, from the friendship I had towards him, that I cast the charm.  And
+upon Pryderi did I revenge Gwawl the son of Clud, for the game of Badger
+in the Bag, that Pwyll Pen Annwvyn played upon him, which he did
+unadvisedly in the Court of Heveydd Hên.  And when it was known that thou
+wast come to dwell in the land, my household came and besought me to
+transform them into mice, that they might destroy thy corn.  And it was
+my own household that went the first night.  And the second night also
+they went, and they destroyed thy two crofts.  And the third night came
+unto me my wife and the ladies of the Court, and besought me to transform
+them.  And I transformed them.  Now she is pregnant.  And had she not
+been pregnant thou wouldst not have been able to overtake her; but since
+this has taken place, and she has been caught, I will restore thee
+Pryderi and Rhiannon; and I will take the charm and illusion from off
+Dyved.  I have now told thee who she is.  Set her therefore free.”  “I
+will not set her free, by Heaven,” said he.  “What wilt thou more?” he
+asked.  “I will that there be no more charm upon the seven Cantrevs of
+Dyved, and that none shall be put upon it henceforth.”  “This thou shalt
+have,” said he.  “Now set her free.”  “I will not, by my faith,” he
+answered.  “What wilt thou furthermore?” asked he.  “Behold,” said he,
+“this will I have; that vengeance be never taken for this, either upon
+Pryderi or Rhiannon, or upon me.”  “All this shalt thou have.  And truly
+thou hast done wisely in asking this.  Upon thy head would have lighted
+all this trouble.”  “Yea,” said he, “for fear thereof was it, that I
+required this.”  “Set now my wife at liberty.”  “I will not, by Heaven,”
+said he, “until I see Pryderi and Rhiannon with me free.”  “Behold, here
+they come,” he answered.
+
+And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon.  And he rose up to meet them,
+and greeted them, and sat down beside them.  “Ah, Chieftain, set now my
+wife at liberty,” said the bishop.  “Hast thou not received all thou
+didst ask?”  “I will release her gladly,” said he.  And thereupon he set
+her free.
+
+Then Llwyd struck her with a magic wand, and she was changed back into a
+young woman, the fairest ever seen.
+
+“Look around upon thy land,” said he, “and then thou wilt see it all
+tilled and peopled, as it was in its best state.”  And he rose up and
+looked forth.  And when he looked he saw all the lands tilled, and full
+of herds and dwellings.  “What bondage,” he inquired, “has there been
+upon Pryderi and Rhiannon?”  “Pryderi has had the knockers of the gate of
+my palace about his neck, and Rhiannon has had the collars of the asses,
+after they have been carrying hay, about her neck.”
+
+And such had been their bondage.
+
+And by reason of this bondage is this story called the Mabinogi of
+Mynnweir and Mynord.
+
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi.
+
+
+
+
+MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY
+THIS IS THE FOURTH PORTION OF THE MABINOGI
+
+
+Math the son of Mathonwy was lord over Gwynedd, and Pryderi the son of
+Pwyll was lord over the one-and-twenty Cantrevs of the South; and these
+were the seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and the seven Cantrevs of Morganwc, the
+four Cantrevs of Ceredigiawn, and the three of Ystrad Tywi.
+
+At that time, Math the son of Mathonwy could not exist unless his feet
+were in the lap of a maiden, except only when he was prevented by the
+tumult of war.  Now the maiden who was with him was Goewin, the daughter
+of Pebin of Dôl Pebin, in Arvon, and she was the fairest maiden of her
+time who was known there.
+
+And Math dwelt always at Caer Dathyl, in Arvon, and was not able to go
+the circuit of the land, but Gilvaethwy the son of Don, and Eneyd the son
+of Don, his nephews, the sons of his sisters, with his household, went
+the circuit of the land in his stead.
+
+Now the maiden was with Math continually, and Gilvaethwy the son of Don
+set his affections upon her, and loved her so that he knew not what he
+should do because of her, and therefrom behold his hue, and his aspect,
+and his spirits changed for love of her, so that it was not easy to know
+him.
+
+One day his brother Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him.  “Youth,” said
+he, “what aileth thee?”  “Why,” replied he, “what seest thou in me?”  “I
+see,” said he, “that thou hast lost thy aspect and thy hue; what,
+therefore, aileth thee?”  “My lord brother,” he answered, “that which
+aileth me, it will not profit me that I should own to any.”  “What may it
+be, my soul?” said he.  “Thou knowest,” he said, “that Math the son of
+Mathonwy has this property, that if men whisper together, in a tone how
+low soever, if the wind meet it, it becomes known unto him.”  “Yes,” said
+Gwydion, “hold now thy peace, I know thy intent, thou lovest Goewin.”
+
+When he found that his brother knew his intent, he gave the heaviest sigh
+in the world.  “Be silent, my soul, and sigh not,” he said.  “It is not
+thereby that thou wilt succeed.  I will cause,” said he, “if it cannot be
+otherwise, the rising of Gwynedd, and Powys, and Deheubarth, to seek the
+maiden.  Be thou of glad cheer therefore, and I will compass it.”
+
+So they went unto Math the son of Mathonwy.  “Lord,” said Gwydion, “I
+have heard that there have come to the South some beasts, such as were
+never known in this island before.”  “What are they called?” he asked.
+“Pigs, lord.”  “And what kind of animals are they?”  “They are small
+animals, and their flesh is better than the flesh of oxen.”  “They are
+small, then?”  “And they change their names.  Swine are they now called.”
+“Who owneth them?”  “Pryderi the son of Pwyll; they were sent him from
+Annwvyn, by Arawn the king of Annwvyn, and still they keep that name,
+half hog, half pig.”  “Verily,” asked he, “and by what means may they be
+obtained from him?”  “I will go, lord, as one of twelve, in the guise of
+bards, to seek the swine.”  “But it may be that he will refuse you,” said
+he.  “My journey will not be evil, lord,” said he; “I will not come back
+without the swine.”  “Gladly,” said he, “go thou forward.”
+
+So he and Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them.  And they came
+into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now called Rhuddlan Teivi, where
+the palace of Pryderi was.  In the guise of bards they came in, and they
+were received joyfully, and Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi that night.
+
+“Of a truth,” said Pryderi, “gladly would I have a tale from some of your
+men yonder.”  “Lord,” said Gwydion, “we have a custom that the first
+night that we come to the Court of a great man, the chief of song
+recites.  Gladly will I relate a tale.”  Now Gwydion was the best teller
+of tales in the world, and he diverted all the Court that night with
+pleasant discourse and with tales, so that he charmed every one in the
+Court, and it pleased Pryderi to talk with him.
+
+And after this, “Lord,” said he unto Pryderi, “were it more pleasing to
+thee, that another should discharge my errand unto thee, than that I
+should tell thee myself what it is?”  “No,” he answered, “ample speech
+hast thou.”  “Behold then, lord,” said he, “my errand.  It is to crave
+from thee the animals that were sent thee from Annwvyn.”  “Verily,” he
+replied, “that were the easiest thing in the world to grant, were there
+not a covenant between me and my land concerning them.  And the covenant
+is that they shall not go from me, until they have produced double their
+number in the land.”  “Lord,” said he, “I can set thee free from those
+words, and this is the way I can do so; give me not the swine to-night,
+neither refuse them unto me, and to-morrow I will show thee an exchange
+for them.”
+
+And that night he and his fellows went unto their lodging, and they took
+counsel.  “Ah, my men,” said he, “we shall not have the swine for the
+asking.”  “Well,” said they, “how may they be obtained?”  “I will cause
+them to be obtained,” said Gwydion.
+
+Then he betook himself to his arts, and began to work a charm.  And he
+caused twelve chargers to appear, and twelve black greyhounds, each of
+them white-breasted, and having upon them twelve collars and twelve
+leashes, such as no one that saw them could know to be other than gold.
+And upon the horses twelve saddles, and every part which should have been
+of iron was entirely of gold, and the bridles were of the same
+workmanship.  And with the horses and the dogs he came to Pryderi.
+
+“Good day unto thee, lord,” said he.  “Heaven prosper thee,” said the
+other, “and greetings be unto thee.”  “Lord,” said he, “behold here is a
+release for thee from the word which thou spakest last evening concerning
+the swine; that thou wouldst neither give nor sell them.  Thou mayest
+exchange them for that which is better.  And I will give these twelve
+horses, all caparisoned as they are, with their saddles and their
+bridles, and these twelve greyhounds, with their collars and their
+leashes as thou seest, and the twelve gilded shields that thou beholdest
+yonder.”  Now these he had formed of fungus.  “Well,” said he, “we will
+take counsel.”  And they consulted together, and determined to give the
+swine to Gwydion, and to take his horses and his dogs and his shields.
+
+Then Gwydion and his men took their leave, and began to journey forth
+with the pigs.  “Ah, my comrades,” said Gwydion, “it is needful that we
+journey with speed.  The illusion will not last but from the one hour to
+the same to-morrow.”
+
+And that night they journeyed as far as the upper part of Ceredigiawn, to
+the place which, from that cause, is called Mochdrev still.  And the next
+day they took their course through Melenydd, and came that night to the
+town which is likewise for that reason called Mochdrev between Keri and
+Arwystli.  And thence they journeyed forward; and that night they came as
+far as that Commot in Powys, which also upon account thereof is called
+Mochnant, and there tarried they that night.  And they journeyed thence
+to the Cantrev of Rhos, and the place where they were that night is still
+called Mochdrev.
+
+“My men,” said Gwydion, “we must push forward to the fastnesses of
+Gwynedd with these animals, for there is a gathering of hosts in pursuit
+of us.”  So they journeyed on to the highest town of Arllechwedd, and
+there they made a sty for the swine, and therefore was the name of
+Creuwyryon given to that town.  And after they had made the sty for the
+swine, they proceeded to Math the son of Mathonwy, at Caer Dathyl.  And
+when they came there, the country was rising.  “What news is there here?”
+asked Gwydion.  “Pryderi is assembling one-and-twenty Cantrevs to pursue
+after you,” answered they.  “It is marvellous that you should have
+journeyed so slowly.”  “Where are the animals whereof you went in quest?”
+said Math.  “They have had a sty made for them in the other Cantrev
+below,” said Gwydion.
+
+Thereupon, lo, they heard the trumpets and the host in the land, and they
+arrayed themselves and set forward and came to Penardd in Arvon.
+
+And at night Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy his brother, returned
+to Caer Dathyl; and Gilvaethwy took Math the son of Mathonwy’s couch.
+And while he turned out the other damsels from the room discourteously,
+he made Goewin unwillingly remain.
+
+And when they saw the day on the morrow, they went back unto the place
+where Math the son of Mathonwy was with his host; and when they came
+there, the warriors were taking counsel in what district they should
+await the coming of Pryderi, and the men of the South.  So they went in
+to the council.  And it was resolved to wait in the strongholds of
+Gwynedd, in Arvon.  So within the two Maenors they took their stand,
+Maenor Penardd and Maenor Coed Alun.  And there Pryderi attacked them,
+and there the combat took place.  And great was the slaughter on both
+sides; but the men of the South were forced to flee.  And they fled unto
+the place which is still called Nantcall.  And thither did they follow
+them, and they made a vast slaughter of them there, so that they fled
+again as far as the place called Dol Pen Maen, and there they halted and
+sought to make peace.
+
+And that he might have peace, Pryderi gave hostages, Gwrgi Gwastra gave
+he and three-and-twenty others, sons of nobles.  And after this they
+journeyed in peace even unto Traeth Mawr; but as they went on together
+towards Melenryd, the men on foot could not be restrained from shooting.
+Pryderi dispatched unto Math an embassy to pray him to forbid his people,
+and to leave it between him and Gwydion the son of Don, for that he had
+caused all this.  And the messengers came to Math.  “Of a truth,” said
+Math, “I call Heaven to witness, if it be pleasing unto Gwydion the son
+of Don, I will so leave it gladly.  Never will I compel any to go to
+fight, but that we ourselves should do our utmost.”
+
+“Verily,” said the messengers, “Pryderi saith that it were more fair that
+the man who did him this wrong should oppose his own body to his, and let
+his people remain unscathed.”  “I declare to Heaven, I will not ask the
+men of Gwynedd to fight because of me.  If I am allowed to fight Pryderi
+myself, gladly will I oppose my body to his.”  And this answer they took
+back to Pryderi.  “Truly,” said Pryderi, “I shall require no one to
+demand my rights but myself.”
+
+Then these two came forth and armed themselves, and they fought.  And by
+force of strength, and fierceness, and by the magic and charms of
+Gwydion, Pryderi was slain.  And at Maen Tyriawc, above Melenryd, was he
+buried, and there is his grave.
+
+And the men of the South set forth in sorrow towards their own land; nor
+is it a marvel that they should grieve, seeing that they had lost their
+lord, and many of their best warriors, and for the most part their horses
+and their arms.
+
+The men of Gwynedd went back joyful and in triumph.  “Lord,” said Gwydion
+unto Math, “would it not be right for us to release the hostages of the
+men of the South, which they pledged unto us for peace? for we ought not
+to put them in prison.”  “Let them then be set free,” saith Math.  So
+that youth, and the other hostages that were with him, were set free to
+follow the men of the South.
+
+Math himself went forward to Caer Dathyl.  Gilvaethwy the son of Don, and
+they of the household that were with him, went to make the circuit of
+Gwynedd as they were wont, without coming to the Court.  Math went into
+his chamber, and caused a place to be prepared for him whereon to
+recline, so that he might put his feet in the maiden’s lap.  “Lord,” said
+Goewin, “seek now another to hold thy feet, for I am now a wife.”  “What
+meaneth this?” said he.  “An attack, lord, was made unawares upon me; but
+I held not my peace, and there was no one in the Court who knew not of
+it.  Now the attack was made by thy nephews, lord, the sons of thy
+sister, Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy the son of Don; unto me
+they did wrong, and unto thee dishonour.”  “Verily,” he exclaimed, “I
+will do to the utmost of my power concerning this matter.  But first I
+will cause thee to have compensation, and then will I have amends made
+unto myself.  As for thee, I will take thee to be my wife, and the
+possession of my dominions will I give unto thy hands.”
+
+And Gwydion and Gilvaethwy came not near the Court, but stayed in the
+confines of the land until it was forbidden to give them meat and drink.
+At first they came not near unto Math, but at the last they came.
+“Lord,” said they, “good day to thee.”  “Well,” said he, “is it to make
+me compensation that ye are come?”  “Lord,” they said, “we are at thy
+will.”  “By my will I would not have lost my warriors, and so many arms
+as I have done.  You cannot compensate me my shame, setting aside the
+death of Pryderi.  But since ye come hither to be at my will, I shall
+begin your punishment forthwith.”
+
+Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so that he became a
+deer, and he seized upon the other hastily lest he should escape from
+him.  And he struck him with the same magic wand, and he became a deer
+also.  “Since now ye are in bonds, I will that ye go forth together and
+be companions, and possess the nature of the animals whose form ye bear.
+And this day twelvemonth come hither unto me.”
+
+At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud noise under the
+chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace together with the
+noise.  “Look,” said he, “what is without.”  “Lord,” said one, “I have
+looked; there are there two deer, and a fawn with them.”  Then he arose
+and went out.  And when he came he beheld the three animals.  And he
+lifted up his wand.  “As ye were deer last year, be ye wild hogs each and
+either of you, for the year that is to come.”  And thereupon he struck
+them with the magic wand.  “The young one will I take and cause to be
+baptized.”  Now the name that he gave him was Hydwn.  “Go ye and be wild
+swine, each and either of you, and be ye of the nature of wild swine.
+And this day twelvemonth be ye here under the wall.”
+
+At the end of the year the barking of dogs was heard under the wall of
+the chamber.  And the Court assembled, and thereupon he arose and went
+forth, and when he came forth he beheld three beasts.  Now these were the
+beasts that he saw; two wild hogs of the woods, and a well-grown young
+one with them.  And he was very large for his age.  “Truly,” said Math,
+“this one will I take and cause to be baptized.”  And he struck him with
+his magic wand, and he become a fine fair auburn-haired youth, and the
+name that he gave him was Hychdwn.  “Now as for you, as ye were wild hogs
+last year, be ye wolves each and either of you for the year that is to
+come.”  Thereupon he struck them with his magic wand, and they became
+wolves.  “And be ye of like nature with the animals whose semblance ye
+bear, and return here this day twelvemonth beneath this wall.”
+
+And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a clamour and a
+barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber.  And he rose and went
+forth.  And when he came, behold, he saw two wolves, and a strong cub
+with them.  “This one will I take,” said Math, “and I will cause him to
+be baptized; there is a name prepared for him, and that is Bleiddwn.  Now
+these three, such are they:—
+
+   The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false,
+   The three faithful combatants,
+   Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.”
+
+Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they resumed their own
+nature.  “Oh men,” said he, “for the wrong that ye did unto me sufficient
+has been your punishment and your dishonour.  Prepare now precious
+ointment for these men, and wash their heads, and equip them.”  And this
+was done.
+
+And after they were equipped, they came unto him.  “Oh men,” said he,
+“you have obtained peace, and you shall likewise have friendship.  Give
+your counsel unto me, what maiden I shall seek.”  “Lord,” said Gwydion
+the son of Don, “it is easy to give thee counsel; seek Arianrod, the
+daughter of Don, thy niece, thy sister’s daughter.”
+
+And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in.  “Ha, damsel,”
+said he, “art thou the maiden?”  “I know not, lord, other than that I
+am.”  Then he took up his magic wand, and bent it.  “Step over this,”
+said he, “and I shall know if thou art the maiden.”  Then stepped she
+over the magic wand, and there appeared forthwith a fine chubby
+yellow-haired boy.  And at the crying out of the boy, she went towards
+the door.  And thereupon some small form was seen; but before any one
+could get a second glimpse of it, Gwydion had taken it, and had flung a
+scarf of velvet around it and hidden it.  Now the place where he hid it
+was the bottom of a chest at the foot of his bed.
+
+“Verily,” said Math the son of Mathonwy, concerning the fine
+yellow-haired boy, “I will cause this one to be baptized, and Dylan is
+the name I will give him.”
+
+So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him he plunged into
+the sea.  And immediately when he was in the sea, he took its nature, and
+swam as well as the best fish that was therein.  And for that reason was
+he called Dylan, the son of the Wave.  Beneath him no wave ever broke.
+And the blow whereby he came to his death, was struck by his uncle
+Govannon.  The third fatal blow was it called.
+
+As Gwydion lay one morning on his bed awake, he heard a cry in the chest
+at his feet; and though it was not loud, it was such that he could hear
+it.  Then he arose in haste, and opened the chest: and when he opened it,
+he beheld an infant boy stretching out his arms from the folds of the
+scarf, and casting it aside.  And he took up the boy in his arms, and
+carried him to a place where he knew there was a woman that could nurse
+him.  And he agreed with the woman that she should take charge of the
+boy.  And that year he was nursed.
+
+And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as though he were two
+years old.  And the second year he was a big child, and able to go to the
+Court by himself.  And when he came to the Court, Gwydion noticed him,
+and the boy became familiar with him, and loved him better than any one
+else.  Then was the boy reared at the Court until he was four years old,
+when he was as big as though he had been eight.
+
+And one day Gwydion walked forth, and the boy followed him, and he went
+to the Castle of Arianrod, having the boy with him; and when he came into
+the Court, Arianrod arose to meet him, and greeted him and bade him
+welcome.  “Heaven prosper thee,” said he.  “Who is the boy that followeth
+thee?” she asked.  “This youth, he is thy son,” he answered.  “Alas,”
+said she, “what has come unto thee that thou shouldst shame me thus?
+wherefore dost thou seek my dishonour, and retain it so long as this?”
+“Unless thou suffer dishonour greater than that of my bringing up such a
+boy as this, small will be thy disgrace.”  “What is the name of the boy?”
+said she.  “Verily,” he replied, “he has not yet a name.”  “Well,” she
+said, “I lay this destiny upon him, that he shall never have a name until
+he receives one from me.”  “Heaven bears me witness,” answered he, “that
+thou art a wicked woman.  But the boy shall have a name how displeasing
+soever it may be unto thee.  As for thee, that which afflicts thee is
+that thou art no longer called a damsel.”  And thereupon he went forth in
+wrath, and returned to Caer Dathyl and there he tarried that night.
+
+And the next day he arose and took the boy with him, and went to walk on
+the seashore between that place and Aber Menei.  And there he saw some
+sedges and seaweed, and he turned them into a boat.  And out of dry
+sticks and sedges he made some Cordovan leather, and a great deal
+thereof, and he coloured it in such a manner that no one ever saw leather
+more beautiful than it.  Then he made a sail to the boat, and he and the
+boy went in it to the port of the castle of Arianrod.  And he began
+forming shoes and stitching them, until he was observed from the castle.
+And when he knew that they of the castle were observing him, he disguised
+his aspect, and put another semblance upon himself, and upon the boy, so
+that they might not be known.  “What men are those in yonder boat?” said
+Arianrod.  “They are cordwainers,” answered they.  “Go and see what kind
+of leather they have, and what kind of work they can do.”
+
+So they came unto them.  And when they came he was colouring some
+Cordovan leather, and gilding it.  And the messengers came and told her
+this.  “Well,” said she, “take the measure of my foot, and desire the
+cordwainer to make shoes for me.”  So he made the shoes for her, yet not
+according to the measure, but larger.  The shoes then were brought unto
+her, and behold they were too large.  “These are too large,” said she,
+“but he shall receive their value.  Let him also make some that are
+smaller than they.”  Then he made her others that were much smaller than
+her foot, and sent them unto her.  “Tell him that these will not go on my
+feet,” said she.  And they told him this.  “Verily,” said he, “I will not
+make her any shoes, unless I see her foot.”  And this was told unto her.
+“Truly,” she answered, “I will go unto him.”
+
+So she went down to the boat, and when she came there, he was shaping
+shoes and the boy stitching them.  “Ah, lady,” said he, “good day to
+thee.”  “Heaven prosper thee,” said she.  “I marvel that thou canst not
+manage to make shoes according to a measure.”  “I could not,” he replied,
+“but now I shall be able.”
+
+Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and the boy shot
+at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and the bone.  Then she
+smiled.  “Verily,” said she, “with a steady hand did the lion aim at it.”
+“Heaven reward thee not, but now has he got a name.  And a good enough
+name it is.  Llew Llaw Gyffes be he called henceforth.”
+
+Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went on with it
+no further.  And for that reason was he called the third Gold-shoemaker.
+“Of a truth,” said she, “thou wilt not thrive the better for doing evil
+unto me.”  “I have done thee no evil yet,” said he.  Then he restored the
+boy to his own form.  “Well,” said she, “I will lay a destiny upon this
+boy, that he shall never have arms and armour until I invest him with
+them.”  “By Heaven,” said he, “let thy malice be what it may, he shall
+have arms.”
+
+Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up Llew Llaw
+Gyffes, until he could manage any horse, and he was perfect in features,
+and strength, and stature.  And then Gwydion saw that he languished
+through the want of horses and arms.  And he called him unto him.  “Ah,
+youth,” said he, “we will go to-morrow on an errand together.  Be
+therefore more cheerful than thou art.”  “That I will,” said the youth.
+
+Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose.  And they took way along
+the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen.  And at the top of Cevn Clydno they
+equipped themselves with horses, and went towards the Castle of Arianrod.
+And they changed their form, and pricked towards the gate in the
+semblance of two youths, but the aspect of Gwydion was more staid than
+that of the other.  “Porter,” said he, “go thou in and say that there are
+here bards from Glamorgan.”  And the porter went in.  “The welcome of
+Heaven be unto them, let them in,” said Arianrod.
+
+With great joy were they greeted.  And the hall was arranged, and they
+went to meat.  When meat was ended, Arianrod discoursed with Gwydion of
+tales and stories.  Now Gwydion was an excellent teller of tales.  And
+when it was time to leave off feasting, a chamber was prepared for them,
+and they went to rest.
+
+In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto him his magic and
+his power.  And by the time that the day dawned, there resounded through
+the land uproar, and trumpets and shouts.  When it was now day, they
+heard a knocking at the door of the chamber, and therewith Arianrod
+asking that it might be opened.  Up rose the youth and opened unto her,
+and she entered and a maiden with her.  “Ah, good men,” she said, “in
+evil plight are we.”  “Yes, truly,” said Gwydion, “we have heard trumpets
+and shouts; what thinkest thou that they may mean?”  “Verily,” said she,
+“we cannot see the colour of the ocean by reason of all the ships, side
+by side.  And they are making for the land with all the speed they can.
+And what can we do?” said she.  “Lady,” said Gwydion, “there is none
+other counsel than to close the castle upon us, and to defend it as best
+we may.”  “Truly,” said she, “may Heaven reward you.  And do you defend
+it.  And here may you have plenty of arms.”
+
+And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she returned, and
+two maidens, and suits of armour for two men, with her.  “Lady,” said he,
+“do you accoutre this stripling, and I will arm myself with the help of
+thy maidens.  Lo, I hear the tumult of the men approaching.”  “I will do
+so, gladly.”  So she armed him fully, and that right cheerfully.  “Hast
+thou finished arming the youth?” said he.  “I have finished,” she
+answered.  “I likewise have finished,” said Gwydion.  “Let us now take
+off our arms, we have no need of them.”  “Wherefore?” said she.  “Here is
+the army around the house.”  “Oh, lady, there is here no army.”  “Oh,”
+cried she, “whence then was this tumult?”  “The tumult was but to break
+thy prophecy and to obtain arms for thy son.  And now has he got arms
+without any thanks unto thee.”  “By Heaven,” said Arianrod, “thou art a
+wicked man.  Many a youth might have lost his life through the uproar
+thou hast caused in this Cantrev to-day.  Now will I lay a destiny upon
+this youth,” she said, “that he shall never have a wife of the race that
+now inhabits this earth.”  “Verily,” said he, “thou wast ever a malicious
+woman, and no one ought to support thee.  A wife shall he have
+notwithstanding.”
+
+They went thereupon unto Math the son of Mathonwy, and complained unto
+him most bitterly of Arianrod.  Gwydion showed him also how he had
+procured arms for the youth.  “Well,” said Math, “we will seek, I and
+thou, by charms and illusion, to form a wife for him out of flowers.  He
+has now come to man’s stature, and he is the comeliest youth that was
+ever beheld.”  So they took the blossoms of the oak, and the blossoms of
+the broom, and the blossoms of the meadow-sweet, and produced from them a
+maiden, the fairest and most graceful that man ever saw.  And they
+baptized her, and gave her the name of Blodeuwedd.
+
+After she had become his bride, and they had feasted, said Gwydion, “It
+is not easy for a man to maintain himself without possessions.”  “Of a
+truth,” said Math, “I will give the young man the best Cantrev to hold.”
+“Lord,” said he, “what Cantrev is that?”  “The Cantrev of Dinodig,” he
+answered.  Now it is called at this day Eivionydd and Ardudwy.  And the
+place in the Cantrev where he dwelt, was a palace of his in a spot called
+Mur y Castell, on the confines of Ardudwy.  There dwelt he and reigned,
+and both he and his sway were beloved by all.
+
+One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl, to visit Math the son of Mathonwy.
+And on the day that he set out for Caer Dathyl, Blodeuwedd walked in the
+Court.  And she heard the sound of a horn.  And after the sound of the
+horn, behold a tired stag went by, with dogs and huntsmen following it.
+And after the dogs and the huntsmen there came a crowd of men on foot.
+“Send a youth,” said she, “to ask who yonder host may be.”  So a youth
+went, and inquired who they were.  “Gronw Pebyr is this, the lord of
+Penllyn,” said they.  And thus the youth told her.
+
+Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the river Cynvael he overtook the
+stag and killed it.  And what with flaying the stag and baiting his dogs,
+he was there until the night began to close in upon him.  And as the day
+departed and the night drew near, he came to the gate of the Court.
+“Verily,” said Blodeuwedd, “the Chieftain will speak ill of us if we let
+him at this hour depart to another land without inviting him in.”  “Yes,
+truly, lady,” said they, “it will be most fitting to invite him.”
+
+Then went messengers to meet him and bid him in.  And he accepted her
+bidding gladly, and came to the Court, and Blodeuwedd went to meet him,
+and greeted him, and bade him welcome.  “Lady,” said he, “Heaven repay
+thee thy kindness.”
+
+When they had disaccoutred themselves, they went to sit down.  And
+Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the moment that she looked on him
+she became filled with his love.  And he gazed on her, and the same
+thought came unto him as unto her, so that he could not conceal from her
+that he loved her, but he declared unto her that he did so.  Thereupon
+she was very joyful.  And all their discourse that night was concerning
+the affection and love which they felt one for the other, and which in no
+longer space than one evening had arisen.  And that evening passed they
+in each other’s company.
+
+The next day he sought to depart.  But she said, “I pray thee go not from
+me to-day.”  And that night he tarried also.  And that night they
+consulted by what means they might always be together.  “There is none
+other counsel,” said he, “but that thou strive to learn from Llew Llaw
+Gyffes in what manner he will meet his death.  And this must thou do
+under the semblance of solicitude concerning him.”
+
+The next day Gronw sought to depart.  “Verily,” said she, “I will counsel
+thee not to go from me to-day.”  “At thy instance will I not go,” said
+he, “albeit, I must say, there is danger that the chief who owns the
+palace may return home.”  “To-morrow,” answered she, “will I indeed
+permit thee to go forth.”
+
+The next day he sought to go, and she hindered him not.  “Be mindful,”
+said Gronw, “of what I have said unto thee, and converse with him fully,
+and that under the guise of the dalliance of love, and find out by what
+means he may come to his death.”
+
+That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home.  And the day they spent
+in discourse, and minstrelsy, and feasting.  And at night they went to
+rest, and he spoke to Blodeuwedd once, and he spoke to her a second time.
+But, for all this, he could not get from her one word.  “What aileth
+thee?” said he, “art thou well?”  “I was thinking,” said she, “of that
+which thou didst never think of concerning me; for I was sorrowful as to
+thy death, lest thou shouldst go sooner than I.”  “Heaven reward thy care
+for me,” said he, “but until Heaven take me I shall not easily be slain.”
+“For the sake of Heaven, and for mine, show me how thou mightest be
+slain.  My memory in guarding is better than thine.”  “I will tell thee
+gladly,” said he.  “Not easily can I be slain, except by a wound.  And
+the spear wherewith I am struck must be a year in the forming.  And
+nothing must be done towards it except during the sacrifice on Sundays.”
+“Is this certain?” asked she.  “It is in truth,” he answered.  “And I
+cannot be slain within a house, nor without.  I cannot be slain on
+horseback nor on foot.”  “Verily,” said she, “in what manner then canst
+thou be slain?”  “I will tell thee,” said he.  “By making a bath for me
+by the side of a river, and by putting a roof over the cauldron, and
+thatching it well and tightly, and bringing a buck, and putting it beside
+the cauldron.  Then if I place one foot on the buck’s back, and the other
+on the edge of the cauldron, whosoever strikes me thus will cause my
+death.”  “Well,” said she, “I thank Heaven that it will be easy to avoid
+this.”
+
+No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw Pebyr.
+Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day twelvemonth it was ready.
+And that very day he caused her to be informed thereof.
+
+“Lord,” said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, “I have been thinking how it is
+possible that what thou didst tell me formerly can be true; wilt thou
+show me in what manner thou couldst stand at once upon the edge of a
+cauldron and upon a buck, if I prepare the bath for thee?”  “I will show
+thee,” said he.
+
+Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the hill which is
+now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river Cynvael.  She caused
+also to be collected all the goats that were in the Cantrev, and had them
+brought to the other side of the river, opposite Bryn Kyvergyr.
+
+And the next day she spoke thus.  “Lord,” said she, “I have caused the
+roof and the bath to be prepared, and lo! they are ready.”  “Well,” said
+Llew, “we will go gladly to look at them.”
+
+The day after they came and looked at the bath.  “Wilt thou go into the
+bath, lord?” said she.  “Willingly will I go in,” he answered.  So into
+the bath he went, and he anointed himself.  “Lord,” said she, “behold the
+animals which thou didst speak of as being called bucks.”  “Well,” said
+he, “cause one of them to be caught and brought here.”  And the buck was
+brought.  Then Llew rose out of the bath, and put on his trowsers, and he
+placed one foot on the edge of the bath and the other on the buck’s back.
+
+Thereupon Gronw rose up from the bill which is called Bryn Kyvergyr, and
+he rested on one knee, and flung the poisoned dart and struck him on the
+side, so that the shaft started out, but the head of the dart remained
+in.  Then he flew up in the form of an eagle and gave a fearful scream.
+And thenceforth was he no more seen.
+
+As soon as he departed Gronw and Blodeuwedd went together unto the palace
+that night.  And the next day Gronw arose and took possession of Ardudwy.
+And after he had overcome the land, he ruled over it, so that Ardudwy and
+Penllyn were both under his sway.
+
+Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy.  And heaviness and
+grief came upon Math, and much more upon Gwydion than upon him.  “Lord,”
+said Gwydion, “I shall never rest until I have tidings of my nephew.”
+“Verily,” said Math, “may Heaven be thy strength.”  Then Gwydion set
+forth and began to go forward.  And he went through Gwynedd and Powys to
+the confines.  And when he had done so, he went into Arvon, and came to
+the house of a vassal, in Maenawr Penardd.  And he alighted at the house,
+and stayed there that night.  The man of the house and his house-hold
+came in, and last of all came there the swineherd.  Said the man of the
+house to the swineherd, “Well, youth, hath thy sow come in to-night?”
+“She hath,” said he, “and is this instant returned to the pigs.”  “Where
+doth this sow go to?” said Gwydion.  “Every day, when the sty is opened,
+she goeth forth and none can catch sight of her, neither is it known
+whither she goeth more than if she sank into the earth.”  “Wilt thou
+grant unto me,” said Gwydion, “not to open the sty until I am beside the
+sty with thee?”  “This will I do, right gladly,” he answered.
+
+That night they went to rest; and as soon as the swineherd saw the light
+of day, he awoke Gwydion.  And Gwydion arose and dressed himself, and
+went with the swineherd, and stood beside the sty.  Then the swineherd
+opened the sty.  And as soon as he opened it, behold she leaped forth,
+and set off with great speed.  And Gwydion followed her, and she went
+against the course of a river, and made for a brook, which is now called
+Nant y Llew.  And there she halted and began feeding.  And Gwydion came
+under the tree, and looked what it might be that the sow was feeding on.
+And he saw that she was eating putrid flesh and vermin.  Then looked he
+up to the top of the tree, and as he looked he beheld on the top of the
+tree an eagle, and when the eagle shook itself, there fell vermin and
+putrid flesh from off it, and these the sow devoured.  And it seemed to
+him that the eagle was Llew.  And he sang an Englyn:—
+
+   “Oak that grows between the two banks;
+   Darkened is the sky and hill!
+   Shall I not tell him by his wounds,
+   That this is Llew?”
+
+Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre of the tree.
+And Gwydion sang another Englyn:—
+
+   “Oak that grows in upland ground,
+   Is it not wetted by the rain?  Has it not been drenched
+   By nine score tempests?
+   It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes!”
+
+Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest branch of the tree,
+and thereupon this Englyn did Gwydion sing:—
+
+   “Oak that grows beneath the steep;
+   Stately and majestic is its aspect!
+   Shall I not speak it?
+   That Llew will come to my lap?”
+
+And the eagle came down upon Gwydion’s knee.  And Gwydion struck him with
+his magic wand, so that he returned to his own form.  No one ever saw a
+more piteous sight, for he was nothing but skin and bone.
+
+Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were brought unto him good
+physicians that were in Gwynedd, and before the end of the year he was
+quite healed.
+
+“Lord,” said he unto Math the son of Mathonwy, “it is full time now that
+I have retribution of him by whom I have suffered all this woe.”
+“Truly,” said Math, “he will never be able to maintain himself in the
+possession of that which is thy right.”  “Well,” said Llew, “the sooner I
+have my right, the better shall I be pleased.”
+
+Then they called together the whole of Gwynedd, and set forth to Ardudwy.
+And Gwydion went on before and proceeded to Mur y Castell.  And when
+Blodeuwedd heard that he was coming, she took her maidens with her, and
+fled to the mountain.  And they passed through the river Cynvael, and
+went towards a court that there was upon the mountain, and through fear
+they could not proceed except with their faces looking backwards, so that
+unawares they fell into the lake.  And they were all drowned except
+Blodeuwedd herself, and her Gwydion overtook.  And he said unto her, “I
+will not slay thee, but I will do unto thee worse than that.  For I will
+turn thee into a bird; and because of the shame thou hast done unto Llew
+Llaw Gyffes, thou shalt never show thy face in the light of day
+henceforth; and that through fear of all the other birds.  For it shall
+be their nature to attack thee, and to chase thee from wheresoever they
+may find thee.  And thou shalt not lose thy name, but shalt be always
+called Blodeuwedd.”  Now Blodeuwedd is an owl in the language of this
+present time, and for this reason is the owl hateful unto all birds.  And
+even now the owl is called Blodeuwedd.
+
+Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he dispatched thence an
+embassy.  And the messengers he sent asked Llew Llaw Gyffes if he would
+take land, or domain, or gold, or silver, for the injury he had received.
+“I will not, by my confession to Heaven,” said he.  “Behold this is the
+least that I will accept from him; that he come to the spot where I was
+when he wounded me with the dart, and that I stand where he did, and that
+with a dart I take my aim at him.  And this is the very least that I will
+accept.”
+
+And this was told unto Gronw Pebyr.  “Verily,” said he, “is it needful
+for me to do thus?  My faithful warriors, and my household, and my
+foster-brothers, is there not one among you who will stand the blow in my
+stead?”  “There is not, verily,” answered they.  And because of their
+refusal to suffer one stroke for their lord, they are called the third
+disloyal tribe even unto this day.  “Well,” said he, “I will meet it.”
+
+Then they two went forth to the banks of the river Cynvael, and Gronw
+stood in the place where Llew Llaw Gyffes was when he struck him, and
+Llew in the place where Gronw was.  Then said Gronw Pebyr unto Llew,
+“Since it was through the wiles of a woman that I did unto thee as I have
+done, I adjure thee by Heaven to let me place between me and the blow,
+the slab thou seest yonder on the river’s bank.”  “Verily,” said Llew, “I
+will not refuse thee this.”  “Ah,” said he, “may Heaven reward thee.”  So
+Gronw took the slab and placed it between him and the blow.
+
+Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab and went through
+Gronw likewise, so that it pierced through his back.  And thus was Gronw
+Pebyr slain.  And there is still the slab on the bank of the river
+Cynvael, in Ardudwy, having the hole through it.  And therefore is it
+even now called Llech Gronw.
+
+A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of the land, and
+prosperously did he govern it.  And, as the story relates, he was lord
+after this over Gwynedd.  And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi.
+
+
+
+
+THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG
+
+
+Maxen Wledig was emperor of Rome, and he was a comelier man, and a better
+and a wiser than any emperor that had been before him.  And one day he
+held a council of kings, and he said to his friends, “I desire to go
+to-morrow to hunt.”  And the next day in the morning he set forth with
+his retinue, and came to the valley of the river that flowed towards
+Rome.  And he hunted through the valley until mid-day.  And with him also
+were two-and-thirty crowned kings, that were his vassals; not for the
+delight of hunting went the emperor with them, but to put himself on
+equal terms with those kings.
+
+And the sun was high in the sky over their heads and the heat was great.
+And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig.  And his attendants stood and set up
+their shields around him upon the shafts of their spears to protect him
+from the sun, and they placed a gold enamelled shield under his head; and
+so Maxen slept.
+
+And he saw a dream.  And this is the dream that he saw.  He was
+journeying along the valley of the river towards its source; and he came
+to the highest mountain in the world.  And he thought that the mountain
+was as high as the sky; and when he came over the mountain, it seemed to
+him that he went through the fairest and most level regions that man ever
+yet beheld, on the other side of the mountain.  And he saw large and
+mighty rivers descending from the mountain to the sea, and towards the
+mouths of the rivers he proceeded.  And as he journeyed thus, he came to
+the mouth of the largest river ever seen.  And he beheld a great city at
+the entrance of the river, and a vast castle in the city, and he saw many
+high towers of various colours in the castle.  And he saw a fleet at the
+mouth of the river, the largest ever seen.  And he saw one ship among the
+fleet; larger was it by far, and fairer than all the others.  Of such
+part of the ship as he could see above the water, one plank was gilded
+and the other silvered over.  He saw a bridge of the bone of a whale from
+the ship to the land, and he thought that he went along the bridge, and
+came into the ship.  And a sail was hoisted on the ship, and along the
+sea and the ocean was it borne.  Then it seemed that he came to the
+fairest island in the whole world, and he traversed the island from sea
+to sea, even to the furthest shore of the island.  Valleys he saw, and
+steeps, and rocks of wondrous height, and rugged precipices.  Never yet
+saw he the like.  And thence he beheld an island in the sea, facing this
+rugged land.  And between him and this island was a country of which the
+plain was as large as the sea, the mountain as vast as the wood.  And
+from the mountain he saw a river that flowed through the land and fell
+into the sea.  And at the mouth of the river he beheld a castle, the
+fairest that man ever saw, and the gate of the castle was open, and he
+went into the castle.  And in the castle he saw a fair hall, of which the
+roof seemed to be all gold, the walls of the hall seemed to be entirely
+of glittering precious gems, the doors all seemed to be of gold.  Golden
+seats he saw in the hall, and silver tables.  And on a seat opposite to
+him he beheld two auburn-haired youths playing at chess.  He saw a silver
+board for the chess, and golden pieces thereon.  The garments of the
+youths were of jet-black satin, and chaplets of ruddy gold bound their
+hair, whereon were sparkling jewels of great price, rubies, and gems,
+alternately with imperial stones.  Buskins of new Cordovan leather on
+their feet, fastened by slides of red gold.
+
+And beside a pillar in the hall he saw a hoary-headed man, in a chair of
+ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy gold thereon.  Bracelets
+of gold were upon his arms, and many rings were on his hands, and a
+golden torque about his neck; and his hair was bound with a golden
+diadem.  He was of powerful aspect.  A chessboard of gold was before him,
+and a rod of gold, and a steel file in his hand.  And he was carving out
+chessmen.
+
+And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of ruddy gold.  Not
+more easy than to gaze upon the sun when brightest, was it to look upon
+her by reason of her beauty.  A vest of white silk was upon the maiden,
+with clasps of red gold at the breast; and a surcoat of gold tissue upon
+her, and a frontlet of red gold upon her head, and rubies and gems were
+in the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial stones.  And a
+girdle of ruddy gold was around her.  She was the fairest sight that man
+ever beheld.
+
+The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw his arms about
+the neck of the maiden, and they two sat down together in the chair of
+gold: and the chair was not less roomy for them both, than for the maiden
+alone.  And as he had his arms about the maiden’s neck, and his cheek by
+her cheek, behold, through the chafing of the dogs at their leashing, and
+the clashing of the shields as they struck against each other, and the
+beating together of the shafts of the spears, and the neighing of the
+horses and their prancing, the emperor awoke.
+
+And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him, because of the
+maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the love of the maiden pervaded
+his whole frame.  Then his household spake unto him.  “Lord,” said they,
+“is it not past the time for thee to take thy food?”  Thereupon the
+emperor mounted his palfrey, the saddest man that mortal ever saw, and
+went forth towards Rome.
+
+And thus he was during the space of a week.  When they of the household
+went to drink wine and mead out of golden vessels, he went not with any
+of them.  When they went to listen to songs and tales, he went not with
+them there; neither could he be persuaded to do anything but sleep.  And
+as often as he slept, he beheld in his dreams the maiden he loved best;
+but except when he slept he saw nothing of her, for he knew not where in
+the world she was.
+
+One day the page of the chamber spake unto him; now, although he was page
+of the chamber, he was king of the Romans.  “Lord,” said he, “all the
+people revile thee.”  “Wherefore do they revile me?” asked the emperor.
+“Because they can get neither message nor answer from thee as men should
+have from their lord.  This is the cause why thou art spoken evil of.”
+“Youth,” said the emperor, “do thou bring unto me the wise men of Rome,
+and I will tell them wherefore I am sorrowful.”
+
+Then the wise men of Rome were brought to the emperor, and he spake to
+them.  “Sages of Rome,” said he, “I have seen a dream.  And in the dream
+I beheld a maiden, and because of the maiden is there neither life, nor
+spirit, nor existence within me.”  “Lord,” they answered, “since thou
+judgest us worthy to counsel thee, we will give thee counsel.  And this
+is our counsel; that thou send messengers for three years to the three
+parts of the world to seek for thy dream.  And as thou knowest not what
+day or what night good news may come to thee, the hope thereof will
+support thee.”
+
+So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year, wandering about the
+world, and seeking tidings concerning his dream.  But when they came back
+at the end of the year, they knew not one word more than they did the day
+they set forth.  And then was the emperor exceeding sorrowful, for he
+thought that he should never have tidings of her whom best he loved.
+
+Then spoke the king of the Romans unto the emperor.  “Lord,” said he, “go
+forth to hunt by the way thou didst seem to go, whether it were to the
+east, or to the west.”  So the emperor went forth to the hunt, and he
+came to the bank of the river.  “Behold,” said he, “this is where I was
+when I saw the dream, and I went towards the source of the river
+westward.”
+
+And thereupon thirteen messengers of the emperor’s set forth, and before
+them they saw a high mountain, which seemed to them to touch the sky.
+Now this was the guise in which the messengers journeyed; one sleeve was
+on the cap of each of them in front, as a sign that they were messengers,
+in order that through what hostile land soever they might pass no harm
+might be done them.  And when they were come over this mountain, they
+beheld vast plains, and large rivers flowing there through.
+
+“Behold,” said they, “the land which our master saw.”
+
+And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until they came to the
+mighty river which they saw flowing to the sea, and the vast city, and
+the many-coloured high towers in the castle.  They saw the largest fleet
+in the world, in the harbour of the river, and one ship that was larger
+than any of the others.  “Behold again,” said they, “the dream that our
+master saw.”  And in the great ship they crossed the sea, and came to the
+Island of Britain.  And they traversed the island until they came to
+Snowdon.  “Behold,” said they, “the rugged land that our master saw.”
+And they went forward until they saw Anglesey before them, and until they
+saw Arvon likewise.  “Behold,” said they, “the land our master saw in his
+sleep.”  And they saw Aber Sain, and a castle at the mouth of the river.
+The portal of the castle saw they open, and into the castle they went,
+and they saw a hall in the castle.  Then said they, “Behold, the hall
+which he saw in his sleep.”  They went into the hall, and they beheld two
+youths playing at chess on the golden bench.  And they beheld the
+hoary-headed man beside the pillar, in the ivory chair, carving chessmen.
+And they beheld the maiden sitting on a chair of ruddy gold.
+
+The messengers bent down upon their knees.  “Empress of Rome, all hail!”
+“Ha, gentles,” said the maiden, “ye bear the seeming of honourable men,
+and the badge of envoys, what mockery is this ye do to me?”  “We mock
+thee not, lady; but the Emperor of Rome hath seen thee in his sleep, and
+he has neither life nor spirit left because of thee.  Thou shalt have of
+us therefore the choice, lady, whether thou wilt go with us and be made
+empress of Rome, or that the emperor come hither and take thee for his
+wife?”  “Ha, lords,” said the maiden, “I will not deny what ye say,
+neither will I believe it too well.  If the emperor love me, let him come
+here to seek me.”
+
+And by day and night the messengers hied them back.  And when their
+horses failed, they bought other fresh ones.  And when they came to Rome,
+they saluted the emperor, and asked their boon, which was given to them
+according as they named it.  “We will be thy guides, lord,” said they,
+“over sea and over land, to the place where is the woman whom best thou
+lovest, for we know her name, and her kindred, and her race.”
+
+And immediately the emperor set forth with his army.  And these men were
+his guides.  Towards the Island of Britain they went over the sea and the
+deep.  And he conquered the Island from Beli the son of Manogan, and his
+sons, and drove them to the sea, and went forward even unto Arvon.  And
+the emperor knew the land when he saw it.  And when he beheld the castle
+of Aber Sain, “Look yonder,” said he, “there is the castle wherein I saw
+the damsel whom I best love.”  And he went forward into the castle and
+into the hall, and there he saw Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son
+of Eudav, playing at chess.  And he saw Eudav the son of Caradawc,
+sitting on a chair of ivory carving chessmen.  And the maiden whom he had
+beheld in his sleep, he saw sitting on a chair of gold.  “Empress of
+Rome,” said he, “all hail!”  And the emperor threw his arms about her
+neck; and that night she became his bride.
+
+And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her maiden portion.
+And he told her to name what she would.  And she asked to have the Island
+of Britain for her father, from the Channel to the Irish Sea, together
+with the three adjacent Islands, to hold under the empress of Rome; and
+to have three chief castles made for her, in whatever places she might
+choose in the Island of Britain.  And she chose to have the highest
+castle made at Arvon.  And they brought thither earth from Rome that it
+might be more healthful for the emperor to sleep, and sit, and walk upon.
+After that the two other castles were made for her, which were Caerlleon
+and Caermarthen.
+
+And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen, and he came so far
+as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there the emperor pitched his tent.  And
+that encamping place is called Cadeir Maxen, even to this day.  And
+because that he built the castle with a myriad of men, he called it
+Caervyrddin.  Then Helen bethought her to make high roads from one castle
+to another throughout the Island of Britain.  And the roads were made.
+And for this cause are they called the roads of Helen Luyddawc, that she
+was sprung from a native of this island, and the men of the Island of
+Britain would not have made these great roads for any save for her.
+
+Seven years did the emperor tarry in this Island.  Now, at that time, the
+men of Rome had a custom, that whatsoever emperor should remain in other
+lands more than seven years should remain to his own overthrow, and
+should never return to Rome again.
+
+So they made a new emperor.  And this one wrote a letter of threat to
+Maxen.  There was nought in the letter but only this.  “If thou comest,
+and if thou ever comest to Rome.”  And even unto Caerlleon came this
+letter to Maxen, and these tidings.  Then sent he a letter to the man who
+styled himself emperor in Rome.  There was nought in that letter also but
+only this.  “If I come to Rome, and if I come.”
+
+And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his army, and vanquished
+France and Bugundy, and every land on the way, and sat down before the
+city of Rome.
+
+A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no nearer taking it
+than the first day.  And after him there came the brothers of Helen
+Luyddawc from the Island of Britain, and a small host with them, and
+better warriors were in that small host than twice as many Romans.  And
+the emperor was told that a host was seen, halting close to his army and
+encamping, and no man ever saw a fairer or better appointed host for its
+size, nor more handsome standards.
+
+And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the standards of her
+brothers.  Then came Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of Eudav,
+to meet the emperor.  And the emperor was glad because of them, and
+embraced them.
+
+Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the city.  Said Kynan to
+his brother, “We will try to attack the city more expertly than this.”
+So they measured by night the height of the wall, and they sent their
+carpenters to the wood, and a ladder was made for every four men of their
+number.  Now when these were ready, every day at mid-day the emperors
+went to meat, and they ceased to fight on both sides till all had
+finished eating.  And in the morning the men of Britain took their food
+and they drank until they were invigorated.  And while the two emperors
+were at meat, the Britons came to the city, and placed their ladders
+against it, and forthwith they came in through the city.
+
+The new emperor had no time to arm himself when they fell upon him, and
+slew him, and many others with him.  And three nights and three days were
+they subduing the men that were in the city and taking the castle.  And
+others of them kept the city, lest any of the host of Maxen should come
+therein, until they had subjected all to their will.
+
+Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc.  “I marvel, lady,” said he, “that thy
+brothers have not conquered this city for me.”  “Lord, emperor,” she
+answered, “the wisest youths in the world are my brothers.  Go thou
+thither and ask the city of them, and if it be in their possession thou
+shalt have it gladly.”  So the emperor and Helen went and demanded the
+city.  And they told the emperor that none had taken the city, and that
+none could give it him, but the men of the Island of Britain.  Then the
+gates of the city of Rome were opened, and the emperor sat on the throne,
+and all the men of Rome submitted them selves unto him.
+
+The emperor then said unto Kynan and Adeon, “Lords,” said he, “I have now
+had possession of the whole of my empire.  This host give I unto you to
+vanquish whatever region ye may desire in the world.”
+
+So they set forth and conquered lands, and castles, and cities.  And they
+slew all the men, but the women they kept alive.  And thus they continued
+until the young men that had come with them were grown grey-headed, from
+the length of time they were upon this conquest.
+
+Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, “Whether wilt thou rather,” said
+he, “tarry in this land, or go back into the land whence thou didst come
+forth?”  Now he chose to go back to his own land, and many with him.  But
+Kynan tarried there with the other part and dwelt there.
+
+And they took counsel and cut out the tongues of the women, lest they
+should corrupt their speech.  And because of the silence of the women
+from their own speech, the men of Armorica are called Britons.  From that
+time there came frequently, and still comes, that language from the
+Island of Britain.
+
+And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig, emperor of Rome.  And
+here it ends.
+
+
+
+
+HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS
+
+
+Beli the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd, and
+Caswallawn, and Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth son
+called Llevelys.  And after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the Island
+of Britain fell into the hands of Lludd his eldest son; and Lludd ruled
+prosperously, and rebuilt the walls of London, and encompassed it about
+with numberless towers.  And after that he bade the citizens build houses
+therein, such as no houses in the kingdoms could equal.  And moreover he
+was a mighty warrior, and generous and liberal in giving meat and drink
+to all that sought them.  And though he had many castles and cities this
+one loved he more than any.  And he dwelt therein most part of the year,
+and therefore was it called Caer Lludd, and at last Caer London.  And
+after the stranger-race came there, it was called London, or Lwndrys.
+
+Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he was a wise and
+discreet man.  Having heard that the king of France had died, leaving no
+heir except a daughter, and that he had left all his possessions in her
+hands, he came to Lludd his brother, to beseech his counsel and aid.  And
+that not so much for his own welfare, as to seek to add to the glory and
+honour and dignity of his kindred, if he might go to France to woo the
+maiden for his wife.  And forthwith his brother conferred with him, and
+this counsel was pleasing unto him.
+
+So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights, and set forth
+towards France.  And as soon as they had landed, they sent messengers to
+show the nobles of France the cause of the embassy.  And by the joint
+counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes, the maiden was given
+to Llevelys, and the crown of the kingdom with her.  And thenceforth he
+ruled the land discreetly, and wisely, and happily, as long as his life
+lasted.
+
+After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the Island of
+Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the like of.  The
+first was a certain race that came, and was called the Coranians; and so
+great was their knowledge, that there was no discourse upon the face of
+the Island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if the wind met it,
+it was known to them.  And through this they could not be injured. {4}
+
+The second plague was a shriek which came on every May-eve, over every
+hearth in the Island of Britain.  And this went through people’s hearts,
+and so scared them, that the men lost their hue and their strength, and
+the women their children, and the young men and the maidens lost their
+senses, and all the animals and trees and the earth and the waters, were
+left barren.
+
+The third plague was, that however much of provisions and food might be
+prepared in the king’s courts, were there even so much as a year’s
+provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found, except what
+was consumed in the first night.  And two of these plagues, no one ever
+knew their cause, therefore was there better hope of being freed from the
+first than from the second and third.
+
+And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care, because that he knew
+not how he might be freed from these plagues.  And he called to him all
+the nobles of his kingdom, and asked counsel of them what they should do
+against these afflictions.  And by the common counsel of the nobles,
+Lludd the son of Beli went to Llevelys his brother, king of France, for
+he was a man great of counsel and wisdom, to seek his advice.
+
+And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in silence, lest that
+race should know the cause of their errand, or any besides the king and
+his counsellors.  And when they were made ready, they went into their
+ships, Lludd and those whom he chose with him.  And they began to cleave
+the seas towards France.
+
+And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that he knew not the
+cause of his brother’s ships, he came on the other side to meet him, and
+with him was a fleet vast of size.  And when Lludd saw this, he left all
+the ships out upon the sea except one only; and in that one he came to
+meet his brother, and he likewise with a single ship came to meet him.
+And when they were come together, each put his arms about the other’s
+neck, and they welcomed each other with brotherly love.
+
+After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his errand, Llevelys
+said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those lands.  And
+they took counsel together to discourse on the matter otherwise than
+thus, in order that the wind might not catch their words, nor the
+Coranians know what they might say.  Then Llevelys caused a long horn to
+be made of brass, and through this horn they discoursed.  But whatsoever
+words they spoke through this horn, one to the other, neither of them
+could hear any other but harsh and hostile words.  And when Llevelys saw
+this, and that there was a demon thwarting them and disturbing through
+this horn, he caused wine to be put therein to wash it.  And through the
+virtue of the wine the demon was driven out of the horn.  And when their
+discourse was unobstructed, Llevelys told his brother that he would give
+him some insects whereof he should keep some to breed, lest by chance the
+like affliction might come a second time.  And other of these insects he
+should take and bruise in water.  And he assured him that it would have
+power to destroy the race of the Coranians.  That is to say, that when he
+came home to his kingdom he should call together all the people both of
+his own race and of the race of the Coranians for a conference, as though
+with the intent of making peace between them; and that when they were all
+together, he should take this charmed water, and cast it over all alike.
+And he assured him that the water would poison the race of the Coranians,
+but that it would not slay or harm those of his own race.
+
+“And the second plague,” said he, “that is in thy dominion, behold it is
+a dragon.  And another dragon of a foreign race is fighting with it, and
+striving to overcome it.  And therefore does your dragon make a fearful
+outcry.  And on this wise mayest thou come to know this.  After thou hast
+returned home, cause the Island to be measured in its length and breadth,
+and in the place where thou dost find the exact central point, there
+cause a pit to be dug, and cause a cauldron full of the best mead that
+can be made to be put in the pit, with a covering of satin over the face
+of the cauldron.  And then, in thine own person do thou remain there
+watching, and thou wilt see the dragon fighting in the form of terrific
+animals.  And at length they will take the form of dragons in the air.
+And last of all, after wearying themselves with fierce and furious
+fighting, they will fall in the form of two pigs upon the covering, and
+they will sink in, and the covering with them, and they will draw it down
+to the very bottom of the cauldron.  And they will drink up the whole of
+the mead; and after that they will sleep.  Thereupon do thou immediately
+fold the covering around them, and bury them in a kistvaen, in the
+strongest place thou hast in thy dominions, and hide them in the earth.
+And as long as they shall bide in that strong place no plague shall come
+to the Island of Britain from elsewhere.
+
+“The cause of the third plague,” said he, “is a mighty man of magic, who
+take thy meat and thy drink and thy store.  And he through illusions and
+charms causes every one to sleep.  Therefore it is needful for thee in
+thy own person to watch thy food and thy provisions.  And lest he should
+overcome thee with sleep, be there a cauldron of cold water by thy side,
+and when thou art oppressed with sleep, plunge into the cauldron.”
+
+Then Lludd returned back unto his land.  And immediately he summoned to
+him the whole of his own race and of the Coranians.  And as Llevelys had
+taught him, he bruised the insects in water, the which he cast over them
+all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole tribe of the
+Coranians, without hurt to any of the Britons.
+
+And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be measured in its
+length and in its breadth.  And in Oxford he found the central point, and
+in that place he caused the earth to be dug, and in that pit a cauldron
+to be set, full of the best mead that could be made, and a covering of
+satin over the face of it.  And he himself watched that night.  And while
+he was there, he beheld the dragons fighting.  And when they were weary
+they fell, and came down upon the top of the satin, and drew it with them
+to the bottom of the cauldron.  And when they had drunk the mead they
+slept.  And in their sleep, Lludd folded the covering around them, and in
+the securest place he had in Snowdon, he hid them in a kistvaen.  Now
+after that this spot was called Dinas Emreis, but before that, Dinas
+Ffaraon.  And thus the fierce outcry ceased in his dominions.
+
+And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding great banquet to
+be prepared.  And when it was ready, he placed a vessel of cold water by
+his side, and he in his own proper person watched it.  And as he abode
+thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the night, lo, he heard
+many surpassing fascinations and various songs.  And drowsiness urged him
+to sleep.  Upon this, lest he should be hindered from his purpose and be
+overcome by sleep, he went often into the water.  And at last, behold, a
+man of vast size, clad in strong, heavy armour, came in, bearing a
+hamper.  And, as he was wont, he put all the food and provisions of meat
+and drink into the hamper, and proceeded to go with it forth.  And
+nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd, than that the hamper should
+hold so much.
+
+And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto him thus.  “Stop,
+stop,” said he, “though thou hast done many insults and much spoil
+erewhile, thou shalt not do so any more, unless thy skill in arms and thy
+prowess be greater than mine.”
+
+Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and awaited him.  And
+a fierce encounter was between them, so that the glittering fire flew out
+from their arms.  And at the last Lludd grappled with him, and fate
+bestowed the victory on Lludd.  And he threw the plague to the earth.
+And after he had overcome him by strength and might, he besought his
+mercy.  “How can I grant thee mercy,” said the king, “after all the many
+injuries and wrongs that thou hast done me?”  “All the losses that ever I
+have caused thee,” said he, “I will make thee atonement for, equal to
+what I have taken.  And I will never do the like from this time forth.
+But thy faithful vassal will I be.”  And the king accepted this from him.
+
+And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three plagues.  And
+from thenceforth until the end of his life, in prosperous peace did Lludd
+the son of Beli rule the Island of Britain.  And this Tale is called the
+Story of Lludd and Llevelys.  And thus it ends.
+
+
+
+
+TALIESIN
+
+
+In times past there lived in Penllyn a man of gentle lineage, named Tegid
+Voel, and his dwelling was in the midst of the lake Tegid, and his wife
+was called Caridwen.  And there was born to him of his wife a son named
+Morvran ab Tegid, and also a daughter named Creirwy, the fairest maiden
+in the world was she; and they had a brother, the most ill-favoured man
+in the world, Avagddu.  Now Caridwen his mother thought that he was not
+likely to be admitted among men of noble birth, by reason of his
+ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits or knowledge.  For it was in
+the beginning of Arthur’s time and of the Round Table.
+
+So she resolved, according to the arts of the books of the Fferyllt, to
+boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her son, that his
+reception might be honourable because of his knowledge of the mysteries
+of the future state of the world.
+
+Then she began to boil the cauldron, which from the beginning of its
+boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day, until three blessed
+drops were obtained of the grace of Inspiration.
+
+And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in Caereinion, in
+Powys, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named Morda to kindle the
+fire beneath it, and she charged them that they should not suffer it to
+cease boiling for the space of a year and a day.  And she herself,
+according to the books of the astronomers, and in planetary hours,
+gathered every day of all charm-bearing herbs.  And one day, towards the
+end of the year, as Caridwen was culling plants and making incantations,
+it chanced that three drops of the charmed liquor flew out of the
+cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion Bach.  And by reason of their
+great heat he put his finger to his mouth, and the instant he put those
+marvel-working drops into his mouth, he foresaw everything that was to
+come, and perceived that his chief care must be to guard against the
+wiles of Caridwen, for vast was her skill.  And in very great fear he
+fled towards his own land.  And the cauldron burst in two, because all
+the liquor within it except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous,
+so that the horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned by the water of the
+stream into which the liquor of the cauldron ran, and the confluence of
+that stream was called the Poison of the Horses of Gwyddno from that time
+forth.
+
+Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil of the whole year lost.
+And she seized a billet of wood and struck the blind Morda on the head
+until one of his eyes fell out upon his cheek.  And he said, “Wrongfully
+hast thou disfigured me, for I am innocent.  Thy loss was not because of
+me.”  “Thou speakest truth,” said Caridwen, “it was Gwion Bach who robbed
+me.”
+
+And she went forth after him, running.  And he saw her, and changed
+himself into a hare and fled.  But she changed herself into a greyhound
+and turned him.  And he ran towards a river, and became a fish.  And she
+in the form of an otter-bitch chased him under the water, until he was
+fain to turn himself into a bird of the air.  She, as a hawk, followed
+him and gave him no rest in the sky.  And just as she was about to stoop
+upon him, and he was in fear of death, he espied a heap of winnowed wheat
+on the floor of a barn, and he dropped among the wheat, and turned
+himself into one of the grains.  Then she transformed herself into a
+high-crested black hen, and went to the wheat and scratched it with her
+feet, and found him out and swallowed him.  And, as the story says, she
+bore him nine months, and when she was delivered of him, she could not
+find it in her heart to kill him, by reason of his beauty.  So she
+wrapped him in a leathern bag, and cast him into the sea to the mercy of
+God, on the twenty-ninth day of April.
+
+And at that time the weir of Gwyddno was on the strand between Dyvi and
+Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of an hundred pounds
+was taken in that weir every May eve.  And in those days Gwyddno had an
+only son named Elphin, the most hapless of youths, and the most needy.
+And it grieved his father sore, for he thought that he was born in an
+evil hour.  And by the advice of his council, his father had granted him
+the drawing of the weir that year, to see if good luck would ever befall
+him, and to give him something wherewith to begin the world.
+
+And the next day when Elphin went to look, there was nothing in the weir.
+But as he turned back he perceived the leathern bag upon a pole of the
+weir.  Then said one of the weir-ward unto Elphin, “Thou wast never
+unlucky until to-night, and now thou hast destroyed the virtues of the
+weir, which always yielded the value of an hundred pounds every May eve,
+and to-night there is nothing but this leathern skin within it.”  “How
+now,” said Elphin, “there may be therein the value of an hundred pounds.”
+Well, they took up the leathern bag, and he who opened it saw the
+forehead of the boy, and said to Elphin, “Behold a radiant brow!” {6}
+“Taliesin be he called,” said Elphin.  And he lifted the boy in his arms,
+and lamenting his mischance, he placed him sorrowfully behind him.  And
+he made his horse amble gently, that before had been trotting, and he
+carried him as softly as if he had been sitting in the easiest chair in
+the world.  And presently the boy made a Consolation and praise to
+Elphin, and foretold honour to Elphin; and the Consolation was as you may
+see:—
+
+   “Fair Elphin, cease to lament!
+   Let no one be dissatisfied with his own,
+   To despair will bring no advantage.
+   No man sees what supports him;
+   The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain;
+   God will not violate his promise.
+   Never in Gwyddno’s weir
+   Was there such good luck as this night.
+   Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks!
+   Being too sad will not avail.
+   Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain,
+   Too much grief will bring thee no good;
+   Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty:
+   Although I am but little, I am highly gifted.
+   From seas, and from mountains,
+   And from the depths of rivers,
+   God brings wealth to the fortunate man.
+   Elphin of lively qualities,
+   Thy resolution is unmanly;
+   Thou must not be over sorrowful:
+   Better to trust in God than to forbode ill.
+   Weak and small as I am,
+   On the foaming beach of the ocean,
+   In the day of trouble I shall be
+   Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon.
+   Elphin of notable qualities,
+   Be not displeased at thy misfortune;
+   Although reclined thus weak in my bag,
+   There lies a virtue in my tongue.
+   While I continue thy protector
+   Thou hast not much to fear;
+   Remembering the names of the Trinity,
+   None shall be able to harm thee.”
+
+And this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang, being to console
+Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was lost, and, what
+was worse, that all the world would consider that it was through his
+fault and ill-luck.  And then Gwyddno Garanhir {7} asked him what he was,
+whether man or spirit.  Whereupon he sang this tale, and said:—
+
+   “First, I have been formed a comely person,
+   In the court of Caridwen I have done penance;
+   Though little I was seen, placidly received,
+   I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led;
+   I have been a prized defence, the sweet muse the cause,
+   And by law without speech I have been liberated
+   By a smiling black old hag, when irritated
+   Dreadful her claim when pursued:
+   I have fled with vigour, I have fled as a frog,
+   I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest;
+   I have fled vehemently, I have fled as a chain,
+   I have fled as a roe into an entangled thicket;
+   I have fled as a wolf cub, I have fled as a wolf in a wilderness,
+   I have fled as a thrush of portending language;
+   I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent bounds of quirks;
+   I have fled as a martin, which did not avail;
+   I have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides,
+   I have fled as a stag’s antler, of ruddy course,
+   I have fled as iron in a glowing fire,
+   I have fled as a spear-head, of woe to such as has a wish for it;
+   I have fled as a fierce hull bitterly fighting,
+   I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine,
+   I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat,
+   On the skirt of a hempen sheet entangled,
+   That seemed of the size of a mare’s foal,
+   That is filling like a ship on the waters;
+   Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown,
+   And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift;
+   Which was to me an omen of being tenderly nursed,
+   And the Lord God then set me at liberty.”
+
+Then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwyddno his father, and
+Taliesin with him.  And Gwyddno asked him if he had had a good haul at
+the weir, and he told him that he had got that which was better than
+fish.  “What was that?” said Gwyddno.  “A Bard,” answered Elphin.  Then
+said Gwyddno, “Alas, what will he profit thee?”  And Taliesin himself
+replied and said, “He will profit him more than the weir ever profited
+thee.”  Asked Gwyddno, “Art thou able to speak, and thou so little?”  And
+Taliesin answered him, “I am better able to speak than thou to question
+me.”  “Let me hear what thou canst say,” quoth Gwyddno.  Then Taliesin
+sang:—
+
+   “In water there is a quality endowed with a blessing;
+   On God it is most just to meditate aright;
+   To God it is proper to supplicate with seriousness,
+   Since no obstacle can there be to obtain a reward from him.
+   Three times have I been born, I know by meditation;
+   It were miserable for a person not to come and obtain
+   All the sciences of the world, collected together in my breast,
+   For I know what has been, what in future will occur.
+   I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him,
+   A regard I may obtain in his grace;
+   The Son of Mary is my trust, great in him is my delight,
+   For in him is the world continually upholden.
+   God has been to instruct me and to raise my expectation,
+   The true Creator of heaven, who affords me protection;
+   It is rightly intended that the saints should daily pray,
+   For God, the renovator, will bring them to him.”
+
+And forthwith Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she nursed him
+tenderly and lovingly.  Thenceforward Elphin increased in riches more and
+more day after day, and in love and favour with the king, and there abode
+Taliesin until he was thirteen years old, when Elphin son of Gwyddno went
+by a Christmas invitation to his uncle, Maelgwn Gwynedd, who some time
+after this held open court at Christmastide in the castle of Dyganwy, for
+all the number of his lords of both degrees, both spiritual and temporal,
+with a vast and thronged host of knights and squires.  And amongst them
+there arose a discourse and discussion.  And thus was it said.
+
+“Is there in the whole world a king so great as Maelgwn, or one on whom
+Heaven has bestowed so many spiritual gifts as upon him?  First, form,
+and beauty, and meekness, and strength, besides all the powers of the
+soul!”  And together with these they said that Heaven had given one gift
+that exceeded all the others, which was the beauty, and comeliness, and
+grace, and wisdom, and modesty of his queen; whose virtues surpassed
+those of all the ladies and noble maidens throughout the whole kingdom.
+And with this they put questions one to another amongst themselves: Who
+had braver men?  Who had fairer or swifter horses or greyhounds?  Who had
+more skilful or wiser bards—than Maelgwn?
+
+Now at that time the bards were in great favour with the exalted of the
+kingdom; and then none performed the office of those who are now called
+heralds, unless they were learned men, not only expert in the service of
+kings and princes, but studious and well versed in the lineage, and arms,
+and exploits of princes and kings, and in discussions concerning foreign
+kingdoms, and the ancient things of this kingdom, and chiefly in the
+annals of the first nobles; and also were prepared always with their
+answers in various languages, Latin, French, Welsh, and English.  And
+together with this they were great chroniclers, and recorders, and
+skilful in framing verses, and ready in making englyns in every one of
+those languages.  Now of these there were at that feast within the palace
+of Maelgwn as many as four-and-twenty, and chief of them all was one
+named Heinin Vardd.
+
+When they had all made an end of thus praising the king and his gifts, it
+befell that Elphin spoke in this wise.  “Of a truth none but a king may
+vie with a king; but were he not a king, I would say that my wife was as
+virtuous as any lady in the kingdom, and also that I have a bard who is
+more skilful than all the king’s bards.”  In a short space some of his
+fellows showed the king all the boastings of Elphin; and the king ordered
+him to be thrown into a strong prison, until he might know the truth as
+to the virtues of his wife, and the wisdom of his bard.
+
+Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with a thick chain
+about his feet (it is said that it was a silver chain, because he was of
+royal blood), the king, as the story relates, sent his son Rhun to
+inquire into the demeanour of Elphin’s wife.  Now Rhun was the most
+graceless man in the world, and there was neither wife nor maiden with
+whom he had held converse, but was evil spoken of.  While Rhun went in
+haste towards Elphin’s dwelling, being fully minded to bring disgrace
+upon his wife, Taliesin told his mistress how that the king had placed
+his master in durance in prison, and how that Rhun was coming in haste to
+strive to bring disgrace upon her.  Wherefore he caused his mistress to
+array one of the maids of her kitchen in her apparel; which the noble
+lady gladly did; and she loaded her hands with the best rings that she
+and her husband possessed.
+
+In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden to sit at
+the board in her room at supper, and he made her to seem as her mistress,
+and the mistress to seem as the maid.  And when they were in due time
+seated at their supper in the manner that has been said, Rhun suddenly
+arrived at Elphin’s dwelling, and was received with joy, for all the
+servants knew him plainly; and they brought him in haste to the room of
+their mistress, in the semblance of whom the maid rose up from supper and
+welcomed him gladly.  And afterwards she sat down to supper again the
+second time, and Rhun with her.  Then Rhun began jesting with the maid,
+who still kept the semblance of her mistress.  And verily this story
+shows that the maiden became so intoxicated, that she fell asleep; and
+the story relates that it was a powder that Rhun put into the drink, that
+made her sleep so soundly that she never felt it when he cut from off her
+hand her little finger, whereupon was the signet ring of Elphin, which he
+had sent to his wife as a token, a short time before.  And Rhun returned
+to the king with the finger and the ring as a proof, to show that he had
+cut it from off her hand, without her awaking from her sleep of
+intemperance.
+
+The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for his
+councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the beginning.  And he
+caused Elphin to be brought out of his prison, and he chided him because
+of his boast.  And he spake unto Elphin on this wise.  “Elphin, be it
+known to thee beyond a doubt that it is but folly for a man to trust in
+the virtues of his wife further than he can see her; and that thou mayest
+be certain of thy wife’s vileness, behold her finger, with thy signet
+ring upon it, which was cut from her hand last night, while she slept the
+sleep of intoxication.”  Then thus spake Elphin.  “With thy leave, mighty
+king, I cannot deny my ring, for it is known of many; but verily I assert
+strongly that the finger around which it is, was never attached to the
+hand of my wife, for in truth and certainty there are three notable
+things pertaining to it, none of which ever belonged to any of my wife’s
+fingers.  The first of the three is, that it is certain, by your grace’s
+leave, that wheresoever my wife is at this present hour, whether sitting,
+or standing, or lying down, this ring would never remain upon her thumb,
+whereas you can plainly see that it was hard to draw it over the joint of
+the little finger of the hand whence this was cut; the second thing is,
+that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I have known her
+without paring her nails before going to bed, and you can see fully that
+the nail of this little finger has not been pared for a month.  The third
+is, truly, that the hand whence this finger came was kneading rye dough
+within three days before the finger was cut therefrom, and I can assure
+your goodness that my wife has never kneaded rye dough since my wife she
+has been.”
+
+Then the king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutly withstanding
+him, respecting the goodness of his wife, wherefore he ordered him to his
+prison a second time, saying that he should not be loosed thence until he
+had proved the truth of his boast, as well concerning the wisdom of his
+bard as the virtues of his wife.
+
+In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at Elphin’s
+dwelling.  And Taliesin showed his mistress how that Elphin was in prison
+because of them, but he bade her be glad, for that he would go to
+Maelgwn’s court to free his master.  Then she asked him in what manner he
+would set him free.  And he answered her:—
+
+   “A journey will I perform,
+   And to the gate I will come;
+   The hall I will enter,
+   And my song I will sing;
+   My speech I will pronounce
+   To silence royal bards,
+   In presence of their chief,
+   I will greet to deride,
+   Upon them I will break
+   And Elphin I will free.
+   Should contention arise,
+   In presence of the prince,
+   With summons to the bards,
+   For the sweet flowing song,
+   And wizards’ posing lore
+   And wisdom of Druids,
+   In the court of the sons of the Distributor
+   Some are who did appear
+   Intent on wily schemes,
+   By craft and tricking means,
+   In pangs of affliction
+   To wrong the innocent,
+   Let the fools be silent,
+   As erst in Badon’s fight,—
+   With Arthur of liberal ones
+   The head, with long red blades;
+   Through feats of testy men,
+   And a chief with his foes.
+   Woe be to them, the fools,
+   When revenge comes on them.
+   I Taliesin, chief of bards,
+   With a sapient Druid’s words,
+   Will set kind Elphin free
+   From haughty tyrant’s bonds.
+   To their fell and chilling cry,
+   By the act of a surprising steed,
+   From the far distant North,
+   There soon shall be an end.
+   Let neither grace nor health
+   Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd,
+   For this force and this wrong;
+   And be extremes of ills
+   And an avenged end
+   To Rhun and all his race:
+   Short be his course of life,
+   Be all his lands laid waste;
+   And long exile be assigned
+   To Maelgwn Gwynedd!”
+
+After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at last to the Court
+of Maelgwn, who was going to sit in his hall and dine in his royal state,
+as it was the custom in those days for kings and princes to do at every
+chief feast.  And as soon as Taliesin entered the hall, he placed himself
+in a quiet corner, near the place where the bards and the minstrels were
+wont to come in doing their service and duty to the king, as is the
+custom at the high festivals when the bounty is proclaimed.  And so, when
+the bards and the heralds came to cry largess, and to proclaim the power
+of the king and his strength, at the moment that they passed by the
+corner wherein he was crouching, Taliesin pouted out his lips after them,
+and played “Blerwm, blerwm,” with his finger upon his lips.  Neither took
+they much notice of him as they went by, but proceeded forward till they
+came before the king, unto whom they made their obeisance with their
+bodies, as they were wont, without speaking a single word, but pouting
+out their lips, and making mouths at the king, playing “Blerwm, blerwm,”
+upon their lips with their fingers, as they had seen the boy do
+elsewhere.  This sight caused the king to wonder and to deem within
+himself that they were drunk with many liquors.  Wherefore he commanded
+one of his lords, who served at the board, to go to them and desire them
+to collect their wits, and to consider where they stood, and what it was
+fitting for them to do.  And this lord did so gladly.  But they ceased
+not from their folly any more than before.  Whereupon he sent to them a
+second time, and a third, desiring them to go forth from the hall.  At
+the last the king ordered one of his squires to give a blow to the chief
+of them named Heinin Vardd; and the squire took a broom and struck him on
+the head, so that he fell back in his seat.  Then he arose and went on
+his knees, and besought leave of the king’s grace to show that this their
+fault was not through want of knowledge, neither through drunkenness, but
+by the influence of some spirit that was in the hall.  And after this
+Heinin spoke on this wise.  “Oh, honourable king, be it known to your
+grace, that not from the strength of drink, or of too much liquor, are we
+dumb, without power of speech like drunken men, but through the influence
+of a spirit that sits in the corner yonder in the form of a child.”
+Forthwith the king commanded the squire to fetch him; and he went to the
+nook where Taliesin sat, and brought him before the king, who asked him
+what he was, and whence he came.  And he answered the king in verse.
+
+   “Primary chief bard am I to Elphin,
+   And my original country is the region of the summer stars;
+   Idno and Heinin called me Merddin,
+   At length every king will call me Taliesin.
+
+   I was with my Lord in the highest sphere,
+   On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell
+   I have borne a banner before Alexander;
+   I know the names of the stars from north to south;
+   I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the Distributor;
+   I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain;
+   I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of Hebron;
+   I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwydion.
+   I was instructor to Eli and Enoc;
+   I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier;
+   I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech;
+   I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of God;
+   I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod;
+   I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of Nimrod;
+   I am a wonder whose origin is not known.
+   I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark,
+   I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra;
+   I have been in India when Roma was built,
+   I am now come here to the remnant of Troia.
+
+   I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass:
+   I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan;
+   I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene;
+   I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen;
+   I have been bard of the harp to Lleon of Lochlin.
+   I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn,
+   For a day and a year in stocks and fetters,
+   I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin,
+   I have been fostered in the land of the Deity,
+   I have been teacher to all intelligences,
+   I am able to instruct the whole universe.
+   I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth;
+   And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish.
+
+      Then I was for nine months
+      In the womb of the hag Caridwen;
+      I was originally little Gwion,
+      And at length I am Taliesin.”
+
+And when the king and his nobles had heard the song, they wondered much,
+for they had never heard the like from a boy so young as he.  And when
+the king knew that he was the bard of Elphin, he bade Heinin, his first
+and wisest bard, to answer Taliesin and to strive with him.  But when he
+came, he could do no other but play “blerwm” on his lips; and when he
+sent for the others of the four-and-twenty bards they all did likewise,
+and could do no other.  And Maelgwn asked the boy Taliesin what was his
+errand, and he answered him in song.
+
+   “Puny bards, I am trying
+   To secure the prize, if I can;
+   By a gentle prophetic strain
+   I am endeavouring to retrieve
+   The loss I may have suffered;
+   Complete the attempt I hope,
+   Since Elphin endures trouble
+   In the fortress of Teganwy,
+   On him may there not be laid
+   Too many chains and fetters;
+   The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy
+   Will I again seek;
+   Strengthened by my muse I am powerful;
+   Mighty on my part is what I seek,
+   For three hundred songs and more
+   Are combined in the spell I sing.
+   There ought not to stand where I am
+   Neither stone, neither ring;
+   And there ought not to be about me
+   Any bard who may not know
+   That Elphin the son of Gwyddno
+   Is in the land of Artro,
+   Secured by thirteen locks,
+   For praising his instructor;
+   And then I Taliesin,
+   Chief of the bards of the west,
+   Shall loosen Elphin
+   Out of a golden fetter.”
+
+                                  * * * * *
+
+   “If you be primary bards
+   To the master of sciences,
+   Declare ye mysteries
+   That relate to the inhabitants of the world;
+   There is a noxious creature,
+   From the rampart of Satanas,
+   Which has overcome all
+   Between the deep and the shallow;
+   Equally wide are his jaws
+   As the mountains of the Alps;
+   Him death will not subdue,
+   Nor hand or blades;
+   There is the load of nine hundred wagons
+   In the hair of his two paws;
+   There is in his head an eye
+   Green as the limpid sheet of icicle;
+   Three springs arise
+   In the nape of his neck;
+   Sea-roughs thereon
+   Swim through it;
+   There was the dissolution of the oxen
+   Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted.
+   The names of the three springs
+   From the midst of the ocean;
+   One generated brine
+   Which is from the Corina,
+   To replenish the flood
+   Over seas disappearing;
+   The second, without injury
+   It will fall on us,
+   When there is rain abroad,
+   Through the whelming sky;
+   The third will appear
+   Through the mountain veins,
+   Like a flinty banquet,
+   The work of the King of kings,
+   You are blundering bards,
+   In too much solicitude;
+   You cannot celebrate
+   The kingdom of the Britons;
+   And I am Taliesin,
+   Chief of the bards of the west,
+   Who will loosen Elphin
+   Out of the golden fetter.”
+
+                                  * * * * *
+
+   “Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming bards,
+   For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood.
+   If you be primary bards formed by heaven,
+   Tell your king what his fate will be.
+   It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard,
+   And know every passage in the country of your king;
+   I shall liberate Elphin from the belly of the stony tower;
+   And will tell your king what will befall him.
+   A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of Rhianedd
+   As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd;
+   His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold,
+   And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd.”
+
+                                  * * * * *
+
+   “Discover thou what is
+   The strong creature from before the flood,
+   Without flesh, without bone,
+   Without vein, without blood,
+   Without head, without feet,
+   It will neither be older nor younger
+   Than at the beginning;
+   For fear of a denial,
+   There are no rude wants
+   With creatures.
+   Great God! how the sea whitens
+   When first it comes!
+   Great are its gusts
+   When it comes from the south;
+   Great are its evaporations
+   When it strikes on coasts.
+   It is in the field, it is in the wood,
+   Without hand, and without foot,
+   Without signs of old age,
+   Though it be co-æval
+   With the five ages or periods
+   And older still,
+   Though they be numberless years.
+   It is also so wide
+   As the surface of the earth;
+   And it was not born,
+   Nor was it seen.
+   It will cause consternation
+   Wherever God willeth.
+   On sea, and on land,
+   It neither sees, nor is seen.
+   Its course is devious,
+   And will not come when desired;
+   On land and on sea,
+   It is indispensable.
+   It is without an equal,
+   It is four-sided;
+   It is not confined,
+   It is incomparable;
+   It comes from four quarters;
+   It will not be advised,
+   It will not be without advice.
+   It commences its journey
+   Above the marble rock,
+   It is sonorous, it is dumb,
+   It is mild,
+   It is strong, it is bold,
+   When it glances over the land,
+   It is silent, it is vocal,
+   It is clamorous,
+   It is the most noisy
+   On the face of the earth.
+   It is good, it is bad,
+   It is extremely injurious.
+   It is concealed,
+   Because sight cannot perceive it.
+   It is noxious, it is beneficial;
+   It is yonder, it is here;
+   It will discompose,
+   But will not repair the injury;
+   It will not suffer for its doings,
+   Seeing it is blameless.
+   It is wet, it is dry,
+   It frequently comes,
+   Proceeding from the heat of the sun,
+   And the coldness of the moon.
+   The moon is less beneficial,
+   Inasmuch as her heat is less.
+   One Being has prepared it,
+   Out of all creatures,
+   By a tremendous blast,
+   To wreak vengeance
+   On Maelgwn Gwynedd.”
+
+And while he was thus singing his verse near the door, there arose a
+mighty storm of wind, so that the king and all his nobles thought that
+the castle would fall on their heads.  And the king caused them to fetch
+Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and placed him before Taliesin.  And it
+is said, that immediately he sang a verse, so that the chains opened from
+about his feet.
+
+   “I adore the Supreme, Lord of all animation,—
+   Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme,
+   Him that made the water good for all,
+   Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it;—
+   May abundance of mead be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies us,
+   From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor.
+   Since bees collect, and do not enjoy,
+   We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally praised.
+   The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes
+   God made for man, with a view to enrich him;—
+   Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them,
+   Some are wild, some are tame; the Lord makes them;—
+   Part of their produce becomes clothing;
+   For food and beverage till doom will they continue.
+   I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace,
+   To liberate Elphin from banishment,
+   The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead,
+   With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance;
+   May he yet give me; and at the end,
+   May God of his good will grant me, in honour,
+   A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of tranquillity.
+   Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution!”
+
+And afterwards he sang the ode which is called “The Excellence of the
+Bards.”
+
+   “What was the first man
+   Made by the God of heaven;
+   What the fairest flattering speech
+   That was prepared by leuav;
+   What meat, what drink,
+   What roof his shelter;
+   What the first impression
+   Of his primary thinking;
+   What became his clothing;
+   Who carried on a disguise,
+   Owing to the wilds of the country,
+   In the beginning?
+   Wherefore should a stone be hard;
+   Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed?
+   Who is hard like a flint;
+   Who is salt like brine;
+   Who sweet like honey;
+   Who rides on the gale;
+   Why ridged should be the nose;
+   Why should a wheel be round;
+   Why should the tongue be gifted with speech
+   Rather than another member?
+   If thy bards, Heinin, be competent,
+   Let them reply to me, Taliesin.”
+
+And after that he sang the address which is called “The Reproof of the
+Bards.”
+
+   “If thou art a bard completely imbued
+   With genius not to be controlled,
+   Be thou not untractable
+   Within the court of thy king;
+   Until thy rigmarole shall be known,
+   Be thou silent, Heinin,
+   As to the name of thy verse,
+   And the name of thy vaunting;
+   And as to the name of thy grandsire
+   Prior to his being baptized.
+   And the name of the sphere,
+   And the name of the element,
+   And the name of thy language,
+   And the name of thy region.
+   Avaunt, ye bards above,
+   Avaunt, ye bards below!
+   My beloved is below,
+   In the fetter of Arianrod
+   It is certain you know not
+   How to understand the song I utter,
+   Nor clearly how to discriminate
+   Between the truth and what is false;
+   Puny bards, crows of the district,
+   Why do you not take to flight?
+   A bard that will not silence me,
+   Silence may he not obtain,
+   Till he goes to be covered
+   Under gravel and pebbles;
+   Such as shall listen to me,
+   May God listen to him.”
+
+Then sang he the piece called “The Spite of the Bards.”
+
+   “Minstrels persevere in their false custom,
+   Immoral ditties are their delight;
+   Vain and tasteless praise they recite;
+   Falsehood at all times do they utter;
+   The innocent persons they ridicule;
+   Married women they destroy,
+   Innocent virgins of Mary they corrupt;
+   As they pass their lives away in vanity,
+   Poor innocent persons they ridicule;
+   At night they get drunk, they sleep the day;
+   In idleness without work they feed themselves;
+   The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent;
+   With thieves and perjured fellows they associate;
+   At courts they inquire after feasts;
+   Every senseless word they bring forward;
+   Every deadly sin they praise;
+   Every vile course of life they lead;
+   Through every village, town, and country they stroll;
+   Concerning the gripe of death they think not;
+   Neither lodging nor charity do they give;
+   Indulging in victuals to excess.
+   Psalms or prayers they do not use,
+   Tithes or offerings to God they do not pay,
+   On holidays or Sundays they do not worship;
+   Vigils or festivals they do not heed.
+   The birds do fly, the fish do swim,
+   The bees collect honey, worms do crawl,
+   Every thing travails to obtain its food,
+   Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves.
+
+   I deride neither song nor minstrelsy,
+   For they are given by God to lighten thought;
+   But him who abuses them,
+   For blaspheming Jesus and his service.”
+
+Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and having protected the
+innocence of his wife, and silenced the Bards, so that not one of them
+dared to say a word, now brought Elphin’s wife before them, and showed
+that she had not one finger wanting.  Right glad was Elphin, right glad
+was Taliesin.
+
+Then he bade Elphin wager the king, that he had a horse both better and
+swifter than the king’s horses.  And this Elphin did, and the day, and
+the time, and the place were fixed, and the place was that which at this
+day is called Morva Rhiannedd: and thither the king went with all his
+people, and four-and-twenty of the swiftest horses he possessed.  And
+after a long process the course was marked, and the horses were placed
+for running.  Then came Taliesin with four-and-twenty twigs of holly,
+which he had burnt black, and he caused the youth who was to ride his
+master’s horse to place them in his belt, and he gave him orders to let
+all the king’s horses get before him, and as he should overtake one horse
+after the other, to take one of the twigs and strike the horse with it
+over the crupper, and then let that twig fall; and after that to take
+another twig, and do in like manner to every one of the horses, as he
+should overtake them, enjoining the horseman strictly to watch when his
+own horse should stumble, and to throw down his cap on the spot.  All
+these things did the youth fulfil, giving a blow to every one of the
+king’s horses, and throwing down his cap on the spot where his horse
+stumbled.  And to this spot Taliesin brought his master after his horse
+had won the race.  And he caused Elphin to put workmen to dig a hole
+there; and when they had dug the ground deep enough, they found a large
+cauldron full of gold.  And then said Taliesin, “Elphin, behold a payment
+and reward unto thee, for having taken me out of the weir, and for having
+reared me from that time until now.”  And on this spot stands a pool of
+water, which is to this time called Pwllbair.
+
+After all this, the king caused Taliesin to be brought before him, and he
+asked him to recite concerning the creation of man from the beginning;
+and thereupon he made the poem which is now called “One of the Four
+Pillars of Song.”
+
+   “The Almighty made,
+   Down the Hebron vale,
+   With his plastic hands,
+      Adam’s fair form:
+
+   And five hundred years,
+   Void of any help,
+   There he remained and lay
+      Without a soul.
+
+   He again did form,
+   In calm paradise,
+   From a left-side rib,
+      Bliss-throbbing Eve.
+
+   Seven hours they were
+   The orchard keeping,
+   Till Satan brought strife,
+      With wiles from hell.
+
+   Thence were they driven,
+   Cold and shivering,
+   To gain their living,
+      Into this world.
+
+   To bring forth with pain
+   Their sons and daughters,
+   To have possession
+      Of Asia’s land.
+
+   Twice five, ten and eight,
+   She was self-bearing,
+   The mixed burden
+      Of man-woman.
+
+   And once, not hidden,
+   She brought forth Abel,
+   And Cain the forlorn,
+      The homicide.
+
+   To him and his mate
+   Was given a spade,
+   To break up the soil,
+      Thus to get bread.
+
+   The wheat pure and white,
+   Summer tilth to sow,
+   Every man to feed,
+      Till great yule feast.
+
+   An angelic hand
+   From the high Father,
+   Brought seed for growing
+      That Eve might sow;
+
+   But she then did hide
+   Of the gift a tenth,
+   And all did not sow
+      Of what was dug.
+
+   Black rye then was found,
+   And not pure wheat grain,
+   To show the mischief
+      Thus of thieving.
+
+   For this thievish act,
+   It is requisite,
+   That all men should pay
+      Tithe unto God.
+
+   Of the ruddy wine,
+   Planted on sunny days,
+   And on new-moon nights;
+      And the white wine.
+
+   The wheat rich in grain
+   And red flowing wine
+   Christ’s pure body make,
+      Son of Alpha.
+
+   The wafer is flesh,
+   The wine is spilt blood,
+   The Trinity’s words
+      Sanctify them.
+
+   The concealed books
+   From Emmanuel’s hand
+   Were brought by Raphael
+      As Adam’s gift,
+
+   When in his old age,
+   To his chin immersed
+   In Jordan’s water,
+      Keeping a fast,
+
+   Moses did obtain
+   In Jordan’s water,
+   The aid of the three
+      Most special rods.
+
+   Solomon did obtain
+   In Babel’s tower,
+   All the sciences
+      In Asia land.
+
+   So did I obtain,
+   In my bardic books,
+   All the sciences
+      Of Europe and Africa.
+
+   Their course, their bearing,
+   Their permitted way,
+   And their fate I know,
+      Unto the end.
+
+   Oh! what misery,
+   Through extreme of woe,
+   Prophecy will show
+      On Troia’s race!
+
+   A coiling serpent
+   Proud and merciless,
+   On her golden wings,
+      From Germany.
+
+   She will overrun
+   England and Scotland,
+   From Lychlyn sea-shore
+      To the Severn.
+
+   Then will the Brython
+   Be as prisoners,
+   By strangers swayed,
+      From Saxony.
+
+   Their Lord they will praise,
+   Their speech they will keep,
+   Their land they will lose,
+      Except wild Walia.
+
+   Till some change shall come,
+   After long penance,
+   When equally rife
+      The two crimes come.
+
+   Britons then shall have
+   Their land and their crown,
+   And the stranger swarm
+      Shall disappear.
+
+   All the angel’s words,
+   As to peace and war,
+   Will be fulfilled
+      To Britain’s race.”
+
+He further told the king various prophecies of things that should be in
+the world, in songs, as follows.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+
+
+
+FOOTNOTES
+
+
+{1}  It is also stated, that there is in the Hengwrt Library, a MS.
+containing the Graal in Welsh, as early as the time of Henry I.  I had
+hoped to have added this to the present collection; but the death of Col.
+Vaughan, to whom I applied, and other subsequent circumstances, have
+prevented me from obtaining access to it.
+
+{2}  Hades.
+
+{3}  The word “Pryder” or “Pryderi” means anxiety.
+
+{4}  The version in the Greal adds, “And their coin was fairy money;”
+literally, dwarf’s money: that is, money which, when received, appeared
+to be good coin, but which, if kept, turned into pieces of fungus, &c.
+
+{5}  This dialogue consists of a series of repartees with a play upon
+words, which it is impossible to follow in the translation.
+
+{6}  Taliesin.
+
+{7}  The mention of Gwyddno Garanhir instead of Elphin ab Gwyddno in this
+place is evidently an error of some transcriber of the MS.
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MABINOGION ***
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diff --git a/5160-0.zip b/5160-0.zip
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+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" />
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mabinogion, by Lady Charlotte Guest</title>
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+<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mabinogion, by Lady Charlotte Guest</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online
+at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you
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+country where you are located before using this eBook.
+</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Mabinogion</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Lady Charlotte Guest</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: May 22, 2002 [eBook #5160]<br />
+[Most recently updated: October 4, 2021]</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: David Price</div>
+<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MABINOGION ***</div>
+
+<h1>THE MABINOGION</h1>
+
+<h2 class="no-break">TRANSLATED BY LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST</h2>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<table summary="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap01">Introduction</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap02">The Lady of the Fountain</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap03">Peredur the Son of Evrawc</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap04">Geraint the son of Erbin</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap05">Kilhwch and Olwen</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap06">The dream of Rhonabwy</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap07">Pwyll Prince of Dyved</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap08">Branwen the daughter of Llyr</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap09">Manawyddan the son of Llyr</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap10">Math the son of Mathonwy</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap11">The dream of Maxen Wledig</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap12">The story of Lludd and Llevelys</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap13">Taliesin</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+</table>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap01"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2>
+
+<p>
+Whilst engaged on the Translations contained in these volumes, and on the Notes
+appended to the various Tales, I have found myself led unavoidably into a much
+more extensive course of reading than I had originally contemplated, and one
+which in great measure bears directly upon the earlier Mediæval Romance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Before commencing these labours, I was aware, generally, that
+there existed a connexion between the Welsh Mabinogion and the
+Romance of the Continent; but as I advanced, I became better
+acquainted with the closeness and extent of that connexion, its
+history, and the proofs by which it is supported.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At the same time, indeed, I became aware, and still strongly
+feel, that it is one thing to collect facts, and quite another to
+classify and draw from them their legitimate conclusions; and
+though I am loth that what has been collected with some pains,
+should be entirely thrown away, it is unwillingly, and with
+diffidence, that I trespass beyond the acknowledged province of a
+translator.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there arose into
+general notoriety in Europe, a body of &ldquo;Romance,&rdquo;
+which in various forms retained its popularity till the
+Reformation. In it the plot, the incidents, the characters,
+were almost wholly those of Chivalry, that bond which united the
+warriors of France, Spain, and Italy, with those of pure Teutonic
+descent, and embraced more or less firmly all the nations of
+Europe, excepting only the Slavonic races, not yet risen to
+power, and the Celts, who had fallen from it. It is not
+difficult to account for this latter omission. The Celts,
+driven from the plains into the mountains and islands, preserved
+their liberty, and hated their oppressors with fierce, and not
+causeless, hatred. A proud and free people, isolated both
+in country and language, were not likely to adopt customs which
+implied brotherhood with their foes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Such being the case, it is remarkable that when the chief
+romances are examined, the name of many of the heroes and their
+scenes of action are found to be Celtic, and those of persons and
+places famous in the traditions of Wales and Brittany. Of
+this the romances of Ywaine and Gawaine, Sir Perceval de Galles,
+Eric and Enide, Mort d&rsquo;Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristan,
+the Graal, &amp;c., may be cited as examples. In some cases
+a tendency to triads, and other matters of internal evidence,
+point in the same direction.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It may seem difficult to account for this. Although the
+ancient dominion of the Celts over Europe is not without enduring
+evidence in the names of the mountains and streams, the great
+features of a country, yet the loss of their prior language by
+the great mass of the Celtic nations in Southern Europe (if
+indeed their successors in territory be at all of their blood),
+prevents us from clearly seeing, and makes us wonder, how
+stories, originally embodied in the Celtic dialects of Great
+Britain and France, could so influence the literature of nations
+to whom the Celtic languages were utterly unknown. Whence
+then came these internal marks, and these proper names of persons
+and places, the features of a story usually of earliest date and
+least likely to change?
+</p>
+
+<p>
+These romances were found in England, France, Germany, Norway,
+Sweden, and even Iceland, as early as the beginning of the
+thirteenth and end of the twelfth century. The Germans, who
+propagated them through the nations of the North, derived them
+certainly from France. Robert Wace published his
+Anglo-Norman Romance of the Brut d&rsquo;Angleterre about
+1155. Sir Tristan was written in French prose in 1170; and
+The Chevalier au Lion, Chevalier de l&rsquo;Epée, and Sir
+Lancelot du Lac, in metrical French, by Chrestien de Troyes,
+before 1200.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+From these facts it is to be argued that the further back
+these romances are traced, the more clearly does it appear that
+they spread over the Continent from the North-west of
+France. The older versions, it may be remarked, are far
+more simple than the later corruptions. In them there is
+less allusion to the habits and usages of Chivalry, and the Welsh
+names and elements stand out in stronger relief. It is a
+great step to be able to trace the stocks of these romances back
+to Wace, or to his country and age. For Wace&rsquo;s work
+was not original. He himself, a native of Jersey, appears
+to have derived much of it from the &ldquo;Historia
+Britonum&rdquo; of Gruffydd ab Arthur, commonly known as
+&ldquo;Geoffrey of Monmouth,&rdquo; born 1128, who himself
+professes to have translated from a British original. It
+is, however, very possible that Wace may have had access, like
+Geoffrey, to independent sources of information.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+To the claims set up on behalf of Wace and Geoffrey, to be
+regarded as the channels by which the Cymric tales passed into
+the Continental Romance, may be added those of a third almost
+contemporary author. Layamon, a Saxon priest, dwelling,
+about 1200, upon the banks of the upper Severn, acknowledges for
+the source of his British history, the <i>English</i> Bede, the
+<i>Latin</i> Albin, and the <i>French</i> Wace. The
+last-named however is by very much his chief, and, for Welsh
+matters, his only avowed authority. His book, nevertheless,
+contains a number of names and stories relating to Wales, of
+which no traces appear in Wace, or indeed in Geoffrey, but which
+he was certainly in a very favourable position to obtain for
+himself. Layamon, therefore, not only confirms Geoffrey in
+some points, but it is clear, that, professing to follow Wace, he
+had independent access to the great body of Welsh literature then
+current. Sir F. Madden has put this matter very clearly, in
+his recent edition of Layamon. The Abbé de la Rue,
+also, was of opinion that Gaimar, an Anglo-Norman, in the reign
+of Stephen, usually regarded as a translator of Geoffrey of
+Monmouth, had access to a Welsh independent authority.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In addition to these, is to be mentioned the English version
+of Sir Tristrem, which Sir Walter Scott considered to be derived
+from a distinct Celtic source, and not, like the later Amadis,
+Palmerin, and Lord Berners&rsquo;s Canon of Romance, imported
+into English literature by translation from the French. For
+the Auntours of Arthur, recently published by the Camden Society,
+their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to hint at a similar claim.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Here then are various known channels, by which portions of
+Welsh and Armoric fiction crossed the Celtic border, and gave
+rise to the more ornate, and widely-spread romance of the Age of
+Chivalry. It is not improbable that there may have existed
+many others. It appears then that a large portion of the
+stocks of Mediæval Romance proceeded from Wales. We
+have next to see in what condition they are still found in that
+country.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+That Wales possessed an ancient literature, containing various
+lyric compositions, and certain triads, in which are arranged
+historical facts or moral aphorisms, has been shown by Sharon
+Turner, who has established the high antiquity of many of these
+compositions.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The more strictly Romantic Literature of Wales has been less
+fortunate, though not less deserving of critical attention.
+Small portions only of it have hitherto appeared in print, the
+remainder being still hidden in the obscurity of ancient
+Manuscripts: of these the chief is supposed to be the Red Book of
+Hergest, now in the Library of Jesus College, Oxford, and of the
+fourteenth century. This contains, besides poems, the prose
+romances known as Mabinogion. The Black Book of
+Caermarthen, preserved at Hengwrt, and considered not to be of
+later date than the twelfth century, is said to contain poems
+only. <a name="citation1"></a><a href="#footnote1"
+class="citation">[1]</a>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The Mabinogion, however, though thus early recorded in the
+Welsh tongue, are in their existing form by no means wholly
+Welsh. They are of two tolerably distinct classes. Of
+these, the older contains few allusions to Norman customs,
+manners, arts, arms, and luxuries. The other, and less
+ancient, are full of such allusions, and of ecclesiastical
+terms. Both classes, no doubt, are equally of Welsh root,
+but the former are not more overlaid or corrupted, than might
+have been expected, from the communication that so early took
+place between the Normans and the Welsh; whereas the latter
+probably migrated from Wales, and were brought back and
+re-translated after an absence of centuries, with a load of
+Norman additions. Kilhwch and Olwen, and the dream of
+Rhonabwy, may be cited as examples of the older and purer class;
+the Lady of the Fountain, Peredur, and Geraint ab Erbin, of the
+later, or decorated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Besides these, indeed, there are a few tales, as Amlyn and
+Amic, Sir Bevis of Hamtoun, the Seven Wise Masters, and the story
+of Charlemagne, so obviously of foreign extraction, and of late
+introduction into Wales, not presenting even a Welsh name, or
+allusion, and of such very slender intrinsic merit, that although
+comprised in the Llyvr Coch, they have not a shadow of claim to
+form part of the Canon of Welsh Romance. Therefore,
+although I have translated and examined them, I have given them
+no place in these volumes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There is one argument in favour of the high antiquity in Wales
+of many of the Mabinogion, which deserves to be mentioned
+here. This argument is founded on the topography of the
+country. It is found that Saxon names of places are very
+frequently definitions of the nature of the locality to which
+they are attached, as Clifton, Deepden, Bridge-ford, Thorpe, Ham,
+Wick, and the like; whereas those of Wales are more frequently
+commemorative of some event, real or supposed, said to have
+happened on or near the spot, or bearing allusion to some person
+renowned in the story of the country or district. Such are
+&ldquo;Llyn y Morwynion,&rdquo; the Lake of the Maidens;
+&ldquo;Rhyd y Bedd,&rdquo; the Ford of the Grave; &ldquo;Bryn
+Cyfergyr,&rdquo; the Hill of Assault; and so on. But as
+these names could not have preceded the events to which they
+refer, the events themselves must be not unfrequently as old as
+the early settlement in the country. And as some of these
+events and fictions are the subjects of, and are explained by,
+existing Welsh legends, it follows that the legends must be, in
+some shape or other, of very remote antiquity. It will be
+observed that this argument supports <i>remote</i> antiquity only
+for such legends as are connected with the greater topographical
+features, as mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, which must have been
+named at an early period in the inhabitation of the country by
+man. But there exist, also, legends connected with the
+lesser features, as pools, hills, detached rocks, caves, fords,
+and the like, places not necessarily named by the earlier
+settlers, but the names of which are, nevertheless, probably very
+old, since the words of which they are composed are in many cases
+not retained in the colloquial tongue, in which they must once
+have been included, and are in some instances lost from the
+language altogether, so much so as to be only partially
+explicable even by scholars. The argument applies likewise,
+in their degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial
+earth-works.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Conclusions thus drawn, when established, rest upon a very
+firm basis. They depend upon the number and appositeness of
+the facts, and it would be very interesting to pursue this branch
+of evidence in detail. In following up this idea, the names
+to be sought for might thus be classed:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+I. Names of the great features, involving proper names
+and actions.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur both involve more than a mere
+name. Idris and Arthur must have been invested with heroic
+qualifications to have been placed in such
+&ldquo;seats.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+II. Names of lesser features, as &ldquo;Bryn y
+Saeth,&rdquo; Hill of the Dart; &ldquo;Llyn Llyngclys,&rdquo;
+Lake of the Engulphed Court; &ldquo;Ceven y Bedd,&rdquo; the
+Ridge of the Grave; &ldquo;Rhyd y Saeson,&rdquo; the
+Saxons&rsquo; Ford.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+III. Names of mixed natural and artificial objects, as
+&ldquo;Coeten Arthur,&rdquo; Arthur&rsquo;s Coit; &ldquo;Cerrig y
+Drudion,&rdquo; the Crag of the Heroes; which involve
+actions. And such as embody proper names only, as
+&ldquo;Cerrig Howell,&rdquo; the Crag of Howell; &ldquo;Caer
+Arianrod,&rdquo; the Camp of Arianrod; &ldquo;Bron
+Goronwy,&rdquo; the Breast (of the Hill) of Goronwy;
+&ldquo;Castell mab Wynion,&rdquo; the Castle of the son of
+Wynion; &ldquo;Nant Gwrtheyrn,&rdquo; the Rill of Vortigern.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The selection of names would demand much care and
+discretion. The translations should be indisputable, and,
+where known, the connexion of a name with a legend should be
+noted. Such a name as &ldquo;Mochdrev,&rdquo; Swine-town,
+would be valueless unless accompanied by a legend.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It is always valuable to find a place or work called after an
+individual, because it may help to support some tradition of his
+existence or his actions. But it is requisite that care be
+taken not to push the etymological dissection too far.
+Thus, &ldquo;Caer Arianrod&rdquo; should be taken simply as the
+&ldquo;Camp of Arianrod,&rdquo; and not rendered the &ldquo;Camp
+of the silver circle,&rdquo; because the latter, though it might
+possibly have something to do with the reason for which the name
+was borne by Arianrod herself, had clearly no reference to its
+application to her camp.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has been
+advanced:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+I. That we have throughout Europe, at an early period, a
+great body of literature, known as Mediæval Romance, which,
+amidst much that is wholly of Teutonic origin and character,
+includes certain well-marked traces of an older Celtic
+nucleus.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+II. Proceeding backwards in time, we find these
+romances, their ornaments falling away at each step, existing
+towards the twelfth century, of simpler structure, and with less
+encumbered Celtic features, in the works of Wace, and other Bards
+of the Langue d&rsquo;Oil.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+III. We find that Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, and
+other early British and Anglo-Saxon historians, and minstrels, on
+the one hand, transmitted to Europe the rudiments of its after
+romance, much of which, on the other hand, they drew from
+Wales.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+IV. Crossing into Wales we find, in the Mabinogion, the
+evident counterpart of the Celtic portion of the continental
+romance, mixed up, indeed, with various reflex additions from
+beyond the border, but still containing ample internal evidence
+of a Welsh original.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+V. Looking at the connexion between divers of the more
+ancient Mabinogion, and the topographical nomenclature of part of
+the country, we find evidence of the great, though indefinite,
+antiquity of these tales, and of an origin, which, if not
+indigenous, is certainly derived from no European nation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was with a general belief in some of these conclusions,
+that I commenced my labours, and I end them with my impressions
+strongly confirmed. The subject is one not unworthy of the
+talents of a Llwyd or a Prichard. It might, I think, be
+shown, by pursuing the inquiry, that the Cymric nation is not
+only, as Dr. Prichard has proved it to be, an early offshoot of
+the Indo-European family, and a people of unmixed descent, but
+that when driven out of their conquests by the later nations, the
+names and exploits of their heroes, and the compositions of their
+bards, spread far and wide among the invaders, and affected
+intimately their tastes and literature for many centuries, and
+that it has strong claims to be considered the cradle of European
+Romance.
+</p>
+
+<p style="text-align: right">C. E. G.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+D<small>OWLAIS</small>, <i>August 29th</i>,
+<i>1848</i>.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap02"></a>THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN</h2>
+
+<p>
+King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his chamber; and
+with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son of Clydno, and Kai the
+son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens at needlework by the window.
+And if it should be said that there was a porter at Arthur&rsquo;s palace,
+there was none. Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was there, acting as porter, to welcome
+guests and strangers, and to receive them with honour, and to inform them of
+the manners and customs of the Court; and to direct those who came to the Hall
+or to the presence-chamber, and those who came to take up their lodging.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of
+green rushes, over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured
+satin, and a cushion of red satin was under his elbow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arthur spoke, &ldquo;If I thought you would not disparage
+me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I would sleep while I wait for my
+repast; and you can entertain one another with relating tales,
+and can obtain a flagon of mead and some meat from
+Kai.&rdquo; And the King went to sleep. And Kynon the
+son of Clydno asked Kai for that which Arthur had promised
+them. &ldquo;I, too, will have the good tale which he
+promised to me,&rdquo; said Kai. &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo;
+answered Kynon, &ldquo;fairer will it be for thee to fulfill
+Arthur&rsquo;s behest, in the first place, and then we will tell
+thee the best tale that we know.&rdquo; So Kai went to the
+kitchen and to the mead-cellar, and returned bearing a flagon of
+mead and a golden goblet, and a handful of skewers, upon which
+were broiled collops of meat. Then they ate the collops and
+began to drink the mead. &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Kai,
+&ldquo;it is time for you to give me my story.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Kynon,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;do thou pay to Kai the
+tale that is his due.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said
+Kynon, &ldquo;thou are older, and art a better teller of tales,
+and hast seen more marvellous things than I; do thou therefore
+pay Kai his tale.&rdquo; &ldquo;Begin thyself,&rdquo; quoth
+Owain, &ldquo;with the best that thou knowest.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; answered Kynon.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was
+exceedingly aspiring, and my daring was very great. I
+thought there was no enterprise in the world too mighty for me,
+and after I had achieved all the adventures that were in my own
+country, I equipped myself, and set forth to journey through
+deserts and distant regions. And at length it chanced that
+I came to the fairest valley in the world, wherein were trees of
+equal growth; and a river ran through the valley, and a path was
+by the side of the river. And I followed the path until
+mid-day, and continued my journey along the remainder of the
+valley until the evening; and at the extremity of a plain I came
+to a large and lustrous Castle, at the foot of which was a
+torrent. And I approached the Castle, and there I beheld
+two youths with yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold
+upon his head, and clad in a garment of yellow satin, and they
+had gold clasps upon their insteps. In the hand of each of
+them was an ivory bow, strung with the sinews of the stag; and
+their arrows had shafts of the bone of the whale, and were winged
+with peacock&rsquo;s feathers; the shafts also had golden
+heads. And they had daggers with blades of gold, and with
+hilts of the bone of the whale. And they were shooting
+their daggers.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of
+life, with his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of
+yellow satin; and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold
+lace. On his feet were shoes of variegated leather,
+fastened by two bosses of gold. When I saw him, I went
+towards him and saluted him, and such was his courtesy that he no
+sooner received my greeting than he returned it. And he
+went with me towards the Castle. Now there were no dwellers
+in the Castle except those who were in one hall. And there
+I saw four-and-twenty damsels, embroidering satin at a
+window. And this I tell thee, Kai, that the least fair of
+them was fairer than the fairest maid thou hast ever beheld in
+the Island of Britain, and the least lovely of them was more
+lovely than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur, when she has appeared
+loveliest at the Offering, on the day of the Nativity, or at the
+feast of Easter. They rose up at my coming, and six of them
+took my horse, and divested me of my armour; and six others took
+my arms, and washed them in a vessel until they were perfectly
+bright. And the third six spread cloths upon the tables and
+prepared meat. And the fourth six took off my soiled
+garments, and placed others upon me; namely, an under-vest and a
+doublet of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of
+yellow satin with a broad gold band upon the mantle. And
+they placed cushions both beneath and around me, with coverings
+of red linen; and I sat down. Now the six maidens who had
+taken my horse, unharnessed him, as well as if they had been the
+best squires in the Island of Britain. Then, behold, they
+brought bowls of silver wherein was water to wash, and towels of
+linen, some green and some white; and I washed. And in a
+little while the man sat down to the table. And I sat next
+to him, and below me sat all the maidens, except those who waited
+on us. And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the
+table were of linen; and no vessel was served upon the table that
+was not either of gold or of silver, or of buffalo-horn.
+And our meat was brought to us. And verily, Kai, I saw
+there every sort of meat and every sort of liquor that I have
+ever seen elsewhere; but the meat and the liquor were better
+served there than I have ever seen them in any other place.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any
+one of the damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man
+perceived that it would be more agreeable to me to converse than
+to eat any more, he began to inquire of me who I was. I
+said I was glad to find that there was some one who would
+discourse with me, and that it was not considered so great a
+crime at that Court for people to hold converse together.
+&lsquo;Chieftain,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;we would have
+talked to thee sooner, but we feared to disturb thee during thy
+repast; now, however, we will discourse.&rsquo; Then I told
+the man who I was, and what was the cause of my journey; and said
+that I was seeking whether any one was superior to me, or whether
+I could gain the mastery over all. The man looked upon me,
+and he smiled and said, &lsquo;If I did not fear to distress thee
+too much, I would show thee that which thou seekest.&rsquo;
+Upon this I became anxious and sorrowful, and when the man
+perceived it, he said, &lsquo;If thou wouldest rather that I
+should show thee thy disadvantage than thine advantage, I will do
+so. Sleep here to-night, and in the morning arise early,
+and take the road upwards through the valley until thou reachest
+the wood through which thou camest hither. A little way
+within the wood thou wilt meet with a road branching off to the
+right, by which thou must proceed, until thou comest to a large
+sheltered glade with a mound in the centre. And thou wilt
+see a black man of great stature on the top of the mound.
+He is not smaller in size than two of the men of this
+world. He has but one foot; and one eye in the middle of
+his forehead. And he has a club of iron, and it is certain
+that there are no two men in the world who would not find their
+burden in that club. And he is not a comely man, but on the
+contrary he is exceedingly ill-favoured; and he is the woodward
+of that wood. And thou wilt see a thousand wild animals
+grazing around him. Inquire of him the way out of the
+glade, and he will reply to thee briefly, and will point out the
+road by which thou shalt find that which thou art in quest
+of.&rsquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And long seemed that night to me. And the next
+morning I arose and equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and
+proceeded straight through the valley to the wood; and I followed
+the cross-road which the man had pointed out to me, till at
+length I arrived at the glade. And there was I three times
+more astonished at the number of wild animals that I beheld, than
+the man had said I should be. And the black man was there,
+sitting upon the top of the mound. Huge of stature as the
+man had told me that he was, I found him to exceed by far the
+description he had given me of him. As for the iron club
+which the man had told me was a burden for two men, I am certain,
+Kai, that it would be a heavy weight for four warriors to lift;
+and this was in the black man&rsquo;s hand. And he only
+spoke to me in answer to my questions. Then I asked him
+what power he held over those animals. &lsquo;I will show thee,
+little man,&rsquo; said he. And he took his club in his
+hand, and with it he struck a stag a great blow so that he brayed
+vehemently, and at his braying the animals came together, as
+numerous as the stars in the sky, so that it was difficult for me
+to find room in the glade to stand among them. There were
+serpents, and dragons, and divers sorts of animals. And he
+looked at them, and bade them go and feed; and they bowed their
+heads, and did him homage as vassals to their lord.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then the black man said to me, &lsquo;Seest thou now,
+little man, what power I hold over these animals?&rsquo;
+Then I inquired of him the way, and he became very rough in his
+manner to me; however, he asked me whither I would go? And
+when I told him who I was and what I sought, he directed
+me. &lsquo;Take,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;that path that
+leads towards the head of the glade, and ascend the wooded steep
+until thou comest to its summit; and there thou wilt find an open
+space like to a large valley, and in the midst of it a tall tree,
+whose branches are greener than the greenest pine-trees.
+Under this tree is a fountain, and by the side of the fountain a
+marble slab, and on the marble slab a silver bowl, attached by a
+chain of silver, so that it may not be carried away. Take
+the bowl and throw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and thou
+wilt hear a mighty peal of thunder, so that thou wilt think that
+heaven and earth are trembling with its fury. With the
+thunder there will come a shower so severe that it will be scarce
+possible for thee to endure it and live. And the shower
+will be of hailstones; and after the shower, the weather will
+become fair, but every leaf that was upon the tree will have been
+carried away by the shower. Then a flight of birds will
+come and alight upon the tree; and in thine own country thou
+didst never hear a strain so sweet as that which they will
+sing. And at the moment thou art most delighted with the
+song of the birds, thou wilt hear a murmuring and complaining
+coming towards thee along the valley. And thou wilt see a
+knight upon a coal-black horse, clothed in black velvet, and with
+a pennon of black linen upon his lance; and he will ride unto
+thee to encounter thee with the utmost speed. If thou
+fleest from him he will overtake thee, and if thou abidest there,
+as sure as thou art a mounted knight, he will leave thee on
+foot. And if thou dost not find trouble in that adventure,
+thou needest not seek it during the rest of thy life.&rsquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;So I journeyed on, until I reached the summit of the
+steep, and there I found everything as the black man had
+described it to me. And I went up to the tree, and beneath
+it I saw the fountain, and by its side the marble slab, and the
+silver bowl fastened by the chain. Then I took the bowl,
+and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab; and thereupon, behold,
+the thunder came, much more violent than the black man had led me
+to expect; and after the thunder came the shower; and of a truth
+I tell thee, Kai, that there is neither man nor beast that can
+endure that shower and live. For not one of those
+hailstones would be stopped, either by the flesh or by the skin,
+until it had reached the bone. I turned my horse&rsquo;s
+flank towards the shower, and placed the beak of my shield over
+his head and neck, while I held the upper part of it over my own
+head. And thus I withstood the shower. When I looked
+on the tree there was not a single leaf upon it, and then the sky
+became clear, and with that, behold the birds lighted upon the
+tree, and sang. And truly, Kai, I never heard any melody
+equal to that, either before or since. And when I was most
+charmed with listening to the birds, lo, a murmuring voice was
+heard through the valley, approaching me and saying, &lsquo;Oh,
+Knight, what has brought thee hither? What evil have I done
+to thee, that thou shouldst act towards me and my possessions as
+thou hast this day? Dost thou not know that the shower
+to-day has left in my dominions neither man nor beast alive that
+was exposed to it?&rsquo; And thereupon, behold, a Knight
+on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, and with
+a tabard of black linen about him. And we charged each
+other, and, as the onset was furious, it was not long before I
+was overthrown. Then the Knight passed the shaft of his
+lance through the bridle rein of my horse, and rode off with the
+two horses, leaving me where I was. And he did not even
+bestow so much notice upon me as to imprison me, nor did he
+despoil me of my arms. So I returned along the road by
+which I had come. And when I reached the glade where the
+black man was, I confess to thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did
+not melt down into a liquid pool, through the shame that I felt
+at the black man&rsquo;s derision. And that night I came to
+the same castle where I had spent the night preceding. And
+I was more agreeably entertained that night than I had been the
+night before; and I was better feasted, and I conversed freely
+with the inmates of the castle, and none of them alluded to my
+expedition to the fountain, neither did I mention it to any; and
+I remained there that night. When I arose on the morrow, I
+found, ready saddled, a dark bay palfrey, with nostrils as red as
+scarlet; and after putting on my armour, and leaving there my
+blessing, I returned to my own Court. And that horse I
+still possess, and he is in the stable yonder. And I
+declare that I would not part with him for the best palfrey in
+the Island of Britain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to an
+adventure so much to his own discredit, and verily it seems
+strange to me, that neither before nor since have I heard of any
+person besides myself who knew of this adventure, and that the
+subject of it should exist within King Arthur&rsquo;s dominions,
+without any other person lighting upon it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now,&rdquo; quoth Owain, &ldquo;would it not be well to
+go and endeavour to discover that place?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;By the hand of my friend,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;often
+dost thou utter that with thy tongue which thou wouldst not make
+good with thy deeds.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;In very truth,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;it were
+better thou wert hanged, Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech
+towards a man like Owain.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;By the hand of my friend, good Lady,&rdquo; said Kai,
+&ldquo;thy praise of Owain is not greater than mine.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping
+a little.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, Lord,&rdquo; answered Owain, &ldquo;thou hast
+slept awhile.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is it time for us to go to meat?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It is, Lord,&rdquo; said Owain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and all
+his household sat down to eat. And when the meal was ended,
+Owain withdrew to his lodging, and made ready his horse and his
+arms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his armour, and
+mounted his charger, and travelled through distant lands and over
+desert mountains. And at length he arrived at the valley
+which Kynon had described to him; and he was certain that it was
+the same that he sought. And journeying along the valley by
+the side of the river, he followed its course till he came to the
+plain and within sight of the Castle. When he approached
+the Castle, he saw the youths shooting their daggers in the place
+where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow man, to whom the Castle
+belonged, standing hard by. And no sooner had Owain saluted
+the yellow man than he was saluted by him in return.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the
+chamber, and when he had entered the chamber he beheld the
+maidens working at satin embroidery, in chairs of gold. And
+their beauty and their comeliness seemed to Owain far greater
+than Kynon had represented to him. And they rose to wait
+upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon, and the meal which they
+set before him gave more satisfaction to Owain than it had done
+to Kynon.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the
+object of his journey. And Owain made it known to him, and
+said, &ldquo;I am in quest of the Knight who guards the
+fountain.&rdquo; Upon this the yellow man smiled, and said
+that he was as loth to point out that adventure to Owain as he
+had been to Kynon. However, he described the whole to
+Owain, and they retired to rest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by
+the damsels, and he set forward and came to the glade where the
+black man was. And the stature of the black man seemed more
+wonderful to Owain than it had done to Kynon, and Owain asked of
+him his road, and he showed it to him. And Owain followed
+the road, as Kynon had done, till he came to the green tree; and
+he beheld the fountain, and the slab beside the fountain, with
+the bowl upon it. And Owain took the bowl, and threw a
+bowlful of water upon the slab. And, lo, the thunder was
+heard, and after the thunder came the shower, much more violent
+than Kynon had described, and after the shower the sky became
+bright. And when Owain looked at the tree, there was not
+one leaf upon it. And immediately the birds came, and
+settled upon the tree, and sang. And when their song was
+most pleasing to Owain, he beheld a Knight coming towards him
+through the valley, and he prepared to receive him; and
+encountered him violently. Having broken both their lances,
+they drew their swords, and fought blade to blade. Then
+Owain struck the Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and
+visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until
+it wounded the very brain. Then the black Knight felt that
+he had received a mortal wound, upon which he turned his
+horse&rsquo;s head, and fled. And Owain pursued him, and
+followed close upon him, although he was not near enough to
+strike him with his sword. Thereupon Owain descried a vast
+and resplendent Castle. And they came to the Castle
+gate. And the black Knight was allowed to enter, and the
+portcullis was let fall upon Owain; and it struck his horse
+behind the saddle, and cut him in two, and carried away the
+rowels of the spurs that were upon Owain&rsquo;s heels. And
+the portcullis descended to the floor. And the rowels of
+the spurs and part of the horse were without, and Owain with the
+other part of the horse remained between the two gates, and the
+inner gate was closed, so that Owain could not go thence; and
+Owain was in a perplexing situation. And while he was in
+this state, he could see through an aperture in the gate, a
+street facing him, with a row of houses on each side. And
+he beheld a maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet of
+gold upon her head; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin,
+and on her feet were shoes of variegated leather. And she
+approached the gate, and desired that it should be opened.
+&ldquo;Heaven knows, Lady,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;it is no
+more possible for me to open to thee from hence, than it is for
+thee to set me free.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said the
+damsel, &ldquo;it is very sad that thou canst not be released,
+and every woman ought to succour thee, for I never saw one more
+faithful in the service of ladies than thou. As a friend
+thou art the most sincere, and as a lover the most devoted.
+Therefore,&rdquo; quoth she, &ldquo;whatever is in my power to do
+for thy release, I will do it. Take this ring and put it on
+thy finger, with the stone inside thy hand; and close thy hand
+upon the stone. And as long as thou concealest it, it will
+conceal thee. When they have consulted together, they will
+come forth to fetch thee, in order to put thee to death; and they
+will be much grieved that they cannot find thee. And I will
+await thee on the horseblock yonder; and thou wilt be able to see
+me, though I cannot see thee; therefore come and place thy hand
+upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou art near me.
+And by the way that I go hence, do thou accompany me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden
+had told him. And the people of the Castle came to seek
+Owain, to put him to death, and when they found nothing but the
+half of his horse, they were sorely grieved.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden,
+and placed his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and
+Owain followed her, until they came to the door of a large and
+beautiful chamber, and the maiden opened it, and they went in,
+and closed the door. And Owain looked around the chamber,
+and behold there was not even a single nail in it that was not
+painted with gorgeous colours; and there was not a single panel
+that had not sundry images in gold portrayed upon it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl,
+and put a towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain
+water to wash. Then she placed before him a silver table,
+inlaid with gold; upon which was a cloth of yellow linen; and she
+brought him food. And of a truth, Owain had never seen any
+kind of meat that was not there in abundance, but it was better
+cooked there than he had ever found it in any other place.
+Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of meat and drink, as
+there. And there was not one vessel from which he was
+served, that was not of gold or of silver. And Owain ate
+and drank, until late in the afternoon, when lo, they heard a
+mighty clamour in the Castle; and Owain asked the maiden what
+that outcry was. &ldquo;They are administering extreme
+unction,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to the Nobleman who owns the
+Castle.&rdquo; And Owain went to sleep.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was meet for
+Arthur himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and satin, and
+sendal, and fine linen. In the middle of the night they
+heard a woful outcry. &ldquo;What outcry again is
+this?&rdquo; said Owain. &ldquo;The Nobleman who owned the
+Castle is now dead,&rdquo; said the maiden. And a little
+after daybreak, they heard an exceeding loud clamour and
+wailing. And Owain asked the maiden what was the cause of
+it. &ldquo;They are bearing to the church the body of the
+Nobleman who owned the Castle.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of
+the chamber, and looked towards the Castle; and he could see
+neither the bounds, nor the extent of the hosts that filled the
+streets. And they were fully armed; and a vast number of
+women were with them, both on horseback and on foot; and all the
+ecclesiastics in the city, singing. And it seemed to Owain
+that the sky resounded with the vehemence of their cries, and
+with the noise of the trumpets, and with the singing of the
+ecclesiastics. In the midst of the throng, he beheld the
+bier, over which was a veil of white linen; and wax tapers were
+burning beside and around it, and none that supported the bier
+was lower in rank than a powerful Baron.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with satin, and
+silk, and sendal. And following the train, he beheld a lady
+with yellow hair falling over her shoulders, and stained with
+blood; and about her a dress of yellow satin, which was
+torn. Upon her feet were shoes of variegated leather.
+And it was a marvel that the ends of her fingers were not
+bruised, from the violence with which she smote her hands
+together. Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain
+ever saw, had she been in her usual guise. And her cry was
+louder than the shout of the men, or the clamour of the
+trumpets. No sooner had he beheld the lady, than he became
+inflamed with her love, so that it took entire possession of
+him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was.
+&ldquo;Heaven knows,&rdquo; replied the maiden, &ldquo;she may be
+said to be the fairest, and the most chaste, and the most
+liberal, and the wisest, and the most noble of women. And
+she is my mistress; and she is called the Countess of the
+Fountain, the wife of him whom thou didst slay
+yesterday.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Owain,
+&ldquo;she is the woman that I love best.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;she shall also love
+thee not a little.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a
+pot with water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of
+white linen, and placed it around Owain&rsquo;s neck; and she
+took a goblet of ivory, and a silver basin, and filled them with
+warm water, wherewith she washed Owain&rsquo;s head. Then
+she opened a wooden casket, and drew forth a razor, whose haft
+was of ivory, and upon which were two rivets of gold. And
+she shaved his beard, and she dried his head, and his throat,
+with the towel. Then she rose up from before Owain, and
+brought him to eat. And truly Owain had never so good a
+meal, nor was he ever so well served.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his
+couch. &ldquo;Come here,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and sleep,
+and I will go and woo for thee.&rdquo; And Owain went to
+sleep, and the maiden shut the door of the chamber after her, and
+went towards the Castle. When she came there, she found
+nothing but mourning, and sorrow; and the Countess in her chamber
+could not bear the sight of any one through grief. Luned
+came and saluted her, but the Countess answered her not.
+And the maiden bent down towards her, and said, &ldquo;What
+aileth thee, that thou answerest no one to-day?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Luned,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;what change hath
+befallen thee, that thou hast not come to visit me in my
+grief? It was wrong in thee, and I having made thee rich;
+it was wrong in thee that thou didst not come to see me in my
+distress. That was wrong in thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Luned, &ldquo;I thought thy good sense
+was greater than I find it to be. Is it well for thee to
+mourn after that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst
+not have?&rdquo; &ldquo;I declare to heaven,&rdquo; said
+the Countess, &ldquo;that in the whole world there is not a man
+equal to him.&rdquo; &ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; said Luned,
+&ldquo;for an ugly man would be as good as, or better than
+he.&rdquo; &ldquo;I declare to heaven,&rdquo; said the
+Countess, &ldquo;that were it not repugnant to me to cause to be
+put to death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee
+executed, for making such a comparison to me. As it is, I
+will banish thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;I am glad,&rdquo; said
+Luned, &ldquo;that thou hast no other cause to do so, than that I
+would have been of service to thee where thou didst not know what
+was to thine advantage. And henceforth evil betide
+whichever of us shall make the first advance towards
+reconciliation to the other; whether I should seek an invitation
+from thee, or thou of thine own accord shouldst send to invite
+me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With that Luned went forth: and the Countess arose and
+followed her to the door of the chamber, and began coughing
+loudly. And when Luned looked back, the Countess beckoned
+to her; and she returned to the Countess. &ldquo;In
+truth,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;evil is thy disposition;
+but if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it to
+me.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; quoth she.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is
+impossible for thee to preserve thy possessions; delay not,
+therefore, to seek some one who can defend them.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;And how can I do that?&rdquo; said the Countess.
+&ldquo;I will tell thee,&rdquo; said Luned. &ldquo;Unless
+thou canst defend the fountain, thou canst not maintain thy
+dominions; and no one can defend the fountain, except it be a
+knight of Arthur&rsquo;s household; and I will go to
+Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and ill betide me, if I return thence
+without a warrior who can guard the fountain as well as, or even
+better than, he who defended it formerly.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;That will be hard to perform,&rdquo; said the
+Countess. &ldquo;Go, however, and make proof of that which
+thou hast promised.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court; but she went back to the chamber where she had left Owain;
+and she tarried there with him as long as it might have taken her
+to have travelled to the Court of King Arthur. And at the
+end of that time, she apparelled herself and went to visit the
+Countess. And the Countess was much rejoiced when she saw
+her, and inquired what news she brought from the Court.
+&ldquo;I bring thee the best of news,&rdquo; said Luned,
+&ldquo;for I have compassed the object of my mission. When
+wilt thou, that I should present to thee the chieftain who has
+come with me hither?&rdquo; &ldquo;Bring him here to visit
+me to-morrow, at mid-day,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;and I
+will cause the town to be assembled by that time.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Luned returned home. And the next day, at noon,
+Owain arrayed himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of
+yellow satin, upon which was a broad band of gold lace; and on
+his feet were high shoes of variegated leather, which were
+fastened by golden clasps, in the form of lions. And they
+proceeded to the chamber of the Countess.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Right glad was the Countess of their coming, and she gazed
+steadfastly upon Owain, and said, &ldquo;Luned, this knight has
+not the look of a traveller.&rdquo; &ldquo;What harm is
+there in that, lady?&rdquo; said Luned. &ldquo;I am
+certain,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;that no other man than
+this chased the soul from the body of my lord.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;So much the better for thee, lady,&rdquo; said Luned,
+&ldquo;for had he not been stronger than thy lord he could not
+have deprived him of life. There is no remedy for that
+which is past, be it as it may.&rdquo; &ldquo;Go back to
+thine abode,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;and I will take
+counsel.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble,
+and showed them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that
+it could not be protected but with horse and arms, and military
+skill. &ldquo;Therefore,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;this is
+what I offer for your choice: either let one of you take me, or
+give your consent for me to take a husband from elsewhere to
+defend my dominions.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they came to the determination that it was better that she
+should have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and,
+thereupon, she sent for the bishops and archbishops to celebrate
+her nuptials with Owain. And the men of the earldom did
+Owain homage.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword.
+And this is the manner in which he defended it: Whensoever a
+knight came there he overthrew him, and sold him for his full
+worth, and what he thus gained he divided among his barons and
+his knights; and no man in the whole world could be more beloved
+than he was by his subjects. And it was thus for the space
+of three years.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King
+Arthur, he perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And
+Gwalchmai was much grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he
+questioned him, saying, &ldquo;Oh, my lord! what has befallen
+thee?&rdquo; &ldquo;In sooth, Gwalchmai,&rdquo; said
+Arthur, &ldquo;I am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost
+these three years, and I shall certainly die if the fourth year
+passes without my seeing him. Now I am sure, that it is
+through the tale which Kynon the son of Clydno related, that I
+have lost Owain.&rdquo; &ldquo;There is no need for
+thee,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;to summon to arms thy whole
+dominions on this account, for thou thyself and the men of thy
+household will be able to avenge Owain, if he be slain; or to set
+him free, if he be in prison; and, if alive, to bring him back
+with thee.&rdquo; And it was settled according to what
+Gwalchmai had said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and
+seek Owain, and their number was three thousand, besides their
+attendants. And Kynon the son of Clydno acted as their
+guide. And Arthur came to the Castle where Kynon had been
+before, and when he came there the youths were shooting in the
+same place, and the yellow man was standing hard by. When
+the yellow man saw Arthur he greeted him, and invited him to the
+Castle; and Arthur accepted his invitation, and they entered the
+Castle together. And great as was the number of his
+retinue, their presence was scarcely observed in the Castle, so
+vast was its extent. And the maidens rose up to wait on
+them, and the service of the maidens appeared to them all to
+excel any attendance they had ever met with; and even the pages
+who had charge of the horses were no worse served, that night,
+than Arthur himself would have been in his own palace.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his
+guide, and came to the place where the black man was. And
+the stature of the black man was more surprising to Arthur than
+it had been represented to him. And they came to the top of
+the wooded steep, and traversed the valley till they reached the
+green tree, where they saw the fountain, and the bowl, and the
+slab. And upon that, Kai came to Arthur and spoke to
+him. &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I know the
+meaning of all this, and my request is, that thou wilt permit me
+to throw the water on the slab, and to receive the first
+adventure that may befall.&rdquo; And Arthur gave him
+leave.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and
+immediately there came the thunder, and after the thunder the
+shower. And such a thunderstorm they had never known
+before, and many of the attendants who were in Arthur&rsquo;s
+train were killed by the shower. After the shower had
+ceased the sky became clear; and on looking at the tree they
+beheld it completely leafless. Then the birds descended
+upon the tree, and the song of the birds was far sweeter than any
+strain they had ever heard before. Then they beheld a
+knight on a coal-black horse, clothed in black satin, coming
+rapidly towards them. And Kai met him and encountered him,
+and it was not long before Kai was overthrown. And the
+knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host encamped for the
+night.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal
+of combat upon the lance of the Knight. And Kai came to
+Arthur, and spoke to him: &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;though I was overthrown yesterday, if it seem good to
+thee, I would gladly meet the Knight again to-day.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Thou mayst do so,&rdquo; said Arthur. And Kai went
+towards the Knight. And on the spot he overthrew Kai, and
+struck him with the head of his lance in the forehead, so that it
+broke his helmet and the head-piece, and pierced the skin and the
+flesh, the breadth of the spear-head, even to the bone. And
+Kai returned to his companions.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after
+the other, to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was
+not overthrown by him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai. And
+Arthur armed himself to encounter the Knight. &ldquo;Oh, my
+lord,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;permit me to fight with him
+first.&rdquo; And Arthur permitted him. And he went
+forth to meet the Knight, having over himself and his horse a
+satin robe of honour which had been sent him by the daughter of
+the Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was not known by any of
+the host. And they charged each other, and fought all that
+day until the evening, and neither of them was able to unhorse
+the other.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither of
+them could obtain the mastery.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the third day they fought with exceeding strong
+lances. And they were incensed with rage, and fought
+furiously, even until noon. And they gave each other such a
+shock that the girths of their horses were broken, so that they
+fell over their horses&rsquo; cruppers to the ground. And
+they rose up speedily, and drew their swords, and resumed the
+combat; and the multitude that witnessed their encounter felt
+assured that they had never before seen two men so valiant or so
+powerful. And had it been midnight, it would have been
+light from the fire that flashed from their weapons. And
+the Knight gave Gwalchmai a blow that turned his helmet from off
+his face, so that the Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai.
+Then Owain said, &ldquo;My lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee
+for my cousin, owing to the robe of honour that enveloped thee;
+take my sword and my arms.&rdquo; Said Gwalchmai,
+&ldquo;Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my
+sword.&rdquo; And with that Arthur saw that they were
+conversing, and advanced towards them. &ldquo;My lord
+Arthur,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;here is Owain, who has
+vanquished me, and will not take my arms.&rdquo; &ldquo;My
+lord,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;it is he that has vanquished me,
+and he will not take my sword.&rdquo; &ldquo;Give me your
+swords,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;and then neither of you has
+vanquished the other.&rdquo; Then Owain put his arms around
+Arthur&rsquo;s neck, and they embraced. And all the host
+hurried forward to see Owain, and to embrace him; and there was
+nigh being a loss of life, so great was the press.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared
+to depart. &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;this
+is not well of thee; for I have been absent from thee these three
+years, and during all that time, up to this very day, I have been
+preparing a banquet for thee, knowing that thou wouldst come to
+seek me. Tarry with me, therefore, until thou and thy
+attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey, and have
+been anointed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the
+Fountain, and the banquet which had been three years preparing
+was consumed in three months. Never had they a more
+delicious or agreeable banquet. And Arthur prepared to
+depart. Then he sent an embassy to the Countess, to beseech
+her to permit Owain to go with him for the space of three months,
+that he might show him to the nobles and the fair dames of the
+Island of Britain. And the Countess gave her consent,
+although it was very painful to her. So Owain came with
+Arthur to the Island of Britain. And when he was once more
+amongst his kindred and friends, he remained three years, instead
+of three months, with them.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon
+upon Usk, behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a
+curling mane and covered with foam, and the bridle and so much as
+was seen of the saddle were of gold. And the damsel was
+arrayed in a dress of yellow satin. And she came up to
+Owain, and took the ring from off his hand.
+&ldquo;Thus,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;shall be treated the
+deceiver, the traitor, the faithless, the disgraced, and the
+beardless.&rdquo; And she turned her horse&rsquo;s head and
+departed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then his adventure came to Owain&rsquo;s remembrance, and he
+was sorrowful; and having finished eating he went to his own
+abode and made preparations that night. And the next day he
+arose but did not go to the Court, but wandered to the distant
+parts of the earth and to uncultivated mountains. And he
+remained there until all his apparel was worn out, and his body
+was wasted away, and his hair was grown long. And he went
+about with the wild beasts and fed with them, until they became
+familiar with him; but at length he grew so weak that he could no
+longer bear them company. Then he descended from the
+mountains to the valley, and came to a park that was the fairest
+in the world, and belonged to a widowed Countess.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a
+lake, that was in the middle of the park. And they saw the
+form of a man. And they were terrified. Nevertheless
+they went near him, and touched him, and looked at him. And
+they saw that there was life in him, though he was exhausted by
+the heat of the sun. And the Countess returned to the
+Castle, and took a flask full of precious ointment, and gave it
+to one of her maidens. &ldquo;Go with this,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;and take with thee yonder horse and clothing, and
+place them near the man we saw just now. And anoint him
+with this balsam, near his heart; and if there is life in him, he
+will arise through the efficacy of this balsam. Then watch
+what he will do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the
+balsam upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by,
+and went a little way off, and hid herself to watch him. In
+a short time she saw him begin to move his arms; and he rose up,
+and looked at his person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness
+of his appearance. Then he perceived the horse and the
+garments that were near him. And he crept forward till he
+was able to draw the garments to him from off the saddle.
+And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted the
+horse. Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and
+saluted him. And he was rejoiced when he saw her, and
+inquired of her, what land and what territory that was.
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;a widowed Countess
+owns yonder Castle; at the death of her husband, he left her two
+Earldoms, but at this day she has but this one dwelling that has
+not been wrested from her by a young Earl, who is her neighbour,
+because she refused to become his wife.&rdquo; &ldquo;That
+is pity,&rdquo; said Owain. And he and the maiden proceeded
+to the Castle; and he alighted there, and the maiden conducted
+him to a pleasant chamber, and kindled a fire and left him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into
+her hand. &ldquo;Ha! maiden,&rdquo; said the Countess,
+&ldquo;where is all the balsam?&rdquo; &ldquo;Have I not
+used it all?&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;Oh, maiden,&rdquo;
+said the Countess, &ldquo;I cannot easily forgive thee this; it
+is sad for me to have wasted seven-score pounds&rsquo; worth of
+precious ointment upon a stranger whom I know not. However,
+maiden, wait thou upon him, until he is quite
+recovered.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink,
+and fire, and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well
+again. And in three months he was restored to his former
+guise, and became even more comely than he had ever been
+before.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the
+Castle, and he inquired of the maiden the cause thereof.
+&ldquo;The Earl,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;whom I mentioned to
+thee, has come before the Castle, with a numerous army, to subdue
+the Countess.&rdquo; And Owain inquired of her whether the
+Countess had a horse and arms in her possession. &ldquo;She
+has the best in the world,&rdquo; said the maiden.
+&ldquo;Wilt thou go and request the loan of a horse and arms for
+me,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;that I may go and look at this
+army?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will,&rdquo; said the maiden.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And she came to the Countess, and told her what Owain had
+said. And the Countess laughed. &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;I will even give him a horse and arms for ever;
+such a horse and such arms had he never yet, and I am glad that
+they should be taken by him to-day, lest my enemies should have
+them against my will to-morrow. Yet I know not what he
+would do with them.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon
+which was a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and
+horse. And Owain armed himself, and mounted the horse, and
+went forth, attended by two pages completely equipped, with
+horses and arms. And when they came near to the
+Earl&rsquo;s army, they could see neither its extent nor its
+extremity. And Owain asked the pages in which troop the
+Earl was. &ldquo;In yonder troop,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;in which are four yellow standards. Two of them are
+before, and two behind him.&rdquo; &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said
+Owain, &ldquo;do you return and await me near the portal of the
+Castle.&rdquo; So they returned, and Owain pressed forward
+until he met the Earl. And Owain drew him completely out of
+his saddle, and turned his horse&rsquo;s head towards the Castle,
+and though it was with difficulty, he brought the Earl to the
+portal, where the pages awaited him. And in they
+came. And Owain presented the Earl as a gift to the
+Countess. And said to her, &ldquo;Behold a requital to thee
+for thy blessed balsam.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The army encamped around the Castle. And the Earl
+restored to the Countess the two Earldoms he had taken from her,
+as a ransom for his life; and for his freedom he gave her the
+half of his own dominions, and all his gold, and his silver, and
+his jewels, besides hostages.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Owain took his departure. And the Countess and all
+her subjects besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather to
+wander through distant lands and deserts.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood.
+And it was repeated a second and a third time. And Owain
+went towards the spot, and beheld a huge craggy mound, in the
+middle of the wood; on the side of which was a grey rock.
+And there was a cleft in the rock, and a serpent was within the
+cleft. And near the rock stood a black lion, and every time
+the lion sought to go thence, the serpent darted towards him to
+attack him. And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew near
+to the rock; and as the serpent sprang out, he struck him with
+his sword, and cut him in two. And he dried his sword, and
+went on his way, as before. But behold the lion followed
+him, and played about him, as though it had been a greyhound that
+he had reared.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the
+evening. And when it was time for Owain to take his rest,
+he dismounted, and turned his horse loose in a flat and wooded
+meadow. And he struck fire, and when the fire was kindled,
+the lion brought him fuel enough to last for three nights.
+And the lion disappeared. And presently the lion returned,
+bearing a fine large roebuck. And he threw it down before
+Owain, who went towards the fire with it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops
+of its flesh upon skewers, around the fire. The rest of the
+buck he gave to the lion to devour. While he was doing
+this, he heard a deep sigh near him, and a second, and a
+third. And Owain called out to know whether the sigh he
+heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received answer that it
+did. &ldquo;Who art thou?&rdquo; said Owain.
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said the voice, &ldquo;I am Luned, the
+handmaiden of the Countess of the Fountain.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;And what dost thou here?&rdquo; said Owain. &ldquo;I
+am imprisoned,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;on account of the knight
+who came from Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and married the
+Countess. And he stayed a short time with her, but he
+afterwards departed for the Court of Arthur, and has not returned
+since. And he was the friend I loved best in the
+world. And two of the pages in the Countess&rsquo;s chamber
+traduced him, and called him a deceiver. And I told them
+that they two were not a match for him alone. So they
+imprisoned me in the stone vault, and said that I should be put
+to death, unless he came himself to deliver me, by a certain day;
+and that is no further off than the day after to-morrow.
+And I have no one to send to seek him for me. And his name
+is Owain the son of Urien.&rdquo; &ldquo;And art thou
+certain that if that knight knew all this, he would come to thy
+rescue?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am most certain of it,&rdquo; said
+she.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two
+parts, between himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten,
+they talked together, until the day dawned. And the next
+morning Owain inquired of the damsel, if there was any place
+where he could get food and entertainment for that night.
+&ldquo;There is, Lord,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;cross over yonder,
+and go along the side of the river, and in a short time thou wilt
+see a great Castle, in which are many towers, and the Earl who
+owns that Castle is the most hospitable man in the world.
+There thou mayst spend the night.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the
+lion that night over Owain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford,
+and came in sight of the Castle. And he entered it, and was
+honourably received. And his horse was well cared for, and
+plenty of fodder was placed before him. Then the lion went
+and lay down in the horse&rsquo;s manger; so that none of the
+people of the Castle dared to approach him. The treatment
+which Owain met with there was such as he had never known
+elsewhere, for every one was as sorrowful as though death had
+been upon him. And they went to meat; and the Earl sat upon
+one side of Owain, and on the other side his only daughter.
+And Owain had never seen any more lovely than she. Then the
+lion came and placed himself between Owain&rsquo;s feet, and he
+fed him with every kind of food that he took himself. And
+he never saw anything equal to the sadness of the people.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In the middle of the repast the Earl began to bid Owain
+welcome. &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;behold, it
+is time for thee to be cheerful.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven
+knows,&rdquo; said the Earl, &ldquo;that it is not thy coming
+that makes us sorrowful, but we have cause enough for sadness and
+care.&rdquo; &ldquo;What is that?&rdquo; said Owain.
+&ldquo;I have two sons,&rdquo; replied the Earl, &ldquo;and
+yesterday they went to the mountains to hunt. Now there is
+on the mountain a monster who kills men and devours them, and he
+seized my sons; and to-morrow is the time he has fixed to be
+here, and he threatens that he will then slay my sons before my
+eyes, unless I will deliver into his hands this my
+daughter. He has the form of a man, but in stature he is no
+less than a giant.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;that is
+lamentable. And which wilt thou do?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Heaven knows,&rdquo; said the Earl, &ldquo;it will be
+better that my sons should be slain against my will, than that I
+should voluntarily give up my daughter to him to ill-treat and
+destroy.&rdquo; Then they talked about other things, and
+Owain stayed there that night.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next morning they heard an exceeding great clamour, which
+was caused by the coming of the giant with the two youths.
+And the Earl was anxious both to protect his Castle and to
+release his two sons. Then Owain put on his armour and went
+forth to encounter the giant, and the lion followed him.
+And when the giant saw that Owain was armed, he rushed towards
+him and attacked him. And the lion fought with the giant
+much more fiercely than Owain did. &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said the giant, &ldquo;I should find no difficulty in fighting
+with thee, were it not for the animal that is with
+thee.&rdquo; Upon that Owain took the lion back to the
+Castle and shut the gate upon him, and then he returned to fight
+the giant, as before. And the lion roared very loud, for he
+heard that it went hard with Owain. And he climbed up till
+he reached the top of the Earl&rsquo;s hall, and thence he got to
+the top of the Castle, and he sprang down from the walls and went
+and joined Owain. And the lion gave the giant a stroke with
+his paw, which tore him from his shoulder to his hip, and his
+heart was laid bare, and the giant fell down dead. Then
+Owain restored the two youths to their father.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The Earl besought Owain to remain with him, and he would not,
+but set forward towards the meadow where Luned was. And
+when he came there he saw a great fire kindled, and two youths
+with beautiful curling auburn hair were leading the maiden to
+cast her into the fire. And Owain asked them what charge
+they had against her. And they told him of the compact that
+was between them, as the maiden had done the night before.
+&ldquo;And,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;Owain has failed her,
+therefore we are taking her to be burnt.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;he is a good knight, and
+if he knew that the maiden was in such peril, I marvel that he
+came not to her rescue; but if you will accept me in his stead, I
+will do battle with you.&rdquo; &ldquo;We will,&rdquo; said
+the youths, &ldquo;by him who made us.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them.
+And with that the lion came to Owain&rsquo;s assistance, and they
+two got the better of the young men. And they said to him,
+&ldquo;Chieftain, it was not agreed that we should fight save
+with thyself alone, and it is harder for us to contend with
+yonder animal than with thee.&rdquo; And Owain put the lion
+in the place where the maiden had been imprisoned, and blocked up
+the door with stones, and he went to fight with the young men, as
+before. But Owain had not his usual strength, and the two
+youths pressed hard upon him. And the lion roared
+incessantly at seeing Owain in trouble; and he burst through the
+wall until he found a way out, and rushed upon the young men, and
+instantly slew them. So Luned was saved from being
+burned.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the
+Countess of the Fountain. And when he went thence he took
+the Countess with him to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and she was his
+wife as long as she lived.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+And then he took the road that led to the Court of the savage
+black man, and Owain fought with him, and the lion did not quit
+Owain until he had vanquished him. And when he reached the
+Court of the savage black man he entered the hall, and beheld
+four-and-twenty ladies, the fairest that could be seen. And
+the garments which they had on were not worth four-and-twenty
+pence, and they were as sorrowful as death. And Owain asked
+them the cause of their sadness. And they said, &ldquo;We
+are the daughters of Earls, and we all came here with our
+husbands, whom we dearly loved. And we were received with
+honour and rejoicing. And we were thrown into a state of
+stupor, and while we were thus, the demon who owns this Castle
+slew all our husbands, and took from us our horses, and our
+raiment, and our gold, and our silver; and the corpses of our
+husbands are still in this house, and many others with
+them. And this, Chieftain, is the cause of our grief, and
+we are sorry that thou art come hither, lest harm should befall
+thee.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Owain was grieved when he heard this. And he went
+forth from the Castle, and he beheld a knight approaching him,
+who saluted him in a friendly and cheerful manner, as if he had
+been a brother. And this was the savage black man.
+&ldquo;In very sooth,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;it is not to seek
+thy friendship that I am here.&rdquo; &ldquo;In
+sooth,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou shalt not find it
+then.&rdquo; And with that they charged each other, and
+fought furiously. And Owain overcame him, and bound his
+hands behind his back. Then the black savage besought Owain
+to spare his life, and spoke thus: &ldquo;My lord Owain,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;it was foretold that thou shouldst come hither
+and vanquish me, and thou hast done so. I was a robber
+here, and my house was a house of spoil; but grant me my life,
+and I will become the keeper of an Hospice, and I will maintain
+this house as an Hospice for weak and for strong, as long as I
+live, for the good of thy soul.&rdquo; And Owain accepted
+this proposal of him, and remained there that night.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day he took the four-and-twenty ladies, and their
+horses, and their raiment, and what they possessed of goods and
+jewels, and proceeded with them to Arthur&rsquo;s Court.
+And if Arthur was rejoiced when he saw him, after he had lost him
+the first time, his joy was now much greater. And of those
+ladies, such as wished to remain in Arthur&rsquo;s Court remained
+there, and such as wished to depart departed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur&rsquo;s Court greatly
+beloved, as the head of his household, until he went away with
+his followers; and those were the army of three hundred ravens
+which Kenverchyn had left him. And wherever Owain went with
+these he was victorious.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And this is the tale of THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap03"></a>PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC</h2>
+
+<p>
+Earl Evrawc owned the Earldom of the North. And he had seven sons. And Evrawc
+maintained himself not so much by his own possessions as by attending
+tournaments, and wars, and combats. And, as it often befalls those who join in
+encounters and wars, he was slain, and six of his sons likewise. Now the name
+of his seventh son was Peredur, and he was the youngest of them. And he was not
+of an age to go to wars and encounters, otherwise he might have been slain as
+well as his father and brothers. His mother was a scheming and thoughtful
+woman, and she was very solicitous concerning this her only son and his
+possessions. So she took counsel with herself to leave the inhabited country,
+and to flee to the deserts and unfrequented wildernesses. And she permitted
+none to bear her company thither but women and boys, and spiritless men, who
+were both unaccustomed and unequal to war and fighting. And none dared to bring
+either horses or arms where her son was, lest he should set his mind upon them.
+And the youth went daily to divert himself in the forest, by flinging sticks
+and staves. And one day he saw his mother&rsquo;s flock of goats, and near the
+goats two hinds were standing. And he marvelled greatly that these two should
+be without horns, while the others had them. And he thought they had long run
+wild, and on that account they had lost their horns. And by activity and
+swiftness of foot, he drove the hinds and the goats together into the house
+which there was for the goats at the extremity of the forest. Then Peredur
+returned to his mother. &ldquo;Ah, mother,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;a marvellous
+thing have I seen in the wood; two of thy goats have run wild, and lost their
+horns, through their having been so long missing in the wood. And no man had
+ever more trouble than I had to drive them in.&rdquo; Then they all arose and
+went to see. And when they beheld the hinds they were greatly astonished.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And one day they saw three knights coming along the horse-road
+on the borders of the forest. And the three knights were
+Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and Owain the son
+of Urien. And Owain kept on the track of the knight who had
+divided the apples in Arthur&rsquo;s Court, whom they were in
+pursuit of. &ldquo;Mother,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;what
+are those yonder?&rdquo; &ldquo;They are angels, my
+son,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;I will go and become an angel with
+them.&rdquo; And Peredur went to the road, and met
+them. &ldquo;Tell me, good soul,&rdquo; said Owain,
+&ldquo;sawest thou a knight pass this way, either to-day or
+yesterday?&rdquo; &ldquo;I know not,&rdquo; answered he,
+&ldquo;what a knight is.&rdquo; &ldquo;Such an one as I
+am,&rdquo; said Owain. &ldquo;If thou wilt tell me what I
+ask thee, I will tell thee that which thou askest
+me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Gladly will I do so,&rdquo; replied
+Owain. &ldquo;What is this?&rdquo; demanded Peredur,
+concerning the saddle. &ldquo;It is a saddle,&rdquo; said
+Owain. Then he asked about all the accoutrements which he
+saw upon the men, and the horses, and the arms, and what they
+were for, and how they were used. And Owain shewed him all
+these things fully, and told him what use was made of them.
+&ldquo;Go forward,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;for I saw such an
+one as thou inquirest for, and I will follow thee.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Peredur returned to his mother and her company, and he
+said to her, &ldquo;Mother, those were not angels, but honourable
+knights.&rdquo; Then his mother swooned away. And
+Peredur went to the place where they kept the horses that carried
+firewood, and that brought meat and drink from the inhabited
+country to the desert. And he took a bony piebald horse,
+which seemed to him the strongest of them. And he pressed a
+pack into the form of a saddle, and with twisted twigs he
+imitated the trappings which he had seen upon the horses.
+And when Peredur came again to his mother, the Countess had
+recovered from her swoon. &ldquo;My son,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;desirest thou to ride forth?&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes, with
+thy leave,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Wait, then, that I may
+counsel thee before thou goest.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Willingly,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;speak
+quickly.&rdquo; &ldquo;Go forward, then,&rdquo; she said,
+&ldquo;to the Court of Arthur, where there are the best, and the
+boldest, and the most bountiful of men. And wherever thou
+seest a church, repeat there thy Paternoster unto it. And
+if thou see meat and drink, and have need of them, and none have
+the kindness or the courtesy to give them to thee, take them
+thyself. If thou hear an outcry, proceed towards it,
+especially if it be the outcry of a woman. If thou see a
+fair jewel, possess thyself of it, and give it to another, for
+thus thou shalt obtain praise. If thou see a fair woman,
+pay thy court to her, whether she will or no; for thus thou wilt
+render thyself a better and more esteemed man than thou wast
+before.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and taking a
+handful of sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he rode forth.
+And he journeyed two days and two nights in the woody
+wildernesses, and in desert places, without food and without
+drink. And then he came to a vast wild wood, and far within
+the wood he saw a fair even glade, and in the glade he saw a
+tent, and the tent seeming to him to be a church, he repeated his
+Paternoster to it. And he went towards it, and the door of
+the tent was open. And a golden chair was near the
+door. And on the chair sat a lovely auburn-haired maiden,
+with a golden frontlet on her forehead, and sparkling stones in
+the frontlet, and with a large gold ring on her hand. And
+Peredur dismounted, and entered the tent. And the maiden
+was glad at his coming, and bade him welcome. At the
+entrance of the tent he saw food, and two flasks full of wine,
+and two loaves of fine wheaten flour, and collops of the flesh of
+the wild boar. &ldquo;My mother told me,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;wheresoever I saw meat and drink, to take
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;Take the meat and welcome,
+chieftain,&rdquo; said she. So Peredur took half of the
+meat and of the liquor himself, and left the rest to the
+maiden. And when Peredur had finished eating, he bent upon
+his knee before the maiden. &ldquo;My mother,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;told me, wheresoever I saw a fair jewel, to take
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;Do so, my soul,&rdquo; said she. So
+Peredur took the ring. And he mounted his horse, and
+proceeded on his journey.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After this, behold the knight came to whom the tent belonged;
+and he was the Lord of the Glade. And he saw the track of
+the horse, and he said to the maiden, &ldquo;Tell me who has been
+here since I departed.&rdquo; &ldquo;A man,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;of wonderful demeanour.&rdquo; And she
+described to him what Peredur&rsquo;s appearance and conduct had
+been. &ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;did he offer
+thee any wrong?&rdquo; &ldquo;No,&rdquo; answered the
+maiden, &ldquo;by my faith, he harmed me not.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;By my faith, I do not believe thee; and until I can meet
+with him, and revenge the insult he has done me, and wreak my
+vengeance upon him, thou shalt not remain two nights in the same
+house.&rdquo; And the knight arose, and set forth to seek
+Peredur.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Meanwhile Peredur journeyed on towards Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court. And before he reached it, another knight had been
+there, who gave a ring of thick gold at the door of the gate for
+holding his horse, and went into the Hall where Arthur and his
+household, and Gwenhwyvar and her maidens, were assembled.
+And the page of the chamber was serving Gwenhwyvar with a golden
+goblet. Then the knight dashed the liquor that was therein
+upon her face, and upon her stomacher, and gave her a violent
+blow on the face, and said, &ldquo;If any have the boldness to
+dispute this goblet with me, and to revenge the insult to
+Gwenhwyvar, let him follow me to the meadow, and there I will
+await him.&rdquo; So the knight took his horse, and rode to
+the meadow. And all the household hung down their heads,
+lest any of them should be requested to go and avenge the insult
+to Gwenhwyvar. For it seemed to them, that no one would
+have ventured on so daring an outrage, unless he possessed such
+powers, through magic or charms, that none could be able to take
+vengeance upon him. Then, behold, Peredur entered the Hall,
+upon the bony piebald horse, with the uncouth trappings upon it;
+and in this way he traversed the whole length of the Hall.
+In the centre of the Hall stood Kai. &ldquo;Tell me, tall
+man,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;is that Arthur
+yonder?&rdquo; &ldquo;What wouldest thou with
+Arthur?&rdquo; asked Kai. &ldquo;My mother told me to go to
+Arthur, and receive the honour of knighthood.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou art all too
+meanly equipped with horse and with arms.&rdquo; Thereupon
+he was perceived by all the household, and they threw sticks at
+him. Then, behold, a dwarf came forward. He had
+already been a year at Arthur&rsquo;s Court, both he and a female
+dwarf. They had craved harbourage of Arthur, and had
+obtained it; and during the whole year, neither of them had
+spoken a single word to any one. When the dwarf beheld
+Peredur, &ldquo;Haha!&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;the welcome of
+Heaven be unto thee, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, the chief of
+warriors, and flower of knighthood.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;thou art ill-taught to
+remain a year mute at Arthur&rsquo;s Court, with choice of
+society; and now, before the face of Arthur and all his
+household, to call out, and declare such a man as this the chief
+of warriors, and the flower of knighthood.&rdquo; And he
+gave him such a box on the ear that he fell senseless to the
+ground. Then exclaimed the female dwarf, &ldquo;Haha!
+goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc; the welcome of Heaven be unto
+thee, flower of knights, and light of chivalry.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Of a truth, maiden,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;thou art
+ill-bred to remain mute for a year at the Court of Arthur, and
+then to speak as thou dost of such a man as this.&rdquo;
+And Kai kicked her with his foot, so that she fell to the ground
+senseless. &ldquo;Tall man,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;shew me which is Arthur.&rdquo; &ldquo;Hold thy
+peace,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;and go after the knight who went
+hence to the meadow, and take from him the goblet, and overthrow
+him, and possess thyself of his horse and arms, and then thou
+shalt receive the order of knighthood.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will
+do so, tall man,&rdquo; said Peredur. So he turned his
+horse&rsquo;s head towards the meadow. And when he came
+there, the knight was riding up and down, proud of his strength,
+and valour, and noble mien. &ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; said the
+knight, &ldquo;didst thou see any one coming after me from the
+Court?&rdquo; &ldquo;The tall man that was there,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;desired me to come, and overthrow thee, and to
+take from thee the goblet, and thy horse and thy armour for
+myself.&rdquo; &ldquo;Silence!&rdquo; said the knight;
+&ldquo;go back to the Court, and tell Arthur, from me, either to
+come himself, or to send some other to fight with me; and unless
+he do so quickly, I will not wait for him.&rdquo; &ldquo;By
+my faith,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;choose thou whether it
+shall be willingly or unwillingly, but I will have the horse, and
+the arms, and the goblet.&rdquo; And upon this the knight
+ran at him furiously, and struck him a violent blow with the
+shaft of his spear, between the neck and the shoulder.
+&ldquo;Haha! lad,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;my mother&rsquo;s
+servants were not used to play with me in this wise; therefore,
+thus will I play with thee.&rdquo; And thereupon he struck
+him with a sharp-pointed fork, and it hit him in the eye, and
+came out at the back of his neck, so that he instantly fell down
+lifeless.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Owain the son of Urien to Kai,
+&ldquo;thou wert ill-advised, when thou didst send that madman
+after the knight. For one of two things must befall
+him. He must either be overthrown, or slain. If he is
+overthrown by the knight, he will be counted by him to be an
+honourable person of the Court, and an eternal disgrace will it
+be to Arthur and his warriors. And if he is slain, the
+disgrace will be the same, and moreover, his sin will be upon
+him; therefore will I go to see what has befallen
+him.&rdquo; So Owain went to the meadow, and he found
+Peredur dragging the man about. &ldquo;What art thou doing
+thus?&rdquo; said Owain. &ldquo;This iron coat,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;will never come from off him; not by my efforts,
+at any rate.&rdquo; And Owain unfastened his armour and his
+clothes. &ldquo;Here, my good soul,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;is a horse and armour better than thine. Take them
+joyfully, and come with me to Arthur, to receive the order of
+knighthood, for thou dost merit it.&rdquo; &ldquo;May I
+never shew my face again if I go,&rdquo; said Peredur; &ldquo;but
+take thou the goblet to Gwenhwyvar, and tell Arthur, that
+wherever I am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what profit
+and service I am able. And say that I will not come to his
+Court until I have encountered the tall man that is there, to
+revenge the injury he did to the dwarf and dwarfess.&rdquo;
+And Owain went back to the Court, and related all these things to
+Arthur and Gwenhwyvar, and to all the household.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Peredur rode forward. And as he proceeded, behold a
+knight met him. &ldquo;Whence comest thou?&rdquo; said the
+knight. &ldquo;I come from Arthur&rsquo;s Court,&rdquo;
+said Peredur. &ldquo;Art thou one of his men?&rdquo; asked
+he. &ldquo;Yes, by my faith,&rdquo; he answered.
+&ldquo;A good service, truly, is that of Arthur.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Wherefore sayest thou so?&rdquo; said Peredur.
+&ldquo;I will tell thee,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;I have always
+been Arthur&rsquo;s enemy, and all such of his men as I have ever
+encountered I have slain.&rdquo; And without further
+parlance they fought, and it was not long before Peredur brought
+him to the ground, over his horse&rsquo;s crupper. Then the
+knight besought his mercy. &ldquo;Mercy thou shalt
+have,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;if thou wilt make oath to me,
+that thou wilt go to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and tell him that it
+was I that overthrew thee, for the honour of his service; and
+say, that I will never come to the Court until I have avenged the
+insult offered to the dwarf and dwarfess.&rdquo; The knight
+pledged him his faith of this, and proceeded to the Court of
+Arthur, and said as he had promised, and conveyed the threat to
+Kai.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Peredur rode forward. And within that week he
+encountered sixteen knights, and overthrew them all
+shamefully. And they all went to Arthur&rsquo;s Court,
+taking with them the same message which the first knight had
+conveyed from Peredur, and the same threat which he had sent to
+Kai. And thereupon Kai was reproved by Arthur; and Kai was
+greatly grieved thereat.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Peredur rode forward. And he came to a vast and
+desert wood, on the confines of which was a lake. And on
+the other side was a fair castle. And on the border of the
+lake he saw a venerable, hoary-headed man, sitting upon a velvet
+cushion, and having a garment of velvet upon him. And his
+attendants were fishing in the lake. When the hoary-headed
+man beheld Peredur approaching, he arose and went towards the
+castle. And the old man was lame. Peredur rode to the
+palace, and the door was open, and he entered the hall. And
+there was the hoary-headed man sitting on a cushion, and a large
+blazing fire burning before him. And the household and the
+company arose to meet Peredur, and disarrayed him. And the
+man asked the youth to sit on the cushion; and they sat down, and
+conversed together. When it was time, the tables were laid,
+and they went to meat. And when they had finished their
+meal, the man inquired of Peredur if he knew well how to fight
+with the sword. &ldquo;I know not,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;but were I to be taught, doubtless I should.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Whoever can play well with the cudgel and shield, will
+also be able to fight with a sword.&rdquo; And the man had
+two sons; the one had yellow hair, and the other auburn.
+&ldquo;Arise, youths,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and play with the
+cudgel and the shield.&rdquo; And so did they.
+&ldquo;Tell me, my soul,&rdquo; said the man, &ldquo;which of the
+youths thinkest thou plays best.&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+think,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;that the yellow-haired youth
+could draw blood from the other, if he chose.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Arise thou, my life, and take the cudgel and the shield
+from the hand of the youth with the auburn hair, and draw blood
+from the yellow-haired youth if thou canst.&rdquo; So
+Peredur arose, and went to play with the yellow-haired youth; and
+he lifted up his arm, and struck him such a mighty blow, that his
+brow fell over his eye, and the blood flowed forth.
+&ldquo;Ah, my life,&rdquo; said the man, &ldquo;come now, and sit
+down, for thou wilt become the best fighter with the sword of any
+in this island; and I am thy uncle, thy mother&rsquo;s
+brother. And with me shalt thou remain a space, in order to
+learn the manners and customs of different countries, and
+courtesy, and gentleness, and noble bearing. Leave, then,
+the habits and the discourse of thy mother, and I will be thy
+teacher; and I will raise thee to the rank of knight from this
+time forward. And thus do thou. If thou seest aught
+to cause thee wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has
+the courtesy to inform thee, the reproach will not fall upon
+thee, but upon me that am thy teacher.&rdquo; And they had
+abundance of honour and service. And when it was time they
+went to sleep. At the break of day, Peredur arose, and took
+his horse, and with his uncle&rsquo;s permission he rode
+forth. And he came to a vast desert wood, and at the
+further end of the wood was a meadow, and on the other side of
+the meadow he saw a large castle. And thitherward Peredur
+bent his way, and he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the
+hall. And he beheld a stately hoary-headed man sitting on
+one side of the hall, and many pages around him, who arose to
+receive and to honour Peredur. And they placed him by the
+side of the owner of the palace. Then they discoursed
+together; and when it was time to eat, they caused Peredur to sit
+beside the nobleman during the repast. And when they had
+eaten and drunk as much as they desired, the nobleman asked
+Peredur whether he could fight with a sword? &ldquo;Were I
+to receive instruction,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I think I
+could.&rdquo; Now, there was on the floor of the hall a
+huge staple, as large as a warrior could grasp. &ldquo;Take
+yonder sword,&rdquo; said the man to Peredur, &ldquo;and strike
+the iron staple.&rdquo; So Peredur arose and struck the
+staple, so that he cut it in two; and the sword broke into two
+parts also. &ldquo;Place the two parts together, and
+reunite them,&rdquo; and Peredur placed them together, and they
+became entire as they were before. And a second time he
+struck upon the staple, so that both it and the sword broke in
+two, and as before they reunited. And the third time he
+gave a like blow, and placed the broken parts together, and
+neither the staple nor the sword would unite as before.
+&ldquo;Youth,&rdquo; said the nobleman, &ldquo;come now, and sit
+down, and my blessing be upon thee. Thou fightest best with
+the sword of any man in the kingdom. Thou hast arrived at
+two-thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou hast not yet
+obtained; and when thou attainest to thy full power, none will be
+able to contend with thee. I am thy uncle, thy
+mother&rsquo;s brother, and I am brother to the man in whose
+house thou wast last night.&rdquo; Then Peredur and his
+uncle discoursed together, and he beheld two youths enter the
+hall, and proceed up to the chamber, bearing a spear of mighty
+size, with three streams of blood flowing from the point to the
+ground. And when all the company saw this, they began
+wailing and lamenting. But for all that, the man did not
+break off his discourse with Peredur. And as he did not
+tell Peredur the meaning of what he saw, he forbore to ask him
+concerning it. And when the clamour had a little subsided,
+behold two maidens entered, with a large salver between them, in
+which was a man&rsquo;s head, surrounded by a profusion of
+blood. And thereupon the company of the court made so great
+an outcry, that it was irksome to be in the same hall with
+them. But at length they were silent. And when time
+was that they should sleep, Peredur was brought into a fair
+chamber.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day, with his uncle&rsquo;s permission, he rode
+forth. And he came to a wood, and far within the wood he
+heard a loud cry, and he saw a beautiful woman with auburn hair,
+and a horse with a saddle upon it, standing near her, and a
+corpse by her side. And as she strove to place the corpse
+upon the horse, it fell to the ground, and thereupon she made a
+great lamentation. &ldquo;Tell me, sister,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;wherefore art thou bewailing?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Oh! accursed Peredur, little pity has my ill-fortune ever
+met with from thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wherefore,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;am I accursed?&rdquo; &ldquo;Because thou
+wast the cause of thy mother&rsquo;s death; for when thou didst
+ride forth against her will, anguish seized upon her heart, so
+that she died; and therefore art thou accursed. And the
+dwarf and the dwarfess that thou sawest at Arthur&rsquo;s Court
+were the dwarfs of thy father and mother; and I am thy
+foster-sister, and this was my wedded husband, and he was slain
+by the knight that is in the glade in the wood; and do not thou
+go near him, lest thou shouldest be slain by him
+likewise.&rdquo; &ldquo;My sister, thou dost reproach me
+wrongfully; through my having so long remained amongst you, I
+shall scarcely vanquish him; and had I continued longer, it
+would, indeed, be difficult for me to succeed. Cease,
+therefore, thy lamenting, for it is of no avail, and I will bury
+the body, and then I will go in quest of the knight, and see if I
+can do vengeance upon him.&rdquo; And when he had buried
+the body, they went to the place where the knight was, and found
+him riding proudly along the glade; and he inquired of Peredur
+whence he came. &ldquo;I come from Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court.&rdquo; &ldquo;And art thou one of Arthur&rsquo;s
+men?&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes, by my faith.&rdquo; &ldquo;A
+profitable alliance, truly, is that of Arthur.&rdquo; And
+without further parlance, they encountered one another, and
+immediately Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought mercy
+of Peredur. &ldquo;Mercy shalt thou have,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;upon these terms, that thou take this woman in marriage,
+and do her all the honour and reverence in thy power, seeing thou
+hast, without cause, slain her wedded husband; and that thou go
+to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and shew him that it was I that
+overthrew thee, to do him honour and service; and that thou tell
+him that I will never come to his Court again until I have met
+with the tall man that is there, to take vengeance upon him for
+his insult to the dwarf and dwarfess.&rdquo; And he took
+the knight&rsquo;s assurance, that he would perform all
+this. Then the knight provided the lady with a horse and
+garments that were suitable for her, and took her with him to
+Arthur&rsquo;s Court. And he told Arthur all that had
+occurred, and gave the defiance to Kai. And Arthur and all
+his household reproved Kai, for having driven such a youth as
+Peredur from his Court.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Said Owain the son of Urien, &ldquo;This youth will never come
+into the Court until Kai has gone forth from it.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;I will search all
+the deserts in the Island of Britain, until I find Peredur, and
+then let him and his adversary do their utmost to each
+other.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to a desert wood,
+where he saw not the track either of men or animals, and where
+there was nothing but bushes and weeds. And at the upper
+end of the wood he saw a vast castle, wherein were many strong
+towers; and when he came near the gate, he found the weeds taller
+than he had seen them elsewhere. And he struck the gate
+with the shaft of his lance, and thereupon behold a lean,
+auburn-haired youth came to an opening in the battlements.
+&ldquo;Choose thou, chieftain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;whether
+shall I open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce unto those
+that are chief, that thou art at the gateway?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Say that I am here,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;and if it
+is desired that I should enter, I will go in.&rdquo; And
+the youth came back, and opened the gate for Peredur. And
+when he went into the hall, he beheld eighteen youths, lean and
+red-headed, of the same height, and of the same aspect, and of
+the same dress, and of the same age as the one who had opened the
+gate for him. And they were well skilled in courtesy and in
+service. And they disarrayed him. Then they sat down
+to discourse. Thereupon, behold five maidens came from the
+chamber into the hall. And Peredur was certain that he had
+never seen another of so fair an aspect as the chief of the
+maidens. And she had an old garment of satin upon her,
+which had once been handsome, but was then so tattered, that her
+skin could be seen through it. And whiter was her skin than
+the bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were
+blacker than jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder
+than whatever is reddest. And the maiden welcomed Peredur,
+and put her arms about his neck, and made him sit down beside
+her. Not long after this he saw two nuns enter, and a flask
+full of wine was borne by one, and six loaves of white bread by
+the other. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;Heaven is
+witness, that there is not so much of food and liquor as this
+left in yonder Convent this night.&rdquo; Then they went to
+meat, and Peredur observed that the maiden wished to give more of
+the food and of the liquor to him than to any of the
+others. &ldquo;My sister,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I
+will share out the food and the liquor.&rdquo; &ldquo;Not
+so, my soul,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;By my faith but I
+will.&rdquo; So Peredur took the bread, and he gave an
+equal portion of it to each alike, as well as a cup full of the
+liquor. And when it was time for them to sleep, a chamber
+was prepared for Peredur, and he went to rest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Behold, sister,&rdquo; said the youths to the fairest
+and most exalted of the maidens, &ldquo;we have counsel for
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;What may it be?&rdquo; she
+inquired. &ldquo;Go to the youth that is in the upper
+chamber, and offer to become his wife, or the lady of his love,
+if it seem well to him.&rdquo; &ldquo;That were indeed
+unfitting,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;Hitherto I have not been
+the lady-love of any knight, and to make him such an offer before
+I am wooed by him, that, truly, can I not do.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;By our confession to Heaven, unless thou actest thus, we
+will leave thee here to thy enemies, to do as they will with
+thee.&rdquo; And through fear of this, the maiden went
+forth; and shedding tears, she proceeded to the chamber.
+And with the noise of the door opening, Peredur awoke; and the
+maiden was weeping and lamenting. &ldquo;Tell me, my
+sister,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;wherefore dost thou
+weep?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will tell thee, lord,&rdquo; said
+she. &ldquo;My father possessed these dominions as their
+chief, and this palace was his, and with it he held the best
+earldom in the kingdom; then the son of another earl sought me of
+my father, and I was not willing to be given unto him, and my
+father would not give me against my will, either to him or any
+earl in the world. And my father had no child except
+myself. And after my father&rsquo;s death, these dominions
+came into my own hands, and then was I less willing to accept him
+than before. So he made war upon me, and conquered all my
+possessions, except this one house. And through the valour
+of the men whom thou hast seen, who are my foster-brothers, and
+the strength of the house, it can never be taken while food and
+drink remain. And now our provisions are exhausted; but, as
+thou hast seen, we have been fed by the nuns, to whom the country
+is free. And at length they also are without supply of food
+or liquor. And at no later date than to-morrow, the earl
+will come against this place with all his forces; and if I fall
+into his power, my fate will be no better than to be given over
+to the grooms of his horses. Therefore, lord, I am come to
+offer to place myself in thy hands, that thou mayest succour me,
+either by taking me hence, or by defending me here, whichever may
+seem best unto thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Go, my sister,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and sleep; nor will I depart from thee until I do
+that which thou requirest, or prove whether I can assist thee or
+not.&rdquo; The maiden went again to rest; and the next
+morning she came to Peredur, and saluted him. &ldquo;Heaven
+prosper thee, my soul, and what tidings dost thou
+bring?&rdquo; &ldquo;None other, than that the earl and all
+his forces have alighted at the gate, and I never beheld any
+place so covered with tents, and thronged with knights
+challenging others to the combat.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;let my horse be made
+ready.&rdquo; So his horse was accoutred, and he arose and
+sallied forth to the meadow. And there was a knight riding
+proudly along the meadow, having raised the signal for
+battle. And they encountered, and Peredur threw the knight
+over his horse&rsquo;s crupper to the ground. And at the
+close of the day, one of the chief knights came to fight with
+him, and he overthrew him also, so that he besought his
+mercy. &ldquo;Who art thou?&rdquo; said Peredur.
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I am Master of the
+Household to the earl.&rdquo; &ldquo;And how much of the
+countess&rsquo;s possessions is there in thy power?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;The third part, verily,&rdquo; answered he.
+&ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;restore to her the third
+of her possessions in full, and all the profit thou hast made by
+them, and bring meat and drink for a hundred men, with their
+horses and arms, to her court this night. And thou shalt
+remain her captive, unless she wish to take thy
+life.&rdquo; And this he did forthwith. And that
+night the maiden was right joyful, and they fared
+plenteously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and that
+day he vanquished a multitude of the host. And at the close
+of the day, there came a proud and stately knight, and Peredur
+overthrew him, and he besought his mercy. &ldquo;Who art
+thou?&rdquo; said Peredur. &ldquo;I am Steward of the
+Palace,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;And how much of the
+maiden&rsquo;s possessions are under thy control?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;One-third part,&rdquo; answered he.
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;thou shalt fully
+restore to the maiden her possessions, and, moreover, thou shalt
+give her meat and drink for two hundred men, and their horses and
+their arms. And for thyself, thou shalt be her
+captive.&rdquo; And immediately it was so done.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and he
+vanquished more that day than on either of the preceding.
+And at the close of the day, an earl came to encounter him, and
+he overthrew him, and he besought his mercy. &ldquo;Who art
+thou?&rdquo; said Peredur. &ldquo;I am the earl,&rdquo;
+said he. &ldquo;I will not conceal it from
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;thou shalt restore the whole of the maiden&rsquo;s
+earldom, and shalt give her thine own earldom in addition
+thereto, and meat and drink for three hundred men, and their
+horses and arms, and thou thyself shalt remain in her
+power.&rdquo; And thus it was fulfilled. And Peredur
+tarried three weeks in the country, causing tribute and obedience
+to be paid to the maiden, and the government to be placed in her
+hands. &ldquo;With thy leave,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I
+will go hence.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily, my brother, desirest
+thou this?&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes, by my faith; and had it not
+been for love of thee, I should not have been here thus
+long.&rdquo; &ldquo;My soul,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;who
+art thou?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am Peredur the son of Evrawc from
+the North; and if ever thou art in trouble or in danger, acquaint
+me therewith, and if I can, I will protect thee.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Peredur rode forth. And far thence there met him a
+lady, mounted on a horse that was lean, and covered with sweat;
+and she saluted the youth. &ldquo;Whence comest thou, my
+sister?&rdquo; Then she told him the cause of her
+journey. Now she was the wife of the Lord of the
+Glade. &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I am the
+knight through whom thou art in trouble, and he shall repent it,
+who has treated thee thus.&rdquo; Thereupon, behold a
+knight rode up, and he inquired of Peredur, if he had seen a
+knight such as he was seeking. &ldquo;Hold thy
+peace,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I am he whom thou seekest; and
+by my faith, thou deservest ill of thy household for thy
+treatment of the maiden, for she is innocent concerning
+me.&rdquo; So they encountered, and they were not long in
+combat ere Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought his
+mercy. &ldquo;Mercy thou shalt have,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;so thou wilt return by the way thou camest, and declare
+that thou holdest the maiden innocent, and so that thou wilt
+acknowledge unto her the reverse thou hast sustained at my
+hands.&rdquo; And the knight plighted him his faith
+thereto.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Peredur rode forward. And above him he beheld a
+castle, and thitherward he went. And he struck upon the
+gate with his lance, and then, behold, a comely auburn-haired
+youth opened the gate, and he had the stature of a warrior, and
+the years of a boy. And when Peredur came into the hall,
+there was a tall and stately lady sitting in a chair, and many
+handmaidens around her; and the lady rejoiced at his
+coming. And when it was time, they went to meat. And
+after their repast was finished, &ldquo;It were well for thee,
+chieftain,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to go elsewhere to
+sleep.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wherefore can I not sleep here?&rdquo;
+said Peredur. &ldquo;Nine sorceresses are here, my soul, of
+the sorceresses of Gloucester, and their father and their mother
+are with them; and unless we can make our escape before daybreak,
+we shall be slain; and already they have conquered and laid waste
+all the country, except this one dwelling.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I will remain here
+to-night, and if you are in trouble, I will do you what service I
+can; but harm shall you not receive from me.&rdquo; So they
+went to rest. And with the break of day, Peredur heard a
+dreadful outcry. And he hastily arose, and went forth in
+his vest and his doublet, with his sword about his neck, and he
+saw a sorceress overtake one of the watch, who cried out
+violently. Peredur attacked the sorceress, and struck her
+upon the head with his sword, so that he flattened her helmet and
+her head-piece like a dish upon her head. &ldquo;Thy mercy,
+goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, and the mercy of
+Heaven.&rdquo; &ldquo;How knowest thou, hag, that I am
+Peredur?&rdquo; &ldquo;By destiny, and the foreknowledge
+that I should suffer harm from thee. And thou shalt take a
+horse and armour of me; and with me thou shalt go to learn
+chivalry and the use of thy arms.&rdquo; Said Peredur,
+&ldquo;Thou shalt have mercy, if thou pledge thy faith thou wilt
+never more injure the dominions of the Countess.&rdquo; And
+Peredur took surety of this, and with permission of the Countess,
+he set forth with the sorceress to the palace of the
+sorceresses. And there he remained for three weeks, and
+then he made choice of a horse and arms, and went his way.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And in the evening he entered a valley, and at the head of the
+valley he came to a hermit&rsquo;s cell, and the hermit welcomed
+him gladly, and there he spent the night. And in the
+morning he arose, and when he went forth, behold a shower of snow
+had fallen the night before, and a hawk had killed a wild fowl in
+front of the cell. And the noise of the horse scared the
+hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the bird. And Peredur
+stood, and compared the blackness of the raven and the whiteness
+of the snow, and the redness of the blood, to the hair of the
+lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and to her
+skin which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spots
+upon her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow
+appeared to be.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur.
+&ldquo;Know ye,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;who is the knight with
+the long spear that stands by the brook up yonder?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said one of them, &ldquo;I will go and learn
+who he is.&rdquo; So the youth came to the place where
+Peredur was, and asked him what he did thus, and who he
+was. And from the intensity with which he thought upon the
+lady whom best he loved, he gave him no answer. Then the
+youth thrust at Peredur with his lance, and Peredur turned upon
+him, and struck him over his horse&rsquo;s crupper to the
+ground. And after this, four-and-twenty youths came to him,
+and he did not answer one more than another, but gave the same
+reception to all, bringing them with one single thrust to the
+ground. And then came Kai, and spoke to Peredur rudely and
+angrily; and Peredur took him with his lance under the jaw, and
+cast him from him with a thrust, so that he broke his arm and his
+shoulder-blade, and he rode over him one-and-twenty times.
+And while he lay thus, stunned with the violence of the pain that
+he had suffered, his horse returned back at a wild and prancing
+pace. And when the household saw the horse come back
+without his rider, they rode forth in haste to the place where
+the encounter had been. And when they first came there,
+they thought that Kai was slain; but they found that if he had a
+skilful physician, he yet might live. And Peredur moved not
+from his meditation, on seeing the concourse that was around
+Kai. And Kai was brought to Arthur&rsquo;s tent, and Arthur
+caused skilful physicians to come to him. And Arthur was
+grieved that Kai had met with this reverse, for he loved him
+greatly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;it is not fitting
+that any should disturb an honourable knight from his thought
+unadvisedly; for either he is pondering some damage that he has
+sustained, or he is thinking of the lady whom best he
+loves. And through such ill-advised proceeding, perchance
+this misadventure has befallen him who last met with him.
+And if it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this
+knight hath changed from his thought; and if he has, I will ask
+him courteously to come and visit thee.&rdquo; Then Kai was
+wroth, and he spoke angry and spiteful words.
+&ldquo;Gwalchmai,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I know that thou wilt
+bring him because he is fatigued. Little praise and honour,
+nevertheless, wilt thou have from vanquishing a weary knight, who
+is tired with fighting. Yet thus hast thou gained the
+advantage over many. And while thy speech and thy soft
+words last, a coat of thin linen were armour sufficient for thee,
+and thou wilt not need to break either lance or sword in fighting
+with the knight in the state he is in.&rdquo; Then said
+Gwalchmai to Kai, &ldquo;Thou mightest use more pleasant words,
+wert thou so minded: and it behoves thee not upon me to wreak thy
+wrath and thy displeasure. Methinks I shall bring the
+knight hither with me without breaking either my arm or my
+shoulder.&rdquo; Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, &ldquo;Thou
+speakest like a wise and prudent man; go, and take enough of
+armour about thee, and choose thy horse.&rdquo; And
+Gwalchmai accoutred himself and rode forward hastily to the place
+where Peredur was.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering
+the same thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of
+hostility, and said to him, &ldquo;If I thought that it would be
+as agreeable to thee as it would be to me, I would converse with
+thee. I have also a message from Arthur unto thee, to pray
+thee to come and visit him. And two men have been before on
+this errand.&rdquo; &ldquo;That is true,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;and uncourteously they came. They attacked
+me, and I was annoyed thereat, for it was not pleasing to me to
+be drawn from the thought that I was in, for I was thinking of
+the lady whom best I love, and thus was she brought to my
+mind:&mdash;I was looking upon the snow, and upon the raven, and
+upon the drops of the blood of the bird that the hawk had killed
+upon the snow. And I bethought me that her whiteness was
+like that of the snow, and that the blackness of her hair and her
+eyebrows like that of the raven, and that the two red spots upon
+her cheeks were like the two drops of blood.&rdquo; Said
+Gwalchmai, &ldquo;This was not an ungentle thought, and I should
+marvel if it were pleasant to thee to be drawn from
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;is
+Kai in Arthur&rsquo;s Court?&rdquo; &ldquo;He is,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and behold he is the knight that fought with thee
+last; and it would have been better for him had he not come, for
+his arm and his shoulder-blade were broken with the fall which he
+had from thy spear.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;I am not sorry to have thus begun to avenge the
+insult to the dwarf and dwarfess.&rdquo; Then Gwalchmai
+marvelled to hear him speak of the dwarf and the dwarfess; and he
+approached him, and threw his arms around his neck, and asked him
+what was his name. &ldquo;Peredur the son of Evrawc am I
+called,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;and thou, Who art
+thou?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am called Gwalchmai,&rdquo; he
+replied. &ldquo;I am right glad to meet with thee,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;for in every country where I have been I
+have heard of thy fame for prowess and uprightness, and I solicit
+thy fellowship.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou shalt have it, by my
+faith, and grant me thine,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Gladly will I
+do so,&rdquo; answered Peredur.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place where
+Arthur was, and when Kai saw them coming, he said, &ldquo;I knew
+that Gwalchmai needed not to fight the knight. And it is no
+wonder that he should gain fame; more can he do by his fair words
+than I by the strength of my arm.&rdquo; And Peredur went
+with Gwalchmai to his tent, and they took off their armour.
+And Peredur put on garments like those that Gwalchmai wore, and
+they went together unto Arthur, and saluted him.
+&ldquo;Behold, lord,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;him whom thou
+hast sought so long.&rdquo; &ldquo;Welcome unto thee,
+chieftain,&rdquo; said Arthur. &ldquo;With me thou shalt
+remain; and had I known thy valour had been such, thou shouldst
+not have left me as thou didst; nevertheless, this was predicted
+of thee by the dwarf and the dwarfess, whom Kai ill-treated and
+whom thou hast avenged.&rdquo; And hereupon, behold there
+came the Queen and her handmaidens, and Peredur saluted
+them. And they were rejoiced to see him, and bade him
+welcome. And Arthur did him great honour and respect, and
+they returned towards Caerlleon.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the first night Peredur came to Caerlleon to
+Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and as he walked in the city after his
+repast, behold, there met him Angharad Law Eurawc.
+&ldquo;By my faith, sister,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;thou art
+a beauteous and lovely maiden; and, were it pleasing to thee, I
+could love thee above all women.&rdquo; &ldquo;I pledge my
+faith,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;that I do not love thee, nor will
+I ever do so.&rdquo; &ldquo;I also pledge my faith,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;that I will never speak a word to any
+Christian again, until thou come to love me above all
+men.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a
+mountain-ridge, and he saw a valley of a circular form, the
+confines of which were rocky and wooded. And the flat part
+of the valley was in meadows, and there were fields betwixt the
+meadows and the wood. And in the bosom of the wood he saw
+large black houses of uncouth workmanship. And he
+dismounted, and led his horse towards the wood. And a
+little way within the wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which the
+road lay. And upon the ledge was a lion bound by a chain,
+and sleeping. And beneath the lion he saw a deep pit of
+immense size, full of the bones of men and animals. And
+Peredur drew his sword and struck the lion, so that he fell into
+the mouth of the pit and hung there by the chain; and with a
+second blow he struck the chain and broke it, and the lion fell
+into the pit; and Peredur led his horse over the rocky ledge,
+until he came into the valley. And in the centre of the
+valley he saw a fair castle, and he went towards it. And in
+the meadow by the castle he beheld a huge grey man sitting, who
+was larger than any man he had ever before seen. And two
+young pages were shooting the hilts of their daggers, of the bone
+of the sea-horse. And one of the pages had red hair, and
+the other auburn. And they went before him to the place
+where the grey man was, and Peredur saluted him. And the
+grey man said, &ldquo;Disgrace to the beard of my
+porter.&rdquo; Then Peredur understood that the porter was
+the lion.&mdash;And the grey man and the pages went together into
+the castle, and Peredur accompanied them; and he found it a fair
+and noble place. And they proceeded to the hall, and the
+tables were already laid, and upon them was abundance of food and
+liquor. And thereupon he saw an aged woman and a young
+woman come from the chamber; and they were the most stately women
+he had ever seen. Then they washed and went to meat, and
+the grey man sat in the upper seat at the head of the table, and
+the aged woman next to him. And Peredur and the maiden were
+placed together, and the two young pages served them. And
+the maiden gazed sorrowfully upon Peredur, and Peredur asked the
+maiden wherefore she was sad. &ldquo;For thee, my soul;
+for, from when I first beheld thee, I have loved thee above all
+men. And it pains me to know that so gentle a youth as thou
+should have such a doom as awaits thee to-morrow. Sawest
+thou the numerous black houses in the bosom of the wood?
+All these belong to the vassals of the grey man yonder, who is my
+father. And they are all giants. And to-morrow they
+will rise up against thee, and will slay thee. And the
+Round Valley is this valley called.&rdquo; &ldquo;Listen,
+fair maiden, wilt thou contrive that my horse and arms be in the
+same lodging with me to-night?&rdquo; &ldquo;Gladly will I
+cause it so to be, by Heaven, if I can.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when it was time for them to sleep rather than to carouse,
+they went to rest. And the maiden caused Peredur&rsquo;s
+horse and arms to be in the same lodging with him. And the
+next morning Peredur heard a great tumult of men and horses
+around the castle. And Peredur arose, and armed himself and
+his horse, and went to the meadow. Then the aged woman and
+the maiden came to the grey man: &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;take the word of the youth, that he will never disclose
+what he has seen in this place, and we will be his sureties that
+he keep it.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not do so, by my
+faith,&rdquo; said the grey man. So Peredur fought with the
+host, and towards evening he had slain the one-third of them
+without receiving any hurt himself. Then said the aged
+woman, &ldquo;Behold, many of thy host have been slain by the
+youth; do thou, therefore, grant him mercy.&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+will not grant it, by my faith,&rdquo; said he. And the
+aged woman and the fair maiden were upon the battlements of the
+castle, looking forth. And at that juncture, Peredur
+encountered the yellow-haired youth and slew him.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;grant the young man
+mercy.&rdquo; &ldquo;That will I not do, by Heaven,&rdquo;
+he replied; and thereupon Peredur attacked the auburn-haired
+youth, and slew him likewise. &ldquo;It were better that
+thou hadst accorded mercy to the youth before he had slain thy
+two sons; for now scarcely wilt thou thyself escape from
+him.&rdquo; &ldquo;Go, maiden, and beseech the youth to
+grant mercy unto us, for we yield ourselves into his
+hands.&rdquo; So the maiden came to the place where Peredur
+was, and besought mercy for her father, and for all such of his
+vassals as had escaped alive. &ldquo;Thou shalt have it, on
+condition that thy father and all that are under him go and
+render homage to Arthur, and tell him that it was his vassal
+Peredur that did him this service.&rdquo; &ldquo;This will
+we do willingly, by Heaven.&rdquo; &ldquo;And you shall
+also receive baptism; and I will send to Arthur, and beseech him
+to bestow this valley upon thee and upon thy heirs after thee for
+ever.&rdquo; Then they went in, and the grey man and the
+tall woman saluted Peredur. And the grey man said unto him,
+&ldquo;Since I have possessed this valley I have not seen any
+Christian depart with his life, save thyself. And we will
+go to do homage to Arthur, and to embrace the faith and be
+baptized.&rdquo; Then said Peredur, &ldquo;To Heaven I
+render thanks that I have not broken my vow to the lady that best
+I love, which was, that I would not speak one word unto any
+Christian.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+That night they tarried there. And the next day, in the
+morning, the grey man, with his company, set forth to
+Arthur&rsquo;s Court; and they did homage unto Arthur, and he
+caused them to be baptized. And the grey man told Arthur
+that it was Peredur that had vanquished them. And Arthur
+gave the valley to the grey man and his company, to hold it of
+him as Peredur had besought. And with Arthur&rsquo;s
+permission, the grey man went back to the Round Valley.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast tract
+of desert, in which no dwellings were. And at length he
+came to a habitation, mean and small. And there he heard
+that there was a serpent that lay upon a gold ring, and suffered
+none to inhabit the country for seven miles around. And
+Peredur came to the place where he heard the serpent was.
+And angrily, furiously, and desperately fought he with the
+serpent; and at last he killed it, and took away the ring.
+And thus he was for a long time without speaking a word to any
+Christian. And therefrom he lost his colour and his aspect,
+through extreme longing after the Court of Arthur, and the
+society of the lady whom best he loved, and of his
+companions. Then he proceeded forward to Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court, and on the road there met him Arthur&rsquo;s household
+going on a particular errand, with Kai at their head. And
+Peredur knew them all, but none of the household recognized
+him. &ldquo;Whence comest thou, chieftain?&rdquo; said
+Kai. And this he asked him twice and three times, and he
+answered him not. And Kai thrust him through the thigh with
+his lance. And lest he should be compelled to speak, and to
+break his vow, he went on without stopping.
+&ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;I declare to Heaven,
+Kai, that thou hast acted ill in committing such an outrage on a
+youth like this, who cannot speak.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Gwalchmai returned back to Arthur&rsquo;s Court.
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he to Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;seest thou how
+wicked an outrage Kai has committed upon this youth who cannot
+speak; for Heaven&rsquo;s sake, and for mine, cause him to have
+medical care before I come back, and I will repay thee the
+charge.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And before the men returned from their errand, a knight came
+to the meadow beside Arthur&rsquo;s Palace, to dare some one to
+the encounter. And his challenge was accepted; and Peredur
+fought with him, and overthrew him. And for a week he
+overthrew one knight every day.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And one day, Arthur and his household were going to Church,
+and they beheld a knight who had raised the signal for
+combat. &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;by the
+valour of men, I will not go hence until I have my horse and my
+arms to overthrow yonder boor.&rdquo; Then went the
+attendants to fetch Arthur&rsquo;s horse and arms. And
+Peredur met the attendants as they were going back, and he took
+the horse and arms from them, and proceeded to the meadow; and
+all those who saw him arise and go to do battle with the knight,
+went upon the tops of the houses, and the mounds, and the high
+places, to behold the combat. And Peredur beckoned with his
+hand to the knight to commence the fight. And the knight
+thrust at him, but he was not thereby moved from where he
+stood. And Peredur spurred his horse, and ran at him
+wrathfully, furiously, fiercely, desperately, and with mighty
+rage, and he gave him a thrust, deadly-wounding, severe, furious,
+adroit, and strong, under his jaw, and raised him out of his
+saddle, and cast him a long way from him. And Peredur went
+back, and left the horse and the arms with the attendant as
+before, and he went on foot to the Palace.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth. And
+behold, Angharad Law Eurawc met him. &ldquo;I declare to
+Heaven, chieftain,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;woful is it that thou
+canst not speak; for couldst thou speak, I would love thee best
+of all men; and by my faith, although thou canst not, I do love
+thee above all.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee, my
+sister,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;by my faith I also do love
+thee.&rdquo; Thereupon it was known that he was
+Peredur. And then he held fellowship with Gwalchmai, and
+Owain the son of Urien, and all the household, and he remained in
+Arthur&rsquo;s Court.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk; and he went to hunt, and
+Peredur went with him. And Peredur let loose his dog upon a
+hart, and the dog killed the hart in a desert place. And a
+short space from him he saw signs of a dwelling, and towards the
+dwelling he went, and he beheld a hall, and at the door of the
+hall he found bald swarthy youths playing at chess. And
+when he entered, he beheld three maidens sitting on a bench, and
+they were all clothed alike, as became persons of high
+rank. And he came, and sat by them upon the bench; and one
+of the maidens looked steadfastly upon Peredur, and wept.
+And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping.
+&ldquo;Through grief, that I should see so fair a youth as thou
+art, slain.&rdquo; &ldquo;Who will slay me?&rdquo; inquired
+Peredur. &ldquo;If thou art so daring as to remain here
+to-night, I will tell thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;How great soever
+my danger may be from remaining here, I will listen unto
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;This Palace is owned by him who is my
+father,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;and he slays every one who
+comes hither without his leave.&rdquo; &ldquo;What sort of
+a man is thy father, that he is able to slay every one
+thus?&rdquo; &ldquo;A man who does violence and wrong unto
+his neighbours, and who renders justice unto none.&rdquo;
+And hereupon he saw the youths arise and clear the chessmen from
+the board. And he heard a great tumult; and after the
+tumult there came in a huge black one-eyed man, and the maidens
+arose to meet him. And they disarrayed him, and he went and
+sat down; and after he had rested and pondered awhile, he looked
+at Peredur, and asked who the knight was.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said one of the maidens, &ldquo;he is the
+fairest and gentlest youth that ever thou didst see. And
+for the sake of Heaven, and of thine own dignity, have patience
+with him.&rdquo; &ldquo;For thy sake I will have patience,
+and I will grant him his life this night.&rdquo; Then
+Peredur came towards them to the fire, and partook of food and
+liquor, and entered into discourse with the ladies. And
+being elated with the liquor, he said to the black man, &ldquo;It
+is a marvel to me, so mighty as thou sayest thou art, who could
+have put out thine eye.&rdquo; &ldquo;It is one of my
+habits,&rdquo; said the black man, &ldquo;that whosoever puts to
+me the question which thou hast asked, shall not escape with his
+life, either as a free gift or for a price.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;whatsoever he may say
+to thee in jest, and through the excitement of liquor, make good
+that which thou saidst and didst promise me just
+now.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do so, gladly, for thy
+sake,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Willingly will I grant him his
+life this night.&rdquo; And that night thus they
+remained.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day the black man got up, and put on his armour,
+and said to Peredur, &ldquo;Arise, man, and suffer
+death.&rdquo; And Peredur said unto him, &ldquo;Do one of
+two things, black man; if thou wilt fight with me, either throw
+off thy own armour, or give arms to me, that I may encounter
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Ha, man,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;couldst
+thou fight, if thou hadst arms? Take, then, what arms thou
+dost choose.&rdquo; And thereupon the maiden came to
+Peredur with such arms as pleased him; and he fought with the
+black man, and forced him to crave his mercy. &ldquo;Black
+man, thou shalt have mercy, provided thou tell me who thou art,
+and who put out thine eye.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord, I will tell
+thee; I lost it in fighting with the Black Serpent of the
+Carn. There is a mound, which is called the Mound of
+Mourning; and on the mound there is a carn, and in the carn there
+is a serpent, and on the tail of the serpent there is a stone,
+and the virtues of the stone are such, that whosoever should hold
+it in one hand, in the other he will have as much gold as he may
+desire. And in fighting with this serpent was it that I
+lost my eye. And the Black Oppressor am I called. And
+for this reason I am called the Black Oppressor, that there is
+not a single man around me whom I have not oppressed, and justice
+have I done unto none.&rdquo; &ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;how far is it hence?&rdquo; &ldquo;The same
+day that thou settest forth, thou wilt come to the Palace of the
+Sons of the King of the Tortures.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wherefore
+are they called thus?&rdquo; &ldquo;The Addanc of the Lake
+slays them once every day. When thou goest thence, thou
+wilt come to the Court of the Countess of the
+Achievements.&rdquo; &ldquo;What achievements are
+there?&rdquo; asked Peredur. &ldquo;Three hundred men there
+are in her household, and unto every stranger that comes to the
+Court, the achievements of her household are related. And
+this is the manner of it,&mdash;the three hundred men of the
+household sit next unto the Lady; and that not through disrespect
+unto the guests, but that they may relate the achievements of the
+household. And the day that thou goest thence, thou wilt
+reach the Mound of Mourning, and round about the mound there are
+the owners of three hundred tents guarding the
+serpent.&rdquo; &ldquo;Since thou hast, indeed, been an
+oppressor so long,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I will cause that
+thou continue so no longer.&rdquo; So he slew him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the maiden spoke, and began to converse with him.
+&ldquo;If thou wast poor when thou camest here, henceforth thou
+wilt be rich through the treasure of the black man whom thou hast
+slain. Thou seest the many lovely maidens that there are in
+this Court; thou shalt have her whom thou best likest for the
+lady of thy love.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lady, I came not hither
+from my country to woo; but match yourselves as it liketh you
+with the comely youths I see here; and none of your goods do I
+desire, for I need them not.&rdquo; Then Peredur rode
+forward, and he came to the Palace of the Sons of the King of the
+Tortures; and when he entered the Palace, he saw none but women;
+and they rose up, and were joyful at his coming; and as they
+began to discourse with him, he beheld a charger arrive, with a
+saddle upon it, and a corpse in the saddle. And one of the
+women arose, and took the corpse from the saddle, and anointed it
+in a vessel of warm water, which was below the door, and placed
+precious balsam upon it; and the man rose up alive, and came to
+the place where Peredur was, and greeted him, and was joyful to
+see him. And two other men came in upon their saddles, and
+the maiden treated these two in the same manner as she had done
+the first. Then Peredur asked the chieftain wherefore it
+was thus. And they told him, that there was an Addanc in a
+cave, which slew them once every day. And thus they
+remained that night.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and Peredur
+besought them, for the sake of the ladies of their love, to
+permit him to go with them; but they refused him, saying,
+&ldquo;If thou shouldst be slain there, thou hast none to bring
+thee back to life again.&rdquo; And they rode forward, and
+Peredur followed after them; and, after they had disappeared out
+of his sight, he came to a mound, whereon sat the fairest lady he
+had ever beheld. &ldquo;I know thy quest,&rdquo; said she;
+&ldquo;thou art going to encounter the Addanc, and he will slay
+thee, and that not by courage, but by craft. He has a cave,
+and at the entrance of the cave there is a stone pillar, and he
+sees every one that enters, and none see him; and from behind the
+pillar he slays every one with a poisonous dart. And if
+thou wouldst pledge me thy faith to love me above all women, I
+would give thee a stone, by which thou shouldst see him when thou
+goest in, and he should not see thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will,
+by my troth,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;for when first I beheld
+thee I loved thee; and where shall I seek thee?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;When thou seekest me, seek towards India.&rdquo; And
+the maiden vanished, after placing the stone in Peredur&rsquo;s
+hand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he came towards a valley, through which ran a river; and
+the borders of the valley were wooded, and on each side of the
+river were level meadows. And on one side of the river he
+saw a flock of white sheep, and on the other a flock of black
+sheep. And whenever one of the white sheep bleated, one of
+the black sheep would cross over and become white; and when one
+of the black sheep bleated, one of the white sheep would cross
+over and become black. And he saw a tall tree by the side
+of the river, one half of which was in flames from the root to
+the top, and the other half was green and in full leaf. And
+nigh thereto he saw a youth sitting upon a mound, and two
+greyhounds, white-breasted and spotted, in leashes, lying by his
+side. And certain was he that he had never seen a youth of
+so royal a bearing as he. And in the wood opposite he heard
+hounds raising a herd of deer. And Peredur saluted the
+youth, and the youth greeted him in return. And there were
+three roads leading from the mound; two of them were wide roads,
+and the third was more narrow. And Peredur inquired where
+the three roads went. &ldquo;One of them goes to my
+palace,&rdquo; said the youth; &ldquo;and one of two things I
+counsel thee to do; either to proceed to my palace, which is
+before thee, and where thou wilt find my wife, or else to remain
+here to see the hounds chasing the roused deer from the wood to
+the plain. And thou shalt see the best greyhounds thou
+didst ever behold, and the boldest in the chase, kill them by the
+water beside us; and when it is time to go to meat, my page will
+come with my horse to meet me, and thou shalt rest in my palace
+to-night.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee; but I cannot
+tarry, for onward must I go.&rdquo; &ldquo;The other road
+leads to the town, which is near here, and wherein food and
+liquor may be bought; and the road which is narrower than the
+others goes towards the cave of the Addanc.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;With thy permission, young man, I will go that
+way.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Peredur went towards the cave. And he took the stone
+in his left hand, and his lance in his right. And as he
+went in he perceived the Addanc, and he pierced him through with
+his lance, and cut off his head. And as he came from the
+cave, behold the three companions were at the entrance; and they
+saluted Peredur, and told him that there was a prediction that he
+should slay that monster. And Peredur gave the head to the
+young men, and they offered him in marriage whichever of the
+three sisters he might choose, and half their kingdom with
+her. &ldquo;I came not hither to woo,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;but if peradventure I took a wife, I should prefer your
+sister to all others.&rdquo; And Peredur rode forward, and
+he heard a noise behind him. And he looked back, and saw a
+man upon a red horse, with red armour upon him; and the man rode
+up by his side, and saluted him, and wished him the favour of
+Heaven and of man. And Peredur greeted the youth
+kindly. &ldquo;Lord, I come to make a request unto
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;What wouldest thou?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;That thou shouldest take me as thine
+attendant.&rdquo; &ldquo;Whom then should I take as my
+attendant, if I did so?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not conceal
+from thee what kindred I am of. Etlym Gleddyv Coch am I
+called, an Earl from the East Country.&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+marvel that thou shouldest offer to become attendant to a man
+whose possessions are no greater than thine own; for I have but
+an earldom like thyself. But since thou desirest to be my
+attendant, I will take thee joyfully.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and all
+they of the Court were glad at their coming; and they were told
+it was not through disrespect they were placed below the
+household, but that such was the usage of the Court. For,
+whoever should overthrow the three hundred men of her household,
+would sit next the Countess, and she would love him above all
+men. And Peredur having overthrown the three hundred men of
+her household, sat down beside her, and the Countess said,
+&ldquo;I thank Heaven that I have a youth so fair and so valiant
+as thou, since I have not obtained the man whom best I
+love.&rdquo; &ldquo;Who is he whom best thou
+lovest?&rdquo; &ldquo;By my faith, Etlym Gleddyv Coch is
+the man whom I love best, and I have never seen him.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Of a truth, Etlym is my companion; and behold here he is,
+and for his sake did I come to joust with thy household.
+And he could have done so better than I, had it pleased
+him. And I do give thee unto him.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Heaven reward thee, fair youth, and I will take the man
+whom I love above all others.&rdquo; And the Countess
+became Etlym&rsquo;s bride from that moment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound of
+Mourning. &ldquo;By thy hand, lord, but I will go with
+thee,&rdquo; said Etlym. Then they went forwards till they
+came in sight of the mound and the tents. &ldquo;Go unto
+yonder men,&rdquo; said Peredur to Etlym, &ldquo;and desire them
+to come and do me homage.&rdquo; So Etlym went unto them,
+and said unto them thus,&mdash;&ldquo;Come and do homage to my
+lord.&rdquo; &ldquo;Who is thy lord?&rdquo; said
+they. &ldquo;Peredur with the long lance is my lord,&rdquo;
+said Etlym. &ldquo;Were it permitted to slay a messenger,
+thou shouldest not go back to thy lord alive, for making unto
+Kings, and Earls, and Barons so arrogant a demand as to go and do
+him homage.&rdquo; Peredur desired him to go back to them,
+and to give them their choice, either to do him homage, or to do
+battle with him. And they chose rather to do battle.
+And that day Peredur overthrew the owners of a hundred tents; and
+the next day he overthrew the owners of a hundred more; and the
+third day the remaining hundred took counsel to do homage to
+Peredur. And Peredur inquired of them, wherefore they were
+there. And they told him they were guarding the serpent
+until he should die. &ldquo;For then should we fight for
+the stone among ourselves, and whoever should be conqueror among
+us would have the stone.&rdquo; &ldquo;Await here,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;and I will go to encounter the
+serpent.&rdquo; &ldquo;Not so, lord,&rdquo; said they;
+&ldquo;we will go altogether to encounter the
+serpent.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;that will I not permit; for if the serpent be slain, I
+shall derive no more fame therefrom than one of you.&rdquo;
+Then he went to the place where the serpent was, and slew it, and
+came back to them, and said, &ldquo;Reckon up what you have spent
+since you have been here, and I will repay you to the
+full.&rdquo; And he paid to each what he said was his
+claim. And he required of them only that they should
+acknowledge themselves his vassals. And he said to Etlym,
+&ldquo;Go back unto her whom thou lovest best, and I will go
+forwards, and I will reward thee for having been my
+attendant.&rdquo; And he gave Etlym the stone.
+&ldquo;Heaven repay thee and prosper thee,&rdquo; said Etlym.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley he
+had ever seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld
+many tents of various colours. And he marvelled still more
+at the number of water-mills and of wind-mills that he saw.
+And there rode up with him a tall auburn-haired man, in
+workman&rsquo;s garb, and Peredur inquired of him who he
+was. &ldquo;I am the chief miller,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;of all the mills yonder.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wilt thou
+give me lodging?&rdquo; said Peredur. &ldquo;I will,
+gladly,&rdquo; he answered. And Peredur came to the
+miller&rsquo;s house, and the miller had a fair and pleasant
+dwelling. And Peredur asked money as a loan from the
+miller, that he might buy meat and liquor for himself and for the
+household, and he promised that he would pay him again ere he
+went thence. And he inquired of the miller, wherefore such
+a multitude was there assembled. Said the miller to
+Peredur, &ldquo;One thing is certain: either thou art a man from
+afar, or thou art beside thyself. The Empress of
+Cristinobyl the Great is here; and she will have no one but the
+man who is most valiant; for riches does she not require.
+And it was impossible to bring food for so many thousands as are
+here, therefore were all these mills constructed.&rdquo;
+And that night they took their rest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and
+his horse for the tournament. And among the other tents he
+beheld one, which was the fairest he had ever seen. And he
+saw a beauteous maiden leaning her head out of a window of the
+tent, and he had never seen a maiden more lovely than she.
+And upon her was a garment of satin. And he gazed fixedly
+on the maiden, and began to love her greatly. And he
+remained there, gazing upon the maiden from morning until
+mid-day, and from mid-day until evening; and then the tournament
+was ended and he went to his lodging and drew off his
+armour. Then he asked money of the miller as a loan, and
+the miller&rsquo;s wife was wroth with Peredur; nevertheless, the
+miller lent him the money. And the next day he did in like
+manner as he had done the day before. And at night he came
+to his lodging, and took money as a loan from the miller.
+And the third day, as he was in the same place, gazing upon the
+maiden, he felt a hard blow between the neck and the shoulder,
+from the edge of an axe. And when he looked behind him, he
+saw that it was the miller; and the miller said to him, &ldquo;Do
+one of two things: either turn thy head from hence, or go to the
+tournament.&rdquo; And Peredur smiled on the miller, and
+went to the tournament; and all that encountered him that day he
+overthrew. And as many as he vanquished he sent as a gift
+to the Empress, and their horses and arms he sent as a gift to
+the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money.
+Peredur attended the tournament until all were overthrown, and he
+sent all the men to the prison of the Empress, and the horses and
+arms to the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed
+money. And the Empress sent to the Knight of the Mill, to
+ask him to come and visit her. And Peredur went not for the
+first nor for the second message. And the third time she
+sent a hundred knights to bring him against his will, and they
+went to him and told him their mission from the Empress.
+And Peredur fought well with them, and caused them to be bound
+like stags, and thrown into the mill-dyke. And the Empress
+sought advice of a wise man who was in her counsel; and he said
+to her, &ldquo;With thy permission, I will go to him
+myself.&rdquo; So he came to Peredur, and saluted him, and
+besought him, for the sake of the lady of his love, to come and
+visit the Empress. And they went, together with the
+miller. And Peredur went and sat down in the outer chamber
+of the tent, and she came and placed herself by his side.
+And there was but little discourse between them. And
+Peredur took his leave, and went to his lodging.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day he came to visit her, and when he came into
+the tent there was no one chamber less decorated than the
+others. And they knew not where he would sit. And
+Peredur went and sat beside the Empress, and discoursed with her
+courteously. And while they were thus, they beheld a black
+man enter with a goblet full of wine in his hand. And he
+dropped upon his knee before the Empress, and besought her to
+give it to no one who would not fight with him for it. And
+she looked upon Peredur. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;bestow on me the goblet.&rdquo; And Peredur drank
+the wine, and gave the goblet to the miller&rsquo;s wife.
+And while they were thus, behold there entered a black man of
+larger stature than the other, with a wild beast&rsquo;s claw in
+his hand, wrought into the form of a goblet and filled with
+wine. And he presented it to the Empress, and besought her
+to give it to no one but the man who would fight with him.
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;bestow it on
+me.&rdquo; And she gave it to him. And Peredur drank
+the wine, and sent the goblet to the wife of the miller.
+And while they were thus, behold a rough-looking, crisp-haired
+man, taller than either of the others, came in with a bowl in his
+hand full of wine; and he bent upon his knee, and gave it into
+the hands of the Empress, and he besought her to give it to none
+but him who would fight with him for it; and she gave it to
+Peredur, and he sent it to the miller&rsquo;s wife. And
+that night Peredur returned to his lodging; and the next day he
+accoutred himself and his horse, and went to the meadow and slew
+the three men. Then Peredur proceeded to the tent, and the
+Empress said to him, &ldquo;Goodly Peredur, remember the faith
+thou didst pledge me when I gave thee the stone, and thou didst
+kill the Addanc.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; answered he,
+&ldquo;thou sayest truth, I do remember it.&rdquo; And
+Peredur was entertained by the Empress fourteen years, as the
+story relates.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk, his principal palace; and in
+the centre of the floor of the hall were four men sitting on a
+carpet of velvet, Owain the son of Urien, and Gwalchmai the son
+of Gwyar, and Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, and Peredur of the
+long lance. And thereupon they saw a black curly-headed
+maiden enter, riding upon a yellow mule, with jagged thongs in
+her hand to urge it on; and having a rough and hideous
+aspect. Blacker were her face and her two hands than the
+blackest iron covered with pitch; and her hue was not more
+frightful than her form. High cheeks had she, and a face
+lengthened downwards, and a short nose with distended
+nostrils. And one eye was of a piercing mottled grey, and
+the other was as black as jet, deep-sunk in her head. And
+her teeth were long and yellow, more yellow were they than the
+flower of the broom. And her stomach rose from the
+breast-bone, higher than her chin. And her back was in the
+shape of a crook, and her legs were large and bony. And her
+figure was very thin and spare, except her feet and her legs,
+which were of huge size. And she greeted Arthur and all his
+household except Peredur. And to Peredur she spoke harsh
+and angry words. &ldquo;Peredur, I greet thee not, seeing
+that thou dost not merit it. Blind was fate in giving thee
+fame and favour. When thou wast in the Court of the Lame
+King, and didst see there the youth bearing the streaming spear,
+from the points of which were drops of blood flowing in streams,
+even to the hand of the youth, and many other wonders likewise,
+thou didst not inquire their meaning nor their cause. Hadst
+thou done so, the King would have been restored to health, and
+his dominions to peace. Whereas from henceforth, he will
+have to endure battles and conflicts, and his knights will
+perish, and wives will be widowed, and maidens will be left
+portionless, and all this is because of thee.&rdquo; Then
+said she unto Arthur, &ldquo;May it please thee, lord, my
+dwelling is far hence, in the stately castle of which thou hast
+heard, and therein are five hundred and sixty-six knights of the
+order of Chivalry, and the lady whom best he loves with each; and
+whoever would acquire fame in arms, and encounters, and
+conflicts, he will gain it there, if he deserve it. And
+whoso would reach the summit of fame and of honour, I know where
+he may find it. There is a castle on a lofty mountain, and
+there is a maiden therein, and she is detained a prisoner there,
+and whoever shall set her free will attain the summit of the fame
+of the world.&rdquo; And thereupon she rode away.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly
+until I have proved if I can release the maiden.&rdquo; And
+many of Arthur&rsquo;s household joined themselves with
+him. Then, likewise, said Peredur, &ldquo;By my faith, I
+will not rest tranquilly until I know the story and the meaning
+of the lance whereof the black maiden spoke.&rdquo; And
+while they were equipping themselves, behold a knight came to the
+gate. And he had the size and the strength of a warrior,
+and was equipped with arms and habiliments. And he went
+forward, and saluted Arthur and all his household, except
+Gwalchmai. And the knight had upon his shoulder a shield,
+ingrained with gold, with a fesse of azure blue upon it, and his
+whole armour was of the same hue. And he said to Gwalchmai,
+&ldquo;Thou didst slay my lord by thy treachery and deceit, and
+that will I prove upon thee.&rdquo; Then Gwalchmai rose
+up. &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;here is my gage
+against thee, to maintain, either in this place or wherever else
+thou wilt, that I am not a traitor or deceiver.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Before the King whom I obey, will I that my encounter with
+thee take place,&rdquo; said the knight.
+&ldquo;Willingly,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai; &ldquo;go forward, and I
+will follow thee.&rdquo; So the knight went forth, and
+Gwalchmai accoutred himself, and there was offered unto him
+abundance of armour, but he would take none but his own.
+And when Gwalchmai and Peredur were equipped, they set forth to
+follow him, by reason of their fellowship and of the great
+friendship that was between them. And they did not go after
+him in company together, but each went his own way.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At the dawn of day Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in the
+valley he saw a fortress, and within the fortress a vast palace
+and lofty towers around it. And he beheld a knight coming
+out to hunt from the other side, mounted on a spirited black
+snorting palfrey, that advanced at a prancing pace, proudly
+stepping, and nimbly bounding, and sure of foot; and this was the
+man to whom the palace belonged. And Gwalchmai saluted
+him. &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee, chieftain,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and whence comest thou?&rdquo; &ldquo;I come,&rdquo;
+answered Gwalchmai, &ldquo;from the Court of Arthur.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;And art thou Arthur&rsquo;s vassal?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Yes, by my faith,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai. &ldquo;I
+will give thee good counsel,&rdquo; said the knight.
+&ldquo;I see that thou art tired and weary; go unto my palace, if
+it may please thee, and tarry there to-night.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Willingly, lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and Heaven reward
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Take this ring as a token to the
+porter, and go forward to yonder tower, and therein thou wilt
+find my sister.&rdquo; And Gwalchmai went to the gate, and
+showed the ring, and proceeded to the tower. And on
+entering he beheld a large blazing fire, burning without smoke
+and with a bright and lofty flame, and a beauteous and stately
+maiden was sitting on a chair by the fire. And the maiden
+was glad at his coming, and welcomed him, and advanced to meet
+him. And he went and sat beside the maiden, and they took
+their repast. And when their repast was over, they
+discoursed pleasantly together. And while they were thus,
+behold there entered a venerable hoary-headed man.
+&ldquo;Ah! base girl,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if thou didst think
+it was right for thee to entertain and to sit by yonder man, thou
+wouldest not do so.&rdquo; And he withdrew his head, and
+went forth. &ldquo;Ah! chieftain,&rdquo; said the maiden,
+&ldquo;if thou wilt do as I counsel thee, thou wilt shut the
+door, lest the man should have a plot against thee.&rdquo;
+Upon that Gwalchmai arose, and when he came near unto the door,
+the man, with sixty others, fully armed, were ascending the
+tower. And Gwalchmai defended the door with a chessboard,
+that none might enter until the man should return from the
+chase. And thereupon, behold the Earl arrived.
+&ldquo;What is all this?&rdquo; asked he. &ldquo;It is a
+sad thing,&rdquo; said the hoary-headed man; &ldquo;the young
+girl yonder has been sitting and eating with him who slew your
+father. He is Gwalchmai, the son of Gwyar.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Hold thy peace, then,&rdquo; said the Earl, &ldquo;I will
+go in.&rdquo; And the Earl was joyful concerning
+Gwalchmai. &ldquo;Ha! chieftain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it
+was wrong of thee to come to my court, when thou knewest that
+thou didst slay my father; and though we cannot avenge him,
+Heaven will avenge him upon thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;My
+soul,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;thus it is: I came not here
+either to acknowledge or to deny having slain thy father; but I
+am on a message from Arthur, and therefore do I crave the space
+of a year until I shall return from my embassy, and then, upon my
+faith, I will come back unto this palace, and do one of two
+things, either acknowledge it, or deny it.&rdquo; And the
+time was granted him willingly; and he remained there that
+night. And the next morning he rode forth. And the
+story relates nothing further of Gwalchmai respecting this
+adventure.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Peredur rode forward. And he wandered over the whole
+island, seeking tidings of the black maiden, and he could meet
+with none. And he came to an unknown land, in the centre of
+a valley, watered by a river. And as he traversed the
+valley he beheld a horseman coming towards him, and wearing the
+garments of a priest; and he besought his blessing.
+&ldquo;Wretched man,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou meritest no
+blessing, and thou wouldest not be profited by one, seeing that
+thou art clad in armour on such a day as this.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;And what day is to-day?&rdquo; said Peredur.
+&ldquo;To-day is Good Friday,&rdquo; he answered.
+&ldquo;Chide me not that I knew not this, seeing that it is a
+year to-day since I journeyed forth from my country.&rdquo;
+Then he dismounted, and led his horse in his hand. And he
+had not proceeded far along the high road before he came to a
+cross road, and the cross road traversed a wood. And on the
+other side of the wood he saw an unfortified castle, which
+appeared to be inhabited. And at the gate of the castle
+there met him the priest whom he had seen before, and he asked
+his blessing. &ldquo;The blessing of Heaven be unto
+thee,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it is more fitting to travel in thy
+present guise than as thou wast erewhile; and this night thou
+shalt tarry with me.&rdquo; So he remained there that
+night.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day Peredur sought to go forth.
+&ldquo;To-day may no one journey. Thou shalt remain with me
+to-day and to-morrow, and the day following, and I will direct
+thee as best I may to the place which thou art
+seeking.&rdquo; And the fourth day Peredur sought to go
+forth, and he entreated the priest to tell him how he should find
+the Castle of Wonders. &ldquo;What I know thereof I will
+tell thee,&rdquo; he replied. &ldquo;Go over yonder
+mountain, and on the other side of the mountain thou wilt come to
+a river, and in the valley wherein the river runs is a
+King&rsquo;s palace, wherein the King sojourned during
+Easter. And if thou mayest have tidings anywhere of the
+Castle of Wonders, thou wilt have them there.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to the valley in
+which was the river, and there met him a number of men going to
+hunt, and in the midst of them was a man of exalted rank, and
+Peredur saluted him. &ldquo;Choose, chieftain,&rdquo; said
+the man, &ldquo;whether thou wilt go with me to the chase, or
+wilt proceed to my palace, and I will dispatch one of my
+household to commend thee to my daughter, who is there, and who
+will entertain thee with food and liquor until I return from
+hunting; and whatever may be thine errand, such as I can obtain
+for thee thou shalt gladly have.&rdquo; And the King sent a
+little yellow page with him as an attendant; and when they came
+to the palace the lady had arisen, and was about to wash before
+meat. Peredur went forward, and she saluted him joyfully,
+and placed him by her side. And they took their
+repast. And whatsoever Peredur said unto her, she laughed
+loudly, so that all in the palace could hear. Then spoke
+the yellow page to the lady. &ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;this youth is already thy husband; or if he be
+not, thy mind and thy thoughts are set upon him.&rdquo; And
+the little yellow page went unto the King, and told him that it
+seemed to him that the youth whom he had met with was his
+daughter&rsquo;s husband, or if he were not so already that he
+would shortly become so unless he were cautious.
+&ldquo;What is thy counsel in this matter, youth?&rdquo; said the
+King. &ldquo;My counsel is,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;that
+thou set strong men upon him, to seize him, until thou hast
+ascertained the truth respecting this.&rdquo; So he set
+strong men upon Peredur, who seized him and cast him into
+prison. And the maiden went before her father, and asked
+him wherefore he had caused the youth from Arthur&rsquo;s Court
+to be imprisoned. &ldquo;In truth,&rdquo; he answered,
+&ldquo;he shall not be free to-night, nor to-morrow, nor the day
+following, and he shall not come from where he is.&rdquo;
+She replied not to what the King had said, but she went to the
+youth. &ldquo;Is it unpleasant to thee to be here?&rdquo;
+said she. &ldquo;I should not care if I were not,&rdquo; he
+replied. &ldquo;Thy couch and thy treatment shall be in no
+wise inferior to that of the King himself, and thou shalt have
+the best entertainment that the palace affords. And if it
+were more pleasing to thee that my couch should be here, that I
+might discourse with thee, it should be so,
+cheerfully.&rdquo; &ldquo;This can I not refuse,&rdquo;
+said Peredur. And he remained in prison that night.
+And the maiden provided all that she had promised him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day Peredur heard a tumult in the town.
+&ldquo;Tell me, fair maiden, what is that tumult?&rdquo; said
+Peredur. &ldquo;All the King&rsquo;s hosts and his forces
+have come to the town to-day.&rdquo; &ldquo;And what seek
+they here?&rdquo; he inquired. &ldquo;There is an Earl near
+this place who possesses two Earldoms, and is as powerful as a
+King; and an engagement will take place between them
+to-day.&rdquo; &ldquo;I beseech thee,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;to cause a horse and arms to be brought, that I may view
+the encounter, and I promise to come back to my prison
+again.&rdquo; &ldquo;Gladly,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;will I
+provide thee with horse and arms.&rdquo; So she gave him a
+horse and arms, and a bright scarlet robe of honour over his
+armour, and a yellow shield upon his shoulder. And he went
+to the combat; and as many of the Earl&rsquo;s men as encountered
+him that day he overthrew; and he returned to his prison.
+And the maiden asked tidings of Peredur, and he answered her not
+a word. And she went and asked tidings of her father, and
+inquired who had acquitted himself best of the household.
+And he said that he knew not, but that it was a man with a
+scarlet robe of honour over his armour, and a yellow shield upon
+his shoulder. Then she smiled, and returned to where
+Peredur was, and did him great honour that night. And for
+three days did Peredur slay the Earl&rsquo;s men; and before any
+one could know who he was, he returned to his prison. And
+the fourth day Peredur slew the Earl himself. And the
+maiden went unto her father, and inquired of him the news.
+&ldquo;I have good news for thee,&rdquo; said the King;
+&ldquo;the Earl is slain, and I am the owner of his two
+Earldoms.&rdquo; &ldquo;Knowest thou, lord, who slew
+him?&rdquo; &ldquo;I do not know,&rdquo; said the
+King. &ldquo;It was the knight with the scarlet robe of
+honour and the yellow shield.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;I know who that is.&rdquo; &ldquo;By
+Heaven!&rdquo; he exclaimed, &ldquo;who is he?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;he is the knight whom
+thou hast imprisoned.&rdquo; Then he went unto Peredur, and
+saluted him, and told him that he would reward the service he had
+done him, in any way he might desire. And when they went to
+meat, Peredur was placed beside the King, and the maiden on the
+other side of Peredur. &ldquo;I will give thee,&rdquo; said
+the King, &ldquo;my daughter in marriage, and half my kingdom
+with her, and the two Earldoms as a gift.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Heaven reward thee, lord,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;but
+I came not here to woo.&rdquo; &ldquo;What seekest thou
+then, chieftain?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am seeking tidings of the
+Castle of Wonders.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thy enterprise is greater,
+chieftain, than thou wilt wish to pursue,&rdquo; said the maiden,
+&ldquo;nevertheless, tidings shalt thou have of the Castle, and
+thou shalt have a guide through my father&rsquo;s dominions, and
+a sufficiency of provisions for thy journey, for thou art, O
+chieftain, the man whom best I love.&rdquo; Then she said
+to him, &ldquo;Go over yonder mountain, and thou wilt find a
+lake, and in the middle of the lake there is a Castle, and that
+is the Castle that is called the Castle of Wonders; and we know
+not what wonders are therein, but thus is it called.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Peredur proceeded towards the Castle, and the gate of the
+Castle was open. And when he came to the hall, the door was
+open, and he entered. And he beheld a chessboard in the
+hall, and the chessmen were playing against each other, by
+themselves. And the side that he favoured lost the game,
+and thereupon the others set up a shout, as though they had been
+living men. And Peredur was wroth, and took the chessmen in
+his lap, and cast the chessboard into the lake. And when he
+had done thus, behold the black maiden came in, and she said to
+him, &ldquo;The welcome of Heaven be not unto thee. Thou
+hadst rather do evil than good.&rdquo; &ldquo;What
+complaint hast thou against me, maiden?&rdquo; said
+Peredur. &ldquo;That thou hast occasioned unto the Empress
+the loss of her chessboard, which she would not have lost for all
+her empire. And the way in which thou mayest recover the
+chessboard is, to repair to the Castle of Ysbidinongyl, where is
+a black man, who lays waste the dominions of the Empress; and if
+thou canst slay him, thou wilt recover the chessboard. But
+if thou goest there, thou wilt not return alive.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Wilt thou direct me thither?&rdquo; said Peredur.
+&ldquo;I will show thee the way,&rdquo; she replied. So he
+went to the Castle of Ysbidinongyl, and he fought with the black
+man. And the black man besought mercy of Peredur.
+&ldquo;Mercy will I grant thee,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;on
+condition that thou cause the chessboard to be restored to the
+place where it was when I entered the hall.&rdquo; Then the
+maiden came to him, and said, &ldquo;The malediction of Heaven
+attend thee for thy work, since thou hast left that monster
+alive, who lays waste all the possessions of the
+Empress.&rdquo; &ldquo;I granted him his life,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;that he might cause the chessboard to be
+restored.&rdquo; &ldquo;The chessboard is not in the place
+where thou didst find it; go back, therefore, and slay
+him,&rdquo; answered she. So Peredur went back, and slew
+the black man. And when he returned to the palace, he found
+the black maiden there. &ldquo;Ah! maiden,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;where is the Empress?&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+declare to Heaven that thou wilt not see her now, unless thou
+dost slay the monster that is in yonder forest.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;What monster is there?&rdquo; &ldquo;It is a stag
+that is as swift as the swiftest bird; and he has one horn in his
+forehead, as long as the shaft of a spear, and as sharp as
+whatever is sharpest. And he destroys the branches of the
+best trees in the forest, and he kills every animal that he meets
+with therein; and those that he doth not slay perish of
+hunger. And what is worse than that, he comes every night,
+and drinks up the fish-pond, and leaves the fishes exposed, so
+that for the most part they die before the water returns
+again.&rdquo; &ldquo;Maiden,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;wilt thou come and show me this animal?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;for he has not
+permitted any mortal to enter the forest for above a
+twelvemonth. Behold, here is a little dog belonging to the
+Empress, which will rouse the stag, and will chase him towards
+thee, and the stag will attack thee.&rdquo; Then the little
+dog went as a guide to Peredur, and roused the stag, and brought
+him towards the place where Peredur was. And the stag
+attacked Peredur, and he let him pass by him, and as he did so,
+he smote off his head with his sword. And while he was
+looking at the head of the stag, he saw a lady on horseback
+coming towards him. And she took the little dog in the
+lappet of her cap, and the head and the body of the stag lay
+before her. And around the stag&rsquo;s neck was a golden
+collar. &ldquo;Ha! chieftain,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;uncourteously hast thou acted in slaying the fairest jewel
+that was in my dominions.&rdquo; &ldquo;I was entreated so
+to do; and is there any way by which I can obtain thy
+friendship?&rdquo; &ldquo;There is,&rdquo; she
+replied. &ldquo;Go thou forward unto yonder mountain, and
+there thou wilt find a grove; and in the grove there is a
+cromlech; do thou there challenge a man three times to fight, and
+thou shalt have my friendship.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of the
+grove, and challenged any man to fight. And a black man
+arose from beneath the cromlech, mounted upon a bony horse, and
+both he and his horse were clad in huge rusty armour. And
+they fought. And as often as Peredur cast the black man to
+the earth, he would jump again into his saddle. And Peredur
+dismounted, and drew his sword; and thereupon the black man
+disappeared with Peredur&rsquo;s horse and his own, so that he
+could not gain sight of him a second time. And Peredur went
+along the mountain, and on the other side of the mountain he
+beheld a castle in the valley, wherein was a river. And he
+went to the castle; and as he entered it, he saw a hall, and the
+door of the hall was open, and he went in. And there he saw
+a lame grey-headed man sitting on one side of the hall, with
+Gwalchmai beside him. And Peredur beheld his horse, which
+the black man had taken, in the same stall with that of
+Gwalchmai. And they were glad concerning Peredur. And
+he went and seated himself on the other side of the hoary-headed
+man. Then, behold a yellow-haired youth came, and bent upon
+the knee before Peredur, and besought his friendship.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said the youth, &ldquo;it was I that came in
+the form of the black maiden to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and when
+thou didst throw down the chessboard, and when thou didst slay
+the black man of Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the stag,
+and when thou didst go to fight the black man of the
+cromlech. And I came with the bloody head in the salver,
+and with the lance that streamed with blood from the point to the
+hand, all along the shaft; and the head was thy cousin&rsquo;s,
+and he was killed by the sorceresses of Gloucester, who also
+lamed thine uncle; and I am thy cousin. And there is a
+prediction that thou art to avenge these things.&rdquo;
+Then Peredur and Gwalchmai took counsel, and sent to Arthur and
+his household, to beseech them to come against the
+sorceresses. And they began to fight with them; and one of
+the sorceresses slew one of Arthur&rsquo;s men before
+Peredur&rsquo;s face, and Peredur bade her forbear. And the
+sorceress slew a man before Peredur&rsquo;s face a second time,
+and a second time he forbad her. And the third time the
+sorceress slew a man before the face of Peredur; and then Peredur
+drew his sword, and smote the sorceress on the helmet; and all
+her head-armour was split in two parts. And she set up a
+cry, and desired the other sorceresses to flee, and told them
+that this was Peredur, the man who had learnt Chivalry with them,
+and by whom they were destined to be slain. Then Arthur and
+his household fell upon the sorceresses, and slew the sorceresses
+of Gloucester every one. And thus is it related concerning
+the Castle of Wonders.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap04"></a>GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN</h2>
+
+<p>
+Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk. And there he
+held it seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upon a time he held his
+Court there at Whitsuntide. For Caerlleon was the place most easy of access in
+his dominions, both by sea and by land. And there were assembled nine crowned
+kings, who were his tributaries, and likewise earls and barons. For they were
+his invited guests at all the high festivals, unless they were prevented by any
+great hindrance. And when he was at Caerlleon, holding his Court, thirteen
+churches were set apart for mass. And thus were they appointed: one church for
+Arthur, and his kings, and his guests; and the second for Gwenhwyvar and her
+ladies; and the third for the Steward of the Household and the suitors; and the
+fourth for the Franks and the other officers; and the other nine churches were
+for the nine Masters of the Household and chiefly for Gwalchmai; for he, from
+the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his birth, was the
+most exalted of the nine. And there was no other arrangement respecting the
+churches than that which we have mentioned above.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not
+himself perform the office, except at one of the three high
+festivals, for he had seven men to serve him, and they divided
+the year amongst them. They were Grynn, and Pen Pighon, and
+Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and Gwrdnei with cat&rsquo;s eyes,
+who could see as well by night as by day, and Drem the son of
+Dremhitid, and Clust the son of Clustveinyd; and these were
+Arthur&rsquo;s guards. And on Whit-Tuesday, as the King sat
+at the banquet, lo! there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad
+in a coat and a surcoat of diapered satin, and a golden-hilted
+sword about his neck, and low shoes of leather upon his
+feet. And he came, and stood before Arthur.
+&ldquo;Hail to thee, Lord!&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Heaven
+prosper thee,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;and be thou
+welcome. Dost thou bring any new tidings?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I do, Lord,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I know thee
+not,&rdquo; said Arthur. &ldquo;It is a marvel to me that
+thou dost not know me. I am one of thy foresters, Lord, in
+the Forest of Dean, and my name is Madawc, the son of
+Twrgadarn.&rdquo; &ldquo;Tell me thine errand,&rdquo; said
+Arthur. &ldquo;I will do so, Lord,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;In the Forest I saw a stag, the like of which beheld I
+never yet.&rdquo; &ldquo;What is there about him,&rdquo;
+asked Arthur, &ldquo;that thou never yet didst see his
+like?&rdquo; &ldquo;He is of pure white, Lord, and he does
+not herd with any other animal through stateliness and pride, so
+royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord,
+and to know thy will concerning him.&rdquo; &ldquo;It seems
+best to me,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;to go and hunt him
+to-morrow at break of day; and to cause general notice thereof to
+be given to-night in all quarters of the Court.&rdquo; And
+Arryfuerys was Arthur&rsquo;s chief huntsman, and Arelivri was
+his chief page. And all received notice; and thus it was
+arranged. And they sent the youth before them. Then
+Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, &ldquo;Wilt thou permit me,
+Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to go to-morrow to see and hear the
+hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will gladly,&rdquo; said Arthur. &ldquo;Then will
+I go,&rdquo; said she. And Gwalchmai said to Arthur,
+&ldquo;Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that into whose hunt
+soever the stag shall come, that one, be he a knight, or one on
+foot, may cut off his head, and give it to whom he pleases,
+whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady of his
+friend.&rdquo; &ldquo;I grant it gladly,&rdquo; said
+Arthur, &ldquo;and let the Steward of the Household be chastised,
+if all are not ready to-morrow for the chase.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and
+discourse, and ample entertainment. And when it was time
+for them all to go to sleep, they went. And when the next
+day came, they arose; and Arthur called the attendants, who
+guarded his couch. And these were four pages, whose names
+were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy, and Ambreu the son of
+Bedwor, and Amhar the son of Arthur, and Goreu the son of
+Custennin. And these men came to Arthur and saluted him,
+and arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur wondered that
+Gwenhwyvar did not awake, and did not move in her bed; and the
+attendants wished to awaken her. &ldquo;Disturb her
+not,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;for she had rather sleep than go
+to see the hunting.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one
+from near the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from
+near that of the chief page. And the whole assembly of the
+multitudes came to Arthur, and they took the road to the
+Forest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar
+awoke, and called to her maidens, and apparelled herself.
+&ldquo;Maidens,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I had leave last night to
+go and see the hunt. Go one of you to the stable, and order
+hither a horse such as a woman may ride.&rdquo; And one of
+them went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and
+Gwenhwyvar and one of her maidens mounted them, and went through
+the Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses.
+And as they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and
+they looked behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal
+of mighty size; and the rider was a fair-haired youth,
+bare-legged, and of princely mien, and a golden-hilted sword was
+at his side, and a robe and a surcoat of satin were upon him, and
+two low shoes of leather upon his feet; and around him was a
+scarf of blue purple, at each corner of which was a golden
+apple. And his horse stepped stately, and swift, and proud;
+and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and saluted her. &ldquo;Heaven
+prosper thee, Geraint,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I knew thee when
+first I saw thee just now. And the welcome of Heaven be
+unto thee. And why didst thou not go with thy lord to
+hunt?&rdquo; &ldquo;Because I knew not when he went,&rdquo;
+said he. &ldquo;I marvel, too,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;how
+he could go unknown to me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Indeed,
+lady,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;I was asleep, and knew not
+when he went; but thou, O young man, art the most agreeable
+companion I could have in the whole kingdom; and it may be, that
+I shall be more amused with the hunting than they; for we shall
+hear the horns when they sound, and we shall hear the dogs when
+they are let loose, and begin to cry.&rdquo; So they went
+to the edge of the Forest, and there they stood.
+&ldquo;From this place,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;we shall hear
+when the dogs are let loose.&rdquo; And thereupon, they
+heard a loud noise, and they looked towards the spot whence it
+came, and they beheld a dwarf riding upon a horse, stately, and
+foaming, and prancing, and strong, and spirited. And in the
+hand of the dwarf was a whip. And near the dwarf they saw a
+lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady and stately pace;
+and she was clothed in a garment of gold brocade. And near
+her was a knight upon a warhorse of large size, with heavy and
+bright armour both upon himself and upon his horse. And
+truly they never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armour, of
+such remarkable size. And they were all near to each
+other.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Geraint,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;knowest thou
+the name of that tall knight yonder?&rdquo; &ldquo;I know
+him not,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and the strange armour that he
+wears prevents my either seeing his face or his
+features.&rdquo; &ldquo;Go, maiden,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar,
+&ldquo;and ask the dwarf who that knight is.&rdquo; Then
+the maiden went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for the
+maiden, when he saw her coming towards him. And the maiden
+inquired of the dwarf who the knight was. &ldquo;I will not
+tell thee,&rdquo; he answered. &ldquo;Since thou art so
+churlish as not to tell me,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I will ask
+him himself.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou shalt not ask him, by my
+faith,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Wherefore?&rdquo; said
+she. &ldquo;Because thou art not of honour sufficient to
+befit thee to speak to my Lord.&rdquo; Then the maiden
+turned her horse&rsquo;s head towards the knight, upon which the
+dwarf struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the
+face and the eyes, until the blood flowed forth. And the
+maiden, through the hurt she received from the blow, returned to
+Gwenhwyvar, complaining of the pain. &ldquo;Very rudely has
+the dwarf treated thee,&rdquo; said Geraint. &ldquo;I will
+go myself to know who the knight is.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Go,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar. And Geraint went up to
+the dwarf. &ldquo;Who is yonder knight?&rdquo; said
+Geraint. &ldquo;I will not tell thee,&rdquo; said the
+dwarf. &ldquo;Then will I ask him himself,&rdquo; said
+he. &ldquo;That wilt thou not, by my faith,&rdquo; said the
+dwarf, &ldquo;thou art not honourable enough to speak with my
+Lord.&rdquo; Said Geraint, &ldquo;I have spoken with men of
+equal rank with him.&rdquo; And he turned his horse&rsquo;s
+head towards the knight; but the dwarf overtook him, and struck
+him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood coloured the
+scarf that Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand upon the
+hilt of his sword, but he took counsel with himself, and
+considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the
+dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so he
+returned to where Gwenhwyvar was.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly,&rdquo; said
+she. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I will follow him
+yet, with thy permission; and at last he will come to some
+inhabited place, where I may have arms either as a loan or for a
+pledge, so that I may encounter the knight.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Go,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and do not attack him until
+thou hast good arms, and I shall be very anxious concerning thee,
+until I hear tidings of thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;If I am
+alive,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou shalt hear tidings of me by
+to-morrow afternoon;&rdquo; and with that he departed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon, and
+across the ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair, and even,
+and lofty ridge of ground, until they came to a town, and at the
+extremity of the town they saw a Fortress and a Castle. And
+they came to the extremity of the town. And as the knight
+passed through it, all the people arose, and saluted him, and
+bade him welcome. And when Geraint came into the town, he
+looked at every house, to see if he knew any of those whom he
+saw. But he knew none, and none knew him to do him the
+kindness to let him have arms either as a loan or for a
+pledge. And every house he saw was full of men, and arms,
+and horses. And they were polishing shields, and burnishing
+swords, and washing armour, and shoeing horses. And the
+knight, and the lady, and the dwarf rode up to the Castle that
+was in the town, and every one was glad in the Castle. And
+from the battlements and the gates they risked their necks,
+through their eagerness to greet them, and to show their joy.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in
+the Castle; and when he was certain that he would do so, he
+looked around him; and at a little distance from the town he saw
+an old palace in ruins, wherein was a hall that was falling to
+decay. And as he knew not any one in the town, he went
+towards the old palace; and when he came near to the palace, he
+saw but one chamber, and a bridge of marble-stone leading to
+it. And upon the bridge he saw sitting a hoary-headed man,
+upon whom were tattered garments. And Geraint gazed
+steadfastly upon him for a long time. Then the hoary-headed
+man spoke to him. &ldquo;Young man,&rdquo; he said,
+&ldquo;wherefore art thou thoughtful?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am
+thoughtful,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;because I know not where to go
+to-night.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wilt thou come forward this way,
+chieftain?&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and thou shalt have of the best
+that can be procured for thee.&rdquo; So Geraint went
+forward. And the hoary-headed man preceded him into the
+hall. And in the hall he dismounted, and he left there his
+horse. Then he went on to the upper chamber with the
+hoary-headed man. And in the chamber he beheld an old
+decrepit woman, sitting on a cushion, with old, tattered garments
+of satin upon her; and it seemed to him that he had never seen a
+woman fairer than she must have been, when in the fulness of
+youth. And beside her was a maiden, upon whom were a vest
+and a veil, that were old, and beginning to be worn out.
+And truly, he never saw a maiden more full of comeliness, and
+grace, and beauty than she. And the hoary-headed man said
+to the maiden, &ldquo;There is no attendant for the horse of this
+youth but thyself.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will render the best
+service I am able,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;both to him and to his
+horse.&rdquo; And the maiden disarrayed the youth, and then
+she furnished his horse with straw and with corn. And she
+went to the hall as before, and then she returned to the
+chamber. And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden,
+&ldquo;Go to the town,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and bring hither
+the best that thou canst find both of food and of
+liquor.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will, gladly, Lord,&rdquo; said
+she. And to the town went the maiden. And they
+conversed together while the maiden was at the town. And,
+behold! the maiden came back, and a youth with her, bearing on
+his back a costrel full of good purchased mead, and a quarter of
+a young bullock. And in the hands of the maiden was a
+quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet bread in her
+veil, and she came into the chamber. &ldquo;I could not
+obtain better than this,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;nor with better
+should I have been trusted.&rdquo; &ldquo;It is good
+enough,&rdquo; said Geraint. And they caused the meat to be
+boiled; and when their food was ready, they sat down. And
+it was on this wise; Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and
+his wife, and the maiden served them. And they ate and
+drank.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the
+hoary-headed man, and he asked him in the first place, to whom
+belonged the palace that he was in. &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;it was I that built it, and to me also belonged
+the city and the castle which thou sawest.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Alas!&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;how is it that thou hast
+lost them now?&rdquo; &ldquo;I lost a great Earldom as well
+as these,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;and this is how I lost
+them. I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his
+possessions to myself; and when he came to his strength, he
+demanded of me his property, but I withheld it from him. So
+he made war upon me, and wrested from me all that I
+possessed.&rdquo; &ldquo;Good Sir,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;wilt thou tell me wherefore came the knight, and the lady,
+and the dwarf, just now into the town, and what is the
+preparation which I saw, and the putting of arms in
+order?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;The preparations are for the game that is to be held
+to-morrow by the young Earl, which will be on this wise. In
+the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be set up,
+and upon the two forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a
+Sparrow-Hawk, and for the Sparrow-Hawk there will be a
+tournament. And to the tournament will go all the array
+thou didst see in the city, of men, and of horses, and of
+arms. And with each man will go the lady he loves best; and
+no man can joust for the Sparrow-Hawk, except the lady he loves
+best be with him. And the knight that thou sawest has
+gained the Sparrow-Hawk these two years; and if he gains it the
+third year, they will, from that time, send it every year to him,
+and he himself will come here no more. And he will be
+called the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk from that time
+forth.&rdquo; &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;what
+is thy counsel to me concerning this knight, on account of the
+insult which I received from the dwarf, and that which was
+received by the maiden of Gwenhwyvar, the wife of
+Arthur?&rdquo; And Geraint told the hoary-headed man what
+the insult was that he had received. &ldquo;It is not easy
+to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou hast neither dame nor maiden
+belonging to thee, for whom thou canst joust. Yet, I have
+arms here, which thou couldest have; and there is my horse also,
+if he seem to thee better than thine own.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Ah! Sir,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Heaven reward
+thee. But my own horse, to which I am accustomed, together
+with thy arms, will suffice me. And if, when the appointed
+time shall come to-morrow, thou wilt permit me, Sir, to challenge
+for yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I
+escape from the tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live;
+and if I do not escape, she will remain unsullied as
+before.&rdquo; &ldquo;Gladly will I permit thee,&rdquo;
+said the hoary-headed man, &ldquo;and since thou dost thus
+resolve, it is necessary that thy horse and arms should be ready
+to-morrow at break of day. For then the Knight of the
+Sparrow-Hawk will make proclamation, and ask the lady he loves
+best to take the Sparrow-Hawk. &lsquo;For,&rsquo; will he
+say to her, &lsquo;thou art the fairest of women, and thou didst
+possess it last year, and the year previous; and if any deny it
+thee to-day, by force will I defend it for thee.&rsquo; And
+therefore,&rdquo; said the hoary-headed man, &ldquo;it is needful
+for thee to be there at daybreak; and we three will be with
+thee.&rdquo; And thus was it settled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And at night, lo! they went to sleep; and before the dawn they
+arose, and arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day,
+they were all four in the meadow. And there was the Knight
+of the Sparrow-Hawk making the proclamation, and asking his
+lady-love to fetch the Sparrow-Hawk. &ldquo;Fetch it
+not,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;for there is here a maiden, who
+is fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and who has a better
+claim to it than thou.&rdquo; &ldquo;If thou maintainest
+the Sparrow-Hawk to be due to her, come forward, and do battle
+with me.&rdquo; And Geraint went forward to the top of the
+meadow, having upon himself and upon his horse armour which was
+heavy, and rusty, and worthless, and of uncouth shape. Then
+they encountered each other, and they broke a set of lances, and
+they broke a second set, and a third. And thus they did at
+every onset, and they broke as many lances as were brought to
+them. And when the Earl and his company saw the Knight of
+the Sparrow-Hawk gaining the mastery, there was shouting, and
+joy, and mirth amongst them. And the hoary-headed man, and
+his wife, and his daughter were sorrowful. And the
+hoary-headed man served Geraint lances as often as he broke them,
+and the dwarf served the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk. Then
+the hoary-headed man came to Geraint. &ldquo;Oh!
+chieftain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;since no other will hold with
+thee, behold, here is the lance which was in my hand on the day
+when I received the honour of knighthood; and from that time to
+this I never broke it. And it has an excellent
+point.&rdquo; Then Geraint took the lance, thanking the
+hoary-headed man. And thereupon the dwarf also brought a
+lance to his lord. &ldquo;Behold, here is a lance for thee,
+not less good than his,&rdquo; said the dwarf. &ldquo;And
+bethink thee, that no knight ever withstood thee before so long
+as this one has done.&rdquo; &ldquo;I declare to
+Heaven,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;that unless death takes me
+quickly hence, he shall fare never the better for thy
+service.&rdquo; And Geraint pricked his horse towards him
+from afar, and warning him, he rushed upon him, and gave him a
+blow so severe, and furious, and fierce, upon the face of his
+shield, that he cleft it in two, and broke his armour, and burst
+his girths, so that both he and his saddle were borne to the
+ground over the horse&rsquo;s crupper. And Geraint
+dismounted quickly. And he was wroth, and he drew his
+sword, and rushed fiercely upon him. Then the knight also
+arose, and drew his sword against Geraint. And they fought
+on foot with their swords until their arms struck sparks of fire
+like stars from one another; and thus they continued fighting
+until the blood and sweat obscured the light from their
+eyes. And when Geraint prevailed, the hoary-headed man, and
+his wife, and his daughter were glad; and when the knight
+prevailed, it rejoiced the Earl and his party. Then the
+hoary-headed man saw Geraint receive a severe stroke, and he went
+up to him quickly, and said to him, &ldquo;Oh, chieftain,
+remember the treatment which thou hadst from the dwarf; and wilt
+thou not seek vengeance for the insult to thyself, and for the
+insult to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur!&rdquo; And Geraint
+was roused by what he said to him, and he called to him all his
+strength, and lifted up his sword, and struck the knight upon the
+crown of his head, so that he broke all his head-armour, and cut
+through all the flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he
+wounded the bone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from
+his hand, and besought mercy of Geraint. &ldquo;Of a
+truth,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I relinquish my overdaring and my
+pride in craving thy mercy; and unless I have time to commit
+myself to Heaven for my sins, and to talk with a priest, thy
+mercy will avail me little.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will grant thee
+grace upon this condition,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;that thou
+wilt go to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction
+for the insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf. As
+to myself, for the insult which I received from thee and thy
+dwarf, I am content with that which I have done unto thee.
+Dismount not from the time thou goest hence until thou comest
+into the presence of Gwenhwyvar, to make her what atonement shall
+be adjudged at the Court of Arthur.&rdquo; &ldquo;This will
+I do gladly. And who art thou?&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;I am Geraint the son of Erbin. And declare thou also
+who thou art.&rdquo; &ldquo;I am Edeyrn the son of
+Nudd.&rdquo; Then he threw himself upon his horse, and went
+forward to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and the lady he loved best went
+before him and the dwarf, with much lamentation. And thus
+far this story up to that time.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+Then came the little Earl and his hosts to Geraint, and
+saluted him, and bade him to his castle. &ldquo;I may not
+go,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;but where I was last night, there
+will I be to-night also.&rdquo; &ldquo;Since thou wilt none
+of my inviting, thou shalt have abundance of all that I can
+command for thee, in the place thou wast last night. And I
+will order ointment for thee, to recover thee from thy fatigues,
+and from the weariness that is upon thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Heaven reward thee,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;and I will
+go to my lodging.&rdquo; And thus went Geraint, and Earl
+Ynywl, and his wife, and his daughter. And when they
+reached the chamber, the household servants and attendants of the
+young Earl had arrived at the Court, and they arranged all the
+houses, dressing them with straw and with fire; and in a short
+time the ointment was ready, and Geraint came there, and they
+washed his head. Then came the young Earl, with forty
+honourable knights from among his attendants, and those who were
+bidden to the tournament. And Geraint came from the
+anointing. And the Earl asked him to go to the hall to
+eat. &ldquo;Where is the Earl Ynywl,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;and his wife, and his daughter?&rdquo; &ldquo;They
+are in the chamber yonder,&rdquo; said the Earl&rsquo;s
+chamberlain, &ldquo;arraying themselves in garments which the
+Earl has caused to be brought for them.&rdquo; &ldquo;Let
+not the damsel array herself,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;except in
+her vest and her veil, until she come to the Court of Arthur, to
+be clad by Gwenhwyvar in such garments as she may
+choose.&rdquo; So the maiden did not array herself.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and went, and
+sat down to meat. And thus were they seated. On one
+side of Geraint sat the young Earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him;
+and on the other side of Geraint were the maiden and her
+mother. And after these all sat according to their
+precedence in honour. And they ate. And they were
+served abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers kind
+of gifts. Then they conversed together. And the young
+Earl invited Geraint to visit him next day. &ldquo;I will
+not, by Heaven,&rdquo; said Geraint. &ldquo;To the Court of
+Arthur will I go with this maiden to-morrow. And it is
+enough for me, as long as Earl Ynywl is in poverty and trouble;
+and I go chiefly to seek to add to his maintenance.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Ah, chieftain,&rdquo; said the young Earl, &ldquo;it is
+not by my fault that Earl Ynywl is without his
+possessions.&rdquo; &ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;he shall not remain without them, unless death
+quickly takes me hence.&rdquo; &ldquo;Oh, chieftain,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;with regard to the disagreement between me and
+Ynywl, I will gladly abide by thy counsel, and agree to what thou
+mayest judge right between us.&rdquo; &ldquo;I but ask
+thee,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;to restore to him what is his,
+and what he should have received from the time he lost his
+possessions, even until this day.&rdquo; &ldquo;That I will
+do gladly, for thee,&rdquo; answered he.
+&ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;whosoever is here who
+owes homage to Ynywl, let him come forward, and perform it on the
+spot.&rdquo; And all the men did so. And by that
+treaty they abided. And his castle, and his town, and all
+his possessions were restored to Ynywl. And he received
+back all that he had lost, even to the smallest jewel.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint.
+&ldquo;Chieftain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;behold the maiden for
+whom thou didst challenge at the tournament, I bestow her upon
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;She shall go with me,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;to the Court of Arthur; and Arthur and Gwenhwyvar
+they shall dispose of her as they will.&rdquo; And the next
+day they proceeded to Arthur&rsquo;s Court. So far
+concerning Geraint.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and the
+dogs were divided into hunting parties, and the dogs were let
+loose upon the stag. And the last dog that was let loose
+was the favourite dog of Arthur. Cavall was his name.
+And he left all the other dogs behind him, and turned the
+stag. And at the second turn, the stag came towards the
+hunting party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him. And
+before he could be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his
+head. Then they sounded the death horn for slaying, and
+they all gathered round.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then came Kadyrieith to Arthur, and spoke to him.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;behold, yonder is Gwenhwyvar,
+and none with her save only one maiden.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Command Gildas the son of Caw, and all the scholars of the
+Court,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;to attend Gwenhwyvar to the
+palace.&rdquo; And they did so.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning
+the head of the stag, to whom it should be given. One
+wished that it should be given to the lady best beloved by him,
+and another to the lady whom he loved best. And all they of
+the household, and the knights, disputed sharply concerning the
+head. And with that they came to the palace. And when
+Arthur and Gwenhwyvar heard them disputing about the head of the
+stag, Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, &ldquo;My lord, this is my
+counsel concerning the stag&rsquo;s head; let it not be given
+away until Geraint the son of Erbin shall return from the errand
+he is upon.&rdquo; And Gwenhwyvar told Arthur what that
+errand was. &ldquo;Right gladly shall it be so,&rdquo; said
+Arthur. And thus it was settled. And the next day
+Gwenhwyvar caused a watch to be set upon the ramparts for
+Geraint&rsquo;s coming. And after mid-day they beheld an
+unshapely little man upon a horse, and after him, as they
+supposed, a dame or a damsel, also on horseback, and after her a
+knight of large stature, bowed down, and hanging his head low and
+sorrowfully, and clad in broken and worthless armour.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And before they came near to the gate, one of the watch went
+to Gwenhwyvar, and told her what kind of people they saw, and
+what aspect they bore. &ldquo;I know not who they
+are,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;But I know,&rdquo; said
+Gwenhwyvar; &ldquo;this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, and
+methinks that he comes not here by his own free will. But
+Geraint has overtaken him, and avenged the insult to the maiden
+to the uttermost.&rdquo; And thereupon, behold a porter
+came to the spot where Gwenhwyvar was. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;at the gate there is a knight, and I saw never a
+man of so pitiful an aspect to look upon as he. Miserable
+and broken is the armour that he wears, and the hue of blood is
+more conspicuous upon it than its own colour.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Knowest thou his name?&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;I
+do,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;he tells me that he is Edeyrn the son
+of Nudd.&rdquo; Then she replied, &ldquo;I know him
+not.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he
+entered. And Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the
+condition he was in, even though he was accompanied by the
+churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted Gwenhwyvar.
+&ldquo;Heaven protect thee,&rdquo; said she.
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Geraint the son of Erbin, thy
+best and most valiant servant, greets thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Did he meet thee?&rdquo; she asked.
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and it was not to my
+advantage; and that was not his fault, but mine, Lady. And
+Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting thee he compelled me to
+come hither to do thy pleasure for the insult which thy maiden
+received from the dwarf. He forgives the insult to himself,
+in consideration of his having put me in peril of my life.
+And he imposed on me a condition, manly, and honourable, and
+warrior-like, which was to do thee justice, Lady.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Now, where did he overtake thee?&rdquo; &ldquo;At
+the place where we were jousting, and contending for the
+Sparrow-Hawk, in the town which is now called Cardiff. And
+there were none with him save three persons, of a mean and
+tattered condition. And these were an aged, hoary-headed
+man, and a woman advanced in years, and a fair young maiden, clad
+in worn-out garments. And it was for the avouchment of the
+love of that maiden that Geraint jousted for the Sparrow-Hawk at
+the tournament, for he said that that maiden was better entitled
+to the Sparrow-Hawk than this maiden who was with me. And
+thereupon we encountered each other, and he left me, Lady, as
+thou seest.&rdquo; &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;when
+thinkest thou that Geraint will be here?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;To-morrow, Lady, I think he will be here with the
+maiden.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arthur came to him, and he saluted Arthur; and Arthur
+gazed a long time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus.
+And thinking that he knew him, he inquired of him, &ldquo;Art
+thou Edeyrn the son of Nudd?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am,
+Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and I have met with much trouble,
+and received wounds unsupportable.&rdquo; Then he told
+Arthur all his adventure. &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Arthur,
+&ldquo;from what I hear, it behoves Gwenhwyvar to be merciful
+towards thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;The mercy which thou desirest,
+Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;will I grant to him, since it is as
+insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to me as to
+thyself.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thus will it be best to do,&rdquo;
+said Arthur; &ldquo;let this man have medical care until it be
+known whether he may live. And if he live, he shall do such
+satisfaction as shall be judged best by the men of the Court; and
+take thou sureties to that effect. And if he die, too much
+will be the death of such a youth as Edeyrn for an insult to a
+maiden.&rdquo; &ldquo;This pleases me,&rdquo; said
+Gwenhwyvar. And Arthur became surety for Edeyrn, and
+Caradawc the son of Llyr, Gwallawg the son of Llenawg, and Owain
+the son of Nudd, and Gwalchmai, and many others with them.
+And Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to him. He was
+the chief physician. &ldquo;Take with thee Edeyrn the son
+of Nudd, and cause a chamber to be prepared for him, and let him
+have the aid of medicine as thou wouldst do unto myself, if I
+were wounded, and let none into his chamber to molest him, but
+thyself and thy disciples, to administer to him
+remedies.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do so gladly, Lord,&rdquo;
+said Morgan Tud. Then said the steward of the household,
+&ldquo;Whither is it right, Lord, to order the
+maiden?&rdquo; &ldquo;To Gwenhwyvar and her
+handmaidens,&rdquo; said he. And the steward of the
+household so ordered her. Thus far concerning them.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+The next day came Geraint towards the Court; and there was a
+watch set on the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar, lest he should arrive
+unawares. And one of the watch came to the place where
+Gwenhwyvar was. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;methinks that I see Geraint, and the maiden with
+him. He is on horseback, but he has his walking gear upon
+him, and the maiden appears to be in white, seeming to be clad in
+a garment of linen.&rdquo; &ldquo;Assemble all the
+women,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;and come to meet Geraint,
+to welcome him, and wish him joy.&rdquo; And Gwenhwyvar
+went to meet Geraint and the maiden. And when Geraint came
+to the place where Gwenhwyvar was, he saluted her.
+&ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and welcome
+to thee. And thy career has been successful, and fortunate,
+and resistless, and glorious. And Heaven reward thee, that
+thou hast so proudly caused me to have retribution.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I earnestly desired to obtain
+thee satisfaction according to thy will; and, behold, here is the
+maiden through whom thou hadst thy revenge.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;the welcome of
+Heaven be unto her; and it is fitting that we should receive her
+joyfully.&rdquo; Then they went in, and dismounted.
+And Geraint came to where Arthur was, and saluted him.
+&ldquo;Heaven protect thee,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;and the
+welcome of Heaven be unto thee. And since Edeyrn the son of
+Nudd has received his overthrow and wounds from thy hands, thou
+hast had a prosperous career.&rdquo; &ldquo;Not upon me be
+the blame,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;it was through the
+arrogance of Edeyrn the son of Nudd himself that we were not
+friends. I would not quit him until I knew who he was, and
+until the one had vanquished the other.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;where is the maiden for
+whom I heard thou didst give challenge?&rdquo; &ldquo;She
+is gone with Gwenhwyvar to her chamber.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then went Arthur to see the maiden. And Arthur, and all
+his companions, and his whole Court, were glad concerning the
+maiden. And certain were they all, that had her array been
+suitable to her beauty, they had never seen a maid fairer than
+she. And Arthur gave away the maiden to Geraint. And
+the usual bond made between two persons was made between Geraint
+and the maiden, and the choicest of all Gwenhwyvar&rsquo;s
+apparel was given to the maiden; and thus arrayed, she appeared
+comely and graceful to all who beheld her. And that day and
+that night were spent in abundance of minstrelsy, and ample gifts
+of liquor, and a multitude of games. And when it was time
+for them to go to sleep, they went. And in the chamber
+where the couch of Arthur and Gwenhwyvar was, the couch of
+Geraint and Enid was prepared. And from that time she
+became his bride. And the next day Arthur satisfied all the
+claimants upon Geraint with bountiful gifts. And the maiden
+took up her abode in the palace; and she had many companions,
+both men and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed than
+she in the Island of Britain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then spake Gwenhwyvar. &ldquo;Rightly did I
+judge,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;concerning the head of the stag,
+that it should not be given to any until Geraint&rsquo;s return;
+and, behold, here is a fit occasion for bestowing it. Let
+it be given to Enid the daughter of Ynywl, the most illustrious
+maiden. And I do not believe that any will begrudge it her,
+for between her and every one here there exists nothing but love
+and friendship.&rdquo; Much applauded was this by them all,
+and by Arthur also. And the head of the stag was given to
+Enid. And thereupon her fame increased, and her friends
+thenceforward became more in number than before. And
+Geraint from that time forth loved the stag, and the tournament,
+and hard encounters; and he came victorious from them all.
+And a year, and a second, and a third, he proceeded thus, until
+his fame had flown over the face of the kingdom.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+And once upon a time Arthur was holding his Court at Caerlleon
+upon Usk, at Whitsuntide. And, behold, there came to him
+ambassadors, wise and prudent, full of knowledge, and eloquent of
+speech, and they saluted Arthur. &ldquo;Heaven prosper
+you,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;and the welcome of Heaven be unto
+you. And whence do you come?&rdquo; &ldquo;We come,
+Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;from Cornwall; and we are
+ambassadors from Erbin the son of Custennin, thy uncle, and our
+mission is unto thee. And he greets thee well, as an uncle
+should greet his nephew, and as a vassal should greet his
+lord. And he represents unto thee that he waxes heavy and
+feeble, and is advancing in years. And the neighbouring
+chiefs, knowing this, grow insolent towards him, and covet his
+land and possessions. And he earnestly beseeches thee,
+Lord, to permit Geraint his son to return to him, to protect his
+possessions, and to become acquainted with his boundaries.
+And unto him he represents that it were better for him to spend
+the flower of his youth and the prime of his age in preserving
+his own boundaries, than in tournaments, which are productive of
+no profit, although he obtains glory in them.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;go, and divest
+yourselves of your accoutrements, and take food, and refresh
+yourselves after your fatigues; and before you go forth hence you
+shall have an answer.&rdquo; And they went to eat.
+And Arthur considered that it would go hard with him to let
+Geraint depart from him and from his Court; neither did he think
+it fair that his cousin should be restrained from going to
+protect his dominions and his boundaries, seeing that his father
+was unable to do so. No less was the grief and regret of
+Gwenhwyvar, and all her women, and all her damsels, through fear
+that the maiden would leave them. And that day and that
+night were spent in abundance of feasting. And Arthur
+showed Geraint the cause of the mission, and of the coming of the
+ambassadors to him out of Cornwall. &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;be it to my advantage or disadvantage, Lord,
+I will do according to thy will concerning this
+embassy.&rdquo; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said Arthur,
+&ldquo;though it grieves me to part with thee, it is my counsel
+that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions, and to defend thy
+boundaries, and to take with thee to accompany thee as many as
+thou wilt of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and
+among thy friends, and among thy companions in arms.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Heaven reward thee; and this will I do,&rdquo; said
+Geraint. &ldquo;What discourse,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar,
+&ldquo;do I hear between you? Is it of those who are to
+conduct Geraint to his country?&rdquo; &ldquo;It is,&rdquo;
+said Arthur. &ldquo;Then it is needful for me to
+consider,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;concerning companions and a
+provision for the lady that is with me?&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou
+wilt do well,&rdquo; said Arthur.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And that night they went to sleep. And the next day the
+ambassadors were permitted to depart, and they were told that
+Geraint should follow them. And on the third day Geraint
+set forth, and many went with him. Gwalchmai the son of
+Gwyar, and Riogonedd the son of the king of Ireland, and Ondyaw
+the son of the duke of Burgundy, Gwilim the son of the ruler of
+the Franks, Howel the son of Emyr of Brittany, Elivry, and
+Nawkyrd, Gwynn the son of Tringad, Goreu the son of Custennin,
+Gweir Gwrhyd Vawr, Garannaw the son of Golithmer, Peredur the son
+of Evrawc, Gwynnllogell, Gwyr a judge in the Court of Arthur,
+Dyvyr the son of Alun of Dyved, Gwrei Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Bedwyr
+the son of Bedrawd, Hadwry the son of Gwryon, Kai the son of
+Kynyr, Odyar the Frank, the Steward of Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and
+Edeyrn the son of Nudd. Said Geraint, &ldquo;I think that I
+shall have enough of knighthood with me.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;but it will not be fitting
+for thee to take Edeyrn with thee, although he is well, until
+peace shall be made between him and Gwenhwyvar.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Gwenhwyvar can permit him to go with me, if he give
+sureties.&rdquo; &ldquo;If she please, she can let him go
+without sureties, for enough of pain and affliction has he
+suffered for the insult which the maiden received from the
+dwarf.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar,
+&ldquo;since it seems well to thee and to Geraint, I will do this
+gladly, Lord.&rdquo; Then she permitted Edeyrn freely to
+depart. And many there were who accompanied Geraint, and
+they set forth; and never was there seen a fairer host journeying
+towards the Severn. And on the other side of the Severn
+were the nobles of Erbin the son of Custennin, and his
+foster-father at their head, to welcome Geraint with gladness;
+and many of the women of the Court, with his mother, came to
+receive Enid the daughter of Ynywl, his wife. And there was
+great rejoicing and gladness throughout the whole Court, and
+throughout all the country, concerning Geraint, because of the
+greatness of their love towards him, and of the greatness of the
+fame which he had gained since he went from amongst them, and
+because he was come to take possession of his dominions and to
+preserve his boundaries. And they came to the Court.
+And in the Court they had ample entertainment, and a multitude of
+gifts and abundance of liquor, and a sufficiency of service, and
+a variety of minstrelsy and of games. And to do honour to
+Geraint, all the chief men of the country were invited that night
+to visit him. And they passed that day and that night in
+the utmost enjoyment. And at dawn next day Erbin arose, and
+summoned to him Geraint, and the noble persons who had borne him
+company. And he said to Geraint, &ldquo;I am a feeble and
+aged man, and whilst I was able to maintain the dominion for thee
+and for myself, I did so. But thou art young, and in the
+flower of thy vigour and of thy youth; henceforth do thou
+preserve thy possessions.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;with my consent thou shalt not give the power
+over thy dominions at this time into my hands, and thou shalt not
+take me from Arthur&rsquo;s Court.&rdquo; &ldquo;Into thy
+hands will I give them,&rdquo; said Erbin, &ldquo;and this day
+also shalt thou receive the homage of thy subjects.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;It were better for thee to satisfy
+those who have boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou canst
+receive the homage of thy dominions.&rdquo; So all that had
+boons to ask were summoned into one place. And Kadyrieith
+came to them, to know what were their requests. And every
+one asked that which he desired. And the followers of
+Arthur began to make gifts, and immediately the men of Cornwall
+came, and gave also. And they were not long in giving, so
+eager was every one to bestow gifts. And of those who came
+to ask gifts, none departed unsatisfied. And that day and
+that night were spent in the utmost enjoyment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day, at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send
+messengers to the men, to ask them whether it was displeasing to
+them that he should come to receive their homage, and whether
+they had anything to object to him. Then Geraint sent
+ambassadors to the men of Cornwall, to ask them this. And
+they all said that it would be the fulness of joy and honour to
+them for Geraint to come and receive their homage. So he
+received the homage of such as were there. And they
+remained with him till the third night. And the day after
+the followers of Arthur intended to go away. &ldquo;It is
+too soon for you to go away yet,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;stay with
+me until I have finished receiving the homage of my chief men,
+who have agreed to come to me.&rdquo; And they remained
+with him until he had done so. Then they set forth towards
+the Court of Arthur; and Geraint went to bear them company, and
+Enid also, as far as Diganhwy: there they parted. Then
+Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy said to Geraint, &ldquo;Go
+first of all and visit the uppermost parts of thy dominions, and
+see well to the boundaries of thy territories; and if thou hast
+any trouble respecting them, send unto thy
+companions.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;and this will I do.&rdquo; And Geraint
+journeyed to the uttermost part of his dominions. And
+experienced guides, and the chief men of his country, went with
+him. And the furthermost point that they showed him he kept
+possession of.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court, he frequented tournaments. And he became acquainted
+with valiant and mighty men, until he had gained as much fame
+there as he had formerly done elsewhere. And he enriched
+his Court, and his companions, and his nobles, with the best
+horses and the best arms, and with the best and most valuable
+jewels, and he ceased not until his fame had flown over the face
+of the whole kingdom. And when he knew that it was thus, he
+began to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one who was
+worth his opposing. And he loved his wife, and liked to
+continue in the palace, with minstrelsy and diversions. And
+for a long time he abode at home. And after that he began
+to shut himself up in the chamber of his wife, and he took no
+delight in anything besides, insomuch that he gave up the
+friendship of his nobles, together with his hunting and his
+amusements, and lost the hearts of all the host in his Court; and
+there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him among the
+inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing so
+completely their companionship for the love of his wife.
+And these tidings came to Erbin. And when Erbin had heard
+these things, he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it
+was she that had caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his
+people and his hosts. &ldquo;Not I, by my confession unto
+Heaven,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;there is nothing more hateful to
+me than this.&rdquo; And she knew not what she should do,
+for, although it was hard for her to own this to Geraint, yet was
+it not more easy for her to listen to what she heard, without
+warning Geraint concerning it. And she was very
+sorrowful.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And one morning in the summer time, they were upon their
+couch, and Geraint lay upon the edge of it. And Enid was
+without sleep in the apartment, which had windows of glass.
+And the sun shone upon the couch. And the clothes had
+slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he was
+asleep. Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his
+appearance, and she said, &ldquo;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!&rdquo; And as she
+said this, the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon
+his breast. And the tears she shed, and the words she had
+spoken, awoke him; and another thing contributed to awaken him,
+and that was the idea that it was not in thinking of him that she
+spoke thus, but that it was because she loved some other man more
+than him, and that she wished for other society, and thereupon
+Geraint was troubled in his mind, and he called his squire; and
+when he came to him, &ldquo;Go quickly,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and prepare my horse and my arms, and make them
+ready. And do thou arise,&rdquo; said he to Enid,
+&ldquo;and apparel thyself; and cause thy horse to be accoutred,
+and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress that thou hast in thy
+possession. And evil betide me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if
+thou returnest here until thou knowest whether I have lost my
+strength so completely as thou didst say. And if it be so,
+it will then be easy for thee to seek the society thou didst wish
+for of him of whom thou wast thinking.&rdquo; So she arose,
+and clothed herself in her meanest garments. &ldquo;I know
+nothing, Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;of thy
+meaning.&rdquo; &ldquo;Neither wilt thou know at this
+time,&rdquo; said he.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Geraint went to see Erbin. &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;I am going upon a quest, and I am not certain when I
+may come back. Take heed, therefore, unto thy possessions,
+until my return.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;but it is strange to me that thou shouldest go so
+suddenly. And who will proceed with thee, since thou art
+not strong enough to traverse the land of Lloegyr
+alone?&rdquo; &ldquo;But one person only will go with
+me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven counsel thee, my son,&rdquo; said
+Erbin, &ldquo;and may many attach themselves to thee in
+Lloegyr.&rdquo; Then went Geraint to the place where his
+horse was, and it was equipped with foreign armour, heavy and
+shining. And he desired Enid to mount her horse, and to
+ride forward, and to keep a long way before him. &ldquo;And
+whatever thou mayest see, and whatever thou mayest hear
+concerning me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;do thou not turn
+back. And unless I speak unto thee, say not thou one word
+either.&rdquo; And they set forward. And he did not
+choose the pleasantest and most frequented road, but that which
+was the wildest and most beset by thieves, and robbers, and
+venomous animals. And they came to a high road, which they
+followed till they saw a vast forest, and they went towards it,
+and they saw four armed horsemen come forth from the
+forest. When the horsemen had beheld them, one of them said
+to the others, &ldquo;Behold, here is a good occasion for us to
+capture two horses and armour, and a lady likewise; for this we
+shall have no difficulty in doing against yonder single knight,
+who hangs his head so pensively and heavily.&rdquo; And
+Enid heard this discourse, and she knew not what she should do
+through fear of Geraint, who had told her to be silent.
+&ldquo;The vengeance of Heaven be upon me,&rdquo; she said,
+&ldquo;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.&rdquo; So she waited for Geraint until he came near
+to her. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;didst thou
+hear the words of those men concerning thee?&rdquo; Then he
+lifted up his eyes, and looked at her angrily. &ldquo;Thou
+hadst only,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to hold thy peace as I bade
+thee. I wish but for silence, and not for warning.
+And though thou shouldest desire to see my defeat and my death by
+the hands of those men, yet do I feel no dread.&rdquo; Then
+the foremost of them couched his lance, and rushed upon
+Geraint. And he received him, and that not feebly.
+But he let the thrust go by him, while he struck the horseman
+upon the centre of his shield in such a manner that his shield
+was split, and his armour broken, and so that a cubit&rsquo;s
+length of the shaft of Geraint&rsquo;s lance passed through his
+body, and sent him to the earth, the length of the lance over his
+horse&rsquo;s crupper. Then the second horseman attacked
+him furiously, being wroth at the death of his companion.
+But with one thrust Geraint overthrew him also, and killed him as
+he had done the other. Then the third set upon him, and he
+killed him in like manner. And thus also he slew the
+fourth. Sad and sorrowful was the maiden as she saw all
+this. Geraint dismounted from his horse, and took the arms
+of the men he had slain, and placed them upon their saddles, and
+tied together the reins of their horses, and he mounted his horse
+again. &ldquo;Behold what thou must do,&rdquo; said he;
+&ldquo;take the four horses, and drive them before thee, and
+proceed forward, as I bade thee just now. And say not one
+word unto me, unless I speak first unto thee. And I declare
+unto Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if thou doest not thus, it
+will be to thy cost.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do, as far as I
+can, Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;according to thy
+desire.&rdquo; Then they went forward through the forest;
+and when they left the forest, they came to a vast plain, in the
+centre of which was a group of thickly tangled copse-wood; and
+from out thereof they beheld three horsemen coming towards them,
+well equipped with armour, both they and their horses. Then
+the maiden looked steadfastly upon them; and when they had come
+near, she heard them say one to another, &ldquo;Behold, here is a
+good arrival for us; here are coming for us four horses and four
+suits of armour. We shall easily obtain them spite of
+yonder dolorous knight, and the maiden also will fall into our
+power.&rdquo; &ldquo;This is but too true,&rdquo; said she
+to herself, &ldquo;for my husband is tired with his former
+combat. The vengeance of Heaven will be upon me, unless I
+warn him of this.&rdquo; So the maiden waited until Geraint
+came up to her. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;dust
+thou not hear the discourse of yonder men concerning
+thee?&rdquo; &ldquo;What was it?&rdquo; asked he.
+&ldquo;They say to one another, that they will easily obtain all
+this spoil.&rdquo; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo; he
+answered, &ldquo;that their words are less grievous to me than
+that thou wilt not be silent, and abide by my
+counsel.&rdquo; &ldquo;My Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I
+feared lest they should surprise thee unawares.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Hold thy peace, then,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;do not I
+desire silence?&rdquo; And thereupon one of the horsemen
+couched his lance, and attacked Geraint. And he made a
+thrust at him, which he thought would be very effective; but
+Geraint received it carelessly, and struck it aside, and then he
+rushed upon him, and aimed at the centre of his person, and from
+the shock of man and horse, the quantity of his armour did not
+avail him, and the head of the lance and part of the shaft passed
+through him, so that he was carried to the ground an arm and a
+spear&rsquo;s length over the crupper of his horse. And
+both the other horsemen came forward in their turn, but their
+onset was not more successful than that of their companion.
+And the maiden stood by, looking at all this; and on the one hand
+she was in trouble lest Geraint should be wounded in his
+encounter with the men, and on the other hand she was joyful to
+see him victorious. Then Geraint dismounted, and bound the
+three suits of armour upon the three saddles, and he fastened the
+reins of all the horses together, so that he had seven horses
+with him. And he mounted his own horse, and commanded the
+maiden to drive forward the others. &ldquo;It is no more
+use for me to speak to thee than to refrain, for thou wilt not
+attend to my advice.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do so, as far as
+I am able, Lord,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;but I cannot conceal
+from thee the fierce and threatening words which I may hear
+against thee, Lord, from such strange people as those that haunt
+this wilderness.&rdquo; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;that I desire nought but silence; therefore, hold
+thy peace.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will, Lord, while I
+can.&rdquo; And the maiden went on with the horses before
+her, and she pursued her way straight onwards. And from the
+copse-wood already mentioned, they journeyed over a vast and
+dreary open plain. And at a great distance from them they
+beheld a wood, and they could see neither end nor boundary to the
+wood, except on that side that was nearest to them, and they went
+towards it. Then there came from out the wood five
+horsemen, eager, and bold, and mighty, and strong, mounted upon
+chargers that were powerful, and large of bone, and high-mettled,
+and proudly snorting, and both the men and the horses were well
+equipped with arms. And when they drew near to them, Enid
+heard them say, &ldquo;Behold, here is a fine booty coming to us,
+which we shall obtain easily and without labour, for we shall
+have no trouble in taking all those horses and arms, and the lady
+also, from yonder single knight, so doleful and sad.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Sorely grieved was the maiden upon hearing this discourse, so
+that she knew not in the world what she should do. At last,
+however, she determined to warn Geraint; so she turned her
+horse&rsquo;s head towards him. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;if thou hadst heard as I did what yonder horsemen
+said concerning thee, thy heaviness would be greater than it
+is.&rdquo; Angrily and bitterly did Geraint smile upon her,
+and he said, &ldquo;Thee do I hear doing everything that I
+forbade thee; but it may be that thou will repent this
+yet.&rdquo; And immediately, behold, the men met them, and
+victoriously and gallantly did Geraint overcome them all
+five. And he placed the five suits of armour upon the five
+saddles, and tied together the reins of the twelve horses, and
+gave them in charge to Enid. &ldquo;I know not,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;what good it is for me to order thee; but this time I
+charge thee in an especial manner.&rdquo; So the maiden
+went forward towards the wood, keeping in advance of Geraint, as
+he had desired her; and it grieved him as much as his wrath would
+permit, to see a maiden so illustrious as she having so much
+trouble with the care of the horses. Then they reached the
+wood, and it was both deep and vast; and in the wood night
+overtook them. &ldquo;Ah, maiden,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it
+is vain to attempt proceeding forward!&rdquo; &ldquo;Well,
+Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;whatsoever thou wishest, we will
+do.&rdquo; &ldquo;It will be best for us,&rdquo; he
+answered, &ldquo;to turn out of the wood, and to rest, and wait
+for the day, in order to pursue our journey.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;That will we, gladly,&rdquo; said she. And they did
+so. Having dismounted himself, he took her down from her
+horse. &ldquo;I cannot, by any means, refrain from sleep,
+through weariness,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Do thou,
+therefore, watch the horses, and sleep not.&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+will, Lord,&rdquo; said she. Then he went to sleep in his
+armour, and thus passed the night, which was not long at that
+season. And when she saw the dawn of day appear, she looked
+around her, to see if he were waking, and thereupon he
+woke. &ldquo;My Lord,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I have
+desired to awake thee for some time.&rdquo; But he spake
+nothing to her about fatigue, as he had desired her to be
+silent. Then he arose, and said unto her, &ldquo;Take the
+horses, and ride on; and keep straight on before thee as thou
+didst yesterday.&rdquo; And early in the day they left the
+wood, and they came to an open country, with meadows on one hand,
+and mowers mowing the meadows. And there was a river before
+them, and the horses bent down, and drank the water. And
+they went up out of the river by a lofty steep; and there they
+met a slender stripling, with a satchel about his neck, and they
+saw that there was something in the satchel, but they knew not
+what it was. And he had a small blue pitcher in his hand,
+and a bowl on the mouth of the pitcher. And the youth
+saluted Geraint. &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;and whence dost thou come?&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+come,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;from the city that lies before
+thee. My Lord,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;will it be
+displeasing to thee if I ask whence thou comest
+also?&rdquo; &ldquo;By no means&mdash;through yonder wood
+did I come.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou camest not through the wood
+to-day.&rdquo; &ldquo;No,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;we were
+in the wood last night.&rdquo; &ldquo;I warrant,&rdquo;
+said the youth, &ldquo;that thy condition there last night was
+not the most pleasant, and that thou hadst neither meat nor
+drink.&rdquo; &ldquo;No, by my faith,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;Wilt thou follow my counsel,&rdquo; said the youth,
+&ldquo;and take thy meal from me?&rdquo; &ldquo;What sort
+of meal?&rdquo; he inquired. &ldquo;The breakfast which is
+sent for yonder mowers, nothing less than bread and meat and
+wine; and if thou wilt, Sir, they shall have none of
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and Heaven
+reward thee for it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off
+her horse. Then they washed, and took their repast.
+And the youth cut the bread in slices, and gave them drink, and
+served them withal. And when they had finished, the youth
+arose, and said to Geraint, &ldquo;My Lord, with thy permission,
+I will now go and fetch some food for the mowers.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Go, first, to the town,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;and
+take a lodging for me in the best place that thou knowest, and
+the most commodious one for the horses, and take thou whichever
+horse and arms thou choosest in payment for thy service and thy
+gift.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee, Lord,&rdquo; said
+the youth, &ldquo;and this would be ample to repay services much
+greater than those I have rendered unto thee.&rdquo; And to
+the town went the youth, and he took the best and the most
+pleasant lodgings that he knew; and after that he went to the
+palace, having the horse and armour with him, and proceeded to
+the place where the Earl was, and told him all his
+adventure. &ldquo;I go now, Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to
+meet the young man, and to conduct him to his
+lodging.&rdquo; &ldquo;Go, gladly,&rdquo; said the Earl,
+&ldquo;and right joyfully shall he be received here, if he so
+come.&rdquo; And the youth went to meet Geraint, and told
+him that he would be received gladly by the Earl in his own
+palace; but he would go only to his lodgings. And he had a
+goodly chamber, in which was plenty of straw, and drapery, and a
+spacious and commodious place he had for the horses; and the
+youth prepared for them plenty of provender. And after they
+had disarrayed themselves, Geraint spoke thus to Enid:
+&ldquo;Go,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to the other side of the
+chamber, and come not to this side of the house; and thou mayest
+call to thee the woman of the house, if thou wilt.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will do, Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;as thou
+sayest.&rdquo; And thereupon the man of the house came to
+Geraint, and welcomed him. &ldquo;Oh, chieftain,&rdquo; he
+said, &ldquo;hast thou taken thy meal?&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+have,&rdquo; said he. Then the youth spoke to him, and
+inquired if he would not drink something before he met the
+Earl. &ldquo;Truly I will,&rdquo; said he. So the
+youth went into the town, and brought them drink. And they
+drank. &ldquo;I must needs sleep,&rdquo; said
+Geraint. &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the youth; &ldquo;and
+whilst thou sleepest, I will go to see the Earl.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Go, gladly,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and come here again
+when I require thee.&rdquo; And Geraint went to sleep; and
+so did Enid also.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the youth came to the place where the Earl was, and the
+Earl asked him where the lodgings of the knight were, and he told
+him. &ldquo;I must go,&rdquo; said the youth, &ldquo;to
+wait on him in the evening.&rdquo; &ldquo;Go,&rdquo;
+answered the Earl, &ldquo;and greet him well from me, and tell
+him that in the evening I will go to see him.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;This will I do,&rdquo; said the youth. So he came
+when it was time for them to awake. And they arose, and
+went forth. And when it was time for them to take their
+food, they took it. And the youth served them. And
+Geraint inquired of the man of the house, whether there were any
+of his companions that he wished to invite to him, and he said
+that there were. &ldquo;Bring them hither, and entertain
+them at my cost with the best thou canst buy in the
+town.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the man of the house brought there those whom he chose,
+and feasted them at Geraint&rsquo;s expense. Thereupon,
+behold, the Earl came to visit Geraint, and his twelve honourable
+knights with him. And Geraint rose up, and welcomed
+him. &ldquo;Heaven preserve thee,&rdquo; said the
+Earl. Then they all sat down according to their precedence
+in honour. And the Earl conversed with Geraint, and
+inquired of him the object of his journey. &ldquo;I have
+none,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;but to seek adventures, and to
+follow my own inclination.&rdquo; Then the Earl cast his
+eye upon Enid, and he looked at her steadfastly. And he
+thought he had never seen a maiden fairer or more comely than
+she. And he set all his thoughts and his affections upon
+her. Then he asked of Geraint, &ldquo;Have I thy permission
+to go and converse with yonder maiden, for I see that she is
+apart from thee?&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou hast it gladly,&rdquo;
+said he. So the Earl went to the place where the maiden
+was, and spake with her. &ldquo;Ah, maiden,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;it cannot be pleasant to thee to journey thus with yonder
+man!&rdquo; &ldquo;It is not unpleasant to me,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;to journey the same road that he
+journeys.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou hast neither youths nor
+maidens to serve thee,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+she replied, &ldquo;it is more pleasant for me to follow yonder
+man, than to be served by youths and maidens.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will give thee good counsel,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;All my Earldom will I place in thy possession, if thou
+wilt dwell with me.&rdquo; &ldquo;That will I not, by
+Heaven,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;yonder man was the first to whom
+my faith was ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant to
+him!&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou art in the wrong,&rdquo; said the
+Earl; &ldquo;if I slay the man yonder, I can keep thee with me as
+long as I choose; and when thou no longer pleasest me I can turn
+thee away. But if thou goest with me by thine own good
+will, I protest that our union shall continue eternal and
+undivided as long as I remain alive.&rdquo; Then she
+pondered these words of his, and she considered that it was
+advisable to encourage him in his request. &ldquo;Behold,
+then, chieftain, this is most expedient for thee to do to save me
+any needless imputation; come here to-morrow, and take me away as
+though I knew nothing thereof.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do
+so,&rdquo; said he. So he arose, and took his leave, and
+went forth with his attendants. And she told not then to
+Geraint any of the conversation which she had had with the Earl,
+lest it should rouse his anger, and cause him uneasiness and
+care.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And at the usual hour they went to sleep. And at the
+beginning of the night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she
+arose, and placed all Geraint&rsquo;s armour together, so that it
+might be ready to put on. And although fearful of her
+errand, she came to the side of Geraint&rsquo;s bed; and she
+spoke to him softly and gently, saying, &ldquo;My Lord, arise,
+and clothe thyself, for these were the words of the Earl to me,
+and his intention concerning me.&rdquo; So she told Geraint
+all that had passed. And although he was wroth with her, he
+took warning, and clothed himself. And she lighted a
+candle, that he might have light to do so. &ldquo;Leave
+there the candle,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and desire the man of
+the house to come here.&rdquo; Then she went, and the man
+of the house came to him. &ldquo;Dost thou know how much I
+owe thee?&rdquo; asked Geraint. &ldquo;I think thou owest
+but little.&rdquo; &ldquo;Take the eleven horses and the
+eleven suits of armour.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee,
+lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but I spent not the value of one
+suit of armour upon thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;For that
+reason,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou wilt be the richer. And
+now, wilt thou come to guide me out of the town?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will, gladly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and in which
+direction dost thou intend to go?&rdquo; &ldquo;I wish to
+leave the town by a different way from that by which I entered
+it.&rdquo; So the man of the lodgings accompanied him as
+far as he desired. Then he bade the maiden to go on before
+him; and she did so, and went straight forward, and his host
+returned home. And he had only just reached his house,
+when, behold, the greatest tumult approached that was ever
+heard. And when he looked out, he saw fourscore knights in
+complete armour around the house, with the Earl Dwnn at their
+head. &ldquo;Where is the knight that was here?&rdquo; said
+the Earl. &ldquo;By thy hand,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;he
+went hence some time ago.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wherefore,
+villain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;didst thou let him go without
+informing me?&rdquo; &ldquo;My Lord, thou didst not command
+me to do so, else would I not have allowed him to
+depart.&rdquo; &ldquo;What way dost thou think that he
+took?&rdquo; &ldquo;I know not, except that he went along
+the high road.&rdquo; And they turned their horses&rsquo;
+heads that way, and seeing the tracks of the horses upon the high
+road, they followed. And when the maiden beheld the dawning
+of the day, she looked behind her, and saw vast clouds of dust
+coming nearer and nearer to her. And thereupon she became
+uneasy, and she thought that it was the Earl and his host coming
+after them. And thereupon she beheld a knight appearing
+through the mist. &ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;though he should slay me, it were better for me to receive
+my death at his hands, than to see him killed without warning
+him. My Lord,&rdquo; she said to him, &ldquo;seest thou
+yonder man hastening after thee, and many others with
+him?&rdquo; &ldquo;I do see him,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;and
+in despite of all my orders, I see that thou wilt never keep
+silence.&rdquo; Then he turned upon the knight, and with
+the first thrust he threw him down under his horse&rsquo;s
+feet. And as long as there remained one of the fourscore
+knights, he overthrew every one of them at the first onset.
+And from the weakest to the strongest, they all attacked him one
+after the other, except the Earl: and last of all the Earl came
+against him also. And he broke his lance, and then he broke
+a second. But Geraint turned upon him, and struck him with
+his lance upon the centre of his shield, so that by that single
+thrust the shield was split, and all his armour broken, and he
+himself was brought over his horse&rsquo;s crupper to the ground,
+and was in peril of his life. And Geraint drew near to him;
+and at the noise of the trampling of his horse the Earl
+revived. &ldquo;Mercy, Lord,&rdquo; said he to
+Geraint. And Geraint granted him mercy. But through
+the hardness of the ground where they had fallen, and the
+violence of the stroke which they had received, there was not a
+single knight amongst them that escaped without receiving a fall,
+mortally severe, and grievously painful, and desperately
+wounding, from the hand of Geraint.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was before him,
+and the maiden went on first; and near them they beheld a valley
+which was the fairest ever seen, and which had a large river
+running through it; and there was a bridge over the river, and
+the high road led to the bridge. And above the bridge upon
+the opposite side of the river, they beheld a fortified town, the
+fairest ever seen. And as they approached the bridge,
+Geraint saw coming towards him from a thick copse a man mounted
+upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace and spirited though
+tractable. &ldquo;Ah, knight,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;whence comest thou?&rdquo; &ldquo;I come,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;from the valley below us.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Canst thou tell me,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;who is the
+owner of this fair valley and yonder walled town?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will tell thee, willingly,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks, but the Cymry
+call him the Little King.&rdquo; &ldquo;Can I go by yonder
+bridge,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;and by the lower highway that
+is beneath the town?&rdquo; Said the knight, &ldquo;Thou
+canst not go by his tower on the other side of the bridge, unless
+thou dost intend to combat him; because it is his custom to
+encounter every knight that comes upon his lands.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;that I
+will, nevertheless, pursue my journey that way.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;If thou dost so,&rdquo; said the knight, &ldquo;thou wilt
+probably meet with shame and disgrace in reward for thy
+daring.&rdquo; Then Geraint proceeded along the road that
+led to the town, and the road brought him to a ground that was
+hard, and rugged, and high, and ridgy. And as he journeyed
+thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a warhorse, strong,
+and large, and proudly-stepping, and wide-hoofed, and
+broad-chested. And he never saw a man of smaller stature
+than he who was upon the horse. And both he and his horse
+were completely armed. When he had overtaken Geraint, he
+said to him, &ldquo;Tell me, chieftain, whether it is through
+ignorance or through presumption that thou seekest to insult my
+dignity, and to infringe my rules.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; answered Geraint, &ldquo;I knew not this road
+was forbid to any.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou didst know it,&rdquo;
+said the other; &ldquo;come with me to my Court, to give me
+satisfaction.&rdquo; &ldquo;That will I not, by my
+faith,&rdquo; said Geraint; &ldquo;I would not go even to thy
+Lord&rsquo;s Court, excepting Arthur were thy Lord.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;By the hand of Arthur himself,&rdquo; said the knight,
+&ldquo;I will have satisfaction of thee, or receive my overthrow
+at thy hands.&rdquo; And immediately they charged one
+another. And a squire of his came to serve him with lances
+as he broke them. And they gave each other such hard and
+severe strokes that their shields lost all their colour.
+But it was very difficult for Geraint to fight with him on
+account of his small size, for he was hardly able to get a full
+aim at him with all the efforts he could make. And they
+fought thus until their horses were brought down upon their
+knees; and at length Geraint threw the knight headlong to the
+ground; and then they fought on foot, and they gave one another
+blows so boldly fierce, so frequent, and so severely powerful,
+that their helmets were pierced, and their skullcaps were broken,
+and their arms were shattered, and the light of their eyes was
+darkened by sweat and blood. At the last Geraint became
+enraged, and he called to him all his strength; and boldly angry,
+and swiftly resolute, and furiously determined, he lifted up his
+sword, and struck him on the crown of his head a blow so mortally
+painful, so violent, so fierce, and so penetrating, that it cut
+through all his head armour, and his skin, and his flesh, until
+it wounded the very bone, and the sword flew out of the hand of
+the Little King to the furthest end of the plain, and he besought
+Geraint that he would have mercy and compassion upon him.
+&ldquo;Though thou hast been neither courteous nor just,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;thou shalt have mercy, upon condition that
+thou wilt become my ally, and engage never to fight against me
+again, but to come to my assistance whenever thou hearest of my
+being in trouble.&rdquo; &ldquo;This will I do, gladly,
+Lord,&rdquo; said he. So he pledged him his faith
+thereof. &ldquo;And now, Lord, come with me,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;to my Court yonder, to recover from thy weariness and
+fatigue.&rdquo; &ldquo;That will I not, by Heaven,&rdquo;
+said he.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and it
+grieved him to see one of her noble mien appear so deeply
+afflicted. And he said to Geraint, &ldquo;My Lord, thou
+doest wrong not to take repose, and refresh thyself awhile; for,
+if thou meetest with any difficulty in thy present condition, it
+will not be easy for thee to surmount it.&rdquo; But
+Geraint would do no other than proceed on his journey, and he
+mounted his horse in pain, and all covered with blood. And
+the maiden went on first, and they proceeded towards the wood
+which they saw before them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the heat of the sun was very great, and through the blood
+and sweat, Geraint&rsquo;s armour cleaved to his flesh; and when
+they came into the wood, he stood under a tree, to avoid the
+sun&rsquo;s heat; and his wounds pained him more than they had
+done at the time when he received them. And the maiden
+stood under another tree. And lo! they heard the sound of
+horns, and a tumultuous noise; and the occasion of it was, that
+Arthur and his company had come down to the wood. And while
+Geraint was considering which way he should go to avoid them,
+behold, he was espied by a foot-page, who was an attendant on the
+Steward of the Household; and he went to the Steward, and told
+him what kind of man he had seen in the wood. Then the
+Steward caused his horse to be saddled, and he took his lance and
+his shield, and went to the place where Geraint was.
+&ldquo;Ah, knight!&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;what dost thou
+here?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am standing under a shady tree, to
+avoid the heat and the rays of the sun.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Wherefore is thy journey, and who art thou?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I seek adventures, and go where I list.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Indeed,&rdquo; said Kai; &ldquo;then come with me to see
+Arthur, who is here hard by.&rdquo; &ldquo;That will I not,
+by Heaven,&rdquo; said Geraint. &ldquo;Thou must needs
+come,&rdquo; said Kai. Then Geraint knew who he was, but
+Kai did not know Geraint. And Kai attacked Geraint as best
+he could. And Geraint became wroth, and he struck him with
+the shaft of his lance, so that he rolled headlong to the
+ground. But chastisement worse than this would he not
+inflict on him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Scared and wildly Kai arose, and he mounted his horse, and
+went back to his lodging. And thence he proceeded to
+Gwalchmai&rsquo;s tent. &ldquo;Oh, Sir,&rdquo; said he to
+Gwalchmai, &ldquo;I was told by one of the attendants, that he
+saw in the wood above a wounded knight, having on battered
+armour; and if thou dost right, thou wilt go and see if this be
+true.&rdquo; &ldquo;I care not if I do so,&rdquo; said
+Gwalchmai. &ldquo;Take, then, thy horse, and some of thy
+armour,&rdquo; said Kai; &ldquo;for I hear that he is not over
+courteous to those who approach him.&rdquo; So Gwalchmai
+took his spear and his shield, and mounted his horse, and came to
+the spot where Geraint was. &ldquo;Sir Knight,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;wherefore is thy journey?&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+journey for my own pleasure, and to seek the adventures of the
+world.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wilt thou tell me who thou art; or
+wilt thou come and visit Arthur, who is near at
+hand?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will make no alliance with thee, nor
+will I go and visit Arthur,&rdquo; said he. And he knew
+that it was Gwalchmai, but Gwalchmai knew him not. &ldquo;I
+purpose not to leave thee,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;till I
+know who thou art.&rdquo; And he charged him with his
+lance, and struck him on his shield, so that the shaft was
+shivered into splinters, and their horses were front to
+front. Then Gwalchmai gazed fixedly upon him, and he knew
+him. &ldquo;Ah, Geraint,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;is it thou
+that art here?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am not Geraint,&rdquo; said
+he. &ldquo;Geraint thou art, by Heaven,&rdquo; he replied,
+&ldquo;and a wretched and insane expedition is this.&rdquo;
+Then he looked around, and beheld Enid, and he welcomed her
+gladly. &ldquo;Geraint,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;come
+thou and see Arthur; he is thy lord and thy cousin.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will not,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for I am not in a fit
+state to go and see any one.&rdquo; Thereupon, behold, one
+of the pages came after Gwalchmai to speak to him. So he
+sent him to apprise Arthur that Geraint was there wounded, and
+that he would not go to visit him, and that it was pitiable to
+see the plight that he was in. And this he did without
+Geraint&rsquo;s knowledge, inasmuch as he spoke in a whisper to
+the page. &ldquo;Entreat Arthur,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to
+have his tent brought near to the road, for he will not meet him
+willingly, and it is not easy to compel him in the mood he is
+in.&rdquo; So the page came to Arthur, and told him
+this. And he caused his tent to be removed unto the side of
+the road. And the maiden rejoiced in her heart. And
+Gwalchmai led Geraint onwards along the road, till they came to
+the place where Arthur was encamped, and the pages were pitching
+his tent by the roadside. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;all hail unto thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven prosper
+thee; and who art thou?&rdquo; said Arthur. &ldquo;It is
+Geraint,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;and of his own free will
+would he not come to meet thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;he is bereft of his
+reason.&rdquo; Then came Enid, and saluted Arthur.
+&ldquo;Heaven protect thee,&rdquo; said he. And thereupon
+he caused one of the pages to take her from her horse.
+&ldquo;Alas! Enid,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;what expedition is
+this?&rdquo; &ldquo;I know not, Lord,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;save that it behoves me to journey by the same road that
+he journeys.&rdquo; &ldquo;My Lord,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;with thy permission we will depart.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Whither wilt thou go?&rdquo; said Arthur.
+&ldquo;Thou canst not proceed now, unless it be unto thy
+death.&rdquo; &ldquo;He will not suffer himself to be
+invited by me,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai. &ldquo;But by me he
+will,&rdquo; said Arthur; &ldquo;and, moreover, he does not go
+from here until he is healed.&rdquo; &ldquo;I had rather,
+Lord,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;that thou wouldest let me go
+forth.&rdquo; &ldquo;That will I not, I declare to
+Heaven,&rdquo; said he. Then he caused a maiden to be sent
+for to conduct Enid to the tent where Gwenhwyvar&rsquo;s chamber
+was. And Gwenhwyvar and all her women were joyful at her
+coming; and they took off her riding-dress, and placed other
+garments upon her. Arthur also called Kadyrieith, and
+ordered him to pitch a tent for Geraint and the physicians; and
+he enjoined him to provide him with abundance of all that might
+be requisite for him. And Kadyrieith did as he had
+commanded him. And Morgan Tud and his disciples were
+brought to Geraint.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Arthur and his hosts remained there nearly a month, whilst
+Geraint was being healed. And when he was fully recovered,
+Geraint came to Arthur, and asked his permission to depart.
+&ldquo;I know not if thou art quite well.&rdquo; &ldquo;In
+truth I am, Lord,&rdquo; said Geraint. &ldquo;I shall not
+believe thee concerning that, but the physicians that were with
+thee.&rdquo; So Arthur caused the physicians to be summoned
+to him, and asked them if it were true. &ldquo;It is true,
+Lord,&rdquo; said Morgan Tud. So the next day Arthur
+permitted him to go forth, and he pursued his journey. And
+on the same day Arthur removed thence. And Geraint desired
+Enid to go on, and to keep before him, as she had formerly
+done. And she went forward along the high road. And
+as they journeyed thus, they heard an exceeding loud wailing near
+to them. &ldquo;Stay thou here,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and
+I will go and see what is the cause of this wailing.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will,&rdquo; said she. Then he went forward unto
+an open glade that was near the road. And in the glade he
+saw two horses, one having a man&rsquo;s saddle, and the other a
+woman&rsquo;s saddle upon it. And, behold, there was a
+knight lying dead in his armour, and a young damsel in a
+riding-dress standing over him, lamenting. &ldquo;Ah!
+Lady,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;what hath befallen
+thee?&rdquo; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; she answered, &ldquo;I
+journeyed here with my beloved husband, when, lo! three giants
+came upon us, and without any cause in the world, they slew
+him.&rdquo; &ldquo;Which way went they hence?&rdquo; said
+Geraint. &ldquo;Yonder by the high road,&rdquo; she
+replied. So he returned to Enid. &ldquo;Go,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;to the lady that is below yonder, and await me
+there till I come.&rdquo; She was sad when he ordered her
+to do thus, but nevertheless she went to the damsel, whom it was
+ruth to hear, and she felt certain that Geraint would never
+return. Meanwhile Geraint followed the giants, and overtook
+them. And each of them was greater of stature than three
+other men, and a huge club was on the shoulder of each.
+Then he rushed upon one of them, and thrust his lance through his
+body. And having drawn it forth again, he pierced another
+of them through likewise. But the third turned upon him,
+and struck him with his club, so that he split his shield, and
+crushed his shoulder, and opened his wounds anew, and all his
+blood began to flow from him. But Geraint drew his sword,
+and attacked the giant, and gave him a blow on the crown of his
+head so severe, and fierce, and violent, that his head and his
+neck were split down to his shoulders, and he fell dead. So
+Geraint left him thus, and returned to Enid. And when he
+saw her, he fell down lifeless from his horse. Piercing,
+and loud, and thrilling was the cry that Enid uttered. And
+she came and stood over him where he had fallen. And at the
+sound of her cries came the Earl of Limours, and the host that
+journeyed with him, whom her lamentations brought out of their
+road. And the Earl said to Enid, &ldquo;Alas, Lady, what
+hath befallen thee?&rdquo; &ldquo;Ah! good Sir,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;the only man I have loved, or ever shall love, is
+slain.&rdquo; Then he said to the other, &ldquo;And what is
+the cause of thy grief?&rdquo; &ldquo;They have slain my
+beloved husband also,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;And who was
+it that slew them?&rdquo; &ldquo;Some giants,&rdquo; she
+answered, &ldquo;slew my best-beloved, and the other knight went
+in pursuit of them, and came back in the state thou seest, his
+blood flowing excessively; but it appears to me that he did not
+leave the giants without killing some of them, if not
+all.&rdquo; The Earl caused the knight that was dead to be
+buried, but he thought that there still remained some life in
+Geraint; and to see if he yet would live, he had him carried with
+him in the hollow of his shield, and upon a bier. And the
+two damsels went to the Court; and when they arrived there,
+Geraint was placed upon a litter-couch in front of the table that
+was in the hall. Then they all took off their travelling
+gear, and the Earl besought Enid to do the same, and to clothe
+herself in other garments. &ldquo;I will not, by
+Heaven,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;Ah! Lady,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;be not so sorrowful for this matter.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;It were hard to persuade me to be otherwise,&rdquo; said
+she. &ldquo;I will act towards thee in such wise, that thou
+needest not be sorrowful, whether yonder knight live or
+die. Behold, a good Earldom, together with myself, will I
+bestow on thee; be, therefore, happy and joyful.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;that
+henceforth I shall never be joyful while I live.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Come, then,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and eat.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;No, by Heaven, I will not,&rdquo; she answered.
+&ldquo;But, by Heaven, thou shalt,&rdquo; said he. So he
+took her with him to the table against her will, and many times
+desired her to eat. &ldquo;I call Heaven to witness,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;that I will not eat until the man that is upon
+yonder bier shall eat likewise.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou canst
+not fulfil that,&rdquo; said the Earl, &ldquo;yonder man is dead
+already.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will prove that I can,&rdquo; said
+she. Then he offered her a goblet of liquor.
+&ldquo;Drink this goblet,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and it will
+cause thee to change thy mind.&rdquo; &ldquo;Evil betide
+me,&rdquo; she answered, &ldquo;if I drink aught until he drink
+also.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said the Earl, &ldquo;it
+is of no more avail for me to be gentle with thee than
+ungentle.&rdquo; And he gave her a box on the ear.
+Thereupon she raised a loud and piercing shriek, and her
+lamentations were much greater than they had been before, for she
+considered in her mind that had Geraint been alive, he durst not
+have struck her thus. But, behold, at the sound of her cry,
+Geraint revived from his swoon, and he sat up on the bier, and
+finding his sword in the hollow of his shield, he rushed to the
+place where the Earl was, and struck him a fiercely-wounding,
+severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting blow upon the crown of his
+head, so that he clove him in twain, until his sword was stayed
+by the table. Then all left the board, and fled away.
+And this was not so much through fear of the living as through
+the dread they felt at seeing the dead man rise up to slay
+them. And Geraint looked upon Enid, and he was grieved for
+two causes; one was, to see that Enid had lost her colour and her
+wonted aspect, and the other, to know that she was in the
+right. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;knowest thou
+where our horses are?&rdquo; &ldquo;I know, Lord, where thy
+horse is,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;but I know not where is the
+other. Thy horse is in the house yonder.&rdquo; So he
+went to the house, and brought forth his horse, and mounted him,
+and took up Enid from the ground, and placed her upon the horse
+with him. And he rode forward. And their road lay
+between two hedges. And the night was gaining on the
+day. And lo! they saw behind them the shafts of spears
+betwixt them and the sky, and they heard the trampling of horses,
+and the noise of a host approaching. &ldquo;I hear
+something following us,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and I will put
+thee on the other side of the hedge.&rdquo; And thus he
+did. And thereupon, behold, a knight pricked towards him,
+and couched his lance. When Enid saw this, she cried out,
+saying, &ldquo;Oh! chieftain, whoever thou art, what renown wilt
+thou gain by slaying a dead man?&rdquo; &ldquo;Oh!
+Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;is it Geraint?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Yes, in truth,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;And who art
+thou?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am the Little King,&rdquo; he
+answered, &ldquo;coming to thy assistance, for I heard that thou
+wast in trouble. And if thou hadst followed my advice, none
+of these hardships would have befallen thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Nothing can happen,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;without
+the will of Heaven, though much good results from
+counsel.&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said the Little King,
+&ldquo;and I know good counsel for thee now. Come with me
+to the court of a son-in-law of my sister, which is near here,
+and thou shalt have the best medical assistance in the
+kingdom.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do so gladly,&rdquo; said
+Geraint. And Enid was placed upon the horse of one of the
+Little King&rsquo;s squires, and they went forward to the
+Baron&rsquo;s palace. And they were received there with
+gladness, and they met with hospitality and attention. And
+the next morning they went to seek physicians; and it was not
+long before they came, and they attended Geraint until he was
+perfectly well. And while Geraint was under medical care,
+the Little King caused his armour to be repaired, until it was as
+good as it had ever been. And they remained there a
+fortnight and a month.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the Little King said to Geraint, &ldquo;Now will we go
+towards my own Court, to take rest, and amuse
+ourselves.&rdquo; &ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;we will first journey for one day more, and return
+again.&rdquo; &ldquo;With all my heart,&rdquo; said the
+Little King, &ldquo;do thou go then.&rdquo; And early in
+the day they set forth. And more gladly and more joyfully
+did Enid journey with them that day than she had ever done.
+And they came to the main road. And when they reached a
+place where the road divided in two, they beheld a man on foot
+coming towards them along one of these roads, and Gwiffert asked
+the man whence he came. &ldquo;I come,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;from an errand in the country.&rdquo; &ldquo;Tell
+me,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;which is the best for me to
+follow of these two roads?&rdquo; &ldquo;That is the best
+for thee to follow,&rdquo; answered he, &ldquo;for if thou goest
+by this one, thou wilt never return. Below us,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;there is a hedge of mist, and within it are enchanted
+games, and no one who has gone there has ever returned. And
+the Court of the Earl Owain is there, and he permits no one to go
+to lodge in the town, except he will go to his
+Court.&rdquo; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;that we will take the lower road.&rdquo;
+And they went along it until they came to the town. And
+they took the fairest and pleasantest place in the town for their
+lodging. And while they were thus, behold, a young man came
+to them, and greeted them. &ldquo;Heaven be propitious to
+thee,&rdquo; said they. &ldquo;Good Sirs,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;what preparations are you making here?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;We are taking up our lodging,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;to
+pass the night.&rdquo; &ldquo;It is not the custom with him
+who owns the town,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;to permit any of
+gentle birth, unless they come to stay in his Court, to abide
+here; therefore, come ye to the Court.&rdquo; &ldquo;We
+will come, gladly,&rdquo; said Geraint. And they went with
+the page, and they were joyfully received. And the Earl
+came to the hall to meet them, and he commanded the tables to be
+laid. And they washed, and sat down. And this is the
+order in which they sat: Geraint on one side of the Earl, and
+Enid on the other side, and next to Enid the Little King, and
+then the Countess next to Geraint; and all after that as became
+their rank. Then Geraint recollected the games, and thought
+that he should not go to them; and on that account he did not
+eat. Then the Earl looked upon Geraint, and considered, and
+he bethought him that his not eating was because of the games,
+and it grieved him that he had ever established those games, were
+it only on account of losing such a youth as Geraint. And
+if Geraint had asked him to abolish the games, he would gladly
+have done so. Then the Earl said to Geraint, &ldquo;What
+thought occupies thy mind, that thou dost not eat? If thou
+hesitatest about going to the games, thou shalt not go, and no
+other of thy rank shall ever go either.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Heaven reward thee,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;but I wish
+nothing better than to go to the games, and to be shown the way
+thither.&rdquo; &ldquo;If that is what thou dost prefer,
+thou shalt obtain it willingly.&rdquo; &ldquo;I do prefer
+it, indeed,&rdquo; said he. Then they ate, and they were
+amply served, and they had a variety of gifts, and abundance of
+liquor. And when they had finished eating they arose.
+And Geraint called for his horse and his armour, and he accoutred
+both himself and his horse. And all the hosts went forth
+until they came to the side of the hedge, and the hedge was so
+lofty, that it reached as high as they could see in the air, and
+upon every stake in the hedge, except two, there was the head of
+a man, and the number of stakes throughout the hedge was very
+great. Then said the Little King, &ldquo;May no one go in
+with the chieftain?&rdquo; &ldquo;No one may,&rdquo; said
+Earl Owain. &ldquo;Which way can I enter?&rdquo; inquired
+Geraint. &ldquo;I know not,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;but
+enter by the way that thou wilt, and that seemeth easiest to
+thee.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into
+the mist. And on leaving the mist, he came to a large
+orchard; and in the orchard he saw an open space, wherein was a
+tent of red satin; and the door of the tent was open, and an
+apple-tree stood in front of the door of the tent; and on a
+branch of the apple-tree hung a huge hunting-horn. Then he
+dismounted, and went into the tent; and there was no one in the
+tent save one maiden sitting in a golden chair, and another chair
+was opposite to her, empty. And Geraint went to the empty
+chair, and sat down therein. &ldquo;Ah! chieftain,&rdquo;
+said the maiden, &ldquo;I would not counsel thee to sit in that
+chair.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wherefore?&rdquo; said Geraint.
+&ldquo;The man to whom that chair belongs has never suffered
+another to sit in it.&rdquo; &ldquo;I care not,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;though it displease him that I sit in the
+chair.&rdquo; And thereupon they heard a mighty tumult
+around the tent. And Geraint looked to see what was the
+cause of the tumult. And he beheld without a knight mounted
+upon a warhorse, proudly snorting, high-mettled, and large of
+bone; and a robe of honour in two parts was upon him and upon his
+horse, and beneath it was plenty of armour. &ldquo;Tell me,
+chieftain,&rdquo; said he to Geraint, &ldquo;who it was that bade
+thee sit there?&rdquo; &ldquo;Myself,&rdquo; answered
+he. &ldquo;It was wrong of thee to do me this shame and
+disgrace. Arise, and do me satisfaction for thine
+insolence.&rdquo; Then Geraint arose; and they encountered
+immediately; and they broke a set of lances, and a second set,
+and a third; and they gave each other fierce and frequent
+strokes; and at last Geraint became enraged, and he urged on his
+horse, and rushed upon him, and gave him a thrust on the centre
+of his shield, so that it was split, and so that the head of his
+lance went through his armour, and his girths were broken, and he
+himself was borne headlong to the ground the length of
+Geraint&rsquo;s lance and arm, over his horse&rsquo;s
+crupper. &ldquo;Oh, my Lord!&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thy
+mercy, and thou shalt have what thou wilt.&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+only desire,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;that this game shall no
+longer exist here, nor the hedge of mist, nor magic, nor
+enchantment.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou shalt have this gladly,
+Lord,&rdquo; he replied. &ldquo;Cause, then, the mist to
+disappear from this place,&rdquo; said Geraint.
+&ldquo;Sound yonder horn,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and when thou
+soundest it, the mist will vanish; but it will not go hence
+unless the horn be blown by the knight by whom I am
+vanquished.&rdquo; And sad and sorrowful was Enid where she
+remained, through anxiety concerning Geraint. Then Geraint
+went and sounded the horn. And at the first blast he gave,
+the mist vanished. And all the hosts came together, and
+they all became reconciled to each other. And the Earl
+invited Geraint and the Little King to stay with him that
+night. And the next morning they separated. And
+Geraint went towards his own dominions; and thenceforth he
+reigned prosperously, and his warlike fame and splendour lasted
+with renown and honour both to him and to Enid from that time
+forth.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap05"></a>KILHWCH AND OLWEN<br/>
+<small>OR THE</small><br/>
+TWRCH TRWYTH</h2>
+
+<p>
+Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, and the wife
+that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd. And after their
+union, the people put up prayers that they might have an heir. And they had a
+son through the prayers of the people. From the time of her pregnancy
+Goleuddydd became wild, and wandered about, without habitation; but when her
+delivery was at hand, her reason came back to her. Then she went to a mountain
+where there was a swineherd, keeping a herd of swine. And through fear of the
+swine the queen was delivered. And the swineherd took the boy, and brought him
+to the palace; and he was christened, and they called him Kilhwch, because he
+had been found in a swine&rsquo;s burrow. Nevertheless the boy was of gentle
+lineage, and cousin unto Arthur; and they put him out to nurse.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After this the boy&rsquo;s mother, Goleuddydd, the daughter of
+Prince Anlawdd, fell sick. Then she called her husband unto
+her, and said to him, &ldquo;Of this sickness I shall die, and
+thou wilt take another wife. Now wives are the gift of the
+Lord, but it would be wrong for thee to harm thy son.
+Therefore I charge thee that thou take not a wife until thou see
+a briar with two blossoms upon my grave.&rdquo; And this he
+promised her. Then she besought him to dress her grave
+every year, that nothing might grow thereon. So the queen
+died. Now the king sent an attendant every morning to see
+if anything were growing upon the grave. And at the end of
+the seventh year the master neglected that which he had promised
+to the queen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One day the king went to hunt, and he rode to the place of
+burial to see the grave, and to know if it were time that he
+should take a wife; and the king saw the briar. And when he
+saw it, the king took counsel where he should find a wife.
+Said one of his counsellors, &ldquo;I know a wife that will suit
+thee well, and she is the wife of King Doged.&rdquo; And
+they resolved to go to seek her; and they slew the king, and
+brought away his wife and one daughter that she had along with
+her. And they conquered the king&rsquo;s lands.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+On a certain day, as the lady walked abroad, she came to the
+house of an old crone that dwelt in the town, and that had no
+tooth in her head. And the queen said to her, &ldquo;Old
+woman, tell me that which I shall ask thee, for the love of
+Heaven. Where are the children of the man who has carried
+me away by violence?&rdquo; Said the crone, &ldquo;He has
+not children.&rdquo; Said the queen, &ldquo;Woe is me, that
+I should have come to one who is childless!&rdquo; Then
+said the hag, &ldquo;Thou needest not lament on account of that,
+for there is a prediction he shall have an heir by thee, and by
+none other. Moreover, be not sorrowful, for he has one
+son.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The lady returned home with joy; and she asked her consort,
+&ldquo;Wherefore hast thou concealed thy children from
+me?&rdquo; The king said, &ldquo;I will do so no
+longer.&rdquo; And he sent messengers for his son, and he
+was brought to the Court. His stepmother said unto him,
+&ldquo;It were well for thee to have a wife, and I have a
+daughter who is sought of every man of renown in the
+world.&rdquo; &ldquo;I am not yet of an age to wed,&rdquo;
+answered the youth. Then said she unto him, &ldquo;I
+declare to thee, that it is thy destiny not to be suited with a
+wife until thou obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden
+Penkawr.&rdquo; And the youth blushed, and the love of the
+maiden diffused itself through all his frame, although he had
+never seen her. And his father inquired of him, &ldquo;What
+has come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;My stepmother has declared to me that I shall never have a
+wife until I obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden
+Penkawr.&rdquo; &ldquo;That will be easy for thee,&rdquo;
+answered his father. &ldquo;Arthur is thy cousin. Go,
+therefore, unto Arthur, to cut thy hair, and ask this of him as a
+boon.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled
+grey, of four winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs,
+having a bridle of linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle
+of costly gold. And in the youth&rsquo;s hand were two
+spears of silver, sharp, well-tempered, headed with steel, three
+ells in length, of an edge to wound the wind, and cause blood to
+flow, and swifter than the fall of the dewdrop from the blade of
+reed-grass upon the earth when the dew of June is at the
+heaviest. A gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh, the blade
+of which was of gold, bearing a cross of inlaid gold of the hue
+of the lightning of heaven: his war-horn was of ivory.
+Before him were two brindled white-breasted greyhounds, having
+strong collars of rubies about their necks, reaching from the
+shoulder to the ear. And the one that was on the left side
+bounded across to the right side, and the one on the right to the
+left, and like two sea-swallows sported around him. And his
+courser cast up four sods with his four hoofs, like four swallows
+in the air, about his head, now above, now below. About him
+was a four-cornered cloth of purple, and an apple of gold was at
+each corner, and every one of the apples was of the value of an
+hundred kine. And there was precious gold of the value of
+three hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups, from
+his knee to the tip of his toe. And the blade of grass bent
+not beneath him, so light was his courser&rsquo;s tread as he
+journeyed towards the gate of Arthur&rsquo;s Palace.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Spoke the youth, &ldquo;Is there a porter?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;There is; and if thou holdest not thy peace, small will be
+thy welcome. I am Arthur&rsquo;s porter every first day of
+January. And during every other part of the year but this,
+the office is filled by Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym, and
+Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head to save his feet, neither
+towards the sky nor towards the earth, but like a rolling stone
+upon the floor of the court.&rdquo; &ldquo;Open the
+portal.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not open it.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Wherefore not?&rdquo; &ldquo;The knife is in the
+meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in
+Arthur&rsquo;s Hall, and none may enter therein but the son of a
+king of a privileged country, or a craftsman bringing his
+craft. But there will be refreshment for thy dogs, and for
+thy horses; and for thee there will be collops cooked and
+peppered, and luscious wine and mirthful songs, and food for
+fifty men shall be brought unto thee in the guest chamber, where
+the stranger and the sons of other countries eat, who come not
+unto the precincts of the Palace of Arthur. Thou wilt fare
+no worse there than thou wouldest with Arthur in the Court.
+A lady shall smooth thy couch, and shall lull thee with songs;
+and early to-morrow morning, when the gate is open for the
+multitude that come hither to-day, for thee shall it be opened
+first, and thou mayest sit in the place that thou shalt choose in
+Arthur&rsquo;s Hall, from the upper end to the
+lower.&rdquo; Said the youth, &ldquo;That will I not
+do. If thou openest the gate, it is well. If thou
+dost not open it, I will bring disgrace upon thy Lord, and evil
+report upon thee. And I will set up three shouts at this
+very gate, than which none were ever more deadly, from the top of
+Pengwaed in Cornwall to the bottom of Dinsol, in the North, and
+to Esgair Oervel, in Ireland. And all the women in this
+Palace that are pregnant shall lose their offspring; and such as
+are not pregnant, their hearts shall be turned by illness, so
+that they shall never bear children from this day
+forward.&rdquo; &ldquo;What clamour soever thou mayest
+make,&rdquo; said Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, &ldquo;against the laws of
+Arthur&rsquo;s Palace shalt thou not enter therein, until I first
+go and speak with Arthur.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Glewlwyd went into the Hall. And Arthur said to
+him, &ldquo;Hast thou news from the
+gate?&rdquo;&mdash;&ldquo;Half of my life is past, and half of
+thine. I was heretofore in Kaer Se and Asse, in Sach and
+Salach, in Lotor and Fotor; and I have been heretofore in India
+the Great and India the Lesser; and I was in the battle of Dau
+Ynyr, when the twelve hostages were brought from Llychlyn.
+And I have also been in Europe, and in Africa, and in the islands
+of Corsica, and in Caer Brythwch, and Brythach, and Verthach; and
+I was present when formerly thou didst slay the family of Clis
+the son of Merin, and when thou didst slay Mil Du the son of
+Ducum, and when thou didst conquer Greece in the East. And
+I have been in Caer Oeth and Annoeth, and in Caer Nevenhyr; nine
+supreme sovereigns, handsome men, saw we there, but never did I
+behold a man of equal dignity with him who is now at the door of
+the portal.&rdquo; Then said Arthur, &ldquo;If walking thou
+didst enter in here, return thou running. And every one
+that beholds the light, and every one that opens and shuts the
+eye, let them shew him respect, and serve him, some with
+gold-mounted drinking-horns, others with collops cooked and
+peppered, until food and drink can be prepared for him. It
+is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou sayest he is, in the
+wind and the rain.&rdquo; Said Kai, &ldquo;By the hand of
+my friend, if thou wouldest follow my counsel, thou wouldest not
+break through the laws of the Court because of him.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Not so, blessed Kai. It is an honour to us to be
+resorted to, and the greater our courtesy the greater will be our
+renown, and our fame, and our glory.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before him;
+and although all dismounted upon the horseblock at the gate, yet
+did he not dismount, but rode in upon his charger. Then
+said Kilhwch, &ldquo;Greeting be unto thee, Sovereign Ruler of
+this Island; and be this greeting no less unto the lowest than
+unto the highest, and be it equally unto thy guests, and thy
+warriors, and thy chieftains&mdash;let all partake of it as
+completely as thyself. And complete be thy favour, and thy
+fame, and thy glory, throughout all this Island.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Greeting unto thee also,&rdquo; said Arthur; &ldquo;sit
+thou between two of my warriors, and thou shalt have minstrels
+before thee, and thou shalt enjoy the privileges of a king born
+to a throne, as long as thou remainest here. And when I
+dispense my presents to the visitors and strangers in this Court,
+they shall be in thy hand at my commencing.&rdquo; Said the
+youth, &ldquo;I came not here to consume meat and drink; but if I
+obtain the boon that I seek, I will requite it thee, and extol
+thee; and if I have it not, I will bear forth thy dispraise to
+the four quarters of the world, as far as thy renown has
+extended.&rdquo; Then said Arthur, &ldquo;Since thou wilt
+not remain here, chieftain, thou shalt receive the boon
+whatsoever thy tongue may name, as far as the wind dries, and the
+rain moistens, and the sun revolves, and the sea encircles, and
+the earth extends; save only my ship; and my mantle; and
+Caledvwlch, my sword; and Rhongomyant, my lance; and
+Wynebgwrthucher, my shield; and Carnwenhau, my dagger; and
+Gwenhwyvar, my wife. By the truth of Heaven, thou shalt
+have it cheerfully, name what thou wilt.&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+would that thou bless my hair.&rdquo; &ldquo;That shall be
+granted thee.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors, whereof the loops
+were of silver, and he combed his hair. And Arthur inquired
+of him who he was. &ldquo;For my heart warms unto thee, and
+I know that thou art come of my blood. Tell me, therefore,
+who thou art.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will tell thee,&rdquo; said
+the youth. &ldquo;I am Kilhwch, the son of Kilydd, the son
+of Prince Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd, my mother, the daughter of
+Prince Anlawdd.&rdquo; &ldquo;That is true,&rdquo; said
+Arthur; &ldquo;thou art my cousin. Whatsoever boon thou
+mayest ask, thou shalt receive, be it what it may that thy tongue
+shall name.&rdquo; &ldquo;Pledge the truth of Heaven and
+the faith of thy kingdom thereof.&rdquo; &ldquo;I pledge it
+thee, gladly.&rdquo; &ldquo;I crave of thee then, that thou
+obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr; and this
+boon I likewise seek at the hands of thy warriors. I seek
+it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl Galldonyd, and Gwythyr the
+son of Greidawl, and Greid the son of Eri, and Kynddelig
+Kyvarwydd, and Tathal Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys the son of
+Baeddan, and Crychwr the son of Nes, and Cubert the son of Daere,
+and Percos the son of Poch, and Lluber Beuthach, and Corvil
+Bervach, and Gwynn the son of Nudd, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd,
+and Gadwy the son of Geraint, and Prince Fflewddur Fflam, and
+Ruawn Pebyr the son of Dorath, and Bradwen the son of Moren
+Mynawc, and Moren Mynawc himself, and Dalldav the son of Kimin
+C&ocirc;v, and the son of Alun Dyved, and the son of Saidi, and
+the son of Gwryon, and Uchtryd Ardywad Kad, and Kynwas Curvagyl,
+and Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras, and Isperyr Ewingath, and Gallcoyt
+Govynynat, and Duach, and Grathach, and Nerthach, the sons of
+Gwawrddur Kyrvach (these men came forth from the confines of
+hell), and Kilydd Canhastyr, and Canastyr Kanllaw, and Cors
+Cant-Ewin, and Esgeir Gulhwch Govynkawn, and Drustwrn Hayarn, and
+Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, and Lloch Llawwynnyawc, and Aunwas
+Adeiniawc, and Sinnoch the son of Seithved, and Gwennwynwyn the
+son of Naw, and Bedyw the son of Seithved, and Gobrwy the son of
+Echel Vorddwyttwll, and Echel Vorddwyttwll himself, and Mael the
+son of Roycol, and Dadweir Dallpenn, and Garwyli the son of
+Gwythawc Gwyr, and Gwythawc Gwyr himself, and Gormant the son of
+Ricca, and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, and Digon the son of Alar,
+and Selyf the son of Smoit, and Gusg the son of Atheu, and Nerth
+the son of Kedarn, and Drudwas the son of Tryffin, and Twrch the
+son of Perif, and Twrch the son of Annwas, and Iona king of
+France, and Sel the son of Selgi, and Teregud the son of Iaen,
+and Sulyen the son of Iaen, and Bradwen the son of Iaen, and
+Moren the son of Iaen, and Siawn the son of Iaen, and Cradawc the
+son of Iaen. (They were men of Caerdathal, of
+Arthur&rsquo;s kindred on his father&rsquo;s side.) Dirmyg
+the son of Kaw, and Justic the son of Kaw, and Etmic the son of
+Kaw, and Anghawd the son of Kaw, and Ovan the son of Kaw, and
+Kelin the son of Kaw, and Connyn the son of Kaw, and Mabsant the
+son of Kaw, and Gwyngad the son of Kaw, and Llwybyr the son of
+Kaw, and Coth the son of Kaw, and Meilic the son of Kaw, and
+Kynwas the son of Kaw, and Ardwyad the son of Kaw, and Ergyryad
+the son of Kaw, and Neb the son of Kaw, and Gilda the son of Kaw,
+and Calcas the son of Kaw, and Hueil the son of Kaw (he never yet
+made a request at the hand of any Lord). And Samson
+Vinsych, and Taliesin the chief of the bards, and Manawyddan the
+son of Llyr, and Llary the son of Prince Kasnar, and Ysperni the
+son of Fflergant king of Armorica, and Saranhon the son of
+Glythwyr, and Llawr Eilerw, and Annyanniawc the son of Menw the
+son of Teirgwaedd, and Gwynn the son of Nwyvre, and Fflam the son
+of Nwyvre, and Geraint the son of Erbin, and Ermid the son of
+Erbin, and Dyvel the son of Erbin, and Gwynn the son of Ermid,
+and Kyndrwyn the son of Ermid, and Hyveidd Unllenn, and Eiddon
+Vawr Vrydic, and Reidwn Arwy, and Gormant the son of Ricca
+(Arthur&rsquo;s brother by his mother&rsquo;s side; the Penhynev
+of Cornwall was his father), and Llawnrodded Varvawc, and Nodawl
+Varyf Twrch, and Berth the son of Kado, and Rheidwn the son of
+Beli, and Iscovan Hael, and Iscawin the son of Panon, and Morvran
+the son of Tegid (no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by
+reason of his ugliness; all thought he was an auxiliary
+devil. Hair had he upon him like the hair of a stag).
+And Sandde Bryd Angel (no one touched him with a spear in the
+battle of Camlan because of his beauty; all thought he was a
+ministering angel). And Kynwyl Sant (the third man that
+escaped from the battle of Camlan, and he was the last who parted
+from Arthur on Hengroen his horse). And Uchtryd the son of
+Erim, and Eus the son of Erim, and Henwas Adeinawg the son of
+Erim, and Henbedestyr the son of Erim, and Sgilti Yscawndroed the
+son of Erim. (Unto these three men belonged these three
+qualities,&mdash;With Henbedestyr there was not any one who could
+keep pace, either on horseback or on foot; with Henwas Adeinawg,
+no four-footed beast could run the distance of an acre, much less
+could it go beyond it; and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when he
+intended to go upon a message for his Lord, he never sought to
+find a path, but knowing whither he was to go, if his way lay
+through a wood he went along the tops of the trees. During
+his whole life, a blade of reed grass bent not beneath his feet,
+much less did one ever break, so lightly did he tread.)
+Teithi H&ecirc;n the son of Gwynhan (his dominions were swallowed
+up by the sea, and he himself hardly escaped, and he came to
+Arthur; and his knife had this peculiarity, that from the time
+that he came there no haft would ever remain upon it, and owing
+to this a sickness came over him, and he pined away during the
+remainder of his life, and of this he died). And Carneddyr
+the son of Govynyon H&ecirc;n, and Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav
+Gyssevin, Arthur&rsquo;s champion, and Llysgadrudd Emys, and
+Gwrbothu H&ecirc;n (uncles unto Arthur were they, his
+mother&rsquo;s brothers). Kulvanawyd the son of Goryon, and
+Llenlleawg Wyddel from the headland of Ganion, and Dyvynwal Moel,
+and Dunard king of the North, Teirnon Twryf Bliant, and Tegvan
+Gloff, and Tegyr Talgellawg, Gwrdinal the son of Ebrei, and
+Morgant Hael, Gwystyl the son of Rhun the son of Nwython, and
+Llwyddeu the son of Nwython, and Gwydre the son of Llwyddeu
+(Gwenabwy the daughter of [Kaw] was his mother, Hueil his uncle
+stabbed him, and hatred was between Hueil and Arthur because of
+the wound). Drem the son of Dremidyd (when the gnat arose
+in the morning with the sun, he could see it from Gelli Wic in
+Cornwall, as far off as Pen Blathaon in North Britain). And
+Eidyol the son of Ner, and Glwyddyn Saer (who constructed
+Ehangwen, Arthur&rsquo;s Hall). Kynyr Keinvarvawc (when he
+was told he had a son born he said to his wife, &lsquo;Damsel, if
+thy son be mine, his heart will be always cold, and there will be
+no warmth in his hands; and he will have another peculiarity, if
+he is my son he will always be stubborn; and he will have another
+peculiarity, when he carries a burden, whether it be large or
+small, no one will be able to see it, either before him or at his
+back; and he will have another peculiarity, no one will be able
+to resist fire and water so well as he will; and he will have
+another peculiarity, there will never be a servant or an officer
+equal to him&rsquo;). Henwas, and Henwyneb (an old
+companion to Arthur). Gwallgoyc (another; when he came to a
+town, though there were three hundred houses in it, if he wanted
+anything, he would not let sleep come to the eyes of any one
+whilst he remained there). Berwyn the son of Gerenhir, and
+Paris king of France, and Osla Gyllellvawr (who bore a short
+broad dagger. When Arthur and his hosts came before a
+torrent, they would seek for a narrow place where they might pass
+the water, and would lay the sheathed dagger across the torrent,
+and it would form a bridge sufficient for the armies of the three
+Islands of Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, with their
+spoil). Gwyddawg the son of Menestyr (who slew Kai, and
+whom Arthur slew, together with his brothers, to revenge
+Kai). Garanwyn the son of Kai, and Amren the son of Bedwyr,
+and Ely Amyr, and Rheu Rhwyd Dyrys, and Rhun Rhudwern, and Eli,
+and Trachmyr (Arthur&rsquo;s chief huntsmen). And Llwyddeu
+the son of Kelcoed, and Hunabwy the son of Gwryon, and Gwynn
+Godyvron, and Gweir Datharwenniddawg, and Gweir the son of Cadell
+the son of Talaryant, and Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir, and Gweir Paladyr
+Hir (the uncles of Arthur, the brothers of his mother). The
+sons of Llwch Llawwynnyawg (from beyond the raging sea).
+Llenlleawg Wyddel, and Ardderchawg Prydain. Cas the son of
+Saidi, Gwrvan Gwallt Avwyn, and Gwyllennhin the king of France,
+and Gwittart the son of Oedd king of Ireland. Garselit
+Wyddel, Panawr Pen Bagad, and Ffleudor the son of Nav, Gwynnhyvar
+mayor of Cornwall and Devon (the ninth man that rallied the
+battle of Camlan). Keli and Kueli, and Gilla Coes Hydd (he
+would clear three hundred acres at one bound: the chief leaper of
+Ireland was he). Sol, and Gwadyn Ossol, and Gwadyn
+Odyeith. (Sol could stand all day upon one foot.
+Gwadyn Ossol, if he stood upon the top of the highest mountain in
+the world, it would become a level plain under his feet.
+Gwadyn Odyeith, the soles of his feet emitted sparks of fire when
+they struck upon things hard, like the heated mass when drawn out
+of the forge. He cleared the way for Arthur when he came to
+any stoppage.) Hirerwm and Hiratrwm. (The day they
+went on a visit three Cantrevs provided for their entertainment,
+and they feasted until noon and drank until night, when they went
+to sleep. And then they devoured the heads of the vermin
+through hunger, as if they had never eaten anything. When
+they made a visit they left neither the fat nor the lean, neither
+the hot nor the cold, the sour nor the sweet, the fresh nor the
+salt, the boiled nor the raw.) Huarwar the son of Aflawn
+(who asked Arthur such a boon as would satisfy him. It was
+the third great plague of Cornwall when he received it.
+None could get a smile from him but when he was satisfied).
+Gware Gwallt Euryn. The two cubs of Gast Rhymi, Gwyddrud
+and Gwyddneu Astrus. Sugyn the son of Sugnedydd (who would
+suck up the sea on which were three hundred ships so as to leave
+nothing but a dry strand. He was broad-chested).
+Rhacymwri, the attendant of Arthur (whatever barn he was shown,
+were there the produce of thirty ploughs within it, he would
+strike it with an iron flail until the rafters, the beams, and
+the boards were no better than the small oats in the mow upon the
+floor of the barn). Dygyflwng and Anoeth Veidawg. And
+Hir Eiddyl, and Hir Amreu (they were two attendants of
+Arthur). And Gwevyl the son of Gwestad (on the day that he
+was sad, he would let one of his lips drop below his waist, while
+he turned up the other like a cap upon his head). Uchtryd
+Varyf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the
+eight-and-forty rafters which were in Arthur&rsquo;s Hall).
+Elidyr Gyvarwydd. Yskyrdav and Yscudydd (two attendants of
+Gwenhwyvar were they. Their feet were swift as their
+thoughts when bearing a message). Brys the son of
+Bryssethach (from the Hill of the Black Fernbrake in North
+Britain). And Grudlwyn Gorr. Bwlch, and Kyfwlch, and
+Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Kyfwlch, the grandsons of Cleddyf
+Difwlch. (Their three shields were three gleaming
+glitterers; their three spears were three pointed piercers; their
+three swords were three grinding gashers; Glas, Glessic, and
+Gleisad. Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall.
+Their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd, and Drwgdyddwd, and
+Llwyrdyddwg. Their three wives, Och, and Garym, and
+Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Neved, and
+Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and
+Gwaethav Oll. Their three hand-maids, Eheubryd the daughter
+of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrn the daughter of Nerth, Ewaedan the daughter
+of Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyll the half-man.) Dwnn Diessic
+Unbenn, Eiladyr the son of Pen Llarcau, Kynedyr Wyllt the son of
+Hettwn Talaryant, Sawyl Ben Uchel, Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar,
+Gwalhaved the son of Gwyar, Gwrhyr Gwastawd Ieithoedd (to whom
+all tongues were known), and Kethcrwm the Priest. Clust the
+son of Clustveinad (though he were buried seven cubits beneath
+the earth, he would hear the ant fifty miles off rise from her
+nest in the morning). Medyr the son of Methredydd (from
+Gelli Wic he could, in a twinkling, shoot the wren through the
+two legs upon Esgeir Oervel in Ireland). Gwiawn Llygad Cath
+(who could cut a haw from the eye of the gnat without hurting
+him). Ol the son of Olwydd (seven years before he was born
+his father&rsquo;s swine were carried off, and when he grew up a
+man he tracked the swine, and brought them back in seven
+herds). Bedwini the Bishop (who blessed Arthur&rsquo;s meat
+and drink). For the sake of the golden-chained daughters of
+this island. For the sake of Gwenhwyvar its chief lady, and
+Gwennhwyach her sister, and Rathtyeu the only daughter of
+Clemenhill, and Rhelemon the daughter of Kai, and Tannwen the
+daughter of Gweir Datharwen&icirc;ddawg. Gwenn Alarch the
+daughter of Kynwyl Canbwch. Eurneid the daughter of Clydno
+Eiddin. Eneuawc the daughter of Bedwyr. Enrydreg the
+daughter of Tudvathar. Gwennwledyr the daughter of Gwaledyr
+Kyrvach. Erddudnid the daughter of Tryffin. Eurolwen
+the daughter of Gwdolwyn Gorr. Teleri the daughter of
+Peul. Indeg the daughter of Garwy Hir. Morvudd the
+daughter of Urien Rheged. Gwenllian Deg the majestic
+maiden. Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint.
+(She was the most splendid maiden in the three Islands of the
+mighty, and in the three Islands adjacent, and for her Gwythyr
+the son of Greidawl and Gwynn the son of Nudd fight every first
+of May until the day of doom.) Ellylw the daughter of Neol
+Kynn-Crog (she lived three ages). Essyllt Vinwen and
+Essyllt Vingul.&rdquo; And all these did Kilhwch the son of
+Kilydd adjure to obtain his boon.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then said Arthur, &ldquo;Oh! chieftain, I have never heard of
+the maiden of whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will
+gladly send messengers in search of her. Give me time to
+seek her.&rdquo; And the youth said, &ldquo;I will
+willingly grant from this night to that at the end of the year to
+do so.&rdquo; Then Arthur sent messengers to every land
+within his dominions to seek for the maiden; and at the end of
+the year Arthur&rsquo;s messengers returned without having gained
+any knowledge or intelligence concerning Olwen more than on the
+first day. Then said Kilhwch, &ldquo;Every one has received
+his boon, and I yet lack mine. I will depart and bear away
+thy honour with me.&rdquo; Then said Kai, &ldquo;Rash
+chieftain! dost thou reproach Arthur? Go with us, and we
+will not part until thou dost either confess that the maiden
+exists not in the world, or until we obtain her.&rdquo;
+Thereupon Kai rose up. Kai had this peculiarity, that his
+breath lasted nine nights and nine days under water, and he could
+exist nine nights and nine days without sleep. A wound from
+Kai&rsquo;s sword no physician could heal. Very subtle was
+Kai. When it pleased him he could render himself as tall as
+the highest tree in the forest. And he had another
+peculiarity,&mdash;so great was the heat of his nature, that,
+when it rained hardest, whatever he carried remained dry for a
+handbreadth above and a handbreadth below his hand; and when his
+companions were coldest, it was to them as fuel with which to
+light their fire.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any enterprise
+upon which Kai was bound. None was equal to him in
+swiftness throughout this island except Arthur and Drych Ail
+Kibddar. And although he was one-handed, three warriors
+could not shed blood faster than he on the field of battle.
+Another property he had; his lance would produce a wound equal to
+those of nine opposing lances.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, &ldquo;Go thou upon
+this expedition with the chieftain.&rdquo; For as good a
+guide was he in a land which he had never seen as he was in his
+own.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, because he knew all
+tongues.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He called Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, because he never
+returned home without achieving the adventure of which he went in
+quest. He was the best of footmen and the best of
+knights. He was nephew to Arthur, the son of his sister,
+and his cousin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order that if
+they went into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an
+illusion over them, so that none might see them whilst they could
+see every one.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein
+they saw a great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of
+the world. And they journeyed that day until the evening,
+and when they thought they were nigh to the castle, they were no
+nearer to it than they had been in the morning. And the
+second and the third day they journeyed, and even then scarcely
+could they reach so far. And when they came before the
+castle, they beheld a vast flock of sheep, which was boundless
+and without an end. And upon the top of a mound there was a
+herdsman, keeping the sheep. And a rug made of skins was
+upon him; and by his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a
+steed nine winters old. Never had he lost even a lamb from
+his flock, much less a large sheep. He let no occasion ever
+pass without doing some hurt and harm. All the dead trees
+and bushes in the plain he burnt with his breath down to the very
+ground.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then said Kai, &ldquo;Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou and
+salute yonder man.&rdquo; &ldquo;Kai,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;I engaged not to go further than thou
+thyself.&rdquo; &ldquo;Let us go then together,&rdquo;
+answered Kai. Said Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, &ldquo;Fear
+not to go thither, for I will cast a spell upon the dog, so that
+he shall injure no one.&rdquo; And they went up to the
+mound whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him, &ldquo;How
+dost thou fare, O herdsman?&rdquo; &ldquo;No less fair be
+it to you than to me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly, art thou the
+chief?&rdquo; &ldquo;There is no hurt to injure me but my
+own.&rdquo; <a name="citation5"></a><a href="#footnote5"
+class="citation">[5]</a> &ldquo;Whose are the sheep that
+thou dost keep, and to whom does yonder castle
+belong?&rdquo; &ldquo;Stupid are ye, truly! Through
+the whole world is it known that this is the castle of Yspaddaden
+Penkawr.&rdquo; &ldquo;And who art thou?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I am called Custennin the son of Dyfnedig, and my brother
+Yspaddaden Penkawr oppressed me because of my possessions.
+And ye also, who are ye?&rdquo; &ldquo;We are an embassy
+from Arthur, come to seek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden
+Penkawr.&rdquo; &ldquo;Oh men! the mercy of Heaven be upon
+you, do not that for all the world. None who ever came
+hither on this quest has returned alive.&rdquo; And the
+herdsman rose up. And as he arose, Kilhwch gave unto him a
+ring of gold. And he sought to put on the ring, but it was
+too small for him, so he placed it in the finger of his
+glove. And he went home, and gave the glove to his spouse
+to keep. And she took the ring from the glove when it was
+given her, and she said, &ldquo;Whence came this ring, for thou
+art not wont to have good fortune?&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+went,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to the sea to seek for fish, and lo,
+I saw a corpse borne by the waves. And a fairer corpse than
+it did I never behold. And from its finger did I take this
+ring.&rdquo; &ldquo;O man! does the sea permit its dead to
+wear jewels? Show me then this body.&rdquo; &ldquo;Oh
+wife, him to whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here in the
+evening.&rdquo; &ldquo;And who is he?&rdquo; asked the
+woman, &ldquo;Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince
+Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, his
+mother, who is come to seek Olwen as his wife.&rdquo; And
+when she heard that, her feelings were divided between the joy
+that she had that her nephew, the son of her sister, was coming
+to her, and sorrow because she had never known any one depart
+alive who had come on that quest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they went forward to the gate of Custennin the
+herdsman&rsquo;s dwelling. And when she heard their
+footsteps approaching, she ran out with joy to meet them.
+And Kai snatched a billet out of the pile. And when she met
+them she sought to throw her arms about their necks. And
+Kai placed the log between her two hands, and she squeezed it so
+that it became a twisted coil. &ldquo;Oh woman,&rdquo; said
+Kai, &ldquo;if thou hadst squeezed me thus, none could ever again
+have set their affections on me. Evil love were
+this.&rdquo; They entered into the house, and were served;
+and soon after they all went forth to amuse themselves.
+Then the woman opened a stone chest that was before the
+chimney-corner, and out of it arose a youth with yellow curling
+hair. Said Gwrhyr, &ldquo;It is a pity to hide this
+youth. I know that it is not his own crime that is thus
+visited upon him.&rdquo; &ldquo;This is but a
+remnant,&rdquo; said the woman. &ldquo;Three-and-twenty of
+my sons has Yspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more hope of
+this one than of the others.&rdquo; Then said Kai,
+&ldquo;Let him come and be a companion with me, and he shall not
+be slain unless I also am slain with him.&rdquo; And they
+ate. And the woman asked them, &ldquo;Upon what errand come
+you here?&rdquo; &ldquo;We come to seek Olwen for this
+youth.&rdquo; Then said the woman, &ldquo;In the name of
+Heaven, since no one from the castle hath yet seen you, return
+again whence you came.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven is our witness,
+that we will not return until we have seen the
+maiden.&rdquo; Said Kai, &ldquo;Does she ever come hither,
+so that she may be seen?&rdquo; &ldquo;She comes here every
+Saturday to wash her head, and in the vessel where she washes,
+she leaves all her rings, and she never either comes herself or
+sends any messengers to fetch them.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Will she come here if she is sent to?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Heaven knows that I will not destroy my soul, nor will I
+betray those that trust me; unless you will pledge me your faith
+that you will not harm her, I will not send to her.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;We pledge it,&rdquo; said they. So a message was
+sent, and she came.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and
+about her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious
+emeralds and rubies. More yellow was her head than the
+flower of the broom, and her skin was whiter than the foam of the
+wave, and fairer were her hands and her fingers than the blossoms
+of the wood anemone amidst the spray of the meadow
+fountain. The eye of the trained hawk, the glance of the
+three-mewed falcon was not brighter than hers. Her bosom
+was more snowy than the breast of the white swan, her cheek was
+redder than the reddest roses. Whoso beheld her was filled
+with her love. Four white trefoils sprung up wherever she
+trod. And therefore was she called Olwen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the
+foremost bench; and as soon as he saw her he knew her. And
+Kilhwch said unto her, &ldquo;Ah! maiden, thou art she whom I
+have loved; come away with me, lest they speak evil of thee and
+of me. Many a day have I loved thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+cannot do this, for I have pledged my faith to my father not to
+go without his counsel, for his life will last only until the
+time of my espousals. Whatever is, must be. But I
+will give thee advice if thou wilt take it. Go, ask me of
+my father, and that which he shall require of thee, grant it, and
+thou wilt obtain me; but if thou deny him anything, thou wilt not
+obtain me, and it will be well for thee if thou escape with thy
+life.&rdquo; &ldquo;I promise all this, if occasion
+offer,&rdquo; said he.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed
+her to the castle. And they slew the nine porters that were
+at the nine gates in silence. And they slew the nine
+watch-dogs without one of them barking. And they went
+forward to the hall.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee,
+Yspaddaden Penkawr,&rdquo; said they. &ldquo;And you,
+wherefore come you?&rdquo; &ldquo;We come to ask thy
+daughter Olwen, for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince
+Kelyddon.&rdquo; &ldquo;Where are my pages and my
+servants? Raise up the forks beneath my two eyebrows which
+have fallen over my eyes, that I may see the fashion of my
+son-in-law.&rdquo; And they did so. &ldquo;Come
+hither to-morrow, and you shall have an answer.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of
+the three poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after
+them. And Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced
+Yspaddaden Penkawr grievously with it through the knee.
+Then he said, &ldquo;A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly. I
+shall ever walk the worse for his rudeness, and shall ever be
+without a cure. This poisoned iron pains me like the bite
+of a gadfly. Cursed be the smith who forged it, and the
+anvil whereon it was wrought! So sharp is it!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+That night also they took up their abode in the house of
+Custennin the herdsman. The next day with the dawn they
+arrayed themselves in haste and proceeded to the castle, and
+entered the hall, and they said, &ldquo;Yspaddaden Penkawr, give
+us thy daughter in consideration of her dower and her maiden fee,
+which we will pay to thee and to her two kinswomen
+likewise. And unless thou wilt do so, thou shalt meet with
+thy death on her account.&rdquo; Then he said, &ldquo;Her
+four great-grandmothers, and her four great-grandsires are yet
+alive, it is needful that I take counsel of them.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Be it so,&rdquo; answered they, &ldquo;we will go to
+meat.&rdquo; As they rose up, he took the second dart that
+was beside him, and cast it after them. And Menw the son of
+Gwaedd caught it, and flung it back at him, and wounded him in
+the centre of the breast, so that it came out at the small of his
+back. &ldquo;A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;the hard iron pains me like the bite of a
+horse-leech. Cursed be the hearth whereon it was heated,
+and the smith who formed it! So sharp is it!
+Henceforth, whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my
+breath, and a pain in my chest, and I shall often loathe my
+food.&rdquo; And they went to meat.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the third day they returned to the palace. And
+Yspaddaden Penkawr said to them, &ldquo;Shoot not at me again
+unless you desire death. Where are my attendants?
+Lift up the forks of my eyebrows which have fallen over my
+eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of my
+son-in-law.&rdquo; Then they arose, and, as they did so,
+Yspaddaden Penkawr took the third poisoned dart and cast it at
+them. And Kilhwch caught it and threw it vigorously, and
+wounded him through the eyeball, so that the dart came out at the
+back of his head. &ldquo;A cursed ungentle son-in-law,
+truly! As long as I remain alive, my eyesight will be the
+worse. Whenever I go against the wind, my eyes will water;
+and peradventure my head will burn, and I shall have a giddiness
+every new moon. Cursed be the fire in which it was
+forged. Like the bite of a mad dog is the stroke of this
+poisoned iron.&rdquo; And they went to meat.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day they came again to the palace, and they said,
+&ldquo;Shoot not at us any more, unless thou desirest such hurt,
+and harm, and torture as thou now hast, and even
+more.&rdquo; &ldquo;Give me thy daughter, and if thou wilt
+not give her, thou shalt receive thy death because of
+her.&rdquo; &ldquo;Where is he that seeks my
+daughter? Come hither where I may see thee.&rdquo;
+And they placed him a chair face to face with him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, &ldquo;Is it thou that seekest my
+daughter?&rdquo; &ldquo;It is I,&rdquo; answered
+Kilhwch. &ldquo;I must have thy pledge that thou wilt not
+do towards me otherwise than is just, and when I have gotten that
+which I shall name, my daughter thou shalt have.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I promise thee that willingly,&rdquo; said Kilhwch,
+&ldquo;name what thou wilt.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do
+so,&rdquo; said he.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Seest thou yonder vast hill?&rdquo; &ldquo;I see
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;I require that it be rooted up, and that
+the grubbings be burned for manure on the face of the land, and
+that it be ploughed and sown in one day, and in one day that the
+grain ripen. And of that wheat I intend to make food and
+liquor fit for the wedding of thee and my daughter. And all
+this I require done in one day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which
+will not be so. No husbandman can till or prepare this
+land, so wild is it, except Amaethon the son of Don, and he will
+not come with thee by his own free will, and thou wilt not be
+able to compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Govannon the son of Don to come to the headland to
+rid the iron, he will do no work of his own good will except for
+a lawful king, and thou wilt not be able to compel
+him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get; the two dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked together, to
+plough the wild land yonder stoutly. He will not give them
+of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel
+him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get; the yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do I
+require.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get; the two horned oxen, one of which is beyond, and the
+other this side of the peaked mountain, yoked together in the
+same plough. And these are Nynniaw and Peibaw whom God
+turned into oxen on account of their sins.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Seest thou yonder red tilled ground?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I see it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine
+bushels of flax were sown therein, and none has yet sprung up,
+neither white nor black; and I have the measure by me
+still. I require to have the flax to sow in the new land
+yonder, that when it grows up it may make a white wimple for my
+daughter&rsquo;s head, on the day of thy wedding.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Honey that is nine times sweeter than the honey of
+the virgin swarm, without scum and bees, do I require to make
+bragget for the feast.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The vessel of Llwyr the son of Llwyryon, which is of
+the utmost value. There is no other vessel in the world
+that can hold this drink. Of his free will thou wilt not
+get it, and thou canst not compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. The basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir, if the whole
+world should come together, thrice nine men at a time, the meat
+that each of them desired would be found within it. I
+require to eat therefrom on the night that my daughter becomes
+thy bride. He will give it to no one of his own free will,
+and thou canst not compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. The horn of Gwlgawd Gododin to serve us with
+liquor that night. He will not give it of his own free
+will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. The harp of Teirtu to play to us that night.
+When a man desires that it should play, it does so of itself, and
+when he desires that it should cease, it ceases. And this
+he will not give of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able
+to compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. The cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, the steward of
+Odgar the son of Aedd, king of Ireland, to boil the meat for thy
+marriage feast.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. It is needful for me to wash my head, and shave my
+beard, and I require the tusk of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd to shave
+myself withal, neither shall I profit by its use if it be not
+plucked alive out of his head.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. There is no one in the world that can pluck it out
+of his head except Odgar the son of Aedd, king of
+Ireland.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. I will not trust any one to keep the tusk except
+Gado of North Britain. Now the threescore Cantrevs of North
+Britain are under his sway, and of his own free will he will not
+come out of his kingdom, and thou wilt not be able to compel
+him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. I must spread out my hair in order to shave it,
+and it will never be spread out unless I have the blood of the
+jet-black sorceress, the daughter of the pure white sorceress,
+from Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. I will not have the blood unless I have it warm,
+and no vessels will keep warm the liquid that is put therein
+except the bottles of Gwyddolwyd Gorr, which preserve the heat of
+the liquor that is put into them in the east, until they arrive
+at the west. And he will not give them of his own free
+will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Some will desire fresh milk, and it will not be
+possible to have fresh milk for all, unless we have the bottles
+of Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd, wherein no liquor ever turns sour.
+And he will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not
+be able to compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Throughout the world there is not a comb or
+scissors with which I can arrange my hair, on account of its
+rankness, except the comb and scissors that are between the two
+ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son of Prince Tared. He will not
+give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to
+compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. It will not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth
+without Drudwyn the whelp of Greid, the son of Eri.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Throughout the world there is not a leash that can
+hold him, except the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Throughout the world there is no collar that will
+hold the leash except the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. The chain of Kilydd Canhastyr to fasten the collar
+to the leash.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Throughout the world there is not a huntsman who
+can hunt with this dog, except Mabon the son of Modron. He
+was taken from his mother when three nights old, and it is not
+known where he now is, nor whether he is living or
+dead.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, that is as
+swift as the wave, to carry Mabon the son of Modron to hunt the
+boar Trwyth. He will not give him of his own free will, and
+thou wilt not be able to compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Thou wilt not get Mabon, for it is not known where
+he is, unless thou find Eidoel, his kinsman in blood, the son of
+Aer. For it would be useless to seek for him. He is
+his cousin.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Garselit the Gwyddelian is the chief huntsman of
+Ireland; the Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without
+him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. A leash made from the beard of Dillus Varvawc, for
+that is the only one that can hold those two cubs. And the
+leash will be of no avail unless it be plucked from his beard
+while he is alive, and twitched out with wooden tweezers.
+While he lives he will not suffer this to be done to him, and the
+leash will be of no use should he be dead, because it will be
+brittle.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Throughout the world there is no huntsman that can
+hold those two whelps except Kynedyr Wyllt, the son of Hettwn
+Glafyrawc; he is nine times more wild than the wildest beast upon
+the mountains. Him wilt thou never get, neither wilt thou
+ever get my daughter.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. It is not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth without
+Gwynn the son of Nudd, whom God has placed over the brood of
+devils in Annwvyn, lest they should destroy the present
+race. He will never be spared thence.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. There is not a horse in the world that can carry
+Gwynn to hunt the Twrch Trwyth, except Du, the horse of Mor of
+Oerveddawg.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Until Gilennhin the king of France shall come, the
+Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted. It will be unseemly for him
+to leave his kingdom for thy sake, and he will never come
+hither.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. The Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without the
+son of Alun Dyved; he is well skilled in letting loose the
+dogs.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get
+Aned and Aethlem. They are as swift as the gale of wind,
+and they were never let loose upon a beast that they did not kill
+him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get; Arthur and his companions to hunt the Twrch
+Trwyth. He is a mighty man, and he will not come for thee,
+neither wilt thou be able to compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get
+Bwlch, and Kyfwlch [and Sefwlch], the grandsons of Cleddyf
+Difwlch. Their three shields are three gleaming
+glitterers. Their three spears are three pointed
+piercers. Their three swords are three griding gashers,
+Glas, Glessic, and Clersag. Their three dogs, Call, Cuall,
+and Cavall. Their three horses, Hwyrdydwg, and Drwgdydwg,
+and Llwyrdydwg. Their three wives, Och, and Garam, and
+Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Vyned, and
+Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and
+Gwaethav Oll. Their three hand-maids [Eheubryd, the
+daughter of Kyfwlch; Gorasgwrn, the daughter of Nerth; and
+Gwaedan, the daughter of Kynvelyn]. These three men shall
+sound the horn, and all the others shall shout, so that all will
+think that the sky is falling to the earth.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. The sword of Gwrnach the Giant; he will never be
+slain except therewith. Of his own free will he will not
+give it, either for a price or as a gift, and thou wilt never be
+able to compel him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
+mayest think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
+not get. Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights
+without sleep, in seeking this, and if thou obtain it not,
+neither shalt thou obtain my daughter.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and
+kinsman Arthur will obtain for me all these things. And I
+shall gain thy daughter, and thou shalt lose thy life.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Go forward. And thou shalt not be chargeable for
+food or raiment for my daughter while thou art seeking these
+things; and when thou hast compassed all these marvels, thou
+shalt have my daughter for thy wife.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they
+beheld a vast castle, which was the largest in the world.
+And lo, a black man, huger than three of the men of this world,
+came out from the castle. And they spoke unto him,
+&ldquo;Whence comest thou, O man?&rdquo; &ldquo;From the
+castle which you see yonder.&rdquo; &ldquo;Whose castle is
+that?&rdquo; asked they. &ldquo;Stupid are ye truly, O
+men. There is no one in the world that does not know to
+whom this castle belongs. It is the castle of Gwrnach the
+Giant.&rdquo; &ldquo;What treatment is there for guests and
+strangers that alight in that castle?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Oh! Chieftain, Heaven protect thee. No guest
+ever returned thence alive, and no one may enter therein unless
+he brings with him his craft.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gwrhyr
+Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, &ldquo;Is there a porter?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;There is. And thou, if thy tongue be not mute in thy
+head, wherefore dost thou call?&rdquo; &ldquo;Open the
+gate.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not open it.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Wherefore wilt thou not?&rdquo; &ldquo;The knife is
+in the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry
+in the hall of Gwrnach the Giant, and except for a craftsman who
+brings his craft, the gate will not be opened
+to-night.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily, porter,&rdquo; then said
+Kai, &ldquo;my craft bring I with me.&rdquo; &ldquo;What is
+thy craft?&rdquo; &ldquo;The best burnisher of swords am I
+in the world.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will go and tell this unto
+Gwrnach the Giant, and I will bring thee an answer.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So the porter went in, and Gwrnach said to him, &ldquo;Hast
+thou any news from the gate?&rdquo; &ldquo;I have.
+There is a party at the door of the gate who desire to come
+in.&rdquo; &ldquo;Didst thou inquire of them if they
+possessed any art?&rdquo; &ldquo;I did inquire,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;and one told me that he was well skilled in the
+burnishing of swords.&rdquo; &ldquo;We have need of him
+then. For some time have I sought for some one to polish my
+sword, and could find no one. Let this man enter, since he
+brings with him his craft.&rdquo; The porter thereupon
+returned and opened the gate. And Kai went in by himself,
+and he saluted Gwrnach the Giant. And a chair was placed
+for him opposite to Gwrnach. And Gwrnach said to him,
+&ldquo;Oh man! is it true that is reported of thee, that thou
+knowest how to burnish swords?&rdquo; &ldquo;I know full
+well how to do so,&rdquo; answered Kai. Then was the sword
+of Gwrnach brought to him. And Kai took a blue whetstone
+from under his arm, and asked him whether he would have it
+burnished white or blue. &ldquo;Do with it as it seems good
+to thee, and as thou wouldest if it were thine own.&rdquo;
+Then Kai polished one half of the blade and put it in his
+hand. &ldquo;Will this please thee?&rdquo; asked he.
+&ldquo;I would rather than all that is in my dominions that the
+whole of it were like unto this. It is a marvel to me that
+such a man as thou should be without a companion.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Oh! noble sir, I have a companion, albeit he is not
+skilled in this art.&rdquo; &ldquo;Who may he
+be?&rdquo; &ldquo;Let the porter go forth, and I will tell
+him whereby he may know him. The head of his lance will
+leave its shaft, and draw blood from the wind, and will descend
+upon its shaft again.&rdquo; Then the gate was opened, and
+Bedwyr entered. And Kai said, &ldquo;Bedwyr is very
+skilful, although he knows not this art.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And there was much discourse among those who were without,
+because that Kai and Bedwyr had gone in. And a young man
+who was with them, the only son of Custennin the herdsman, got in
+also. And he caused all his companions to keep close to him
+as he passed the three wards, and until he came into the midst of
+the castle. And his companions said unto the son of
+Custennin, &ldquo;Thou hast done this! Thou art the best of
+all men.&rdquo; And thenceforth he was called Goreu, the
+son of Custennin. Then they dispersed to their lodgings,
+that they might slay those who lodged therein, unknown to the
+Giant.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand of
+Gwrnach the Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work.
+And the Giant said, &ldquo;The work is good, I am content
+therewith.&rdquo; Said Kai, &ldquo;It is thy scabbard that
+hath rusted thy sword, give it to me that I may take out the
+wooden sides of it and put in new ones.&rdquo; And he took
+the scabbard from him, and the sword in the other hand. And
+he came and stood over against the Giant, as if he would have put
+the sword into the scabbard; and with it he struck at the head of
+the Giant, and cut off his head at one blow. Then they
+despoiled the castle, and took from it what goods and jewels they
+would. And again on the same day, at the beginning of the
+year, they came to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, bearing with them the
+sword of Gwrnach the Giant.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said,
+&ldquo;Which of these marvels will it be best for us to seek
+first?&rdquo; &ldquo;It will be best,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;to seek Mabon the son of Modron; and he will not be found
+unless we first find Eidoel the son of Aer, his
+kinsman.&rdquo; Then Arthur rose up, and the warriors of
+the Islands of Britain with him, to seek for Eidoel; and they
+proceeded until they came before the Castle of Glivi, where
+Eidoel was imprisoned. Glivi stood on the summit of his
+castle, and he said, &ldquo;Arthur, what requirest thou of me,
+since nothing remains to me in this fortress, and I have neither
+joy nor pleasure in it; neither wheat nor oats? Seek not
+therefore to do me harm.&rdquo; Said Arthur, &ldquo;Not to
+injure thee came I hither, but to seek for the prisoner that is
+with thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will give thee my prisoner,
+though I had not thought to give him up to any one; and therewith
+shalt thou have my support and my aid.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His followers said unto Arthur, &ldquo;Lord, go thou home,
+thou canst not proceed with thy host in quest of such small
+adventures as these.&rdquo; Then said Arthur, &ldquo;It
+were well for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to go upon this
+quest, for thou knowest all languages, and art familiar with
+those of the birds and the beasts. Thou, Eidoel, oughtest
+likewise to go with my men in search of thy cousin. And as
+for you, Kai and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure ye are
+in quest of, that ye will achieve it. Achieve ye this
+adventure for me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They went forward until they came to the Ousel of
+Cilgwri. And Gwrhyr adjured her for the sake of Heaven,
+saying, &ldquo;Tell me if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of
+Modron, who was taken when three nights old from between his
+mother and the wall.&rdquo; And the Ousel answered,
+&ldquo;When I first came here, there was a smith&rsquo;s anvil in
+this place, and I was then a young bird; and from that time no
+work has been done upon it, save the pecking of my beak every
+evening, and now there is not so much as the size of a nut
+remaining thereof; yet the vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if
+during all that time I have ever heard of the man for whom you
+inquire. Nevertheless I will do that which is right, and
+that which it is fitting that I should do for an embassy from
+Arthur. There is a race of animals who were formed before
+me, and I will be your guide to them.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of
+Redynvre. &ldquo;Stag of Redynvre, behold we are come to
+thee, an embassy from Arthur, for we have not heard of any animal
+older than thou. Say, knowest thou aught of Mabon the son
+of Modron, who was taken from his mother when three nights
+old?&rdquo; The Stag said, &ldquo;When first I came hither,
+there was a plain all around me, without any trees save one oak
+sapling, which grew up to be an oak with an hundred
+branches. And that oak has since perished, so that now
+nothing remains of it but the withered stump; and from that day
+to this I have been here, yet have I never heard of the man for
+whom you inquire. Nevertheless, being an embassy from
+Arthur, I will be your guide to the place where there is an
+animal which was formed before I was.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm
+Cawlwyd. &ldquo;Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, here is an embassy from
+Arthur; knowest thou aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was
+taken after three nights from his mother?&rdquo; &ldquo;If
+I knew I would tell you. When first I came hither, the wide
+valley you see was a wooded glen. And a race of men came
+and rooted it up. And there grew there a second wood; and
+this wood is the third. My wings, are they not withered
+stumps? Yet all this time, even until to-day, I have never
+heard of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, I will
+be the guide of Arthur&rsquo;s embassy until you come to the
+place where is the oldest animal in this world, and the one that
+has travelled most, the Eagle of Gwern Abwy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Gwrhyr said, &ldquo;Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to thee
+an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of
+Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when he
+was three nights old.&rdquo; The Eagle said, &ldquo;I have
+been here for a great space of time, and when I first came hither
+there was a rock here, from the top of which I pecked at the
+stars every evening; and now it is not so much as a span
+high. From that day to this I have been here, and I have
+never heard of the man for whom you inquire, except once when I
+went in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw. And when I came
+there, I struck my talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve
+me as food for a long time. But he drew me into the deep,
+and I was scarcely able to escape from him. After that I
+went with my whole kindred to attack him, and to try to destroy
+him, but he sent messengers, and made peace with me; and came and
+besought me to take fifty fish spears out of his back.
+Unless he know something of him whom you seek, I cannot tell who
+may. However, I will guide you to the place where he
+is.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they went thither; and the Eagle said, &ldquo;Salmon of
+Llyn Llyw, I have come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to
+ask thee if thou knowest aught concerning Mabon the son of
+Modron, who was taken away at three nights old from his
+mother.&rdquo; &ldquo;As much as I know I will tell
+thee. With every tide I go along the river upwards, until I
+come near to the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such
+wrong as I never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give
+credence thereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my two
+shoulders.&rdquo; So Kai and Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd
+went upon the two shoulders of the salmon, and they proceeded
+until they came unto the wall of the prison, and they heard a
+great wailing and lamenting from the dungeon. Said Gwrhyr,
+&ldquo;Who is it that laments in this house of
+stone?&rdquo; &ldquo;Alas, there is reason enough for
+whoever is here to lament. It is Mabon the son of Modron
+who is here imprisoned; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous
+as mine, neither that of Lludd Llaw Ereint, nor that of Greid the
+son of Eri.&rdquo; &ldquo;Hast thou hope of being released
+for gold or for silver, or for any gifts of wealth, or through
+battle and fighting?&rdquo; &ldquo;By fighting will
+whatever I may gain be obtained.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told
+him where Mabon the son of Modron was imprisoned. And
+Arthur summoned the warriors of the Island, and they journeyed as
+far as Gloucester, to the place where Mabon was in prison.
+Kai and Bedwyr went upon the shoulders of the fish, whilst the
+warriors of Arthur attacked the castle. And Kai broke
+through the wall into the dungeon, and brought away the prisoner
+upon his back, whilst the fight was going on between the
+warriors. And Arthur returned home, and Mabon with him at
+liberty.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+Said Arthur, &ldquo;Which of the marvels will it be best for
+us now to seek first?&rdquo; &ldquo;It will be best to seek
+for the two cubs of Gast Rhymhi.&rdquo; &ldquo;Is it
+known,&rdquo; asked Arthur, &ldquo;where she is?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;She is in Aber Deu Cleddyf,&rdquo; said one. Then
+Arthur went to the house of Tringad, in Aber Cleddyf, and he
+inquired of him whether he had heard of her there.
+&ldquo;In what form may she be?&rdquo; &ldquo;She is in the
+form of a she-wolf,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;and with her there are
+two cubs.&rdquo; &ldquo;She has often slain my herds, and
+she is there below in a cave in Aber Cleddyf.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went
+by land, to hunt her. And they surrounded her and her two
+cubs, and God did change them again for Arthur into their own
+form. And the host of Arthur dispersed themselves into
+parties of one and two.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+On a certain day, as Gwythyr the son of Greidawl was walking
+over a mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry. And
+when he heard it, he sprang forward, and went towards it.
+And when he came there, he drew his sword, and smote off an
+ant-hill close to the earth, whereby it escaped being burned in
+the fire. And the ants said to him, &ldquo;Receive from us
+the blessing of Heaven, and that which no man can give we will
+give thee.&rdquo; Then they fetched the nine bushels of
+flax-seed which Yspaddaden Penkawr had required of Kilhwch, and
+they brought the full measure without lacking any, except one
+flax-seed, and that the lame pismire brought in before night.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon carn on the summit of
+Plinlimmon, in the highest wind that ever was in the world, they
+looked around them, and saw a great smoke towards the south, afar
+off, which did not bend with the wind. Then said Kai,
+&ldquo;By the hand of my friend, behold, yonder is the fire of a
+robber!&rdquo; Then they hastened towards the smoke, and
+they came so near to it, that they could see Dillus Varvawc
+scorching a wild boar. &ldquo;Behold, yonder is the
+greatest robber that ever fled from Arthur,&rdquo; said Bedwyr
+unto Kai. &ldquo;Dost thou know him?&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+do know him,&rdquo; answered Kai, &ldquo;he is Dillus Varvawc,
+and no leash in the world will be able to hold Drudwyn, the cub
+of Greid the son of Eri, save a leash made from the beard of him
+thou seest yonder. And even that will be useless, unless
+his beard be plucked alive with wooden tweezers; for if dead, it
+will be brittle.&rdquo; &ldquo;What thinkest thou that we
+should do concerning this?&rdquo; said Bedwyr. &ldquo;Let
+us suffer him,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;to eat as much as he will
+of the meat, and after that he will fall asleep.&rdquo; And
+during that time they employed themselves in making the wooden
+tweezers. And when Kai knew certainly that he was asleep,
+he made a pit under his feet, the largest in the world, and he
+struck him a violent blow, and squeezed him into the pit.
+And there they twitched out his beard completely with the wooden
+tweezers; and after that they slew him altogether.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And from thence they both went to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, and
+took the leash made of Dillus Varvawc&rsquo;s beard with them,
+and they gave it into Arthur&rsquo;s hand. Then Arthur
+composed this Englyn&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Kai made a leash<br/>
+Of Dillus son of Eurei&rsquo;s beard.<br/>
+Were he alive, thy death he&rsquo;d be.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the
+Island could scarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur.
+And thenceforth, neither in Arthur&rsquo;s troubles, nor for the
+slaying of his men, would Kai come forward to his aid for ever
+after.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+Said Arthur, &ldquo;Which of the marvels is it best for us now
+to seek?&rdquo; &ldquo;It is best for us to seek Drudwyn,
+the cub of Greid the son of Eri.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A little while before this, Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd
+Llaw Ereint, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, were
+betrothed. And before she had become his bride, Gwyn ap
+Nudd came and carried her away by force; and Gwythyr the son of
+Greidawl gathered his host together, and went to fight with Gwyn
+ap Nudd. But Gwyn overcame him, and captured Greid the son
+of Eri, and Glinneu the son of Taran, and Gwrgwst Ledlwm, and
+Dynvarth his son. And he captured Penn the son of Nethawg,
+and Nwython, and Kyledyr Wyllt his son. And they slew
+Nwython, and took out his heart, and constrained Kyledyr to eat
+the heart of his father. And therefrom Kyledyr became
+mad. When Arthur heard of this, he went to the North, and
+summoned Gwyn ap Nudd before him, and set free the nobles whom he
+had put in prison, and made peace between Gwyn ap Nudd and
+Gwythyr the son of Griedawl. And this was the peace that
+was made:&mdash;that the maiden should remain in her
+father&rsquo;s house, without advantage to either of them, and
+that Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl should fight
+for her every first of May, from thenceforth until the day of
+doom, and that whichever of them should then be conqueror should
+have the maiden.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he
+obtained Mygdwn, Gweddw&rsquo;s horse, and the leash of Cwrs Cant
+Ewin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him Mabon
+the son of Mellt, and Gware Gwallt Euryn, to seek the two dogs of
+Glythmyr Ledewic. And when he had got them, he went to the
+West of Ireland, in search of Gwrgi Seven; and Odgar the son of
+Aedd king of Ireland went with him. And thence went Arthur
+into the North, and captured Kyledyr Wyllt; and he went after
+Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd. And Mabon the son of Mellt came with
+the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic in his hand, and Drudwyn, the
+cub of Greid the son of Eri. And Arthur went himself to the
+chase, leading his own dog Cavall. And Kaw, of North
+Britain, mounted Arthur&rsquo;s mare Llamrei, and was first in
+the attack. Then Kaw, of North Britain, wielded a mighty
+axe, and absolutely daring he came valiantly up to the boar, and
+clave his head in twain. And Kaw took away the tusk.
+Now the boar was not slain by the dogs that Yspaddaden had
+mentioned, but by Cavall, Arthur&rsquo;s own dog.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and his host
+departed to Gelli Wic in Cornwall. And thence he sent Menw
+the son of Teirgwaedd to see if the precious things were between
+the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, since it were useless to encounter
+him if they were not there. Albeit it was certain where he
+was, for he had laid waste the third part of Ireland. And
+Menw went to seek for him, and he met with him in Ireland, in
+Esgeir Oervel. And Menw took the form of a bird; and he
+descended upon the top of his lair, and strove to snatch away one
+of the precious things from him, but he carried away nothing but
+one of his bristles. And the boar rose up angrily and shook
+himself so that some of his venom fell upon Menw, and he was
+never well from that day forward.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After this Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of Aedd
+king of Ireland, to ask for the cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, his
+purveyor. And Odgar commanded him to give it. But
+Diwrnach said, &ldquo;Heaven is my witness, if it would avail him
+anything even to look at it, he should not do so.&rdquo;
+And the embassy of Arthur returned from Ireland with this
+denial. And Arthur set forward with a small retinue, and
+entered into Prydwen, his ship, and went over to Ireland.
+And they proceeded into the house of Diwrnach Wyddel. And
+the hosts of Odgar saw their strength. When they had eaten
+and drunk as much as they desired, Arthur demanded to have the
+cauldron. And he answered, &ldquo;If I would have given it
+to any one, I would have given it at the word of Odgar king of
+Ireland.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose and seized
+hold of the cauldron, and placed it upon the back of Hygwyd,
+Arthur&rsquo;s servant, who was brother, by the mother&rsquo;s
+side, to Arthur&rsquo;s servant, Cachamwri. His office was
+always to carry Arthur&rsquo;s cauldron, and to place fire under
+it. And Llenlleawg Wyddel seized Caledvwlch, and brandished
+it. And they slew Diwrnach Wyddel and his company.
+Then came the Irish and fought with them. And when he had
+put them to flight, Arthur with his men went forward to the ship,
+carrying away the cauldron full of Irish money. And he
+disembarked at the house of Llwydden the son of Kelcoed, at Porth
+Kerddin in Dyved. And there is the measure of the
+cauldron.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were in
+the three Islands of Britain, and in the three Islands adjacent,
+and all that were in France and in Armorica, in Normandy and in
+the Summer Country, and all that were chosen footmen and valiant
+horsemen. And with all these he went into Ireland.
+And in Ireland there was great fear and terror concerning
+him. And when Arthur had landed in the country, there came
+unto him the saints of Ireland and besought his protection.
+And he granted his protection unto them, and they gave him their
+blessing. Then the men of Ireland came unto Arthur, and
+brought him provisions. And Arthur went as far as Esgeir
+Oervel in Ireland, to the place where the Boar Trwyth was with
+his seven young pigs. And the dogs were let loose upon him
+from all sides. That day until evening the Irish fought
+with him, nevertheless he laid waste the fifth part of
+Ireland. And on the day following the household of Arthur
+fought with him, and they were worsted by him, and got no
+advantage. And the third day Arthur himself encountered
+him, and he fought with him nine nights and nine days without so
+much as killing even one little pig. The warriors inquired
+of Arthur what was the origin of that swine; and he told them
+that he was once a king, and that God had transformed him into a
+swine for his sins.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to
+speak with him. And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and
+alighted upon the top of the lair, where he was with the seven
+young pigs. And Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd asked him,
+&ldquo;By him who turned you into this form, if you can speak,
+let some one of you, I beseech you, come and talk with
+Arthur.&rdquo; Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer to
+him. (Now his bristles were like silver wire, and whether
+he went through the wood or through the plain, he was to be
+traced by the glittering of his bristles.) And this was the
+answer that Grugyn made: &ldquo;By him who turned us into this
+form, we will not do so, and we will not speak with Arthur.
+That we have been transformed thus is enough for us to suffer,
+without your coming here to fight with us.&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+will tell you. Arthur comes but to fight for the comb, and
+the razor, and the scissors which are between the two ears of
+Twrch Trwyth.&rdquo; Said Grugyn, &ldquo;Except he first
+take his life, he will never have those precious things.
+And to-morrow morning we will rise up hence, and we will go into
+Arthur&rsquo;s country, and there will we do all the mischief
+that we can.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they set forth through the sea towards Wales. And
+Arthur and his hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered
+Prydwen, that they might encounter them without delay.
+Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis in Dyved, and Arthur came to
+Mynyw. The next day it was told to Arthur that they had
+gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing the cattle of
+Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at Aber Gleddyf,
+of man and beast, before the coming of Arthur.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as
+Preseleu, and Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and
+Arthur sent men to hunt him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drudwyn
+the whelp of Greid the son of Eri, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw,
+in another quarter, with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic, and
+Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur&rsquo;s own dog. And all the
+warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver. And there came
+there the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had gained much
+fame at the slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and they went on
+from Glyn Nyver, and came to Cwm Kerwyn.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of
+Arthur&rsquo;s champions, Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc
+of Allt Clwyd, and Rheidwn the son of Eli Atver, and Iscovan
+Hael. And after he had slain these men, he made a second
+stand in the same place. And there he slew Gwydre the son
+of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew the son of Ysgawd, and
+Iscawyn the son of Panon; and there he himself was wounded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next morning before it was day, some of the men came
+up with him. And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr, and
+Penpingon, three attendants upon Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, so that
+Heaven knows he had not an attendant remaining, excepting only
+Llaesgevyn, a man from whom no one ever derived any good.
+And together with these he slew many of the men of that country,
+and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur&rsquo;s chief Architect.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he slew
+Madawc the son of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of Tringad, the son
+of Neved, and Eiryawn Penllorau. Thence he went to
+Aberteivi, where he made another stand, and where he slew Kyflas
+the son of Kynan, and Gwilenhin king of France. Then he
+went as far as Glyn Ystu, and there the men and the dogs lost
+him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he asked him
+if he knew aught of Twrch Trwyth. And he said that he did
+not.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as Dyffryn
+Llychwr. And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad
+closed with them and killed all the huntsmen, so that there
+escaped but one man only. And Arthur and his hosts came to
+the place where Grugyn and Llwydawg were. And there he let
+loose the whole of the dogs upon them, and with the shout and
+barking that was set up, Twrch Trwyth came to their
+assistance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And from the time that they came across the Irish sea, Arthur
+had never got sight of him until then. So he set men and
+dogs upon him, and thereupon he started off and went to Mynydd
+Amanw. And there one of his young pigs was killed.
+Then they set upon him life for life, and Twrch Llawin was slain,
+and then there was slain another of the swine, Gwys was his
+name. After that he went on to Dyffryn Amanw, and there
+Banw and Bennwig were killed. Of all his pigs there went
+with him alive from that place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and
+Llwydawg Govynnyad.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook him
+there, and he made a stand. And there he slew Echel
+Forddwytwll, and Garwyli the son of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and many men
+and dogs likewise. And thence they went to Llwch
+Tawy. Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from them there, and went
+to Din Tywi. And thence he proceeded to Ceredigiawn, and
+Eli and Trachmyr with him, and a multitude likewise. Then
+he came to Garth Gregyn, and there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in
+the midst of them, and slew Rhudvyw Rhys and many others with
+him. Then Llwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw, and there the
+men of Armorica met him, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the king
+of Armorica, and Llygatrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur&rsquo;s
+uncles, his mother&rsquo;s brothers, and there was he himself
+slain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and
+Arthur summoned all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary
+of the Severn, and he said to the warriors of this Island,
+&ldquo;Twrch Trwyth has slain many of my men, but, by the valour
+of warriors, while I live he shall not go into Cornwall.
+And I will not follow him any longer, but I will oppose him life
+to life. Do ye as ye will.&rdquo; And he resolved
+that he would send a body of knights, with the dogs of the
+Island, as far as Euyas, who should return thence to the Severn,
+and that tried warriors should traverse the Island, and force him
+into the Severn. And Mabon the son of Modron came up with
+him at the Severn, upon Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, and
+Goreu the son of Custennin, and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd; this
+was betwixt Llyn Lliwan and Aber Gwy. And Arthur fell upon
+him together with the champions of Britain. And Osla
+Kyllellvawr drew near, and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and
+Kacmwri the servant of Arthur, and Gwyngelli, and they seized
+hold of him, catching him first by his feet, and plunged him in
+the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him. On the one side,
+Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed and snatched his razor
+from him, and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him on the other side,
+upon another steed, in the Severn, and took from him the
+scissors. But before they could obtain the comb, he had
+regained the ground with his feet, and from the moment that he
+reached the shore, neither dog, nor man, nor horse could overtake
+him until he came to Cornwall. If they had had trouble in
+getting the jewels from him, much more had they in seeking to
+save the two men from being drowned. Kacmwri, as they drew
+him forth, was dragged by two millstones into the deep. And
+as Osla Kyllellvawr was running after the boar, his knife had
+dropped out of the sheath, and he had lost it, and after that,
+the sheath became full of water, and its weight drew him down
+into the deep, as they were drawing him forth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook the
+boar in Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before
+was mere play to what they encountered in seeking the comb.
+But from one difficulty to another, the comb was at length
+obtained. And then he was hunted from Cornwall, and driven
+straight forward into the deep sea. And thenceforth it was
+never known whither he went; and Aned and Aethlem with him.
+Then went Arthur to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, to anoint himself,
+and to rest from his fatigues.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Said Arthur, &ldquo;Is there any one of the marvels yet
+unobtained?&rdquo; Said one of his men, &ldquo;There
+is&mdash;the blood of the witch Orddu, the daughter of the witch
+Orwen, of Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell.&rdquo;
+Arthur set forth towards the North, and came to the place where
+was the witch&rsquo;s cave. And Gwyn ab Nudd, and Gwythyr
+the son of Greidawl, counselled him to send Kacmwri, and Hygwyd
+his brother, to fight with the witch. And as they entered
+the cave, the witch seized upon them, and she caught Hygwyd by
+the hair of his head, and threw him on the floor beneath
+her. And Kacmwri caught her by the hair of her head, and
+dragged her to the earth from off Hygwyd, but she turned again
+upon them both, and drove them both out with kicks and with
+cuffs.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants almost
+slain, and he sought to enter the cave; but Gwyn and Gwythyr said
+unto him, &ldquo;It would not be fitting or seemly for us to see
+thee squabbling with a hag. Let Hiramreu and Hireidil go to
+the cave.&rdquo; So they went. But if great was the
+trouble of the first two that went, much greater was that of
+these two. And Heaven knows that not one of the four could
+move from the spot, until they placed them all upon Llamrei,
+Arthur&rsquo;s mare. And then Arthur rushed to the door of
+the cave, and at the door he struck at the witch, with Carnwennan
+his dagger, and clove her in twain, so that she fell in two
+parts. And Kaw, of North Britain, took the blood of the
+witch and kept it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu the son of Custennin with
+him, and as many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr. And
+they took the marvels with them to his court. And Kaw of
+North Britain came and shaved his beard, skin, and flesh clean
+off to the very bone from ear to ear. &ldquo;Art thou
+shaved, man?&rdquo; said Kilhwch. &ldquo;I am
+shaved,&rdquo; answered he. &ldquo;Is thy daughter mine
+now?&rdquo; &ldquo;She is thine,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but
+therefore needest thou not thank me, but Arthur who hath
+accomplished this for thee. By my free will thou shouldest
+never have had her, for with her I lose my life.&rdquo;
+Then Goreu the son of Custennin seized him by the hair of his
+head, and dragged him after him to the keep, and cut off his head
+and placed it on a stake on the citadel. Then they took
+possession of his castle, and of his treasures.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And that night Olwen became Kilhwch&rsquo;s bride, and she
+continued to be his wife as long as she lived. And the
+hosts of Arthur dispersed themselves, each man to his own
+country. And thus did Kilhwch obtain Olwen, the daughter of
+Yspaddaden Penkawr.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap06"></a>THE DREAM OF RHONABWY</h2>
+
+<p>
+Madawc the son of Maredudd possessed Powys within its boundaries, from Porfoed
+to Gwauan in the uplands of Arwystli. And at that time he had a brother,
+Iorwerth the son of Maredudd, in rank not equal to himself. And Iorwerth had
+great sorrow and heaviness because of the honour and power that his brother
+enjoyed, which he shared not. And he sought his fellows and his
+foster-brothers, and took counsel with them what he should do in this matter.
+And they resolved to dispatch some of their number to go and seek a maintenance
+for him. Then Madawc offered him to become Master of the Household and to have
+horses, and arms, and honour, and to fare like as himself. But Iorwerth refused
+this.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Iorwerth made an inroad into Loegria, slaying the
+inhabitants, and burning houses, and carrying away
+prisoners. And Madawc took counsel with the men of Powys,
+and they determined to place an hundred men in each of the three
+Commots of Powys to seek for him. And thus did they in the
+plains of Powys from Aber Ceirawc, and in Allictwn Ver, and in
+Rhyd Wilure, on the Vyrnwy, the three best Commots of
+Powys. So he was none the better, he nor his household, in
+Powys, nor in the plains thereof. And they spread these men
+over the plains as far as Nillystwn Trevan.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now one of the men who was upon this quest was called
+Rhonabwy. And Rhonabwy and Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a man of
+Mawddwy, and Cadwgan Vras, a man of Moelvre in Kynlleith, came
+together to the house of Heilyn Goch the son of Cadwgan the son
+of Iddon. And when they came near to the house, they saw an
+old hall, very black and having an upright gable, whence issued a
+great smoke; and on entering, they found the floor full of
+puddles and mounds; and it was difficult to stand thereon, so
+slippery was it with the mire of cattle. And where the
+puddles were, a man might go up to his ankles in water and
+dirt. And there were boughs of holly spread over the floor,
+whereof the cattle had browsed the sprigs. When they came
+to the hall of the house, they beheld cells full of dust, and
+very gloomy, and on one side an old hag making a fire. And
+whenever she felt cold, she cast a lapful of chaff upon the fire,
+and raised such a smoke, that it was scarcely to be borne, as it
+rose up the nostrils. And on the other side was a yellow
+calf-skin on the floor; a main privilege was it to any one who
+should get upon that hide.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where were the
+people of the house. And the hag spoke not, but
+muttered. Thereupon behold the people of the house entered;
+a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man, with a burthen of faggots on
+his back, and a pale slender woman, also carrying a bundle under
+her arm. And they barely welcomed the men, and kindled a
+fire with the boughs. And the woman cooked something, and
+gave them to eat, barley bread, and cheese, and milk and
+water.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was
+hardly possible to go forth with safety. And being weary
+with their journey, they laid themselves down and sought to
+sleep. And when they looked at the couch, it seemed to be
+made but of a little coarse straw full of dust and vermin, with
+the stems of boughs sticking up there-through, for the cattle had
+eaten all the straw that was placed at the head and the
+foot. And upon it was stretched an old russet-coloured rug,
+threadbare and ragged; and a coarse sheet, full of slits, was
+upon the rug, and an ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn-out cover
+upon the sheet. And after much suffering from the vermin,
+and from the discomfort of their couch, a heavy sleep fell on
+Rhonabwy&rsquo;s companions. But Rhonabwy, not being able
+either to sleep or to rest, thought he should suffer less if he
+went to lie upon the yellow calf-skin that was stretched out on
+the floor. And there he slept.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him that
+he was journeying with his companions across the plain of
+Argyngroeg, and he thought that he went towards Rhyd y Groes on
+the Severn. As he journeyed, he heard a mighty noise, the
+like whereof heard he never before; and looking behind him, he
+beheld a youth with yellow curling hair, and with his beard newly
+trimmed, mounted on a chestnut horse, whereof the legs were grey
+from the top of the forelegs, and from the bend of the hindlegs
+downwards. And the rider wore a coat of yellow satin sewn
+with green silk, and on his thigh was a gold-hilted sword, with a
+scabbard of new leather of Cordova, belted with the skin of the
+deer, and clasped with gold. And over this was a scarf of
+yellow satin wrought with green silk, the borders whereof were
+likewise green. And the green of the caparison of the
+horse, and of his rider, was as green as the leaves of the
+fir-tree, and the yellow was as yellow as the blossom of the
+broom. So fierce was the aspect of the knight, that fear
+seized upon them, and they began to flee. And the knight
+pursued them. And when the horse breathed forth, the men
+became distant from him, and when he drew in his breath, they
+were drawn near to him, even to the horse&rsquo;s chest.
+And when he had overtaken them, they besought his mercy.
+&ldquo;You have it gladly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;fear
+nought.&rdquo; &ldquo;Ha, chieftain, since thou hast mercy
+upon me, tell me also who thou art,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy.
+&ldquo;I will not conceal my lineage from thee, I am Iddawc the
+son of Mynyo, yet not by my name, but by my nickname am I best
+known.&rdquo; &ldquo;And wilt thou tell us what thy
+nickname is?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will tell you; it is Iddawc
+Cordd Prydain.&rdquo; &ldquo;Ha, chieftain,&rdquo; said
+Rhonabwy, &ldquo;why art thou called thus?&rdquo; &ldquo;I
+will tell thee. I was one of the messengers between Arthur
+and Medrawd his nephew, at the battle of Camlan; and I was then a
+reckless youth, and through my desire for battle, I kindled
+strife between them, and stirred up wrath, when I was sent by
+Arthur the Emperor to reason with Medrawd, and to show him, that
+he was his foster-father and his uncle, and to seek for peace,
+lest the sons of the Kings of the Island of Britain, and of the
+nobles, should be slain. And whereas Arthur charged me with
+the fairest sayings he could think of, I uttered unto Medrawd the
+harshest I could devise. And therefore am I called Iddawc
+Cordd Prydain, for from this did the battle of Camlan
+ensue. And three nights before the end of the battle of
+Camlan I left them, and went to the Llech Las in North Britain to
+do penance. And there I remained doing penance seven years,
+and after that I gained pardon.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then lo! they heard a mighty sound which was much louder than
+that which they had heard before, and when they looked round
+towards the sound, they beheld a ruddy youth, without beard or
+whiskers, noble of mien, and mounted on a stately courser.
+And from the shoulders and the front of the knees downwards the
+horse was bay. And upon the man was a dress of red satin
+wrought with yellow silk, and yellow were the borders of his
+scarf. And such parts of his apparel and of the trappings
+of his horse as were yellow, as yellow were they as the blossom
+of the broom, and such as were red, were as ruddy as the ruddiest
+blood in the world.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then, behold the horseman overtook them, and he asked of
+Iddawc a share of the little men that were with him.
+&ldquo;That which is fitting for me to grant I will grant, and
+thou shalt be a companion to them as I have been.&rdquo;
+And the horseman went away. &ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; inquired
+Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who was that horseman?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as far as the
+ford of Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. And for a mile around
+the ford on both sides of the road, they saw tents and
+encampments, and there was the clamour of a mighty host.
+And they came to the edge of the ford, and there they beheld
+Arthur sitting on a flat island below the ford, having Bedwini
+the Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw on
+the other. And a tall, auburn-haired youth stood before
+him, with his sheathed sword in his hand, and clad in a coat and
+cap of jet-black satin. And his face was white as ivory,
+and his eyebrows black as jet, and such part of his wrist as
+could be seen between his glove and his sleeve, was whiter than
+the lily, and thicker than a warrior&rsquo;s ankle.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then came Iddawc and they that were with him, and stood before
+Arthur and saluted him. &ldquo;Heaven grant thee
+good,&rdquo; said Arthur. &ldquo;And where, Iddawc, didst
+thou find these little men?&rdquo; &ldquo;I found them,
+lord, up yonder on the road.&rdquo; Then the Emperor
+smiled. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Iddawc, &ldquo;wherefore
+dost thou laugh?&rdquo; &ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; replied
+Arthur, &ldquo;I laugh not; but it pitieth me that men of such
+stature as these should have this island in their keeping, after
+the men that guarded it of yore.&rdquo; Then said Iddawc,
+&ldquo;Rhonabwy, dost thou see the ring with a stone set in it,
+that is upon the Emperor&rsquo;s hand?&rdquo; &ldquo;I see
+it,&rdquo; he answered. &ldquo;It is one of the properties
+of that stone to enable thee to remember that thou seest here
+to-night, and hadst thou not seen the stone, thou wouldest never
+have been able to remember aught thereof.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After this they saw a troop coming towards the ford.
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; inquired Rhonabwy, &ldquo;to whom does
+yonder troop belong?&rdquo; &ldquo;They are the fellows of
+Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach. And these men
+are honourably served with mead and bragget, and are freely
+beloved by the daughters of the kings of the Island of
+Britain. And this they merit, for they were ever in the
+front and the rear in every peril.&rdquo; And he saw but
+one hue upon the men and the horses of this troop, for they were
+all as red as blood. And when one of the knights rode forth
+from the troop, he looked like a pillar of fire glancing athwart
+the sky. And this troop encamped above the ford.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they beheld another troop coming towards the ford, and
+these from their horses&rsquo; chests upwards were whiter than
+the lily, and below blacker than jet. And they saw one of
+these knights go before the rest, and spur his horse into the
+ford in such a manner that the water dashed over Arthur and the
+Bishop, and those holding counsel with them, so that they were as
+wet as if they had been drenched in the river. And as he
+turned the head of his horse, the youth who stood before Arthur
+struck the horse over the nostrils with his sheathed sword, so
+that, had it been with the bare blade, it would have been a
+marvel if the bone had not been wounded as well as the
+flesh. And the knight drew his sword half out of the
+scabbard, and asked of him, &ldquo;Wherefore didst thou strike my
+horse? Whether was it in insult or in counsel unto
+me?&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou dost indeed lack counsel. What
+madness caused thee to ride so furiously as to dash the water of
+the ford over Arthur, and the consecrated Bishop, and their
+counsellors, so that they were as wet as if they had been dragged
+out of the river?&rdquo; &ldquo;As counsel then will I take
+it.&rdquo; So he turned his horse&rsquo;s head round
+towards his army.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who was yonder
+knight?&rdquo; &ldquo;The most eloquent and the wisest
+youth that is in this island; Adaon, the son of
+Taliesin.&rdquo; &ldquo;Who was the man that struck his
+horse?&rdquo; &ldquo;A youth of froward nature; Elphin, the
+son of Gwyddno.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing
+speech, saying that it was a marvel that so vast a host should be
+assembled in so narrow a space, and that it was a still greater
+marvel that those should be there at that time who had promised
+to be by mid-day in the battle of Badon, fighting with Osla
+Gyllellvawr. &ldquo;Whether thou mayest choose to proceed
+or not, I will proceed.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou sayest
+well,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;and we will go
+altogether.&rdquo; &ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy,
+&ldquo;who was the man who spoke so marvellously unto Arthur
+erewhile?&rdquo; &ldquo;A man who may speak as boldly as he
+listeth, Caradawc Vreichvras, the son of Llyr Marini, his chief
+counsellor and his cousin.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse, and that
+mighty host moved forward, each troop in its order, towards
+Cevndigoll. And when they came to the middle of the ford of
+the Severn, Iddawc turned his horse&rsquo;s head, and Rhonabwy
+looked along the valley of the Severn. And he beheld two
+fair troops coming towards the ford. One troop there came
+of brilliant white, whereof every one of the men had a scarf of
+white satin with jet-black borders. And the knees and the
+tops of the shoulders of their horses were jet-black, though they
+were of a pure white in every other part. And their banners
+were pure white, with black points to them all.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who are yonder
+pure white troop?&rdquo; &ldquo;They are the men of Norway,
+and March the son of Meirchion is their prince. And he is
+cousin unto Arthur.&rdquo; And further on he saw a troop,
+whereof each man wore garments of jet-black, with borders of pure
+white to every scarf; and the tops of the shoulders and the knees
+of their horses were pure white. And their banners were
+jet-black with pure white at the point of each.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who are the
+jet-black troop yonder?&rdquo; &ldquo;They are the men of
+Denmark, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd is their prince.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his army of
+mighty ones dismounted below Caer Badou, and he perceived that he
+and Iddawc journeyed the same road as Arthur. And after
+they had dismounted he heard a great tumult and confusion amongst
+the host, and such as were then at the flanks turned to the
+centre, and such as had been in the centre moved to the
+flanks. And then, behold, he saw a knight coming, clad,
+both he and his horse, in mail, of which the rings were whiter
+than the whitest lily, and the rivets redder than the ruddiest
+blood. And he rode amongst the host.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;will yonder host
+flee?&rdquo; &ldquo;King Arthur never fled, and if this
+discourse of thine were heard, thou wert a lost man. But as
+to the knight whom thou seest yonder, it is Kai. The
+fairest horseman is Kai in all Arthur&rsquo;s Court; and the men
+who are at the front of the army hasten to the rear to see Kai
+ride, and the men who are in the centre flee to the side, from
+the shock of his horse. And this is the cause of the
+confusion of the host.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of Cornwall,
+and behold he arose with the sword of Arthur in his hand.
+And the similitude of two serpents was upon the sword in
+gold. And when the sword was drawn from its scabbard, it
+seemed as if two flames of fire burst forth from the jaws of the
+serpents, and then, so wonderful was the sword, that it was hard
+for any one to look upon it. And the host became still, and
+the tumult ceased, and the Earl returned to the tent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who is the man who
+bore the sword of Arthur?&rdquo; &ldquo;Kadwr, the Earl of
+Cornwall, whose duty it is to arm the King on the days of battle
+and warfare.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn,
+Arthur&rsquo;s servant, a red, rough, ill-favoured man, having
+red whiskers with bristly hairs. And behold he came upon a
+tall red horse with the mane parted on each side, and he brought
+with him a large and beautiful sumpter pack. And the huge
+red youth dismounted before Arthur, and he drew a golden chair
+out of the pack, and a carpet of diapered satin. And he
+spread the carpet before Arthur, and there was an apple of ruddy
+gold at each corner thereof, and he placed the chair upon the
+carpet. And so large was the chair that three armed
+warriors might have sat therein. Gwenn was the name of the
+carpet, and it was one of its properties that whoever was upon it
+no one could see him, and he could see every one. And it
+would retain no colour but its own.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of Urien
+was standing before him. &ldquo;Owain,&rdquo; said Arthur,
+&ldquo;wilt thou play chess?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will,
+Lord,&rdquo; said Owain. And the red youth brought the
+chess for Arthur and Owain; golden pieces and a board of
+silver. And they began to play.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And while they were thus, and when they were best amused with
+their game, behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and
+the figure of a jet-black serpent on the top of the tent, and red
+glaring venomous eyes in the head of the serpent, and a red
+flaming tongue. And there came a young page with yellow
+curling hair, and blue eyes, and a newly-springing beard, wearing
+a coat and a surcoat of yellow satin, and hose of thin
+greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over his hose shoes of
+parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps with golden
+clasps. And he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a golden
+hilt, in a scabbard of black leather tipped with fine gold.
+And he came to the place where the Emperor and Owain were playing
+at chess.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the youth saluted Owain. And Owain marvelled that
+the youth should salute him and should not have saluted the
+Emperor Arthur. And Arthur knew what was in Owain&rsquo;s
+thought. And he said to Owain, &ldquo;Marvel not that the
+youth salutes thee now, for he saluted me erewhile; and it is
+unto thee that his errand is.&rdquo; Then said the youth
+unto Owain, &ldquo;Lord, is it with thy leave that the young
+pages and attendants of the Emperor harass and torment and worry
+thy Ravens? And if it be not with thy leave, cause the
+Emperor to forbid them.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said
+Owain, &ldquo;thou hearest what the youth says; if it seem good
+to thee, forbid them from my Ravens.&rdquo; &ldquo;Play thy
+game,&rdquo; said he. Then the youth returned to the
+tent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+That game did they finish, and another they began, and when
+they were in the midst of the game, behold, a ruddy young man
+with auburn curling hair and large eyes, well-grown, and having
+his beard new-shorn, came forth from a bright yellow tent, upon
+the summit of which was the figure of a bright red lion.
+And he was clad in a coat of yellow satin, falling as low as the
+small of his leg, and embroidered with threads of red silk.
+And on his feet were hose of fine white buckram, and buskins of
+black leather were over his hose, whereon were golden
+clasps. And in his hand a huge, heavy, three-edged sword,
+with a scabbard of red deer-hide, tipped with gold. And he
+came to the place where Arthur and Owain were playing at
+chess. And he saluted him. And Owain was troubled at
+his salutation, but Arthur minded it no more than before.
+And the youth said unto Owain, &ldquo;Is it not against thy will
+that the attendants of the Emperor harass thy Ravens, killing
+some and worrying others? If against thy will it be,
+beseech him to forbid them.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said
+Owain, &ldquo;forbid thy men, if it seem good to
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Play thy game,&rdquo; said the
+Emperor. And the youth returned to the tent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And that game was ended and another begun. And as they
+were beginning the first move of the game, they beheld at a small
+distance from them a tent speckled yellow, the largest ever seen,
+and the figure of an eagle of gold upon it, and a precious stone
+on the eagle&rsquo;s head. And coming out of the tent, they
+saw a youth with thick yellow hair upon his head, fair and
+comely, and a scarf of blue satin upon him, and a brooch of gold
+in the scarf upon his right shoulder as large as a
+warrior&rsquo;s middle finger. And upon his feet were hose
+of fine Totness, and shoes of parti-coloured leather, clasped
+with gold, and the youth was of noble bearing, fair of face, with
+ruddy cheeks and large hawk&rsquo;s eyes. In the hand of
+the youth was a mighty lance, speckled yellow, with a
+newly-sharpened head; and upon the lance a banner displayed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to the
+place where Arthur was playing at chess with Owain. And
+they perceived that he was wroth. And thereupon he saluted
+Owain, and told him that his Ravens had been killed, the chief
+part of them, and that such of them as were not slain were so
+wounded and bruised that not one of them could raise its wings a
+single fathom above the earth. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said
+Owain, &ldquo;forbid thy men.&rdquo; &ldquo;Play,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;if it please thee.&rdquo; Then said Owain
+to the youth, &ldquo;Go back, and wherever thou findest the
+strife at the thickest, there lift up the banner, and let come
+what pleases Heaven.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So the youth returned back to the place where the strife bore
+hardest upon the Ravens, and he lifted up the banner; and as he
+did so they all rose up in the air, wrathful and fierce and high
+of spirit, clapping their wings in the wind, and shaking off the
+weariness that was upon them. And recovering their energy
+and courage, furiously and with exultation did they, with one
+sweep, descend upon the heads of the men, who had erewhile caused
+them anger and pain and damage, and they seized some by the heads
+and others by the eyes, and some by the ears, and others by the
+arms, and carried them up into the air; and in the air there was
+a mighty tumult with the flapping of the wings of the triumphant
+Ravens, and with their croaking; and there was another mighty
+tumult with the groaning of the men, that were being torn and
+wounded, and some of whom were slain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they played at
+chess; and, looking, they perceived a knight upon a dun-coloured
+horse coming towards them. And marvellous was the hue of
+the dun horse. Bright red was his right shoulder, and from
+the top of his legs to the centre of his hoof was bright
+yellow. Both the knight and his horse were fully equipped
+with heavy foreign armour. The clothing of the horse from
+the front opening upwards was of bright red sendal, and from
+thence opening downwards was of bright yellow sendal. A
+large gold-hilted one-edged sword had the youth upon his thigh,
+in a scabbard of light blue, and tipped with Spanish laton.
+The belt of the sword was of dark green leather with golden
+slides and a clasp of ivory upon it, and a buckle of jet-black
+upon the clasp. A helmet of gold was on the head of the
+knight, set with precious stones of great virtue, and at the top
+of the helmet was the image of a flame-coloured leopard with two
+ruby-red stones in its head, so that it was astounding for a
+warrior, however stout his heart, to look at the face of the
+leopard, much more at the face of the knight. He had in his
+hand a blue-shafted lance, but from the haft to the point it was
+stained crimson-red with the blood of the Ravens and their
+plumage.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain were
+seated at chess. And they perceived that he was harassed
+and vexed and weary as he came towards them. And the youth
+saluted Arthur, and told him that the Ravens of Owain were
+slaying his young men and attendants. And Arthur looked at
+Owain and said, &ldquo;Forbid thy Ravens.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; answered Owain, &ldquo;play thy
+game.&rdquo; And they played. And the knight returned
+back towards the strife, and the Ravens were not forbidden any
+more than before.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when they had played awhile, they heard a mighty tumult,
+and a wailing of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as they carried
+the men in their strength into the air, and, tearing them betwixt
+them, let them fall piecemeal to the earth. And during the
+tumult they saw a knight coming towards them, on a light grey
+horse, and the left foreleg of the horse was jet-black to the
+centre of his hoof. And the knight and the horse were fully
+accoutred with huge heavy blue armour. And a robe of honour
+of yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and the borders of
+the robe were blue. And the housings of the horse were
+jet-black, with borders of bright yellow. And on the thigh
+of the youth was a sword, long, and three-edged, and heavy.
+And the scabbard was of red cut leather, and the belt of new red
+deer-skin, having upon it many golden slides and a buckle of the
+bone of the sea-horse, the tongue of which was jet-black. A
+golden helmet was upon the head of the knight, wherein were set
+sapphire-stones of great virtue. And at the top of the
+helmet was the figure of a flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red
+tongue, issuing above a foot from his mouth, and with venomous
+eyes, crimson-red, in his head. And the knight came,
+bearing in his hand a thick ashen lance, the head whereof, which
+had been newly steeped in blood, was overlaid with silver.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the youth saluted the Emperor: &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;carest thou not for the slaying of thy pages, and thy
+young men, and the sons of the nobles of the Island of Britain,
+whereby it will be difficult to defend this island from
+henceforward for ever?&rdquo; &ldquo;Owain,&rdquo; said
+Arthur, &ldquo;forbid thy Ravens.&rdquo; &ldquo;Play this
+game, Lord,&rdquo; said Owain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they finished the game and began another; and as they were
+finishing that game, lo, they heard a great tumult and a clamour
+of armed men, and a croaking of Ravens, and a flapping of wings
+in the air, as they flung down the armour entire to the ground,
+and the men and the horses piecemeal. Then they saw coming
+a knight on a lofty-headed piebald horse. And the left
+shoulder of the horse was of bright red, and its right leg from
+the chest to the hollow of the hoof was pure white. And the
+knight and horse were equipped with arms of speckled yellow,
+variegated with Spanish laton. And there was a robe of
+honour upon him, and upon his horse, divided in two parts, white
+and black, and the borders of the robe of honour were of golden
+purple. And above the robe he wore a sword three-edged and
+bright, with a golden hilt. And the belt of the sword was
+of yellow goldwork, having a clasp upon it of the eyelid of a
+black sea-horse, and a tongue of yellow gold to the clasp.
+Upon the head of the knight was a bright helmet of yellow laton,
+with sparkling stones of crystal in it, and at the crest of the
+helmet was the figure of a griffin, with a stone of many virtues
+in its head. And he had an ashen spear in his hand, with a
+round shaft, coloured with azure blue. And the head of the
+spear was newly stained with blood, and was overlaid with fine
+silver.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur was, and
+he told him that the Ravens had slain his household and the sons
+of the chief men of this island, and he besought him to cause
+Owain to forbid his Ravens. And Arthur besought Owain to
+forbid them. Then Arthur took the golden chessmen that were
+upon the board, and crushed them until they became as dust.
+Then Owain ordered Gwres the son of Rheged to lower his
+banner. So it was lowered, and all was peace.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Rhonabwy inquired of Iddawc who were the first three men
+that came to Owain, to tell him his Ravens were being
+slain. Said Iddawc, &ldquo;They were men who grieved that
+Owain should suffer loss, his fellow-chieftains and companions,
+Selyv the son of Kynan Garwyn of Powys, and Gwgawn Gleddyvrudd,
+and Gwres the son of Rheged, he who bears the banner in the day
+of battle and strife.&rdquo; &ldquo;Who,&rdquo; said
+Rhonabwy, &ldquo;were the last three men who came to Arthur, and
+told him that the Ravens were slaughtering his men?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;The best of men,&rdquo; said Iddawc, &ldquo;and the
+bravest, and who would grieve exceedingly that Arthur should have
+damage in aught; Blathaon the son of Mawrheth, and Rhuvawn Pebyr
+the son of Prince Deorthach, and Hyveidd Unllenn.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And with that behold four-and-twenty knights came from Osla
+Gyllellvawr, to crave a truce of Arthur for a fortnight and a
+month. And Arthur rose and went to take counsel. And
+he came to where a tall, auburn, curly-headed man was a little
+way off, and there he assembled his counsellors. Bedwini,
+the Bishop, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and March the son of
+Meirchawn, and Caradawc Vreichvras, and Gwalchmai the son of
+Gwyar, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of
+Prince Deorthach, and Rhiogan the son of the King of Ireland, and
+Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav, Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, Gwilym
+the son of Rhwyf Freinc, and Daned the son of Ath, and Goreu
+Custennin, and Mabon the son of Modron, and Peredur Paladyr Hir,
+and Hyveidd Unllenn, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Nerth the
+son of Kadarn, and Gobrwy the son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, Gwair
+the son of Gwestyl, and Gadwy the son of Geraint, Trystan the son
+of Tallwch, Moryen Manawc, Granwen the son of Llyr, and Llacheu
+the son of Arthur, and Llawvrodedd Varvawc, and Kadwr Earl of
+Cornwall, Morvran the son of Tegid, and Rhyawd the son of
+Morgant, and Dyvyr the son of Alun Dyved, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd
+Ieithoedd, Adaon the son of Taliesin, Llary the son of Kasnar
+Wledig, and Fflewddur Fflam, and Greidawl Galldovydd, Gilbert the
+son of Kadgyffro, Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, Gwrthmwl Wledig,
+Cawrdav the son of Caradawc Vreichvras, Gildas the son of Kaw,
+Kadyriaith the son of Saidi, and many of the men of Norway and
+Denmark, and many of the men of Greece, and a crowd of the men of
+the host came to that council.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who was the auburn
+haired man to whom they came just now?&rdquo; &ldquo;Rhun
+the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, a man whose prerogative it is, that
+he may join in counsel with all.&rdquo; &ldquo;And
+wherefore did they admit into counsel with men of such dignity as
+are yonder a stripling so young as Kadyriaith the son of
+Saidi?&rdquo; &ldquo;Because there is not throughout
+Britain a man better skilled in counsel than he.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon, behold, bards came and recited verses before
+Arthur, and no man understood those verses but Kadyriaith only,
+save that they were in Arthur&rsquo;s praise.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And lo, there came four-and-twenty asses with their burdens of
+gold and of silver, and a tired way-worn man with each of them,
+bringing tribute to Arthur from the Islands of Greece. Then
+Kadyriaith the son of Saidi besought that a truce might be
+granted to Osla Gyllellvawr for the space of a fortnight and a
+month, and that the asses and the burdens they carried might be
+given to the bards, to be to them as the reward for their stay
+and that their verse might be recompensed during the time of the
+truce. And thus it was settled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Rhonabwy,&rdquo; said Iddawc, &ldquo;would it not be
+wrong to forbid a youth who can give counsel so liberal as this
+from coming to the councils of his Lord?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Kai arose, and he said, &ldquo;Whosoever will follow
+Arthur, let him be with him to-night in Cornwall, and whosoever
+will not, let him be opposed to Arthur even during the
+truce.&rdquo; And through the greatness of the tumult that
+ensued, Rhonabwy awoke. And when he awoke he was upon the
+yellow calf-skin, having slept three nights and three days.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And this tale is called the Dream of Rhonabwy. And this
+is the reason that no one knows the dream without a book, neither
+bard nor gifted seer; because of the various colours that were
+upon the horses, and the many wondrous colours of the arms and of
+the panoply, and of the precious scarfs, and of the
+virtue-bearing stones.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap07"></a>PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED</h2>
+
+<p>
+Pwyll Prince of Dyved was lord of the seven Cantrevs of Dyved; and once upon a
+time he was at Narberth his chief palace, and he was minded to go and hunt, and
+the part of his dominions in which it pleased him to hunt was Glyn Cuch. So he
+set forth from Narberth that night, and went as far as Llwyn Diarwyd. And that
+night he tarried there, and early on the morrow he rose and came to Glyn Cuch,
+when he let loose the dogs in the wood, and sounded the horn, and began the
+chase. And as he followed the dogs, he lost his companions; and whilst he
+listened to the hounds, he heard the cry of other hounds, a cry different from
+his own, and coming in the opposite direction.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he beheld a glade in the wood forming a level plain, and
+as his dogs came to the edge of the glade, he saw a stag before
+the other dogs. And lo, as it reached the middle of the
+glade, the dogs that followed the stag overtook it and brought it
+down. Then looked he at the colour of the dogs, staying not
+to look at the stag, and of all the hounds that he had seen in
+the world, he had never seen any that were like unto these.
+For their hair was of a brilliant shining white, and their ears
+were red; and as the whiteness of their bodies shone, so did the
+redness of their ears glisten. And he came towards the
+dogs, and drove away those that had brought down the stag, and
+set his own dogs upon it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as he was setting on his dogs he saw a horseman coming
+towards him upon a large light-grey steed, with a hunting horn
+round his neck, and clad in garments of grey woollen in the
+fashion of a hunting garb. And the horseman drew near and
+spoke unto him thus. &ldquo;Chieftain,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;I know who thou art, and I greet thee not.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Peradventure,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;thou art of such
+dignity that thou shouldest not do so.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; answered he, &ldquo;it is not my dignity
+that prevents me.&rdquo; &ldquo;What is it then, O
+Chieftain?&rdquo; asked he. &ldquo;By Heaven, it is by
+reason of thine own ignorance and want of courtesy.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;What discourtesy, Chieftain, hast thou seen in
+me?&rdquo; &ldquo;Greater discourtesy saw I never in
+man,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;than to drive away the dogs that were
+killing the stag and to set upon it thine own. This was
+discourteous, and though I may not be revenged upon thee, yet I
+declare to Heaven that I will do thee more dishonour than the
+value of an hundred stags.&rdquo; &ldquo;O
+Chieftain,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;if I have done ill I will
+redeem thy friendship.&rdquo; &ldquo;How wilt thou redeem
+it?&rdquo; &ldquo;According as thy dignity may be, but I
+know not who thou art?&rdquo; &ldquo;A crowned king am I in
+the land whence I come.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;may the day prosper with thee, and from what land comest
+thou?&rdquo; &ldquo;From Annwvyn,&rdquo; <a
+name="citation2"></a><a href="#footnote2"
+class="citation">[2]</a> answered he; &ldquo;Arawn, a King of
+Annwvyn, am I.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;how may I gain thy friendship?&rdquo; &ldquo;After
+this manner mayest thou,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There is a
+man whose dominions are opposite to mine, who is ever warring
+against me, and he is Havgan, a King of Annwvyn, and by ridding
+me of this oppression, which thou canst easily do, shalt thou
+gain my friendship.&rdquo; &ldquo;Gladly will I do
+this,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Show me how I
+may.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will show thee. Behold thus it
+is thou mayest. I will make firm friendship with thee; and
+this will I do. I will send thee to Annwvyn in my stead,
+and I will give thee the fairest lady thou didst ever behold to
+be thy companion, and I will put my form and semblance upon thee,
+so that not a page of the chamber, nor an officer, nor any other
+man that has always followed me shall know that it is not
+I. And this shall be for the space of a year from
+to-morrow, and then we will meet in this place.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;but when I shall have been
+there for the space of a year, by what means shall I discover him
+of whom thou speakest?&rdquo; &ldquo;One year from this
+night,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;is the time fixed between him
+and me that we should meet at the Ford; be thou there in my
+likeness, and with one stroke that thou givest him, he shall no
+longer live. And if he ask thee to give him another, give
+it not, how much soever he may entreat thee, for when I did so,
+he fought with me next day as well as ever before.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;what shall I do
+concerning my kingdom?&rdquo; Said Arawn, &ldquo;I will
+cause that no one in all thy dominions, neither man nor woman,
+shall know that I am not thou, and I will go there in thy
+stead.&rdquo; &ldquo;Gladly then,&rdquo; said Pwyll,
+&ldquo;will I set forward.&rdquo; &ldquo;Clear shall be thy
+path, and nothing shall detain thee, until thou come into my
+dominions, and I myself will be thy guide!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So he conducted him until he came in sight of the palace and
+its dwellings. &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;the
+Court and the kingdom in thy power. Enter the Court, there
+is no one there who will know thee, and when thou seest what
+service is done there, thou wilt know the customs of the
+Court.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So he went forward to the Court, and when he came there, he
+beheld sleeping-rooms, and halls, and chambers, and the most
+beautiful buildings ever seen. And he went into the hall to
+disarray, and there came youths and pages and disarrayed him, and
+all as they entered saluted him. And two knights came and
+drew his hunting-dress from about him, and clothed him in a
+vesture of silk and gold. And the hall was prepared, and
+behold he saw the household and the host enter in, and the host
+was the most comely and the best equipped that he had ever
+seen. And with them came in likewise the Queen, who was the
+fairest woman that he had ever yet beheld. And she had on a
+yellow robe of shining satin; and they washed and went to the
+table, and sat, the Queen upon one side of him, and one who
+seemed to be an Earl on the other side.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he began to speak with the Queen, and he thought, from her
+speech, that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of
+converse and of cheer that ever was. And they partook of
+meat, and drink, with songs and with feasting; and of all the
+Courts upon the earth, behold this was the best supplied with
+food and drink, and vessels of gold and royal jewels.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and
+feasting, and diversions, and discourse with his companions until
+the night that was fixed for the conflict. And when that
+night came, it was remembered even by those who lived in the
+furthest part of his dominions, and he went to the meeting, and
+the nobles of the kingdom with him. And when he came to the
+Ford, a knight arose and spake thus. &ldquo;Lords,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;listen well. It is between two kings that
+this meeting is, and between them only. Each claimeth of
+the other his land and territory, and do all of you stand aside
+and leave the fight to be between them.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon the two kings approached each other in the middle of
+the Ford, and encountered, and at the first thrust, the man who
+was in the stead of Arawn struck Havgan on the centre of the boss
+of his shield, so that it was cloven in twain, and his armour was
+broken, and Havgan himself was borne to the ground an arm&rsquo;s
+and a spear&rsquo;s length over the crupper of his horse, and he
+received a deadly blow. &ldquo;O Chieftain,&rdquo; said
+Havgan, &ldquo;what right hast thou to cause my death? I
+was not injuring thee in anything, and I know not wherefore thou
+wouldest slay me. But, for the love of Heaven, since thou
+hast begun to slay me, complete thy work.&rdquo; &ldquo;Ah,
+Chieftain,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;I may yet repent doing that
+unto thee, slay thee who may, I will not do so.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;My trusty Lords,&rdquo; said Havgan, &ldquo;bear me
+hence. My death has come. I shall be no more able to
+uphold you.&rdquo; &ldquo;My Nobles,&rdquo; also said he
+who was in the semblance of Arawn, &ldquo;take counsel and know
+who ought to be my subjects.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said the Nobles, &ldquo;all should be, for there is no king over
+the whole of Annwvyn but thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; he
+replied, &ldquo;it is right that he who comes humbly should be
+received graciously, but he that doth not come with obedience,
+shall be compelled by the force of swords.&rdquo; And
+thereupon he received the homage of the men, and he began to
+conquer the country; and the next day by noon the two kingdoms
+were in his power. And thereupon he went to keep his tryst,
+and came to Glyn Cuch.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when he came there, the King of Annwvyn was there to meet
+him, and each of them was rejoiced to see the other.
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Arawn, &ldquo;may Heaven reward thee
+for thy friendship towards me. I have heard of it.
+When thou comest thyself to thy dominions,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;thou wilt see that which I have done for
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Whatever thou hast done for me, may
+Heaven repay it thee.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arawn gave to Pwyll Prince of Dyved his proper form and
+semblance, and he himself took his own; and Arawn set forth
+towards the Court of Annwvyn; and he was rejoiced when he beheld
+his hosts, and his household, whom he had not seen so long; but
+they had not known of his absence, and wondered no more at his
+coming than usual. And that day was spent in joy and
+merriment; and he sat and conversed with his wife and his
+nobles. And when it was time for them rather to sleep than
+to carouse, they went to rest.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+Pwyll Prince of Dyved came likewise to his country and
+dominions, and began to inquire of the nobles of the land, how
+his rule had been during the past year, compared with what it had
+been before. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;thy
+wisdom was never so great, and thou wast never so kind or so free
+in bestowing thy gifts, and thy justice was never more worthily
+seen than in this year.&rdquo; &ldquo;By Heaven,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;for all the good you have enjoyed, you should
+thank him who hath been with you; for behold, thus hath this
+matter been.&rdquo; And thereupon Pwyll related the whole
+unto them. &ldquo;Verily, Lord,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;render thanks unto Heaven that thou hast such a
+fellowship, and withhold not from us the rule which we have
+enjoyed for this year past.&rdquo; &ldquo;I take Heaven to
+witness that I will not withhold it,&rdquo; answered Pwyll.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was
+between them, and each sent unto the other horses, and
+greyhounds, and hawks, and all such jewels as they thought would
+be pleasing to each other. And by reason of his having
+dwelt that year in Annwvyn, and having ruled there so
+prosperously, and united the two kingdoms in one day by his
+valour and prowess, he lost the name of Pwyll Prince of Dyved,
+and was called Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn from that time forward.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth his chief palace,
+where a feast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great
+host of men. And after the first meal, Pwyll arose to walk,
+and he went to the top of a mound that was above the palace, and
+was called Gorsedd Arberth. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said one of
+the Court, &ldquo;it is peculiar to the mound that whosoever sits
+upon it cannot go thence, without either receiving wounds or
+blows, or else seeing a wonder.&rdquo; &ldquo;I fear not to
+receive wounds and blows in the midst of such a host as this, but
+as to the wonder, gladly would I see it. I will go
+therefore and sit upon the mound.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And upon the mound he sat. And while he sat there, they
+saw a lady, on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment
+of shining gold around her, coming along the highway that led
+from the mound; and the horse seemed to move at a slow and even
+pace, and to be coming up towards the mound. &ldquo;My
+men,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;is there any among you who knows
+yonder lady?&rdquo; &ldquo;There is not, Lord,&rdquo; said
+they. &ldquo;Go one of you and meet her, that we may know
+who she is.&rdquo; And one of them arose, and as he came
+upon the road to meet her, she passed by, and he followed as fast
+as he could, being on foot; and the greater was his speed, the
+further was she from him. And when he saw that it profited
+him nothing to follow her, he returned to Pwyll, and said unto
+him, &ldquo;Lord, it is idle for any one in the world to follow
+her on foot.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Pwyll,
+&ldquo;go unto the palace, and take the fleetest horse that thou
+seest, and go after her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he took a horse and went forward. And he came to an
+open level plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he
+urged his horse, the further was she from him. Yet she held
+the same pace as at first. And his horse began to fail; and
+when his horse&rsquo;s feet failed him, he returned to the place
+where Pwyll was. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it
+will avail nothing for any one to follow yonder lady. I
+know of no horse in these realms swifter than this, and it
+availed me not to pursue her.&rdquo; &ldquo;Of a
+truth,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;there must be some illusion
+here. Let us go towards the palace.&rdquo; So to the
+palace they went, and they spent that day. And the next day
+they arose, and that also they spent until it was time to go to
+meat. And after the first meal, &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said
+Pwyll, &ldquo;we will go the same party as yesterday to the top
+of the mound. And do thou,&rdquo; said he to one of his
+young men, &ldquo;take the swiftest horse that thou knowest in
+the field.&rdquo; And thus did the young man. And
+they went towards the mound, taking the horse with them.
+And as they were sitting down they beheld the lady on the same
+horse, and in the same apparel, coming along the same road.
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;here is the lady of
+yesterday. Make ready, youth, to learn who she
+is.&rdquo; &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that will
+I gladly do.&rdquo; And thereupon the lady came opposite to
+them. So the youth mounted his horse; and before he had
+settled himself in his saddle, she passed by, and there was a
+clear space between them. But her speed was no greater than
+it had been the day before. Then he put his horse into an
+amble, and thought that notwithstanding the gentle pace at which
+his horse went, he should soon overtake her. But this
+availed him not; so he gave his horse the reins. And still
+he came no nearer to her than when he went at a foot&rsquo;s
+pace. And the more he urged his horse, the further was she
+from him. Yet she rode not faster than before. When
+he saw that it availed not to follow her, he returned to the
+place where Pwyll was. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;the horse can no more than thou hast seen.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I see indeed that it avails not that any one should follow
+her. And by Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;she must needs
+have an errand to some one in this plain, if her haste would
+allow her to declare it. Let us go back to the
+palace.&rdquo; And to the palace they went, and they spent
+that night in songs and feasting, as it pleased them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to
+go to meat. And when meat was ended, Pwyll said,
+&ldquo;Where are the hosts that went yesterday and the day before
+to the top of the mound?&rdquo; &ldquo;Behold, Lord, we are
+here,&rdquo; said they. &ldquo;Let us go,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;to the mound, to sit there. And do thou,&rdquo; said
+he to the page who tended his horse, &ldquo;saddle my horse well,
+and hasten with him to the road, and bring also my spurs with
+thee.&rdquo; And the youth did thus. And they went
+and sat upon the mound; and ere they had been there but a short
+time, they beheld the lady coming by the same road, and in the
+same manner, and at the same pace. &ldquo;Young man,&rdquo;
+said Pwyll, &ldquo;I see the lady coming; give me my
+horse.&rdquo; And no sooner had he mounted his horse than
+she passed him. And he turned after her and followed
+her. And he let his horse go bounding playfully, and
+thought that at the second step or the third he should come up
+with her. But he came no nearer to her than at first.
+Then he urged his horse to his utmost speed, yet he found that it
+availed nothing to follow her. Then said Pwyll, &ldquo;O
+maiden, for the sake of him whom thou best lovest, stay for
+me.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will stay gladly,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;and it were better for thy horse hadst thou asked it long
+since.&rdquo; So the maiden stopped, and she threw back
+that part of her headdress which covered her face. And she
+fixed her eyes upon him, and began to talk with him.
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; asked he, &ldquo;whence comest thou, and
+whereunto dost thou journey?&rdquo; &ldquo;I journey on
+mine own errand,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and right glad am I to
+see thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;My greeting be unto thee,&rdquo;
+said he. Then he thought that the beauty of all the
+maidens, and all the ladies that he had ever seen, was as nothing
+compared to her beauty. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; he said,
+&ldquo;wilt thou tell me aught concerning thy
+purpose?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will tell thee,&rdquo; said
+she. &ldquo;My chief quest was to seek thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;this is to me the most
+pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come; and wilt thou
+tell me who thou art?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will tell thee,
+Lord,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;I am Rhiannon, the daughter
+of Heveydd H&ecirc;n, and they sought to give me to a husband
+against my will. But no husband would I have, and that
+because of my love for thee, neither will I yet have one unless
+thou reject me. And hither have I come to hear thy
+answer.&rdquo; &ldquo;By Heaven,&rdquo; said Pwyll,
+&ldquo;behold this is my answer. If I might choose among
+all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would I
+choose.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;if
+thou art thus minded, make a pledge to meet me ere I am given to
+another.&rdquo; &ldquo;The sooner I may do so, the more
+pleasing will it be unto me,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;and
+wheresoever thou wilt, there will I meet with thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will that thou meet me this day twelvemonth at the
+palace of Heveydd. And I will cause a feast to be prepared,
+so that it be ready against thou come.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Gladly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;will I keep this
+tryst.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;remain
+in health, and be mindful that thou keep thy promise; and now I
+will go hence.&rdquo; So they parted, and he went back to
+his hosts and to them of his household. And whatsoever
+questions they asked him respecting the damsel, he always turned
+the discourse upon other matters. And when a year from that
+time was gone, he caused a hundred knights to equip themselves
+and to go with him to the palace of Heveydd H&ecirc;n. And
+he came to the palace, and there was great joy concerning him,
+with much concourse of people and great rejoicing, and vast
+preparations for his coming. And the whole Court was placed
+under his orders.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the hall was garnished and they went to meat, and thus did
+they sit; Heveydd H&ecirc;n was on one side of Pwyll, and
+Rhiannon on the other. And all the rest according to their
+rank. And they ate and feasted and talked one with another,
+and at the beginning of the carousal after the meat, there
+entered a tall auburn-haired youth, of royal bearing, clothed in
+a garment of satin. And when he came into the hall, he
+saluted Pwyll and his companions. &ldquo;The greeting of
+Heaven be unto thee, my soul,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;come thou
+and sit down.&rdquo; &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;a
+suitor am I, and I will do mine errand.&rdquo; &ldquo;Do so
+willingly,&rdquo; said Pwyll. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;my errand is unto thee, and it is to crave a boon of thee
+that I come.&rdquo; &ldquo;What boon soever thou mayest ask
+of me, as far as I am able, thou shalt have.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Ah,&rdquo; said Rhiannon, &ldquo;wherefore didst thou give
+that answer?&rdquo; &ldquo;Has he not given it before the
+presence of these nobles?&rdquo; asked the youth. &ldquo;My
+soul,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;what is the boon thou
+askest?&rdquo; &ldquo;The lady whom best I love is to be
+thy bride this night; I come to ask her of thee, with the feast
+and the banquet that are in this place.&rdquo; And Pwyll
+was silent because of the answer which he had given.
+&ldquo;Be silent as long as thou wilt,&rdquo; said
+Rhiannon. &ldquo;Never did man make worse use of his wits
+than thou hast done.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;I knew not who he was.&rdquo; &ldquo;Behold this is
+the man to whom they would have given me against my will,&rdquo;
+said she. &ldquo;And he is Gwawl the son of Clud, a man of
+great power and wealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken,
+bestow me upon him lest shame befall thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I understand not thine
+answer. Never can I do as thou sayest.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Bestow me upon him,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and I will
+cause that I shall never be his.&rdquo; &ldquo;By what
+means will that be?&rdquo; asked Pwyll. &ldquo;In thy hand
+will I give thee a small bag,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;See
+that thou keep it well, and he will ask of thee the banquet, and
+the feast, and the preparations which are not in thy power.
+Unto the hosts and the household will I give the feast. And
+such will be thy answer respecting this. And as concerns
+myself, I will engage to become his bride this night
+twelvemonth. And at the end of the year be thou
+here,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and bring this bag with thee, and
+let thy hundred knights be in the orchard up yonder. And
+when he is in the midst of joy and feasting, come thou in by
+thyself, clad in ragged garments, and holding thy bag in thy
+hand, and ask nothing but a bagful of food, and I will cause that
+if all the meat and liquor that are in these seven Cantrevs were
+put into it, it would be no fuller than before. And after a
+great deal has been put therein, he will ask thee whether thy bag
+will ever be full. Say thou then that it never will, until
+a man of noble birth and of great wealth arise and press the food
+in the bag with both his feet, saying, &lsquo;Enough has been put
+therein;&rsquo; and I will cause him to go and tread down the
+food in the bag, and when he does so, turn thou the bag, so that
+he shall be up over his head in it, and then slip a knot upon the
+thongs of the bag. Let there be also a good bugle horn
+about thy neck, and as soon as thou hast bound him in the bag,
+wind thy horn, and let it be a signal between thee and thy
+knights. And when they hear the sound of the horn, let them
+come down upon the palace.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said
+Gwawl, &ldquo;it is meet that I have an answer to my
+request.&rdquo; &ldquo;As much of that thou hast asked as
+it is in my power to give, thou shalt have,&rdquo; replied
+Pwyll. &ldquo;My soul,&rdquo; said Rhiannon unto him,
+&ldquo;as for the feast and the banquet that are here, I have
+bestowed them upon the men of Dyved, and the household, and the
+warriors that are with us. These can I not suffer to be
+given to any. In a year from to-night a banquet shall be
+prepared for thee in this palace, that I may become thy
+bride.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also
+back to Dyved. And they both spent that year until it was
+the time for the feast at the palace of Heveydd H&ecirc;n.
+Then Gwawl the son of Clud set out to the feast that was prepared
+for him, and he came to the palace, and was received there with
+rejoicing. Pwyll, also, the Chief of Annwvyn, came to the
+orchard with his hundred knights, as Rhiannon had commanded him,
+having the bag with him. And Pwyll was clad in coarse and
+ragged garments, and wore large clumsy old shoes upon his
+feet. And when he knew that the carousal after the meat had
+begun, he went towards the hall, and when he came into the hall,
+he saluted Gwawl the son of Clud, and his company, both men and
+women. &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo; said Gwawl,
+&ldquo;and the greeting of Heaven be unto thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;may Heaven reward thee, I
+have an errand unto thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Welcome be thine
+errand, and if thou ask of me that which is just, thou shalt have
+it gladly.&rdquo; &ldquo;It is fitting,&rdquo; answered
+he. &ldquo;I crave but from want, and the boon that I ask
+is to have this small bag that thou seest filled with
+meat.&rdquo; &ldquo;A request within reason is this,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and gladly shalt thou have it. Bring him
+food.&rdquo; A great number of attendants arose and began
+to fill the bag, but for all that they put into it, it was no
+fuller than at first. &ldquo;My soul,&rdquo; said Gwawl,
+&ldquo;will thy bag be ever full?&rdquo; &ldquo;It will
+not, I declare to Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for all that may
+be put into it, unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and
+treasure, shall arise and tread down with both his feet the food
+that is within the bag, and shall say, &lsquo;Enough has been put
+therein.&rsquo;&rdquo; Then said Rhiannon unto Gwawl the
+son of Clud, &ldquo;Rise up quickly.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will
+willingly arise,&rdquo; said he. So he rose up, and put his
+two feet into the bag. And Pwyll turned up the sides of the
+bag, so that Gwawl was over his head in it. And he shut it
+up quickly and slipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his
+horn. And thereupon behold his household came down upon the
+palace. And they seized all the host that had come with
+Gwawl, and cast them into his own prison. And Pwyll threw
+off his rags, and his old shoes, and his tattered array; and as
+they came in, every one of Pwyll&rsquo;s knights struck a blow
+upon the bag, and asked, &ldquo;What is here?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;A Badger,&rdquo; said they. And in this manner they
+played, each of them striking the bag, either with his foot or
+with a staff. And thus played they with the bag.
+Every one as he came in asked, &ldquo;What game are you playing
+at thus?&rdquo; &ldquo;The game of Badger in the
+Bag,&rdquo; said they. And then was the game of Badger in
+the Bag first played.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said the man in the bag, &ldquo;if thou
+wouldest but hear me, I merit not to be slain in a
+bag.&rdquo; Said Heveydd H&ecirc;n, &ldquo;Lord, he speaks
+truth. It were fitting that thou listen to him, for he
+deserves not this.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Pwyll,
+&ldquo;I will do thy counsel concerning him.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Behold this is my counsel then,&rdquo; said Rhiannon;
+&ldquo;thou art now in a position in which it behoves thee to
+satisfy suitors and minstrels; let him give unto them in thy
+stead, and take a pledge from him that he will never seek to
+revenge that which has been done to him. And this will be
+punishment enough.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do this
+gladly,&rdquo; said the man in the bag. &ldquo;And gladly
+will I accept it,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;since it is the
+counsel of Heveydd and Rhiannon.&rdquo; &ldquo;Such then is
+our counsel,&rdquo; answered they. &ldquo;I accept
+it,&rdquo; said Pwyll. &ldquo;Seek thyself
+sureties.&rdquo; &ldquo;We will be for him,&rdquo; said
+Heveydd, &ldquo;until his men be free to answer for
+him.&rdquo; And upon this he was let out of the bag, and
+his liegemen were liberated. &ldquo;Demand now of Gwawl his
+sureties,&rdquo; said Heveydd, &ldquo;we know which should be
+taken for him.&rdquo; And Heveydd numbered the
+sureties. Said Gwawl, &ldquo;Do thou thyself draw up the
+covenant.&rdquo; &ldquo;It will suffice me that it be as
+Rhiannon said,&rdquo; answered Pwyll. So unto that covenant
+were the sureties pledged. &ldquo;Verily, Lord,&rdquo; said
+Gwawl, &ldquo;I am greatly hurt, and I have many bruises. I
+have need to be anointed; with thy leave I will go forth. I
+will leave nobles in my stead, to answer for me in all that thou
+shalt require.&rdquo; &ldquo;Willingly,&rdquo; said Pwyll,
+&ldquo;mayest thou do thus.&rdquo; So Gwawl went towards
+his own possessions.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his
+host, and for them also of the palace, and they went to the
+tables and sat down. And as they had sat that time
+twelvemonth, so sat they that night. And they ate, and
+feasted, and spent the night in mirth and tranquillity. And
+the time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll and Rhiannon went
+to their chamber.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And next morning at the break of day, &ldquo;My Lord,&rdquo;
+said Rhiannon, &ldquo;arise and begin to give thy gifts unto the
+minstrels. Refuse no one to-day that may claim thy
+bounty.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thus shall it be gladly,&rdquo; said
+Pwyll, &ldquo;both to-day and every day while the feast shall
+last.&rdquo; So Pwyll arose, and he caused silence to be
+proclaimed, and desired all the suitors and the minstrels to show
+and to point out what gifts were to their wish and desire.
+And this being done, the feast went on, and he denied no one
+while it lasted. And when the feast was ended, Pwyll said
+unto Heveydd, &ldquo;My Lord, with thy permission I will set out
+for Dyved to-morrow.&rdquo; &ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; said
+Heveydd, &ldquo;may Heaven prosper thee. Fix also a time
+when Rhiannon may follow thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;By
+Heaven,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;we will go hence
+together.&rdquo; &ldquo;Willest thou this, Lord?&rdquo;
+said Heveydd. &ldquo;Yes, by Heaven,&rdquo; answered
+Pwyll.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day, they set forward towards Dyved, and
+journeyed to the palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready
+for them. And there came to them great numbers of the chief
+men and the most noble ladies of the land, and of these there was
+none to whom Rhiannon did not give some rich gift, either a
+bracelet, or a ring, or a precious stone. And they ruled
+the land prosperously both that year and the next.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And in the third year the nobles of the land began to be
+sorrowful at seeing a man whom they loved so much, and who was
+moreover their lord and their foster-brother, without an
+heir. And they came to him. And the place where they
+met was Preseleu, in Dyved. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;we know that thou art not so young as some of the men of
+this country, and we fear that thou mayest not have an heir of
+the wife whom thou hast taken. Take therefore another wife
+of whom thou mayest have heirs. Thou canst not always
+continue with us, and though thou desire to remain as thou art,
+we will not suffer thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said
+Pwyll, &ldquo;we have not long been joined together, and many
+things may yet befall. Grant me a year from this time, and
+for the space of a year we will abide together, and after that I
+will do according to your wishes.&rdquo; So they granted
+it. And before the end of a year a son was born unto
+him. And in Narberth was he born; and on the night that he
+was born, women were brought to watch the mother and the
+boy. And the women slept, as did also Rhiannon, the mother
+of the boy. And the number of the women that were brought
+into the chamber was six. And they watched for a good
+portion of the night, and before midnight every one of them fell
+asleep, and towards break of day they awoke; and when they awoke,
+they looked where they had put the boy, and behold he was not
+there. &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said one of the women, &ldquo;the
+boy is lost?&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said another,
+&ldquo;and it will be small vengeance if we are burnt or put to
+death because of the child.&rdquo; Said one of the women,
+&ldquo;Is there any counsel for us in the world in this
+matter?&rdquo; &ldquo;There is,&rdquo; answered another,
+&ldquo;I offer you good counsel.&rdquo; &ldquo;What is
+that?&rdquo; asked they. &ldquo;There is here a stag-hound
+bitch, and she has a litter of whelps. Let us kill some of
+the cubs, and rub the blood on the face and hands of Rhiannon,
+and lay the bones before her, and assert that she herself hath
+devoured her son, and she alone will not be able to gainsay us
+six.&rdquo; And according to this counsel it was
+settled. And towards morning Rhiannon awoke, and she said,
+&ldquo;Women, where is my son?&rdquo; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;ask us not concerning thy son, we have nought
+but the blows and the bruises we got by struggling with thee, and
+of a truth we never saw any woman so violent as thou, for it was
+of no avail to contend with thee. Hast thou not thyself
+devoured thy son? Claim him not therefore of
+us.&rdquo; &ldquo;For pity&rsquo;s sake,&rdquo; said
+Rhiannon; &ldquo;the Lord God knows all things. Charge me
+not falsely. If you tell me this from fear, I assert before
+Heaven that I will defend you.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;we would not bring evil on ourselves for any
+one in the world.&rdquo; &ldquo;For pity&rsquo;s
+sake,&rdquo; said Rhiannon, &ldquo;you will receive no evil by
+telling the truth.&rdquo; But for all her words, whether
+fair or harsh, she received but the same answer from the
+women.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn arose, and his household, and
+his hosts. And this occurrence could not be concealed, but
+the story went forth throughout the land, and all the nobles
+heard it. Then the nobles came to Pwyll, and besought him
+to put away his wife, because of the great crime which she had
+done. But Pwyll answered them, that they had no cause
+wherefore they might ask him to put away his wife, save for her
+having no children. &ldquo;But children has she now had,
+therefore will I not put her away; if she has done wrong, let her
+do penance for it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Rhiannon sent for the teachers and the wise men, and as she
+preferred doing penance to contending with the women, she took
+upon her a penance. And the penance that was imposed upon
+her was, that she should remain in that palace of Narberth until
+the end of seven years, and that she should sit every day near
+unto a horseblock that was without the gate. And that she
+should relate the story to all who should come there, whom she
+might suppose not to know it already; and that she should offer
+the guests and strangers, if they would permit her, to carry them
+upon her back into the palace. But it rarely happened that
+any would permit. And thus did she spend part of the
+year.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now at that time Teirnyon Twryv Vliant was Lord of Gwent Is
+Coed, and he was the best man in the world. And unto his
+house there belonged a mare, than which neither mare nor horse in
+the kingdom was more beautiful. And on the night of every
+first of May she foaled, and no one ever knew what became of the
+colt. And one night Teirnyon talked with his wife:
+&ldquo;Wife,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it is very simple of us that
+our mare should foal every year, and that we should have none of
+her colts.&rdquo; &ldquo;What can be done in the
+matter?&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;This is the night of the
+first of May,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;The vengeance of
+Heaven be upon me, if I learn not what it is that takes away the
+colts.&rdquo; So he caused the mare to be brought into a
+house, and he armed himself, and began to watch that night.
+And in the beginning of the night, the mare foaled a large and
+beautiful colt. And it was standing up in the place.
+And Teirnyon rose up and looked at the size of the colt, and as
+he did so he heard a great tumult, and after the tumult behold a
+claw came through the window into the house, and it seized the
+colt by the mane. Then Teirnyon drew his sword, and struck
+off the arm at the elbow, so that portion of the arm together
+with the colt was in the house with him. And then did he
+hear a tumult and wailing, both at once. And he opened the
+door, and rushed out in the direction of the noise, and he could
+not see the cause of the tumult because of the darkness of the
+night, but he rushed after it and followed it. Then he
+remembered that he had left the door open, and he returned.
+And at the door behold there was an infant boy in
+swaddling-clothes, wrapped around in a mantle of satin. And
+he took up the boy, and behold he was very strong for the age
+that he was of.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he shut the door, and went into the chamber where his
+wife was. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;art thou
+sleeping?&rdquo; &ldquo;No, lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I
+was asleep, but as thou camest in I did awake.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Behold, here is a boy for thee if thou wilt,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;since thou hast never had one.&rdquo; &ldquo;My
+lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;what adventure is
+this?&rdquo; &ldquo;It was thus,&rdquo; said Teirnyon; and
+he told her how it all befell. &ldquo;Verily, lord,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;what sort of garments are there upon the
+boy?&rdquo; &ldquo;A mantle of satin,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;He is then a boy of gentle lineage,&rdquo; she
+replied. &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;if thou
+wilt, I shall have great diversion and mirth. I will call
+my women unto me, and tell them that I have been
+pregnant.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will readily grant thee to do
+this,&rdquo; he answered. And thus did they, and they
+caused the boy to be baptized, and the ceremony was performed
+there; and the name which they gave unto him was Gwri Wallt
+Euryn, because what hair was upon his head was as yellow as
+gold. And they had the boy nursed in the Court until he was
+a year old. And before the year was over he could walk
+stoutly. And he was larger than a boy of three years old,
+even one of great growth and size. And the boy was nursed
+the second year, and then he was as large as a child six years
+old. And before the end of the fourth year, he would bribe
+the grooms to allow him to take the horses to water.
+&ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said his wife unto Teirnyon, &ldquo;where
+is the colt which thou didst save on the night that thou didst
+find the boy?&rdquo; &ldquo;I have commanded the grooms of
+the horses,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that they take care of
+him.&rdquo; &ldquo;Would it not be well, lord,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;if thou wert to cause him to be broken in, and given
+to the boy, seeing that on the same night that thou didst find
+the boy, the colt was foaled and thou didst save
+him?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not oppose thee in this
+matter,&rdquo; said Teirnyon. &ldquo;I will allow thee to
+give him the colt.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;may Heaven reward thee; I will give it him.&rdquo;
+So the horse was given to the boy. Then she went to the
+grooms and those who tended the horses, and commanded them to be
+careful of the horse, so that he might be broken in by the time
+that the boy could ride him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And while these things were going forward, they heard tidings
+of Rhiannon and her punishment. And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant,
+by reason of the pity that he felt on hearing this story of
+Rhiannon and her punishment, inquired closely concerning it,
+until he had heard from many of those who came to his
+court. Then did Teirnyon, often lamenting the sad history,
+ponder within himself, and he looked steadfastly on the boy, and
+as he looked upon him, it seemed to him that he had never beheld
+so great a likeness between father and son, as between the boy
+and Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn. Now the semblance of Pwyll
+was well known to him, for he had of yore been one of his
+followers. And thereupon he became grieved for the wrong
+that he did, in keeping with him a boy whom he knew to be the son
+of another man. And the first time that he was alone with
+his wife, he told her that it was not right that they should keep
+the boy with them, and suffer so excellent a lady as Rhiannon to
+be punished so greatly on his account, whereas the boy was the
+son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn. And Teirnyon&rsquo;s
+wife agreed with him, that they should send the boy to
+Pwyll. &ldquo;And three things, lord,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;shall we gain thereby. Thanks and gifts for
+releasing Rhiannon from her punishment; and thanks from Pwyll for
+nursing his son and restoring him unto him; and thirdly, if the
+boy is of gentle nature, he will be our foster-son, and he will
+do for us all the good in his power.&rdquo; So it was
+settled according to this counsel.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And no later than the next day was Teirnyon equipped, and two
+other knights with him. And the boy, as a fourth in their
+company, went with them upon the horse which Teirnyon had given
+him. And they journeyed towards Narberth, and it was not
+long before they reached that place. And as they drew near
+to the palace, they beheld Rhiannon sitting beside the
+horseblock. And when they were opposite to her,
+&ldquo;Chieftain,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;go not further thus, I
+will bear every one of you into the palace, and this is my
+penance for slaying my own son and devouring him.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Oh, fair lady,&rdquo; said Teirnyon, &ldquo;think not that
+I will be one to be carried upon thy back.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Neither will I,&rdquo; said the boy. &ldquo;Truly,
+my soul,&rdquo; said Teirnyon, &ldquo;we will not
+go.&rdquo; So they went forward to the palace, and there
+was great joy at their coming. And at the palace a feast
+was prepared, because Pywll was come back from the confines of
+Dyved. And they went into the hall and washed, and Pwyll
+rejoiced to see Teirnyon. And in this order they sat.
+Teirnyon between Pwyll and Rhiannon, and Teirnyon&rsquo;s two
+companions on the other side of Pwyll, with the boy between
+them. And after meat they began to carouse and to
+discourse. And Teirnyon&rsquo;s discourse was concerning
+the adventure of the mare and the boy, and how he and his wife
+had nursed and reared the child as their own. &ldquo;And
+behold here is thy son, lady,&rdquo; said Teirnyon.
+&ldquo;And whosoever told that lie concerning thee, has done
+wrong. And when I heard of thy sorrow, I was troubled and
+grieved. And I believe that there is none of this host who
+will not perceive that the boy is the son of Pwyll,&rdquo; said
+Teirnyon. &ldquo;There is none,&rdquo; said they all,
+&ldquo;who is not certain thereof.&rdquo; &ldquo;I declare
+to Heaven,&rdquo; said Rhiannon, &ldquo;that if this be true,
+there is indeed an end to my trouble.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said Pendaran Dyved, &ldquo;well hast thou
+named thy son Pryderi, <a name="citation3"></a><a
+href="#footnote3" class="citation">[3]</a> and well becomes him
+the name of Pryderi son of Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Look you,&rdquo; said Rhiannon, &ldquo;will not his own
+name become him better?&rdquo; &ldquo;What name has
+he?&rdquo; asked Pendaran Dyved. &ldquo;Gwri Wallt Euryn is
+the name that we gave him.&rdquo; &ldquo;Pryderi,&rdquo;
+said Pendaran, &ldquo;shall his name be.&rdquo; &ldquo;It
+were more proper,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;that the boy should
+take his name from the word his mother spoke when she received
+the joyful tidings of him.&rdquo; And thus was it
+arranged.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Teirnyon,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;Heaven reward thee
+that thou hast reared the boy up to this time, and, being of
+gentle lineage, it were fitting that he repay thee for
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said Teirnyon, &ldquo;it
+was my wife who nursed him, and there is no one in the world so
+afflicted as she at parting with him. It were well that he
+should bear in mind what I and my wife have done for
+him.&rdquo; &ldquo;I call Heaven to witness,&rdquo; said
+Pwyll, &ldquo;that while I live I will support thee and thy
+possessions, as long as I am able to preserve my own. And
+when he shall have power, he will more fitly maintain them than
+I. And if this counsel be pleasing unto thee, and to my
+nobles, it shall be that, as thou hast reared him up to the
+present time, I will give him to be brought up by Pendaran Dyved,
+from henceforth. And you shall be companions, and shall
+both be foster-fathers unto him.&rdquo; &ldquo;This is good
+counsel,&rdquo; said they all. So the boy was given to
+Pendaran Dyved, and the nobles of the land were sent with
+him. And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, and his companions, set out
+for his country, and his possessions, with love and
+gladness. And he went not without being offered the fairest
+jewels and the fairest horses, and the choicest dogs; but he
+would take none of them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon they all remained in their own dominions. And
+Pryderi, the son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn, was brought up
+carefully as was fit, so that he became the fairest youth, and
+the most comely, and the best skilled in all good games, of any
+in the kingdom. And thus passed years and years, until the
+end of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn&rsquo;s life came, and he
+died.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Pryderi ruled the seven Cantrevs of Dyved prosperously,
+and he was beloved by his people, and by all around him.
+And at length he added unto them the three Cantrevs of Ystrad
+Tywi, and the four Cantrevs of Cardigan; and these were called
+the Seven Cantrevs of Seissyllwch. And when he made this
+addition, Pryderi the son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn desired
+to take a wife. And the wife he chose was Kicva, the
+daughter of Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of Gloyw Wallt Lydan, the son
+of Prince Casnar, one of the nobles of this Island.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap08"></a>BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR<br/>
+<small>HERE IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THE MABINOGI</small></h2>
+
+<p>
+Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this island, and he
+was exalted from the crown of London. And one afternoon he was at Harlech in
+Ardudwy, at his Court, and he sat upon the rock of Harlech, looking over the
+sea. And with him were his brother Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and his brothers
+by the mother&rsquo;s side, Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles likewise, as
+was fitting to see around a king. His two brothers by the mother&rsquo;s side
+were the sons of Eurosswydd, by his mother, Penardun, the daughter of Beli son
+of Manogan. And one of these youths was a good youth and of gentle nature, and
+would make peace between his kindred, and cause his family to be friends when
+their wrath was at the highest; and this one was Nissyen; but the other would
+cause strife between his two brothers when they were most at peace. And as they
+sat thus, they beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of Ireland, and
+making towards them, and they came with a swift motion, the wind being behind
+them, and they neared them rapidly. &ldquo;I see ships afar,&rdquo; said the
+king, &ldquo;coming swiftly towards the land. Command the men of the Court that
+they equip themselves, and go and learn their intent.&rdquo; So the men
+equipped themselves and went down towards them. And when they saw the ships
+near, certain were they that they had never seen ships better furnished.
+Beautiful flags of satin were upon them. And behold one of the ships
+outstripped the others, and they saw a shield lifted up above the side of the
+ship, and the point of the shield was upwards, in token of peace. And the men
+drew near that they might hold converse. Then they put out boats and came
+towards the land. And they saluted the king. Now the king could hear them from
+the place where he was, upon the rock above their heads. &ldquo;Heaven prosper
+you,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and be ye welcome. To whom do these ships belong,
+and who is the chief amongst you?&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;Matholwch, king of Ireland, is here, and these ships belong to
+him.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wherefore comes he?&rdquo; asked the king, &ldquo;and will
+he come to the land?&rdquo; &ldquo;He is a suitor unto thee, lord,&rdquo; said
+they, &ldquo;and he will not land unless he have his boon.&rdquo; &ldquo;And
+what may that be?&rdquo; inquired the king. &ldquo;He desires to ally himself
+with thee, lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;and he comes to ask Branwen the
+daughter of Llyr, that, if it seem well to thee, the Island of the Mighty may
+be leagued with Ireland, and both become more powerful.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;let him come to land, and we will take
+counsel thereupon.&rdquo; And this answer was brought to Matholwch. &ldquo;I
+will go willingly,&rdquo; said he. So he landed, and they received him
+joyfully; and great was the throng in the palace that night, between his hosts
+and those of the Court; and next day they took counsel, and they resolved to
+bestow Branwen upon Matholwch. Now she was one of the three chief ladies of
+this island, and she was the fairest damsel in the world.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she should
+become his bride. And they went thence, and towards
+Aberffraw the hosts proceeded; Matholwch and his host in their
+ships; Bendigeid Vran and his host by land, until they came to
+Aberffraw. And at Aberffraw they began the feast and sat
+down. And thus sat they. The King of the Island of
+the Mighty and Manawyddan the son of Llyr on one side, and
+Matholwch on the other side, and Branwen the daughter of Llyr
+beside him. And they were not within a house, but under
+tents. No house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran.
+And they began the banquet and caroused and discoursed. And
+when it was more pleasing to them to sleep than to carouse, they
+went to rest, and that night Branwen became Matholwch&rsquo;s
+bride.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And next day they arose, and all they of the Court, and the
+officers began to equip and to range the horses and the
+attendants, and they ranged them in order as far as the sea.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man of whom it
+is spoken above, came by chance into the place, where the horses
+of Matholwch were, and asked whose horses they might be.
+&ldquo;They are the horses of Matholwch king of Ireland, who is
+married to Branwen, thy sister; his horses are they.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;And is it thus they have done with a maiden such as she,
+and moreover my sister, bestowing her without my consent?
+They could have offered no greater insult to me than this,&rdquo;
+said he. And thereupon he rushed under the horses and cut
+off their lips at the teeth, and their ears close to their heads,
+and their tails close to their backs, and wherever he could
+clutch their eyelids, he cut them to the very bone, and he
+disfigured the horses and rendered them useless.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch, saying that
+the horses were disfigured, and injured so that not one of them
+could ever be of any use again. &ldquo;Verily, lord,&rdquo;
+said one, &ldquo;it was an insult unto thee, and as such was it
+meant.&rdquo; &ldquo;Of a truth, it is a marvel to me, that
+if they desire to insult me, they should have given me a maiden
+of such high rank and so much beloved of her kindred, as they
+have done.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said another,
+&ldquo;thou seest that thus it is, and there is nothing for thee
+to do but to go to thy ships.&rdquo; And thereupon towards
+his ships he set out.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch was quitting
+the Court without asking leave, and messengers were sent to
+inquire of him wherefore he did so. And the messengers that
+went were Iddic the son of Anarawd, and Heveydd Hir. And
+these overtook him and asked of him what he designed to do, and
+wherefore he went forth. &ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;if I had known I had not come hither. I have been
+altogether insulted, no one had ever worse treatment than I have
+had here. But one thing surprises me above
+all.&rdquo; &ldquo;What is that?&rdquo; asked they.
+&ldquo;That Branwen the daughter of Llyr, one of the three chief
+ladies of this island, and the daughter of the King of the Island
+of the Mighty, should have been given me as my bride, and that
+after that I should have been insulted; and I marvel that the
+insult was not done me before they had bestowed upon me a maiden
+so exalted as she.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly, lord, it was not
+the will of any that are of the Court,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;nor of any that are of the council, that thou shouldest
+have received this insult; and as thou hast been insulted, the
+dishonour is greater unto Bendigeid Vran than unto
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I think
+so. Nevertheless he cannot recall the insult.&rdquo;
+These men returned with that answer to the place where Bendigeid
+Vran was, and they told him what reply Matholwch had given
+them. &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;there are no
+means by which we may prevent his going away at enmity with us,
+that we will not take.&rdquo; &ldquo;Well, lord,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;send after him another embassy.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Arise,
+Manawyddan son of Llyr, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd,
+and go after him, and tell him that he shall have a sound horse
+for every one that has been injured. And beside that, as an
+atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff of silver, as
+large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of the breadth
+of his face. And show unto him who it was that did this,
+and that it was done against my will; but that he who did it is
+my brother, by the mother&rsquo;s side, and therefore it would be
+hard for me to put him to death. And let him come and meet
+me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and we will make peace in any way he
+may desire.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The embassy went after Matholwch, and told him all these
+sayings in a friendly manner, and he listened thereunto.
+&ldquo;Men,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I will take
+counsel.&rdquo; So to the council he went. And in the
+council they considered that if they should refuse this, they
+were likely to have more shame rather than to obtain so great an
+atonement. They resolved therefore to accept it, and they
+returned to the Court in peace.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after the
+fashion of a hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at
+the beginning of the feast, so sat they there. And
+Matholwch and Bendigeid Vran began to discourse; and behold it
+seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they talked, that Matholwch was
+not so cheerful as he had been before. And he thought that
+the chieftain might be sad, because of the smallness of the
+atonement which he had, for the wrong that had been done
+him. &ldquo;Oh, man,&rdquo; said Bendigeid Vran,
+&ldquo;thou dost not discourse to-night so cheerfully as thou
+wast wont. And if it be because of the smallness of the
+atonement, thou shalt add thereunto whatsoever thou mayest
+choose, and to-morrow I will pay thee the horses.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Heaven reward
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;And I will enhance the
+atonement,&rdquo; said Bendigeid Vran, &ldquo;for I will give
+unto thee a cauldron, the property of which is, that if one of
+thy men be slain to-day, and be cast therein, to-morrow he will
+be as well as ever he was at the best, except that he will not
+regain his speech.&rdquo; And thereupon he gave him great
+thanks, and very joyful was he for that cause.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as long as
+the trained horses lasted. And then they journeyed into
+another commot, where they paid him with colts until the whole
+had been paid, and from thenceforth that commot was called
+Talebolion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And a second night sat they together. &ldquo;My
+lord,&rdquo; said Matholwch, &ldquo;whence hadst thou the
+cauldron which thou hast given me?&rdquo; &ldquo;I had it
+of a man who had been in thy land,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and I
+would not give it except to one from there.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Who was it?&rdquo; asked he. &ldquo;Llassar
+Llaesgyvnewid; he came here from Ireland with Kymideu Kymeinvoll,
+his wife, who escaped from the Iron House in Ireland, when it was
+made red hot around them, and fled hither. And it is a
+marvel to me that thou shouldst know nothing concerning the
+matter.&rdquo; &ldquo;Something I do know,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and as much as I know I will tell thee. One day I
+was hunting in Ireland, and I came to the mound at the head of
+the lake, which is called the Lake of the Cauldron. And I
+beheld a huge yellow-haired man coming from the lake with a
+cauldron upon his back. And he was a man of vast size, and
+of horrid aspect, and a woman followed after him. And if
+the man was tall, twice as large as he was the woman, and they
+came towards me and greeted me. &lsquo;Verily,&rsquo; asked
+I, &lsquo;wherefore are you journeying?&rsquo;
+&lsquo;Behold, this,&rsquo; said he to me, &lsquo;is the cause
+that we journey. At the end of a month and a fortnight this
+woman will have a son; and the child that will be born at the end
+of the month and the fortnight will be a warrior fully
+armed.&rsquo; So I took them with me and maintained
+them. And they were with me for a year. And that year
+I had them with me not grudgingly. But thenceforth was
+there murmuring, because that they were with me. For, from
+the beginning of the fourth month they had begun to make
+themselves hated and to be disorderly in the land; committing
+outrages, and molesting and harassing the nobles and ladies; and
+thenceforward my people rose up and besought me to part with
+them, and they bade me to choose between them and my
+dominions. And I applied to the council of my country to
+know what should be done concerning them; for of their own free
+will they would not go, neither could they be compelled against
+their will, through fighting. And [the people of the
+country] being in this strait, they caused a chamber to be made
+all of iron. Now when the chamber was ready, there came
+there every smith that was in Ireland, and every one who owned
+tongs and hammer. And they caused coals to be piled up as
+high as the top of the chamber. And they had the man, and
+the woman, and the children, served with plenty of meat and
+drink; but when it was known that they were drunk, they began to
+put fire to the coals about the chamber, and they blew it with
+bellows until the house was red hot all around them. Then
+was there a council held in the centre of the floor of the
+chamber. And the man tarried until the plates of iron were
+all of a white heat; and then, by reason of the great heat, the
+man dashed against the plates with his shoulder and struck them
+out, and his wife followed him; but except him and his wife none
+escaped thence. And then I suppose, lord,&rdquo; said
+Matholwch unto Bendigeid Vran, &ldquo;that he came over unto
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Doubtless he came here,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and gave unto me the cauldron.&rdquo; &ldquo;In what
+manner didst thou receive them?&rdquo; &ldquo;I dispersed
+them through every part of my dominions, and they have become
+numerous and are prospering everywhere, and they fortify the
+places where they are with men and arms, of the best that were
+ever seen.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+That night they continued to discourse as much as they would,
+and had minstrelsy and carousing, and when it was more pleasant
+to them to sleep than to sit longer, they went to rest. And
+thus was the banquet carried on with joyousness; and when it was
+finished, Matholwch journeyed towards Ireland, and Branwen with
+him, and they went from Aber Menei with thirteen ships, and came
+to Ireland. And in Ireland was there great joy because of
+their coming. And not one great man or noble lady visited
+Branwen unto whom she gave not either a clasp, or a ring, or a
+royal jewel to keep, such as it was honourable to be seen
+departing with. And in these things she spent that year in
+much renown, and she passed her time pleasantly, enjoying honour
+and friendship. And in the meanwhile it chanced that she
+became pregnant, and in due time a son was born unto her, and the
+name that they gave him was Gwern the son of Matholwch, and they
+put the boy out to be foster-nursed, in a place where were the
+best men of Ireland.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And behold in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on
+account of the insult which Matholwch had received in Cambria,
+and the payment made him for his horses. And his
+foster-brothers, and such as were nearest unto him, blamed him
+openly for that matter. And he might have no peace by
+reason of the tumult until they should revenge upon him this
+disgrace. And the vengeance which they took was to drive
+away Branwen from the same chamber with him, and to make her cook
+for the Court; and they caused the butcher after he had cut up
+the meat to come to her and give her every day a blow on the ear,
+and such they made her punishment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Verily, lord,&rdquo; said his men to Matholwch,
+&ldquo;forbid now the ships and the ferry boats and the coracles,
+that they go not into Cambria, and such as come over from Cambria
+hither, imprison them that they go not back for this thing to be
+known there.&rdquo; And he did so; and it was thus for not
+less than three years.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading
+trough, and she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what
+manner of man her brother was. And she wrote a letter of
+her woes, and the despite with which she was treated, and she
+bound the letter to the root of the bird&rsquo;s wing, and sent
+it towards Britain. And the bird came to this island, and
+one day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer Seiont in Arvon,
+conferring there, and it alighted upon his shoulder and ruffled
+its feathers, so that the letter was seen, and they knew that the
+bird had been reared in a domestic manner.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it.
+And when he had read the letter he grieved exceedingly at the
+tidings of Branwen&rsquo;s woes. And immediately he began
+sending messengers to summon the island together. And he
+caused sevenscore and four countries to come unto him, and he
+complained to them himself of the grief that his sister
+endured. So they took counsel. And in the council
+they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men as princes
+here, and Caradawc, the son of Bran, as the chief of them, and
+their seven knights. In Edeyrnion were these men
+left. And for this reason were the seven knights placed in
+the town. Now the names of these seven men were, Caradawc
+the son of Bran, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and Iddic
+the son of Anarawc Gwalltgrwn, and Fodor the son of Ervyll, and
+Gwlch Minascwrn, and Llassar the son of Llaesar Llaesgygwyd, and
+Pendaran Dyved as a young page with them. And these abode
+as seven ministers to take charge of this island; and Caradawc
+the son of Bran was the chief amongst them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed
+towards Ireland, and it was not far across the sea, and he came
+to shoal water. It was caused by two rivers; the Lli and
+the Archan were they called; and the nations covered the
+sea. Then he proceeded with what provisions he had on his
+own back, and approached the shore of Ireland.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the seashore, and
+they came to Matholwch. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;greeting be unto thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven protect
+you,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;have you any news?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;we have marvellous news, a
+wood have we seen upon the sea, in a place where we never yet saw
+a single tree.&rdquo; &ldquo;This is indeed a
+marvel,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;saw you aught else?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;We saw, lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;a vast mountain
+beside the wood, which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on the
+top of the mountain, and a lake on each side of the ridge.
+And the wood, and the mountain, and all these things
+moved.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;there
+is none who can know aught concerning this, unless it be
+Branwen.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Messengers then went unto Branwen. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;what thinkest thou that this is?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have come hither
+on hearing of my ill-treatment and my woes.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;What is the forest that is seen upon the sea?&rdquo; asked
+they. &ldquo;The yards and the masts of ships,&rdquo; she
+answered. &ldquo;Alas,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;what is the
+mountain that is seen by the side of the ships?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Bendigeid Vran, my brother,&rdquo; she replied,
+&ldquo;coming to shoal water; there is no ship that can contain
+him in it.&rdquo; &ldquo;What is the lofty ridge with the
+lake on each side thereof?&rdquo; &ldquo;On looking towards
+this island he is wroth, and his two eyes, one on each side of
+his nose, are the two lakes beside the ridge.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The warriors and the chief men of Ireland were brought
+together in haste, and they took counsel.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said the nobles unto Matholwch, &ldquo;there
+is no other counsel than to retreat over the Linon (a river which
+is in Ireland), and to keep the river between thee and him, and
+to break down the bridge that is across the river, for there is a
+loadstone at the bottom of the river that neither ship nor vessel
+can pass over.&rdquo; So they retreated across the river,
+and broke down the bridge.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with him by the
+bank of the river. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said his chieftains,
+&ldquo;knowest thou the nature of this river, that nothing can go
+across it, and there is no bridge over it?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;What,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;is thy counsel concerning a
+bridge?&rdquo; &ldquo;There is none,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;except that he who will be chief, let him be a
+bridge. I will be so,&rdquo; said he. And then was
+that saying first uttered, and it is still used as a
+proverb. And when he had lain down across the river,
+hurdles were placed upon him, and the host passed over
+thereby.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch came to
+him, and saluted him, and gave him greeting in the name of
+Matholwch, his kinsman, and showed how that of his goodwill he
+had merited of him nothing but good. &ldquo;For Matholwch
+has given the kingdom of Ireland to Gwern the son of Matholwch,
+thy nephew and thy sister&rsquo;s son. And this he places
+before thee, as a compensation for the wrong and despite that has
+been done unto Branwen. And Matholwch shall be maintained
+wheresoever thou wilt, either here or in the Island of the
+Mighty.&rdquo; Said Bendigeid Vran, &ldquo;Shall not I
+myself have the kingdom? Then peradventure I may take
+counsel concerning your message. From this time until then
+no other answer will you get from me.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;the best message that we
+receive for thee, we will convey it unto thee, and do thou await
+our message unto him.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will wait,&rdquo;
+answered he, &ldquo;and do you return quickly.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The messengers set forth and came to Matholwch.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;prepare a better message
+for Bendigeid Vran. He would not listen at all to the
+message that we bore him.&rdquo; &ldquo;My friends,&rdquo;
+said Matholwch, &ldquo;what may be your counsel?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;there is no other counsel
+than this alone. He was never known to be within a house,
+make therefore a house that will contain him and the men of the
+Island of the Mighty on the one side, and thyself and thy host on
+the other; and give over thy kingdom to his will, and do him
+homage. So by reason of the honour thou doest him in making
+him a house, whereas he never before had a house to contain him,
+he will make peace with thee.&rdquo; So the messengers went
+back to Bendigeid Vran, bearing him this message.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved that
+he should accept this, and this was all done by the advice of
+Branwen, and lest the country should be destroyed. And this
+peace was made, and the house was built both vast and
+strong. But the Irish planned a crafty device, and the
+craft was that they should put brackets on each side of the
+hundred pillars that were in the house, and should place a
+leathern bag on each bracket, and an armed man in every one of
+them. Then Evnissyen came in before the host of the Island
+of the Mighty, and scanned the house with fierce and savage
+looks, and descried the leathern bags which were around the
+pillars. &ldquo;What is in this bag?&rdquo; asked he of one
+of the Irish. &ldquo;Meal, good soul,&rdquo; said he.
+And Evnissyen felt about it until he came to the man&rsquo;s
+head, and he squeezed the head until he felt his fingers meet
+together in the brain through the bone. And he left that
+one and put his hand upon another, and asked what was
+therein. &ldquo;Meal,&rdquo; said the Irishman. So he
+did the like unto every one of them, until he had not left alive,
+of all the two hundred men, save one only; and when he came to
+him, he asked what was there. &ldquo;Meal, good
+soul,&rdquo; said the Irishman. And he felt about until he
+felt the head, and he squeezed that head as he had done the
+others. And, albeit he found that the head of this one was
+armed, he left him not until he had killed him. And then he
+sang an Englyn:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;There is in this bag a different sort of
+meal,<br/>
+The ready combatant, when the assault is made<br/>
+By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon came the hosts unto the house. The men of the
+Island of Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the men
+of the Island of the Mighty on the other. And as soon as
+they had sat down there was concord between them; and the
+sovereignty was conferred upon the boy. When the peace was
+concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy unto him, and from
+Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and he was beloved
+by all that beheld him. And from Manawyddan the boy was
+called by Nissyen the son of Eurosswydd, and the boy went unto
+him lovingly. &ldquo;Wherefore,&rdquo; said Evnissyen,
+&ldquo;comes not my nephew the son of my sister unto me?
+Though he were not king of Ireland, yet willingly would I fondle
+the boy.&rdquo; &ldquo;Cheerfully let him go to
+thee,&rdquo; said Bendigeid Vran, and the boy went unto him
+cheerfully. &ldquo;By my confession to Heaven,&rdquo; said
+Evnissyen in his heart, &ldquo;unthought of by the household is
+the slaughter that I will this instant commit.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and before any
+one in the house could seize hold of him, he thrust the boy
+headlong into the blazing fire. And when Branwen saw her
+son burning in the fire, she strove to leap into the fire also,
+from the place where she sat between her two brothers. But
+Bendigeid Vran grasped her with one hand, and his shield with the
+other. Then they all hurried about the house, and never was
+there made so great a tumult by any host in one house as was made
+by them, as each man armed himself. Then said
+Morddwydtyllyon, &ldquo;The gadflies of Morddwydtyllyon&rsquo;s
+Cow!&rdquo; And while they all sought their arms, Bendigeid
+Vran supported Branwen between his shield and his shoulder.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the Irish kindled a fire under the cauldron of
+renovation, and they cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until
+it was full, and the next day they came forth fighting-men as
+good as before, except that they were not able to speak.
+Then when Evnissyen saw the dead bodies of the men of the Island
+of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated, he said in his heart,
+&ldquo;Alas! woe is me, that I should have been the cause of
+bringing the men of the Island of the Mighty into so great a
+strait. Evil betide me if I find not a deliverance
+therefrom.&rdquo; And he cast himself among the dead bodies
+of the Irish, and two unshod Irishmen came to him, and, taking
+him to be one of the Irish, flung him into the cauldron.
+And he stretched himself out in the cauldron, so that he rent the
+cauldron into four pieces, and burst his own heart also.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In consequence of that the men of the Island of the Mighty
+obtained such success as they had; but they were not victorious,
+for only seven men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran
+himself was wounded in the foot with a poisoned dart. Now
+the seven men that escaped were Pryderi, Manawyddan, Gluneu Eil
+Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc, Grudyen the son of Muryel, and Heilyn the
+son of Gwynn Hen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off his
+head. &ldquo;And take you my head,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and bear it even unto the White Mount, in London, and bury
+it there, with the face towards France. And a long time
+will you be upon the road. In Harlech you will be feasting
+seven years, the birds of Rhiannon singing unto you the
+while. And all that time the head will be to you as
+pleasant company as it ever was when on my body. And at
+Gwales in Penvro you will be fourscore years, and you may remain
+there, and the head with you uncorrupted, until you open the door
+that looks towards Aber Henvelen, and towards Cornwall. And
+after you have opened that door, there you may no longer tarry,
+set forth then to London to bury the head, and go straight
+forward.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward
+therewith. And Branwen was the eighth with them, and they
+came to land at Aber Alaw, in Talebolyon, and they sat down to
+rest. And Branwen looked towards Ireland and towards the
+Island of the Mighty, to see if she could descry them.
+&ldquo;Alas,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;woe is me that I was ever
+born; two islands have been destroyed because of me!&rdquo;
+Then she uttered a loud groan, and there broke her heart.
+And they made her a four-sided grave, and buried her upon the
+banks of the Alaw.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Harlech, bearing
+the head with them; and as they went, behold there met them a
+multitude of men and of women. &ldquo;Have you any
+tidings?&rdquo; asked Manawyddan. &ldquo;We have
+none,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;save that Caswallawn the son of
+Beli has conquered the Island of the Mighty, and is crowned king
+in London.&rdquo; &ldquo;What has become,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;of Caradawc the son of Bran, and the seven men who were
+left with him in this island?&rdquo; &ldquo;Caswallawn came
+upon them, and slew six of the men, and Caradawc&rsquo;s heart
+broke for grief thereof; for he could see the sword that slew the
+men, but knew not who it was that wielded it. Caswallawn
+had flung upon him the Veil of Illusion, so that no one could see
+him slay the men, but the sword only could they see. And it
+liked him not to slay Caradawc, because he was his nephew, the
+son of his cousin. And now he was the third whose heart had
+broke through grief. Pendaran Dyved, who had remained as a
+young page with these men, escaped into the wood,&rdquo; said
+they.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to rest, and
+they provided meat and liquor, and sat down to eat and to
+drink. And there came three birds, and began singing unto
+them a certain song, and all the songs they had ever heard were
+unpleasant compared thereto; and the birds seemed to them to be
+at a great distance from them over the sea, yet they appeared as
+distinct as if they were close by, and at this repast they
+continued seven years.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And at the close of the seventh year they went forth to Gwales
+in Penvro. And there they found a fair and regal spot
+overlooking the ocean; and a spacious hall was therein. And
+they went into the hall, and two of its doors were open, but the
+third door was closed, that which looked towards Cornwall.
+&ldquo;See, yonder,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;is the door
+that we may not open.&rdquo; And that night they regaled
+themselves and were joyful. And of all they had seen of
+food laid before them, and of all they had heard of, they
+remembered nothing; neither of that, nor of any sorrow
+whatsoever. And there they remained fourscore years,
+unconscious of having ever spent a time more joyous and
+mirthful. And they were not more weary than when first they
+came, neither did they, any of them, know the time they had been
+there. And it was not more irksome to them having the head
+with them, than if Bendigeid Vran had been with them
+himself. And because of these fourscore years, it was
+called &ldquo;the Entertaining of the noble Head.&rdquo;
+The entertaining of Branwen and Matholwch was in the time that
+they went to Ireland.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One day said Heilyn the son of Gwynn, &ldquo;Evil betide me,
+if I do not open the door to know if that is true which is said
+concerning it.&rdquo; So he opened the door and looked
+towards Cornwall and Aber Henvelen. And when they had
+looked, they were as conscious of all the evils they had ever
+sustained, and of all the friends and companions they had lost,
+and of all the misery that had befallen them, as if all had
+happened in that very spot; and especially of the fate of their
+lord. And because of their perturbation they could not
+rest, but journeyed forth with the head towards London. And
+they buried the head in the White Mount, and when it was buried,
+this was the third goodly concealment; and it was the third
+ill-fated disclosure when it was disinterred, inasmuch as no
+invasion from across the sea came to this island while the head
+was in that concealment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thus is the story related of those who journeyed over from
+Ireland.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In Ireland none were left alive, except five pregnant women in
+a cave in the Irish wilderness; and to these five women in the
+same night were born five sons, whom they nursed until they
+became grown-up youths. And they thought about wives, and
+they at the same time desired to possess them, and each took a
+wife of the mothers of their companions, and they governed the
+country and peopled it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And these five divided it amongst them, and because of this
+partition are the five divisions of Ireland still so
+termed. And they examined the land where the battles had
+taken place, and they found gold and silver until they became
+wealthy.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi, concerning the
+blow given to Branwen, which was the third unhappy blow of this
+island; and concerning the entertainment of Bran, when the hosts
+of sevenscore countries and ten went over to Ireland to revenge
+the blow given to Branwen; and concerning the seven years&rsquo;
+banquet in Harlech, and the singing of the birds of Rhiannon, and
+the sojourning of the head for the space of fourscore years.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap09"></a>MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR<br/>
+<small>HERE IS THE THIRD PORTION OF THE MABINOGI</small></h2>
+
+<p>
+When the seven men of whom we spoke above had buried the head of Bendigeid
+Vran, in the White Mount in London, with its face towards France; Manawyddan
+gazed upon the town of London, and upon his companions, and heaved a great
+sigh; and much grief and heaviness came upon him. &ldquo;Alas, Almighty Heaven,
+woe is me,&rdquo; he exclaimed, &ldquo;there is none save myself without a
+resting-place this night.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;be
+not so sorrowful. Thy cousin is king of the Island of the Mighty, and though he
+should do thee wrong, thou hast never been a claimant of land or possessions.
+Thou art the third disinherited prince.&rdquo; &ldquo;Yea,&rdquo; answered he,
+&ldquo;but although this man is my cousin, it grieveth me to see any one in the
+place of my brother Bendigeid Vran, neither can I be happy in the same dwelling
+with him.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wilt thou follow the counsel of another?&rdquo; said
+Pryderi. &ldquo;I stand in need of counsel,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;and what
+may that counsel be?&rdquo; &ldquo;Seven Cantrevs remain unto me,&rdquo; said
+Pryderi, &ldquo;wherein Rhiannon my mother dwells. I will bestow her upon thee
+and the seven Cantrevs with her, and though thou hadst no possessions but those
+Cantrevs only, thou couldst not have seven Cantrevs fairer than they. Kicva,
+the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw, is my wife, and since the inheritance of the
+Cantrevs belongs to me, do thou and Rhiannon enjoy them, and if thou ever
+desire any possessions thou wilt take these.&rdquo; &ldquo;I do not,
+Chieftain,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee for thy friendship.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I would show thee the best friendship in the world if thou wouldst let
+me.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will, my friend,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and Heaven reward
+thee. I will go with thee to seek Rhiannon and to look at thy
+possessions.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou wilt do well,&rdquo; he answered. &ldquo;And I
+believe that thou didst never hear a lady discourse better than she, and when
+she was in her prime none was ever fairer. Even now her aspect is not
+uncomely.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at
+length to Dyved, and a feast was prepared for them against their
+coming to Narberth, which Rhiannon and Kicva had provided.
+Then began Manawyddan and Rhiannon to sit and to talk together,
+and from their discourse his mind and his thoughts became warmed
+towards her, and he thought in his heart he had never beheld any
+lady more fulfilled of grace and beauty than she.
+&ldquo;Pryderi,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I will that it be as thou
+didst say.&rdquo; &ldquo;What saying was that?&rdquo; asked
+Rhiannon. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;I did
+offer thee as a wife to Manawyddan the son of Llyr.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;By that will I gladly abide,&rdquo; said Rhiannon.
+&ldquo;Right glad am I also,&rdquo; said Manawyddan; &ldquo;may
+Heaven reward him who hath shown unto me friendship so perfect as
+this.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And before the feast was over she became his bride. Said
+Pryderi, &ldquo;Tarry ye here the rest of the feast, and I will
+go into Lloegyr to tender my homage unto Caswallawn the son of
+Beli.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Rhiannon,
+&ldquo;Caswallawn is in Kent, thou mayest therefore tarry at the
+feast, and wait until he shall be nearer.&rdquo; &ldquo;We
+will wait,&rdquo; he answered. So they finished the
+feast. And they began to make the circuit of Dyved, and to
+hunt, and to take their pleasure. And as they went through
+the country, they had never seen lands more pleasant to live in,
+nor better hunting grounds, nor greater plenty of honey and
+fish. And such was the friendship between those four, that
+they would not be parted from each other by night nor by day.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford,
+and tendered his homage; and honourable was his reception there,
+and highly was he praised for offering his homage.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took
+their ease and pleasure. And they began a feast at
+Narberth, for it was the chief palace; and there originated all
+honour. And when they had ended the first meal that night,
+while those who served them ate, they arose and went forth, and
+proceeded all four to the Gorsedd of Narberth, and their retinue
+with them. And as they sat thus, behold, a peal of thunder,
+and with the violence of the thunderstorm, lo there came a fall
+of mist, so thick that not one of them could see the other.
+And after the mist it became light all around. And when
+they looked towards the place where they were wont to see cattle,
+and herds, and dwellings, they saw nothing now, neither house,
+nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor dwelling; but the
+houses of the Court empty, and desert, and uninhabited, without
+either man or beast within them. And truly all their
+companions were lost to them, without their knowing aught of what
+had befallen them, save those four only.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;In the name of Heaven,&rdquo; cried Manawyddan,
+&ldquo;where are they of the Court, and all my host beside
+these? Let us go and see.&rdquo; So they came into
+the hall, and there was no man; and they went on to the castle
+and to the sleeping-place, and they saw none; and in the
+mead-cellar and in the kitchen there was nought but
+desolation. So they four feasted, and hunted, and took
+their pleasure. Then they began to go through the land and
+all the possessions that they had, and they visited the houses
+and dwellings, and found nothing but wild beasts. And when
+they had consumed their feast and all their provisions, they fed
+upon the prey they killed in hunting, and the honey of the wild
+swarms. And thus they passed the first year pleasantly, and
+the second; but at the last they began to be weary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;we must not bide
+thus. Let us go into Lloegyr, and seek some craft whereby
+we may gain our support.&rdquo; So they went into Lloegyr,
+and came as far as Hereford. And they betook themselves to
+making saddles. And Manawyddan began to make housings, and
+he gilded and coloured them with blue enamel, in the manner that
+he had seen it done by Llasar Llaesgywydd. And he made the
+blue enamel as it was made by the other man. And therefore
+is it still called Calch Lasar [blue enamel], because Llasar
+Llaesgywydd had wrought it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as long as that workmanship could be had of Manawyddan,
+neither saddle nor housing was bought of a saddler throughout all
+Hereford; till at length every one of the saddlers perceived that
+they were losing much of their gain, and that no man bought of
+them, but him who could not get what he sought from
+Manawyddan. Then they assembled together, and agreed to
+slay him and his companions.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now they received warning of this, and took counsel whether
+they should leave the city. &ldquo;By Heaven,&rdquo; said
+Pryderi, &ldquo;it is not my counsel that we should quit the
+town, but that we should slay these boors.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;for if we fight
+with them, we shall have evil fame, and shall be put in
+prison. It were better for us to go to another town to
+maintain ourselves.&rdquo; So they four went to another
+city.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What craft shall we take?&rdquo; said Pryderi.
+&ldquo;We will make shields,&rdquo; said Manawyddan.
+&ldquo;Do we know anything about that craft?&rdquo; said
+Pryderi. &ldquo;We will try,&rdquo; answered he.
+There they began to make shields, and fashioned them after the
+shape of the good shields they had seen; and they enamelled they,
+as them had done the saddles. And they prospered in that
+place, so that not a shield was asked for in the whole town, but
+such as was had of them. Rapid therefore was their work,
+and numberless were the shields they made. But at last they
+were marked by the craftsmen, who came together in haste, and
+their fellow-townsmen with them, and agreed that they should seek
+to slay them. But they received warning, and heard how the
+men had resolved on their destruction.
+&ldquo;Pryderi,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;these men desire
+to slay us.&rdquo; &ldquo;Let us not endure this from these
+boors, but let us rather fall upon them and slay
+them.&rdquo; &ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; he answered;
+&ldquo;Caswallawn and his men will hear of it, and we shall be
+undone. Let us go to another town.&rdquo; So to
+another town they went.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What craft shall we take?&rdquo; said Manawyddan.
+&ldquo;Whatsoever thou wilt that we know,&rdquo; said
+Pryderi. &ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;but let
+us take to making shoes, for there is not courage enough among
+cordwainers either to fight with us or to molest us.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I know nothing thereof,&rdquo; said Pryderi.
+&ldquo;But I know,&rdquo; answered Manawyddan; &ldquo;and I will
+teach thee to stitch. We will not attempt to dress the
+leather, but we will buy it ready dressed and will make the shoes
+from it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So he began by buying the best cordwal that could be had in
+the town, and none other would he buy except the leather for the
+soles; and he associated himself with the best goldsmith in the
+town, and caused him to make clasps for the shoes, and to gild
+the clasps, and he marked how it was done until he learnt the
+method. And therefore was he called one of the three makers
+of Gold Shoes; and, when they could be had from him, not a shoe
+nor hose was bought of any of the cordwainers in the town.
+But when the cordwainers perceived that their gains were failing
+(for as Manawyddan shaped the work, so Pryderi stitched it), they
+came together and took counsel, and agreed that they would slay
+them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Pryderi,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;these men are
+minded to slay us.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wherefore should we bear
+this from the boorish thieves?&rdquo; said Pryderi.
+&ldquo;Rather let us slay them all.&rdquo; &ldquo;Not
+so,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;we will not slay them, neither
+will we remain in Lloegyr any longer. Let us set forth to
+Dyved and go to see it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they journeyed along until they came to Dyved, and they
+went forward to Narberth. And there they kindled fire and
+supported themselves by hunting. And thus they spent a
+month. And they gathered their dogs around them, and
+tarried there one year.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to hunt, and
+they ranged their dogs and went forth from the palace. And
+some of the dogs ran before them and came to a small bush which
+was near at hand; but as soon as they were come to the bush, they
+hastily drew back and returned to the men, their hair bristling
+up greatly. &ldquo;Let us go near to the bush,&rdquo; said
+Pryderi, &ldquo;and see what is in it.&rdquo; And as they
+came near, behold, a wild boar of a pure white colour rose up
+from the bush. Then the dogs, being set on by the men,
+rushed towards him; but he left the bush and fell back a little
+way from the men, and made a stand against the dogs without
+retreating from them, until the men had come near. And when
+the men came up, he fell back a second time, and betook him to
+flight. Then they pursued the boar until they beheld a vast
+and lofty castle, all newly built, in a place where they had
+never before seen either stone or building. And the boar
+ran swiftly into the castle and the dogs after him. Now
+when the boar and the dogs had gone into the castle, they began
+to wonder at finding a castle in a place where they had never
+before seen any building whatsoever. And from the top of
+the Gorsedd they looked and listened for the dogs. But so
+long as they were there they heard not one of the dogs nor aught
+concerning them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;I will go into the
+castle to get tidings of the dogs.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;thou wouldst be unwise to
+go into this castle, which thou hast never seen till now.
+If thou wouldst follow my counsel, thou wouldst not enter
+therein. Whosoever has cast a spell over this land has
+caused this castle to be here.&rdquo; &ldquo;Of a
+truth,&rdquo; answered Pryderi, &ldquo;I cannot thus give up my
+dogs.&rdquo; And for all the counsel that Manawyddan gave
+him, yet to the castle he went.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he came within the castle, neither man nor beast, nor
+boar nor dogs, nor house nor dwelling saw he within it. But
+in the centre of the castle floor he beheld a fountain with
+marble work around it, and on the margin of the fountain a golden
+bowl upon a marble slab, and chains hanging from the air, to
+which he saw no end.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and
+with the rich workmanship of the bowl, and he went up to the bowl
+and laid hold of it. And when he had taken hold of it his
+hands stuck to the bowl, and his feet to the slab on which the
+howl was placed, and all his joyousness forsook him, so that he
+could not utter a word. And thus he stood.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the
+day. And late in the evening, being certain that he should
+have no tidings of Pryderi or of the dogs, he went back to the
+palace. And as he entered, Rhiannon looked at him.
+&ldquo;Where,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;are thy companion and thy
+dogs?&rdquo; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;the
+adventure that has befallen me.&rdquo; And he related it
+all unto her. &ldquo;An evil companion hast thou
+been,&rdquo; said Rhiannon, &ldquo;and a good companion hast thou
+lost.&rdquo; And with that word she went out, and proceeded
+towards the castle according to the direction which he gave
+her. The gate of the castle she found open. She was
+nothing daunted, and she went in. And as she went in, she
+perceived Pryderi laying hold of the bowl, and she went towards
+him. &ldquo;Oh, my lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;what dost
+thou do here?&rdquo; And she took hold of the bowl with
+him; and as she did so her hands became fast to the bowl, and her
+feet to the slab, and she was not able to utter a word. And
+with that, as it became night, lo, there came thunder upon them,
+and a fall of mist, and thereupon the castle vanished, and they
+with it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Kicva the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw saw that there was no
+one in the palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so
+that she cared not whether she lived or died. And
+Manawyddan saw this. &ldquo;Thou art in the wrong,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;if through fear of me thou grievest thus. I
+call Heaven to witness that thou hast never seen friendship mere
+pure than that which I will bear thee, as long as Heaven will
+that thou shouldst be thus. I declare to thee that were I
+in the dawn of youth I would keep my faith unto Pryderi, and unto
+thee also will I keep it. Be there no fear upon thee,
+therefore,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for Heaven is my witness that
+thou shalt meet with all the friendship thou canst wish, and that
+it is in my power to show thee, as long as it shall please Heaven
+to continue us in this grief and woe.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven
+reward thee,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;and that is what I deemed of
+thee.&rdquo; And the damsel thereupon took courage and was
+glad.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Truly, lady,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;it is not
+fitting for us to stay here, we have lost our dogs, and we cannot
+get food. Let us go into Lloegyr; it is easiest for us to
+find support there.&rdquo; &ldquo;Gladly, lord,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;we will do so.&rdquo; And they set forth
+together to Lloegyr.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;what craft wilt thou
+follow? Take up one that is seemly.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;None other will I take,&rdquo; answered he, &ldquo;save
+that of making shoes, as I did formerly.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;such a craft becomes not a
+man so nobly born as thou.&rdquo; &ldquo;By that however
+will I abide,&rdquo; said he.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So he began his craft, and he made all his work of the finest
+leather he could get in the town, and, as he had done at the
+other place, he caused gilded clasps to be made for the
+shoes. And except himself all the cordwainers in the town
+were idle, and without work. For as long as they could be
+had from him, neither shoes nor hose were bought elsewhere.
+And thus they tarried there a year, until the cordwainers became
+envious, and took counsel concerning him. And he had
+warning thereof, and it was told him how the cordwainers had
+agreed together to slay him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Kicva, &ldquo;wherefore should this
+be borne from these boors?&rdquo; &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;we will go back unto Dyved.&rdquo; So towards
+Dyved they set forth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved, took with
+him a burden of wheat. And he proceeded towards Narberth,
+and there he dwelt. And never was he better pleased than
+when he saw Narberth again, and the lands where he had been wont
+to hunt with Pryderi and with Rhiannon. And he accustomed
+himself to fish, and to hunt the deer in their covert. And
+then he began to prepare some ground, and he sowed a croft, and a
+second, and a third. And no wheat in the world ever sprung
+up better. And the three crofts prospered with perfect
+growth, and no man ever saw fairer wheat than it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thus passed the seasons of the year until the harvest
+came. And he went to look at one of his crofts, and behold
+it was ripe. &ldquo;I will reap this to-morrow,&rdquo; said
+he. And that night he went back to Narberth, and on the
+morrow in the grey dawn he went to reap the croft, and when he
+came there he found nothing but the bare straw. Every one
+of the ears of the wheat was cut from off the stalk, and all the
+ears carried entirely away, and nothing but the straw left.
+And at this he marvelled greatly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he went to look at another croft, and behold that also
+was ripe. &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;this will I
+reap to-morrow.&rdquo; And on the morrow he came with the
+intent to reap it, and when he came there he found nothing but
+the bare straw. &ldquo;Oh, gracious Heaven,&rdquo; he
+exclaimed, &ldquo;I know that whosoever has begun my ruin is
+completing it, and has also destroyed the country with
+me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he went to look at the third croft, and when he came
+there, finer wheat had there never been seen, and this also was
+ripe. &ldquo;Evil betide me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if I
+watch not here to-night. Whoever carried off the other corn
+will come in like manner to take this. And I will know who
+it is.&rdquo; So he took his arms, and began to watch the
+croft. And he told Kicva all that had befallen.
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;what thinkest thou to
+do?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will watch the croft to-night,&rdquo;
+said he.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he went to watch the croft. And at midnight, lo,
+there arose the loudest tumult in the world. And he looked,
+and behold the mightiest host of mice in the world, which could
+neither be numbered nor measured. And he knew not what it
+was until the mice had made their way into the croft, and each of
+them climbing up the straw and bending it down with its weight,
+had cut off one of the ears of wheat, and had carried it away,
+leaving there the stalk, and he saw not a single stalk there that
+had not a mouse to it. And they all took their way,
+carrying the ears with them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice, but he could no
+more come up with them than if they had been gnats, or birds in
+the air, except one only, which though it was but sluggish, went
+so fast that a man on foot could scarce overtake it. And
+after this one he went, and he caught it and put it in his glove,
+and tied up the opening of the glove with a string, and kept it
+with him, and returned to the palace. Then he came to the
+hall where Kicva was, and he lighted a fire, and hung the glove
+by the string upon a peg. &ldquo;What hast thou there,
+lord?&rdquo; said Kicva. &ldquo;A thief,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;that I found robbing me.&rdquo; &ldquo;What kind of
+thief may it be, lord, that thou couldst put into thy
+glove?&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;Behold I will tell
+thee,&rdquo; he answered. Then he showed her how his fields
+had been wasted and destroyed, and how the mice came to the last
+of the fields in his sight. &ldquo;And one of them was less
+nimble than the rest, and is now in my glove; to-morrow I will
+hang it, and before Heaven, if I had them, I would hang them
+all.&rdquo; &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;this is
+marvellous; but yet it would be unseemly for a man of dignity
+like thee to be hanging such a reptile as this. And if thou
+doest right, thou wilt not meddle with the creature, but wilt let
+it go.&rdquo; &ldquo;Woe betide me,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;if I would not hang them all could I catch them, and such
+as I have I will hang.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily, lord,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;there is no reason that I should succour this
+reptile, except to prevent discredit unto thee. Do
+therefore, lord, as thou wilt.&rdquo; &ldquo;If I knew of
+any cause in the world wherefore thou shouldst succour it, I
+would take thy counsel concerning it,&rdquo; said Manawyddan,
+&ldquo;but as I know of none, lady, I am minded to destroy
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;Do so willingly then,&rdquo; said
+she.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And then he went to the Gorsedd of Narberth, taking the mouse
+with him. And he set up two forks on the highest part of
+the Gorsedd. And while he was doing this, behold he saw a
+scholar coming towards him, in old and poor and tattered
+garments. And it was now seven years since he had seen in
+that place either man or beast, except those four persons who had
+remained together until two of them were lost.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said the scholar, &ldquo;good day to
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee, and my greeting be
+unto thee. And whence dost thou come, scholar?&rdquo; asked
+he. &ldquo;I come, lord, from singing in Lloegyr; and
+wherefore dost thou inquire?&rdquo; &ldquo;Because for the
+last seven years,&rdquo; answered he, &ldquo;I have seen no man
+here save four secluded persons, and thyself this
+moment.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly, lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I
+go through this land unto mine own. And what work art thou
+upon, lord?&rdquo; &ldquo;I am hanging a thief that I
+caught robbing me,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;What manner of
+thief is that?&rdquo; asked the scholar. &ldquo;I see a
+creature in thy hand like unto a mouse, and ill does it become a
+man of rank equal to thine to touch a reptile such as this.
+Let it go forth free.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not let it go
+free, by Heaven,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;I caught it robbing me,
+and the doom of a thief will I inflict upon it, and I will hang
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;rather than
+see a man of rank equal to thine at such a work as this, I would
+give thee a pound which I have received as alms, to let the
+reptile go forth free.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not let it go
+free,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;by Heaven, neither will I sell
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;As thou wilt, lord,&rdquo; he answered;
+&ldquo;except that I would not see a man of rank equal to thine
+touching such a reptile, I care nought.&rdquo; And the
+scholar went his way.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And as he was placing the crossbeam upon the two forks, behold
+a priest came towards him upon a horse covered with
+trappings. &ldquo;Good day to thee, lord,&rdquo; said
+he. &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo; said Manawyddan;
+&ldquo;thy blessing.&rdquo; &ldquo;The blessing of Heaven
+be upon thee. And what, lord, art thou doing?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me,&rdquo; said
+he. &ldquo;What manner of thief, lord?&rdquo; asked
+he. &ldquo;A creature,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;in form
+of a mouse. It has been robbing me, and I am inflicting
+upon it the doom of a thief.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;rather than see thee touch this reptile, I would
+purchase its freedom.&rdquo; &ldquo;By my confession to
+Heaven, neither will I sell it nor set it free.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;It is true, lord, that it is worth nothing to buy; but
+rather than see thee defile thyself by touching such a reptile as
+this, I will give thee three pounds to let it go.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will not, by Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;take any
+price for at. As it ought, so shall it be
+hanged.&rdquo; &ldquo;Willingly, lord, do thy good
+pleasure.&rdquo; And the priest went his way.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he noosed the string around the mouse&rsquo;s neck, and
+as he was about to draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop&rsquo;s
+retinue with his sumpter-horses, and his attendants. And
+the bishop himself came towards him. And he stayed his
+work. &ldquo;Lord bishop,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thy
+blessing.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven&rsquo;s blessing be unto
+thee,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;what work art thou
+upon?&rdquo; &ldquo;Hanging a thief that I caught robbing
+me,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Is not that a mouse that I see
+in thy hand?&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; answered he.
+&ldquo;And she has robbed me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Aye,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;since I have come at the doom of this reptile, I
+will ransom it of thee. I will give thee seven pounds for
+it, and that rather than see a man of rank equal to thine
+destroying so vile a reptile as this. Let it loose and thou
+shalt have the money.&rdquo; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven
+that I will not set it loose.&rdquo; &ldquo;If thou wilt
+not loose it for this, I will give thee four-and-twenty pounds of
+ready money to set it free.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not set it
+free, by Heaven, for as much again,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;If thou wilt not set it free for this, I will give thee
+all the horses that thou seest in this plain, and the seven loads
+of baggage, and the seven horses that they are upon.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;By Heaven, I will not,&rdquo; he replied.
+&ldquo;Since for this thou wilt not, do so at what price soever
+thou wilt.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; said
+he. &ldquo;I will that Rhiannon and Pryderi be free,&rdquo;
+said he. &ldquo;That thou shalt have,&rdquo; he
+answered. &ldquo;Not yet will I loose the mouse, by
+Heaven.&rdquo; &ldquo;What then wouldst thou?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;That the charm and the illusion be removed from the seven
+Cantrevs of Dyved.&rdquo; &ldquo;This shalt thou have also;
+set therefore the mouse free.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not set
+it free, by Heaven,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;I will know who
+the mouse may be.&rdquo; &ldquo;She is my
+wife.&rdquo; &ldquo;Even though she be, I will not set her
+free. Wherefore came she to me?&rdquo; &ldquo;To
+despoil thee,&rdquo; he answered. &ldquo;I am Llwyd the son
+of Kilcoed, and I cast the charm over the seven Cantrevs of
+Dyved. And it was to avenge Gwawl the son of Clud, from the
+friendship I had towards him, that I cast the charm. And
+upon Pryderi did I revenge Gwawl the son of Clud, for the game of
+Badger in the Bag, that Pwyll Pen Annwvyn played upon him, which
+he did unadvisedly in the Court of Heveydd H&ecirc;n. And
+when it was known that thou wast come to dwell in the land, my
+household came and besought me to transform them into mice, that
+they might destroy thy corn. And it was my own household
+that went the first night. And the second night also they
+went, and they destroyed thy two crofts. And the third
+night came unto me my wife and the ladies of the Court, and
+besought me to transform them. And I transformed
+them. Now she is pregnant. And had she not been
+pregnant thou wouldst not have been able to overtake her; but
+since this has taken place, and she has been caught, I will
+restore thee Pryderi and Rhiannon; and I will take the charm and
+illusion from off Dyved. I have now told thee who she
+is. Set her therefore free.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not
+set her free, by Heaven,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;What wilt
+thou more?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;I will that there be no
+more charm upon the seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and that none shall
+be put upon it henceforth.&rdquo; &ldquo;This thou shalt
+have,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Now set her free.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will not, by my faith,&rdquo; he answered.
+&ldquo;What wilt thou furthermore?&rdquo; asked he.
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;this will I have; that
+vengeance be never taken for this, either upon Pryderi or
+Rhiannon, or upon me.&rdquo; &ldquo;All this shalt thou
+have. And truly thou hast done wisely in asking this.
+Upon thy head would have lighted all this trouble.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Yea,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for fear thereof was it, that
+I required this.&rdquo; &ldquo;Set now my wife at
+liberty.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will not, by Heaven,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;until I see Pryderi and Rhiannon with me
+free.&rdquo; &ldquo;Behold, here they come,&rdquo; he
+answered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon. And he rose
+up to meet them, and greeted them, and sat down beside
+them. &ldquo;Ah, Chieftain, set now my wife at
+liberty,&rdquo; said the bishop. &ldquo;Hast thou not
+received all thou didst ask?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will release
+her gladly,&rdquo; said he. And thereupon he set her
+free.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Llwyd struck her with a magic wand, and she was changed
+back into a young woman, the fairest ever seen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Look around upon thy land,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and
+then thou wilt see it all tilled and peopled, as it was in its
+best state.&rdquo; And he rose up and looked forth.
+And when he looked he saw all the lands tilled, and full of herds
+and dwellings. &ldquo;What bondage,&rdquo; he inquired,
+&ldquo;has there been upon Pryderi and Rhiannon?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Pryderi has had the knockers of the gate of my palace
+about his neck, and Rhiannon has had the collars of the asses,
+after they have been carrying hay, about her neck.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And such had been their bondage.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And by reason of this bondage is this story called the
+Mabinogi of Mynnweir and Mynord.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap10"></a>MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY<br/>
+<small>THIS IS THE FOURTH PORTION OF THE MABINOGI</small></h2>
+
+<p>
+Math the son of Mathonwy was lord over Gwynedd, and Pryderi the son of Pwyll
+was lord over the one-and-twenty Cantrevs of the South; and these were the
+seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and the seven Cantrevs of Morganwc, the four Cantrevs
+of Ceredigiawn, and the three of Ystrad Tywi.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At that time, Math the son of Mathonwy could not exist unless
+his feet were in the lap of a maiden, except only when he was
+prevented by the tumult of war. Now the maiden who was with
+him was Goewin, the daughter of Pebin of D&ocirc;l Pebin, in
+Arvon, and she was the fairest maiden of her time who was known
+there.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Math dwelt always at Caer Dathyl, in Arvon, and was not
+able to go the circuit of the land, but Gilvaethwy the son of
+Don, and Eneyd the son of Don, his nephews, the sons of his
+sisters, with his household, went the circuit of the land in his
+stead.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now the maiden was with Math continually, and Gilvaethwy the
+son of Don set his affections upon her, and loved her so that he
+knew not what he should do because of her, and therefrom behold
+his hue, and his aspect, and his spirits changed for love of her,
+so that it was not easy to know him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One day his brother Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him.
+&ldquo;Youth,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;what aileth
+thee?&rdquo; &ldquo;Why,&rdquo; replied he, &ldquo;what
+seest thou in me?&rdquo; &ldquo;I see,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;that thou hast lost thy aspect and thy hue; what,
+therefore, aileth thee?&rdquo; &ldquo;My lord
+brother,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;that which aileth me, it will
+not profit me that I should own to any.&rdquo; &ldquo;What
+may it be, my soul?&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Thou
+knowest,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;that Math the son of Mathonwy has
+this property, that if men whisper together, in a tone how low
+soever, if the wind meet it, it becomes known unto
+him.&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;hold
+now thy peace, I know thy intent, thou lovest Goewin.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he found that his brother knew his intent, he gave the
+heaviest sigh in the world. &ldquo;Be silent, my soul, and
+sigh not,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It is not thereby that
+thou wilt succeed. I will cause,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if
+it cannot be otherwise, the rising of Gwynedd, and Powys, and
+Deheubarth, to seek the maiden. Be thou of glad cheer
+therefore, and I will compass it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they went unto Math the son of Mathonwy.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;I have heard that there
+have come to the South some beasts, such as were never known in
+this island before.&rdquo; &ldquo;What are they
+called?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;Pigs, lord.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;And what kind of animals are they?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;They are small animals, and their flesh is better than the
+flesh of oxen.&rdquo; &ldquo;They are small,
+then?&rdquo; &ldquo;And they change their names.
+Swine are they now called.&rdquo; &ldquo;Who owneth
+them?&rdquo; &ldquo;Pryderi the son of Pwyll; they were
+sent him from Annwvyn, by Arawn the king of Annwvyn, and still
+they keep that name, half hog, half pig.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; asked he, &ldquo;and by what means may they
+be obtained from him?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will go, lord, as one
+of twelve, in the guise of bards, to seek the swine.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;But it may be that he will refuse you,&rdquo; said
+he. &ldquo;My journey will not be evil, lord,&rdquo; said
+he; &ldquo;I will not come back without the swine.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Gladly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;go thou forward.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So he and Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them.
+And they came into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now called
+Rhuddlan Teivi, where the palace of Pryderi was. In the
+guise of bards they came in, and they were received joyfully, and
+Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi that night.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;gladly would I
+have a tale from some of your men yonder.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;we have a custom that
+the first night that we come to the Court of a great man, the
+chief of song recites. Gladly will I relate a
+tale.&rdquo; Now Gwydion was the best teller of tales in
+the world, and he diverted all the Court that night with pleasant
+discourse and with tales, so that he charmed every one in the
+Court, and it pleased Pryderi to talk with him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And after this, &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he unto Pryderi,
+&ldquo;were it more pleasing to thee, that another should
+discharge my errand unto thee, than that I should tell thee
+myself what it is?&rdquo; &ldquo;No,&rdquo; he answered,
+&ldquo;ample speech hast thou.&rdquo; &ldquo;Behold then,
+lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;my errand. It is to crave from
+thee the animals that were sent thee from Annwvyn.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;that were the easiest
+thing in the world to grant, were there not a covenant between me
+and my land concerning them. And the covenant is that they
+shall not go from me, until they have produced double their
+number in the land.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;I can set thee free from those words, and this is the way
+I can do so; give me not the swine to-night, neither refuse them
+unto me, and to-morrow I will show thee an exchange for
+them.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And that night he and his fellows went unto their lodging, and
+they took counsel. &ldquo;Ah, my men,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;we shall not have the swine for the asking.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;how may they be
+obtained?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will cause them to be
+obtained,&rdquo; said Gwydion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he betook himself to his arts, and began to work a
+charm. And he caused twelve chargers to appear, and twelve
+black greyhounds, each of them white-breasted, and having upon
+them twelve collars and twelve leashes, such as no one that saw
+them could know to be other than gold. And upon the horses
+twelve saddles, and every part which should have been of iron was
+entirely of gold, and the bridles were of the same
+workmanship. And with the horses and the dogs he came to
+Pryderi.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Good day unto thee, lord,&rdquo; said he.
+&ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo; said the other, &ldquo;and
+greetings be unto thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;behold here is a release for thee from the word which thou
+spakest last evening concerning the swine; that thou wouldst
+neither give nor sell them. Thou mayest exchange them for
+that which is better. And I will give these twelve horses,
+all caparisoned as they are, with their saddles and their
+bridles, and these twelve greyhounds, with their collars and
+their leashes as thou seest, and the twelve gilded shields that
+thou beholdest yonder.&rdquo; Now these he had formed of
+fungus. &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;we will take
+counsel.&rdquo; And they consulted together, and determined
+to give the swine to Gwydion, and to take his horses and his dogs
+and his shields.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Gwydion and his men took their leave, and began to
+journey forth with the pigs. &ldquo;Ah, my comrades,&rdquo;
+said Gwydion, &ldquo;it is needful that we journey with
+speed. The illusion will not last but from the one hour to
+the same to-morrow.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And that night they journeyed as far as the upper part of
+Ceredigiawn, to the place which, from that cause, is called
+Mochdrev still. And the next day they took their course
+through Melenydd, and came that night to the town which is
+likewise for that reason called Mochdrev between Keri and
+Arwystli. And thence they journeyed forward; and that night
+they came as far as that Commot in Powys, which also upon account
+thereof is called Mochnant, and there tarried they that
+night. And they journeyed thence to the Cantrev of Rhos,
+and the place where they were that night is still called
+Mochdrev.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My men,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;we must push
+forward to the fastnesses of Gwynedd with these animals, for
+there is a gathering of hosts in pursuit of us.&rdquo; So
+they journeyed on to the highest town of Arllechwedd, and there
+they made a sty for the swine, and therefore was the name of
+Creuwyryon given to that town. And after they had made the
+sty for the swine, they proceeded to Math the son of Mathonwy, at
+Caer Dathyl. And when they came there, the country was
+rising. &ldquo;What news is there here?&rdquo; asked
+Gwydion. &ldquo;Pryderi is assembling one-and-twenty
+Cantrevs to pursue after you,&rdquo; answered they.
+&ldquo;It is marvellous that you should have journeyed so
+slowly.&rdquo; &ldquo;Where are the animals whereof you
+went in quest?&rdquo; said Math. &ldquo;They have had a sty
+made for them in the other Cantrev below,&rdquo; said
+Gwydion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon, lo, they heard the trumpets and the host in the
+land, and they arrayed themselves and set forward and came to
+Penardd in Arvon.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And at night Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy his
+brother, returned to Caer Dathyl; and Gilvaethwy took Math the
+son of Mathonwy&rsquo;s couch. And while he turned out the
+other damsels from the room discourteously, he made Goewin
+unwillingly remain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when they saw the day on the morrow, they went back unto
+the place where Math the son of Mathonwy was with his host; and
+when they came there, the warriors were taking counsel in what
+district they should await the coming of Pryderi, and the men of
+the South. So they went in to the council. And it was
+resolved to wait in the strongholds of Gwynedd, in Arvon.
+So within the two Maenors they took their stand, Maenor Penardd
+and Maenor Coed Alun. And there Pryderi attacked them, and
+there the combat took place. And great was the slaughter on
+both sides; but the men of the South were forced to flee.
+And they fled unto the place which is still called
+Nantcall. And thither did they follow them, and they made a
+vast slaughter of them there, so that they fled again as far as
+the place called Dol Pen Maen, and there they halted and sought
+to make peace.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And that he might have peace, Pryderi gave hostages, Gwrgi
+Gwastra gave he and three-and-twenty others, sons of
+nobles. And after this they journeyed in peace even unto
+Traeth Mawr; but as they went on together towards Melenryd, the
+men on foot could not be restrained from shooting. Pryderi
+dispatched unto Math an embassy to pray him to forbid his people,
+and to leave it between him and Gwydion the son of Don, for that
+he had caused all this. And the messengers came to
+Math. &ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said Math, &ldquo;I call
+Heaven to witness, if it be pleasing unto Gwydion the son of Don,
+I will so leave it gladly. Never will I compel any to go to
+fight, but that we ourselves should do our utmost.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said the messengers, &ldquo;Pryderi
+saith that it were more fair that the man who did him this wrong
+should oppose his own body to his, and let his people remain
+unscathed.&rdquo; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven, I will not
+ask the men of Gwynedd to fight because of me. If I am
+allowed to fight Pryderi myself, gladly will I oppose my body to
+his.&rdquo; And this answer they took back to
+Pryderi. &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;I shall
+require no one to demand my rights but myself.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then these two came forth and armed themselves, and they
+fought. And by force of strength, and fierceness, and by
+the magic and charms of Gwydion, Pryderi was slain. And at
+Maen Tyriawc, above Melenryd, was he buried, and there is his
+grave.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the men of the South set forth in sorrow towards their own
+land; nor is it a marvel that they should grieve, seeing that
+they had lost their lord, and many of their best warriors, and
+for the most part their horses and their arms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The men of Gwynedd went back joyful and in triumph.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Gwydion unto Math, &ldquo;would it not
+be right for us to release the hostages of the men of the South,
+which they pledged unto us for peace? for we ought not to put
+them in prison.&rdquo; &ldquo;Let them then be set
+free,&rdquo; saith Math. So that youth, and the other
+hostages that were with him, were set free to follow the men of
+the South.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Math himself went forward to Caer Dathyl. Gilvaethwy the
+son of Don, and they of the household that were with him, went to
+make the circuit of Gwynedd as they were wont, without coming to
+the Court. Math went into his chamber, and caused a place
+to be prepared for him whereon to recline, so that he might put
+his feet in the maiden&rsquo;s lap. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said Goewin, &ldquo;seek now another to hold thy feet, for I am
+now a wife.&rdquo; &ldquo;What meaneth this?&rdquo; said
+he. &ldquo;An attack, lord, was made unawares upon me; but
+I held not my peace, and there was no one in the Court who knew
+not of it. Now the attack was made by thy nephews, lord,
+the sons of thy sister, Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy
+the son of Don; unto me they did wrong, and unto thee
+dishonour.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; he exclaimed,
+&ldquo;I will do to the utmost of my power concerning this
+matter. But first I will cause thee to have compensation,
+and then will I have amends made unto myself. As for thee,
+I will take thee to be my wife, and the possession of my
+dominions will I give unto thy hands.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Gwydion and Gilvaethwy came not near the Court, but stayed
+in the confines of the land until it was forbidden to give them
+meat and drink. At first they came not near unto Math, but
+at the last they came. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;good day to thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;is it to make me compensation that ye are
+come?&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; they said, &ldquo;we are
+at thy will.&rdquo; &ldquo;By my will I would not have lost
+my warriors, and so many arms as I have done. You cannot
+compensate me my shame, setting aside the death of Pryderi.
+But since ye come hither to be at my will, I shall begin your
+punishment forthwith.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so that he
+became a deer, and he seized upon the other hastily lest he
+should escape from him. And he struck him with the same
+magic wand, and he became a deer also. &ldquo;Since now ye
+are in bonds, I will that ye go forth together and be companions,
+and possess the nature of the animals whose form ye bear.
+And this day twelvemonth come hither unto me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud noise
+under the chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace
+together with the noise. &ldquo;Look,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;what is without.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said
+one, &ldquo;I have looked; there are there two deer, and a fawn
+with them.&rdquo; Then he arose and went out. And
+when he came he beheld the three animals. And he lifted up
+his wand. &ldquo;As ye were deer last year, be ye wild hogs
+each and either of you, for the year that is to
+come.&rdquo; And thereupon he struck them with the magic
+wand. &ldquo;The young one will I take and cause to be
+baptized.&rdquo; Now the name that he gave him was
+Hydwn. &ldquo;Go ye and be wild swine, each and either of
+you, and be ye of the nature of wild swine. And this day
+twelvemonth be ye here under the wall.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At the end of the year the barking of dogs was heard under the
+wall of the chamber. And the Court assembled, and thereupon
+he arose and went forth, and when he came forth he beheld three
+beasts. Now these were the beasts that he saw; two wild
+hogs of the woods, and a well-grown young one with them.
+And he was very large for his age. &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said Math, &ldquo;this one will I take and cause to be
+baptized.&rdquo; And he struck him with his magic wand, and
+he become a fine fair auburn-haired youth, and the name that he
+gave him was Hychdwn. &ldquo;Now as for you, as ye were
+wild hogs last year, be ye wolves each and either of you for the
+year that is to come.&rdquo; Thereupon he struck them with
+his magic wand, and they became wolves. &ldquo;And be ye of
+like nature with the animals whose semblance ye bear, and return
+here this day twelvemonth beneath this wall.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a clamour
+and a barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber. And he
+rose and went forth. And when he came, behold, he saw two
+wolves, and a strong cub with them. &ldquo;This one will I
+take,&rdquo; said Math, &ldquo;and I will cause him to be
+baptized; there is a name prepared for him, and that is
+Bleiddwn. Now these three, such are they:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false,<br/>
+The three faithful combatants,<br/>
+Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they resumed
+their own nature. &ldquo;Oh men,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for
+the wrong that ye did unto me sufficient has been your punishment
+and your dishonour. Prepare now precious ointment for these
+men, and wash their heads, and equip them.&rdquo; And this
+was done.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And after they were equipped, they came unto him.
+&ldquo;Oh men,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;you have obtained peace,
+and you shall likewise have friendship. Give your counsel
+unto me, what maiden I shall seek.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Gwydion the son of Don, &ldquo;it is
+easy to give thee counsel; seek Arianrod, the daughter of Don,
+thy niece, thy sister&rsquo;s daughter.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in.
+&ldquo;Ha, damsel,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;art thou the
+maiden?&rdquo; &ldquo;I know not, lord, other than that I
+am.&rdquo; Then he took up his magic wand, and bent
+it. &ldquo;Step over this,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and I
+shall know if thou art the maiden.&rdquo; Then stepped she
+over the magic wand, and there appeared forthwith a fine chubby
+yellow-haired boy. And at the crying out of the boy, she
+went towards the door. And thereupon some small form was
+seen; but before any one could get a second glimpse of it,
+Gwydion had taken it, and had flung a scarf of velvet around it
+and hidden it. Now the place where he hid it was the bottom
+of a chest at the foot of his bed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Math the son of Mathonwy,
+concerning the fine yellow-haired boy, &ldquo;I will cause this
+one to be baptized, and Dylan is the name I will give
+him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him he
+plunged into the sea. And immediately when he was in the
+sea, he took its nature, and swam as well as the best fish that
+was therein. And for that reason was he called Dylan, the
+son of the Wave. Beneath him no wave ever broke. And
+the blow whereby he came to his death, was struck by his uncle
+Govannon. The third fatal blow was it called.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As Gwydion lay one morning on his bed awake, he heard a cry in
+the chest at his feet; and though it was not loud, it was such
+that he could hear it. Then he arose in haste, and opened
+the chest: and when he opened it, he beheld an infant boy
+stretching out his arms from the folds of the scarf, and casting
+it aside. And he took up the boy in his arms, and carried
+him to a place where he knew there was a woman that could nurse
+him. And he agreed with the woman that she should take
+charge of the boy. And that year he was nursed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as though he
+were two years old. And the second year he was a big child,
+and able to go to the Court by himself. And when he came to
+the Court, Gwydion noticed him, and the boy became familiar with
+him, and loved him better than any one else. Then was the
+boy reared at the Court until he was four years old, when he was
+as big as though he had been eight.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And one day Gwydion walked forth, and the boy followed him,
+and he went to the Castle of Arianrod, having the boy with him;
+and when he came into the Court, Arianrod arose to meet him, and
+greeted him and bade him welcome. &ldquo;Heaven prosper
+thee,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Who is the boy that followeth
+thee?&rdquo; she asked. &ldquo;This youth, he is thy
+son,&rdquo; he answered. &ldquo;Alas,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;what has come unto thee that thou shouldst shame me thus?
+wherefore dost thou seek my dishonour, and retain it so long as
+this?&rdquo; &ldquo;Unless thou suffer dishonour greater
+than that of my bringing up such a boy as this, small will be thy
+disgrace.&rdquo; &ldquo;What is the name of the boy?&rdquo;
+said she. &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;he has
+not yet a name.&rdquo; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; she said,
+&ldquo;I lay this destiny upon him, that he shall never have a
+name until he receives one from me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven
+bears me witness,&rdquo; answered he, &ldquo;that thou art a
+wicked woman. But the boy shall have a name how displeasing
+soever it may be unto thee. As for thee, that which
+afflicts thee is that thou art no longer called a
+damsel.&rdquo; And thereupon he went forth in wrath, and
+returned to Caer Dathyl and there he tarried that night.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day he arose and took the boy with him, and went
+to walk on the seashore between that place and Aber Menei.
+And there he saw some sedges and seaweed, and he turned them into
+a boat. And out of dry sticks and sedges he made some
+Cordovan leather, and a great deal thereof, and he coloured it in
+such a manner that no one ever saw leather more beautiful than
+it. Then he made a sail to the boat, and he and the boy
+went in it to the port of the castle of Arianrod. And he
+began forming shoes and stitching them, until he was observed
+from the castle. And when he knew that they of the castle
+were observing him, he disguised his aspect, and put another
+semblance upon himself, and upon the boy, so that they might not
+be known. &ldquo;What men are those in yonder boat?&rdquo;
+said Arianrod. &ldquo;They are cordwainers,&rdquo; answered
+they. &ldquo;Go and see what kind of leather they have, and
+what kind of work they can do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they came unto them. And when they came he was
+colouring some Cordovan leather, and gilding it. And the
+messengers came and told her this. &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;take the measure of my foot, and desire the
+cordwainer to make shoes for me.&rdquo; So he made the
+shoes for her, yet not according to the measure, but
+larger. The shoes then were brought unto her, and behold
+they were too large. &ldquo;These are too large,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;but he shall receive their value. Let him
+also make some that are smaller than they.&rdquo; Then he
+made her others that were much smaller than her foot, and sent
+them unto her. &ldquo;Tell him that these will not go on my
+feet,&rdquo; said she. And they told him this.
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I will not make her any
+shoes, unless I see her foot.&rdquo; And this was told unto
+her. &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; she answered, &ldquo;I will go
+unto him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So she went down to the boat, and when she came there, he was
+shaping shoes and the boy stitching them. &ldquo;Ah,
+lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;good day to thee.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;I
+marvel that thou canst not manage to make shoes according to a
+measure.&rdquo; &ldquo;I could not,&rdquo; he replied,
+&ldquo;but now I shall be able.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and
+the boy shot at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and
+the bone. Then she smiled. &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;with a steady hand did the lion aim at
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee not, but now has he
+got a name. And a good enough name it is. Llew Llaw
+Gyffes be he called henceforth.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went
+on with it no further. And for that reason was he called
+the third Gold-shoemaker. &ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;thou wilt not thrive the better for doing evil unto
+me.&rdquo; &ldquo;I have done thee no evil yet,&rdquo; said
+he. Then he restored the boy to his own form.
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I will lay a destiny upon
+this boy, that he shall never have arms and armour until I invest
+him with them.&rdquo; &ldquo;By Heaven,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;let thy malice be what it may, he shall have
+arms.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up
+Llew Llaw Gyffes, until he could manage any horse, and he was
+perfect in features, and strength, and stature. And then
+Gwydion saw that he languished through the want of horses and
+arms. And he called him unto him. &ldquo;Ah,
+youth,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;we will go to-morrow on an errand
+together. Be therefore more cheerful than thou
+art.&rdquo; &ldquo;That I will,&rdquo; said the youth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose. And they
+took way along the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen. And at
+the top of Cevn Clydno they equipped themselves with horses, and
+went towards the Castle of Arianrod. And they changed their
+form, and pricked towards the gate in the semblance of two
+youths, but the aspect of Gwydion was more staid than that of the
+other. &ldquo;Porter,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;go thou in and
+say that there are here bards from Glamorgan.&rdquo; And
+the porter went in. &ldquo;The welcome of Heaven be unto
+them, let them in,&rdquo; said Arianrod.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With great joy were they greeted. And the hall was
+arranged, and they went to meat. When meat was ended,
+Arianrod discoursed with Gwydion of tales and stories. Now
+Gwydion was an excellent teller of tales. And when it was
+time to leave off feasting, a chamber was prepared for them, and
+they went to rest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto him
+his magic and his power. And by the time that the day
+dawned, there resounded through the land uproar, and trumpets and
+shouts. When it was now day, they heard a knocking at the
+door of the chamber, and therewith Arianrod asking that it might
+be opened. Up rose the youth and opened unto her, and she
+entered and a maiden with her. &ldquo;Ah, good men,&rdquo;
+she said, &ldquo;in evil plight are we.&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes,
+truly,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;we have heard trumpets and
+shouts; what thinkest thou that they may mean?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;we cannot see the colour
+of the ocean by reason of all the ships, side by side. And
+they are making for the land with all the speed they can.
+And what can we do?&rdquo; said she. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said Gwydion, &ldquo;there is none other counsel than to close
+the castle upon us, and to defend it as best we may.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;may Heaven reward
+you. And do you defend it. And here may you have
+plenty of arms.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she
+returned, and two maidens, and suits of armour for two men, with
+her. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;do you accoutre
+this stripling, and I will arm myself with the help of thy
+maidens. Lo, I hear the tumult of the men
+approaching.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will do so,
+gladly.&rdquo; So she armed him fully, and that right
+cheerfully. &ldquo;Hast thou finished arming the
+youth?&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;I have finished,&rdquo; she
+answered. &ldquo;I likewise have finished,&rdquo; said
+Gwydion. &ldquo;Let us now take off our arms, we have no
+need of them.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wherefore?&rdquo; said
+she. &ldquo;Here is the army around the house.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Oh, lady, there is here no army.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; cried she, &ldquo;whence then was this
+tumult?&rdquo; &ldquo;The tumult was but to break thy
+prophecy and to obtain arms for thy son. And now has he got
+arms without any thanks unto thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;By
+Heaven,&rdquo; said Arianrod, &ldquo;thou art a wicked man.
+Many a youth might have lost his life through the uproar thou
+hast caused in this Cantrev to-day. Now will I lay a
+destiny upon this youth,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;that he shall
+never have a wife of the race that now inhabits this
+earth.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou
+wast ever a malicious woman, and no one ought to support
+thee. A wife shall he have notwithstanding.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They went thereupon unto Math the son of Mathonwy, and
+complained unto him most bitterly of Arianrod. Gwydion
+showed him also how he had procured arms for the youth.
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Math, &ldquo;we will seek, I and thou,
+by charms and illusion, to form a wife for him out of
+flowers. He has now come to man&rsquo;s stature, and he is
+the comeliest youth that was ever beheld.&rdquo; So they
+took the blossoms of the oak, and the blossoms of the broom, and
+the blossoms of the meadow-sweet, and produced from them a
+maiden, the fairest and most graceful that man ever saw.
+And they baptized her, and gave her the name of Blodeuwedd.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After she had become his bride, and they had feasted, said
+Gwydion, &ldquo;It is not easy for a man to maintain himself
+without possessions.&rdquo; &ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said
+Math, &ldquo;I will give the young man the best Cantrev to
+hold.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;what
+Cantrev is that?&rdquo; &ldquo;The Cantrev of
+Dinodig,&rdquo; he answered. Now it is called at this day
+Eivionydd and Ardudwy. And the place in the Cantrev where
+he dwelt, was a palace of his in a spot called Mur y Castell, on
+the confines of Ardudwy. There dwelt he and reigned, and
+both he and his sway were beloved by all.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl, to visit Math the son of
+Mathonwy. And on the day that he set out for Caer Dathyl,
+Blodeuwedd walked in the Court. And she heard the sound of
+a horn. And after the sound of the horn, behold a tired
+stag went by, with dogs and huntsmen following it. And
+after the dogs and the huntsmen there came a crowd of men on
+foot. &ldquo;Send a youth,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to ask
+who yonder host may be.&rdquo; So a youth went, and
+inquired who they were. &ldquo;Gronw Pebyr is this, the
+lord of Penllyn,&rdquo; said they. And thus the youth told
+her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the river Cynvael he
+overtook the stag and killed it. And what with flaying the
+stag and baiting his dogs, he was there until the night began to
+close in upon him. And as the day departed and the night
+drew near, he came to the gate of the Court.
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Blodeuwedd, &ldquo;the Chieftain will
+speak ill of us if we let him at this hour depart to another land
+without inviting him in.&rdquo; &ldquo;Yes, truly,
+lady,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;it will be most fitting to invite
+him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then went messengers to meet him and bid him in. And he
+accepted her bidding gladly, and came to the Court, and
+Blodeuwedd went to meet him, and greeted him, and bade him
+welcome. &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Heaven repay
+thee thy kindness.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When they had disaccoutred themselves, they went to sit
+down. And Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the moment
+that she looked on him she became filled with his love. And
+he gazed on her, and the same thought came unto him as unto her,
+so that he could not conceal from her that he loved her, but he
+declared unto her that he did so. Thereupon she was very
+joyful. And all their discourse that night was concerning
+the affection and love which they felt one for the other, and
+which in no longer space than one evening had arisen. And
+that evening passed they in each other&rsquo;s company.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next day he sought to depart. But she said, &ldquo;I
+pray thee go not from me to-day.&rdquo; And that night he
+tarried also. And that night they consulted by what means
+they might always be together. &ldquo;There is none other
+counsel,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but that thou strive to learn
+from Llew Llaw Gyffes in what manner he will meet his
+death. And this must thou do under the semblance of
+solicitude concerning him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next day Gronw sought to depart.
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I will counsel thee not to
+go from me to-day.&rdquo; &ldquo;At thy instance will I not
+go,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;albeit, I must say, there is danger
+that the chief who owns the palace may return home.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;To-morrow,&rdquo; answered she, &ldquo;will I indeed
+permit thee to go forth.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next day he sought to go, and she hindered him not.
+&ldquo;Be mindful,&rdquo; said Gronw, &ldquo;of what I have said
+unto thee, and converse with him fully, and that under the guise
+of the dalliance of love, and find out by what means he may come
+to his death.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home. And
+the day they spent in discourse, and minstrelsy, and
+feasting. And at night they went to rest, and he spoke to
+Blodeuwedd once, and he spoke to her a second time. But,
+for all this, he could not get from her one word.
+&ldquo;What aileth thee?&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;art thou
+well?&rdquo; &ldquo;I was thinking,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;of that which thou didst never think of concerning me; for
+I was sorrowful as to thy death, lest thou shouldst go sooner
+than I.&rdquo; &ldquo;Heaven reward thy care for me,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;but until Heaven take me I shall not easily be
+slain.&rdquo; &ldquo;For the sake of Heaven, and for mine,
+show me how thou mightest be slain. My memory in guarding
+is better than thine.&rdquo; &ldquo;I will tell thee
+gladly,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Not easily can I be slain,
+except by a wound. And the spear wherewith I am struck must
+be a year in the forming. And nothing must be done towards
+it except during the sacrifice on Sundays.&rdquo; &ldquo;Is
+this certain?&rdquo; asked she. &ldquo;It is in
+truth,&rdquo; he answered. &ldquo;And I cannot be slain
+within a house, nor without. I cannot be slain on horseback
+nor on foot.&rdquo; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;in what manner then canst thou be slain?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;I will tell thee,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;By making a
+bath for me by the side of a river, and by putting a roof over
+the cauldron, and thatching it well and tightly, and bringing a
+buck, and putting it beside the cauldron. Then if I place
+one foot on the buck&rsquo;s back, and the other on the edge of
+the cauldron, whosoever strikes me thus will cause my
+death.&rdquo; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I thank
+Heaven that it will be easy to avoid this.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw
+Pebyr. Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day
+twelvemonth it was ready. And that very day he caused her
+to be informed thereof.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, &ldquo;I have
+been thinking how it is possible that what thou didst tell me
+formerly can be true; wilt thou show me in what manner thou
+couldst stand at once upon the edge of a cauldron and upon a
+buck, if I prepare the bath for thee?&rdquo; &ldquo;I will
+show thee,&rdquo; said he.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the
+hill which is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river
+Cynvael. She caused also to be collected all the goats that
+were in the Cantrev, and had them brought to the other side of
+the river, opposite Bryn Kyvergyr.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day she spoke thus. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;I have caused the roof and the bath to be
+prepared, and lo! they are ready.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Llew, &ldquo;we will go gladly to look
+at them.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The day after they came and looked at the bath.
+&ldquo;Wilt thou go into the bath, lord?&rdquo; said she.
+&ldquo;Willingly will I go in,&rdquo; he answered. So into
+the bath he went, and he anointed himself.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;behold the animals which
+thou didst speak of as being called bucks.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;cause one of them to be
+caught and brought here.&rdquo; And the buck was
+brought. Then Llew rose out of the bath, and put on his
+trowsers, and he placed one foot on the edge of the bath and the
+other on the buck&rsquo;s back.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon Gronw rose up from the bill which is called Bryn
+Kyvergyr, and he rested on one knee, and flung the poisoned dart
+and struck him on the side, so that the shaft started out, but
+the head of the dart remained in. Then he flew up in the
+form of an eagle and gave a fearful scream. And thenceforth
+was he no more seen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As soon as he departed Gronw and Blodeuwedd went together unto
+the palace that night. And the next day Gronw arose and
+took possession of Ardudwy. And after he had overcome the
+land, he ruled over it, so that Ardudwy and Penllyn were both
+under his sway.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy. And
+heaviness and grief came upon Math, and much more upon Gwydion
+than upon him. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;I
+shall never rest until I have tidings of my nephew.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Math, &ldquo;may Heaven be thy
+strength.&rdquo; Then Gwydion set forth and began to go
+forward. And he went through Gwynedd and Powys to the
+confines. And when he had done so, he went into Arvon, and
+came to the house of a vassal, in Maenawr Penardd. And he
+alighted at the house, and stayed there that night. The man
+of the house and his house-hold came in, and last of all came
+there the swineherd. Said the man of the house to the
+swineherd, &ldquo;Well, youth, hath thy sow come in
+to-night?&rdquo; &ldquo;She hath,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and is this instant returned to the pigs.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Where doth this sow go to?&rdquo; said Gwydion.
+&ldquo;Every day, when the sty is opened, she goeth forth and
+none can catch sight of her, neither is it known whither she
+goeth more than if she sank into the earth.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Wilt thou grant unto me,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;not
+to open the sty until I am beside the sty with thee?&rdquo;
+&ldquo;This will I do, right gladly,&rdquo; he answered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+That night they went to rest; and as soon as the swineherd saw
+the light of day, he awoke Gwydion. And Gwydion arose and
+dressed himself, and went with the swineherd, and stood beside
+the sty. Then the swineherd opened the sty. And as
+soon as he opened it, behold she leaped forth, and set off with
+great speed. And Gwydion followed her, and she went against
+the course of a river, and made for a brook, which is now called
+Nant y Llew. And there she halted and began feeding.
+And Gwydion came under the tree, and looked what it might be that
+the sow was feeding on. And he saw that she was eating
+putrid flesh and vermin. Then looked he up to the top of
+the tree, and as he looked he beheld on the top of the tree an
+eagle, and when the eagle shook itself, there fell vermin and
+putrid flesh from off it, and these the sow devoured. And
+it seemed to him that the eagle was Llew. And he sang an
+Englyn:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;Oak that grows between the two banks;<br/>
+Darkened is the sky and hill!<br/>
+Shall I not tell him by his wounds,<br/>
+That this is Llew?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre of
+the tree. And Gwydion sang another Englyn:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;Oak that grows in upland ground,<br/>
+Is it not wetted by the rain? Has it not been drenched<br/>
+By nine score tempests?<br/>
+It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest branch of
+the tree, and thereupon this Englyn did Gwydion sing:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;Oak that grows beneath the steep;<br/>
+Stately and majestic is its aspect!<br/>
+Shall I not speak it?<br/>
+That Llew will come to my lap?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the eagle came down upon Gwydion&rsquo;s knee. And
+Gwydion struck him with his magic wand, so that he returned to
+his own form. No one ever saw a more piteous sight, for he
+was nothing but skin and bone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were brought unto him
+good physicians that were in Gwynedd, and before the end of the
+year he was quite healed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he unto Math the son of Mathonwy,
+&ldquo;it is full time now that I have retribution of him by whom
+I have suffered all this woe.&rdquo; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said Math, &ldquo;he will never be able to maintain himself in
+the possession of that which is thy right.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Llew, &ldquo;the sooner I have my right,
+the better shall I be pleased.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they called together the whole of Gwynedd, and set forth
+to Ardudwy. And Gwydion went on before and proceeded to Mur
+y Castell. And when Blodeuwedd heard that he was coming,
+she took her maidens with her, and fled to the mountain.
+And they passed through the river Cynvael, and went towards a
+court that there was upon the mountain, and through fear they
+could not proceed except with their faces looking backwards, so
+that unawares they fell into the lake. And they were all
+drowned except Blodeuwedd herself, and her Gwydion
+overtook. And he said unto her, &ldquo;I will not slay
+thee, but I will do unto thee worse than that. For I will
+turn thee into a bird; and because of the shame thou hast done
+unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shalt never show thy face in the
+light of day henceforth; and that through fear of all the other
+birds. For it shall be their nature to attack thee, and to
+chase thee from wheresoever they may find thee. And thou
+shalt not lose thy name, but shalt be always called
+Blodeuwedd.&rdquo; Now Blodeuwedd is an owl in the language
+of this present time, and for this reason is the owl hateful unto
+all birds. And even now the owl is called Blodeuwedd.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he dispatched
+thence an embassy. And the messengers he sent asked Llew
+Llaw Gyffes if he would take land, or domain, or gold, or silver,
+for the injury he had received. &ldquo;I will not, by my
+confession to Heaven,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;Behold this is
+the least that I will accept from him; that he come to the spot
+where I was when he wounded me with the dart, and that I stand
+where he did, and that with a dart I take my aim at him.
+And this is the very least that I will accept.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And this was told unto Gronw Pebyr.
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;is it needful for me to do
+thus? My faithful warriors, and my household, and my
+foster-brothers, is there not one among you who will stand the
+blow in my stead?&rdquo; &ldquo;There is not,
+verily,&rdquo; answered they. And because of their refusal
+to suffer one stroke for their lord, they are called the third
+disloyal tribe even unto this day. &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;I will meet it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they two went forth to the banks of the river Cynvael,
+and Gronw stood in the place where Llew Llaw Gyffes was when he
+struck him, and Llew in the place where Gronw was. Then
+said Gronw Pebyr unto Llew, &ldquo;Since it was through the wiles
+of a woman that I did unto thee as I have done, I adjure thee by
+Heaven to let me place between me and the blow, the slab thou
+seest yonder on the river&rsquo;s bank.&rdquo;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Llew, &ldquo;I will not refuse thee
+this.&rdquo; &ldquo;Ah,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;may Heaven
+reward thee.&rdquo; So Gronw took the slab and placed it
+between him and the blow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab and
+went through Gronw likewise, so that it pierced through his
+back. And thus was Gronw Pebyr slain. And there is
+still the slab on the bank of the river Cynvael, in Ardudwy,
+having the hole through it. And therefore is it even now
+called Llech Gronw.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of the
+land, and prosperously did he govern it. And, as the story
+relates, he was lord after this over Gwynedd. And thus ends
+this portion of the Mabinogi.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap11"></a>THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG</h2>
+
+<p>
+Maxen Wledig was emperor of Rome, and he was a comelier man, and a better and a
+wiser than any emperor that had been before him. And one day he held a council
+of kings, and he said to his friends, &ldquo;I desire to go to-morrow to
+hunt.&rdquo; And the next day in the morning he set forth with his retinue, and
+came to the valley of the river that flowed towards Rome. And he hunted through
+the valley until mid-day. And with him also were two-and-thirty crowned kings,
+that were his vassals; not for the delight of hunting went the emperor with
+them, but to put himself on equal terms with those kings.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the sun was high in the sky over their heads and the heat
+was great. And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig. And his
+attendants stood and set up their shields around him upon the
+shafts of their spears to protect him from the sun, and they
+placed a gold enamelled shield under his head; and so Maxen
+slept.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he saw a dream. And this is the dream that he
+saw. He was journeying along the valley of the river
+towards its source; and he came to the highest mountain in the
+world. And he thought that the mountain was as high as the
+sky; and when he came over the mountain, it seemed to him that he
+went through the fairest and most level regions that man ever yet
+beheld, on the other side of the mountain. And he saw large
+and mighty rivers descending from the mountain to the sea, and
+towards the mouths of the rivers he proceeded. And as he
+journeyed thus, he came to the mouth of the largest river ever
+seen. And he beheld a great city at the entrance of the
+river, and a vast castle in the city, and he saw many high towers
+of various colours in the castle. And he saw a fleet at the
+mouth of the river, the largest ever seen. And he saw one
+ship among the fleet; larger was it by far, and fairer than all
+the others. Of such part of the ship as he could see above
+the water, one plank was gilded and the other silvered
+over. He saw a bridge of the bone of a whale from the ship
+to the land, and he thought that he went along the bridge, and
+came into the ship. And a sail was hoisted on the ship, and
+along the sea and the ocean was it borne. Then it seemed
+that he came to the fairest island in the whole world, and he
+traversed the island from sea to sea, even to the furthest shore
+of the island. Valleys he saw, and steeps, and rocks of
+wondrous height, and rugged precipices. Never yet saw he
+the like. And thence he beheld an island in the sea, facing
+this rugged land. And between him and this island was a
+country of which the plain was as large as the sea, the mountain
+as vast as the wood. And from the mountain he saw a river
+that flowed through the land and fell into the sea. And at
+the mouth of the river he beheld a castle, the fairest that man
+ever saw, and the gate of the castle was open, and he went into
+the castle. And in the castle he saw a fair hall, of which
+the roof seemed to be all gold, the walls of the hall seemed to
+be entirely of glittering precious gems, the doors all seemed to
+be of gold. Golden seats he saw in the hall, and silver
+tables. And on a seat opposite to him he beheld two
+auburn-haired youths playing at chess. He saw a silver
+board for the chess, and golden pieces thereon. The
+garments of the youths were of jet-black satin, and chaplets of
+ruddy gold bound their hair, whereon were sparkling jewels of
+great price, rubies, and gems, alternately with imperial
+stones. Buskins of new Cordovan leather on their feet,
+fastened by slides of red gold.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And beside a pillar in the hall he saw a hoary-headed man, in
+a chair of ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy gold
+thereon. Bracelets of gold were upon his arms, and many
+rings were on his hands, and a golden torque about his neck; and
+his hair was bound with a golden diadem. He was of powerful
+aspect. A chessboard of gold was before him, and a rod of
+gold, and a steel file in his hand. And he was carving out
+chessmen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of ruddy
+gold. Not more easy than to gaze upon the sun when
+brightest, was it to look upon her by reason of her beauty.
+A vest of white silk was upon the maiden, with clasps of red gold
+at the breast; and a surcoat of gold tissue upon her, and a
+frontlet of red gold upon her head, and rubies and gems were in
+the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial stones.
+And a girdle of ruddy gold was around her. She was the
+fairest sight that man ever beheld.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw his
+arms about the neck of the maiden, and they two sat down together
+in the chair of gold: and the chair was not less roomy for them
+both, than for the maiden alone. And as he had his arms
+about the maiden&rsquo;s neck, and his cheek by her cheek,
+behold, through the chafing of the dogs at their leashing, and
+the clashing of the shields as they struck against each other,
+and the beating together of the shafts of the spears, and the
+neighing of the horses and their prancing, the emperor awoke.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him,
+because of the maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the love
+of the maiden pervaded his whole frame. Then his household
+spake unto him. &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;is it
+not past the time for thee to take thy food?&rdquo;
+Thereupon the emperor mounted his palfrey, the saddest man that
+mortal ever saw, and went forth towards Rome.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thus he was during the space of a week. When they of
+the household went to drink wine and mead out of golden vessels,
+he went not with any of them. When they went to listen to
+songs and tales, he went not with them there; neither could he be
+persuaded to do anything but sleep. And as often as he
+slept, he beheld in his dreams the maiden he loved best; but
+except when he slept he saw nothing of her, for he knew not where
+in the world she was.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One day the page of the chamber spake unto him; now, although
+he was page of the chamber, he was king of the Romans.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;all the people revile
+thee.&rdquo; &ldquo;Wherefore do they revile me?&rdquo;
+asked the emperor. &ldquo;Because they can get neither
+message nor answer from thee as men should have from their
+lord. This is the cause why thou art spoken evil
+of.&rdquo; &ldquo;Youth,&rdquo; said the emperor, &ldquo;do
+thou bring unto me the wise men of Rome, and I will tell them
+wherefore I am sorrowful.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the wise men of Rome were brought to the emperor, and he
+spake to them. &ldquo;Sages of Rome,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;I have seen a dream. And in the dream I beheld a
+maiden, and because of the maiden is there neither life, nor
+spirit, nor existence within me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+they answered, &ldquo;since thou judgest us worthy to counsel
+thee, we will give thee counsel. And this is our counsel;
+that thou send messengers for three years to the three parts of
+the world to seek for thy dream. And as thou knowest not
+what day or what night good news may come to thee, the hope
+thereof will support thee.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year, wandering
+about the world, and seeking tidings concerning his dream.
+But when they came back at the end of the year, they knew not one
+word more than they did the day they set forth. And then
+was the emperor exceeding sorrowful, for he thought that he
+should never have tidings of her whom best he loved.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then spoke the king of the Romans unto the emperor.
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;go forth to hunt by the way
+thou didst seem to go, whether it were to the east, or to the
+west.&rdquo; So the emperor went forth to the hunt, and he
+came to the bank of the river. &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;this is where I was when I saw the dream, and I went
+towards the source of the river westward.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thereupon thirteen messengers of the emperor&rsquo;s set
+forth, and before them they saw a high mountain, which seemed to
+them to touch the sky. Now this was the guise in which the
+messengers journeyed; one sleeve was on the cap of each of them
+in front, as a sign that they were messengers, in order that
+through what hostile land soever they might pass no harm might be
+done them. And when they were come over this mountain, they
+beheld vast plains, and large rivers flowing there through.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;the land which our
+master saw.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until they came
+to the mighty river which they saw flowing to the sea, and the
+vast city, and the many-coloured high towers in the castle.
+They saw the largest fleet in the world, in the harbour of the
+river, and one ship that was larger than any of the others.
+&ldquo;Behold again,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;the dream that our
+master saw.&rdquo; And in the great ship they crossed the
+sea, and came to the Island of Britain. And they traversed
+the island until they came to Snowdon.
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;the rugged land that our
+master saw.&rdquo; And they went forward until they saw
+Anglesey before them, and until they saw Arvon likewise.
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;the land our master saw
+in his sleep.&rdquo; And they saw Aber Sain, and a castle
+at the mouth of the river. The portal of the castle saw
+they open, and into the castle they went, and they saw a hall in
+the castle. Then said they, &ldquo;Behold, the hall which
+he saw in his sleep.&rdquo; They went into the hall, and
+they beheld two youths playing at chess on the golden
+bench. And they beheld the hoary-headed man beside the
+pillar, in the ivory chair, carving chessmen. And they
+beheld the maiden sitting on a chair of ruddy gold.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The messengers bent down upon their knees.
+&ldquo;Empress of Rome, all hail!&rdquo; &ldquo;Ha,
+gentles,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;ye bear the seeming of
+honourable men, and the badge of envoys, what mockery is this ye
+do to me?&rdquo; &ldquo;We mock thee not, lady; but the
+Emperor of Rome hath seen thee in his sleep, and he has neither
+life nor spirit left because of thee. Thou shalt have of us
+therefore the choice, lady, whether thou wilt go with us and be
+made empress of Rome, or that the emperor come hither and take
+thee for his wife?&rdquo; &ldquo;Ha, lords,&rdquo; said the
+maiden, &ldquo;I will not deny what ye say, neither will I
+believe it too well. If the emperor love me, let him come
+here to seek me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And by day and night the messengers hied them back. And
+when their horses failed, they bought other fresh ones. And
+when they came to Rome, they saluted the emperor, and asked their
+boon, which was given to them according as they named it.
+&ldquo;We will be thy guides, lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;over
+sea and over land, to the place where is the woman whom best thou
+lovest, for we know her name, and her kindred, and her
+race.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And immediately the emperor set forth with his army. And
+these men were his guides. Towards the Island of Britain
+they went over the sea and the deep. And he conquered the
+Island from Beli the son of Manogan, and his sons, and drove them
+to the sea, and went forward even unto Arvon. And the
+emperor knew the land when he saw it. And when he beheld
+the castle of Aber Sain, &ldquo;Look yonder,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;there is the castle wherein I saw the damsel whom I best
+love.&rdquo; And he went forward into the castle and into
+the hall, and there he saw Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the
+son of Eudav, playing at chess. And he saw Eudav the son of
+Caradawc, sitting on a chair of ivory carving chessmen. And
+the maiden whom he had beheld in his sleep, he saw sitting on a
+chair of gold. &ldquo;Empress of Rome,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;all hail!&rdquo; And the emperor threw his arms
+about her neck; and that night she became his bride.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her maiden
+portion. And he told her to name what she would. And
+she asked to have the Island of Britain for her father, from the
+Channel to the Irish Sea, together with the three adjacent
+Islands, to hold under the empress of Rome; and to have three
+chief castles made for her, in whatever places she might choose
+in the Island of Britain. And she chose to have the highest
+castle made at Arvon. And they brought thither earth from
+Rome that it might be more healthful for the emperor to sleep,
+and sit, and walk upon. After that the two other castles
+were made for her, which were Caerlleon and Caermarthen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen, and he
+came so far as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there the emperor
+pitched his tent. And that encamping place is called Cadeir
+Maxen, even to this day. And because that he built the
+castle with a myriad of men, he called it Caervyrddin. Then
+Helen bethought her to make high roads from one castle to another
+throughout the Island of Britain. And the roads were
+made. And for this cause are they called the roads of Helen
+Luyddawc, that she was sprung from a native of this island, and
+the men of the Island of Britain would not have made these great
+roads for any save for her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Seven years did the emperor tarry in this Island. Now,
+at that time, the men of Rome had a custom, that whatsoever
+emperor should remain in other lands more than seven years should
+remain to his own overthrow, and should never return to Rome
+again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they made a new emperor. And this one wrote a letter
+of threat to Maxen. There was nought in the letter but only
+this. &ldquo;If thou comest, and if thou ever comest to
+Rome.&rdquo; And even unto Caerlleon came this letter to
+Maxen, and these tidings. Then sent he a letter to the man
+who styled himself emperor in Rome. There was nought in
+that letter also but only this. &ldquo;If I come to Rome,
+and if I come.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his army, and
+vanquished France and Bugundy, and every land on the way, and sat
+down before the city of Rome.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no nearer
+taking it than the first day. And after him there came the
+brothers of Helen Luyddawc from the Island of Britain, and a
+small host with them, and better warriors were in that small host
+than twice as many Romans. And the emperor was told that a
+host was seen, halting close to his army and encamping, and no
+man ever saw a fairer or better appointed host for its size, nor
+more handsome standards.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the standards of
+her brothers. Then came Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon
+the son of Eudav, to meet the emperor. And the emperor was
+glad because of them, and embraced them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the
+city. Said Kynan to his brother, &ldquo;We will try to
+attack the city more expertly than this.&rdquo; So they
+measured by night the height of the wall, and they sent their
+carpenters to the wood, and a ladder was made for every four men
+of their number. Now when these were ready, every day at
+mid-day the emperors went to meat, and they ceased to fight on
+both sides till all had finished eating. And in the morning
+the men of Britain took their food and they drank until they were
+invigorated. And while the two emperors were at meat, the
+Britons came to the city, and placed their ladders against it,
+and forthwith they came in through the city.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The new emperor had no time to arm himself when they fell upon
+him, and slew him, and many others with him. And three
+nights and three days were they subduing the men that were in the
+city and taking the castle. And others of them kept the
+city, lest any of the host of Maxen should come therein, until
+they had subjected all to their will.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc. &ldquo;I marvel,
+lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that thy brothers have not conquered
+this city for me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Lord, emperor,&rdquo; she
+answered, &ldquo;the wisest youths in the world are my
+brothers. Go thou thither and ask the city of them, and if
+it be in their possession thou shalt have it gladly.&rdquo;
+So the emperor and Helen went and demanded the city. And
+they told the emperor that none had taken the city, and that none
+could give it him, but the men of the Island of Britain.
+Then the gates of the city of Rome were opened, and the emperor
+sat on the throne, and all the men of Rome submitted them selves
+unto him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The emperor then said unto Kynan and Adeon,
+&ldquo;Lords,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I have now had possession of
+the whole of my empire. This host give I unto you to
+vanquish whatever region ye may desire in the world.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So they set forth and conquered lands, and castles, and
+cities. And they slew all the men, but the women they kept
+alive. And thus they continued until the young men that had
+come with them were grown grey-headed, from the length of time
+they were upon this conquest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, &ldquo;Whether wilt
+thou rather,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;tarry in this land, or go
+back into the land whence thou didst come forth?&rdquo; Now
+he chose to go back to his own land, and many with him. But
+Kynan tarried there with the other part and dwelt there.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they took counsel and cut out the tongues of the women,
+lest they should corrupt their speech. And because of the
+silence of the women from their own speech, the men of Armorica
+are called Britons. From that time there came frequently,
+and still comes, that language from the Island of Britain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig, emperor of
+Rome. And here it ends.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap12"></a>HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS</h2>
+
+<p>
+Beli the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd, and Caswallawn, and
+Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth son called Llevelys. And
+after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the Island of Britain fell into the
+hands of Lludd his eldest son; and Lludd ruled prosperously, and rebuilt the
+walls of London, and encompassed it about with numberless towers. And after
+that he bade the citizens build houses therein, such as no houses in the
+kingdoms could equal. And moreover he was a mighty warrior, and generous and
+liberal in giving meat and drink to all that sought them. And though he had
+many castles and cities this one loved he more than any. And he dwelt therein
+most part of the year, and therefore was it called Caer Lludd, and at last Caer
+London. And after the stranger-race came there, it was called London, or
+Lwndrys.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he was
+a wise and discreet man. Having heard that the king of
+France had died, leaving no heir except a daughter, and that he
+had left all his possessions in her hands, he came to Lludd his
+brother, to beseech his counsel and aid. And that not so
+much for his own welfare, as to seek to add to the glory and
+honour and dignity of his kindred, if he might go to France to
+woo the maiden for his wife. And forthwith his brother
+conferred with him, and this counsel was pleasing unto him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights, and
+set forth towards France. And as soon as they had landed,
+they sent messengers to show the nobles of France the cause of
+the embassy. And by the joint counsel of the nobles of
+France and of the princes, the maiden was given to Llevelys, and
+the crown of the kingdom with her. And thenceforth he ruled
+the land discreetly, and wisely, and happily, as long as his life
+lasted.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the
+Island of Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the
+like of. The first was a certain race that came, and was
+called the Coranians; and so great was their knowledge, that
+there was no discourse upon the face of the Island, however low
+it might be spoken, but what, if the wind met it, it was known to
+them. And through this they could not be injured. <a
+name="citation4"></a><a href="#footnote4"
+class="citation">[4]</a>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The second plague was a shriek which came on every May-eve,
+over every hearth in the Island of Britain. And this went
+through people&rsquo;s hearts, and so scared them, that the men
+lost their hue and their strength, and the women their children,
+and the young men and the maidens lost their senses, and all the
+animals and trees and the earth and the waters, were left
+barren.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The third plague was, that however much of provisions and food
+might be prepared in the king&rsquo;s courts, were there even so
+much as a year&rsquo;s provision of meat and drink, none of it
+could ever be found, except what was consumed in the first
+night. And two of these plagues, no one ever knew their
+cause, therefore was there better hope of being freed from the
+first than from the second and third.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care, because
+that he knew not how he might be freed from these plagues.
+And he called to him all the nobles of his kingdom, and asked
+counsel of them what they should do against these
+afflictions. And by the common counsel of the nobles, Lludd
+the son of Beli went to Llevelys his brother, king of France, for
+he was a man great of counsel and wisdom, to seek his advice.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in
+silence, lest that race should know the cause of their errand, or
+any besides the king and his counsellors. And when they
+were made ready, they went into their ships, Lludd and those whom
+he chose with him. And they began to cleave the seas
+towards France.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that he knew
+not the cause of his brother&rsquo;s ships, he came on the other
+side to meet him, and with him was a fleet vast of size.
+And when Lludd saw this, he left all the ships out upon the sea
+except one only; and in that one he came to meet his brother, and
+he likewise with a single ship came to meet him. And when
+they were come together, each put his arms about the
+other&rsquo;s neck, and they welcomed each other with brotherly
+love.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his
+errand, Llevelys said that he himself knew the cause of the
+coming to those lands. And they took counsel together to
+discourse on the matter otherwise than thus, in order that the
+wind might not catch their words, nor the Coranians know what
+they might say. Then Llevelys caused a long horn to be made
+of brass, and through this horn they discoursed. But
+whatsoever words they spoke through this horn, one to the other,
+neither of them could hear any other but harsh and hostile
+words. And when Llevelys saw this, and that there was a
+demon thwarting them and disturbing through this horn, he caused
+wine to be put therein to wash it. And through the virtue
+of the wine the demon was driven out of the horn. And when
+their discourse was unobstructed, Llevelys told his brother that
+he would give him some insects whereof he should keep some to
+breed, lest by chance the like affliction might come a second
+time. And other of these insects he should take and bruise
+in water. And he assured him that it would have power to
+destroy the race of the Coranians. That is to say, that
+when he came home to his kingdom he should call together all the
+people both of his own race and of the race of the Coranians for
+a conference, as though with the intent of making peace between
+them; and that when they were all together, he should take this
+charmed water, and cast it over all alike. And he assured
+him that the water would poison the race of the Coranians, but
+that it would not slay or harm those of his own race.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And the second plague,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that is
+in thy dominion, behold it is a dragon. And another dragon
+of a foreign race is fighting with it, and striving to overcome
+it. And therefore does your dragon make a fearful
+outcry. And on this wise mayest thou come to know
+this. After thou hast returned home, cause the Island to be
+measured in its length and breadth, and in the place where thou
+dost find the exact central point, there cause a pit to be dug,
+and cause a cauldron full of the best mead that can be made to be
+put in the pit, with a covering of satin over the face of the
+cauldron. And then, in thine own person do thou remain
+there watching, and thou wilt see the dragon fighting in the form
+of terrific animals. And at length they will take the form
+of dragons in the air. And last of all, after wearying
+themselves with fierce and furious fighting, they will fall in
+the form of two pigs upon the covering, and they will sink in,
+and the covering with them, and they will draw it down to the
+very bottom of the cauldron. And they will drink up the
+whole of the mead; and after that they will sleep.
+Thereupon do thou immediately fold the covering around them, and
+bury them in a kistvaen, in the strongest place thou hast in thy
+dominions, and hide them in the earth. And as long as they
+shall bide in that strong place no plague shall come to the
+Island of Britain from elsewhere.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The cause of the third plague,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;is a mighty man of magic, who take thy meat and thy drink
+and thy store. And he through illusions and charms causes
+every one to sleep. Therefore it is needful for thee in thy
+own person to watch thy food and thy provisions. And lest
+he should overcome thee with sleep, be there a cauldron of cold
+water by thy side, and when thou art oppressed with sleep, plunge
+into the cauldron.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Lludd returned back unto his land. And immediately
+he summoned to him the whole of his own race and of the
+Coranians. And as Llevelys had taught him, he bruised the
+insects in water, the which he cast over them all together, and
+forthwith it destroyed the whole tribe of the Coranians, without
+hurt to any of the Britons.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be
+measured in its length and in its breadth. And in Oxford he
+found the central point, and in that place he caused the earth to
+be dug, and in that pit a cauldron to be set, full of the best
+mead that could be made, and a covering of satin over the face of
+it. And he himself watched that night. And while he
+was there, he beheld the dragons fighting. And when they
+were weary they fell, and came down upon the top of the satin,
+and drew it with them to the bottom of the cauldron. And
+when they had drunk the mead they slept. And in their
+sleep, Lludd folded the covering around them, and in the securest
+place he had in Snowdon, he hid them in a kistvaen. Now
+after that this spot was called Dinas Emreis, but before that,
+Dinas Ffaraon. And thus the fierce outcry ceased in his
+dominions.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding great
+banquet to be prepared. And when it was ready, he placed a
+vessel of cold water by his side, and he in his own proper person
+watched it. And as he abode thus clad with arms, about the
+third watch of the night, lo, he heard many surpassing
+fascinations and various songs. And drowsiness urged him to
+sleep. Upon this, lest he should be hindered from his
+purpose and be overcome by sleep, he went often into the
+water. And at last, behold, a man of vast size, clad in
+strong, heavy armour, came in, bearing a hamper. And, as he
+was wont, he put all the food and provisions of meat and drink
+into the hamper, and proceeded to go with it forth. And
+nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd, than that the hamper
+should hold so much.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto him
+thus. &ldquo;Stop, stop,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;though thou
+hast done many insults and much spoil erewhile, thou shalt not do
+so any more, unless thy skill in arms and thy prowess be greater
+than mine.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and
+awaited him. And a fierce encounter was between them, so
+that the glittering fire flew out from their arms. And at
+the last Lludd grappled with him, and fate bestowed the victory
+on Lludd. And he threw the plague to the earth. And
+after he had overcome him by strength and might, he besought his
+mercy. &ldquo;How can I grant thee mercy,&rdquo; said the
+king, &ldquo;after all the many injuries and wrongs that thou
+hast done me?&rdquo; &ldquo;All the losses that ever I have
+caused thee,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I will make thee atonement
+for, equal to what I have taken. And I will never do the
+like from this time forth. But thy faithful vassal will I
+be.&rdquo; And the king accepted this from him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three
+plagues. And from thenceforth until the end of his life, in
+prosperous peace did Lludd the son of Beli rule the Island of
+Britain. And this Tale is called the Story of Lludd and
+Llevelys. And thus it ends.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap13"></a>TALIESIN</h2>
+
+<p>
+In times past there lived in Penllyn a man of gentle lineage, named Tegid Voel,
+and his dwelling was in the midst of the lake Tegid, and his wife was called
+Caridwen. And there was born to him of his wife a son named Morvran ab Tegid,
+and also a daughter named Creirwy, the fairest maiden in the world was she; and
+they had a brother, the most ill-favoured man in the world, Avagddu. Now
+Caridwen his mother thought that he was not likely to be admitted among men of
+noble birth, by reason of his ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits or
+knowledge. For it was in the beginning of Arthur&rsquo;s time and of the Round
+Table.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So she resolved, according to the arts of the books of the
+Fferyllt, to boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her
+son, that his reception might be honourable because of his
+knowledge of the mysteries of the future state of the world.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she began to boil the cauldron, which from the beginning
+of its boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day,
+until three blessed drops were obtained of the grace of
+Inspiration.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in
+Caereinion, in Powys, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named
+Morda to kindle the fire beneath it, and she charged them that
+they should not suffer it to cease boiling for the space of a
+year and a day. And she herself, according to the books of
+the astronomers, and in planetary hours, gathered every day of
+all charm-bearing herbs. And one day, towards the end of
+the year, as Caridwen was culling plants and making incantations,
+it chanced that three drops of the charmed liquor flew out of the
+cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion Bach. And by
+reason of their great heat he put his finger to his mouth, and
+the instant he put those marvel-working drops into his mouth, he
+foresaw everything that was to come, and perceived that his chief
+care must be to guard against the wiles of Caridwen, for vast was
+her skill. And in very great fear he fled towards his own
+land. And the cauldron burst in two, because all the liquor
+within it except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous, so
+that the horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned by the water of
+the stream into which the liquor of the cauldron ran, and the
+confluence of that stream was called the Poison of the Horses of
+Gwyddno from that time forth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil of the whole
+year lost. And she seized a billet of wood and struck the
+blind Morda on the head until one of his eyes fell out upon his
+cheek. And he said, &ldquo;Wrongfully hast thou disfigured
+me, for I am innocent. Thy loss was not because of
+me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Thou speakest truth,&rdquo; said
+Caridwen, &ldquo;it was Gwion Bach who robbed me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And she went forth after him, running. And he saw her,
+and changed himself into a hare and fled. But she changed
+herself into a greyhound and turned him. And he ran towards
+a river, and became a fish. And she in the form of an
+otter-bitch chased him under the water, until he was fain to turn
+himself into a bird of the air. She, as a hawk, followed
+him and gave him no rest in the sky. And just as she was
+about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of death, he espied a
+heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn, and he dropped
+among the wheat, and turned himself into one of the grains.
+Then she transformed herself into a high-crested black hen, and
+went to the wheat and scratched it with her feet, and found him
+out and swallowed him. And, as the story says, she bore him
+nine months, and when she was delivered of him, she could not
+find it in her heart to kill him, by reason of his beauty.
+So she wrapped him in a leathern bag, and cast him into the sea
+to the mercy of God, on the twenty-ninth day of April.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And at that time the weir of Gwyddno was on the strand between
+Dyvi and Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of an
+hundred pounds was taken in that weir every May eve. And in
+those days Gwyddno had an only son named Elphin, the most hapless
+of youths, and the most needy. And it grieved his father
+sore, for he thought that he was born in an evil hour. And
+by the advice of his council, his father had granted him the
+drawing of the weir that year, to see if good luck would ever
+befall him, and to give him something wherewith to begin the
+world.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And the next day when Elphin went to look, there was nothing
+in the weir. But as he turned back he perceived the
+leathern bag upon a pole of the weir. Then said one of the
+weir-ward unto Elphin, &ldquo;Thou wast never unlucky until
+to-night, and now thou hast destroyed the virtues of the weir,
+which always yielded the value of an hundred pounds every May
+eve, and to-night there is nothing but this leathern skin within
+it.&rdquo; &ldquo;How now,&rdquo; said Elphin, &ldquo;there
+may be therein the value of an hundred pounds.&rdquo; Well,
+they took up the leathern bag, and he who opened it saw the
+forehead of the boy, and said to Elphin, &ldquo;Behold a radiant
+brow!&rdquo; <a name="citation6"></a><a href="#footnote6"
+class="citation">[6]</a> &ldquo;Taliesin be he
+called,&rdquo; said Elphin. And he lifted the boy in his
+arms, and lamenting his mischance, he placed him sorrowfully
+behind him. And he made his horse amble gently, that before
+had been trotting, and he carried him as softly as if he had been
+sitting in the easiest chair in the world. And presently
+the boy made a Consolation and praise to Elphin, and foretold
+honour to Elphin; and the Consolation was as you may
+see:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;Fair Elphin, cease to lament!<br/>
+Let no one be dissatisfied with his own,<br/>
+To despair will bring no advantage.<br/>
+No man sees what supports him;<br/>
+The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain;<br/>
+God will not violate his promise.<br/>
+Never in Gwyddno&rsquo;s weir<br/>
+Was there such good luck as this night.<br/>
+Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks!<br/>
+Being too sad will not avail.<br/>
+Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain,<br/>
+Too much grief will bring thee no good;<br/>
+Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty:<br/>
+Although I am but little, I am highly gifted.<br/>
+From seas, and from mountains,<br/>
+And from the depths of rivers,<br/>
+God brings wealth to the fortunate man.<br/>
+Elphin of lively qualities,<br/>
+Thy resolution is unmanly;<br/>
+Thou must not be over sorrowful:<br/>
+Better to trust in God than to forbode ill.<br/>
+Weak and small as I am,<br/>
+On the foaming beach of the ocean,<br/>
+In the day of trouble I shall be<br/>
+Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon.<br/>
+Elphin of notable qualities,<br/>
+Be not displeased at thy misfortune;<br/>
+Although reclined thus weak in my bag,<br/>
+There lies a virtue in my tongue.<br/>
+While I continue thy protector<br/>
+Thou hast not much to fear;<br/>
+Remembering the names of the Trinity,<br/>
+None shall be able to harm thee.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang, being to
+console Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was
+lost, and, what was worse, that all the world would consider that
+it was through his fault and ill-luck. And then Gwyddno
+Garanhir <a name="citation7"></a><a href="#footnote7"
+class="citation">[7]</a> asked him what he was, whether man or
+spirit. Whereupon he sang this tale, and said:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;First, I have been formed a comely
+person,<br/>
+In the court of Caridwen I have done penance;<br/>
+Though little I was seen, placidly received,<br/>
+I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led;<br/>
+I have been a prized defence, the sweet muse the cause,<br/>
+And by law without speech I have been liberated<br/>
+By a smiling black old hag, when irritated<br/>
+Dreadful her claim when pursued:<br/>
+I have fled with vigour, I have fled as a frog,<br/>
+I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest;<br/>
+I have fled vehemently, I have fled as a chain,<br/>
+I have fled as a roe into an entangled thicket;<br/>
+I have fled as a wolf cub, I have fled as a wolf in a
+wilderness,<br/>
+I have fled as a thrush of portending language;<br/>
+I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent bounds of quirks;<br/>
+I have fled as a martin, which did not avail;<br/>
+I have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides,<br/>
+I have fled as a stag&rsquo;s antler, of ruddy course,<br/>
+I have fled as iron in a glowing fire,<br/>
+I have fled as a spear-head, of woe to such as has a wish for
+it;<br/>
+I have fled as a fierce hull bitterly fighting,<br/>
+I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine,<br/>
+I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat,<br/>
+On the skirt of a hempen sheet entangled,<br/>
+That seemed of the size of a mare&rsquo;s foal,<br/>
+That is filling like a ship on the waters;<br/>
+Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown,<br/>
+And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift;<br/>
+Which was to me an omen of being tenderly nursed,<br/>
+And the Lord God then set me at liberty.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwyddno his father,
+and Taliesin with him. And Gwyddno asked him if he had had
+a good haul at the weir, and he told him that he had got that
+which was better than fish. &ldquo;What was that?&rdquo;
+said Gwyddno. &ldquo;A Bard,&rdquo; answered Elphin.
+Then said Gwyddno, &ldquo;Alas, what will he profit
+thee?&rdquo; And Taliesin himself replied and said,
+&ldquo;He will profit him more than the weir ever profited
+thee.&rdquo; Asked Gwyddno, &ldquo;Art thou able to speak,
+and thou so little?&rdquo; And Taliesin answered him,
+&ldquo;I am better able to speak than thou to question
+me.&rdquo; &ldquo;Let me hear what thou canst say,&rdquo;
+quoth Gwyddno. Then Taliesin sang:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;In water there is a quality endowed with
+a blessing;<br/>
+On God it is most just to meditate aright;<br/>
+To God it is proper to supplicate with seriousness,<br/>
+Since no obstacle can there be to obtain a reward from him.<br/>
+Three times have I been born, I know by meditation;<br/>
+It were miserable for a person not to come and obtain<br/>
+All the sciences of the world, collected together in my
+breast,<br/>
+For I know what has been, what in future will occur.<br/>
+I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him,<br/>
+A regard I may obtain in his grace;<br/>
+The Son of Mary is my trust, great in him is my delight,<br/>
+For in him is the world continually upholden.<br/>
+God has been to instruct me and to raise my expectation,<br/>
+The true Creator of heaven, who affords me protection;<br/>
+It is rightly intended that the saints should daily pray,<br/>
+For God, the renovator, will bring them to him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And forthwith Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she nursed
+him tenderly and lovingly. Thenceforward Elphin increased
+in riches more and more day after day, and in love and favour
+with the king, and there abode Taliesin until he was thirteen
+years old, when Elphin son of Gwyddno went by a Christmas
+invitation to his uncle, Maelgwn Gwynedd, who some time after
+this held open court at Christmastide in the castle of Dyganwy,
+for all the number of his lords of both degrees, both spiritual
+and temporal, with a vast and thronged host of knights and
+squires. And amongst them there arose a discourse and
+discussion. And thus was it said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is there in the whole world a king so great as Maelgwn,
+or one on whom Heaven has bestowed so many spiritual gifts as
+upon him? First, form, and beauty, and meekness, and
+strength, besides all the powers of the soul!&rdquo; And
+together with these they said that Heaven had given one gift that
+exceeded all the others, which was the beauty, and comeliness,
+and grace, and wisdom, and modesty of his queen; whose virtues
+surpassed those of all the ladies and noble maidens throughout
+the whole kingdom. And with this they put questions one to
+another amongst themselves: Who had braver men? Who had
+fairer or swifter horses or greyhounds? Who had more
+skilful or wiser bards&mdash;than Maelgwn?
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now at that time the bards were in great favour with the
+exalted of the kingdom; and then none performed the office of
+those who are now called heralds, unless they were learned men,
+not only expert in the service of kings and princes, but studious
+and well versed in the lineage, and arms, and exploits of princes
+and kings, and in discussions concerning foreign kingdoms, and
+the ancient things of this kingdom, and chiefly in the annals of
+the first nobles; and also were prepared always with their
+answers in various languages, Latin, French, Welsh, and
+English. And together with this they were great
+chroniclers, and recorders, and skilful in framing verses, and
+ready in making englyns in every one of those languages.
+Now of these there were at that feast within the palace of
+Maelgwn as many as four-and-twenty, and chief of them all was one
+named Heinin Vardd.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When they had all made an end of thus praising the king and
+his gifts, it befell that Elphin spoke in this wise.
+&ldquo;Of a truth none but a king may vie with a king; but were
+he not a king, I would say that my wife was as virtuous as any
+lady in the kingdom, and also that I have a bard who is more
+skilful than all the king&rsquo;s bards.&rdquo; In a short
+space some of his fellows showed the king all the boastings of
+Elphin; and the king ordered him to be thrown into a strong
+prison, until he might know the truth as to the virtues of his
+wife, and the wisdom of his bard.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with a
+thick chain about his feet (it is said that it was a silver
+chain, because he was of royal blood), the king, as the story
+relates, sent his son Rhun to inquire into the demeanour of
+Elphin&rsquo;s wife. Now Rhun was the most graceless man in
+the world, and there was neither wife nor maiden with whom he had
+held converse, but was evil spoken of. While Rhun went in
+haste towards Elphin&rsquo;s dwelling, being fully minded to
+bring disgrace upon his wife, Taliesin told his mistress how that
+the king had placed his master in durance in prison, and how that
+Rhun was coming in haste to strive to bring disgrace upon
+her. Wherefore he caused his mistress to array one of the
+maids of her kitchen in her apparel; which the noble lady gladly
+did; and she loaded her hands with the best rings that she and
+her husband possessed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden
+to sit at the board in her room at supper, and he made her to
+seem as her mistress, and the mistress to seem as the maid.
+And when they were in due time seated at their supper in the
+manner that has been said, Rhun suddenly arrived at
+Elphin&rsquo;s dwelling, and was received with joy, for all the
+servants knew him plainly; and they brought him in haste to the
+room of their mistress, in the semblance of whom the maid rose up
+from supper and welcomed him gladly. And afterwards she sat
+down to supper again the second time, and Rhun with her.
+Then Rhun began jesting with the maid, who still kept the
+semblance of her mistress. And verily this story shows that
+the maiden became so intoxicated, that she fell asleep; and the
+story relates that it was a powder that Rhun put into the drink,
+that made her sleep so soundly that she never felt it when he cut
+from off her hand her little finger, whereupon was the signet
+ring of Elphin, which he had sent to his wife as a token, a short
+time before. And Rhun returned to the king with the finger
+and the ring as a proof, to show that he had cut it from off her
+hand, without her awaking from her sleep of intemperance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for
+his councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the
+beginning. And he caused Elphin to be brought out of his
+prison, and he chided him because of his boast. And he
+spake unto Elphin on this wise. &ldquo;Elphin, be it known
+to thee beyond a doubt that it is but folly for a man to trust in
+the virtues of his wife further than he can see her; and that
+thou mayest be certain of thy wife&rsquo;s vileness, behold her
+finger, with thy signet ring upon it, which was cut from her hand
+last night, while she slept the sleep of
+intoxication.&rdquo; Then thus spake Elphin.
+&ldquo;With thy leave, mighty king, I cannot deny my ring, for it
+is known of many; but verily I assert strongly that the finger
+around which it is, was never attached to the hand of my wife,
+for in truth and certainty there are three notable things
+pertaining to it, none of which ever belonged to any of my
+wife&rsquo;s fingers. The first of the three is, that it is
+certain, by your grace&rsquo;s leave, that wheresoever my wife is
+at this present hour, whether sitting, or standing, or lying
+down, this ring would never remain upon her thumb, whereas you
+can plainly see that it was hard to draw it over the joint of the
+little finger of the hand whence this was cut; the second thing
+is, that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I have
+known her without paring her nails before going to bed, and you
+can see fully that the nail of this little finger has not been
+pared for a month. The third is, truly, that the hand
+whence this finger came was kneading rye dough within three days
+before the finger was cut therefrom, and I can assure your
+goodness that my wife has never kneaded rye dough since my wife
+she has been.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutly
+withstanding him, respecting the goodness of his wife, wherefore
+he ordered him to his prison a second time, saying that he should
+not be loosed thence until he had proved the truth of his boast,
+as well concerning the wisdom of his bard as the virtues of his
+wife.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at
+Elphin&rsquo;s dwelling. And Taliesin showed his mistress
+how that Elphin was in prison because of them, but he bade her be
+glad, for that he would go to Maelgwn&rsquo;s court to free his
+master. Then she asked him in what manner he would set him
+free. And he answered her:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;A journey will I perform,<br/>
+And to the gate I will come;<br/>
+The hall I will enter,<br/>
+And my song I will sing;<br/>
+My speech I will pronounce<br/>
+To silence royal bards,<br/>
+In presence of their chief,<br/>
+I will greet to deride,<br/>
+Upon them I will break<br/>
+And Elphin I will free.<br/>
+Should contention arise,<br/>
+In presence of the prince,<br/>
+With summons to the bards,<br/>
+For the sweet flowing song,<br/>
+And wizards&rsquo; posing lore<br/>
+And wisdom of Druids,<br/>
+In the court of the sons of the Distributor<br/>
+Some are who did appear<br/>
+Intent on wily schemes,<br/>
+By craft and tricking means,<br/>
+In pangs of affliction<br/>
+To wrong the innocent,<br/>
+Let the fools be silent,<br/>
+As erst in Badon&rsquo;s fight,&mdash;<br/>
+With Arthur of liberal ones<br/>
+The head, with long red blades;<br/>
+Through feats of testy men,<br/>
+And a chief with his foes.<br/>
+Woe be to them, the fools,<br/>
+When revenge comes on them.<br/>
+I Taliesin, chief of bards,<br/>
+With a sapient Druid&rsquo;s words,<br/>
+Will set kind Elphin free<br/>
+From haughty tyrant&rsquo;s bonds.<br/>
+To their fell and chilling cry,<br/>
+By the act of a surprising steed,<br/>
+From the far distant North,<br/>
+There soon shall be an end.<br/>
+Let neither grace nor health<br/>
+Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd,<br/>
+For this force and this wrong;<br/>
+And be extremes of ills<br/>
+And an avenged end<br/>
+To Rhun and all his race:<br/>
+Short be his course of life,<br/>
+Be all his lands laid waste;<br/>
+And long exile be assigned<br/>
+To Maelgwn Gwynedd!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at last to
+the Court of Maelgwn, who was going to sit in his hall and dine
+in his royal state, as it was the custom in those days for kings
+and princes to do at every chief feast. And as soon as
+Taliesin entered the hall, he placed himself in a quiet corner,
+near the place where the bards and the minstrels were wont to
+come in doing their service and duty to the king, as is the
+custom at the high festivals when the bounty is proclaimed.
+And so, when the bards and the heralds came to cry largess, and
+to proclaim the power of the king and his strength, at the moment
+that they passed by the corner wherein he was crouching, Taliesin
+pouted out his lips after them, and played &ldquo;Blerwm,
+blerwm,&rdquo; with his finger upon his lips. Neither took
+they much notice of him as they went by, but proceeded forward
+till they came before the king, unto whom they made their
+obeisance with their bodies, as they were wont, without speaking
+a single word, but pouting out their lips, and making mouths at
+the king, playing &ldquo;Blerwm, blerwm,&rdquo; upon their lips
+with their fingers, as they had seen the boy do elsewhere.
+This sight caused the king to wonder and to deem within himself
+that they were drunk with many liquors. Wherefore he
+commanded one of his lords, who served at the board, to go to
+them and desire them to collect their wits, and to consider where
+they stood, and what it was fitting for them to do. And
+this lord did so gladly. But they ceased not from their
+folly any more than before. Whereupon he sent to them a
+second time, and a third, desiring them to go forth from the
+hall. At the last the king ordered one of his squires to
+give a blow to the chief of them named Heinin Vardd; and the
+squire took a broom and struck him on the head, so that he fell
+back in his seat. Then he arose and went on his knees, and
+besought leave of the king&rsquo;s grace to show that this their
+fault was not through want of knowledge, neither through
+drunkenness, but by the influence of some spirit that was in the
+hall. And after this Heinin spoke on this wise.
+&ldquo;Oh, honourable king, be it known to your grace, that not
+from the strength of drink, or of too much liquor, are we dumb,
+without power of speech like drunken men, but through the
+influence of a spirit that sits in the corner yonder in the form
+of a child.&rdquo; Forthwith the king commanded the squire
+to fetch him; and he went to the nook where Taliesin sat, and
+brought him before the king, who asked him what he was, and
+whence he came. And he answered the king in verse.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;Primary chief bard am I to Elphin,<br/>
+And my original country is the region of the summer stars;<br/>
+Idno and Heinin called me Merddin,<br/>
+At length every king will call me Taliesin.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+I was with my Lord in the highest sphere,<br/>
+On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell<br/>
+I have borne a banner before Alexander;<br/>
+I know the names of the stars from north to south;<br/>
+I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the Distributor;<br/>
+I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain;<br/>
+I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of
+Hebron;<br/>
+I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwydion.<br/>
+I was instructor to Eli and Enoc;<br/>
+I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier;<br/>
+I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech;<br/>
+I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of
+God;<br/>
+I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod;<br/>
+I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of
+Nimrod;<br/>
+I am a wonder whose origin is not known.<br/>
+I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark,<br/>
+I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra;<br/>
+I have been in India when Roma was built,<br/>
+I am now come here to the remnant of Troia.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+I have been with my Lord in the manger of the
+ass:<br/>
+I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan;<br/>
+I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene;<br/>
+I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen;<br/>
+I have been bard of the harp to Lleon of Lochlin.<br/>
+I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn,<br/>
+For a day and a year in stocks and fetters,<br/>
+I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin,<br/>
+I have been fostered in the land of the Deity,<br/>
+I have been teacher to all intelligences,<br/>
+I am able to instruct the whole universe.<br/>
+I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth;<br/>
+And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+            Then I was for nine months<br/>
+    In the womb of the hag Caridwen;<br/>
+    I was originally little Gwion,<br/>
+    And at length I am Taliesin.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And when the king and his nobles had heard the song, they
+wondered much, for they had never heard the like from a boy so
+young as he. And when the king knew that he was the bard of
+Elphin, he bade Heinin, his first and wisest bard, to answer
+Taliesin and to strive with him. But when he came, he could
+do no other but play &ldquo;blerwm&rdquo; on his lips; and when
+he sent for the others of the four-and-twenty bards they all did
+likewise, and could do no other. And Maelgwn asked the boy
+Taliesin what was his errand, and he answered him in song.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;Puny bards, I am trying<br/>
+To secure the prize, if I can;<br/>
+By a gentle prophetic strain<br/>
+I am endeavouring to retrieve<br/>
+The loss I may have suffered;<br/>
+Complete the attempt I hope,<br/>
+Since Elphin endures trouble<br/>
+In the fortress of Teganwy,<br/>
+On him may there not be laid<br/>
+Too many chains and fetters;<br/>
+The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy<br/>
+Will I again seek;<br/>
+Strengthened by my muse I am powerful;<br/>
+Mighty on my part is what I seek,<br/>
+For three hundred songs and more<br/>
+Are combined in the spell I sing.<br/>
+There ought not to stand where I am<br/>
+Neither stone, neither ring;<br/>
+And there ought not to be about me<br/>
+Any bard who may not know<br/>
+That Elphin the son of Gwyddno<br/>
+Is in the land of Artro,<br/>
+Secured by thirteen locks,<br/>
+For praising his instructor;<br/>
+And then I Taliesin,<br/>
+Chief of the bards of the west,<br/>
+Shall loosen Elphin<br/>
+Out of a golden fetter.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry">* * * * *
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;If you be primary bards<br/>
+To the master of sciences,<br/>
+Declare ye mysteries<br/>
+That relate to the inhabitants of the world;<br/>
+There is a noxious creature,<br/>
+From the rampart of Satanas,<br/>
+Which has overcome all<br/>
+Between the deep and the shallow;<br/>
+Equally wide are his jaws<br/>
+As the mountains of the Alps;<br/>
+Him death will not subdue,<br/>
+Nor hand or blades;<br/>
+There is the load of nine hundred wagons<br/>
+In the hair of his two paws;<br/>
+There is in his head an eye<br/>
+Green as the limpid sheet of icicle;<br/>
+Three springs arise<br/>
+In the nape of his neck;<br/>
+Sea-roughs thereon<br/>
+Swim through it;<br/>
+There was the dissolution of the oxen<br/>
+Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted.<br/>
+The names of the three springs<br/>
+From the midst of the ocean;<br/>
+One generated brine<br/>
+Which is from the Corina,<br/>
+To replenish the flood<br/>
+Over seas disappearing;<br/>
+The second, without injury<br/>
+It will fall on us,<br/>
+When there is rain abroad,<br/>
+Through the whelming sky;<br/>
+The third will appear<br/>
+Through the mountain veins,<br/>
+Like a flinty banquet,<br/>
+The work of the King of kings,<br/>
+You are blundering bards,<br/>
+In too much solicitude;<br/>
+You cannot celebrate<br/>
+The kingdom of the Britons;<br/>
+And I am Taliesin,<br/>
+Chief of the bards of the west,<br/>
+Who will loosen Elphin<br/>
+Out of the golden fetter.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry">* * * * *
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming
+bards,<br/>
+For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood.<br/>
+If you be primary bards formed by heaven,<br/>
+Tell your king what his fate will be.<br/>
+It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard,<br/>
+And know every passage in the country of your king;<br/>
+I shall liberate Elphin from the belly of the stony tower;<br/>
+And will tell your king what will befall him.<br/>
+A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of
+Rhianedd<br/>
+As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd;<br/>
+His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold,<br/>
+And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry">* * * * *
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;Discover thou what is<br/>
+The strong creature from before the flood,<br/>
+Without flesh, without bone,<br/>
+Without vein, without blood,<br/>
+Without head, without feet,<br/>
+It will neither be older nor younger<br/>
+Than at the beginning;<br/>
+For fear of a denial,<br/>
+There are no rude wants<br/>
+With creatures.<br/>
+Great God! how the sea whitens<br/>
+When first it comes!<br/>
+Great are its gusts<br/>
+When it comes from the south;<br/>
+Great are its evaporations<br/>
+When it strikes on coasts.<br/>
+It is in the field, it is in the wood,<br/>
+Without hand, and without foot,<br/>
+Without signs of old age,<br/>
+Though it be co-æval<br/>
+With the five ages or periods<br/>
+And older still,<br/>
+Though they be numberless years.<br/>
+It is also so wide<br/>
+As the surface of the earth;<br/>
+And it was not born,<br/>
+Nor was it seen.<br/>
+It will cause consternation<br/>
+Wherever God willeth.<br/>
+On sea, and on land,<br/>
+It neither sees, nor is seen.<br/>
+Its course is devious,<br/>
+And will not come when desired;<br/>
+On land and on sea,<br/>
+It is indispensable.<br/>
+It is without an equal,<br/>
+It is four-sided;<br/>
+It is not confined,<br/>
+It is incomparable;<br/>
+It comes from four quarters;<br/>
+It will not be advised,<br/>
+It will not be without advice.<br/>
+It commences its journey<br/>
+Above the marble rock,<br/>
+It is sonorous, it is dumb,<br/>
+It is mild,<br/>
+It is strong, it is bold,<br/>
+When it glances over the land,<br/>
+It is silent, it is vocal,<br/>
+It is clamorous,<br/>
+It is the most noisy<br/>
+On the face of the earth.<br/>
+It is good, it is bad,<br/>
+It is extremely injurious.<br/>
+It is concealed,<br/>
+Because sight cannot perceive it.<br/>
+It is noxious, it is beneficial;<br/>
+It is yonder, it is here;<br/>
+It will discompose,<br/>
+But will not repair the injury;<br/>
+It will not suffer for its doings,<br/>
+Seeing it is blameless.<br/>
+It is wet, it is dry,<br/>
+It frequently comes,<br/>
+Proceeding from the heat of the sun,<br/>
+And the coldness of the moon.<br/>
+The moon is less beneficial,<br/>
+Inasmuch as her heat is less.<br/>
+One Being has prepared it,<br/>
+Out of all creatures,<br/>
+By a tremendous blast,<br/>
+To wreak vengeance<br/>
+On Maelgwn Gwynedd.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And while he was thus singing his verse near the door, there
+arose a mighty storm of wind, so that the king and all his nobles
+thought that the castle would fall on their heads. And the
+king caused them to fetch Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and
+placed him before Taliesin. And it is said, that
+immediately he sang a verse, so that the chains opened from about
+his feet.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;I adore the Supreme, Lord of all
+animation,&mdash;<br/>
+Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme,<br/>
+Him that made the water good for all,<br/>
+Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it;&mdash;<br/>
+May abundance of mead be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies
+us,<br/>
+From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor.<br/>
+Since bees collect, and do not enjoy,<br/>
+We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally
+praised.<br/>
+The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes<br/>
+God made for man, with a view to enrich him;&mdash;<br/>
+Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them,<br/>
+Some are wild, some are tame; the Lord makes them;&mdash;<br/>
+Part of their produce becomes clothing;<br/>
+For food and beverage till doom will they continue.<br/>
+I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace,<br/>
+To liberate Elphin from banishment,<br/>
+The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead,<br/>
+With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance;<br/>
+May he yet give me; and at the end,<br/>
+May God of his good will grant me, in honour,<br/>
+A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of
+tranquillity.<br/>
+Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And afterwards he sang the ode which is called &ldquo;The
+Excellence of the Bards.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;What was the first man<br/>
+Made by the God of heaven;<br/>
+What the fairest flattering speech<br/>
+That was prepared by leuav;<br/>
+What meat, what drink,<br/>
+What roof his shelter;<br/>
+What the first impression<br/>
+Of his primary thinking;<br/>
+What became his clothing;<br/>
+Who carried on a disguise,<br/>
+Owing to the wilds of the country,<br/>
+In the beginning?<br/>
+Wherefore should a stone be hard;<br/>
+Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed?<br/>
+Who is hard like a flint;<br/>
+Who is salt like brine;<br/>
+Who sweet like honey;<br/>
+Who rides on the gale;<br/>
+Why ridged should be the nose;<br/>
+Why should a wheel be round;<br/>
+Why should the tongue be gifted with speech<br/>
+Rather than another member?<br/>
+If thy bards, Heinin, be competent,<br/>
+Let them reply to me, Taliesin.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And after that he sang the address which is called &ldquo;The
+Reproof of the Bards.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;If thou art a bard completely imbued<br/>
+With genius not to be controlled,<br/>
+Be thou not untractable<br/>
+Within the court of thy king;<br/>
+Until thy rigmarole shall be known,<br/>
+Be thou silent, Heinin,<br/>
+As to the name of thy verse,<br/>
+And the name of thy vaunting;<br/>
+And as to the name of thy grandsire<br/>
+Prior to his being baptized.<br/>
+And the name of the sphere,<br/>
+And the name of the element,<br/>
+And the name of thy language,<br/>
+And the name of thy region.<br/>
+Avaunt, ye bards above,<br/>
+Avaunt, ye bards below!<br/>
+My beloved is below,<br/>
+In the fetter of Arianrod<br/>
+It is certain you know not<br/>
+How to understand the song I utter,<br/>
+Nor clearly how to discriminate<br/>
+Between the truth and what is false;<br/>
+Puny bards, crows of the district,<br/>
+Why do you not take to flight?<br/>
+A bard that will not silence me,<br/>
+Silence may he not obtain,<br/>
+Till he goes to be covered<br/>
+Under gravel and pebbles;<br/>
+Such as shall listen to me,<br/>
+May God listen to him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then sang he the piece called &ldquo;The Spite of the
+Bards.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;Minstrels persevere in their false
+custom,<br/>
+Immoral ditties are their delight;<br/>
+Vain and tasteless praise they recite;<br/>
+Falsehood at all times do they utter;<br/>
+The innocent persons they ridicule;<br/>
+Married women they destroy,<br/>
+Innocent virgins of Mary they corrupt;<br/>
+As they pass their lives away in vanity,<br/>
+Poor innocent persons they ridicule;<br/>
+At night they get drunk, they sleep the day;<br/>
+In idleness without work they feed themselves;<br/>
+The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent;<br/>
+With thieves and perjured fellows they associate;<br/>
+At courts they inquire after feasts;<br/>
+Every senseless word they bring forward;<br/>
+Every deadly sin they praise;<br/>
+Every vile course of life they lead;<br/>
+Through every village, town, and country they stroll;<br/>
+Concerning the gripe of death they think not;<br/>
+Neither lodging nor charity do they give;<br/>
+Indulging in victuals to excess.<br/>
+Psalms or prayers they do not use,<br/>
+Tithes or offerings to God they do not pay,<br/>
+On holidays or Sundays they do not worship;<br/>
+Vigils or festivals they do not heed.<br/>
+The birds do fly, the fish do swim,<br/>
+The bees collect honey, worms do crawl,<br/>
+Every thing travails to obtain its food,<br/>
+Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+I deride neither song nor minstrelsy,<br/>
+For they are given by God to lighten thought;<br/>
+But him who abuses them,<br/>
+For blaspheming Jesus and his service.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and having
+protected the innocence of his wife, and silenced the Bards, so
+that not one of them dared to say a word, now brought
+Elphin&rsquo;s wife before them, and showed that she had not one
+finger wanting. Right glad was Elphin, right glad was
+Taliesin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he bade Elphin wager the king, that he had a horse both
+better and swifter than the king&rsquo;s horses. And this
+Elphin did, and the day, and the time, and the place were fixed,
+and the place was that which at this day is called Morva
+Rhiannedd: and thither the king went with all his people, and
+four-and-twenty of the swiftest horses he possessed. And
+after a long process the course was marked, and the horses were
+placed for running. Then came Taliesin with four-and-twenty
+twigs of holly, which he had burnt black, and he caused the youth
+who was to ride his master&rsquo;s horse to place them in his
+belt, and he gave him orders to let all the king&rsquo;s horses
+get before him, and as he should overtake one horse after the
+other, to take one of the twigs and strike the horse with it over
+the crupper, and then let that twig fall; and after that to take
+another twig, and do in like manner to every one of the horses,
+as he should overtake them, enjoining the horseman strictly to
+watch when his own horse should stumble, and to throw down his
+cap on the spot. All these things did the youth fulfil,
+giving a blow to every one of the king&rsquo;s horses, and
+throwing down his cap on the spot where his horse stumbled.
+And to this spot Taliesin brought his master after his horse had
+won the race. And he caused Elphin to put workmen to dig a
+hole there; and when they had dug the ground deep enough, they
+found a large cauldron full of gold. And then said
+Taliesin, &ldquo;Elphin, behold a payment and reward unto thee,
+for having taken me out of the weir, and for having reared me
+from that time until now.&rdquo; And on this spot stands a
+pool of water, which is to this time called Pwllbair.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After all this, the king caused Taliesin to be brought before
+him, and he asked him to recite concerning the creation of man
+from the beginning; and thereupon he made the poem which is now
+called &ldquo;One of the Four Pillars of Song.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+&ldquo;The Almighty made,<br/>
+Down the Hebron vale,<br/>
+With his plastic hands,<br/>
+    Adam&rsquo;s fair form:
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+And five hundred years,<br/>
+Void of any help,<br/>
+There he remained and lay<br/>
+    Without a soul.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+He again did form,<br/>
+In calm paradise,<br/>
+From a left-side rib,<br/>
+    Bliss-throbbing Eve.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Seven hours they were<br/>
+The orchard keeping,<br/>
+Till Satan brought strife,<br/>
+    With wiles from hell.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Thence were they driven,<br/>
+Cold and shivering,<br/>
+To gain their living,<br/>
+    Into this world.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+To bring forth with pain<br/>
+Their sons and daughters,<br/>
+To have possession<br/>
+    Of Asia&rsquo;s land.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Twice five, ten and eight,<br/>
+She was self-bearing,<br/>
+The mixed burden<br/>
+    Of man-woman.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+And once, not hidden,<br/>
+She brought forth Abel,<br/>
+And Cain the forlorn,<br/>
+    The homicide.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+To him and his mate<br/>
+Was given a spade,<br/>
+To break up the soil,<br/>
+    Thus to get bread.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+The wheat pure and white,<br/>
+Summer tilth to sow,<br/>
+Every man to feed,<br/>
+    Till great yule feast.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+An angelic hand<br/>
+From the high Father,<br/>
+Brought seed for growing<br/>
+    That Eve might sow;
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+But she then did hide<br/>
+Of the gift a tenth,<br/>
+And all did not sow<br/>
+    Of what was dug.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Black rye then was found,<br/>
+And not pure wheat grain,<br/>
+To show the mischief<br/>
+    Thus of thieving.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+For this thievish act,<br/>
+It is requisite,<br/>
+That all men should pay<br/>
+    Tithe unto God.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Of the ruddy wine,<br/>
+Planted on sunny days,<br/>
+And on new-moon nights;<br/>
+    And the white wine.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+The wheat rich in grain<br/>
+And red flowing wine<br/>
+Christ&rsquo;s pure body make,<br/>
+    Son of Alpha.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+The wafer is flesh,<br/>
+The wine is spilt blood,<br/>
+The Trinity&rsquo;s words<br/>
+    Sanctify them.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+The concealed books<br/>
+From Emmanuel&rsquo;s hand<br/>
+Were brought by Raphael<br/>
+    As Adam&rsquo;s gift,
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+When in his old age,<br/>
+To his chin immersed<br/>
+In Jordan&rsquo;s water,<br/>
+    Keeping a fast,
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Moses did obtain<br/>
+In Jordan&rsquo;s water,<br/>
+The aid of the three<br/>
+    Most special rods.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Solomon did obtain<br/>
+In Babel&rsquo;s tower,<br/>
+All the sciences<br/>
+    In Asia land.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+So did I obtain,<br/>
+In my bardic books,<br/>
+All the sciences<br/>
+    Of Europe and Africa.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Their course, their bearing,<br/>
+Their permitted way,<br/>
+And their fate I know,<br/>
+    Unto the end.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Oh! what misery,<br/>
+Through extreme of woe,<br/>
+Prophecy will show<br/>
+    On Troia&rsquo;s race!
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+A coiling serpent<br/>
+Proud and merciless,<br/>
+On her golden wings,<br/>
+    From Germany.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+She will overrun<br/>
+England and Scotland,<br/>
+From Lychlyn sea-shore<br/>
+    To the Severn.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Then will the Brython<br/>
+Be as prisoners,<br/>
+By strangers swayed,<br/>
+    From Saxony.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Their Lord they will praise,<br/>
+Their speech they will keep,<br/>
+Their land they will lose,<br/>
+    Except wild Walia.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Till some change shall come,<br/>
+After long penance,<br/>
+When equally rife<br/>
+    The two crimes come.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+Britons then shall have<br/>
+Their land and their crown,<br/>
+And the stranger swarm<br/>
+    Shall disappear.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poetry">
+All the angel&rsquo;s words,<br/>
+As to peace and war,<br/>
+Will be fulfilled<br/>
+    To Britain&rsquo;s race.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He further told the king various prophecies of things that
+should be in the world, in songs, as follows.
+</p>
+
+<p style="text-align: center">* * * * *
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2>FOOTNOTES</h2>
+
+<p>
+<a name="footnote1"></a><a href="#citation1"
+class="footnote">[1]</a> It is also stated, that there is
+in the Hengwrt Library, a MS. containing the Graal in Welsh, as
+early as the time of Henry I. I had hoped to have added
+this to the present collection; but the death of Col. Vaughan, to
+whom I applied, and other subsequent circumstances, have
+prevented me from obtaining access to it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<a name="footnote2"></a><a href="#citation2"
+class="footnote">[2]</a> Hades.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<a name="footnote3"></a><a href="#citation3"
+class="footnote">[3]</a> The word &ldquo;Pryder&rdquo; or
+&ldquo;Pryderi&rdquo; means anxiety.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<a name="footnote4"></a><a href="#citation4"
+class="footnote">[4]</a> The version in the Greal adds,
+&ldquo;And their coin was fairy money;&rdquo; literally,
+dwarf&rsquo;s money: that is, money which, when received,
+appeared to be good coin, but which, if kept, turned into pieces
+of fungus, &amp;c.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<a name="footnote5"></a><a href="#citation5"
+class="footnote">[5]</a> This dialogue consists of a series
+of repartees with a play upon words, which it is impossible to
+follow in the translation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<a name="footnote6"></a><a href="#citation6"
+class="footnote">[6]</a> Taliesin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<a name="footnote7"></a><a href="#citation7"
+class="footnote">[7]</a> The mention of Gwyddno Garanhir
+instead of Elphin ab Gwyddno in this place is evidently an error
+of some transcriber of the MS.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mabinogion
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+Title: The Mabinogion
+
+Translator: Lady Charlotte Guest
+
+Release Date: February, 2004  [EBook #5160]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on May 22, 2002]
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+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MABINOGION ***
+
+
+
+
+Transcribed from the 1849 edition text by David Price, email
+ccx074@coventry.ac.uk
+
+
+
+
+THE MABINOGION
+TRANSLATED BY LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST
+
+
+
+
+Contents:
+   Introduction
+   The Lady of the Fountain
+   Peredur the Son of Evrawc
+   Geraint the son of Erbin
+   Kilhwch and Olwen
+   The dream of Rhonabwy
+   Pwyll Prince of Dyved
+   Branwen the daughter of Llyr
+   Manawyddan the son of Llyr
+   Math the son of Mathonwy
+   The dream of Maxen Wledig
+   The story of Lludd and Llevelys
+   Taliesin
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+
+Whilst engaged on the Translations contained in these volumes, and on
+the Notes appended to the various Tales, I have found myself led
+unavoidably into a much more extensive course of reading than I had
+originally contemplated, and one which in great measure bears
+directly upon the earlier Mediaeval Romance.
+
+Before commencing these labours, I was aware, generally, that there
+existed a connexion between the Welsh Mabinogion and the Romance of
+the Continent; but as I advanced, I became better acquainted with the
+closeness and extent of that connexion, its history, and the proofs
+by which it is supported.
+
+At the same time, indeed, I became aware, and still strongly feel,
+that it is one thing to collect facts, and quite another to classify
+and draw from them their legitimate conclusions; and though I am loth
+that what has been collected with some pains, should be entirely
+thrown away, it is unwillingly, and with diffidence, that I trespass
+beyond the acknowledged province of a translator.
+
+In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there arose into general
+notoriety in Europe, a body of "Romance," which in various forms
+retained its popularity till the Reformation.  In it the plot, the
+incidents, the characters, were almost wholly those of Chivalry, that
+bond which united the warriors of France, Spain, and Italy, with
+those of pure Teutonic descent, and embraced more or less firmly all
+the nations of Europe, excepting only the Slavonic races, not yet
+risen to power, and the Celts, who had fallen from it.  It is not
+difficult to account for this latter omission.  The Celts, driven
+from the plains into the mountains and islands, preserved their
+liberty, and hated their oppressors with fierce, and not causeless,
+hatred.  A proud and free people, isolated both in country and
+language, were not likely to adopt customs which implied brotherhood
+with their foes.
+
+Such being the case, it is remarkable that when the chief romances
+are examined, the name of many of the heroes and their scenes of
+action are found to be Celtic, and those of persons and places famous
+in the traditions of Wales and Brittany.  Of this the romances of
+Ywaine and Gawaine, Sir Perceval de Galles, Eric and Enide, Mort
+d'Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristan, the Graal, &c., may be cited as
+examples.  In some cases a tendency to triads, and other matters of
+internal evidence, point in the same direction.
+
+It may seem difficult to account for this.  Although the ancient
+dominion of the Celts over Europe is not without enduring evidence in
+the names of the mountains and streams, the great features of a
+country, yet the loss of their prior language by the great mass of
+the Celtic nations in Southern Europe (if indeed their successors in
+territory be at all of their blood), prevents us from clearly seeing,
+and makes us wonder, how stories, originally embodied in the Celtic
+dialects of Great Britain and France, could so influence the
+literature of nations to whom the Celtic languages were utterly
+unknown.  Whence then came these internal marks, and these proper
+names of persons and places, the features of a story usually of
+earliest date and least likely to change?
+
+These romances were found in England, France, Germany, Norway,
+Sweden, and even Iceland, as early as the beginning of the thirteenth
+and end of the twelfth century.  The Germans, who propagated them
+through the nations of the North, derived them certainly from France.
+Robert Wace published his Anglo-Norman Romance of the Brut
+d'Angleterre about 1155.  Sir Tristan was written in French prose in
+1170; and The Chevalier au Lion, Chevalier de l'Epee, and Sir
+Lancelot du Lac, in metrical French, by Chrestien de Troyes, before
+1200.
+
+From these facts it is to be argued that the further back these
+romances are traced, the more clearly does it appear that they spread
+over the Continent from the North-west of France.  The older
+versions, it may be remarked, are far more simple than the later
+corruptions.  In them there is less allusion to the habits and usages
+of Chivalry, and the Welsh names and elements stand out in stronger
+relief.  It is a great step to be able to trace the stocks of these
+romances back to Wace, or to his country and age.  For Wace's work
+was not original.  He himself, a native of Jersey, appears to have
+derived much of it from the "Historia Britonum" of Gruffydd ab
+Arthur, commonly known as "Geoffrey of Monmouth," born 1128, who
+himself professes to have translated from a British original.  It is,
+however, very possible that Wace may have had access, like Geoffrey,
+to independent sources of information.
+
+To the claims set up on behalf of Wace and Geoffrey, to be regarded
+as the channels by which the Cymric tales passed into the Continental
+Romance, may be added those of a third almost contemporary author.
+Layamon, a Saxon priest, dwelling, about 1200, upon the banks of the
+upper Severn, acknowledges for the source of his British history, the
+English Bede, the Latin Albin, and the French Wace.  The last-named
+however is by very much his chief, and, for Welsh matters, his only
+avowed authority.  His book, nevertheless, contains a number of names
+and stories relating to Wales, of which no traces appear in Wace, or
+indeed in Geoffrey, but which he was certainly in a very favourable
+position to obtain for himself.  Layamon, therefore, not only
+confirms Geoffrey in some points, but it is clear, that, professing
+to follow Wace, he had independent access to the great body of Welsh
+literature then current.  Sir F. Madden has put this matter very
+clearly, in his recent edition of Layamon.  The Abbe de la Rue, also,
+was of opinion that Gaimar, an Anglo-Norman, in the reign of Stephen,
+usually regarded as a translator of Geoffrey of Monmouth, had access
+to a Welsh independent authority.
+
+In addition to these, is to be mentioned the English version of Sir
+Tristrem, which Sir Walter Scott considered to be derived from a
+distinct Celtic source, and not, like the later Amadis, Palmerin, and
+Lord Berners's Canon of Romance, imported into English literature by
+translation from the French.  For the Auntours of Arthur, recently
+published by the Camden Society, their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to
+hint at a similar claim.
+
+Here then are various known channels, by which portions of Welsh and
+Armoric fiction crossed the Celtic border, and gave rise to the more
+ornate, and widely-spread romance of the Age of Chivalry.  It is not
+improbable that there may have existed many others.  It appears then
+that a large portion of the stocks of Mediaeval Romance proceeded
+from Wales.  We have next to see in what condition they are still
+found in that country.
+
+That Wales possessed an ancient literature, containing various lyric
+compositions, and certain triads, in which are arranged historical
+facts or moral aphorisms, has been shown by Sharon Turner, who has
+established the high antiquity of many of these compositions.
+
+The more strictly Romantic Literature of Wales has been less
+fortunate, though not less deserving of critical attention.  Small
+portions only of it have hitherto appeared in print, the remainder
+being still hidden in the obscurity of ancient Manuscripts:  of these
+the chief is supposed to be the Red Book of Hergest, now in the
+Library of Jesus College, Oxford, and of the fourteenth century.
+This contains, besides poems, the prose romances known as Mabinogion.
+The Black Book of Caermarthen, preserved at Hengwrt, and considered
+not to be of later date than the twelfth century, is said to contain
+poems only. {1}
+
+The Mabinogion, however, though thus early recorded in the Welsh
+tongue, are in their existing form by no means wholly Welsh.  They
+are of two tolerably distinct classes.  Of these, the older contains
+few allusions to Norman customs, manners, arts, arms, and luxuries.
+The other, and less ancient, are full of such allusions, and of
+ecclesiastical terms.  Both classes, no doubt, are equally of Welsh
+root, but the former are not more overlaid or corrupted, than might
+have been expected, from the communication that so early took place
+between the Normans and the Welsh; whereas the latter probably
+migrated from Wales, and were brought back and re-translated after an
+absence of centuries, with a load of Norman additions.  Kilhwch and
+Olwen, and the dream of Rhonabwy, may be cited as examples of the
+older and purer class; the Lady of the Fountain, Peredur, and Geraint
+ab Erbin, of the later, or decorated.
+
+Besides these, indeed, there are a few tales, as Amlyn and Amic, Sir
+Bevis of Hamtoun, the Seven Wise Masters, and the story of
+Charlemagne, so obviously of foreign extraction, and of late
+introduction into Wales, not presenting even a Welsh name, or
+allusion, and of such very slender intrinsic merit, that although
+comprised in the Llyvr Coch, they have not a shadow of claim to form
+part of the Canon of Welsh Romance.  Therefore, although I have
+translated and examined them, I have given them no place in these
+volumes.
+
+There is one argument in favour of the high antiquity in Wales of
+many of the Mabinogion, which deserves to be mentioned here.  This
+argument is founded on the topography of the country.  It is found
+that Saxon names of places are very frequently definitions of the
+nature of the locality to which they are attached, as Clifton,
+Deepden, Bridge-ford, Thorpe, Ham, Wick, and the like; whereas those
+of Wales are more frequently commemorative of some event, real or
+supposed, said to have happened on or near the spot, or bearing
+allusion to some person renowned in the story of the country or
+district.  Such are "Llyn y Morwynion," the Lake of the Maidens;
+"Rhyd y Bedd," the Ford of the Grave; "Bryn Cyfergyr," the Hill of
+Assault; and so on.  But as these names could not have preceded the
+events to which they refer, the events themselves must be not
+unfrequently as old as the early settlement in the country.  And as
+some of these events and fictions are the subjects of, and are
+explained by, existing Welsh legends, it follows that the legends
+must be, in some shape or other, of very remote antiquity.  It will
+be observed that this argument supports REMOTE antiquity only for
+such legends as are connected with the greater topographical
+features, as mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, which must have been
+named at an early period in the inhabitation of the country by man.
+But there exist, also, legends connected with the lesser features, as
+pools, hills, detached rocks, caves, fords, and the like, places not
+necessarily named by the earlier settlers, but the names of which
+are, nevertheless, probably very old, since the words of which they
+are composed are in many cases not retained in the colloquial tongue,
+in which they must once have been included, and are in some instances
+lost from the language altogether, so much so as to be only partially
+explicable even by scholars.  The argument applies likewise, in their
+degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial earth-works.
+
+Conclusions thus drawn, when established, rest upon a very firm
+basis.  They depend upon the number and appositeness of the facts,
+and it would be very interesting to pursue this branch of evidence in
+detail.  In following up this idea, the names to be sought for might
+thus be classed:-
+
+I.  Names of the great features, involving proper names and actions.
+
+Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur both involve more than a mere name.
+Idris and Arthur must have been invested with heroic qualifications
+to have been placed in such "seats."
+
+II.  Names of lesser features, as "Bryn y Saeth," Hill of the Dart;
+"Llyn Llyngclys," Lake of the Engulphed Court; "Ceven y Bedd," the
+Ridge of the Grave; "Rhyd y Saeson," the Saxons' Ford.
+
+III.  Names of mixed natural and artificial objects, as "Coeten
+Arthur," Arthur's Coit; "Cerrig y Drudion," the Crag of the Heroes;
+which involve actions.  And such as embody proper names only, as
+"Cerrig Howell," the Crag of Howell; "Caer Arianrod," the Camp of
+Arianrod; "Bron Goronwy," the Breast (of the Hill) of Goronwy;
+"Castell mab Wynion," the Castle of the son of Wynion; "Nant
+Gwrtheyrn," the Rill of Vortigern.
+
+The selection of names would demand much care and discretion.  The
+translations should be indisputable, and, where known, the connexion
+of a name with a legend should be noted.  Such a name as "Mochdrev,"
+Swine-town, would be valueless unless accompanied by a legend.
+
+It is always valuable to find a place or work called after an
+individual, because it may help to support some tradition of his
+existence or his actions.  But it is requisite that care be taken not
+to push the etymological dissection too far.  Thus, "Caer Arianrod"
+should be taken simply as the "Camp of Arianrod," and not rendered
+the "Camp of the silver circle," because the latter, though it might
+possibly have something to do with the reason for which the name was
+borne by Arianrod herself, had clearly no reference to its
+application to her camp.
+
+It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has been advanced:-
+
+I.  That we have throughout Europe, at an early period, a great body
+of literature, known as Mediaeval Romance, which, amidst much that is
+wholly of Teutonic origin and character, includes certain well-marked
+traces of an older Celtic nucleus.
+
+II.  Proceeding backwards in time, we find these romances, their
+ornaments falling away at each step, existing towards the twelfth
+century, of simpler structure, and with less encumbered Celtic
+features, in the works of Wace, and other Bards of the Langue d'Oil.
+
+III.  We find that Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, and other early
+British and Anglo-Saxon historians, and minstrels, on the one hand,
+transmitted to Europe the rudiments of its after romance, much of
+which, on the other hand, they drew from Wales.
+
+IV.  Crossing into Wales we find, in the Mabinogion, the evident
+counterpart of the Celtic portion of the continental romance, mixed
+up, indeed, with various reflex additions from beyond the border, but
+still containing ample internal evidence of a Welsh original.
+
+V.  Looking at the connexion between divers of the more ancient
+Mabinogion, and the topographical nomenclature of part of the
+country, we find evidence of the great, though indefinite, antiquity
+of these tales, and of an origin, which, if not indigenous, is
+certainly derived from no European nation.
+
+It was with a general belief in some of these conclusions, that I
+commenced my labours, and I end them with my impressions strongly
+confirmed.  The subject is one not unworthy of the talents of a Llwyd
+or a Prichard.  It might, I think, be shown, by pursuing the inquiry,
+that the Cymric nation is not only, as Dr. Prichard has proved it to
+be, an early offshoot of the Indo-European family, and a people of
+unmixed descent, but that when driven out of their conquests by the
+later nations, the names and exploits of their heroes, and the
+compositions of their bards, spread far and wide among the invaders,
+and affected intimately their tastes and literature for many
+centuries, and that it has strong claims to be considered the cradle
+of European Romance.
+
+C. E. G.
+DOWLAIS, August 29th, 1848.
+
+
+
+THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN
+
+
+
+King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his
+chamber; and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son
+of Clydno, and Kai the son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her
+handmaidens at needlework by the window.  And if it should be said
+that there was a porter at Arthur's palace, there was none.  Glewlwyd
+Gavaelvawr was there, acting as porter, to welcome guests and
+strangers, and to receive them with honour, and to inform them of the
+manners and customs of the Court; and to direct those who came to the
+Hall or to the presence-chamber, and those who came to take up their
+lodging.
+
+In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of green
+rushes, over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured satin, and
+a cushion of red satin was under his elbow.
+
+Then Arthur spoke, "If I thought you would not disparage me," said
+he, "I would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can entertain
+one another with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon of mead and
+some meat from Kai."  And the King went to sleep.  And Kynon the son
+of Clydno asked Kai for that which Arthur had promised them.  "I,
+too, will have the good tale which he promised to me," said Kai.
+"Nay," answered Kynon, "fairer will it be for thee to fulfill
+Arthur's behest, in the first place, and then we will tell thee the
+best tale that we know."  So Kai went to the kitchen and to the mead-
+cellar, and returned bearing a flagon of mead and a golden goblet,
+and a handful of skewers, upon which were broiled collops of meat.
+Then they ate the collops and began to drink the mead.  "Now," said
+Kai, "it is time for you to give me my story."  "Kynon," said Owain,
+"do thou pay to Kai the tale that is his due."  "Truly," said Kynon,
+"thou are older, and art a better teller of tales, and hast seen more
+marvellous things than I; do thou therefore pay Kai his tale."
+"Begin thyself," quoth Owain, "with the best that thou knowest."  "I
+will do so," answered Kynon.
+
+"I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly
+aspiring, and my daring was very great.  I thought there was no
+enterprise in the world too mighty for me, and after I had achieved
+all the adventures that were in my own country, I equipped myself,
+and set forth to journey through deserts and distant regions.  And at
+length it chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world,
+wherein were trees of equal growth; and a river ran through the
+valley, and a path was by the side of the river.  And I followed the
+path until mid-day, and continued my journey along the remainder of
+the valley until the evening; and at the extremity of a plain I came
+to a large and lustrous Castle, at the foot of which was a torrent.
+And I approached the Castle, and there I beheld two youths with
+yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and
+clad in a garment of yellow satin, and they had gold clasps upon
+their insteps.  In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung
+with the sinews of the stag; and their arrows had shafts of the bone
+of the whale, and were winged with peacock's feathers; the shafts
+also had golden heads.  And they had daggers with blades of gold, and
+with hilts of the bone of the whale.  And they were shooting their
+daggers.
+
+"And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of life, with
+his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of yellow satin;
+and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace.  On his feet
+were shoes of variegated leather, fastened by two bosses of gold.
+When I saw him, I went towards him and saluted him, and such was his
+courtesy that he no sooner received my greeting than he returned it.
+And he went with me towards the Castle.  Now there were no dwellers
+in the Castle except those who were in one hall.  And there I saw
+four-and-twenty damsels, embroidering satin at a window.  And this I
+tell thee, Kai, that the least fair of them was fairer than the
+fairest maid thou hast ever beheld in the Island of Britain, and the
+least lovely of them was more lovely than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of
+Arthur, when she has appeared loveliest at the Offering, on the day
+of the Nativity, or at the feast of Easter.  They rose up at my
+coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me of my armour;
+and six others took my arms, and washed them in a vessel until they
+were perfectly bright.  And the third six spread cloths upon the
+tables and prepared meat.  And the fourth six took off my soiled
+garments, and placed others upon me; namely, an under-vest and a
+doublet of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of
+yellow satin with a broad gold band upon the mantle.  And they placed
+cushions both beneath and around me, with coverings of red linen; and
+I sat down.  Now the six maidens who had taken my horse, unharnessed
+him, as well as if they had been the best squires in the Island of
+Britain.  Then, behold, they brought bowls of silver wherein was
+water to wash, and towels of linen, some green and some white; and I
+washed.  And in a little while the man sat down to the table.  And I
+sat next to him, and below me sat all the maidens, except those who
+waited on us.  And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the
+table were of linen; and no vessel was served upon the table that was
+not either of gold or of silver, or of buffalo-horn.  And our meat
+was brought to us.  And verily, Kai, I saw there every sort of meat
+and every sort of liquor that I have ever seen elsewhere; but the
+meat and the liquor were better served there than I have ever seen
+them in any other place.
+
+"Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one of the
+damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceived that it
+would be more agreeable to me to converse than to eat any more, he
+began to inquire of me who I was.  I said I was glad to find that
+there was some one who would discourse with me, and that it was not
+considered so great a crime at that Court for people to hold converse
+together. 'Chieftain,' said the man, 'we would have talked to thee
+sooner, but we feared to disturb thee during thy repast; now,
+however, we will discourse.'  Then I told the man who I was, and what
+was the cause of my journey; and said that I was seeking whether any
+one was superior to me, or whether I could gain the mastery over all.
+The man looked upon me, and he smiled and said, 'If I did not fear to
+distress thee too much, I would show thee that which thou seekest.'
+Upon this I became anxious and sorrowful, and when the man perceived
+it, he said, 'If thou wouldest rather that I should show thee thy
+disadvantage than thine advantage, I will do so.  Sleep here to-
+night, and in the morning arise early, and take the road upwards
+through the valley until thou reachest the wood through which thou
+camest hither.  A little way within the wood thou wilt meet with a
+road branching off to the right, by which thou must proceed, until
+thou comest to a large sheltered glade with a mound in the centre.
+And thou wilt see a black man of great stature on the top of the
+mound.  He is not smaller in size than two of the men of this world.
+He has but one foot; and one eye in the middle of his forehead.  And
+he has a club of iron, and it is certain that there are no two men in
+the world who would not find their burden in that club.  And he is
+not a comely man, but on the contrary he is exceedingly ill-favoured;
+and he is the woodward of that wood.  And thou wilt see a thousand
+wild animals grazing around him.  Inquire of him the way out of the
+glade, and he will reply to thee briefly, and will point out the road
+by which thou shalt find that which thou art in quest of.'
+
+"And long seemed that night to me.  And the next morning I arose and
+equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straight through
+the valley to the wood; and I followed the cross-road which the man
+had pointed out to me, till at length I arrived at the glade.  And
+there was I three times more astonished at the number of wild animals
+that I beheld, than the man had said I should be.  And the black man
+was there, sitting upon the top of the mound.  Huge of stature as the
+man had told me that he was, I found him to exceed by far the
+description he had given me of him.  As for the iron club which the
+man had told me was a burden for two men, I am certain, Kai, that it
+would be a heavy weight for four warriors to lift; and this was in
+the black man's hand.  And he only spoke to me in answer to my
+questions.  Then I asked him what power he held over those animals.
+'I will show thee, little man,' said he.  And he took his club in his
+hand, and with it he struck a stag a great blow so that he brayed
+vehemently, and at his braying the animals came together, as numerous
+as the stars in the sky, so that it was difficult for me to find room
+in the glade to stand among them.  There were serpents, and dragons,
+and divers sorts of animals.  And he looked at them, and bade them go
+and feed; and they bowed their heads, and did him homage as vassals
+to their lord.
+
+"Then the black man said to me, 'Seest thou now, little man, what
+power I hold over these animals?'  Then I inquired of him the way,
+and he became very rough in his manner to me; however, he asked me
+whither I would go?  And when I told him who I was and what I sought,
+he directed me.  'Take,' said he, 'that path that leads towards the
+head of the glade, and ascend the wooded steep until thou comest to
+its summit; and there thou wilt find an open space like to a large
+valley, and in the midst of it a tall tree, whose branches are
+greener than the greenest pine-trees.  Under this tree is a fountain,
+and by the side of the fountain a marble slab, and on the marble slab
+a silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, so that it may not be
+carried away.  Take the bowl and throw a bowlful of water upon the
+slab, and thou wilt hear a mighty peal of thunder, so that thou wilt
+think that heaven and earth are trembling with its fury.  With the
+thunder there will come a shower so severe that it will be scarce
+possible for thee to endure it and live.  And the shower will be of
+hailstones; and after the shower, the weather will become fair, but
+every leaf that was upon the tree will have been carried away by the
+shower.  Then a flight of birds will come and alight upon the tree;
+and in thine own country thou didst never hear a strain so sweet as
+that which they will sing.  And at the moment thou art most delighted
+with the song of the birds, thou wilt hear a murmuring and
+complaining coming towards thee along the valley.  And thou wilt see
+a knight upon a coal-black horse, clothed in black velvet, and with a
+pennon of black linen upon his lance; and he will ride unto thee to
+encounter thee with the utmost speed.  If thou fleest from him he
+will overtake thee, and if thou abidest there, as sure as thou art a
+mounted knight, he will leave thee on foot.  And if thou dost not
+find trouble in that adventure, thou needest not seek it during the
+rest of thy life.'
+
+"So I journeyed on, until I reached the summit of the steep, and
+there I found everything as the black man had described it to me.
+And I went up to the tree, and beneath it I saw the fountain, and by
+its side the marble slab, and the silver bowl fastened by the chain.
+Then I took the bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab; and
+thereupon, behold, the thunder came, much more violent than the black
+man had led me to expect; and after the thunder came the shower; and
+of a truth I tell thee, Kai, that there is neither man nor beast that
+can endure that shower and live.  For not one of those hailstones
+would be stopped, either by the flesh or by the skin, until it had
+reached the bone.  I turned my horse's flank towards the shower, and
+placed the beak of my shield over his head and neck, while I held the
+upper part of it over my own head.  And thus I withstood the shower.
+When I looked on the tree there was not a single leaf upon it, and
+then the sky became clear, and with that, behold the birds lighted
+upon the tree, and sang.  And truly, Kai, I never heard any melody
+equal to that, either before or since.  And when I was most charmed
+with listening to the birds, lo, a murmuring voice was heard through
+the valley, approaching me and saying, 'Oh, Knight, what has brought
+thee hither?  What evil have I done to thee, that thou shouldst act
+towards me and my possessions as thou hast this day?  Dost thou not
+know that the shower to-day has left in my dominions neither man nor
+beast alive that was exposed to it?'  And thereupon, behold, a Knight
+on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, and with a
+tabard of black linen about him.  And we charged each other, and, as
+the onset was furious, it was not long before I was overthrown.  Then
+the Knight passed the shaft of his lance through the bridle rein of
+my horse, and rode off with the two horses, leaving me where I was.
+And he did not even bestow so much notice upon me as to imprison me,
+nor did he despoil me of my arms.  So I returned along the road by
+which I had come.  And when I reached the glade where the black man
+was, I confess to thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did not melt down
+into a liquid pool, through the shame that I felt at the black man's
+derision.  And that night I came to the same castle where I had spent
+the night preceding.  And I was more agreeably entertained that night
+than I had been the night before; and I was better feasted, and I
+conversed freely with the inmates of the castle, and none of them
+alluded to my expedition to the fountain, neither did I mention it to
+any; and I remained there that night.  When I arose on the morrow, I
+found, ready saddled, a dark bay palfrey, with nostrils as red as
+scarlet; and after putting on my armour, and leaving there my
+blessing, I returned to my own Court.  And that horse I still
+possess, and he is in the stable yonder.  And I declare that I would
+not part with him for the best palfrey in the Island of Britain.
+
+"Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to an adventure so
+much to his own discredit, and verily it seems strange to me, that
+neither before nor since have I heard of any person besides myself
+who knew of this adventure, and that the subject of it should exist
+within King Arthur's dominions, without any other person lighting
+upon it."
+
+"Now," quoth Owain, "would it not be well to go and endeavour to
+discover that place?"
+
+"By the hand of my friend," said Kai, "often dost thou utter that
+with thy tongue which thou wouldst not make good with thy deeds."
+
+"In very truth," said Gwenhwyvar, "it were better thou wert hanged,
+Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech towards a man like Owain."
+
+"By the hand of my friend, good Lady," said Kai, "thy praise of Owain
+is not greater than mine."
+
+With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping a
+little.
+
+"Yes, Lord," answered Owain, "thou hast slept awhile."
+
+"Is it time for us to go to meat?"
+
+"It is, Lord," said Owain.
+
+Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and all his
+household sat down to eat.  And when the meal was ended, Owain
+withdrew to his lodging, and made ready his horse and his arms.
+
+On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his armour, and
+mounted his charger, and travelled through distant lands and over
+desert mountains.  And at length he arrived at the valley which Kynon
+had described to him; and he was certain that it was the same that he
+sought.  And journeying along the valley by the side of the river, he
+followed its course till he came to the plain and within sight of the
+Castle.  When he approached the Castle, he saw the youths shooting
+their daggers in the place where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow
+man, to whom the Castle belonged, standing hard by.  And no sooner
+had Owain saluted the yellow man than he was saluted by him in
+return.
+
+And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the chamber,
+and when he had entered the chamber he beheld the maidens working at
+satin embroidery, in chairs of gold.  And their beauty and their
+comeliness seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented to
+him.  And they rose to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon,
+and the meal which they set before him gave more satisfaction to
+Owain than it had done to Kynon.
+
+About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the object
+of his journey.  And Owain made it known to him, and said, "I am in
+quest of the Knight who guards the fountain."  Upon this the yellow
+man smiled, and said that he was as loth to point out that adventure
+to Owain as he had been to Kynon.  However, he described the whole to
+Owain, and they retired to rest.
+
+The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by the
+damsels, and he set forward and came to the glade where the black man
+was.  And the stature of the black man seemed more wonderful to Owain
+than it had done to Kynon, and Owain asked of him his road, and he
+showed it to him.  And Owain followed the road, as Kynon had done,
+till he came to the green tree; and he beheld the fountain, and the
+slab beside the fountain, with the bowl upon it.  And Owain took the
+bowl, and threw a bowlful of water upon the slab.  And, lo, the
+thunder was heard, and after the thunder came the shower, much more
+violent than Kynon had described, and after the shower the sky became
+bright.  And when Owain looked at the tree, there was not one leaf
+upon it.  And immediately the birds came, and settled upon the tree,
+and sang.  And when their song was most pleasing to Owain, he beheld
+a Knight coming towards him through the valley, and he prepared to
+receive him; and encountered him violently.  Having broken both their
+lances, they drew their swords, and fought blade to blade.  Then
+Owain struck the Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and
+visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until it
+wounded the very brain.  Then the black Knight felt that he had
+received a mortal wound, upon which he turned his horse's head, and
+fled.  And Owain pursued him, and followed close upon him, although
+he was not near enough to strike him with his sword.  Thereupon Owain
+descried a vast and resplendent Castle.  And they came to the Castle
+gate.  And the black Knight was allowed to enter, and the portcullis
+was let fall upon Owain; and it struck his horse behind the saddle,
+and cut him in two, and carried away the rowels of the spurs that
+were upon Owain's heels.  And the portcullis descended to the floor.
+And the rowels of the spurs and part of the horse were without, and
+Owain with the other part of the horse remained between the two
+gates, and the inner gate was closed, so that Owain could not go
+thence; and Owain was in a perplexing situation.  And while he was in
+this state, he could see through an aperture in the gate, a street
+facing him, with a row of houses on each side.  And he beheld a
+maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet of gold upon her
+head; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin, and on her feet
+were shoes of variegated leather.  And she approached the gate, and
+desired that it should be opened.  "Heaven knows, Lady," said Owain,
+"it is no more possible for me to open to thee from hence, than it is
+for thee to set me free."  "Truly," said the damsel, "it is very sad
+that thou canst not be released, and every woman ought to succour
+thee, for I never saw one more faithful in the service of ladies than
+thou.  As a friend thou art the most sincere, and as a lover the most
+devoted.  Therefore," quoth she, "whatever is in my power to do for
+thy release, I will do it.  Take this ring and put it on thy finger,
+with the stone inside thy hand; and close thy hand upon the stone.
+And as long as thou concealest it, it will conceal thee.  When they
+have consulted together, they will come forth to fetch thee, in order
+to put thee to death; and they will be much grieved that they cannot
+find thee.  And I will await thee on the horseblock yonder; and thou
+wilt be able to see me, though I cannot see thee; therefore come and
+place thy hand upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou art near
+me.  And by the way that I go hence, do thou accompany me."
+
+Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden had
+told him.  And the people of the Castle came to seek Owain, to put
+him to death, and when they found nothing but the half of his horse,
+they were sorely grieved.
+
+And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, and
+placed his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and Owain
+followed her, until they came to the door of a large and beautiful
+chamber, and the maiden opened it, and they went in, and closed the
+door.  And Owain looked around the chamber, and behold there was not
+even a single nail in it that was not painted with gorgeous colours;
+and there was not a single panel that had not sundry images in gold
+portrayed upon it.
+
+The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, and put a
+towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain water to wash.
+Then she placed before him a silver table, inlaid with gold; upon
+which was a cloth of yellow linen; and she brought him food.  And of
+a truth, Owain had never seen any kind of meat that was not there in
+abundance, but it was better cooked there than he had ever found it
+in any other place.  Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of
+meat and drink, as there.  And there was not one vessel from which he
+was served, that was not of gold or of silver.  And Owain ate and
+drank, until late in the afternoon, when lo, they heard a mighty
+clamour in the Castle; and Owain asked the maiden what that outcry
+was.  "They are administering extreme unction," said she, "to the
+Nobleman who owns the Castle."  And Owain went to sleep.
+
+The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was meet for Arthur
+himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and satin, and sendal, and fine
+linen.  In the middle of the night they heard a woful outcry.  "What
+outcry again is this?" said Owain.  "The Nobleman who owned the
+Castle is now dead," said the maiden.  And a little after daybreak,
+they heard an exceeding loud clamour and wailing.  And Owain asked
+the maiden what was the cause of it.  "They are bearing to the church
+the body of the Nobleman who owned the Castle."
+
+And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of the
+chamber, and looked towards the Castle; and he could see neither the
+bounds, nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets.  And
+they were fully armed; and a vast number of women were with them,
+both on horseback and on foot; and all the ecclesiastics in the city,
+singing.  And it seemed to Owain that the sky resounded with the
+vehemence of their cries, and with the noise of the trumpets, and
+with the singing of the ecclesiastics.  In the midst of the throng,
+he beheld the bier, over which was a veil of white linen; and wax
+tapers were burning beside and around it, and none that supported the
+bier was lower in rank than a powerful Baron.
+
+Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with satin, and silk,
+and sendal.  And following the train, he beheld a lady with yellow
+hair falling over her shoulders, and stained with blood; and about
+her a dress of yellow satin, which was torn.  Upon her feet were
+shoes of variegated leather.  And it was a marvel that the ends of
+her fingers were not bruised, from the violence with which she smote
+her hands together.  Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain
+ever saw, had she been in her usual guise.  And her cry was louder
+than the shout of the men, or the clamour of the trumpets.  No sooner
+had he beheld the lady, than he became inflamed with her love, so
+that it took entire possession of him.
+
+Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was.  "Heaven knows,"
+replied the maiden, "she may be said to be the fairest, and the most
+chaste, and the most liberal, and the wisest, and the most noble of
+women.  And she is my mistress; and she is called the Countess of the
+Fountain, the wife of him whom thou didst slay yesterday."  "Verily,"
+said Owain, "she is the woman that I love best."  "Verily," said the
+maiden, "she shall also love thee not a little."
+
+And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a pot
+with water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of white
+linen, and placed it around Owain's neck; and she took a goblet of
+ivory, and a silver basin, and filled them with warm water, wherewith
+she washed Owain's head.  Then she opened a wooden casket, and drew
+forth a razor, whose haft was of ivory, and upon which were two
+rivets of gold.  And she shaved his beard, and she dried his head,
+and his throat, with the towel.  Then she rose up from before Owain,
+and brought him to eat.  And truly Owain had never so good a meal,
+nor was he ever so well served.
+
+When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his couch.
+"Come here," said she, "and sleep, and I will go and woo for thee."
+And Owain went to sleep, and the maiden shut the door of the chamber
+after her, and went towards the Castle.  When she came there, she
+found nothing but mourning, and sorrow; and the Countess in her
+chamber could not bear the sight of any one through grief.  Luned
+came and saluted her, but the Countess answered her not.  And the
+maiden bent down towards her, and said, "What aileth thee, that thou
+answerest no one to-day?"  "Luned," said the Countess, "what change
+hath befallen thee, that thou hast not come to visit me in my grief?
+It was wrong in thee, and I having made thee rich; it was wrong in
+thee that thou didst not come to see me in my distress.  That was
+wrong in thee."  "Truly," said Luned, "I thought thy good sense was
+greater than I find it to be.  Is it well for thee to mourn after
+that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst not have?"  "I
+declare to heaven," said the Countess, "that in the whole world there
+is not a man equal to him."  "Not so," said Luned, "for an ugly man
+would be as good as, or better than he."  "I declare to heaven," said
+the Countess, "that were it not repugnant to me to cause to be put to
+death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee executed, for
+making such a comparison to me.  As it is, I will banish thee."  "I
+am glad," said Luned, "that thou hast no other cause to do so, than
+that I would have been of service to thee where thou didst not know
+what was to thine advantage.  And henceforth evil betide whichever of
+us shall make the first advance towards reconciliation to the other;
+whether I should seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine own
+accord shouldst send to invite me."
+
+With that Luned went forth:  and the Countess arose and followed her
+to the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly.  And when
+Luned looked back, the Countess beckoned to her; and she returned to
+the Countess.  "In truth," said the Countess, "evil is thy
+disposition; but if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it
+to me."  "I will do so," quoth she.
+
+"Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible for
+thee to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to seek some
+one who can defend them."  "And how can I do that?" said the
+Countess.  "I will tell thee," said Luned.  "Unless thou canst defend
+the fountain, thou canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can
+defend the fountain, except it be a knight of Arthur's household; and
+I will go to Arthur's Court, and ill betide me, if I return thence
+without a warrior who can guard the fountain as well as, or even
+better than, he who defended it formerly."  "That will be hard to
+perform," said the Countess.  "Go, however, and make proof of that
+which thou hast promised."
+
+Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur's Court; but she
+went back to the chamber where she had left Owain; and she tarried
+there with him as long as it might have taken her to have travelled
+to the Court of King Arthur.  And at the end of that time, she
+apparelled herself and went to visit the Countess.  And the Countess
+was much rejoiced when she saw her, and inquired what news she
+brought from the Court.  "I bring thee the best of news," said Luned,
+"for I have compassed the object of my mission.  When wilt thou, that
+I should present to thee the chieftain who has come with me hither?"
+"Bring him here to visit me to-morrow, at mid-day," said the
+Countess, "and I will cause the town to be assembled by that time."
+
+And Luned returned home.  And the next day, at noon, Owain arrayed
+himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon
+which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were high shoes
+of variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps, in the
+form of lions.  And they proceeded to the chamber of the Countess.
+
+Right glad was the Countess of their coming, and she gazed
+steadfastly upon Owain, and said, "Luned, this knight has not the
+look of a traveller."  "What harm is there in that, lady?" said
+Luned.  "I am certain," said the Countess, "that no other man than
+this chased the soul from the body of my lord."  "So much the better
+for thee, lady," said Luned, "for had he not been stronger than thy
+lord he could not have deprived him of life.  There is no remedy for
+that which is past, be it as it may."  "Go back to thine abode," said
+the Countess, "and I will take counsel."
+
+The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, and
+showed them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that it could
+not be protected but with horse and arms, and military skill.
+"Therefore," said she, "this is what I offer for your choice:  either
+let one of you take me, or give your consent for me to take a husband
+from elsewhere to defend my dominions."
+
+So they came to the determination that it was better that she should
+have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and, thereupon, she
+sent for the bishops and archbishops to celebrate her nuptials with
+Owain.  And the men of the earldom did Owain homage.
+
+And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword.  And this is
+the manner in which he defended it:  Whensoever a knight came there
+he overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth, and what he thus
+gained he divided among his barons and his knights; and no man in the
+whole world could be more beloved than he was by his subjects.  And
+it was thus for the space of three years.
+
+
+It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King Arthur, he
+perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful.  And Gwalchmai was much
+grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he questioned him, saying,
+"Oh, my lord! what has befallen thee?"  "In sooth, Gwalchmai," said
+Arthur, "I am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three
+years, and I shall certainly die if the fourth year passes without my
+seeing him.  Now I am sure, that it is through the tale which Kynon
+the son of Clydno related, that I have lost Owain."  "There is no
+need for thee," said Gwalchmai, "to summon to arms thy whole
+dominions on this account, for thou thyself and the men of thy
+household will be able to avenge Owain, if he be slain; or to set him
+free, if he be in prison; and, if alive, to bring him back with
+thee."  And it was settled according to what Gwalchmai had said.
+
+Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek
+Owain, and their number was three thousand, besides their attendants.
+And Kynon the son of Clydno acted as their guide.  And Arthur came to
+the Castle where Kynon had been before, and when he came there the
+youths were shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was
+standing hard by.  When the yellow man saw Arthur he greeted him, and
+invited him to the Castle; and Arthur accepted his invitation, and
+they entered the Castle together.  And great as was the number of his
+retinue, their presence was scarcely observed in the Castle, so vast
+was its extent.  And the maidens rose up to wait on them, and the
+service of the maidens appeared to them all to excel any attendance
+they had ever met with; and even the pages who had charge of the
+horses were no worse served, that night, than Arthur himself would
+have been in his own palace.
+
+The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and
+came to the place where the black man was.  And the stature of the
+black man was more surprising to Arthur than it had been represented
+to him.  And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed
+the valley till they reached the green tree, where they saw the
+fountain, and the bowl, and the slab.  And upon that, Kai came to
+Arthur and spoke to him.  "My lord," said he, "I know the meaning of
+all this, and my request is, that thou wilt permit me to throw the
+water on the slab, and to receive the first adventure that may
+befall."  And Arthur gave him leave.
+
+Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately
+there came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower.  And such a
+thunderstorm they had never known before, and many of the attendants
+who were in Arthur's train were killed by the shower.  After the
+shower had ceased the sky became clear; and on looking at the tree
+they beheld it completely leafless.  Then the birds descended upon
+the tree, and the song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain
+they had ever heard before.  Then they beheld a knight on a coal-
+black horse, clothed in black satin, coming rapidly towards them.
+And Kai met him and encountered him, and it was not long before Kai
+was overthrown.  And the knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host
+encamped for the night.
+
+And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of
+combat upon the lance of the Knight.  And Kai came to Arthur, and
+spoke to him:  "My lord," said he, "though I was overthrown
+yesterday, if it seem good to thee, I would gladly meet the Knight
+again to-day."  "Thou mayst do so," said Arthur.  And Kai went
+towards the Knight.  And on the spot he overthrew Kai, and struck him
+with the head of his lance in the forehead, so that it broke his
+helmet and the head-piece, and pierced the skin and the flesh, the
+breadth of the spear-head, even to the bone.  And Kai returned to his
+companions.
+
+After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after the
+other, to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was not
+overthrown by him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai.  And Arthur armed
+himself to encounter the Knight.  "Oh, my lord," said Gwalchmai,
+"permit me to fight with him first."  And Arthur permitted him.  And
+he went forth to meet the Knight, having over himself and his horse a
+satin robe of honour which had been sent him by the daughter of the
+Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was not known by any of the
+host.  And they charged each other, and fought all that day until the
+evening, and neither of them was able to unhorse the other.
+
+The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither of them
+could obtain the mastery.
+
+And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances.  And they
+were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even until noon.  And
+they gave each other such a shock that the girths of their horses
+were broken, so that they fell over their horses' cruppers to the
+ground.  And they rose up speedily, and drew their swords, and
+resumed the combat; and the multitude that witnessed their encounter
+felt assured that they had never before seen two men so valiant or so
+powerful.  And had it been midnight, it would have been light from
+the fire that flashed from their weapons.  And the Knight gave
+Gwalchmai a blow that turned his helmet from off his face, so that
+the Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai.  Then Owain said, "My lord
+Gwalchmai, I did not know thee for my cousin, owing to the robe of
+honour that enveloped thee; take my sword and my arms."  Said
+Gwalchmai, "Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword."  And
+with that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced towards
+them.  "My lord Arthur," said Gwalchmai, "here is Owain, who has
+vanquished me, and will not take my arms."  "My lord," said Owain,
+"it is he that has vanquished me, and he will not take my sword."
+"Give me your swords," said Arthur, "and then neither of you has
+vanquished the other."  Then Owain put his arms around Arthur's neck,
+and they embraced.  And all the host hurried forward to see Owain,
+and to embrace him; and there was nigh being a loss of life, so great
+was the press.
+
+And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to
+depart.  "My lord," said Owain, "this is not well of thee; for I have
+been absent from thee these three years, and during all that time, up
+to this very day, I have been preparing a banquet for thee, knowing
+that thou wouldst come to seek me.  Tarry with me, therefore, until
+thou and thy attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey,
+and have been anointed."
+
+And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the Fountain,
+and the banquet which had been three years preparing was consumed in
+three months.  Never had they a more delicious or agreeable banquet.
+And Arthur prepared to depart.  Then he sent an embassy to the
+Countess, to beseech her to permit Owain to go with him for the space
+of three months, that he might show him to the nobles and the fair
+dames of the Island of Britain.  And the Countess gave her consent,
+although it was very painful to her.  So Owain came with Arthur to
+the Island of Britain.  And when he was once more amongst his kindred
+and friends, he remained three years, instead of three months, with
+them.
+
+
+And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon upon Usk,
+behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a curling mane and
+covered with foam, and the bridle and so much as was seen of the
+saddle were of gold.  And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow
+satin.  And she came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his
+hand.  "Thus," said she, "shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor,
+the faithless, the disgraced, and the beardless."  And she turned her
+horse's head and departed.
+
+Then his adventure came to Owain's remembrance, and he was sorrowful;
+and having finished eating he went to his own abode and made
+preparations that night.  And the next day he arose but did not go to
+the Court, but wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to
+uncultivated mountains.  And he remained there until all his apparel
+was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hair was grown
+long.  And he went about with the wild beasts and fed with them,
+until they became familiar with him; but at length he grew so weak
+that he could no longer bear them company.  Then he descended from
+the mountains to the valley, and came to a park that was the fairest
+in the world, and belonged to a widowed Countess.
+
+One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a lake,
+that was in the middle of the park.  And they saw the form of a man.
+And they were terrified.  Nevertheless they went near him, and
+touched him, and looked at him.  And they saw that there was life in
+him, though he was exhausted by the heat of the sun.  And the
+Countess returned to the Castle, and took a flask full of precious
+ointment, and gave it to one of her maidens.  "Go with this," said
+she, "and take with thee yonder horse and clothing, and place them
+near the man we saw just now.  And anoint him with this balsam, near
+his heart; and if there is life in him, he will arise through the
+efficacy of this balsam.  Then watch what he will do."
+
+And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the balsam
+upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a
+little way off, and hid herself to watch him.  In a short time she
+saw him begin to move his arms; and he rose up, and looked at his
+person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance.
+Then he perceived the horse and the garments that were near him.  And
+he crept forward till he was able to draw the garments to him from
+off the saddle.  And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted
+the horse.  Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and saluted
+him.  And he was rejoiced when he saw her, and inquired of her, what
+land and what territory that was.  "Truly," said the maiden, "a
+widowed Countess owns yonder Castle; at the death of her husband, he
+left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has but this one dwelling
+that has not been wrested from her by a young Earl, who is her
+neighbour, because she refused to become his wife."  "That is pity,"
+said Owain.  And he and the maiden proceeded to the Castle; and he
+alighted there, and the maiden conducted him to a pleasant chamber,
+and kindled a fire and left him.
+
+And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into her
+hand.  "Ha! maiden," said the Countess, "where is all the balsam?"
+"Have I not used it all?" said she.  "Oh, maiden," said the Countess,
+"I cannot easily forgive thee this; it is sad for me to have wasted
+seven-score pounds' worth of precious ointment upon a stranger whom I
+know not.  However, maiden, wait thou upon him, until he is quite
+recovered."
+
+And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink, and
+fire, and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well again.  And in
+three months he was restored to his former guise, and became even
+more comely than he had ever been before.
+
+One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the
+Castle, and he inquired of the maiden the cause thereof.  "The Earl,"
+said she, "whom I mentioned to thee, has come before the Castle, with
+a numerous army, to subdue the Countess."  And Owain inquired of her
+whether the Countess had a horse and arms in her possession.  "She
+has the best in the world," said the maiden.  "Wilt thou go and
+request the loan of a horse and arms for me," said Owain, "that I may
+go and look at this army?"  "I will," said the maiden.
+
+And she came to the Countess, and told her what Owain had said.  And
+the Countess laughed.  "Truly," said she, "I will even give him a
+horse and arms for ever; such a horse and such arms had he never yet,
+and I am glad that they should be taken by him to-day, lest my
+enemies should have them against my will to-morrow.  Yet I know not
+what he would do with them."
+
+The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon which
+was a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and horse.  And
+Owain armed himself, and mounted the horse, and went forth, attended
+by two pages completely equipped, with horses and arms.  And when
+they came near to the Earl's army, they could see neither its extent
+nor its extremity.  And Owain asked the pages in which troop the Earl
+was.  "In yonder troop," said they, "in which are four yellow
+standards.  Two of them are before, and two behind him."  "Now," said
+Owain, "do you return and await me near the portal of the Castle."
+So they returned, and Owain pressed forward until he met the Earl.
+And Owain drew him completely out of his saddle, and turned his
+horse's head towards the Castle, and though it was with difficulty,
+he brought the Earl to the portal, where the pages awaited him.  And
+in they came.  And Owain presented the Earl as a gift to the
+Countess.  And said to her, "Behold a requital to thee for thy
+blessed balsam."
+
+The army encamped around the Castle.  And the Earl restored to the
+Countess the two Earldoms he had taken from her, as a ransom for his
+life; and for his freedom he gave her the half of his own dominions,
+and all his gold, and his silver, and his jewels, besides hostages.
+
+And Owain took his departure.  And the Countess and all her subjects
+besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather to wander through
+distant lands and deserts.
+
+And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood.  And it was
+repeated a second and a third time.  And Owain went towards the spot,
+and beheld a huge craggy mound, in the middle of the wood; on the
+side of which was a grey rock.  And there was a cleft in the rock,
+and a serpent was within the cleft.  And near the rock stood a black
+lion, and every time the lion sought to go thence, the serpent darted
+towards him to attack him.  And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew
+near to the rock; and as the serpent sprang out, he struck him with
+his sword, and cut him in two.  And he dried his sword, and went on
+his way, as before.  But behold the lion followed him, and played
+about him, as though it had been a greyhound that he had reared.
+
+They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening.  And when
+it was time for Owain to take his rest, he dismounted, and turned his
+horse loose in a flat and wooded meadow.  And he struck fire, and
+when the fire was kindled, the lion brought him fuel enough to last
+for three nights.  And the lion disappeared.  And presently the lion
+returned, bearing a fine large roebuck.  And he threw it down before
+Owain, who went towards the fire with it.
+
+And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops of its
+flesh upon skewers, around the fire.  The rest of the buck he gave to
+the lion to devour.  While he was doing this, he heard a deep sigh
+near him, and a second, and a third.  And Owain called out to know
+whether the sigh he heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received
+answer that it did.  "Who art thou?" said Owain.  "Truly," said the
+voice, "I am Luned, the handmaiden of the Countess of the Fountain."
+"And what dost thou here?" said Owain.  "I am imprisoned," said she,
+"on account of the knight who came from Arthur's Court, and married
+the Countess.  And he stayed a short time with her, but he afterwards
+departed for the Court of Arthur, and has not returned since.  And he
+was the friend I loved best in the world.  And two of the pages in
+the Countess's chamber traduced him, and called him a deceiver.  And
+I told them that they two were not a match for him alone.  So they
+imprisoned me in the stone vault, and said that I should be put to
+death, unless he came himself to deliver me, by a certain day; and
+that is no further off than the day after to-morrow.  And I have no
+one to send to seek him for me.  And his name is Owain the son of
+Urien."  "And art thou certain that if that knight knew all this, he
+would come to thy rescue?"  "I am most certain of it," said she.
+
+When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts,
+between himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten, they talked
+together, until the day dawned.  And the next morning Owain inquired
+of the damsel, if there was any place where he could get food and
+entertainment for that night.  "There is, Lord," said she; "cross
+over yonder, and go along the side of the river, and in a short time
+thou wilt see a great Castle, in which are many towers, and the Earl
+who owns that Castle is the most hospitable man in the world.  There
+thou mayst spend the night."
+
+Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the lion
+that night over Owain.
+
+And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford, and
+came in sight of the Castle.  And he entered it, and was honourably
+received.  And his horse was well cared for, and plenty of fodder was
+placed before him.  Then the lion went and lay down in the horse's
+manger; so that none of the people of the Castle dared to approach
+him.  The treatment which Owain met with there was such as he had
+never known elsewhere, for every one was as sorrowful as though death
+had been upon him.  And they went to meat; and the Earl sat upon one
+side of Owain, and on the other side his only daughter.  And Owain
+had never seen any more lovely than she.  Then the lion came and
+placed himself between Owain's feet, and he fed him with every kind
+of food that he took himself.  And he never saw anything equal to the
+sadness of the people.
+
+In the middle of the repast the Earl began to bid Owain welcome.
+"Then," said Owain, "behold, it is time for thee to be cheerful."
+"Heaven knows," said the Earl, "that it is not thy coming that makes
+us sorrowful, but we have cause enough for sadness and care."  "What
+is that?" said Owain.  "I have two sons," replied the Earl, "and
+yesterday they went to the mountains to hunt.  Now there is on the
+mountain a monster who kills men and devours them, and he seized my
+sons; and to-morrow is the time he has fixed to be here, and he
+threatens that he will then slay my sons before my eyes, unless I
+will deliver into his hands this my daughter.  He has the form of a
+man, but in stature he is no less than a giant."
+
+"Truly," said Owain, "that is lamentable.  And which wilt thou do?"
+"Heaven knows," said the Earl, "it will be better that my sons should
+be slain against my will, than that I should voluntarily give up my
+daughter to him to ill-treat and destroy."  Then they talked about
+other things, and Owain stayed there that night.
+
+The next morning they heard an exceeding great clamour, which was
+caused by the coming of the giant with the two youths.  And the Earl
+was anxious both to protect his Castle and to release his two sons.
+Then Owain put on his armour and went forth to encounter the giant,
+and the lion followed him.  And when the giant saw that Owain was
+armed, he rushed towards him and attacked him.  And the lion fought
+with the giant much more fiercely than Owain did.  "Truly," said the
+giant, "I should find no difficulty in fighting with thee, were it
+not for the animal that is with thee."  Upon that Owain took the lion
+back to the Castle and shut the gate upon him, and then he returned
+to fight the giant, as before.  And the lion roared very loud, for he
+heard that it went hard with Owain.  And he climbed up till he
+reached the top of the Earl's hall, and thence he got to the top of
+the Castle, and he sprang down from the walls and went and joined
+Owain.  And the lion gave the giant a stroke with his paw, which tore
+him from his shoulder to his hip, and his heart was laid bare, and
+the giant fell down dead.  Then Owain restored the two youths to
+their father.
+
+The Earl besought Owain to remain with him, and he would not, but set
+forward towards the meadow where Luned was.  And when he came there
+he saw a great fire kindled, and two youths with beautiful curling
+auburn hair were leading the maiden to cast her into the fire.  And
+Owain asked them what charge they had against her.  And they told him
+of the compact that was between them, as the maiden had done the
+night before.  "And," said they, "Owain has failed her, therefore we
+are taking her to be burnt."  "Truly," said Owain, "he is a good
+knight, and if he knew that the maiden was in such peril, I marvel
+that he came not to her rescue; but if you will accept me in his
+stead, I will do battle with you."  "We will," said the youths, "by
+him who made us."
+
+And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them.  And with
+that the lion came to Owain's assistance, and they two got the better
+of the young men.  And they said to him, "Chieftain, it was not
+agreed that we should fight save with thyself alone, and it is harder
+for us to contend with yonder animal than with thee."  And Owain put
+the lion in the place where the maiden had been imprisoned, and
+blocked up the door with stones, and he went to fight with the young
+men, as before.  But Owain had not his usual strength, and the two
+youths pressed hard upon him.  And the lion roared incessantly at
+seeing Owain in trouble; and he burst through the wall until he found
+a way out, and rushed upon the young men, and instantly slew them.
+So Luned was saved from being burned.
+
+Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the Countess of
+the Fountain.  And when he went thence he took the Countess with him
+to Arthur's Court, and she was his wife as long as she lived.
+
+
+And then he took the road that led to the Court of the savage black
+man, and Owain fought with him, and the lion did not quit Owain until
+he had vanquished him.  And when he reached the Court of the savage
+black man he entered the hall, and beheld four-and-twenty ladies, the
+fairest that could be seen.  And the garments which they had on were
+not worth four-and twenty pence, and they were as sorrowful as death.
+And Owain asked them the cause of their sadness.  And they said, "We
+are the daughters of Earls, and we all came here with our husbands,
+whom we dearly loved.  And we were received with honour and
+rejoicing.  And we were thrown into a state of stupor, and while we
+were thus, the demon who owns this Castle slew all our husbands, and
+took from us our horses, and our raiment, and our gold, and our
+silver; and the corpses of our husbands are still in this house, and
+many others with them.  And this, Chieftain, is the cause of our
+grief, and we are sorry that thou art come hither, lest harm should
+befall thee."
+
+And Owain was grieved when he heard this.  And he went forth from the
+Castle, and he beheld a knight approaching him, who saluted him in a
+friendly and cheerful manner, as if he had been a brother.  And this
+was the savage black man.  "In very sooth," said Owain, "it is not to
+seek thy friendship that I am here."  "In sooth," said he, "thou
+shalt not find it then."  And with that they charged each other, and
+fought furiously.  And Owain overcame him, and bound his hands behind
+his back.  Then the black savage besought Owain to spare his life,
+and spoke thus:  "My lord Owain," said he, "it was foretold that thou
+shouldst come hither and vanquish me, and thou hast done so.  I was a
+robber here, and my house was a house of spoil; but grant me my life,
+and I will become the keeper of an Hospice, and I will maintain this
+house as an Hospice for weak and for strong, as long as I live, for
+the good of thy soul."  And Owain accepted this proposal of him, and
+remained there that night.
+
+And the next day he took the four-and-twenty ladies, and their
+horses, and their raiment, and what they possessed of goods and
+jewels, and proceeded with them to Arthur's Court.  And if Arthur was
+rejoiced when he saw him, after he had lost him the first time, his
+joy was now much greater.  And of those ladies, such as wished to
+remain in Arthur's Court remained there, and such as wished to depart
+departed.
+
+And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur's Court greatly beloved, as
+the head of his household, until he went away with his followers; and
+those were the army of three hundred ravens which Kenverchyn had left
+him.  And wherever Owain went with these he was victorious.
+
+And this is the tale of THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
+
+
+
+PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC
+
+
+
+Earl Evrawc owned the Earldom of the North.  And he had seven sons.
+And Evrawc maintained himself not so much by his own possessions as
+by attending tournaments, and wars, and combats.  And, as it often
+befalls those who join in encounters and wars, he was slain, and six
+of his sons likewise.  Now the name of his seventh son was Peredur,
+and he was the youngest of them.  And he was not of an age to go to
+wars and encounters, otherwise he might have been slain as well as
+his father and brothers.  His mother was a scheming and thoughtful
+woman, and she was very solicitous concerning this her only son and
+his possessions.  So she took counsel with herself to leave the
+inhabited country, and to flee to the deserts and unfrequented
+wildernesses.  And she permitted none to bear her company thither but
+women and boys, and spiritless men, who were both unaccustomed and
+unequal to war and fighting.  And none dared to bring either horses
+or arms where her son was, lest he should set his mind upon them.
+And the youth went daily to divert himself in the forest, by flinging
+sticks and staves.  And one day he saw his mother's flock of goats,
+and near the goats two hinds were standing.  And he marvelled greatly
+that these two should be without horns, while the others had them.
+And he thought they had long run wild, and on that account they had
+lost their horns.  And by activity and swiftness of foot, he drove
+the hinds and the goats together into the house which there was for
+the goats at the extremity of the forest.  Then Peredur returned to
+his mother.  "Ah, mother," said he, "a marvellous thing have I seen
+in the wood; two of thy goats have run wild, and lost their horns,
+through their having been so long missing in the wood.  And no man
+had ever more trouble than I had to drive them in."  Then they all
+arose and went to see.  And when they beheld the hinds they were
+greatly astonished.
+
+And one day they saw three knights coming along the horse-road on the
+borders of the forest.  And the three knights were Gwalchmai the son
+of Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and Owain the son of Urien.  And Owain
+kept on the track of the knight who had divided the apples in
+Arthur's Court, whom they were in pursuit of.  "Mother," said
+Peredur, "what are those yonder?"  "They are angels, my son," said
+she.  "By my faith," said Peredur, "I will go and become an angel
+with them."  And Peredur went to the road, and met them.  "Tell me,
+good soul," said Owain, "sawest thou a knight pass this way, either
+to-day or yesterday?"  "I know not," answered he, "what a knight is."
+"Such an one as I am," said Owain.  "If thou wilt tell me what I ask
+thee, I will tell thee that which thou askest me."  "Gladly will I do
+so," replied Owain.  "What is this?" demanded Peredur, concerning the
+saddle.  "It is a saddle," said Owain.  Then he asked about all the
+accoutrements which he saw upon the men, and the horses, and the
+arms, and what they were for, and how they were used.  And Owain
+shewed him all these things fully, and told him what use was made of
+them.  "Go forward," said Peredur, "for I saw such an one as thou
+inquirest for, and I will follow thee."
+
+Then Peredur returned to his mother and her company, and he said to
+her, "Mother, those were not angels, but honourable knights."  Then
+his mother swooned away.  And Peredur went to the place where they
+kept the horses that carried firewood, and that brought meat and
+drink from the inhabited country to the desert.  And he took a bony
+piebald horse, which seemed to him the strongest of them.  And he
+pressed a pack into the form of a saddle, and with twisted twigs he
+imitated the trappings which he had seen upon the horses.  And when
+Peredur came again to his mother, the Countess had recovered from her
+swoon.  "My son," said she, "desirest thou to ride forth?"  "Yes,
+with thy leave," said he.  "Wait, then, that I may counsel thee
+before thou goest."  "Willingly," he answered; "speak quickly."  "Go
+forward, then," she said, "to the Court of Arthur, where there are
+the best, and the boldest, and the most bountiful of men.  And
+wherever thou seest a church, repeat there thy Paternoster unto it.
+And if thou see meat and drink, and have need of them, and none have
+the kindness or the courtesy to give them to thee, take them thyself.
+If thou hear an outcry, proceed towards it, especially if it be the
+outcry of a woman.  If thou see a fair jewel, possess thyself of it,
+and give it to another, for thus thou shalt obtain praise.  If thou
+see a fair woman, pay thy court to her, whether she will or no; for
+thus thou wilt render thyself a better and more esteemed man than
+thou wast before."
+
+After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and taking a handful
+of sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he rode forth.  And he journeyed
+two days and two nights in the woody wildernesses, and in desert
+places, without food and without drink.  And then he came to a vast
+wild wood, and far within the wood he saw a fair even glade, and in
+the glade he saw a tent, and the tent seeming to him to be a church,
+he repeated his Paternoster to it.  And he went towards it, and the
+door of the tent was open.  And a golden chair was near the door.
+And on the chair sat a lovely auburn-haired maiden, with a golden
+frontlet on her forehead, and sparkling stones in the frontlet, and
+with a large gold ring on her hand.  And Peredur dismounted, and
+entered the tent.  And the maiden was glad at his coming, and bade
+him welcome.  At the entrance of the tent he saw food, and two flasks
+full of wine, and two loaves of fine wheaten flour, and collops of
+the flesh of the wild boar.  "My mother told me," said Peredur,
+"wheresoever I saw meat and drink, to take it."  "Take the meat and
+welcome, chieftain," said she.  So Peredur took half of the meat and
+of the liquor himself, and left the rest to the maiden.  And when
+Peredur had finished eating, he bent upon his knee before the maiden.
+"My mother," said he, "told me, wheresoever I saw a fair jewel, to
+take it."  "Do so, my soul," said she.  So Peredur took the ring.
+And he mounted his horse, and proceeded on his journey.
+
+After this, behold the knight came to whom the tent belonged; and he
+was the Lord of the Glade.  And he saw the track of the horse, and he
+said to the maiden, "Tell me who has been here since I departed."  "A
+man," said she, "of wonderful demeanour."  And she described to him
+what Peredur's appearance and conduct had been.  "Tell me," said he,
+"did he offer thee any wrong?"  "No," answered the maiden, "by my
+faith, he harmed me not."  "By my faith, I do not believe thee; and
+until I can meet with him, and revenge the insult he has done me, and
+wreak my vengeance upon him, thou shalt not remain two nights in the
+same house."  And the knight arose, and set forth to seek Peredur.
+
+Meanwhile Peredur journeyed on towards Arthur's Court.  And before he
+reached it, another knight had been there, who gave a ring of thick
+gold at the door of the gate for holding his horse, and went into the
+Hall where Arthur and his household, and Gwenhwyvar and her maidens,
+were assembled.  And the page of the chamber was serving Gwenhwyvar
+with a golden goblet.  Then the knight dashed the liquor that was
+therein upon her face, and upon her stomacher, and gave her a violent
+blow on the face, and said, "If any have the boldness to dispute this
+goblet with me, and to revenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar, let him
+follow me to the meadow, and there I will await him."  So the knight
+took his horse, and rode to the meadow.  And all the household hung
+down their heads, lest any of them should be requested to go and
+avenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar.  For it seemed to them, that no one
+would have ventured on so daring an outrage, unless he possessed such
+powers, through magic or charms, that none could be able to take
+vengeance upon him.  Then, behold, Peredur entered the Hall, upon the
+bony piebald horse, with the uncouth trappings upon it; and in this
+way he traversed the whole length of the Hall.  In the centre of the
+Hall stood Kai.  "Tell me, tall man," said Peredur, "is that Arthur
+yonder?"  "What wouldest thou with Arthur?" asked Kai.  "My mother
+told me to go to Arthur, and receive the honour of knighthood."  "By
+my faith," said he, "thou art all too meanly equipped with horse and
+with arms."  Thereupon he was perceived by all the household, and
+they threw sticks at him.  Then, behold, a dwarf came forward.  He
+had already been a year at Arthur's Court, both he and a female
+dwarf.  They had craved harbourage of Arthur, and had obtained it;
+and during the whole year, neither of them had spoken a single word
+to any one.  When the dwarf beheld Peredur, "Haha!" said he, "the
+welcome of Heaven be unto thee, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, the
+chief of warriors, and flower of knighthood."  "Truly," said Kai,
+"thou art ill-taught to remain a year mute at Arthur's Court, with
+choice of society; and now, before the face of Arthur and all his
+household, to call out, and declare such a man as this the chief of
+warriors, and the flower of knighthood."  And he gave him such a box
+on the ear that he fell senseless to the ground.  Then exclaimed the
+female dwarf, "Haha! goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc; the welcome of
+Heaven be unto thee, flower of knights, and light of chivalry."  "Of
+a truth, maiden," said Kai, "thou art ill-bred to remain mute for a
+year at the Court of Arthur, and then to speak as thou dost of such a
+man as this."  And Kai kicked her with his foot, so that she fell to
+the ground senseless.  "Tall man," said Peredur, "shew me which is
+Arthur."  "Hold thy peace," said Kai, "and go after the knight who
+went hence to the meadow, and take from him the goblet, and overthrow
+him, and possess thyself of his horse and arms, and then thou shalt
+receive the order of knighthood."  "I will do so, tall man," said
+Peredur.  So he turned his horse's head towards the meadow.  And when
+he came there, the knight was riding up and down, proud of his
+strength, and valour, and noble mien.  "Tell me," said the knight,
+"didst thou see any one coming after me from the Court?"  "The tall
+man that was there," said he, "desired me to come, and overthrow
+thee, and to take from thee the goblet, and thy horse and thy armour
+for myself."  "Silence!" said the knight; "go back to the Court, and
+tell Arthur, from me, either to come himself, or to send some other
+to fight with me; and unless he do so quickly, I will not wait for
+him."  "By my faith," said Peredur, "choose thou whether it shall be
+willingly or unwillingly, but I will have the horse, and the arms,
+and the goblet."  And upon this the knight ran at him furiously, and
+struck him a violent blow with the shaft of his spear, between the
+neck and the shoulder.  "Haha! lad," said Peredur, "my mother's
+servants were not used to play with me in this wise; therefore, thus
+will I play with thee."  And thereupon he struck him with a sharp-
+pointed fork, and it hit him in the eye, and came out at the back of
+his neck, so that he instantly fell down lifeless.
+
+"Verily," said Owain the son of Urien to Kai, "thou wert ill-advised,
+when thou didst send that madman after the knight.  For one of two
+things must befall him.  He must either be overthrown, or slain.  If
+he is overthrown by the knight, he will be counted by him to be an
+honourable person of the Court, and an eternal disgrace will it be to
+Arthur and his warriors.  And if he is slain, the disgrace will be
+the same, and moreover, his sin will be upon him; therefore will I go
+to see what has befallen him."  So Owain went to the meadow, and he
+found Peredur dragging the man about.  "What art thou doing thus?"
+said Owain.  "This iron coat," said Peredur, "will never come from
+off him; not by my efforts, at any rate."  And Owain unfastened his
+armour and his clothes.  "Here, my good soul," said he, "is a horse
+and armour better than thine.  Take them joyfully, and come with me
+to Arthur, to receive the order of knighthood, for thou dost merit
+it."  "May I never shew my face again if I go," said Peredur; "but
+take thou the goblet to Gwenhwyvar, and tell Arthur, that wherever I
+am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what profit and service I
+am able.  And say that I will not come to his Court until I have
+encountered the tall man that is there, to revenge the injury he did
+to the dwarf and dwarfess."  And Owain went back to the Court, and
+related all these things to Arthur and Gwenhwyvar, and to all the
+household.
+
+And Peredur rode forward.  And as he proceeded, behold a knight met
+him.  "Whence comest thou?" said the knight.  "I come from Arthur's
+Court," said Peredur.  "Art thou one of his men?" asked he.  "Yes, by
+my faith," he answered.  "A good service, truly, is that of Arthur."
+"Wherefore sayest thou so?" said Peredur.  "I will tell thee," said
+he; "I have always been Arthur's enemy, and all such of his men as I
+have ever encountered I have slain."  And without further parlance
+they fought, and it was not long before Peredur brought him to the
+ground, over his horse's crupper.  Then the knight besought his
+mercy.  "Mercy thou shalt have," said Peredur, "if thou wilt make
+oath to me, that thou wilt go to Arthur's Court, and tell him that it
+was I that overthrew thee, for the honour of his service; and say,
+that I will never come to the Court until I have avenged the insult
+offered to the dwarf and dwarfess."  The knight pledged him his faith
+of this, and proceeded to the Court of Arthur, and said as he had
+promised, and conveyed the threat to Kai.
+
+And Peredur rode forward.  And within that week he encountered
+sixteen knights, and overthrew them all shamefully.  And they all
+went to Arthur's Court, taking with them the same message which the
+first knight had conveyed from Peredur, and the same threat which he
+had sent to Kai.  And thereupon Kai was reproved by Arthur; and Kai
+was greatly grieved thereat.
+
+And Peredur rode forward.  And he came to a vast and desert wood, on
+the confines of which was a lake.  And on the other side was a fair
+castle.  And on the border of the lake he saw a venerable, hoary-
+headed man, sitting upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment of
+velvet upon him.  And his attendants were fishing in the lake.  When
+the hoary-headed man beheld Peredur approaching, he arose and went
+towards the castle.  And the old man was lame.  Peredur rode to the
+palace, and the door was open, and he entered the hall.  And there
+was the hoary-headed man sitting on a cushion, and a large blazing
+fire burning before him.  And the household and the company arose to
+meet Peredur, and disarrayed him.  And the man asked the youth to sit
+on the cushion; and they sat down, and conversed together.  When it
+was time, the tables were laid, and they went to meat.  And when they
+had finished their meal, the man inquired of Peredur if he knew well
+how to fight with the sword.  "I know not," said Peredur, "but were I
+to be taught, doubtless I should."  "Whoever can play well with the
+cudgel and shield, will also be able to fight with a sword."  And the
+man had two sons; the one had yellow hair, and the other auburn.
+"Arise, youths," said he, "and play with the cudgel and the shield."
+And so did they.  "Tell me, my soul," said the man, "which of the
+youths thinkest thou plays best."  "I think," said Peredur, "that the
+yellow-haired youth could draw blood from the other, if he chose."
+"Arise thou, my life, and take the cudgel and the shield from the
+hand of the youth with the auburn hair, and draw blood from the
+yellow-haired youth if thou canst."  So Peredur arose, and went to
+play with the yellow-haired youth; and he lifted up his arm, and
+struck him such a mighty blow, that his brow fell over his eye, and
+the blood flowed forth.  "Ah, my life," said the man, "come now, and
+sit down, for thou wilt become the best fighter with the sword of any
+in this island; and I am thy uncle, thy mother's brother.  And with
+me shalt thou remain a space, in order to learn the manners and
+customs of different countries, and courtesy, and gentleness, and
+noble bearing.  Leave, then, the habits and the discourse of thy
+mother, and I will be thy teacher; and I will raise thee to the rank
+of knight from this time forward.  And thus do thou.  If thou seest
+aught to cause thee wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has
+the courtesy to inform thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee,
+but upon me that am thy teacher."  And they had abundance of honour
+and service.  And when it was time they went to sleep.  At the break
+of day, Peredur arose, and took his horse, and with his uncle's
+permission he rode forth.  And he came to a vast desert wood, and at
+the further end of the wood was a meadow, and on the other side of
+the meadow he saw a large castle.  And thitherward Peredur bent his
+way, and he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the hall.  And
+he beheld a stately hoary-headed man sitting on one side of the hall,
+and many pages around him, who arose to receive and to honour
+Peredur.  And they placed him by the side of the owner of the palace.
+Then they discoursed together; and when it was time to eat, they
+caused Peredur to sit beside the nobleman during the repast.  And
+when they had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, the nobleman
+asked Peredur whether he could fight with a sword?  "Were I to
+receive instruction," said Peredur, "I think I could."  Now, there
+was on the floor of the hall a huge staple, as large as a warrior
+could grasp.  "Take yonder sword," said the man to Peredur, "and
+strike the iron staple."  So Peredur arose and struck the staple, so
+that he cut it in two; and the sword broke into two parts also.
+"Place the two parts together, and reunite them," and Peredur placed
+them together, and they became entire as they were before.  And a
+second time he struck upon the staple, so that both it and the sword
+broke in two, and as before they reunited.  And the third time he
+gave a like blow, and placed the broken parts together, and neither
+the staple nor the sword would unite as before.  "Youth," said the
+nobleman, "come now, and sit down, and my blessing be upon thee.
+Thou fightest best with the sword of any man in the kingdom.  Thou
+hast arrived at two-thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou
+hast not yet obtained; and when thou attainest to thy full power,
+none will be able to contend with thee.  I am thy uncle, thy mother's
+brother, and I am brother to the man in whose house thou wast last
+night."  Then Peredur and his uncle discoursed together, and he
+beheld two youths enter the hall, and proceed up to the chamber,
+bearing a spear of mighty size, with three streams of blood flowing
+from the point to the ground.  And when all the company saw this,
+they began wailing and lamenting.  But for all that, the man did not
+break off his discourse with Peredur.  And as he did not tell Peredur
+the meaning of what he saw, he forbore to ask him concerning it.  And
+when the clamour had a little subsided, behold two maidens entered,
+with a large salver between them, in which was a man's head,
+surrounded by a profusion of blood.  And thereupon the company of the
+court made so great an outcry, that it was irksome to be in the same
+hall with them.  But at length they were silent.  And when time was
+that they should sleep, Peredur was brought into a fair chamber.
+
+And the next day, with his uncle's permission, he rode forth.  And he
+came to a wood, and far within the wood he heard a loud cry, and he
+saw a beautiful woman with auburn hair, and a horse with a saddle
+upon it, standing near her, and a corpse by her side.  And as she
+strove to place the corpse upon the horse, it fell to the ground, and
+thereupon she made a great lamentation.  "Tell me, sister," said
+Peredur, "wherefore art thou bewailing?"  "Oh! accursed Peredur,
+little pity has my ill-fortune ever met with from thee."
+"Wherefore," said Peredur, "am I accursed?"  "Because thou wast the
+cause of thy mother's death; for when thou didst ride forth against
+her will, anguish seized upon her heart, so that she died; and
+therefore art thou accursed.  And the dwarf and the dwarfess that
+thou sawest at Arthur's Court were the dwarfs of thy father and
+mother; and I am thy foster-sister, and this was my wedded husband,
+and he was slain by the knight that is in the glade in the wood; and
+do not thou go near him, lest thou shouldest be slain by him
+likewise."  "My sister, thou dost reproach me wrongfully; through my
+having so long remained amongst you, I shall scarcely vanquish him;
+and had I continued longer, it would, indeed, be difficult for me to
+succeed.  Cease, therefore, thy lamenting, for it is of no avail, and
+I will bury the body, and then I will go in quest of the knight, and
+see if I can do vengeance upon him."  And when he had buried the
+body, they went to the place where the knight was, and found him
+riding proudly along the glade; and he inquired of Peredur whence he
+came.  "I come from Arthur's Court."  "And art thou one of Arthur's
+men?"  "Yes, by my faith."  "A profitable alliance, truly, is that of
+Arthur."  And without further parlance, they encountered one another,
+and immediately Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought mercy
+of Peredur.  "Mercy shalt thou have," said he, "upon these terms,
+that thou take this woman in marriage, and do her all the honour and
+reverence in thy power, seeing thou hast, without cause, slain her
+wedded husband; and that thou go to Arthur's Court, and shew him that
+it was I that overthrew thee, to do him honour and service; and that
+thou tell him that I will never come to his Court again until I have
+met with the tall man that is there, to take vengeance upon him for
+his insult to the dwarf and dwarfess."  And he took the knight's
+assurance, that he would perform all this.  Then the knight provided
+the lady with a horse and garments that were suitable for her, and
+took her with him to Arthur's Court.  And he told Arthur all that had
+occurred, and gave the defiance to Kai.  And Arthur and all his
+household reproved Kai, for having driven such a youth as Peredur
+from his Court.
+
+Said Owain the son of Urien, "This youth will never come into the
+Court until Kai has gone forth from it."  "By my faith," said Arthur,
+"I will search all the deserts in the Island of Britain, until I find
+Peredur, and then let him and his adversary do their utmost to each
+other."
+
+Then Peredur rode forward.  And he came to a desert wood, where he
+saw not the track either of men or animals, and where there was
+nothing but bushes and weeds.  And at the upper end of the wood he
+saw a vast castle, wherein were many strong towers; and when he came
+near the gate, he found the weeds taller than he had seen them
+elsewhere.  And he struck the gate with the shaft of his lance, and
+thereupon behold a lean, auburn-haired youth came to an opening in
+the battlements.  "Choose thou, chieftain," said he, "whether shall I
+open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce unto those that are
+chief, that thou art at the gateway?"  "Say that I am here," said
+Peredur, "and if it is desired that I should enter, I will go in."
+And the youth came back, and opened the gate for Peredur.  And when
+he went into the hall, he beheld eighteen youths, lean and red-
+headed, of the same height, and of the same aspect, and of the same
+dress, and of the same age as the one who had opened the gate for
+him.  And they were well skilled in courtesy and in service.  And
+they disarrayed him.  Then they sat down to discourse.  Thereupon,
+behold five maidens came from the chamber into the hall.  And Peredur
+was certain that he had never seen another of so fair an aspect as
+the chief of the maidens.  And she had an old garment of satin upon
+her, which had once been handsome, but was then so tattered, that her
+skin could be seen through it.  And whiter was her skin than the
+bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were blacker than
+jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than whatever is
+reddest.  And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put her arms about his
+neck, and made him sit down beside her.  Not long after this he saw
+two nuns enter, and a flask full of wine was borne by one, and six
+loaves of white bread by the other.  "Lady," said they, "Heaven is
+witness, that there is not so much of food and liquor as this left in
+yonder Convent this night."  Then they went to meat, and Peredur
+observed that the maiden wished to give more of the food and of the
+liquor to him than to any of the others.  "My sister," said Peredur,
+"I will share out the food and the liquor."  "Not so, my soul," said
+she.  "By my faith but I will."  So Peredur took the bread, and he
+gave an equal portion of it to each alike, as well as a cup full of
+the liquor.  And when it was time for them to sleep, a chamber was
+prepared for Peredur, and he went to rest.
+
+"Behold, sister," said the youths to the fairest and most exalted of
+the maidens, "we have counsel for thee."  "What may it be?" she
+inquired.  "Go to the youth that is in the upper chamber, and offer
+to become his wife, or the lady of his love, if it seem well to him."
+"That were indeed unfitting," said she.  "Hitherto I have not been
+the lady-love of any knight, and to make him such an offer before I
+am wooed by him, that, truly, can I not do."  "By our confession to
+Heaven, unless thou actest thus, we will leave thee here to thy
+enemies, to do as they will with thee."  And through fear of this,
+the maiden went forth; and shedding tears, she proceeded to the
+chamber.  And with the noise of the door opening, Peredur awoke; and
+the maiden was weeping and lamenting.  "Tell me, my sister," said
+Peredur, "wherefore dost thou weep?"  "I will tell thee, lord," said
+she.  "My father possessed these dominions as their chief, and this
+palace was his, and with it he held the best earldom in the kingdom;
+then the son of another earl sought me of my father, and I was not
+willing to be given unto him, and my father would not give me against
+my will, either to him or any earl in the world.  And my father had
+no child except myself.  And after my father's death, these dominions
+came into my own hands, and then was I less willing to accept him
+than before.  So he made war upon me, and conquered all my
+possessions, except this one house.  And through the valour of the
+men whom thou hast seen, who are my foster-brothers, and the strength
+of the house, it can never be taken while food and drink remain.  And
+now our provisions are exhausted; but, as thou hast seen, we have
+been fed by the nuns, to whom the country is free.  And at length
+they also are without supply of food or liquor.  And at no later date
+than to-morrow, the earl will come against this place with all his
+forces; and if I fall into his power, my fate will be no better than
+to be given over to the grooms of his horses.  Therefore, lord, I am
+come to offer to place myself in thy hands, that thou mayest succour
+me, either by taking me hence, or by defending me here, whichever may
+seem best unto thee."  "Go, my sister," said he, "and sleep; nor will
+I depart from thee until I do that which thou requirest, or prove
+whether I can assist thee or not."  The maiden went again to rest;
+and the next morning she came to Peredur, and saluted him.  "Heaven
+prosper thee, my soul, and what tidings dost thou bring?"  "None
+other, than that the earl and all his forces have alighted at the
+gate, and I never beheld any place so covered with tents, and
+thronged with knights challenging others to the combat."  "Truly,"
+said Peredur, "let my horse be made ready."  So his horse was
+accoutred, and he arose and sallied forth to the meadow.  And there
+was a knight riding proudly along the meadow, having raised the
+signal for battle.  And they encountered, and Peredur threw the
+knight over his horse's crupper to the ground.  And at the close of
+the day, one of the chief knights came to fight with him, and he
+overthrew him also, so that he besought his mercy.  "Who art thou?"
+said Peredur.  "Verily," said he, "I am Master of the Household to
+the earl."  "And how much of the countess's possessions is there in
+thy power?"  "The third part, verily," answered he.  "Then," said
+Peredur, "restore to her the third of her possessions in full, and
+all the profit thou hast made by them, and bring meat and drink for a
+hundred men, with their horses and arms, to her court this night.
+And thou shalt remain her captive, unless she wish to take thy life."
+And this he did forthwith.  And that night the maiden was right
+joyful, and they fared plenteously.
+
+And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and that day he
+vanquished a multitude of the host.  And at the close of the day,
+there came a proud and stately knight, and Peredur overthrew him, and
+he besought his mercy.  "Who art thou?" said Peredur.  "I am Steward
+of the Palace," said he.  "And how much of the maiden's possessions
+are under thy control?"  "One-third part," answered he.  "Verily,"
+said Peredur, "thou shalt fully restore to the maiden her
+possessions, and, moreover, thou shalt give her meat and drink for
+two hundred men, and their horses and their arms.  And for thyself,
+thou shalt be her captive."  And immediately it was so done.
+
+And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and he vanquished
+more that day than on either of the preceding.  And at the close of
+the day, an earl came to encounter him, and he overthrew him, and he
+besought his mercy.  "Who art thou?" said Peredur.  "I am the earl,"
+said he.  "I will not conceal it from thee."  "Verily," said Peredur,
+"thou shalt restore the whole of the maiden's earldom, and shalt give
+her thine own earldom in addition thereto, and meat and drink for
+three hundred men, and their horses and arms, and thou thyself shalt
+remain in her power."  And thus it was fulfilled.  And Peredur
+tarried three weeks in the country, causing tribute and obedience to
+be paid to the maiden, and the government to be placed in her hands.
+"With thy leave," said Peredur, "I will go hence."  "Verily, my
+brother, desirest thou this?"  "Yes, by my faith; and had it not been
+for love of thee, I should not have been here thus long."  "My soul,"
+said she, "who art thou?"  "I am Peredur the son of Evrawc from the
+North; and if ever thou art in trouble or in danger, acquaint me
+therewith, and if I can, I will protect thee."
+
+So Peredur rode forth.  And far thence there met him a lady, mounted
+on a horse that was lean, and covered with sweat; and she saluted the
+youth.  "Whence comest thou, my sister?"  Then she told him the cause
+of her journey.  Now she was the wife of the Lord of the Glade.
+"Behold," said he, "I am the knight through whom thou art in trouble,
+and he shall repent it, who has treated thee thus."  Thereupon,
+behold a knight rode up, and he inquired of Peredur, if he had seen a
+knight such as he was seeking.  "Hold thy peace," said Peredur, "I am
+he whom thou seekest; and by my faith, thou deservest ill of thy
+household for thy treatment of the maiden, for she is innocent
+concerning me."  So they encountered, and they were not long in
+combat ere Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought his mercy.
+"Mercy thou shalt have," said Peredur, "so thou wilt return by the
+way thou camest, and declare that thou holdest the maiden innocent,
+and so that thou wilt acknowledge unto her the reverse thou hast
+sustained at my hands."  And the knight plighted him his faith
+thereto.
+
+Then Peredur rode forward.  And above him he beheld a castle, and
+thitherward he went.  And he struck upon the gate with his lance, and
+then, behold, a comely auburn-haired youth opened the gate, and he
+had the stature of a warrior, and the years of a boy.  And when
+Peredur came into the hall, there was a tall and stately lady sitting
+in a chair, and many handmaidens around her; and the lady rejoiced at
+his coming.  And when it was time, they went to meat.  And after
+their repast was finished, "It were well for thee, chieftain," said
+she, "to go elsewhere to sleep."  "Wherefore can I not sleep here?"
+said Peredur.  "Nine sorceresses are here, my soul, of the
+sorceresses of Gloucester, and their father and their mother are with
+them; and unless we can make our escape before daybreak, we shall be
+slain; and already they have conquered and laid waste all the
+country, except this one dwelling."  "Behold," said Peredur, "I will
+remain here to-night, and if you are in trouble, I will do you what
+service I can; but harm shall you not receive from me."  So they went
+to rest.  And with the break of day, Peredur heard a dreadful outcry.
+And he hastily arose, and went forth in his vest and his doublet,
+with his sword about his neck, and he saw a sorceress overtake one of
+the watch, who cried out violently.  Peredur attacked the sorceress,
+and struck her upon the head with his sword, so that he flattened her
+helmet and her head-piece like a dish upon her head.  "Thy mercy,
+goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, and the mercy of Heaven."  "How
+knowest thou, hag, that I am Peredur?"  "By destiny, and the
+foreknowledge that I should suffer harm from thee.  And thou shalt
+take a horse and armour of me; and with me thou shalt go to learn
+chivalry and the use of thy arms."  Said Peredur, "Thou shalt have
+mercy, if thou pledge thy faith thou wilt never more injure the
+dominions of the Countess."  And Peredur took surety of this, and
+with permission of the Countess, he set forth with the sorceress to
+the palace of the sorceresses.  And there he remained for three
+weeks, and then he made choice of a horse and arms, and went his way.
+
+And in the evening he entered a valley, and at the head of the valley
+he came to a hermit's cell, and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and
+there he spent the night.  And in the morning he arose, and when he
+went forth, behold a shower of snow had fallen the night before, and
+a hawk had killed a wild fowl in front of the cell.  And the noise of
+the horse scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the bird.
+And Peredur stood, and compared the blackness of the raven and the
+whiteness of the snow, and the redness of the blood, to the hair of
+the lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and to her
+skin which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spots upon
+her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow appeared
+to be.
+
+Now Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur.  "Know ye,"
+said Arthur, "who is the knight with the long spear that stands by
+the brook up yonder?"  "Lord," said one of them, "I will go and learn
+who he is."  So the youth came to the place where Peredur was, and
+asked him what he did thus, and who he was.  And from the intensity
+with which he thought upon the lady whom best he loved, he gave him
+no answer.  Then the youth thrust at Peredur with his lance, and
+Peredur turned upon him, and struck him over his horse's crupper to
+the ground.  And after this, four-and-twenty youths came to him, and
+he did not answer one more than another, but gave the same reception
+to all, bringing them with one single thrust to the ground.  And then
+came Kai, and spoke to Peredur rudely and angrily; and Peredur took
+him with his lance under the jaw, and cast him from him with a
+thrust, so that he broke his arm and his shoulder-blade, and he rode
+over him one-and-twenty times.  And while he lay thus, stunned with
+the violence of the pain that he had suffered, his horse returned
+back at a wild and prancing pace.  And when the household saw the
+horse come back without his rider, they rode forth in haste to the
+place where the encounter had been.  And when they first came there,
+they thought that Kai was slain; but they found that if he had a
+skilful physician, he yet might live.  And Peredur moved not from his
+meditation, on seeing the concourse that was around Kai.  And Kai was
+brought to Arthur's tent, and Arthur caused skilful physicians to
+come to him.  And Arthur was grieved that Kai had met with this
+reverse, for he loved him greatly.
+
+"Then," said Gwalchmai, "it is not fitting that any should disturb an
+honourable knight from his thought unadvisedly; for either he is
+pondering some damage that he has sustained, or he is thinking of the
+lady whom best he loves.  And through such ill-advised proceeding,
+perchance this misadventure has befallen him who last met with him.
+And if it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight
+hath changed from his thought; and if he has, I will ask him
+courteously to come and visit thee."  Then Kai was wroth, and he
+spoke angry and spiteful words.  "Gwalchmai," said he, "I know that
+thou wilt bring him because he is fatigued.  Little praise and
+honour, nevertheless, wilt thou have from vanquishing a weary knight,
+who is tired with fighting.  Yet thus hast thou gained the advantage
+over many.  And while thy speech and thy soft words last, a coat of
+thin linen were armour sufficient for thee, and thou wilt not need to
+break either lance or sword in fighting with the knight in the state
+he is in."  Then said Gwalchmai to Kai, "Thou mightest use more
+pleasant words, wert thou so minded:  and it behoves thee not upon me
+to wreak thy wrath and thy displeasure.  Methinks I shall bring the
+knight hither with me without breaking either my arm or my shoulder."
+Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, "Thou speakest like a wise and prudent
+man; go, and take enough of armour about thee, and choose thy horse."
+And Gwalchmai accoutred himself and rode forward hastily to the place
+where Peredur was.
+
+And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the same
+thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of hostility,
+and said to him, "If I thought that it would be as agreeable to thee
+as it would be to me, I would converse with thee.  I have also a
+message from Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him.
+And two men have been before on this errand."  "That is true," said
+Peredur, "and uncourteously they came.  They attacked me, and I was
+annoyed thereat, for it was not pleasing to me to be drawn from the
+thought that I was in, for I was thinking of the lady whom best I
+love, and thus was she brought to my mind: --I was looking upon the
+snow, and upon the raven, and upon the drops of the blood of the bird
+that the hawk had killed upon the snow.  And I bethought me that her
+whiteness was like that of the snow, and that the blackness of her
+hair and her eyebrows like that of the raven, and that the two red
+spots upon her cheeks were like the two drops of blood."  Said
+Gwalchmai, "This was not an ungentle thought, and I should marvel if
+it were pleasant to thee to be drawn from it."  "Tell me," said
+Peredur, "is Kai in Arthur's Court?"  "He is," said he, "and behold
+he is the knight that fought with thee last; and it would have been
+better for him had he not come, for his arm and his shoulder-blade
+were broken with the fall which he had from thy spear."  "Verily,"
+said Peredur, "I am not sorry to have thus begun to avenge the insult
+to the dwarf and dwarfess."  Then Gwalchmai marvelled to hear him
+speak of the dwarf and the dwarfess; and he approached him, and threw
+his arms around his neck, and asked him what was his name.  "Peredur
+the son of Evrawc am I called," said he; "and thou, Who art thou?"
+"I am called Gwalchmai," he replied.  "I am right glad to meet with
+thee," said Peredur, "for in every country where I have been I have
+heard of thy fame for prowess and uprightness, and I solicit thy
+fellowship."  "Thou shalt have it, by my faith, and grant me thine,"
+said he, "Gladly will I do so," answered Peredur.
+
+So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place where Arthur
+was, and when Kai saw them coming, he said, "I knew that Gwalchmai
+needed not to fight the knight.  And it is no wonder that he should
+gain fame; more can he do by his fair words than I by the strength of
+my arm."  And Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and they took
+off their armour.  And Peredur put on garments like those that
+Gwalchmai wore, and they went together unto Arthur, and saluted him.
+"Behold, lord," said Gwalchmai, "him whom thou hast sought so long."
+"Welcome unto thee, chieftain," said Arthur.  "With me thou shalt
+remain; and had I known thy valour had been such, thou shouldst not
+have left me as thou didst; nevertheless, this was predicted of thee
+by the dwarf and the dwarfess, whom Kai ill-treated and whom thou
+hast avenged."  And hereupon, behold there came the Queen and her
+handmaidens, and Peredur saluted them.  And they were rejoiced to see
+him, and bade him welcome.  And Arthur did him great honour and
+respect, and they returned towards Caerlleon.
+
+And the first night Peredur came to Caerlleon to Arthur's Court, and
+as he walked in the city after his repast, behold, there met him
+Angharad Law Eurawc.  "By my faith, sister," said Peredur, "thou art
+a beauteous and lovely maiden; and, were it pleasing to thee, I could
+love thee above all women."  "I pledge my faith," said she, "that I
+do not love thee, nor will I ever do so."  "I also pledge my faith,"
+said Peredur, "that I will never speak a word to any Christian again,
+until thou come to love me above all men."
+
+The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a mountain-
+ridge, and he saw a valley of a circular form, the confines of which
+were rocky and wooded.  And the flat part of the valley was in
+meadows, and there were fields betwixt the meadows and the wood.  And
+in the bosom of the wood he saw large black houses of uncouth
+workmanship.  And he dismounted, and led his horse towards the wood.
+And a little way within the wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which
+the road lay.  And upon the ledge was a lion bound by a chain, and
+sleeping.  And beneath the lion he saw a deep pit of immense size,
+full of the bones of men and animals.  And Peredur drew his sword and
+struck the lion, so that he fell into the mouth of the pit and hung
+there by the chain; and with a second blow he struck the chain and
+broke it, and the lion fell into the pit; and Peredur led his horse
+over the rocky ledge, until he came into the valley.  And in the
+centre of the valley he saw a fair castle, and he went towards it.
+And in the meadow by the castle he beheld a huge grey man sitting,
+who was larger than any man he had ever before seen.  And two young
+pages were shooting the hilts of their daggers, of the bone of the
+sea-horse.  And one of the pages had red hair, and the other auburn.
+And they went before him to the place where the grey man was, and
+Peredur saluted him.  And the grey man said, "Disgrace to the beard
+of my porter."  Then Peredur understood that the porter was the
+lion.--And the grey man and the pages went together into the castle,
+and Peredur accompanied them; and he found it a fair and noble place.
+And they proceeded to the hall, and the tables were already laid, and
+upon them was abundance of food and liquor.  And thereupon he saw an
+aged woman and a young woman come from the chamber; and they were the
+most stately women he had ever seen.  Then they washed and went to
+meat, and the grey man sat in the upper seat at the head of the
+table, and the aged woman next to him.  And Peredur and the maiden
+were placed together, and the two young pages served them.  And the
+maiden gazed sorrowfully upon Peredur, and Peredur asked the maiden
+wherefore she was sad.  "For thee, my soul; for, from when I first
+beheld thee, I have loved thee above all men.  And it pains me to
+know that so gentle a youth as thou should have such a doom as awaits
+thee to-morrow.  Sawest thou the numerous black houses in the bosom
+of the wood?  All these belong to the vassals of the grey man yonder,
+who is my father.  And they are all giants.  And to-morrow they will
+rise up against thee, and will slay thee.  And the Round Valley is
+this valley called."  "Listen, fair maiden, wilt thou contrive that
+my horse and arms be in the same lodging with me to-night?"  "Gladly
+will I cause it so to be, by Heaven, if I can."
+
+And when it was time for them to sleep rather than to carouse, they
+went to rest.  And the maiden caused Peredur's horse and arms to be
+in the same lodging with him.  And the next morning Peredur heard a
+great tumult of men and horses around the castle.  And Peredur arose,
+and armed himself and his horse, and went to the meadow.  Then the
+aged woman and the maiden came to the grey man:  "Lord," said they,
+"take the word of the youth, that he will never disclose what he has
+seen in this place, and we will be his sureties that he keep it."  "I
+will not do so, by my faith," said the grey man.  So Peredur fought
+with the host, and towards evening he had slain the one-third of them
+without receiving any hurt himself.  Then said the aged woman,
+"Behold, many of thy host have been slain by the youth; do thou,
+therefore, grant him mercy."  "I will not grant it, by my faith,"
+said he.  And the aged woman and the fair maiden were upon the
+battlements of the castle, looking forth.  And at that juncture,
+Peredur encountered the yellow-haired youth and slew him.  "Lord,"
+said the maiden, "grant the young man mercy."  "That will I not do,
+by Heaven," he replied; and thereupon Peredur attacked the auburn-
+haired youth, and slew him likewise.  "It were better that thou hadst
+accorded mercy to the youth before he had slain thy two sons; for now
+scarcely wilt thou thyself escape from him."  "Go, maiden, and
+beseech the youth to grant mercy unto us, for we yield ourselves into
+his hands."  So the maiden came to the place where Peredur was, and
+besought mercy for her father, and for all such of his vassals as had
+escaped alive.  "Thou shalt have it, on condition that thy father and
+all that are under him go and render homage to Arthur, and tell him
+that it was his vassal Peredur that did him this service."  "This
+will we do willingly, by Heaven."  "And you shall also receive
+baptism; and I will send to Arthur, and beseech him to bestow this
+valley upon thee and upon thy heirs after thee for ever."  Then they
+went in, and the grey man and the tall woman saluted Peredur.  And
+the grey man said unto him, "Since I have possessed this valley I
+have not seen any Christian depart with his life, save thyself.  And
+we will go to do homage to Arthur, and to embrace the faith and be
+baptized."  Then said Peredur, "To Heaven I render thanks that I have
+not broken my vow to the lady that best I love, which was, that I
+would not speak one word unto any Christian."
+
+That night they tarried there.  And the next day, in the morning, the
+grey man, with his company, set forth to Arthur's Court; and they did
+homage unto Arthur, and he caused them to be baptized.  And the grey
+man told Arthur that it was Peredur that had vanquished them.  And
+Arthur gave the valley to the grey man and his company, to hold it of
+him as Peredur had besought.  And with Arthur's permission, the grey
+man went back to the Round Valley.
+
+Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast tract of
+desert, in which no dwellings were.  And at length he came to a
+habitation, mean and small.  And there he heard that there was a
+serpent that lay upon a gold ring, and suffered none to inhabit the
+country for seven miles around.  And Peredur came to the place where
+he heard the serpent was.  And angrily, furiously, and desperately
+fought he with the serpent; and at last he killed it, and took away
+the ring.  And thus he was for a long time without speaking a word to
+any Christian.  And therefrom he lost his colour and his aspect,
+through extreme longing after the Court of Arthur, and the society of
+the lady whom best he loved, and of his companions.  Then he
+proceeded forward to Arthur's Court, and on the road there met him
+Arthur's household going on a particular errand, with Kai at their
+head.  And Peredur knew them all, but none of the household
+recognized him.  "Whence comest thou, chieftain?" said Kai.  And this
+he asked him twice and three times, and he answered him not.  And Kai
+thrust him through the thigh with his lance.  And lest he should be
+compelled to speak, and to break his vow, he went on without
+stopping.  "Then," said Gwalchmai, "I declare to Heaven, Kai, that
+thou hast acted ill in committing such an outrage on a youth like
+this, who cannot speak."
+
+And Gwalchmai returned back to Arthur's Court.  "Lady," said he to
+Gwenhwyvar, "seest thou how wicked an outrage Kai has committed upon
+this youth who cannot speak; for Heaven's sake, and for mine, cause
+him to have medical care before I come back, and I will repay thee
+the charge."
+
+And before the men returned from their errand, a knight came to the
+meadow beside Arthur's Palace, to dare some one to the encounter.
+And his challenge was accepted; and Peredur fought with him, and
+overthrew him.  And for a week he overthrew one knight every day.
+
+And one day, Arthur and his household were going to Church, and they
+beheld a knight who had raised the signal for combat.  "Verily," said
+Arthur, "by the valour of men, I will not go hence until I have my
+horse and my arms to overthrow yonder boor."  Then went the
+attendants to fetch Arthur's horse and arms.  And Peredur met the
+attendants as they were going back, and he took the horse and arms
+from them, and proceeded to the meadow; and all those who saw him
+arise and go to do battle with the knight, went upon the tops of the
+houses, and the mounds, and the high places, to behold the combat.
+And Peredur beckoned with his hand to the knight to commence the
+fight.  And the knight thrust at him, but he was not thereby moved
+from where he stood.  And Peredur spurred his horse, and ran at him
+wrathfully, furiously, fiercely, desperately, and with mighty rage,
+and he gave him a thrust, deadly-wounding, severe, furious, adroit,
+and strong, under his jaw, and raised him out of his saddle, and cast
+him a long way from him.  And Peredur went back, and left the horse
+and the arms with the attendant as before, and he went on foot to the
+Palace.
+
+Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth.  And behold,
+Angharad Law Eurawc met him.  "I declare to Heaven, chieftain," said
+she, "woful is it that thou canst not speak; for couldst thou speak,
+I would love thee best of all men; and by my faith, although thou
+canst not, I do love thee above all."  "Heaven reward thee, my
+sister," said Peredur, "by my faith I also do love thee."  Thereupon
+it was known that he was Peredur.  And then he held fellowship with
+Gwalchmai, and Owain the son of Urien, and all the household, and he
+remained in Arthur's Court.
+
+
+Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk; and he went to hunt, and Peredur
+went with him.  And Peredur let loose his dog upon a hart, and the
+dog killed the hart in a desert place.  And a short space from him he
+saw signs of a dwelling, and towards the dwelling he went, and he
+beheld a hall, and at the door of the hall he found bald swarthy
+youths playing at chess.  And when he entered, he beheld three
+maidens sitting on a bench, and they were all clothed alike, as
+became persons of high rank.  And he came, and sat by them upon the
+bench; and one of the maidens looked steadfastly upon Peredur, and
+wept.  And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping.  "Through
+grief, that I should see so fair a youth as thou art, slain."  "Who
+will slay me?" inquired Peredur.  "If thou art so daring as to remain
+here to-night, I will tell thee."  "How great soever my danger may be
+from remaining here, I will listen unto thee."  "This Palace is owned
+by him who is my father," said the maiden, "and he slays every one
+who comes hither without his leave."  "What sort of a man is thy
+father, that he is able to slay every one thus?"  "A man who does
+violence and wrong unto his neighbours, and who renders justice unto
+none."  And hereupon he saw the youths arise and clear the chessmen
+from the board.  And he heard a great tumult; and after the tumult
+there came in a huge black one-eyed man, and the maidens arose to
+meet him.  And they disarrayed him, and he went and sat down; and
+after he had rested and pondered awhile, he looked at Peredur, and
+asked who the knight was.  "Lord," said one of the maidens, "he is
+the fairest and gentlest youth that ever thou didst see.  And for the
+sake of Heaven, and of thine own dignity, have patience with him."
+"For thy sake I will have patience, and I will grant him his life
+this night."  Then Peredur came towards them to the fire, and partook
+of food and liquor, and entered into discourse with the ladies.  And
+being elated with the liquor, he said to the black man, "It is a
+marvel to me, so mighty as thou sayest thou art, who could have put
+out thine eye."  "It is one of my habits," said the black man, "that
+whosoever puts to me the question which thou hast asked, shall not
+escape with his life, either as a free gift or for a price."  "Lord,"
+said the maiden, "whatsoever he may say to thee in jest, and through
+the excitement of liquor, make good that which thou saidst and didst
+promise me just now."  "I will do so, gladly, for thy sake," said he.
+"Willingly will I grant him his life this night."  And that night
+thus they remained.
+
+And the next day the black man got up, and put on his armour, and
+said to Peredur, "Arise, man, and suffer death."  And Peredur said
+unto him, "Do one of two things, black man; if thou wilt fight with
+me, either throw off thy own armour, or give arms to me, that I may
+encounter thee."  "Ha, man," said he, "couldst thou fight, if thou
+hadst arms?  Take, then, what arms thou dost choose."  And thereupon
+the maiden came to Peredur with such arms as pleased him; and he
+fought with the black man, and forced him to crave his mercy.  "Black
+man, thou shalt have mercy, provided thou tell me who thou art, and
+who put out thine eye."  "Lord, I will tell thee; I lost it in
+fighting with the Black Serpent of the Carn.  There is a mound, which
+is called the Mound of Mourning; and on the mound there is a carn,
+and in the carn there is a serpent, and on the tail of the serpent
+there is a stone, and the virtues of the stone are such, that
+whosoever should hold it in one hand, in the other he will have as
+much gold as he may desire.  And in fighting with this serpent was it
+that I lost my eye.  And the Black Oppressor am I called.  And for
+this reason I am called the Black Oppressor, that there is not a
+single man around me whom I have not oppressed, and justice have I
+done unto none."  "Tell me," said Peredur, "how far is it hence?"
+"The same day that thou settest forth, thou wilt come to the Palace
+of the Sons of the King of the Tortures."  "Wherefore are they called
+thus?"  "The Addanc of the Lake slays them once every day.  When thou
+goest thence, thou wilt come to the Court of the Countess of the
+Achievements."  "What achievements are there?" asked Peredur.  "Three
+hundred men there are in her household, and unto every stranger that
+comes to the Court, the achievements of her household are related.
+And this is the manner of it,--the three hundred men of the household
+sit next unto the Lady; and that not through disrespect unto the
+guests, but that they may relate the achievements of the household.
+And the day that thou goest thence, thou wilt reach the Mound of
+Mourning, and round about the mound there are the owners of three
+hundred tents guarding the serpent."  "Since thou hast, indeed, been
+an oppressor so long," said Peredur, "I will cause that thou continue
+so no longer."  So he slew him.
+
+Then the maiden spoke, and began to converse with him.  "If thou wast
+poor when thou camest here, henceforth thou wilt be rich through the
+treasure of the black man whom thou hast slain.  Thou seest the many
+lovely maidens that there are in this Court; thou shalt have her whom
+thou best likest for the lady of thy love."  "Lady, I came not hither
+from my country to woo; but match yourselves as it liketh you with
+the comely youths I see here; and none of your goods do I desire, for
+I need them not."  Then Peredur rode forward, and he came to the
+Palace of the Sons of the King of the Tortures; and when he entered
+the Palace, he saw none but women; and they rose up, and were joyful
+at his coming; and as they began to discourse with him, he beheld a
+charger arrive, with a saddle upon it, and a corpse in the saddle.
+And one of the women arose, and took the corpse from the saddle, and
+anointed it in a vessel of warm water, which was below the door, and
+placed precious balsam upon it; and the man rose up alive, and came
+to the place where Peredur was, and greeted him, and was joyful to
+see him.  And two other men came in upon their saddles, and the
+maiden treated these two in the same manner as she had done the
+first.  Then Peredur asked the chieftain wherefore it was thus.  And
+they told him, that there was an Addanc in a cave, which slew them
+once every day.  And thus they remained that night.
+
+And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and Peredur
+besought them, for the sake of the ladies of their love, to permit
+him to go with them; but they refused him, saying, "If thou shouldst
+be slain there, thou hast none to bring thee back to life again."
+And they rode forward, and Peredur followed after them; and, after
+they had disappeared out of his sight, he came to a mound, whereon
+sat the fairest lady he had ever beheld.  "I know thy quest," said
+she; "thou art going to encounter the Addanc, and he will slay thee,
+and that not by courage, but by craft.  He has a cave, and at the
+entrance of the cave there is a stone pillar, and he sees every one
+that enters, and none see him; and from behind the pillar he slays
+every one with a poisonous dart.  And if thou wouldst pledge me thy
+faith to love me above all women, I would give thee a stone, by which
+thou shouldst see him when thou goest in, and he should not see
+thee."  "I will, by my troth," said Peredur, "for when first I beheld
+thee I loved thee; and where shall I seek thee?"  "When thou seekest
+me, seek towards India."  And the maiden vanished, after placing the
+stone in Peredur's hand.
+
+And he came towards a valley, through which ran a river; and the
+borders of the valley were wooded, and on each side of the river were
+level meadows.  And on one side of the river he saw a flock of white
+sheep, and on the other a flock of black sheep.  And whenever one of
+the white sheep bleated, one of the black sheep would cross over and
+become white; and when one of the black sheep bleated, one of the
+white sheep would cross over and become black.  And he saw a tall
+tree by the side of the river, one half of which was in flames from
+the root to the top, and the other half was green and in full leaf.
+And nigh thereto he saw a youth sitting upon a mound, and two
+greyhounds, white-breasted and spotted, in leashes, lying by his
+side.  And certain was he that he had never seen a youth of so royal
+a bearing as he.  And in the wood opposite he heard hounds raising a
+herd of deer.  And Peredur saluted the youth, and the youth greeted
+him in return.  And there were three roads leading from the mound;
+two of them were wide roads, and the third was more narrow.  And
+Peredur inquired where the three roads went.  "One of them goes to my
+palace," said the youth; "and one of two things I counsel thee to do;
+either to proceed to my palace, which is before thee, and where thou
+wilt find my wife, or else to remain here to see the hounds chasing
+the roused deer from the wood to the plain.  And thou shalt see the
+best greyhounds thou didst ever behold, and the boldest in the chase,
+kill them by the water beside us; and when it is time to go to meat,
+my page will come with my horse to meet me, and thou shalt rest in my
+palace to-night."  "Heaven reward thee; but I cannot tarry, for
+onward must I go."  "The other road leads to the town, which is near
+here, and wherein food and liquor may be bought; and the road which
+is narrower than the others goes towards the cave of the Addanc."
+"With thy permission, young man, I will go that way."
+
+And Peredur went towards the cave.  And he took the stone in his left
+hand, and his lance in his right.  And as he went in he perceived the
+Addanc, and he pierced him through with his lance, and cut off his
+head.  And as he came from the cave, behold the three companions were
+at the entrance; and they saluted Peredur, and told him that there
+was a prediction that he should slay that monster.  And Peredur gave
+the head to the young men, and they offered him in marriage whichever
+of the three sisters he might choose, and half their kingdom with
+her.  "I came not hither to woo," said Peredur, "but if peradventure
+I took a wife, I should prefer your sister to all others."  And
+Peredur rode forward, and he heard a noise behind him.  And he looked
+back, and saw a man upon a red horse, with red armour upon him; and
+the man rode up by his side, and saluted him, and wished him the
+favour of Heaven and of man.  And Peredur greeted the youth kindly.
+"Lord, I come to make a request unto thee."  "What wouldest thou?"
+"That thou shouldest take me as thine attendant."  "Whom then should
+I take as my attendant, if I did so?"  "I will not conceal from thee
+what kindred I am of.  Etlym Gleddyv Coch am I called, an Earl from
+the East Country."  "I marvel that thou shouldest offer to become
+attendant to a man whose possessions are no greater than thine own;
+for I have but an earldom like thyself.  But since thou desirest to
+be my attendant, I will take thee joyfully."
+
+And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and all they of
+the Court were glad at their coming; and they were told it was not
+through disrespect they were placed below the household, but that
+such was the usage of the Court.  For, whoever should overthrow the
+three hundred men of her household, would sit next the Countess, and
+she would love him above all men.  And Peredur having overthrown the
+three hundred men of her household, sat down beside her, and the
+Countess said, "I thank Heaven that I have a youth so fair and so
+valiant as thou, since I have not obtained the man whom best I love."
+"Who is he whom best thou lovest?"  "By my faith, Etlym Gleddyv Coch
+is the man whom I love best, and I have never seen him."  "Of a
+truth, Etlym is my companion; and behold here he is, and for his sake
+did I come to joust with thy household.  And he could have done so
+better than I, had it pleased him.  And I do give thee unto him."
+"Heaven reward thee, fair youth, and I will take the man whom I love
+above all others."  And the Countess became Etlym's bride from that
+moment.
+
+And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound of Mourning.
+"By thy hand, lord, but I will go with thee," said Etlym.  Then they
+went forwards till they came in sight of the mound and the tents.
+"Go unto yonder men," said Peredur to Etlym, "and desire them to come
+and do me homage."  So Etlym went unto them, and said unto them
+thus,--"Come and do homage to my lord."  "Who is thy lord?" said
+they.  "Peredur with the long lance is my lord," said Etlym.  "Were
+it permitted to slay a messenger, thou shouldest not go back to thy
+lord alive, for making unto Kings, and Earls, and Barons so arrogant
+a demand as to go and do him homage."  Peredur desired him to go back
+to them, and to give them their choice, either to do him homage, or
+to do battle with him.  And they chose rather to do battle.  And that
+day Peredur overthrew the owners of a hundred tents; and the next day
+he overthrew the owners of a hundred more; and the third day the
+remaining hundred took counsel to do homage to Peredur.  And Peredur
+inquired of them, wherefore they were there.  And they told him they
+were guarding the serpent until he should die.  "For then should we
+fight for the stone among ourselves, and whoever should be conqueror
+among us would have the stone."  "Await here," said Peredur, "and I
+will go to encounter the serpent."  "Not so, lord," said they; "we
+will go altogether to encounter the serpent."  "Verily," said
+Peredur, "that will I not permit; for if the serpent be slain, I
+shall derive no more fame therefrom than one of you."  Then he went
+to the place where the serpent was, and slew it, and came back to
+them, and said, "Reckon up what you have spent since you have been
+here, and I will repay you to the full."  And he paid to each what he
+said was his claim.  And he required of them only that they should
+acknowledge themselves his vassals.  And he said to Etlym, "Go back
+unto her whom thou lovest best, and I will go forwards, and I will
+reward thee for having been my attendant."  And he gave Etlym the
+stone.  "Heaven repay thee and prosper thee," said Etlym.
+
+And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley he had
+ever seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld many tents
+of various colours.  And he marvelled still more at the number of
+water-mills and of wind-mills that he saw.  And there rode up with
+him a tall auburn-haired man, in workman's garb, and Peredur inquired
+of him who he was.  "I am the chief miller," said he, "of all the
+mills yonder."  "Wilt thou give me lodging?" said Peredur.  "I will,
+gladly," he answered.  And Peredur came to the miller's house, and
+the miller had a fair and pleasant dwelling.  And Peredur asked money
+as a loan from the miller, that he might buy meat and liquor for
+himself and for the household, and he promised that he would pay him
+again ere he went thence.  And he inquired of the miller, wherefore
+such a multitude was there assembled.  Said the miller to Peredur,
+"One thing is certain:  either thou art a man from afar, or thou art
+beside thyself.  The Empress of Cristinobyl the Great is here; and
+she will have no one but the man who is most valiant; for riches does
+she not require.  And it was impossible to bring food for so many
+thousands as are here, therefore were all these mills constructed."
+And that night they took their rest.
+
+And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and his horse
+for the tournament.  And among the other tents he beheld one, which
+was the fairest he had ever seen.  And he saw a beauteous maiden
+leaning her head out of a window of the tent, and he had never seen a
+maiden more lovely than she.  And upon her was a garment of satin.
+And he gazed fixedly on the maiden, and began to love her greatly.
+And he remained there, gazing upon the maiden from morning until mid-
+day, and from mid-day until evening; and then the tournament was
+ended and he went to his lodging and drew off his armour.  Then he
+asked money of the miller as a loan, and the miller's wife was wroth
+with Peredur; nevertheless, the miller lent him the money.  And the
+next day he did in like manner as he had done the day before.  And at
+night he came to his lodging, and took money as a loan from the
+miller.  And the third day, as he was in the same place, gazing upon
+the maiden, he felt a hard blow between the neck and the shoulder,
+from the edge of an axe.  And when he looked behind him, he saw that
+it was the miller; and the miller said to him, "Do one of two things:
+either turn thy head from hence, or go to the tournament."  And
+Peredur smiled on the miller, and went to the tournament; and all
+that encountered him that day he overthrew.  And as many as he
+vanquished he sent as a gift to the Empress, and their horses and
+arms he sent as a gift to the wife of the miller, in payment of the
+borrowed money.  Peredur attended the tournament until all were
+overthrown, and he sent all the men to the prison of the Empress, and
+the horses and arms to the wife of the miller, in payment of the
+borrowed money.  And the Empress sent to the Knight of the Mill, to
+ask him to come and visit her.  And Peredur went not for the first
+nor for the second message.  And the third time she sent a hundred
+knights to bring him against his will, and they went to him and told
+him their mission from the Empress.  And Peredur fought well with
+them, and caused them to be bound like stags, and thrown into the
+mill-dyke.  And the Empress sought advice of a wise man who was in
+her counsel; and he said to her, "With thy permission, I will go to
+him myself."  So he came to Peredur, and saluted him, and besought
+him, for the sake of the lady of his love, to come and visit the
+Empress.  And they went, together with the miller.  And Peredur went
+and sat down in the outer chamber of the tent, and she came and
+placed herself by his side.  And there was but little discourse
+between them.  And Peredur took his leave, and went to his lodging.
+
+And the next day he came to visit her, and when he came into the tent
+there was no one chamber less decorated than the others.  And they
+knew not where he would sit.  And Peredur went and sat beside the
+Empress, and discoursed with her courteously.  And while they were
+thus, they beheld a black man enter with a goblet full of wine in his
+hand.  And he dropped upon his knee before the Empress, and besought
+her to give it to no one who would not fight with him for it.  And
+she looked upon Peredur.  "Lady," said he, "bestow on me the goblet."
+And Peredur drank the wine, and gave the goblet to the miller's wife.
+And while they were thus, behold there entered a black man of larger
+stature than the other, with a wild beast's claw in his hand, wrought
+into the form of a goblet and filled with wine.  And he presented it
+to the Empress, and besought her to give it to no one but the man who
+would fight with him.  "Lady," said Peredur, "bestow it on me."  And
+she gave it to him.  And Peredur drank the wine, and sent the goblet
+to the wife of the miller.  And while they were thus, behold a rough-
+looking, crisp-haired man, taller than either of the others, came in
+with a bowl in his hand full of wine; and he bent upon his knee, and
+gave it into the hands of the Empress, and he besought her to give it
+to none but him who would fight with him for it; and she gave it to
+Peredur, and he sent it to the miller's wife.  And that night Peredur
+returned to his lodging; and the next day he accoutred himself and
+his horse, and went to the meadow and slew the three men.  Then
+Peredur proceeded to the tent, and the Empress said to him, "Goodly
+Peredur, remember the faith thou didst pledge me when I gave thee the
+stone, and thou didst kill the Addanc."  "Lady," answered he, "thou
+sayest truth, I do remember it."  And Peredur was entertained by the
+Empress fourteen years, as the story relates.
+
+
+Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk, his principal palace; and in the
+centre of the floor of the hall were four men sitting on a carpet of
+velvet, Owain the son of Urien, and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and
+Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, and Peredur of the long lance.  And
+thereupon they saw a black curly-headed maiden enter, riding upon a
+yellow mule, with jagged thongs in her hand to urge it on; and having
+a rough and hideous aspect.  Blacker were her face and her two hands
+than the blackest iron covered with pitch; and her hue was not more
+frightful than her form.  High cheeks had she, and a face lengthened
+downwards, and a short nose with distended nostrils.  And one eye was
+of a piercing mottled grey, and the other was as black as jet, deep-
+sunk in her head.  And her teeth were long and yellow, more yellow
+were they than the flower of the broom.  And her stomach rose from
+the breast-bone, higher than her chin.  And her back was in the shape
+of a crook, and her legs were large and bony.  And her figure was
+very thin and spare, except her feet and her legs, which were of huge
+size.  And she greeted Arthur and all his household except Peredur.
+And to Peredur she spoke harsh and angry words.  "Peredur, I greet
+thee not, seeing that thou dost not merit it.  Blind was fate in
+giving thee fame and favour.  When thou wast in the Court of the Lame
+King, and didst see there the youth bearing the streaming spear, from
+the points of which were drops of blood flowing in streams, even to
+the hand of the youth, and many other wonders likewise, thou didst
+not inquire their meaning nor their cause.  Hadst thou done so, the
+King would have been restored to health, and his dominions to peace.
+Whereas from henceforth, he will have to endure battles and
+conflicts, and his knights will perish, and wives will be widowed,
+and maidens will be left portionless, and all this is because of
+thee."  Then said she unto Arthur, "May it please thee, lord, my
+dwelling is far hence, in the stately castle of which thou hast
+heard, and therein are five hundred and sixty-six knights of the
+order of Chivalry, and the lady whom best he loves with each; and
+whoever would acquire fame in arms, and encounters, and conflicts, he
+will gain it there, if he deserve it.  And whoso would reach the
+summit of fame and of honour, I know where he may find it.  There is
+a castle on a lofty mountain, and there is a maiden therein, and she
+is detained a prisoner there, and whoever shall set her free will
+attain the summit of the fame of the world."  And thereupon she rode
+away.
+
+Said Gwalchmai, "By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly until I have
+proved if I can release the maiden."  And many of Arthur's household
+joined themselves with him.  Then, likewise, said Peredur, "By my
+faith, I will not rest tranquilly until I know the story and the
+meaning of the lance whereof the black maiden spoke."  And while they
+were equipping themselves, behold a knight came to the gate.  And he
+had the size and the strength of a warrior, and was equipped with
+arms and habiliments.  And he went forward, and saluted Arthur and
+all his household, except Gwalchmai.  And the knight had upon his
+shoulder a shield, ingrained with gold, with a fesse of azure blue
+upon it, and his whole armour was of the same hue.  And he said to
+Gwalchmai, "Thou didst slay my lord by thy treachery and deceit, and
+that will I prove upon thee."  Then Gwalchmai rose up.  "Behold,"
+said he, "here is my gage against thee, to maintain, either in this
+place or wherever else thou wilt, that I am not a traitor or
+deceiver."  "Before the King whom I obey, will I that my encounter
+with thee take place," said the knight.  "Willingly," said Gwalchmai;
+"go forward, and I will follow thee."  So the knight went forth, and
+Gwalchmai accoutred himself, and there was offered unto him abundance
+of armour, but he would take none but his own.  And when Gwalchmai
+and Peredur were equipped, they set forth to follow him, by reason of
+their fellowship and of the great friendship that was between them.
+And they did not go after him in company together, but each went his
+own way.
+
+At the dawn of day Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in the valley he
+saw a fortress, and within the fortress a vast palace and lofty
+towers around it.  And he beheld a knight coming out to hunt from the
+other side, mounted on a spirited black snorting palfrey, that
+advanced at a prancing pace, proudly stepping, and nimbly bounding,
+and sure of foot; and this was the man to whom the palace belonged.
+And Gwalchmai saluted him.  "Heaven prosper thee, chieftain," said
+he, "and whence comest thou?"  "I come," answered Gwalchmai, "from
+the Court of Arthur."  "And art thou Arthur's vassal?"  "Yes, by my
+faith," said Gwalchmai.  "I will give thee good counsel," said the
+knight.  "I see that thou art tired and weary; go unto my palace, if
+it may please thee, and tarry there to-night."  "Willingly, lord,"
+said he, "and Heaven reward thee."  "Take this ring as a token to the
+porter, and go forward to yonder tower, and therein thou wilt find my
+sister."  And Gwalchmai went to the gate, and showed the ring, and
+proceeded to the tower.  And on entering he beheld a large blazing
+fire, burning without smoke and with a bright and lofty flame, and a
+beauteous and stately maiden was sitting on a chair by the fire.  And
+the maiden was glad at his coming, and welcomed him, and advanced to
+meet him.  And he went and sat beside the maiden, and they took their
+repast.  And when their repast was over, they discoursed pleasantly
+together.  And while they were thus, behold there entered a venerable
+hoary-headed man.  "Ah! base girl," said he, "if thou didst think it
+was right for thee to entertain and to sit by yonder man, thou
+wouldest not do so."  And he withdrew his head, and went forth.  "Ah!
+chieftain," said the maiden, "if thou wilt do as I counsel thee, thou
+wilt shut the door, lest the man should have a plot against thee."
+Upon that Gwalchmai arose, and when he came near unto the door, the
+man, with sixty others, fully armed, were ascending the tower.  And
+Gwalchmai defended the door with a chessboard, that none might enter
+until the man should return from the chase.  And thereupon, behold
+the Earl arrived.  "What is all this?" asked he.  "It is a sad
+thing," said the hoary-headed man; "the young girl yonder has been
+sitting and eating with him who slew your father.  He is Gwalchmai,
+the son of Gwyar."  "Hold thy peace, then," said the Earl, "I will go
+in."  And the Earl was joyful concerning Gwalchmai.  "Ha! chieftain,"
+said he, "it was wrong of thee to come to my court, when thou knewest
+that thou didst slay my father; and though we cannot avenge him,
+Heaven will avenge him upon thee."  "My soul," said Gwalchmai, "thus
+it is:  I came not here either to acknowledge or to deny having slain
+thy father; but I am on a message from Arthur, and therefore do I
+crave the space of a year until I shall return from my embassy, and
+then, upon my faith, I will come back unto this palace, and do one of
+two things, either acknowledge it, or deny it."  And the time was
+granted him willingly; and he remained there that night.  And the
+next morning he rode forth.  And the story relates nothing further of
+Gwalchmai respecting this adventure.
+
+And Peredur rode forward.  And he wandered over the whole island,
+seeking tidings of the black maiden, and he could meet with none.
+And he came to an unknown land, in the centre of a valley, watered by
+a river.  And as he traversed the valley he beheld a horseman coming
+towards him, and wearing the garments of a priest; and he besought
+his blessing.  "Wretched man," said he, "thou meritest no blessing,
+and thou wouldest not be profited by one, seeing that thou art clad
+in armour on such a day as this."  "And what day is to-day?" said
+Peredur.  "To-day is Good Friday," he answered.  "Chide me not that I
+knew not this, seeing that it is a year to-day since I journeyed
+forth from my country."  Then he dismounted, and led his horse in his
+hand.  And he had not proceeded far along the high road before he
+came to a cross road, and the cross road traversed a wood.  And on
+the other side of the wood he saw an unfortified castle, which
+appeared to be inhabited.  And at the gate of the castle there met
+him the priest whom he had seen before, and he asked his blessing.
+"The blessing of Heaven be unto thee," said he, "it is more fitting
+to travel in thy present guise than as thou wast erewhile; and this
+night thou shalt tarry with me."  So he remained there that night.
+
+And the next day Peredur sought to go forth.  "To-day may no one
+journey.  Thou shalt remain with me to-day and to-morrow, and the day
+following, and I will direct thee as best I may to the place which
+thou art seeking."  And the fourth day Peredur sought to go forth,
+and he entreated the priest to tell him how he should find the Castle
+of Wonders.  "What I know thereof I will tell thee," he replied.  "Go
+over yonder mountain, and on the other side of the mountain thou wilt
+come to a river, and in the valley wherein the river runs is a King's
+palace, wherein the King sojourned during Easter.  And if thou mayest
+have tidings anywhere of the Castle of Wonders, thou wilt have them
+there."
+
+Then Peredur rode forward.  And he came to the valley in which was
+the river, and there met him a number of men going to hunt, and in
+the midst of them was a man of exalted rank, and Peredur saluted him.
+"Choose, chieftain," said the man, "whether thou wilt go with me to
+the chase, or wilt proceed to my palace, and I will dispatch one of
+my household to commend thee to my daughter, who is there, and who
+will entertain thee with food and liquor until I return from hunting;
+and whatever may be thine errand, such as I can obtain for thee thou
+shalt gladly have."  And the King sent a little yellow page with him
+as an attendant; and when they came to the palace the lady had
+arisen, and was about to wash before meat.  Peredur went forward, and
+she saluted him joyfully, and placed him by her side.  And they took
+their repast.  And whatsoever Peredur said unto her, she laughed
+loudly, so that all in the palace could hear.  Then spoke the yellow
+page to the lady.  "By my faith," said he, "this youth is already thy
+husband; or if he be not, thy mind and thy thoughts are set upon
+him."  And the little yellow page went unto the King, and told him
+that it seemed to him that the youth whom he had met with was his
+daughter's husband, or if he were not so already that he would
+shortly become so unless he were cautious.  "What is thy counsel in
+this matter, youth?" said the King.  "My counsel is," he replied,
+"that thou set strong men upon him, to seize him, until thou hast
+ascertained the truth respecting this."  So he set strong men upon
+Peredur, who seized him and cast him into prison.  And the maiden
+went before her father, and asked him wherefore he had caused the
+youth from Arthur's Court to be imprisoned.  "In truth," he answered,
+"he shall not be free to-night, nor to-morrow, nor the day following,
+and he shall not come from where he is."  She replied not to what the
+King had said, but she went to the youth.  "Is it unpleasant to thee
+to be here?" said she.  "I should not care if I were not," he
+replied.  "Thy couch and thy treatment shall be in no wise inferior
+to that of the King himself, and thou shalt have the best
+entertainment that the palace affords.  And if it were more pleasing
+to thee that my couch should be here, that I might discourse with
+thee, it should be so, cheerfully."  "This can I not refuse," said
+Peredur.  And he remained in prison that night.  And the maiden
+provided all that she had promised him.
+
+And the next day Peredur heard a tumult in the town.  "Tell me, fair
+maiden, what is that tumult?" said Peredur.  "All the King's hosts
+and his forces have come to the town to-day."  "And what seek they
+here?" he inquired.  "There is an Earl near this place who possesses
+two Earldoms, and is as powerful as a King; and an engagement will
+take place between them to-day."  "I beseech thee," said Peredur, "to
+cause a horse and arms to be brought, that I may view the encounter,
+and I promise to come back to my prison again."  "Gladly," said she,
+"will I provide thee with horse and arms."  So she gave him a horse
+and arms, and a bright scarlet robe of honour over his armour, and a
+yellow shield upon his shoulder.  And he went to the combat; and as
+many of the Earl's men as encountered him that day he overthrew; and
+he returned to his prison.  And the maiden asked tidings of Peredur,
+and he answered her not a word.  And she went and asked tidings of
+her father, and inquired who had acquitted himself best of the
+household.  And he said that he knew not, but that it was a man with
+a scarlet robe of honour over his armour, and a yellow shield upon
+his shoulder.  Then she smiled, and returned to where Peredur was,
+and did him great honour that night.  And for three days did Peredur
+slay the Earl's men; and before any one could know who he was, he
+returned to his prison.  And the fourth day Peredur slew the Earl
+himself.  And the maiden went unto her father, and inquired of him
+the news.  "I have good news for thee," said the King; "the Earl is
+slain, and I am the owner of his two Earldoms."  "Knowest thou, lord,
+who slew him?"  "I do not know," said the King.  "It was the knight
+with the scarlet robe of honour and the yellow shield."  "Lord," said
+she, "I know who that is."  "By Heaven!" he exclaimed, "who is he?"
+"Lord," she replied, "he is the knight whom thou hast imprisoned."
+Then he went unto Peredur, and saluted him, and told him that he
+would reward the service he had done him, in any way he might desire.
+And when they went to meat, Peredur was placed beside the King, and
+the maiden on the other side of Peredur.  "I will give thee," said
+the King, "my daughter in marriage, and half my kingdom with her, and
+the two Earldoms as a gift."  "Heaven reward thee, lord," said
+Peredur, "but I came not here to woo."  "What seekest thou then,
+chieftain?"  "I am seeking tidings of the Castle of Wonders."  "Thy
+enterprise is greater, chieftain, than thou wilt wish to pursue,"
+said the maiden, "nevertheless, tidings shalt thou have of the
+Castle, and thou shalt have a guide through my father's dominions,
+and a sufficiency of provisions for thy journey, for thou art, O
+chieftain, the man whom best I love."  Then she said to him, "Go over
+yonder mountain, and thou wilt find a lake, and in the middle of the
+lake there is a Castle, and that is the Castle that is called the
+Castle of Wonders; and we know not what wonders are therein, but thus
+is it called."
+
+And Peredur proceeded towards the Castle, and the gate of the Castle
+was open.  And when he came to the hall, the door was open, and he
+entered.  And he beheld a chessboard in the hall, and the chessmen
+were playing against each other, by themselves.  And the side that he
+favoured lost the game, and thereupon the others set up a shout, as
+though they had been living men.  And Peredur was wroth, and took the
+chessmen in his lap, and cast the chessboard into the lake.  And when
+he had done thus, behold the black maiden came in, and she said to
+him, "The welcome of Heaven be not unto thee.  Thou hadst rather do
+evil than good."  "What complaint hast thou against me, maiden?" said
+Peredur.  "That thou hast occasioned unto the Empress the loss of her
+chessboard, which she would not have lost for all her empire.  And
+the way in which thou mayest recover the chessboard is, to repair to
+the Castle of Ysbidinongyl, where is a black man, who lays waste the
+dominions of the Empress; and if thou canst slay him, thou wilt
+recover the chessboard.  But if thou goest there, thou wilt not
+return alive."  "Wilt thou direct me thither?" said Peredur.  "I will
+show thee the way," she replied.  So he went to the Castle of
+Ysbidinongyl, and he fought with the black man.  And the black man
+besought mercy of Peredur.  "Mercy will I grant thee," said he, "on
+condition that thou cause the chessboard to be restored to the place
+where it was when I entered the hall."  Then the maiden came to him,
+and said, "The malediction of Heaven attend thee for thy work, since
+thou hast left that monster alive, who lays waste all the possessions
+of the Empress."  "I granted him his life," said Peredur, "that he
+might cause the chessboard to be restored."  "The chessboard is not
+in the place where thou didst find it; go back, therefore, and slay
+him," answered she.  So Peredur went back, and slew the black man.
+And when he returned to the palace, he found the black maiden there.
+"Ah! maiden," said Peredur, "where is the Empress?"  "I declare to
+Heaven that thou wilt not see her now, unless thou dost slay the
+monster that is in yonder forest."  "What monster is there?"  "It is
+a stag that is as swift as the swiftest bird; and he has one horn in
+his forehead, as long as the shaft of a spear, and as sharp as
+whatever is sharpest.  And he destroys the branches of the best trees
+in the forest, and he kills every animal that he meets with therein;
+and those that he doth not slay perish of hunger.  And what is worse
+than that, he comes every night, and drinks up the fish-pond, and
+leaves the fishes exposed, so that for the most part they die before
+the water returns again."  "Maiden," said Peredur, "wilt thou come
+and show me this animal?"  "Not so," said the maiden, "for he has not
+permitted any mortal to enter the forest for above a twelvemonth.
+Behold, here is a little dog belonging to the Empress, which will
+rouse the stag, and will chase him towards thee, and the stag will
+attack thee."  Then the little dog went as a guide to Peredur, and
+roused the stag, and brought him towards the place where Peredur was.
+And the stag attacked Peredur, and he let him pass by him, and as he
+did so, he smote off his head with his sword.  And while he was
+looking at the head of the stag, he saw a lady on horseback coming
+towards him.  And she took the little dog in the lappet of her cap,
+and the head and the body of the stag lay before her.  And around the
+stag's neck was a golden collar.  "Ha! chieftain," said she,
+"uncourteously hast thou acted in slaying the fairest jewel that was
+in my dominions."  "I was entreated so to do; and is there any way by
+which I can obtain thy friendship?"  "There is," she replied.  "Go
+thou forward unto yonder mountain, and there thou wilt find a grove;
+and in the grove there is a cromlech; do thou there challenge a man
+three times to fight, and thou shalt have my friendship."
+
+So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of the grove, and
+challenged any man to fight.  And a black man arose from beneath the
+cromlech, mounted upon a bony horse, and both he and his horse were
+clad in huge rusty armour.  And they fought.  And as often as Peredur
+cast the black man to the earth, he would jump again into his saddle.
+And Peredur dismounted, and drew his sword; and thereupon the black
+man disappeared with Peredur's horse and his own, so that he could
+not gain sight of him a second time.  And Peredur went along the
+mountain, and on the other side of the mountain he beheld a castle in
+the valley, wherein was a river.  And he went to the castle; and as
+he entered it, he saw a hall, and the door of the hall was open, and
+he went in.  And there he saw a lame grey-headed man sitting on one
+side of the hall, with Gwalchmai beside him.  And Peredur beheld his
+horse, which the black man had taken, in the same stall with that of
+Gwalchmai.  And they were glad concerning Peredur.  And he went and
+seated himself on the other side of the hoary-headed man.  Then,
+behold a yellow-haired youth came, and bent upon the knee before
+Peredur, and besought his friendship.  "Lord," said the youth, "it
+was I that came in the form of the black maiden to Arthur's Court,
+and when thou didst throw down the chessboard, and when thou didst
+slay the black man of Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the
+stag, and when thou didst go to fight the black man of the cromlech.
+And I came with the bloody head in the salver, and with the lance
+that streamed with blood from the point to the hand, all along the
+shaft; and the head was thy cousin's, and he was killed by the
+sorceresses of Gloucester, who also lamed thine uncle; and I am thy
+cousin.  And there is a prediction that thou art to avenge these
+things."  Then Peredur and Gwalchmai took counsel, and sent to Arthur
+and his household, to beseech them to come against the sorceresses.
+And they began to fight with them; and one of the sorceresses slew
+one of Arthur's men before Peredur's face, and Peredur bade her
+forbear.  And the sorceress slew a man before Peredur's face a second
+time, and a second time he forbad her.  And the third time the
+sorceress slew a man before the face of Peredur; and then Peredur
+drew his sword, and smote the sorceress on the helmet; and all her
+head-armour was split in two parts.  And she set up a cry, and
+desired the other sorceresses to flee, and told them that this was
+Peredur, the man who had learnt Chivalry with them, and by whom they
+were destined to be slain.  Then Arthur and his household fell upon
+the sorceresses, and slew the sorceresses of Gloucester every one.
+And thus is it related concerning the Castle of Wonders.
+
+
+
+GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN
+
+
+
+Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk.  And
+there he held it seven Easters and five Christmases.  And once upon a
+time he held his Court there at Whitsuntide.  For Caerlleon was the
+place most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and by land.
+And there were assembled nine crowned kings, who were his
+tributaries, and likewise earls and barons.  For they were his
+invited guests at all the high festivals, unless they were prevented
+by any great hindrance.  And when he was at Caerlleon, holding his
+Court, thirteen churches were set apart for mass.  And thus were they
+appointed:  one church for Arthur, and his kings, and his guests; and
+the second for Gwenhwyvar and her ladies; and the third for the
+Steward of the Household and the suitors; and the fourth for the
+Franks and the other officers; and the other nine churches were for
+the nine Masters of the Household and chiefly for Cwalchmai; for he,
+from the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his
+birth, was the most exalted of the nine.  And there was no other
+arrangement respecting the churches than that which we have mentioned
+above.
+
+Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not himself
+perform the office, except at one of the three high festivals, for he
+had seven men to serve him, and they divided the year amongst them.
+They were Grynn, and Pen Pighon, and Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and
+Gwrdnei with cat's eyes, who could see as well by night as by day,
+and Drem the son of Dremhitid, and Clust the son of Clustveinyd; and
+these were Arthur's guards.  And on Whit-Tuesday, as the King sat at
+the banquet, lo! there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a
+coat and a surcoat of diapered satin, and a golden-hilted sword about
+his neck, and low shoes of leather upon his feet.  And he came, and
+stood before Arthur.  "Hail to thee, Lord!" said he.  "Heaven prosper
+thee," he answered, "and be thou welcome.  Dost thou bring any new
+tidings?"  "I do, Lord," he said.  "I know thee not," said Arthur.
+"It is a marvel to me that thou dost not know me.  I am one of thy
+foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and my name is Madawc, the
+son of Twrgadarn."  "Tell me thine errand," said Arthur.  "I will do
+so, Lord," said he.  "In the Forest I saw a stag, the like of which
+beheld I never yet."  "What is there about him," asked Arthur, "that
+thou never yet didst see his like?"  "He is of pure white, Lord, and
+he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness and pride,
+so royal is his bearing.  And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord, and
+to know thy will concerning him."  "It seems best to me," said
+Arthur, "to go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day; and to cause
+general notice thereof to be given to-night in all quarters of the
+Court."  And Arryfuerys was Arthur's chief huntsman, and Arelivri was
+his chief page.  And all received notice; and thus it was arranged.
+And they sent the youth before them.  Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur,
+"Wilt thou permit me, Lord," said she, "to go to-morrow to see and
+hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke?"  "I will
+gladly," said Arthur.  "Then will I go," said she.  And Gwalchmai
+said to Arthur, "Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that into
+whose hunt soever the stag shall come, that one, be he a knight, or
+one on foot, may cut off his head, and give it to whom he pleases,
+whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady of his friend."  "I
+grant it gladly," said Arthur, "and let the Steward of the Household
+be chastised, if all are not ready to-morrow for the chase."
+
+And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse,
+and ample entertainment.  And when it was time for them all to go to
+sleep, they went.  And when the next day came, they arose; and Arthur
+called the attendants, who guarded his couch.  And these were four
+pages, whose names were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy, and
+Ambreu the son of Bedwor, and Amhar the son of Arthur, and Goreu the
+son of Custennin.  And these men came to Arthur and saluted him, and
+arrayed him in his garments.  And Arthur wondered that Gwenhwyvar did
+not awake, and did not move in her bed; and the attendants wished to
+awaken her.  "Disturb her not," said Arthur, "for she had rather
+sleep than go to see the hunting."
+
+Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from
+near the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that
+of the chief page.  And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to
+Arthur, and they took the road to the Forest.
+
+And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar awoke,
+and called to her maidens, and apparelled herself.  "Maidens," said
+she, "I had leave last night to go and see the hunt.  Go one of you
+to the stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride."
+And one of them went, and she found but two horses in the stable, and
+Gwenhwyvar and one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the
+Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses.  And as they
+rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and they looked
+behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal of mighty size;
+and the rider was a fair-haired youth, bare-legged, and of princely
+mien, and a golden-hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a
+surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes of leather upon his
+feet; and around him was a scarf of blue purple, at each corner of
+which was a golden apple.  And his horse stepped stately, and swift,
+and proud; and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and saluted her.  "Heaven
+prosper thee, Geraint," said she, "I knew thee when first I saw thee
+just now.  And the welcome of Heaven be unto thee.  And why didst
+thou not go with thy lord to hunt?"  "Because I knew not when he
+went," said he.  "I marvel, too," said she, "how he could go unknown
+to me."  "Indeed, lady," said he.  "I was asleep, and knew not when
+he went; but thou, O young man, art the most agreeable companion I
+could have in the whole kingdom; and it may be, that I shall be more
+amused with the hunting than they; for we shall hear the horns when
+they sound, and we shall hear the dogs when they are let loose, and
+begin to cry."  So they went to the edge of the Forest, and there
+they stood.  "From this place," said she, "we shall hear when the
+dogs are let loose."  And thereupon, they heard a loud noise, and
+they looked towards the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf
+riding upon a horse, stately, and foaming, and prancing, and strong,
+and spirited.  And in the hand of the dwarf was a whip.  And near the
+dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady and
+stately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold brocade.  And
+near her was a knight upon a warhorse of large size, with heavy and
+bright armour both upon himself and upon his horse.  And truly they
+never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armour, of such remarkable
+size.  And they were all near to each other.
+
+"Geraint," said Gwenhwyvar, "knowest thou the name of that tall
+knight yonder?"  "I know him not," said he, "and the strange armour
+that he wears prevents my either seeing his face or his features."
+"Go, maiden," said Gwenhwyvar, "and ask the dwarf who that knight
+is."  Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for
+the maiden, when he saw her coming towards him.  And the maiden
+inquired of the dwarf who the knight was.  "I will not tell thee," he
+answered.  "Since thou art so churlish as not to tell me," said she,
+"I will ask him himself."  "Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith,"
+said he.  "Wherefore?" said she.  "Because thou art not of honour
+sufficient to befit thee to speak to my Lord."  Then the maiden
+turned her horse's head towards the knight, upon which the dwarf
+struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the face and the
+eyes, until the blood flowed forth.  And the maiden, through the hurt
+she received from the blow, returned to Gwenhwyvar, complaining of
+the pain.  "Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee," said Geraint.
+"I will go myself to know who the knight is."  "Go," said Gwenhwyvar.
+And Geraint went up to the dwarf.  "Who is yonder knight?" said
+Geraint.  "I will not tell thee," said the dwarf.  "Then will I ask
+him himself," said he.  "That wilt thou not, by my faith," said the
+dwarf, "thou art not honourable enough to speak with my Lord."  Said
+Geraint, "I have spoken with men of equal rank with him."  And he
+turned his horse's head towards the knight; but the dwarf overtook
+him, and struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood
+coloured the scarf that Geraint wore.  Then Geraint put his hand upon
+the hilt of his sword, but he took counsel with himself, and
+considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the dwarf,
+and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight, so he returned to
+where Gwenhwyvar was.
+
+"Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly," said she.  "Lady," said he,
+"I will follow him yet, with thy permission; and at last he will come
+to some inhabited place, where I may have arms either as a loan or
+for a pledge, so that I may encounter the knight."  "Go," said she,
+"and do not attack him until thou hast good arms, and I shall be very
+anxious concerning thee, until I hear tidings of thee."  "If I am
+alive," said he, "thou shalt hear tidings of me by to-morrow
+afternoon;" and with that he departed.
+
+And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon, and across
+the ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair, and even, and lofty
+ridge of ground, until they came to a town, and at the extremity of
+the town they saw a Fortress and a Castle.  And they came to the
+extremity of the town.  And as the knight passed through it, all the
+people arose, and saluted him, and bade him welcome.  And when
+Geraint came into the town, he looked at every house, to see if he
+knew any of those whom he saw.  But he knew none, and none knew him
+to do him the kindness to let him have arms either as a loan or for a
+pledge.  And every house he saw was full of men, and arms, and
+horses.  And they were polishing shields, and burnishing swords, and
+washing armour, and shoeing horses.  And the knight, and the lady,
+and the dwarf rode up to the Castle that was in the town, and every
+one was glad in the Castle.  And from the battlements and the gates
+they risked their necks, through their eagerness to greet them, and
+to show their joy.
+
+Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the
+Castle; and when he was certain that he would do so, he looked around
+him; and at a little distance from the town he saw an old palace in
+ruins, wherein was a hall that was falling to decay.  And as he knew
+not any one in the town, he went towards the old palace; and when he
+came near to the palace, he saw but one chamber, and a bridge of
+marble-stone leading to it.  And upon the bridge he saw sitting a
+hoary-headed man, upon whom were tattered garments.  And Geraint
+gazed steadfastly upon him for a long time.  Then the hoary-headed
+man spoke to him.  "Young man," he said, "wherefore art thou
+thoughtful?"  "I am thoughtful," said he, "because I know not where
+to go to-night."  "Wilt thou come forward this way, chieftain?" said
+he, "and thou shalt have of the best that can be procured for thee."
+So Geraint went forward.  And the hoary-headed man preceded him into
+the hall.  And in the hall he dismounted, and he left there his
+horse.  Then he went on to the upper chamber with the hoary-headed
+man.  And in the chamber he beheld an old decrepit woman, sitting on
+a cushion, with old, tattered garments of satin upon her; and it
+seemed to him that he had never seen a woman fairer than she must
+have been, when in the fulness of youth.  And beside her was a
+maiden, upon whom were a vest and a veil, that were old, and
+beginning to be worn out.  And truly, he never saw a maiden more full
+of comeliness, and grace, and beauty than she.  And the hoary-headed
+man said to the maiden, "There is no attendant for the horse of this
+youth but thyself."  "I will render the best service I am able," said
+she, "both to him and to his horse."  And the maiden disarrayed the
+youth, and then she furnished his horse with straw and with corn.
+And she went to the hall as before, and then she returned to the
+chamber.  And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, "Go to the
+town," said he, "and bring hither the best that thou canst find both
+of food and of liquor."  "I will, gladly, Lord," said she.  And to
+the town went the maiden.  And they conversed together while the
+maiden was at the town.  And, behold! the maiden came back, and a
+youth with her, bearing on his back a costrel full of good purchased
+mead, and a quarter of a young bullock.  And in the hands of the
+maiden was a quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet bread
+in her veil, and she came into the chamber.  "I could not obtain
+better than this," said she, "nor with better should I have been
+trusted."  "It is good enough," said Geraint.  And they caused the
+meat to be boiled; and when their food was ready, they sat down.  And
+it was on this wise; Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his
+wife, and the maiden served them.  And they ate and drank.
+
+And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary-
+headed man, and he asked him in the first place, to whom belonged the
+palace that he was in.  "Truly," said he, "it was I that built it,
+and to me also belonged the city and the castle which thou sawest."
+"Alas!" said Geraint, "how is it that thou hast lost them now?"  "I
+lost a great Earldom as well as these," said he; "and this is how I
+lost them.  I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his
+possessions to myself; and when he came to his strength, he demanded
+of me his property, but I withheld it from him.  So he made war upon
+me, and wrested from me all that I possessed."  "Good Sir," said
+Geraint, "wilt thou tell me wherefore came the knight, and the lady,
+and the dwarf, just now into the town, and what is the preparation
+which I saw, and the putting of arms in order?"  "I will do so," said
+he.  "The preparations are for the game that is to be held to-morrow
+by the young Earl, which will be on this wise.  In the midst of a
+meadow which is here, two forks will be set up, and upon the two
+forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a Sparrow-Hawk, and for
+the Sparrow-Hawk there will be a tournament.  And to the tournament
+will go all the array thou didst see in the city, of men, and of
+horses, and of arms.  And with each man will go the lady he loves
+best; and no man can joust for the Sparrow-Hawk, except the lady he
+loves best be with him.  And the knight that thou sawest has gained
+the Sparrow-Hawk these two years; and if he gains it the third year,
+they will, from that time, send it every year to him, and he himself
+will come here no more.  And he will be called the Knight of the
+Sparrow-Hawk from that time forth."  "Sir," said Geraint, "what is
+thy counsel to me concerning this knight, on account of the insult
+which I received from the dwarf, and that which was received by the
+maiden of Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur?"  And Geraint told the
+hoary-headed man what the insult was that he had received.  "It is
+not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou hast neither dame nor
+maiden belonging to thee, for whom thou canst joust.  Yet, I have
+arms here, which thou couldest have; and there is my horse also, if
+he seem to thee better than thine own."  "Ah!  Sir," said he, "Heaven
+reward thee.  But my own horse, to which I am accustomed, together
+with thy arms, will suffice me.  And if, when the appointed time
+shall come to-morrow, thou wilt permit me, Sir, to challenge for
+yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from
+the tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live; and if I do not
+escape, she will remain unsullied as before."  "Gladly will I permit
+thee," said the hoary-headed man, "and since thou dost thus resolve,
+it is necessary that thy horse and arms should be ready to-morrow at
+break of day.  For then the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk will make
+proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best to take the Sparrow-
+Hawk.  'For,' will he say to her, 'thou art the fairest of women, and
+thou didst possess it last year, and the year previous; and if any
+deny it thee to-day, by force will I defend it for thee.'  And
+therefore," said the hoary-headed man, "it is needful for thee to be
+there at daybreak; and we three will be with thee."  And thus was it
+settled.
+
+And at night, lo! they went to sleep; and before the dawn they arose,
+and arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were
+all four in the meadow.  And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk
+making the proclamation, and asking his lady-love to fetch the
+Sparrow-Hawk.  "Fetch it not," said Geraint, "for there is here a
+maiden, who is fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and who has a
+better claim to it than thou."  "If thou maintainest the Sparrow-Hawk
+to be due to her, come forward, and do battle with me."  And Geraint
+went forward to the top of the meadow, having upon himself and upon
+his horse armour which was heavy, and rusty, and worthless, and of
+uncouth shape.  Then they encountered each other, and they broke a
+set of lances, and they broke a second set, and a third.  And thus
+they did at every onset, and they broke as many lances as were
+brought to them.  And when the Earl and his company saw the Knight of
+the Sparrow-Hawk gaining the mastery, there was shouting, and joy,
+and mirth amongst them.  And the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and
+his daughter were sorrowful.  And the hoary-headed man served Geraint
+lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarf served the Knight of
+the Sparrow-Hawk.  Then the hoary-headed man came to Geraint.  "Oh!
+chieftain," said he, "since no other will hold with thee, behold,
+here is the lance which was in my hand on the day when I received the
+honour of knighthood; and from that time to this I never broke it.
+And it has an excellent point."  Then Geraint took the lance,
+thanking the hoary-headed man.  And thereupon the dwarf also brought
+a lance to his lord.  "Behold, here is a lance for thee, not less
+good than his," said the dwarf.  "And bethink thee, that no knight
+ever withstood thee before so long as this one has done."  "I declare
+to Heaven," said Geraint, "that unless death takes me quickly hence,
+he shall fare never the better for thy service."  And Geraint pricked
+his horse towards him from afar, and warning him, he rushed upon him,
+and gave him a blow so severe, and furious, and fierce, upon the face
+of his shield, that he cleft it in two, and broke his armour, and
+burst his girths, so that both he and his saddle were borne to the
+ground over the horse's crupper.  And Geraint dismounted quickly.
+And he was wroth, and he drew his sword, and rushed fiercely upon
+him.  Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against Geraint.
+And they fought on foot with their swords until their arms struck
+sparks of fire like stars from one another; and thus they continued
+fighting until the blood and sweat obscured the light from their
+eyes.  And when Geraint prevailed, the hoary-headed man, and his
+wife, and his daughter were glad; and when the knight prevailed, it
+rejoiced the Earl and his party.  Then the hoary-headed man saw
+Geraint receive a severe stroke, and he went up to him quickly, and
+said to him, "Oh, chieftain, remember the treatment which thou hadst
+from the dwarf; and wilt thou not seek vengeance for the insult to
+thyself, and for the insult to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur!"  And
+Geraint was roused by what he said to him, and he called to him all
+his strength, and lifted up his sword, and struck the knight upon the
+crown of his head, so that he broke all his head-armour, and cut
+through all the flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he
+wounded the bone.
+
+Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from his
+hand, and besought mercy of Geraint.  "Of a truth," said he, "I
+relinquish my overdaring and my pride in craving thy mercy; and
+unless I have time to commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to
+talk with a priest, thy mercy will avail me little."  "I will grant
+thee grace upon this condition," said Geraint, "that thou wilt go to
+Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction for the insult
+which her maiden received from thy dwarf.  As to myself, for the
+insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf, I am content with
+that which I have done unto thee.  Dismount not from the time thou
+goest hence until thou comest into the presence of Gwenhwyvar, to
+make her what atonement shall be adjudged at the Court of Arthur."
+"This will I do gladly.  And who art thou?" said he.  "I am Geraint
+the son of Erbin.  And declare thou also who thou art."  "I am Edeyrn
+the son of Nudd."  Then he threw himself upon his horse, and went
+forward to Arthur's Court, and the lady he loved best went before him
+and the dwarf, with much lamentation.  And thus far this story up to
+that time.
+
+
+Then came the little Earl and his hosts to Geraint, and saluted him,
+and bade him to his castle.  "I may not go," said Geraint, "but where
+I was last night, there will I be to-night also."  "Since thou wilt
+none of my inviting, thou shalt have abundance of all that I can
+command for thee, in the place thou wast last night.  And I will
+order ointment for thee, to recover thee from thy fatigues, and from
+the weariness that is upon thee."  "Heaven reward thee," said
+Geraint, "and I will go to my lodging."  And thus went Geraint, and
+Earl Ynywl, and his wife, and his daughter.  And when they reached
+the chamber, the household servants and attendants of the young Earl
+had arrived at the Court, and they arranged all the houses, dressing
+them with straw and with fire; and in a short time the ointment was
+ready, and Geraint came there, and they washed his head.  Then came
+the young Earl, with forty honourable knights from among his
+attendants, and those who were bidden to the tournament.  And Geraint
+came from the anointing.  And the Earl asked him to go to the hall to
+eat.  "Where is the Earl Ynywl," said Geraint, "and his wife, and his
+daughter?"  "They are in the chamber yonder," said the Earl's
+chamberlain, "arraying themselves in garments which the Earl has
+caused to be brought for them."  "Let not the damsel array herself,"
+said he, "except in her vest and her veil, until she come to the
+Court of Arthur, to be clad by Gwenhwyvar in such garments as she may
+choose."  So the maiden did not array herself.
+
+Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and went, and sat
+down to meat.  And thus were they seated.  On one side of Geraint sat
+the young Earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him; and on the other side of
+Geraint were the maiden and her mother.  And after these all sat
+according to their precedence in honour.  And they ate.  And they
+were served abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers kind
+of gifts.  Then they conversed together.  And the young Earl invited
+Geraint to visit him next day.  "I will not, by Heaven," said
+Geraint.  "To the Court of Arthur will I go with this maiden to-
+morrow.  And it is enough for me, as long as Earl Ynywl is in poverty
+and trouble; and I go chiefly to seek to add to his maintenance."
+"Ah, chieftain," said the young Earl, "it is not by my fault that
+Earl Ynywl is without his possessions."  "By my faith," said Geraint,
+"he shall not remain without them, unless death quickly takes me
+hence."  "Oh, chieftain," said he, "with regard to the disagreement
+between me and Ynywl, I will gladly abide by thy counsel, and agree
+to what thou mayest judge right between us."  "I but ask thee," said
+Geraint, "to restore to him what is his, and what he should have
+received from the time he lost his possessions, even until this day."
+"That I will do gladly, for thee," answered he.  "Then," said
+Geraint, "whosoever is here who owes homage to Ynywl, let him come
+forward, and perform it on the spot."  And all the men did so.  And
+by that treaty they abided.  And his castle, and his town, and all
+his possessions were restored to Ynywl.  And he received back all
+that he had lost, even to the smallest jewel.
+
+Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint.  "Chieftain," said he, "behold the
+maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament, I bestow her
+upon thee."  "She shall go with me," said Geraint, "to the Court of
+Arthur; and Arthur and Gwenhwyvar they shall dispose of her as they
+will."  And the next day they proceeded to Arthur's Court.  So far
+concerning Geraint.
+
+
+Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag.  The men and the dogs were
+divided into hunting parties, and the dogs were let loose upon the
+stag.  And the last dog that was let loose was the favourite dog of
+Arthur.  Cavall was his name.  And he left all the other dogs behind
+him, and turned the stag.  And at the second turn, the stag came
+towards the hunting party of Arthur.  And Arthur set upon him.  And
+before he could be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his head.  Then
+they sounded the death horn for slaying, and they all gathered round.
+
+Then came Kadyrieith to Arthur, and spoke to him.  "Lord," said he,
+"behold, yonder is Gwenhwyvar, and none with her save only one
+maiden."  "Command Gildas the son of Caw, and all the scholars of the
+Court," said Arthur, "to attend Gwenhwyvar to the palace."  And they
+did so.
+
+Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning the
+head of the stag, to whom it should be given.  One wished that it
+should be given to the lady best beloved by him, and another to the
+lady whom he loved best.  And all they of the household, and the
+knights, disputed sharply concerning the head.  And with that they
+came to the palace.  And when Arthur and Gwenhwyvar heard them
+disputing about the head of the stag, Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, "My
+lord, this is my counsel concerning the stag's head; let it not be
+given away until Geraint the son of Erbin shall return from the
+errand he is upon."  And Gwenhwyvar told Arthur what that errand was.
+"Right gladly shall it be so," said Arthur.  And thus it was settled.
+And the next day Gwenhwyvar caused a watch to be set upon the
+ramparts for Geraint's coming.  And after mid-day they beheld an
+unshapely little man upon a horse, and after him, as they supposed, a
+dame or a damsel, also on horseback, and after her a knight of large
+stature, bowed down, and hanging his head low and sorrowfully, and
+clad in broken and worthless armour.
+
+And before they came near to the gate, one of the watch went to
+Gwenhwyvar, and told her what kind of people they saw, and what
+aspect they bore.  "I know not who they are," said he.  "But I know,"
+said Gwenhwyvar; "this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, and
+methinks that he comes not here by his own free will.  But Geraint
+has overtaken him, and avenged the insult to the maiden to the
+uttermost."  And thereupon, behold a porter came to the spot where
+Gwenhwyvar was.  "Lady," said he, "at the gate there is a knight, and
+I saw never a man of so pitiful an aspect to look upon as he.
+Miserable and broken is the armour that he wears, and the hue of
+blood is more conspicuous upon it than its own colour."  "Knowest
+thou his name?" said she.  "I do," said he; "he tells me that he is
+Edeyrn the son of Nudd."  Then she replied, "I know him not."
+
+So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he entered.  And
+Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, even
+though he was accompanied by the churlish dwarf.  Then Edeyrn saluted
+Gwenhwyvar.  "Heaven protect thee," said she.  "Lady," said he,
+"Geraint the son of Erbin, thy best and most valiant servant, greets
+thee."  "Did he meet thee?" she asked.  "Yes," said he, "and it was
+not to my advantage; and that was not his fault, but mine, Lady.  And
+Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting thee he compelled me to
+come hither to do thy pleasure for the insult which thy maiden
+received from the dwarf.  He forgives the insult to himself, in
+consideration of his having put me in peril of my life.  And he
+imposed on me a condition, manly, and honourable, and warrior-like,
+which was to do thee justice, Lady."  "Now, where did he overtake
+thee?"  "At the place where we were jousting, and contending for the
+Sparrow-Hawk, in the town which is now called Cardiff.  And there
+were none with him save three persons, of a mean and tattered
+condition.  And these were an aged, hoary-headed man, and a woman
+advanced in years, and a fair young maiden, clad in worn-out
+garments.  And it was for the avouchment of the love of that maiden
+that Geraint jousted for the Sparrow-Hawk at the tournament, for he
+said that that maiden was better entitled to the Sparrow-Hawk than
+this maiden who was with me.  And thereupon we encountered each
+other, and he left me, Lady, as thou seest."  "Sir," said she, "when
+thinkest thou that Geraint will be here?"  "To-morrow, Lady, I think
+he will be here with the maiden."
+
+Then Arthur came to him, and he saluted Arthur; and Arthur gazed a
+long time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus.  And thinking
+that he knew him, he inquired of him, "Art thou Edeyrn the son of
+Nudd?"  "I am, Lord," said he, "and I have met with much trouble, and
+received wounds unsupportable."  Then he told Arthur all his
+adventure.  "Well," said Arthur, "from what I hear, it behoves
+Gwenhwyvar to be merciful towards thee."  "The mercy which thou
+desirest, Lord," said she, "will I grant to him, since it is as
+insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to me as to
+thyself."  "Thus will it be best to do," said Arthur; "let this man
+have medical care until it be known whether he may live.  And if he
+live, he shall do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by the
+men of the Court; and take thou sureties to that effect.  And if he
+die, too much will be the death of such a youth as Edeyrn for an
+insult to a maiden."  "This pleases me," said Gwenhwyvar.  And Arthur
+became surety for Edeyrn, and Caradawc the son of Llyr, Gwallawg the
+son of Llenawg, and Owain the son of Nudd, and Gwalchmai, and many
+others with them.  And Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to him.
+He was the chief physician.  "Take with thee Edeyrn the son of Nudd,
+and cause a chamber to be prepared for him, and let him have the aid
+of medicine as thou wouldst do unto myself, if I were wounded, and
+let none into his chamber to molest him, but thyself and thy
+disciples, to administer to him remedies."  "I will do so gladly,
+Lord," said Morgan Tud.  Then said the steward of the household,
+"Whither is it right, Lord, to order the maiden?"  "To Gwenhwyvar and
+her handmaidens," said he.  And the steward of the household so
+ordered her.  Thus far concerning them.
+
+
+The next day came Geraint towards the Court; and there was a watch
+set on the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar, lest he should arrive unawares.
+And one of the watch came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was.  "Lady,"
+said he, "methinks that I see Geraint, and the maiden with him.  He
+is on horseback, but he has his walking gear upon him, and the maiden
+appears to be in white, seeming to be clad in a garment of linen."
+"Assemble all the women," said Gwenhwyvar, "and come to meet Geraint,
+to welcome him, and wish him joy."  And Gwenhwyvar went to meet
+Geraint and the maiden.  And when Geraint came to the place where
+Gwenhwyvar was, he saluted her.  "Heaven prosper thee," said she,
+"and welcome to thee.  And thy career has been successful, and
+fortunate, and resistless, and glorious.  And Heaven reward thee,
+that thou hast so proudly caused me to have retribution."  "Lady,"
+said he, "I earnestly desired to obtain thee satisfaction according
+to thy will; and, behold, here is the maiden through whom thou hadst
+thy revenge."  "Verily," said Gwenhwyvar, "the welcome of Heaven be
+unto her; and it is fitting that we should receive her joyfully."
+Then they went in, and dismounted.  And Geraint came to where Arthur
+was, and saluted him.  "Heaven protect thee," said Arthur, "and the
+welcome of Heaven be unto thee.  And since Edeyrn the son of Nudd has
+received his overthrow and wounds from thy hands, thou hast had a
+prosperous career."  "Not upon me be the blame," said Geraint, "it
+was through the arrogance of Edeyrn the son of Nudd himself that we
+were not friends.  I would not quit him until I knew who he was, and
+until the one had vanquished the other."  "Now," said Arthur, "where
+is the maiden for whom I heard thou didst give challenge?"  "She is
+gone with Gwenhwyvar to her chamber."
+
+Then went Arthur to see the maiden.  And Arthur, and all his
+companions, and his whole Court, were glad concerning the maiden.
+And certain were they all, that had her array been suitable to her
+beauty, they had never seen a maid fairer than she.  And Arthur gave
+away the maiden to Geraint.  And the usual bond made between two
+persons was made between Geraint and the maiden, and the choicest of
+all Gwenhwyvar's apparel was given to the maiden; and thus arrayed,
+she appeared comely and graceful to all who beheld her.  And that day
+and that night were spent in abundance of minstrelsy, and ample gifts
+of liquor, and a multitude of games.  And when it was time for them
+to go to sleep, they went.  And in the chamber where the couch of
+Arthur and Gwenhwyvar was, the couch of Geraint and Enid was
+prepared.  And from that time she became his bride.  And the next day
+Arthur satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint with bountiful gifts.
+And the maiden took up her abode in the palace; and she had many
+companions, both men and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed
+than she in the Island of Britain.
+
+Then spake Gwenhwyvar.  "Rightly did I judge," said she, "concerning
+the head of the stag, that it should not be given to any until
+Geraint's return; and, behold, here is a fit occasion for bestowing
+it.  Let it be given to Enid the daughter of Ynywl, the most
+illustrious maiden.  And I do not believe that any will begrudge it
+her, for between her and every one here there exists nothing but love
+and friendship."  Much applauded was this by them all, and by Arthur
+also.  And the head of the stag was given to Enid.  And thereupon her
+fame increased, and her friends thenceforward became more in number
+than before.  And Geraint from that time forth loved the stag, and
+the tournament, and hard encounters; and he came victorious from them
+all.  And a year, and a second, and a third, he proceeded thus, until
+his fame had flown over the face of the kingdom.
+
+
+And once upon a time Arthur was holding his Court at Caerlleon upon
+Usk, at Whitsuntide.  And, behold, there came to him ambassadors,
+wise and prudent, full of knowledge, and eloquent of speech, and they
+saluted Arthur.  "Heaven prosper you," said Arthur, "and the welcome
+of Heaven be unto you.  And whence do you come?"  "We come, Lord,"
+said they, "from Cornwall; and we are ambassadors from Erbin the son
+of Custennin, thy uncle, and our mission is unto thee.  And he greets
+thee well, as an uncle should greet his nephew, and as a vassal
+should greet his lord.  And he represents unto thee that he waxes
+heavy and feeble, and is advancing in years.  And the neighbouring
+chiefs, knowing this, grow insolent towards him, and covet his land
+and possessions.  And he earnestly beseeches thee, Lord, to permit
+Geraint his son to return to him, to protect his possessions, and to
+become acquainted with his boundaries.  And unto him he represents
+that it were better for him to spend the flower of his youth and the
+prime of his age in preserving his own boundaries, than in
+tournaments, which are productive of no profit, although he obtains
+glory in them."
+
+"Well," said Arthur, "go, and divest yourselves of your
+accoutrements, and take food, and refresh yourselves after your
+fatigues; and before you go forth hence you shall have an answer."
+And they went to eat.  And Arthur considered that it would go hard
+with him to let Geraint depart from him and from his Court; neither
+did he think it fair that his cousin should be restrained from going
+to protect his dominions and his boundaries, seeing that his father
+was unable to do so.  No less was the grief and regret of Gwenhwyvar,
+and all her women, and all her damsels, through fear that the maiden
+would leave them.  And that day and that night were spent in
+abundance of feasting.  And Arthur showed Geraint the cause of the
+mission, and of the coming of the ambassadors to him out of Cornwall.
+"Truly," said Geraint, "be it to my advantage or disadvantage, Lord,
+I will do according to thy will concerning this embassy."  "Behold,"
+said Arthur, "though it grieves me to part with thee, it is my
+counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions, and to defend
+thy boundaries, and to take with thee to accompany thee as many as
+thou wilt of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among
+thy friends, and among thy companions in arms."  "Heaven reward thee;
+and this will I do," said Geraint.  "What discourse," said
+Gwenhwyvar, "do I hear between you?  Is it of those who are to
+conduct Geraint to his country?"  "It is," said Arthur.  "Then it is
+needful for me to consider," said she, "concerning companions and a
+provision for the lady that is with me?"  "Thou wilt do well," said
+Arthur.
+
+And that night they went to sleep.  And the next day the ambassadors
+were permitted to depart, and they were told that Geraint should
+follow them.  And on the third day Geraint set forth, and many went
+with him.  Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Riogonedd the son of the
+king of Ireland, and Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy, Gwilim
+the son of the ruler of the Franks, Howel the son of Emyr of
+Brittany, Elivry, and Nawkyrd, Gwynn the son of Tringad, Goreu the
+son of Custennin, Gweir Gwrhyd Vawr, Garannaw the son of Golithmer,
+Peredur the son of Evrawc, Gwynnllogell, Gwyr a judge in the Court of
+Arthur, Dyvyr the son of Alun of Dyved, Gwrei Gwalstawd Ieithoedd,
+Bedwyr the son of Bedrawd, Hadwry the son of Gwryon, Kai the son of
+Kynyr, Odyar the Frank, the Steward of Arthur's Court, and Edeyrn the
+son of Nudd.  Said Geraint, "I think that I shall have enough of
+knighthood with me."  "Yes," said Arthur, "but it will not be fitting
+for thee to take Edeyrn with thee, although he is well, until peace
+shall be made between him and Gwenhwyvar."  "Gwenhwyvar can permit
+him to go with me, if he give sureties."  "If she please, she can let
+him go without sureties, for enough of pain and affliction has he
+suffered for the insult which the maiden received from the dwarf."
+"Truly," said Gwenhwyvar, "since it seems well to thee and to
+Geraint, I will do this gladly, Lord."  Then she permitted Edeyrn
+freely to depart.  And many there were who accompanied Geraint, and
+they set forth; and never was there seen a fairer host journeying
+towards the Severn.  And on the other side of the Severn were the
+nobles of Erbin the son of Custennin, and his foster-father at their
+head, to welcome Geraint with gladness; and many of the women of the
+Court, with his mother, came to receive Enid the daughter of Ynywl,
+his wife.  And there was great rejoicing and gladness throughout the
+whole Court, and throughout all the country, concerning Geraint,
+because of the greatness of their love towards him, and of the
+greatness of the fame which he had gained since he went from amongst
+them, and because he was come to take possession of his dominions and
+to preserve his boundaries.  And they came to the Court.  And in the
+Court they had ample entertainment, and a multitude of gifts and
+abundance of liquor, and a sufficiency of service, and a variety of
+minstrelsy and of games.  And to do honour to Geraint, all the chief
+men of the country were invited that night to visit him.  And they
+passed that day and that night in the utmost enjoyment.  And at dawn
+next day Erbin arose, and summoned to him Geraint, and the noble
+persons who had borne him company.  And he said to Geraint, "I am a
+feeble and aged man, and whilst I was able to maintain the dominion
+for thee and for myself, I did so.  But thou art young, and in the
+flower of thy vigour and of thy youth; henceforth do thou preserve
+thy possessions."  "Truly," said Geraint, "with my consent thou shalt
+not give the power over thy dominions at this time into my hands, and
+thou shalt not take me from Arthur's Court."  "Into thy hands will I
+give them," said Erbin, "and this day also shalt thou receive the
+homage of thy subjects."
+
+Then said Gwalchmai, "It were better for thee to satisfy those who
+have boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou canst receive the
+homage of thy dominions."  So all that had boons to ask were summoned
+into one place.  And Kadyrieith came to them, to know what were their
+requests.  And every one asked that which he desired.  And the
+followers of Arthur began to make gifts, and immediately the men of
+Cornwall came, and gave also.  And they were not long in giving, so
+eager was every one to bestow gifts.  And of those who came to ask
+gifts, none departed unsatisfied.  And that day and that night were
+spent in the utmost enjoyment.
+
+And the next day, at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send messengers
+to the men, to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that he
+should come to receive their homage, and whether they had anything to
+object to him.  Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of Cornwall,
+to ask them this.  And they all said that it would be the fulness of
+joy and honour to them for Geraint to come and receive their homage.
+So he received the homage of such as were there.  And they remained
+with him till the third night.  And the day after the followers of
+Arthur intended to go away.  "It is too soon for you to go away yet,"
+said he, "stay with me until I have finished receiving the homage of
+my chief men, who have agreed to come to me."  And they remained with
+him until he had done so.  Then they set forth towards the Court of
+Arthur; and Geraint went to bear them company, and Enid also, as far
+as Diganhwy:  there they parted.  Then Ondyaw the son of the duke of
+Burgundy said to Geraint, "Go first of all and visit the uppermost
+parts of thy dominions, and see well to the boundaries of thy
+territories; and if thou hast any trouble respecting them, send unto
+thy companions."  "Heaven reward thee," said Geraint, "and this will
+I do."  And Geraint journeyed to the uttermost part of his dominions.
+And experienced guides, and the chief men of his country, went with
+him.  And the furthermost point that they showed him he kept
+possession of.
+
+And, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur's Court, he
+frequented tournaments.  And he became acquainted with valiant and
+mighty men, until he had gained as much fame there as he had formerly
+done elsewhere.  And he enriched his Court, and his companions, and
+his nobles, with the best horses and the best arms, and with the best
+and most valuable jewels, and he ceased not until his fame had flown
+over the face of the whole kingdom.  And when he knew that it was
+thus, he began to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one who
+was worth his opposing.  And he loved his wife, and liked to continue
+in the palace, with minstrelsy and diversions.  And for a long time
+he abode at home.  And after that he began to shut himself up in the
+chamber of his wife, and he took no delight in anything besides,
+insomuch that he gave up the friendship of his nobles, together with
+his hunting and his amusements, and lost the hearts of all the host
+in his Court; and there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him
+among the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing
+so completely their companionship for the love of his wife.  And
+these tidings came to Erbin.  And when Erbin had heard these things,
+he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it was she that had
+caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his people and his hosts.
+"Not I, by my confession unto Heaven," said she, "there is nothing
+more hateful to me than this."  And she knew not what she should do,
+for, although it was hard for her to own this to Geraint, yet was it
+not more easy for her to listen to what she heard, without warning
+Geraint concerning it.  And she was very sorrowful.
+
+And one morning in the summer time, they were upon their couch, and
+Geraint lay upon the edge of it.  And Enid was without sleep in the
+apartment, which had windows of glass.  And the sun shone upon the
+couch.  And the clothes had slipped from off his arms and his breast,
+and he was asleep.  Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his
+appearance, and she said, "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!"  And as she said this, the tears dropped
+from her eyes, and they fell upon his breast.  And the tears she
+shed, and the words she had spoken, awoke him; and another thing
+contributed to awaken him, and that was the idea that it was not in
+thinking of him that she spoke thus, but that it was because she
+loved some other man more than him, and that she wished for other
+society, and thereupon Geraint was troubled in his mind, and he
+called his squire; and when he came to him, "Go quickly," said he,
+"and prepare my horse and my arms, and make them ready.  And do thou
+arise," said he to Enid, "and apparel thyself; and cause thy horse to
+be accoutred, and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress that thou
+hast in thy possession.  And evil betide me," said he, "if thou
+returnest here until thou knowest whether I have lost my strength so
+completely as thou didst say.  And if it be so, it will then be easy
+for thee to seek the society thou didst wish for of him of whom thou
+wast thinking."  So she arose, and clothed herself in her meanest
+garments.  "I know nothing, Lord," said she, "of thy meaning."
+"Neither wilt thou know at this time," said he.
+
+Then Geraint went to see Erbin.  "Sir," said he, "I am going upon a
+quest, and I am not certain when I may come back.  Take heed,
+therefore, unto thy possessions, until my return."  "I will do so,"
+said he, "but it is strange to me that thou shouldest go so suddenly.
+And who will proceed with thee, since thou art not strong enough to
+traverse the land of Lloegyr alone?"  "But one person only will go
+with me."  "Heaven counsel thee, my son," said Erbin, "and may many
+attach themselves to thee in Lloegyr."  Then went Geraint to the
+place where his horse was, and it was equipped with foreign armour,
+heavy and shining.  And he desired Enid to mount her horse, and to
+ride forward, and to keep a long way before him.  "And whatever thou
+mayest see, and whatever thou mayest hear concerning me," said he,
+"do thou not turn back.  And unless I speak unto thee, say not thou
+one word either."  And they set forward.  And he did not choose the
+pleasantest and most frequented road, but that which was the wildest
+and most beset by thieves, and robbers, and venomous animals.  And
+they came to a high road, which they followed till they saw a vast
+forest, and they went towards it, and they saw four armed horsemen
+come forth from the forest.  When the horsemen had beheld them, one
+of them said to the others, "Behold, here is a good occasion for us
+to capture two horses and armour, and a lady likewise; for this we
+shall have no difficulty in doing against yonder single knight, who
+hangs his head so pensively and heavily."  And Enid heard this
+discourse, and she knew not what she should do through fear of
+Geraint, who had told her to be silent.  "The vengeance of Heaven be
+upon me," she said, "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."  So she waited for Geraint until he came near to her.
+"Lord," said she, "didst thou hear the words of those men concerning
+thee?"  Then he lifted up his eyes, and looked at her angrily.  "Thou
+hadst only," said he, "to hold thy peace as I bade thee.  I wish but
+for silence, and not for warning.  And though thou shouldest desire
+to see my defeat and my death by the hands of those men, yet do I
+feel no dread."  Then the foremost of them couched his lance, and
+rushed upon Geraint.  And he received him, and that not feebly.  But
+he let the thrust go by him, while he struck the horseman upon the
+centre of his shield in such a manner that his shield was split, and
+his armour broken, and so that a cubit's length of the shaft of
+Geraint's lance passed through his body, and sent him to the earth,
+the length of the lance over his horse's crupper.  Then the second
+horseman attacked him furiously, being wroth at the death of his
+companion.  But with one thrust Geraint overthrew him also, and
+killed him as he had done the other.  Then the third set upon him,
+and he killed him in like manner.  And thus also he slew the fourth.
+Sad and sorrowful was the maiden as she saw all this.  Geraint
+dismounted from his horse, and took the arms of the men he had slain,
+and placed them upon their saddles, and tied together the reins of
+their horses, and he mounted his horse again.  "Behold what thou must
+do," said he; "take the four horses, and drive them before thee, and
+proceed forward, as I bade thee just now.  And say not one word unto
+me, unless I speak first unto thee.  And I declare unto Heaven," said
+he, "if thou doest not thus, it will be to thy cost."  "I will do, as
+far as I can, Lord," said she, "according to thy desire."  Then they
+went forward through the forest; and when they left the forest, they
+came to a vast plain, in the centre of which was a group of thickly
+tangled copse-wood; and from out thereof they beheld three horsemen
+coming towards them, well equipped with armour, both they and their
+horses.  Then the maiden looked steadfastly upon them; and when they
+had come near, she heard them say one to another, "Behold, here is a
+good arrival for us; here are coming for us four horses and four
+suits of armour.  We shall easily obtain them spite of yonder
+dolorous knight, and the maiden also will fall into our power."
+"This is but too true," said she to herself, "for my husband is tired
+with his former combat.  The vengeance of Heaven will be upon me,
+unless I warn him of this."  So the maiden waited until Geraint came
+up to her.  "Lord," said she, "dust thou not hear the discourse of
+yonder men concerning thee?"  "What was it?" asked he.  "They say to
+one another, that they will easily obtain all this spoil."  "I
+declare to Heaven," he answered, "that their words are less grievous
+to me than that thou wilt not be silent, and abide by my counsel."
+"My Lord," said she, "I feared lest they should surprise thee
+unawares."  "Hold thy peace, then," said he, "do not I desire
+silence?"  And thereupon one of the horsemen couched his lance, and
+attacked Geraint.  And he made a thrust at him, which he thought
+would be very effective; but Geraint received it carelessly, and
+struck it aside, and then he rushed upon him, and aimed at the centre
+of his person, and from the shock of man and horse, the quantity of
+his armour did not avail him, and the head of the lance and part of
+the shaft passed through him, so that he was carried to the ground an
+arm and a spear's length over the crupper of his horse.  And both the
+other horsemen came forward in their turn, but their onset was not
+more successful than that of their companion.  And the maiden stood
+by, looking at all this; and on the one hand she was in trouble lest
+Geraint should be wounded in his encounter with the men, and on the
+other hand she was joyful to see him victorious.  Then Geraint
+dismounted, and bound the three suits of armour upon the three
+saddles, and he fastened the reins of all the horses together, so
+that he had seven horses with him.  And he mounted his own horse, and
+commanded the maiden to drive forward the others.  "It is no more use
+for me to speak to thee than to refrain, for thou wilt not attend to
+my advice."  "I will do so, as far as I am able, Lord," said she;
+"but I cannot conceal from thee the fierce and threatening words
+which I may hear against thee, Lord, from such strange people as
+those that haunt this wilderness."  "I declare to Heaven," said he,
+"that I desire nought but silence; therefore, hold thy peace."  "I
+will, Lord, while I can."  And the maiden went on with the horses
+before her, and she pursued her way straight onwards.  And from the
+copse-wood already mentioned, they journeyed over a vast and dreary
+open plain.  And at a great distance from them they beheld a wood,
+and they could see neither end nor boundary to the wood, except on
+that side that was nearest to them, and they went towards it.  Then
+there came from out the wood five horsemen, eager, and bold, and
+mighty, and strong, mounted upon chargers that were powerful, and
+large of bone, and high-mettled, and proudly snorting, and both the
+men and the horses were well equipped with arms.  And when they drew
+near to them, Enid heard them say, "Behold, here is a fine booty
+coming to us, which we shall obtain easily and without labour, for we
+shall have no trouble in taking all those horses and arms, and the
+lady also, from yonder single knight, so doleful and sad."
+
+Sorely grieved was the maiden upon hearing this discourse, so that
+she knew not in the world what she should do.  At last, however, she
+determined to warn Geraint; so she turned her horse's head towards
+him.  "Lord," said she, "if thou hadst heard as I did what yonder
+horsemen said concerning thee, thy heaviness would be greater than it
+is."  Angrily and bitterly did Geraint smile upon her, and he said,
+"Thee do I hear doing everything that I forbade thee; but it may be
+that thou will repent this yet."  And immediately, behold, the men
+met them, and victoriously and gallantly did Geraint overcome them
+all five.  And he placed the five suits of armour upon the five
+saddles, and tied together the reins of the twelve horses, and gave
+them in charge to Enid.  "I know not," said he, "what good it is for
+me to order thee; but this time I charge thee in an especial manner."
+So the maiden went forward towards the wood, keeping in advance of
+Geraint, as he had desired her; and it grieved him as much as his
+wrath would permit, to see a maiden so illustrious as she having so
+much trouble with the care of the horses.  Then they reached the
+wood, and it was both deep and vast; and in the wood night overtook
+them.  "Ah, maiden," said he, "it is vain to attempt proceeding
+forward!"  "Well, Lord," said she, "whatsoever thou wishest, we will
+do."  "It will be best for us," he answered, "to turn out of the
+wood, and to rest, and wait for the day, in order to pursue our
+journey."  "That will we, gladly," said she.  And they did so.
+Having dismounted himself, he took her down from her horse.  "I
+cannot, by any means, refrain from sleep, through weariness," said
+he.  "Do thou, therefore, watch the horses, and sleep not."  "I will,
+Lord," said she.  Then he went to sleep in his armour, and thus
+passed the night, which was not long at that season.  And when she
+saw the dawn of day appear, she looked around her, to see if he were
+waking, and thereupon he woke.  "My Lord," she said, "I have desired
+to awake thee for some time."  But he spake nothing to her about
+fatigue, as he had desired her to be silent.  Then he arose, and said
+unto her, "Take the horses, and ride on; and keep straight on before
+thee as thou didst yesterday."  And early in the day they left the
+wood, and they came to an open country, with meadows on one hand, and
+mowers mowing the meadows.  And there was a river before them, and
+the horses bent down, and drank the water.  And they went up out of
+the river by a lofty steep; and there they met a slender stripling,
+with a satchel about his neck, and they saw that there was something
+in the satchel, but they knew not what it was.  And he had a small
+blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth of the pitcher.
+And the youth saluted Geraint.  "Heaven prosper thee," said Geraint,
+"and whence dost thou come?"  "I come," said he, "from the city that
+lies before thee.  My Lord," he added, "will it be displeasing to
+thee if I ask whence thou comest also?"  "By no means--through yonder
+wood did I come."  "Thou camest not through the wood to-day."  "No,"
+he replied, "we were in the wood last night."  "I warrant," said the
+youth, "that thy condition there last night was not the most
+pleasant, and that thou hadst neither meat nor drink."  "No, by my
+faith," said he.  "Wilt thou follow my counsel," said the youth, "and
+take thy meal from me?"  "What sort of meal?" he inquired.  "The
+breakfast which is sent for yonder mowers, nothing less than bread
+and meat and wine; and if thou wilt, Sir, they shall have none of
+it."  "I will," said he, "and Heaven reward thee for it."
+
+So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off her
+horse.  Then they washed, and took their repast.  And the youth cut
+the bread in slices, and gave them drink, and served them withal.
+And when they had finished, the youth arose, and said to Geraint, "My
+Lord, with thy permission, I will now go and fetch some food for the
+mowers."  "Go, first, to the town," said Geraint, "and take a lodging
+for me in the best place that thou knowest, and the most commodious
+one for the horses, and take thou whichever horse and arms thou
+choosest in payment for thy service and thy gift."  "Heaven reward
+thee, Lord," said the youth, "and this would be ample to repay
+services much greater than those I have rendered unto thee."  And to
+the town went the youth, and he took the best and the most pleasant
+lodgings that he knew; and after that he went to the palace, having
+the horse and armour with him, and proceeded to the place where the
+Earl was, and told him all his adventure.  "I go now, Lord," said he,
+"to meet the young man, and to conduct him to his lodging."  "Go,
+gladly," said the Earl, "and right joyfully shall he be received
+here, if he so come."  And the youth went to meet Geraint, and told
+him that he would be received gladly by the Earl in his own palace;
+but he would go only to his lodgings.  And he had a goodly chamber,
+in which was plenty of straw, and drapery, and a spacious and
+commodious place he had for the horses; and the youth prepared for
+them plenty of provender.  And after they had disarrayed themselves,
+Geraint spoke thus to Enid:  "Go," said he, "to the other side of the
+chamber, and come not to this side of the house; and thou mayest call
+to thee the woman of the house, if thou wilt."  "I will do, Lord,"
+said she, "as thou sayest."  And thereupon the man of the house came
+to Geraint, and welcomed him.  "Oh, chieftain," he said, "hast thou
+taken thy meal?"  "I have," said he.  Then the youth spoke to him,
+and inquired if he would not drink something before he met the Earl.
+"Truly I will," said he.  So the youth went into the town, and
+brought them drink.  And they drank.  "I must needs sleep," said
+Geraint.  "Well," said the youth; "and whilst thou sleepest, I will
+go to see the Earl."  "Go, gladly," he said, "and come here again
+when I require thee."  And Geraint went to sleep; and so did Enid
+also.
+
+And the youth came to the place where the Earl was, and the Earl
+asked him where the lodgings of the knight were, and he told him.  "I
+must go," said the youth, "to wait on him in the evening."  "Go,"
+answered the Earl, "and greet him well from me, and tell him that in
+the evening I will go to see him."  "This will I do," said the youth.
+So he came when it was time for them to awake.  And they arose, and
+went forth.  And when it was time for them to take their food, they
+took it.  And the youth served them.  And Geraint inquired of the man
+of the house, whether there were any of his companions that he wished
+to invite to him, and he said that there were.  "Bring them hither,
+and entertain them at my cost with the best thou canst buy in the
+town."
+
+And the man of the house brought there those whom he chose, and
+feasted them at Geraint's expense.  Thereupon, behold, the Earl came
+to visit Geraint, and his twelve honourable knights with him.  And
+Geraint rose up, and welcomed him.  "Heaven preserve thee," said the
+Earl.  Then they all sat down according to their precedence in
+honour.  And the Earl conversed with Geraint, and inquired of him the
+object of his journey.  "I have none," he replied, "but to seek
+adventures, and to follow my own inclination."  Then the Earl cast
+his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her steadfastly.  And he thought
+he had never seen a maiden fairer or more comely than she.  And he
+set all his thoughts and his affections upon her.  Then he asked of
+Geraint, "Have I thy permission to go and converse with yonder
+maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee?"  "Thou hast it
+gladly," said he.  So the Earl went to the place where the maiden
+was, and spake with her.  "Ah, maiden," said he, "it cannot be
+pleasant to thee to journey thus with yonder man!"  "It is not
+unpleasant to me," said she, "to journey the same road that he
+journeys."  "Thou hast neither youths nor maidens to serve thee,"
+said he.  "Truly," she replied, "it is more pleasant for me to follow
+yonder man, than to be served by youths and maidens."  "I will give
+thee good counsel," said he.  "All my Earldom will I place in thy
+possession, if thou wilt dwell with me."  "That will I not, by
+Heaven," she said; "yonder man was the first to whom my faith was
+ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant to him!"  "Thou art in the
+wrong," said the Earl; "if I slay the man yonder, I can keep thee
+with me as long as I choose; and when thou no longer pleasest me I
+can turn thee away.  But if thou goest with me by thine own good
+will, I protest that our union shall continue eternal and undivided
+as long as I remain alive."  Then she pondered these words of his,
+and she considered that it was advisable to encourage him in his
+request.  "Behold, then, chieftain, this is most expedient for thee
+to do to save me any needless imputation; come here to-morrow, and
+take me away as though I knew nothing thereof."  "I will do so," said
+he.  So he arose, and took his leave, and went forth with his
+attendants.  And she told not then to Geraint any of the conversation
+which she had had with the Earl, lest it should rouse his anger, and
+cause him uneasiness and care.
+
+And at the usual hour they went to sleep.  And at the beginning of
+the night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she arose, and placed
+all Geraint's armour together, so that it might be ready to put on.
+And although fearful of her errand, she came to the side of Geraint's
+bed; and she spoke to him softly and gently, saying, "My Lord, arise,
+and clothe thyself, for these were the words of the Earl to me, and
+his intention concerning me."  So she told Geraint all that had
+passed.  And although he was wroth with her, he took warning, and
+clothed himself.  And she lighted a candle, that he might have light
+to do so.  "Leave there the candle," said he, "and desire the man of
+the house to come here."  Then she went, and the man of the house
+came to him.  "Dost thou know how much I owe thee?" asked Geraint.
+"I think thou owest but little."  "Take the eleven horses and the
+eleven suits of armour."  "Heaven reward thee, lord," said he, "but I
+spent not the value of one suit of armour upon thee."  "For that
+reason," said he, "thou wilt be the richer.  And now, wilt thou come
+to guide me out of the town?"  "I will, gladly," said he, "and in
+which direction dost thou intend to go?"  "I wish to leave the town
+by a different way from that by which I entered it."  So the man of
+the lodgings accompanied him as far as he desired.  Then he bade the
+maiden to go on before him; and she did so, and went straight
+forward, and his host returned home.  And he had only just reached
+his house, when, behold, the greatest tumult approached that was ever
+heard.  And when he looked out, he saw fourscore knights in complete
+armour around the house, with the Earl Dwnn at their head.  "Where is
+the knight that was here?" said the Earl.  "By thy hand," said he,
+"he went hence some time ago."  "Wherefore, villain," said he, "didst
+thou let him go without informing me?"  "My Lord, thou didst not
+command me to do so, else would I not have allowed him to depart."
+"What way dost thou think that he took?"  "I know not, except that he
+went along the high road."  And they turned their horses' heads that
+way, and seeing the tracks of the horses upon the high road, they
+followed.  And when the maiden beheld the dawning of the day, she
+looked behind her, and saw vast clouds of dust coming nearer and
+nearer to her.  And thereupon she became uneasy, and she thought that
+it was the Earl and his host coming after them.  And thereupon she
+beheld a knight appearing through the mist.  "By my faith," said she,
+"though he should slay me, it were better for me to receive my death
+at his hands, than to see him killed without warning him.  My Lord,"
+she said to him, "seest thou yonder man hastening after thee, and
+many others with him?"  "I do see him," said he; "and in despite of
+all my orders, I see that thou wilt never keep silence."  Then he
+turned upon the knight, and with the first thrust he threw him down
+under his horse's feet.  And as long as there remained one of the
+fourscore knights, he overthrew every one of them at the first onset.
+And from the weakest to the strongest, they all attacked him one
+after the other, except the Earl:  and last of all the Earl came
+against him also.  And he broke his lance, and then he broke a
+second.  But Geraint turned upon him, and struck him with his lance
+upon the centre of his shield, so that by that single thrust the
+shield was split, and all his armour broken, and he himself was
+brought over his horse's crupper to the ground, and was in peril of
+his life.  And Geraint drew near to him; and at the noise of the
+trampling of his horse the Earl revived.  "Mercy, Lord," said he to
+Geraint.  And Geraint granted him mercy.  But through the hardness of
+the ground where they had fallen, and the violence of the stroke
+which they had received, there was not a single knight amongst them
+that escaped without receiving a fall, mortally severe, and
+grievously painful, and desperately wounding, from the hand of
+Geraint.
+
+And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was before him, and
+the maiden went on first; and near them they beheld a valley which
+was the fairest ever seen, and which had a large river running
+through it; and there was a bridge over the river, and the high road
+led to the bridge.  And above the bridge upon the opposite side of
+the river, they beheld a fortified town, the fairest ever seen.  And
+as they approached the bridge, Geraint saw coming towards him from a
+thick copse a man mounted upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace
+and spirited though tractable.  "Ah, knight," said Geraint, "whence
+comest thou?"  "I come," said he, "from the valley below us."  "Canst
+thou tell me," said Geraint, "who is the owner of this fair valley
+and yonder walled town?"  "I will tell thee, willingly," said he.
+"Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks, but the Cymry call him
+the Little King."  "Can I go by yonder bridge," said Geraint, "and by
+the lower highway that is beneath the town?"  Said the knight, "Thou
+canst not go by his tower on the other side of the bridge, unless
+thou dost intend to combat him; because it is his custom to encounter
+every knight that comes upon his lands."  "I declare to Heaven," said
+Geraint, "that I will, nevertheless, pursue my journey that way."
+"If thou dost so," said the knight, "thou wilt probably meet with
+shame and disgrace in reward for thy daring."  Then Geraint proceeded
+along the road that led to the town, and the road brought him to a
+ground that was hard, and rugged, and high, and ridgy.  And as he
+journeyed thus, he beheld a knight following him upon a warhorse,
+strong, and large, and proudly-stepping, and wide-hoofed, and broad-
+chested.  And he never saw a man of smaller stature than he who was
+upon the horse.  And both he and his horse were completely armed.
+When he had overtaken Geraint, he said to him, "Tell me, chieftain,
+whether it is through ignorance or through presumption that thou
+seekest to insult my dignity, and to infringe my rules."  "Nay,"
+answered Geraint, "I knew not this road was forbid to any."  "Thou
+didst know it," said the other; "come with me to my Court, to give me
+satisfaction."  "That will I not, by my faith," said Geraint; "I
+would not go even to thy Lord's Court, excepting Arthur were thy
+Lord."  "By the hand of Arthur himself," said the knight, "I will
+have satisfaction of thee, or receive my overthrow at thy hands."
+And immediately they charged one another.  And a squire of his came
+to serve him with lances as he broke them.  And they gave each other
+such hard and severe strokes that their shields lost all their
+colour.  But it was very difficult for Geraint to fight with him on
+account of his small size, for he was hardly able to get a full aim
+at him with all the efforts he could make.  And they fought thus
+until their horses were brought down upon their knees; and at length
+Geraint threw the knight headlong to the ground; and then they fought
+on foot, and they gave one another blows so boldly fierce, so
+frequent, and so severely powerful, that their helmets were pierced,
+and their skullcaps were broken, and their arms were shattered, and
+the light of their eyes was darkened by sweat and blood.  At the last
+Geraint became enraged, and he called to him all his strength; and
+boldly angry, and swiftly resolute, and furiously determined, he
+lifted up his sword, and struck him on the crown of his head a blow
+so mortally painful, so violent, so fierce, and so penetrating, that
+it cut through all his head armour, and his skin, and his flesh,
+until it wounded the very bone, and the sword flew out of the hand of
+the Little King to the furthest end of the plain, and he besought
+Geraint that he would have mercy and compassion upon him.  "Though
+thou hast been neither courteous nor just," said Geraint, "thou shalt
+have mercy, upon condition that thou wilt become my ally, and engage
+never to fight against me again, but to come to my assistance
+whenever thou hearest of my being in trouble."  "This will I do,
+gladly, Lord," said he.  So he pledged him his faith thereof.  "And
+now, Lord, come with me," said he, "to my Court yonder, to recover
+from thy weariness and fatigue."  "That will I not, by Heaven," said
+he.
+
+Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and it grieved him
+to see one of her noble mien appear so deeply afflicted.  And he said
+to Geraint, "My Lord, thou doest wrong not to take repose, and
+refresh thyself awhile; for, if thou meetest with any difficulty in
+thy present condition, it will not be easy for thee to surmount it."
+But Geraint would do no other than proceed on his journey, and he
+mounted his horse in pain, and all covered with blood.  And the
+maiden went on first, and they proceeded towards the wood which they
+saw before them.
+
+And the heat of the sun was very great, and through the blood and
+sweat, Geraint's armour cleaved to his flesh; and when they came into
+the wood, he stood under a tree, to avoid the sun's heat; and his
+wounds pained him more than they had done at the time when he
+received them.  And the maiden stood under another tree.  And lo!
+they heard the sound of horns, and a tumultuous noise; and the
+occasion of it was, that Arthur and his company had come down to the
+wood.  And while Geraint was considering which way he should go to
+avoid them, behold, he was espied by a foot-page, who was an
+attendant on the Steward of the Household; and he went to the
+Steward, and told him what kind of man he had seen in the wood.  Then
+the Steward caused his horse to be saddled, and he took his lance and
+his shield, and went to the place where Geraint was.  "Ah, knight!"
+said he, "what dost thou here?"  "I am standing under a shady tree,
+to avoid the heat and the rays of the sun."  "Wherefore is thy
+journey, and who art thou?"  "I seek adventures, and go where I
+list."  "Indeed," said Kai; "then come with me to see Arthur, who is
+here hard by."  "That will I not, by Heaven," said Geraint.  "Thou
+must needs come," said Kai.  Then Geraint knew who he was, but Kai
+did not know Geraint.  And Kai attacked Geraint as best he could.
+And Geraint became wroth, and he struck him with the shaft of his
+lance, so that he rolled headlong to the ground.  But chastisement
+worse than this would he not inflict on him.
+
+Scared and wildly Kai arose, and he mounted his horse, and went back
+to his lodging.  And thence he proceeded to Gwalchmai's tent.  "Oh,
+Sir," said he to Gwalchmai, "I was told by one of the attendants,
+that he saw in the wood above a wounded knight, having on battered
+armour; and if thou dost right, thou wilt go and see if this be
+true."  "I care not if I do so," said Gwalchmai.  "Take, then, thy
+horse, and some of thy armour," said Kai; "for I hear that he is not
+over courteous to those who approach him."  So Gwalchmai took his
+spear and his shield, and mounted his horse, and came to the spot
+where Geraint was.  "Sir Knight," said he, "wherefore is thy
+journey?"  "I journey for my own pleasure, and to seek the adventures
+of the world."  "Wilt thou tell me who thou art; or wilt thou come
+and visit Arthur, who is near at hand?"  "I will make no alliance
+with thee, nor will I go and visit Arthur," said he.  And he knew
+that it was Gwalchmai, but Gwalchmai knew him not.  "I purpose not to
+leave thee," said Gwalchmai, "till I know who thou art."  And he
+charged him with his lance, and struck him on his shield, so that the
+shaft was shivered into splinters, and their horses were front to
+front.  Then Gwalchmai gazed fixedly upon him, and he knew him.  "Ah,
+Geraint," said he, "is it thou that art here?"  "I am not Geraint,"
+said he.  "Geraint thou art, by Heaven," he replied, "and a wretched
+and insane expedition is this."  Then he looked around, and beheld
+Enid, and he welcomed her gladly.  "Geraint," said Gwalchmai, "come
+thou and see Arthur; he is thy lord and thy cousin."  "I will not,"
+said he, "for I am not in a fit state to go and see any one."
+Thereupon, behold, one of the pages came after Gwalchmai to speak to
+him.  So he sent him to apprise Arthur that Geraint was there
+wounded, and that he would not go to visit him, and that it was
+pitiable to see the plight that he was in.  And this he did without
+Geraint's knowledge, inasmuch as he spoke in a whisper to the page.
+"Entreat Arthur," said he, "to have his tent brought near to the
+road, for he will not meet him willingly, and it is not easy to
+compel him in the mood he is in."  So the page came to Arthur, and
+told him this.  And he caused his tent to be removed unto the side of
+the road.  And the maiden rejoiced in her heart.  And Gwalchmai led
+Geraint onwards along the road, till they came to the place where
+Arthur was encamped, and the pages were pitching his tent by the
+roadside.  "Lord," said Geraint, "all hail unto thee."  "Heaven
+prosper thee; and who art thou?" said Arthur.  "It is Geraint," said
+Gwalchmai, "and of his own free will would he not come to meet thee."
+"Verily," said Arthur, "he is bereft of his reason."  Then came Enid,
+and saluted Arthur.  "Heaven protect thee," said he.  And thereupon
+he caused one of the pages to take her from her horse.  "Alas! Enid,"
+said Arthur, "what expedition is this?"  "I know not, Lord," said
+she, "save that it behoves me to journey by the same road that he
+journeys."  "My Lord," said Geraint, "with thy permission we will
+depart."  "Whither wilt thou go?" said Arthur.  "Thou canst not
+proceed now, unless it be unto thy death."  "He will not suffer
+himself to be invited by me," said Gwalchmai.  "But by me he will,"
+said Arthur; "and, moreover, he does not go from here until he is
+healed."  "I had rather, Lord," said Geraint, "that thou wouldest let
+me go forth."  "That will I not, I declare to Heaven," said he.  Then
+he caused a maiden to be sent for to conduct Enid to the tent where
+Gwenhwyvar's chamber was.  And Gwenhwyvar and all her women were
+joyful at her coming; and they took off her riding-dress, and placed
+other garments upon her.  Arthur also called Kadyrieith, and ordered
+him to pitch a tent for Geraint and the physicians; and he enjoined
+him to provide him with abundance of all that might be requisite for
+him.  And Kadyrieith did as he had commanded him.  And Morgan Tud and
+his disciples were brought to Geraint.
+
+And Arthur and his hosts remained there nearly a month, whilst
+Geraint was being healed.  And when he was fully recovered, Geraint
+came to Arthur, and asked his permission to depart.  "I know not if
+thou art quite well."  "In truth I am, Lord," said Geraint.  "I shall
+not believe thee concerning that, but the physicians that were with
+thee."  So Arthur caused the physicians to be summoned to him, and
+asked them if it were true.  "It is true, Lord," said Morgan Tud.  So
+the next day Arthur permitted him to go forth, and he pursued his
+journey.  And on the same day Arthur removed thence.  And Geraint
+desired Enid to go on, and to keep before him, as she had formerly
+done.  And she went forward along the high road.  And as they
+journeyed thus, they heard an exceeding loud wailing near to them.
+"Stay thou here," said he, "and I will go and see what is the cause
+of this wailing."  "I will," said she.  Then he went forward unto an
+open glade that was near the road.  And in the glade he saw two
+horses, one having a man's saddle, and the other a woman's saddle
+upon it.  And, behold, there was a knight lying dead in his armour,
+and a young damsel in a riding-dress standing over him, lamenting.
+"Ah! Lady," said Geraint, "what hath befallen thee?"  "Behold," she
+answered, "I journeyed here with my beloved husband, when, lo! three
+giants came upon us, and without any cause in the world, they slew
+him."  "Which way went they hence?" said Geraint.  "Yonder by the
+high road," she replied.  So he returned to Enid.  "Go," said he, "to
+the lady that is below yonder, and await me there till I come."  She
+was sad when he ordered her to do thus, but nevertheless she went to
+the damsel, whom it was ruth to hear, and she felt certain that
+Geraint would never return.  Meanwhile Geraint followed the giants,
+and overtook them.  And each of them was greater of stature than
+three other men, and a huge club was on the shoulder of each.  Then
+he rushed upon one of them, and thrust his lance through his body.
+And having drawn it forth again, he pierced another of them through
+likewise.  But the third turned upon him, and struck him with his
+club, so that he split his shield, and crushed his shoulder, and
+opened his wounds anew, and all his blood began to flow from him.
+But Geraint drew his sword, and attacked the giant, and gave him a
+blow on the crown of his head so severe, and fierce, and violent,
+that his head and his neck were split down to his shoulders, and he
+fell dead.  So Geraint left him thus, and returned to Enid.  And when
+he saw her, he fell down lifeless from his horse.  Piercing, and
+loud, and thrilling was the cry that Enid uttered.  And she came and
+stood over him where he had fallen.  And at the sound of her cries
+came the Earl of Limours, and the host that journeyed with him, whom
+her lamentations brought out of their road.  And the Earl said to
+Enid, "Alas, Lady, what hath befallen thee?"  "Ah! good Sir," said
+she, "the only man I have loved, or ever shall love, is slain."  Then
+he said to the other, "And what is the cause of thy grief?"  "They
+have slain my beloved husband also," said she.  "And who was it that
+slew them?"  "Some giants," she answered, "slew my best-beloved, and
+the other knight went in pursuit of them, and came back in the state
+thou seest, his blood flowing excessively; but it appears to me that
+he did not leave the giants without killing some of them, if not
+all."  The Earl caused the knight that was dead to be buried, but he
+thought that there still remained some life in Geraint; and to see if
+he yet would live, he had him carried with him in the hollow of his
+shield, and upon a bier.  And the two damsels went to the Court; and
+when they arrived there, Geraint was placed upon a litter-couch in
+front of the table that was in the hall.  Then they all took off
+their travelling gear, and the Earl besought Enid to do the same, and
+to clothe herself in other garments.  "I will not, by Heaven," said
+she.  "Ah! Lady," said he, "be not so sorrowful for this matter."
+"It were hard to persuade me to be otherwise," said she.  "I will act
+towards thee in such wise, that thou needest not be sorrowful,
+whether yonder knight live or die.  Behold, a good Earldom, together
+with myself, will I bestow on thee; be, therefore, happy and joyful."
+"I declare to Heaven," said she, "that henceforth I shall never be
+joyful while I live."  "Come, then," said he, "and eat."  "No, by
+Heaven, I will not," she answered.  "But, by Heaven, thou shalt,"
+said he.  So he took her with him to the table against her will, and
+many times desired her to eat.  "I call Heaven to witness," said she,
+"that I will not eat until the man that is upon yonder bier shall eat
+likewise."  "Thou canst not fulfil that," said the Earl, "yonder man
+is dead already."  "I will prove that I can," said she.  Then he
+offered her a goblet of liquor.  "Drink this goblet," he said, "and
+it will cause thee to change thy mind."  "Evil betide me," she
+answered, "if I drink aught until he drink also."  "Truly," said the
+Earl, "it is of no more avail for me to be gentle with thee than
+ungentle."  And he gave her a box on the ear.  Thereupon she raised a
+loud and piercing shriek, and her lamentations were much greater than
+they had been before, for she considered in her mind that had Geraint
+been alive, he durst not have struck her thus.  But, behold, at the
+sound of her cry, Geraint revived from his swoon, and he sat up on
+the bier, and finding his sword in the hollow of his shield, he
+rushed to the place where the Earl was, and struck him a fiercely-
+wounding, severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting blow upon the crown
+of his head, so that he clove him in twain, until his sword was
+stayed by the table.  Then all left the board, and fled away.  And
+this was not so much through fear of the living as through the dread
+they felt at seeing the dead man rise up to slay them.  And Geraint
+looked upon Enid, and he was grieved for two causes; one was, to see
+that Enid had lost her colour and her wonted aspect, and the other,
+to know that she was in the right.  "Lady," said he, "knowest thou
+where our horses are?"  "I know, Lord, where thy horse is," she
+replied, "but I know not where is the other.  Thy horse is in the
+house yonder."  So he went to the house, and brought forth his horse,
+and mounted him, and took up Enid from the ground, and placed her
+upon the horse with him.  And he rode forward.  And their road lay
+between two hedges.  And the night was gaining on the day.  And lo!
+they saw behind them the shafts of spears betwixt them and the sky,
+and they heard the trampling of horses, and the noise of a host
+approaching.  "I hear something following us," said he, "and I will
+put thee on the other side of the hedge."  And thus he did.  And
+thereupon, behold, a knight pricked towards him, and couched his
+lance.  When Enid saw this, she cried out, saying, "Oh! chieftain,
+whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a dead man?"
+"Oh! Heaven," said he, "is it Geraint?"  "Yes, in truth," said she.
+"And who art thou?"  "I am the Little King," he answered, "coming to
+thy assistance, for I heard that thou wast in trouble.  And if thou
+hadst followed my advice, none of these hardships would have befallen
+thee."  "Nothing can happen," said Geraint, "without the will of
+Heaven, though much good results from counsel."  "Yes," said the
+Little King, "and I know good counsel for thee now.  Come with me to
+the court of a son-in-law of my sister, which is near here, and thou
+shalt have the best medical assistance in the kingdom."  "I will do
+so gladly," said Geraint.  And Enid was placed upon the horse of one
+of the Little King's squires, and they went forward to the Baron's
+palace.  And they were received there with gladness, and they met
+with hospitality and attention.  And the next morning they went to
+seek physicians; and it was not long before they came, and they
+attended Geraint until he was perfectly well.  And while Geraint was
+under medical care, the Little King caused his armour to be repaired,
+until it was as good as it had ever been.  And they remained there a
+fortnight and a month.
+
+Then the Little King said to Geraint, "Now will we go towards my own
+Court, to take rest, and amuse ourselves."  "Not so," said Geraint,
+"we will first journey for one day more, and return again."  "With
+all my heart," said the Little King, "do thou go then."  And early in
+the day they set forth.  And more gladly and more joyfully did Enid
+journey with them that day than she had ever done.  And they came to
+the main road.  And when they reached a place where the road divided
+in two, they beheld a man on foot coming towards them along one of
+these roads, and Gwiffert asked the man whence he came.  "I come,"
+said he, "from an errand in the country."  "Tell me," said Geraint,
+"which is the best for me to follow of these two roads?"  "That is
+the best for thee to follow," answered he, "for if thou goest by this
+one, thou wilt never return.  Below us," said he, "there is a hedge
+of mist, and within it are enchanted games, and no one who has gone
+there has ever returned.  And the Court of the Earl Owain is there,
+and he permits no one to go to lodge in the town, except he will go
+to his Court."  "I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, "that we will
+take the lower road."  And they went along it until they came to the
+town.  And they took the fairest and pleasantest place in the town
+for their lodging.  And while they were thus, behold, a young man
+came to them, and greeted them.  "Heaven be propitious to thee," said
+they.  "Good Sirs," said he, "what preparations are you making here?"
+"We are taking up our lodging," said they, "to pass the night."  "It
+is not the custom with him who owns the town," he answered, "to
+permit any of gentle birth, unless they come to stay in his Court, to
+abide here; therefore, come ye to the Court."  "We will come,
+gladly," said Geraint.  And they went with the page, and they were
+joyfully received.  And the Earl came to the hall to meet them, and
+he commanded the tables to be laid.  And they washed, and sat down.
+And this is the order in which they sat:  Geraint on one side of the
+Earl, and Enid on the other side, and next to Enid the Little King,
+and then the Countess next to Geraint; and all after that as became
+their rank.  Then Geraint recollected the games, and thought that he
+should not go to them; and on that account he did not eat.  Then the
+Earl looked upon Geraint, and considered, and he bethought him that
+his not eating was because of the games, and it grieved him that he
+had ever established those games, were it only on account of losing
+such a youth as Geraint.  And if Geraint had asked him to abolish the
+games, he would gladly have done so.  Then the Earl said to Geraint,
+"What thought occupies thy mind, that thou dost not eat?  If thou
+hesitatest about going to the games, thou shalt not go, and no other
+of thy rank shall ever go either."  "Heaven reward thee," said
+Geraint, "but I wish nothing better than to go to the games, and to
+be shown the way thither."  "If that is what thou dost prefer, thou
+shalt obtain it willingly."  "I do prefer it, indeed," said he.  Then
+they ate, and they were amply served, and they had a variety of
+gifts, and abundance of liquor.  And when they had finished eating
+they arose.  And Geraint called for his horse and his armour, and he
+accoutred both himself and his horse.  And all the hosts went forth
+until they came to the side of the hedge, and the hedge was so lofty,
+that it reached as high as they could see in the air, and upon every
+stake in the hedge, except two, there was the head of a man, and the
+number of stakes throughout the hedge was very great.  Then said the
+Little King, "May no one go in with the chieftain?"  "No one may,"
+said Earl Owain.  "Which way can I enter?" inquired Geraint.  "I know
+not," said Owain, "but enter by the way that thou wilt, and that
+seemeth easiest to thee."
+
+Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into the
+mist.  And on leaving the mist, he came to a large orchard; and in
+the orchard he saw an open space, wherein was a tent of red satin;
+and the door of the tent was open, and an apple-tree stood in front
+of the door of the tent; and on a branch of the apple-tree hung a
+huge hunting-horn.  Then he dismounted, and went into the tent; and
+there was no one in the tent save one maiden sitting in a golden
+chair, and another chair was opposite to her, empty.  And Geraint
+went to the empty chair, and sat down therein.  "Ah! chieftain," said
+the maiden, "I would not counsel thee to sit in that chair."
+"Wherefore?" said Geraint.  "The man to whom that chair belongs has
+never suffered another to sit in it."  "I care not," said Geraint,
+"though it displease him that I sit in the chair."  And thereupon
+they heard a mighty tumult around the tent.  And Geraint looked to
+see what was the cause of the tumult.  And he beheld without a knight
+mounted upon a warhorse, proudly snorting, high-mettled, and large of
+bone; and a robe of honour in two parts was upon him and upon his
+horse, and beneath it was plenty of armour.  "Tell me, chieftain,"
+said he to Geraint, "who it was that bade thee sit there?"  "Myself,"
+answered he.  "It was wrong of thee to do me this shame and disgrace.
+Arise, and do me satisfaction for thine insolence."  Then Geraint
+arose; and they encountered immediately; and they broke a set of
+lances, and a second set, and a third; and they gave each other
+fierce and frequent strokes; and at last Geraint became enraged, and
+he urged on his horse, and rushed upon him, and gave him a thrust on
+the centre of his shield, so that it was split, and so that the head
+of his lance went through his armour, and his girths were broken, and
+he himself was borne headlong to the ground the length of Geraint's
+lance and arm, over his horse's crupper.  "Oh, my Lord!" said he,
+"thy mercy, and thou shalt have what thou wilt."  "I only desire,"
+said Geraint, "that this game shall no longer exist here, nor the
+hedge of mist, nor magic, nor enchantment."  "Thou shalt have this
+gladly, Lord," he replied.  "Cause, then, the mist to disappear from
+this place," said Geraint.  "Sound yonder horn," said he, "and when
+thou soundest it, the mist will vanish; but it will not go hence
+unless the horn be blown by the knight by whom I am vanquished."  And
+sad and sorrowful was Enid where she remained, through anxiety
+concerning Geraint.  Then Geraint went and sounded the horn.  And at
+the first blast he gave, the mist vanished.  And all the hosts came
+together, and they all became reconciled to each other.  And the Earl
+invited Geraint and the Little King to stay with him that night.  And
+the next morning they separated.  And Geraint went towards his own
+dominions; and thenceforth he reigned prosperously, and his warlike
+fame and splendour lasted with renown and honour both to him and to
+Enid from that time forth.
+
+
+
+KILHWCH AND OLWEN
+OR THE
+TWRCH TRWYTH
+
+
+
+Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, and
+the wife that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince
+Anlawdd.  And after their union, the people put up prayers that they
+might have an heir.  And they had a son through the prayers of the
+people.  From the time of her pregnancy Goleuddydd became wild, and
+wandered about, without habitation; but when her delivery was at
+hand, her reason came back to her.  Then she went to a mountain where
+there was a swineherd, keeping a herd of swine.  And through fear of
+the swine the queen was delivered.  And the swineherd took the boy,
+and brought him to the palace; and he was christened, and they called
+him Kilhwch, because he had been found in a swine's burrow.
+Nevertheless the boy was of gentle lineage, and cousin unto Arthur;
+and they put him out to nurse.
+
+After this the boy's mother, Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince
+Anlawdd, fell sick.  Then she called her husband unto her, and said
+to him, "Of this sickness I shall die, and thou wilt take another
+wife.  Now wives are the gift of the Lord, but it would be wrong for
+thee to harm thy son.  Therefore I charge thee that thou take not a
+wife until thou see a briar with two blossoms upon my grave."  And
+this he promised her.  Then she besought him to dress her grave every
+year, that nothing might grow thereon.  So the queen died.  Now the
+king sent an attendant every morning to see if anything were growing
+upon the grave.  And at the end of the seventh year the master
+neglected that which he had promised to the queen.
+
+One day the king went to hunt, and he rode to the place of burial to
+see the grave, and to know if it were time that he should take a
+wife; and the king saw the briar.  And when he saw it, the king took
+counsel where he should find a wife.  Said one of his counsellors, "I
+know a wife that will suit thee well, and she is the wife of King
+Doged."  And they resolved to go to seek her; and they slew the king,
+and brought away his wife and one daughter that she had along with
+her.  And they conquered the king's lands.
+
+On a certain day, as the lady walked abroad, she came to the house of
+an old crone that dwelt in the town, and that had no tooth in her
+head.  And the queen said to her, "Old woman, tell me that which I
+shall ask thee, for the love of Heaven.  Where are the children of
+the man who has carried me away by violence?"  Said the crone, "He
+has not children."  Said the queen, "Woe is me, that I should have
+come to one who is childless!"  Then said the hag, "Thou needest not
+lament on account of that, for there is a prediction he shall have an
+heir by thee, and by none other.  Moreover, be not sorrowful, for he
+has one son."
+
+The lady returned home with joy; and she asked her consort,
+"Wherefore hast thou concealed thy children from me?"  The king said,
+"I will do so no longer."  And he sent messengers for his son, and he
+was brought to the Court.  His stepmother said unto him, "It were
+well for thee to have a wife, and I have a daughter who is sought of
+every man of renown in the world."  "I am not yet of an age to wed,"
+answered the youth.  Then said she unto him, "I declare to thee, that
+it is thy destiny not to be suited with a wife until thou obtain
+Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr."  And the youth blushed,
+and the love of the maiden diffused itself through all his frame,
+although he had never seen her.  And his father inquired of him,
+"What has come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?"  "My
+stepmother has declared to me that I shall never have a wife until I
+obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr."  "That will be
+easy for thee," answered his father.  "Arthur is thy cousin.  Go,
+therefore, unto Arthur, to cut thy hair, and ask this of him as a
+boon."
+
+And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled grey, of
+four winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs, having a
+bridle of linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle of costly
+gold.  And in the youth's hand were two spears of silver, sharp,
+well-tempered, headed with steel, three ells in length, of an edge to
+wound the wind, and cause blood to flow, and swifter than the fall of
+the dewdrop from the blade of reed-grass upon the earth when the dew
+of June is at the heaviest.  A gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh,
+the blade of which was of gold, bearing a cross of inlaid gold of the
+hue of the lightning of heaven:  his war-horn was of ivory.  Before
+him were two brindled white-breasted greyhounds, having strong
+collars of rubies about their necks, reaching from the shoulder to
+the ear.  And the one that was on the left side bounded across to the
+right side, and the one on the right to the left, and like two sea-
+swallows sported around him.  And his courser cast up four sods with
+his four hoofs, like four swallows in the air, about his head, now
+above, now below.  About him was a four-cornered cloth of purple, and
+an apple of gold was at each corner, and every one of the apples was
+of the value of an hundred kine.  And there was precious gold of the
+value of three hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups,
+from his knee to the tip of his toe.  And the blade of grass bent not
+beneath him, so light was his courser's tread as he journeyed towards
+the gate of Arthur's Palace.
+
+Spoke the youth, "Is there a porter?"  "There is; and if thou holdest
+not thy peace, small will be thy welcome.  I am Arthur's porter every
+first day of January.  And during every other part of the year but
+this, the office is filled by Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym,
+and Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head to save his feet, neither
+towards the sky nor towards the earth, but like a rolling stone upon
+the floor of the court."  "Open the portal."  "I will not open it."
+"Wherefore not?"  "The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the
+horn, and there is revelry in Arthur's Hall, and none may enter
+therein but the son of a king of a privileged country, or a craftsman
+bringing his craft.  But there will be refreshment for thy dogs, and
+for thy horses; and for thee there will be collops cooked and
+peppered, and luscious wine and mirthful songs, and food for fifty
+men shall be brought unto thee in the guest chamber, where the
+stranger and the sons of other countries eat, who come not unto the
+precincts of the Palace of Arthur.  Thou wilt fare no worse there
+than thou wouldest with Arthur in the Court.  A lady shall smooth thy
+couch, and shall lull thee with songs; and early to-morrow morning,
+when the gate is open for the multitude that come hither to-day, for
+thee shall it be opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place that
+thou shalt choose in Arthur's Hall, from the upper end to the lower."
+Said the youth, "That will I not do.  If thou openest the gate, it is
+well.  If thou dost not open it, I will bring disgrace upon thy Lord,
+and evil report upon thee.  And I will set up three shouts at this
+very gate, than which none were ever more deadly, from the top of
+Pengwaed in Cornwall to the bottom of Dinsol, in the North, and to
+Esgair Oervel, in Ireland.  And all the women in this Palace that are
+pregnant shall lose their offspring; and such as are not pregnant,
+their hearts shall be turned by illness, so that they shall never
+bear children from this day forward."  "What clamour soever thou
+mayest make," said Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, "against the laws of Arthur's
+Palace shalt thou not enter therein, until I first go and speak with
+Arthur."
+
+Then Glewlwyd went into the Hall.  And Arthur said to him, "Hast thou
+news from the gate?"--"Half of my life is past, and half of thine.  I
+was heretofore in Kaer Se and Asse, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor and
+Fotor; and I have been heretofore in India the Great and India the
+Lesser; and I was in the battle of Dau Ynyr, when the twelve hostages
+were brought from Llychlyn.  And I have also been in Europe, and in
+Africa, and in the islands of Corsica, and in Caer Brythwch, and
+Brythach, and Verthach; and I was present when formerly thou didst
+slay the family of Clis the son of Merin, and when thou didst slay
+Mil Du the son of Ducum, and when thou didst conquer Greece in the
+East.  And I have been in Caer Oeth and Annoeth, and in Caer
+Nevenhyr; nine supreme sovereigns, handsome men, saw we there, but
+never did I behold a man of equal dignity with him who is now at the
+door of the portal."  Then said Arthur, "If walking thou didst enter
+in here, return thou running.  And every one that beholds the light,
+and every one that opens and shuts the eye, let them shew him
+respect, and serve him, some with gold-mounted drinking-horns, others
+with collops cooked and peppered, until food and drink can be
+prepared for him.  It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou sayest
+he is, in the wind and the rain."  Said Kai, "By the hand of my
+friend, if thou wouldest follow my counsel, thou wouldest not break
+through the laws of the Court because of him."  "Not so, blessed Kai.
+It is an honour to us to be resorted to, and the greater our courtesy
+the greater will be our renown, and our fame, and our glory."
+
+And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before him; and
+although all dismounted upon the horseblock at the gate, yet did he
+not dismount, but rode in upon his charger.  Then said Kilhwch,
+"Greeting be unto thee, Sovereign Ruler of this Island; and be this
+greeting no less unto the lowest than unto the highest, and be it
+equally unto thy guests, and thy warriors, and thy chieftains--let
+all partake of it as completely as thyself.  And complete be thy
+favour, and thy fame, and thy glory, throughout all this Island."
+"Greeting unto thee also," said Arthur; "sit thou between two of my
+warriors, and thou shalt have minstrels before thee, and thou shalt
+enjoy the privileges of a king born to a throne, as long as thou
+remainest here.  And when I dispense my presents to the visitors and
+strangers in this Court, they shall be in thy hand at my commencing."
+Said the youth, "I came not here to consume meat and drink; but if I
+obtain the boon that I seek, I will requite it thee, and extol thee;
+and if I have it not, I will bear forth thy dispraise to the four
+quarters of the world, as far as thy renown has extended."  Then said
+Arthur, "Since thou wilt not remain here, chieftain, thou shalt
+receive the boon whatsoever thy tongue may name, as far as the wind
+dries, and the rain moistens, and the sun revolves, and the sea
+encircles, and the earth extends; save only my ship; and my mantle;
+and Caledvwlch, my sword; and Rhongomyant, my lance; and
+Wynebgwrthucher, my shield; and Carnwenhau, my dagger; and
+Gwenhwyvar, my wife.  By the truth of Heaven, thou shalt have it
+cheerfully, name what thou wilt."  "I would that thou bless my hair."
+"That shall be granted thee."
+
+And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors, whereof the loops were
+of silver, and he combed his hair.  And Arthur inquired of him who he
+was.  "For my heart warms unto thee, and I know that thou art come of
+my blood.  Tell me, therefore, who thou art."  "I will tell thee,"
+said the youth.  "I am Kilhwch, the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince
+Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd, my mother, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd."
+"That is true," said Arthur; "thou art my cousin.  Whatsoever boon
+thou mayest ask, thou shalt receive, be it what it may that thy
+tongue shall name."  "Pledge the truth of Heaven and the faith of thy
+kingdom thereof."  "I pledge it thee, gladly."  "I crave of thee
+then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden
+Penkawr; and this boon I likewise seek at the hands of thy warriors.
+I seek it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl Galldonyd, and Gwythyr
+the son of Greidawl, and Greid the son of Eri, and Kynddelig
+Kyvarwydd, and Tathal Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys the son of Baeddan,
+and Crychwr the son of Nes, and Cubert the son of Daere, and Percos
+the son of Poch, and Lluber Beuthach, and Corvil Bervach, and Gwynn
+the son of Nudd, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Gadwy the son of
+Geraint, and Prince Fflewddur Fflam, and Ruawn Pebyr the son of
+Dorath, and Bradwen the son of Moren Mynawc, and Moren Mynawc
+himself, and Dalldav the son of Kimin Cov, and the son of Alun Dyved,
+and the son of Saidi, and the son of Gwryon, and Uchtryd Ardywad Kad,
+and Kynwas Curvagyl, and Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras, and Isperyr Ewingath,
+and Gallcoyt Govynynat, and Duach, and Grathach, and Nerthach, the
+sons of Gwawrddur Kyrvach (these men came forth from the confines of
+hell), and Kilydd Canhastyr, and Canastyr Kanllaw, and Cors Cant-
+Ewin, and Esgeir Gulhwch Govynkawn, and Drustwrn Hayarn, and Glewlwyd
+Gavaelvawr, and Lloch Llawwynnyawc, and Aunwas Adeiniawc, and Sinnoch
+the son of Seithved, and Gwennwynwyn the son of Naw, and Bedyw the
+son of Seithved, and Gobrwy the son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, and Echel
+Vorddwyttwll himself, and Mael the son of Roycol, and Dadweir
+Dallpenn, and Garwyli the son of Gwythawc Gwyr, and Gwythawc Gwyr
+himself, and Gormant the son of Ricca, and Menw the son of
+Teirgwaedd, and Digon the son of Alar, and Selyf the son of Smoit,
+and Gusg the son of Atheu, and Nerth the son of Kedarn, and Drudwas
+the son of Tryffin, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Twrch the son of
+Annwas, and Iona king of France, and Sel the son of Selgi, and
+Teregud the son of Iaen, and Sulyen the son of Iaen, and Bradwen the
+son of Iaen, and Moren the son of Iaen, and Siawn the son of Iaen,
+and Cradawc the son of Iaen.  (They were men of Caerdathal, of
+Arthur's kindred on his father's side.)  Dirmyg the son of Kaw, and
+Justic the son of Kaw, and Etmic the son of Kaw, and Anghawd the son
+of Kaw, and Ovan the son of Kaw, and Kelin the son of Kaw, and Connyn
+the son of Kaw, and Mabsant the son of Kaw, and Gwyngad the son of
+Kaw, and Llwybyr the son of Kaw, and Coth the son of Kaw, and Meilic
+the son of Kaw, and Kynwas the son of Kaw, and Ardwyad the son of
+Kaw, and Ergyryad the son of Kaw, and Neb the son of Kaw, and Gilda
+the son of Kaw, and Calcas the son of Kaw, and Hueil the son of Kaw
+(he never yet made a request at the hand of any Lord).  And Samson
+Vinsych, and Taliesin the chief of the bards, and Manawyddan the son
+of Llyr, and Llary the son of Prince Kasnar, and Ysperni the son of
+Fflergant king of Armorica, and Saranhon the son of Glythwyr, and
+Llawr Eilerw, and Annyanniawc the son of Menw the son of Teirgwaedd,
+and Gwynn the son of Nwyvre, and Fflam the son of Nwyvre, and Geraint
+the son of Erbin, and Ermid the son of Erbin, and Dyvel the son of
+Erbin, and Gwynn the son of Ermid, and Kyndrwyn the son of Ermid, and
+Hyveidd Unllenn, and Eiddon Vawr Vrydic, and Reidwn Arwy, and Gormant
+the son of Ricca (Arthur's brother by his mother's side; the Penhynev
+of Cornwall was his father), and Llawnrodded Varvawc, and Nodawl
+Varyf Twrch, and Berth the son of Kado, and Rheidwn the son of Beli,
+and Iscovan Hael, and Iscawin the son of Panon, and Morvran the son
+of Tegid (no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by reason of his
+ugliness; all thought he was an auxiliary devil.  Hair had he upon
+him like the hair of a stag).  And Sandde Bryd Angel (no one touched
+him with a spear in the battle of Camlan because of his beauty; all
+thought he was a ministering angel).  And Kynwyl Sant (the third man
+that escaped from the battle of Camlan, and he was the last who
+parted from Arthur on Hengroen his horse).  And Uchtryd the son of
+Erim, and Eus the son of Erim, and Henwas Adeinawg the son of Erim,
+and Henbedestyr the son of Erim, and Sgilti Yscawndroed the son of
+Erim. (Unto these three men belonged these three qualities,--With
+Henbedestyr there was not any one who could keep pace, either on
+horseback or on foot; with Henwas Adeinawg, no four-footed beast
+could run the distance of an acre, much less could it go beyond it;
+and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when he intended to go upon a message
+for his Lord, he never sought to find a path, but knowing whither he
+was to go, if his way lay through a wood he went along the tops of
+the trees.  During his whole life, a blade of reed grass bent not
+beneath his feet, much less did one ever break, so lightly did he
+tread.)  Teithi Hen the son of Gwynhan (his dominions were swallowed
+up by the sea, and he himself hardly escaped, and he came to Arthur;
+and his knife had this peculiarity, that from the time that he came
+there no haft would ever remain upon it, and owing to this a sickness
+came over him, and he pined away during the remainder of his life,
+and of this he died).  And Carneddyr the son of Govynyon Hen, and
+Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav Gyssevin, Arthur's champion, and
+Llysgadrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu Hen (uncles unto Arthur were they, his
+mother's brothers).  Kulvanawyd the son of Goryon, and Llenlleawg
+Wyddel from the headland of Ganion, and Dyvynwal Moel, and Dunard
+king of the North, Teirnon Twryf Bliant, and Tegvan Gloff, and Tegyr
+Talgellawg, Gwrdinal the son of Ebrei, and Morgant Hael, Gwystyl the
+son of Rhun the son of Nwython, and Llwyddeu the son of Nwython, and
+Gwydre the son of Llwyddeu (Gwenabwy the daughter of [Kaw] was his
+mother, Hueil his uncle stabbed him, and hatred was between Hueil and
+Arthur because of the wound).  Drem the son of Dremidyd (when the
+gnat arose in the morning with the sun, he could see it from Gelli
+Wic in Cornwall, as far off as Pen Blathaon in North Britain).  And
+Eidyol the son of Ner, and Glwyddyn Saer (who constructed Ehangwen,
+Arthur's Hall).  Kynyr Keinvarvawc (when he was told he had a son
+born he said to his wife, 'Damsel, if thy son be mine, his heart will
+be always cold, and there will be no warmth in his hands; and he will
+have another peculiarity, if he is my son he will always be stubborn;
+and he will have another peculiarity, when he carries a burden,
+whether it be large or small, no one will be able to see it, either
+before him or at his back; and he will have another peculiarity, no
+one will be able to resist fire and water so well as he will; and he
+will have another peculiarity, there will never be a servant or an
+officer equal to him').  Henwas, and Henwyneb (an old companion to
+Arthur).  Gwallgoyc (another; when he came to a town, though there
+were three hundred houses in it, if he wanted anything, he would not
+let sleep come to the eyes of any one whilst he remained there).
+Berwyn the son of Gerenhir, and Paris king of France, and Osla
+Gyllellvawr (who bore a short broad dagger.  When Arthur and his
+hosts came before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow place where
+they might pass the water, and would lay the sheathed dagger across
+the torrent, and it would form a bridge sufficient for the armies of
+the three Islands of Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, with
+their spoil).  Gwyddawg the son of Menestyr (who slew Kai, and whom
+Arthur slew, together with his brothers, to revenge Kai).  Garanwyn
+the son of Kai, and Amren the son of Bedwyr, and Ely Amyr,and Rheu
+Rhwyd Dyrys, and Rhun Rhudwern, and Eli, and Trachmyr (Arthur's chief
+huntsmen).  And Llwyddeu the son of Kelcoed, and Hunabwy the son of
+Gwryon, and Gwynn Godyvron, and Gweir Datharwenniddawg, and Gweir the
+son of Cadell the son of Talaryant, and Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir, and
+Gweir Paladyr Hir (the uncles of Arthur, the brothers of his mother).
+The sons of Llwch Llawwynnyawg (from beyond the raging sea).
+Llenlleawg Wyddel, and Ardderchawg Prydain.  Cas the son of Saidi,
+Gwrvan Gwallt Avwyn, and Gwyllennhin the king of France, and Gwittart
+the son of Oedd king of Ireland.  Garselit Wyddel, Panawr Pen Bagad,
+and Ffleudor the son of Nav, Gwynnhyvar mayor of Cornwall and Devon
+(the ninth man that rallied the battle of Camlan).  Keli and Kueli,
+and Gilla Coes Hydd (he would clear three hundred acres at one bound:
+the chief leaper of Ireland was he).  Sol, and Gwadyn Ossol, and
+Gwadyn Odyeith.  (Sol could stand all day upon one foot.  Gwadyn
+Ossol, if he stood upon the top of the highest mountain in the world,
+it would become a level plain under his feet.  Gwadyn Odyeith, the
+soles of his feet emitted sparks of fire when they struck upon things
+hard, like the heated mass when drawn out of the forge.  He cleared
+the way for Arthur when he came to any stoppage.)  Hirerwm and
+Hiratrwm.  (The day they went on a visit three Cantrevs provided for
+their entertainment, and they feasted until noon and drank until
+night, when they went to sleep.  And then they devoured the heads of
+the vermin through hunger, as if they had never eaten anything.  When
+they made a visit they left neither the fat nor the lean, neither the
+hot nor the cold, the sour nor the sweet, the fresh nor the salt, the
+boiled nor the raw.)  Huarwar the son of Aflawn (who asked Arthur
+such a boon as would satisfy him.  It was the third great plague of
+Cornwall when he received it.  None could get a smile from him but
+when he was satisfied).  Gware Gwallt Euryn.  The two cubs of Gast
+Rhymi, Gwyddrud and Gwyddneu Astrus.  Sugyn the son of Sugnedydd (who
+would suck up the sea on which were three hundred ships so as to
+leave nothing but a dry strand.  He was broad-chested).  Rhacymwri,
+the attendant of Arthur (whatever barn he was shown, were there the
+produce of thirty ploughs within it, he would strike it with an iron
+flail until the rafters, the beams, and the boards were no better
+than the small oats in the mow upon the floor of the barn).
+Dygyflwng and Anoeth Veidawg.  And Hir Eiddyl, and Hir Amreu (they
+were two attendants of Arthur).  And Gwevyl the son of Gwestad (on
+the day that he was sad, he would let one of his lips drop below his
+waist, while he turned up the other like a cap upon his head).
+Uchtryd Varyf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the
+eight-and-forty rafters which were in Arthur's Hall).  Elidyr
+Gyvarwydd.  Yskyrdav and Yscudydd (two attendants of Gwenhwyvar were
+they.  Their feet were swift as their thoughts when bearing a
+message).  Brys the son of Bryssethach (from the Hill of the Black
+Fernbrake in North Britain).  And Grudlwyn Gorr.  Bwlch, and Kyfwlch,
+and Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Kyfwlch, the grandsons of Cleddyf
+Difwlch.  (Their three shields were three gleaming glitterers; their
+three spears were three pointed piercers; their three swords were
+three grinding gashers; Glas, Glessic, and Gleisad.  Their three
+dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall.  Their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd, and
+Drwgdyddwd, and Llwyrdyddwg.  Their three wives, Och, and Garym, and
+Diaspad.  Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Neved, and
+Eissiwed.  Their three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll.
+Their three hand-maids, Eheubryd the daughter of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrn
+the daughter of Nerth, Ewaedan the daughter of Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyll
+the half-man.)  Dwnn Diessic Unbenn, Eiladyr the son of Pen Llarcau,
+Kynedyr Wyllt the son of Hettwn Talaryant, Sawyl Ben Uchel, Gwalchmai
+the son of Gwyar, Gwalhaved the son of Gwyar, Gwrhyr Gwastawd
+Ieithoedd (to whom all tongues were known), and Kethcrwm the Priest.
+Clust the son of Clustveinad (though he were buried seven cubits
+beneath the earth, he would hear the ant fifty miles off rise from
+her nest in the morning).  Medyr the son of Methredydd (from Gelli
+Wic he could, in a twinkling, shoot the wren through the two legs
+upon Esgeir Oervel in Ireland).  Gwiawn Llygad Cath (who could cut a
+haw from the eye of the gnat without hurting him).  Ol the son of
+Olwydd (seven years before he was born his father's swine were
+carried off, and when he grew up a man he tracked the swine, and
+brought them back in seven herds).  Bedwini the Bishop (who blessed
+Arthur's meat and drink).  For the sake of the golden-chained
+daughters of this island.  For the sake of Gwenhwyvar its chief lady,
+and Gwennhwyach her sister, and Rathtyeu the only daughter of
+Clemenhill, and Rhelemon the daughter of Kai, and Tannwen the
+daughter of Gweir Datharweniddawg.  Gwenn Alarch the daughter of
+Kynwyl Canbwch.  Eurneid the daughter of Clydno Eiddin.  Eneuawc the
+daughter of Bedwyr.  Enrydreg the daughter of Tudvathar.  Gwennwledyr
+the daughter of Gwaledyr Kyrvach.  Erddudnid the daughter of Tryffin.
+Eurolwen the daughter of Gwdolwyn Gorr.  Teleri the daughter of Peul.
+Indeg the daughter of Garwy Hir.  Morvudd the daughter of Urien
+Rheged.  Gwenllian Deg the majestic maiden.  Creiddylad the daughter
+of Lludd Llaw Ereint.  (She was the most splendid maiden in the three
+Islands of the mighty, and in the three Islands adjacent, and for her
+Gwythyr the son of Greidawl and Gwynn the son of Nudd fight every
+first of May until the day of doom.)  Ellylw the daughter of Neol
+Kynn-Crog (she lived three ages).  Essyllt Vinwen and Essyllt
+Vingul."  And all these did Kilhwch the son of Kilydd adjure to
+obtain his boon.
+
+Then said Arthur, "Oh! chieftain, I have never heard of the maiden of
+whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will gladly send
+messengers in search of her.  Give me time to seek her."  And the
+youth said, "I will willingly grant from this night to that at the
+end of the year to do so."  Then Arthur sent messengers to every land
+within his dominions to seek for the maiden; and at the end of the
+year Arthur's messengers returned without having gained any knowledge
+or intelligence concerning Olwen more than on the first day.  Then
+said Kilhwch, "Every one has received his boon, and I yet lack mine.
+I will depart and bear away thy honour with me."  Then said Kai,
+"Rash chieftain! dost thou reproach Arthur?  Go with us, and we will
+not part until thou dost either confess that the maiden exists not in
+the world, or until we obtain her."  Thereupon Kai rose up.  Kai had
+this peculiarity, that his breath lasted nine nights and nine days
+under water, and he could exist nine nights and nine days without
+sleep.  A wound from Kai's sword no physician could heal.  Very
+subtle was Kai.  When it pleased him he could render himself as tall
+as the highest tree in the forest.  And he had another peculiarity,--
+so great was the heat of his nature, that, when it rained hardest,
+whatever he carried remained dry for a handbreadth above and a
+handbreadth below his hand; and when his companions were coldest, it
+was to them as fuel with which to light their fire.
+
+And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any enterprise upon
+which Kai was bound.  None was equal to him in swiftness throughout
+this island except Arthur and Drych Ail Kibddar.  And although he was
+one-handed, three warriors could not shed blood faster than he on the
+field of battle.  Another property he had; his lance would produce a
+wound equal to those of nine opposing lances.
+
+And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, "Go thou upon this
+expedition with the chieftain."  For as good a guide was he in a land
+which he had never seen as he was in his own.
+
+He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, because he knew all tongues.
+
+He called Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, because he never returned home
+without achieving the adventure of which he went in quest.  He was
+the best of footmen and the best of knights.  He was nephew to
+Arthur, the son of his sister, and his cousin.
+
+And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order that if they
+went into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an illusion
+over them, so that none might see them whilst they could see every
+one.
+
+They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein they saw
+a great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of the world.
+And they journeyed that day until the evening, and when they thought
+they were nigh to the castle, they were no nearer to it than they had
+been in the morning.  And the second and the third day they
+journeyed, and even then scarcely could they reach so far.  And when
+they came before the castle, they beheld a vast flock of sheep, which
+was boundless and without an end.  And upon the top of a mound there
+was a herdsman, keeping the sheep.  And a rug made of skins was upon
+him; and by his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed nine
+winters old.  Never had he lost even a lamb from his flock, much less
+a large sheep.  He let no occasion ever pass without doing some hurt
+and harm.  All the dead trees and bushes in the plain he burnt with
+his breath down to the very ground.
+
+Then said Kai, "Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou and salute yonder
+man."  "Kai," said he, "I engaged not to go further than thou
+thyself."  "Let us go then together," answered Kai.  Said Menw the
+son of Teirgwaedd, "Fear not to go thither, for I will cast a spell
+upon the dog, so that he shall injure no one."  And they went up to
+the mound whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him, "How dost
+thou fare, O herdsman?"  "No less fair be it to you than to me."
+"Truly, art thou the chief?"  "There is no hurt to injure me but my
+own." {5}  "Whose are the sheep that thou dost keep, and to whom does
+yonder castle belong?"  "Stupid are ye, truly!  Through the whole
+world is it known that this is the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr."
+"And who art thou?"  "I am called Custennin the son of Dyfnedig, and
+my brother Yspaddaden Penkawr oppressed me because of my possessions.
+And ye also, who are ye?"  "We are an embassy from Arthur, come to
+seek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr."  "Oh men! the mercy
+of Heaven be upon you, do not that for all the world.  None who ever
+came hither on this quest has returned alive."  And the herdsman rose
+up.  And as he arose, Kilhwch gave unto him a ring of gold.  And he
+sought to put on the ring, but it was too small for him, so he placed
+it in the finger of his glove.  And he went home, and gave the glove
+to his spouse to keep.  And she took the ring from the glove when it
+was given her, and she said, "Whence came this ring, for thou art not
+wont to have good fortune?"  "I went," said he, "to the sea to seek
+for fish, and lo, I saw a corpse borne by the waves.  And a fairer
+corpse than it did I never behold.  And from its finger did I take
+this ring."  "O man! does the sea permit its dead to wear jewels?
+Show me then this body."  "Oh wife, him to whom this ring belonged
+thou shalt see here in the evening."  "And who is he?" asked the
+woman, "Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, by
+Goleuddydd the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, his mother, who is come to
+seek Olwen as his wife."  And when she heard that, her feelings were
+divided between the joy that she had that her nephew, the son of her
+sister, was coming to her, and sorrow because she had never known any
+one depart alive who had come on that quest.
+
+And they went forward to the gate of Custennin the herdsman's
+dwelling.  And when she heard their footsteps approaching, she ran
+out with joy to meet them.  And Kai snatched a billet out of the
+pile.  And when she met them she sought to throw her arms about their
+necks.  And Kai placed the log between her two hands, and she
+squeezed it so that it became a twisted coil.  "Oh woman," said Kai,
+"if thou hadst squeezed me thus, none could ever again have set their
+affections on me.  Evil love were this."  They entered into the
+house, and were served; and soon after they all went forth to amuse
+themselves.  Then the woman opened a stone chest that was before the
+chimney-corner, and out of it arose a youth with yellow curling hair.
+Said Gwrhyr, "It is a pity to hide this youth.  I know that it is not
+his own crime that is thus visited upon him."  "This is but a
+remnant," said the woman.  "Three-and-twenty of my sons has
+Yspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more hope of this one than of
+the others."  Then said Kai, "Let him come and be a companion with
+me, and he shall not be slain unless I also am slain with him."  And
+they ate.  And the woman asked them, "Upon what errand come you
+here?"  "We come to seek Olwen for this youth."  Then said the woman,
+"In the name of Heaven, since no one from the castle hath yet seen
+you, return again whence you came."  "Heaven is our witness, that we
+will not return until we have seen the maiden."  Said Kai, "Does she
+ever come hither, so that she may be seen?"  "She comes here every
+Saturday to wash her head, and in the vessel where she washes, she
+leaves all her rings, and she never either comes herself or sends any
+messengers to fetch them."
+
+"Will she come here if she is sent to?"  "Heaven knows that I will
+not destroy my soul, nor will I betray those that trust me; unless
+you will pledge me your faith that you will not harm her, I will not
+send to her."  "We pledge it," said they.  So a message was sent, and
+she came.
+
+The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and about
+her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious emeralds
+and rubies.  More yellow was her head than the flower of the broom,
+and her skin was whiter than the foam of the wave, and fairer were
+her hands and her fingers than the blossoms of the wood anemone
+amidst the spray of the meadow fountain.  The eye of the trained
+hawk, the glance of the three-mewed falcon was not brighter than
+hers.  Her bosom was more snowy than the breast of the white swan,
+her cheek was redder than the reddest roses.  Whoso beheld her was
+filled with her love.  Four white trefoils sprung up wherever she
+trod.  And therefore was she called Olwen.
+
+She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the foremost
+bench; and as soon as he saw her he knew her.  And Kilhwch said unto
+her, "Ah! maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come away with me,
+lest they speak evil of thee and of me.  Many a day have I loved
+thee."  "I cannot do this, for I have pledged my faith to my father
+not to go without his counsel, for his life will last only until the
+time of my espousals.  Whatever is, must be.  But I will give thee
+advice if thou wilt take it.  Go, ask me of my father, and that which
+he shall require of thee, grant it, and thou wilt obtain me; but if
+thou deny him anything, thou wilt not obtain me, and it will be well
+for thee if thou escape with thy life."  "I promise all this, if
+occasion offer," said he.
+
+She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed her to
+the castle.  And they slew the nine porters that were at the nine
+gates in silence.  And they slew the nine watch-dogs without one of
+them barking.  And they went forward to the hall.
+
+"The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee, Yspaddaden Penkawr,"
+said they.  "And you, wherefore come you?"  "We come to ask thy
+daughter Olwen, for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince
+Kelyddon."  "Where are my pages and my servants?  Raise up the forks
+beneath my two eyebrows which have fallen over my eyes, that I may
+see the fashion of my son-in-law."  And they did so.  "Come hither
+to-morrow, and you shall have an answer."
+
+They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of the three
+poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them.  And
+Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspaddaden Penkawr
+grievously with it through the knee.  Then he said, "A cursed
+ungentle son-in-law, truly.  I shall ever walk the worse for his
+rudeness, and shall ever be without a cure.  This poisoned iron pains
+me like the bite of a gadfly.  Cursed be the smith who forged it, and
+the anvil whereon it was wrought!  So sharp is it!"
+
+That night also they took up their abode in the house of Custennin
+the herdsman.  The next day with the dawn they arrayed themselves in
+haste and proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall, and they
+said, "Yspaddaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration of
+her dower and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee and to her
+two kinswomen likewise.  And unless thou wilt do so, thou shalt meet
+with thy death on her account."  Then he said, "Her four great-
+grandmothers, and her four great-grandsires are yet alive, it is
+needful that I take counsel of them."  "Be it so," answered they, "we
+will go to meat."  As they rose up, he took the second dart that was
+beside him, and cast it after them.  And Menw the son of Gwaedd
+caught it, and flung it back at him, and wounded him in the centre of
+the breast, so that it came out at the small of his back.  "A cursed
+ungentle son-in-law, truly," said he, "the hard iron pains me like
+the bite of a horse-leech.  Cursed be the hearth whereon it was
+heated, and the smith who formed it!  So sharp is it!  Henceforth,
+whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my breath, and a
+pain in my chest, and I shall often loathe my food."  And they went
+to meat.
+
+And the third day they returned to the palace.  And Yspaddaden
+Penkawr said to them, "Shoot not at me again unless you desire death.
+Where are my attendants?  Lift up the forks of my eyebrows which have
+fallen over my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-
+law."  Then they arose, and, as they did so, Yspaddaden Penkawr took
+the third poisoned dart and cast it at them.  And Kilhwch caught it
+and threw it vigorously, and wounded him through the eyeball, so that
+the dart came out at the back of his head.  "A cursed ungentle son-
+in-law, truly!  As long as I remain alive, my eyesight will be the
+worse.  Whenever I go against the wind, my eyes will water; and
+peradventure my head will burn, and I shall have a giddiness every
+new moon.  Cursed be the fire in which it was forged.  Like the bite
+of a mad dog is the stroke of this poisoned iron."  And they went to
+meat.
+
+And the next day they came again to the palace, and they said, "Shoot
+not at us any more, unless thou desirest such hurt, and harm, and
+torture as thou now hast, and even more."  "Give me thy daughter, and
+if thou wilt not give her, thou shalt receive thy death because of
+her."  "Where is he that seeks my daughter?  Come hither where I may
+see thee."  And they placed him a chair face to face with him.
+
+Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, "Is it thou that seekest my daughter?"  "It
+is I," answered Kilhwch.  "I must have thy pledge that thou wilt not
+do towards me otherwise than is just, and when I have gotten that
+which I shall name, my daughter thou shalt have."  "I promise thee
+that willingly," said Kilhwch, "name what thou wilt."  "I will do
+so," said he.
+
+"Seest thou yonder vast hill?"  "I see it."  "I require that it be
+rooted up, and that the grubbings be burned for manure on the face of
+the land, and that it be ploughed and sown in one day, and in one day
+that the grain ripen.  And of that wheat I intend to make food and
+liquor fit for the wedding of thee and my daughter.  And all this I
+require done in one day."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which will not be
+so.  No husbandman can till or prepare this land, so wild is it,
+except Amaethon the son of Don, and he will not come with thee by his
+own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Govannon the son of Don to come to the headland to rid the iron, he
+will do no work of his own good will except for a lawful king, and
+thou wilt not be able to compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the
+two dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked together, to plough the wild land
+yonder stoutly.  He will not give them of his own free will, and thou
+wilt not be able to compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the
+yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do I require."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; the
+two horned oxen, one of which is beyond, and the other this side of
+the peaked mountain, yoked together in the same plough.  And these
+are Nynniaw and Peibaw whom God turned into oxen on account of their
+sins."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Seest thou yonder red tilled ground?"
+
+"I see it."
+
+"When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine bushels of flax
+were sown therein, and none has yet sprung up, neither white nor
+black; and I have the measure by me still.  I require to have the
+flax to sow in the new land yonder, that when it grows up it may make
+a white wimple for my daughter's head, on the day of thy wedding."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Honey that is nine times sweeter than the honey of the virgin swarm,
+without scum and bees, do I require to make bragget for the feast."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"The vessel of Llwyr the son of Llwyryon, which is of the utmost
+value.  There is no other vessel in the world that can hold this
+drink.  Of his free will thou wilt not get it, and thou canst not
+compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+The basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir, if the whole world should come
+together, thrice nine men at a time, the meat that each of them
+desired would be found within it.  I require to eat therefrom on the
+night that my daughter becomes thy bride.  He will give it to no one
+of his own free will, and thou canst not compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+The horn of Gwlgawd Gododin to serve us with liquor that night.  He
+will not give it of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to
+compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+The harp of Teirtu to play to us that night.  When a man desires that
+it should play, it does so of itself, and when he desires that it
+should cease, it ceases.  And this he will not give of his own free
+will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+The cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, the steward of Odgar the son of
+Aedd, king of Ireland, to boil the meat for thy marriage feast."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  It
+is needful for me to wash my head, and shave my beard, and I require
+the tusk of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd to shave myself withal, neither
+shall I profit by its use if it be not plucked alive out of his
+head."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+There is no one in the world that can pluck it out of his head except
+Odgar the son of Aedd, king of Ireland."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  I
+will not trust any one to keep the tusk except Gado of North Britain.
+Now the threescore Cantrevs of North Britain are under his sway, and
+of his own free will he will not come out of his kingdom, and thou
+wilt not be able to compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  I
+must spread out my hair in order to shave it, and it will never be
+spread out unless I have the blood of the jet-black sorceress, the
+daughter of the pure white sorceress, from Pen Nant Govid, on the
+confines of Hell."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  I
+will not have the blood unless I have it warm, and no vessels will
+keep warm the liquid that is put therein except the bottles of
+Gwyddolwyd Gorr, which preserve the heat of the liquor that is put
+into them in the east, until they arrive at the west.  And he will
+not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to
+compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Some will desire fresh milk, and it will not be possible to have
+fresh milk for all, unless we have the bottles of Rhinnon Rhin
+Barnawd, wherein no liquor ever turns sour.  And he will not give
+them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is not a comb or scissors with which I can
+arrange my hair, on account of its rankness, except the comb and
+scissors that are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son of
+Prince Tared.  He will not give them of his own free will, and thou
+wilt not be able to compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  It
+will not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth without Drudwyn the whelp
+of Greid, the son of Eri."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is not a leash that can hold him, except
+the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is no collar that will hold the leash
+except the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+The chain of Kilydd Canhastyr to fasten the collar to the leash."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is not a huntsman who can hunt with this
+dog, except Mabon the son of Modron.  He was taken from his mother
+when three nights old, and it is not known where he now is, nor
+whether he is living or dead."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, that is as swift as the wave, to
+carry Mabon the son of Modron to hunt the boar Trwyth.  He will not
+give him of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel
+him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Thou wilt not get Mabon, for it is not known where he is, unless thou
+find Eidoel, his kinsman in blood, the son of Aer.  For it would be
+useless to seek for him.  He is his cousin."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Garselit the Gwyddelian is the chief huntsman of Ireland; the Twrch
+Trwyth can never be hunted without him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  A
+leash made from the beard of Dillus Varvawc, for that is the only one
+that can hold those two cubs.  And the leash will be of no avail
+unless it be plucked from his beard while he is alive, and twitched
+out with wooden tweezers.  While he lives he will not suffer this to
+be done to him, and the leash will be of no use should he be dead,
+because it will be brittle."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Throughout the world there is no huntsman that can hold those two
+whelps except Kynedyr Wyllt, the son of Hettwn Glafyrawc; he is nine
+times more wild than the wildest beast upon the mountains.  Him wilt
+thou never get, neither wilt thou ever get my daughter."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.  It
+is not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth without Gwynn the son of
+Nudd, whom God has placed over the brood of devils in Annwvyn, lest
+they should destroy the present race.  He will never be spared
+thence."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+There is not a horse in the world that can carry Gwynn to hunt the
+Twrch Trwyth, except Du, the horse of Mor of Oerveddawg."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Until Gilennhin the king of France shall come, the Twrch Trwyth
+cannot be hunted.  It will be unseemly for him to leave his kingdom
+for thy sake, and he will never come hither."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+The Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without the son of Alun Dyved;
+he is well skilled in letting loose the dogs."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Aned and Aethlem.
+They are as swift as the gale of wind, and they were never let loose
+upon a beast that they did not kill him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get;
+Arthur and his companions to hunt the Twrch Trwyth.  He is a mighty
+man, and he will not come for thee, neither wilt thou be able to
+compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Bwlch, and Kyfwlch
+[and Sefwlch], the grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch.  Their three shields
+are three gleaming glitterers.  Their three spears are three pointed
+piercers.  Their three swords are three griding gashers, Glas,
+Glessic, and Clersag.  Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall.
+Their three horses, Hwyrdydwg, and Drwgdydwg, and Llwyrdydwg.  Their
+three wives, Och, and Garam, and Diaspad.  Their three grandchildren,
+Lluched, and Vyned, and Eissiwed.  Their three daughters, Drwg, and
+Gwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll.  Their three hand-maids [Eheubryd, the
+daughter of Kyfwlch; Gorasgwrn, the daughter of Nerth; and Gwaedan,
+the daughter of Kynvelyn].  These three men shall sound the horn, and
+all the others shall shout, so that all will think that the sky is
+falling to the earth."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+The sword of Gwrnach the Giant; he will never be slain except
+therewith.  Of his own free will he will not give it, either for a
+price or as a gift, and thou wilt never be able to compel him."
+
+"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest think
+that it will not be easy."
+
+"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.
+Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights without sleep, in
+seeking this, and if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtain my
+daughter."
+
+"Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman Arthur
+will obtain for me all these things.  And I shall gain thy daughter,
+and thou shalt lose thy life."
+
+"Go forward.  And thou shalt not be chargeable for food or raiment
+for my daughter while thou art seeking these things; and when thou
+hast compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter for thy
+wife."
+
+
+All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they beheld a
+vast castle, which was the largest in the world.  And lo, a black
+man, huger than three of the men of this world, came out from the
+castle.  And they spoke unto him, "Whence comest thou, O man?"  "From
+the castle which you see yonder."  "Whose castle is that?" asked
+they.  "Stupid are ye truly, O men.  There is no one in the world
+that does not know to whom this castle belongs.  It is the castle of
+Gwrnach the Giant."  "What treatment is there for guests and
+strangers that alight in that castle?"  "Oh!  Chieftain, Heaven
+protect thee.  No guest ever returned thence alive, and no one may
+enter therein unless he brings with him his craft."
+
+Then they proceeded towards the gate.  Said Gwrhyr Gwalstawt
+Ieithoedd, "Is there a porter?"  "There is.  And thou, if thy tongue
+be not mute in thy head, wherefore dost thou call?"  "Open the gate."
+"I will not open it."  "Wherefore wilt thou not?"  "The knife is in
+the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in the
+hall of Gwrnach the Giant, and except for a craftsman who brings his
+craft, the gate will not be opened to-night."  "Verily, porter," then
+said Kai, "my craft bring I with me."  "What is thy craft?"  "The
+best burnisher of swords am I in the world."  "I will go and tell
+this unto Gwrnach the Giant, and I will bring thee an answer."
+
+So the porter went in, and Gwrnach said to him, "Hast thou any news
+from the gate?"  "I have.  There is a party at the door of the gate
+who desire to come in."  "Didst thou inquire of them if they
+possessed any art?"  "I did inquire," said he, "and one told me that
+he was well skilled in the burnishing of swords."  "We have need of
+him then.  For some time have I sought for some one to polish my
+sword, and could find no one.  Let this man enter, since he brings
+with him his craft."  The porter thereupon returned and opened the
+gate.  And Kai went in by himself, and he saluted Gwrnach the Giant.
+And a chair was placed for him opposite to Gwrnach.  And Gwrnach said
+to him, "Oh man! is it true that is reported of thee, that thou
+knowest how to burnish swords?"  "I know full well how to do so,"
+answered Kai.  Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to him.  And Kai
+took a blue whetstone from under his arm, and asked him whether he
+would have it burnished white or blue.  "Do with it as it seems good
+to thee, and as thou wouldest if it were thine own."  Then Kai
+polished one half of the blade and put it in his hand.  "Will this
+please thee?" asked he.  "I would rather than all that is in my
+dominions that the whole of it were like unto this.  It is a marvel
+to me that such a man as thou should be without a companion."  "Oh!
+noble sir, I have a companion, albeit he is not skilled in this art."
+"Who may he be?"  "Let the porter go forth, and I will tell him
+whereby he may know him.  The head of his lance will leave its shaft,
+and draw blood from the wind, and will descend upon its shaft again."
+Then the gate was opened, and Bedwyr entered.  And Kai said, "Bedwyr
+is very skilful, although he knows not this art."
+
+And there was much discourse among those who were without, because
+that Kai and Bedwyr had gone in.  And a young man who was with them,
+the only son of Custennin the herdsman, got in also.  And he caused
+all his companions to keep close to him as he passed the three wards,
+and until he came into the midst of the castle.  And his companions
+said unto the son of Custennin, "Thou hast done this!  Thou art the
+best of all men."  And thenceforth he was called Goreu, the son of
+Custennin.  Then they dispersed to their lodgings, that they might
+slay those who lodged therein, unknown to the Giant.
+
+The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand of Gwrnach
+the Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work.  And the Giant
+said, "The work is good, I am content therewith."  Said Kai, "It is
+thy scabbard that hath rusted thy sword, give it to me that I may
+take out the wooden sides of it and put in new ones."  And he took
+the scabbard from him, and the sword in the other hand.  And he came
+and stood over against the Giant, as if he would have put the sword
+into the scabbard; and with it he struck at the head of the Giant,
+and cut off his head at one blow.  Then they despoiled the castle,
+and took from it what goods and jewels they would.  And again on the
+same day, at the beginning of the year, they came to Arthur's Court,
+bearing with them the sword of Gwrnach the Giant.
+
+Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said, "Which of
+these marvels will it be best for us to seek first?"  "It will be
+best," said they, "to seek Mabon the son of Modron; and he will not
+be found unless we first find Eidoel the son of Aer, his kinsman."
+Then Arthur rose up, and the warriors of the Islands of Britain with
+him, to seek for Eidoel; and they proceeded until they came before
+the Castle of Glivi, where Eidoel was imprisoned.  Glivi stood on the
+summit of his castle, and he said, "Arthur, what requirest thou of
+me, since nothing remains to me in this fortress, and I have neither
+joy nor pleasure in it; neither wheat nor oats?  Seek not therefore
+to do me harm."  Said Arthur, "Not to injure thee came I hither, but
+to seek for the prisoner that is with thee."  "I will give thee my
+prisoner, though I had not thought to give him up to any one; and
+therewith shalt thou have my support and my aid."
+
+His followers said unto Arthur, "Lord, go thou home, thou canst not
+proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as these."
+Then said Arthur, "It were well for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd,
+to go upon this quest, for thou knowest all languages, and art
+familiar with those of the birds and the beasts.  Thou, Eidoel,
+oughtest likewise to go with my men in search of thy cousin.  And as
+for you, Kai and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure ye are in
+quest of, that ye will achieve it.  Achieve ye this adventure for
+me."
+
+They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri.  And
+Gwrhyr adjured her for the sake of Heaven, saying, "Tell me if thou
+knowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken when three
+nights old from between his mother and the wall."  And the Ousel
+answered, "When I first came here, there was a smith's anvil in this
+place, and I was then a young bird; and from that time no work has
+been done upon it, save the pecking of my beak every evening, and now
+there is not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof; yet the
+vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if during all that time I have ever
+heard of the man for whom you inquire.  Nevertheless I will do that
+which is right, and that which it is fitting that I should do for an
+embassy from Arthur.  There is a race of animals who were formed
+before me, and I will be your guide to them."
+
+So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of Redynvre.  "Stag
+of Redynvre, behold we are come to thee, an embassy from Arthur, for
+we have not heard of any animal older than thou.  Say, knowest thou
+aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when
+three nights old?"  The Stag said, "When first I came hither, there
+was a plain all around me, without any trees save one oak sapling,
+which grew up to be an oak with an hundred branches.  And that oak
+has since perished, so that now nothing remains of it but the
+withered stump; and from that day to this I have been here, yet have
+I never heard of the man for whom you inquire.  Nevertheless, being
+an embassy from Arthur, I will be your guide to the place where there
+is an animal which was formed before I was."
+
+So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd.
+"Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, here is an embassy from Arthur; knowest thou
+aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken after three nights
+from his mother?"  "If I knew I would tell you.  When first I came
+hither, the wide valley you see was a wooded glen.  And a race of men
+came and rooted it up.  And there grew there a second wood; and this
+wood is the third.  My wings, are they not withered stumps?  Yet all
+this time, even until to-day, I have never heard of the man for whom
+you inquire.  Nevertheless, I will be the guide of Arthur's embassy
+until you come to the place where is the oldest animal in this world,
+and the one that has travelled most, the Eagle of Gwern Abwy."
+
+Gwrhyr said, "Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to thee an embassy
+from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of
+Modron, who was taken from his mother when he was three nights old."
+The Eagle said, "I have been here for a great space of time, and when
+I first came hither there was a rock here, from the top of which I
+pecked at the stars every evening; and now it is not so much as a
+span high.  From that day to this I have been here, and I have never
+heard of the man for whom you inquire, except once when I went in
+search of food as far as Llyn Llyw.  And when I came there, I struck
+my talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve me as food for a
+long time.  But he drew me into the deep, and I was scarcely able to
+escape from him.  After that I went with my whole kindred to attack
+him, and to try to destroy him, but he sent messengers, and made
+peace with me; and came and besought me to take fifty fish spears out
+of his back.  Unless he know something of him whom you seek, I cannot
+tell who may.  However, I will guide you to the place where he is."
+
+So they went thither; and the Eagle said, "Salmon of Llyn Llyw, I
+have come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou
+knowest aught concerning Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken away
+at three nights old from his mother."  "As much as I know I will tell
+thee.  With every tide I go along the river upwards, until I come
+near to the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong as
+I never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give credence
+thereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my two shoulders."
+So Kai and Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd went upon the two shoulders of
+the salmon, and they proceeded until they came unto the wall of the
+prison, and they heard a great wailing and lamenting from the
+dungeon.  Said Gwrhyr, "Who is it that laments in this house of
+stone?"  "Alas, there is reason enough for whoever is here to lament.
+It is Mabon the son of Modron who is here imprisoned; and no
+imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine, neither that of Llud Llaw
+Ereint, nor that of Greid the son of Eri."  "Hast thou hope of being
+released for gold or for silver, or for any gifts of wealth, or
+through battle and fighting?"  "By fighting will whatever I may gain
+be obtained."
+
+Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told him
+where Mabon the son of Modron was imprisoned.  And Arthur summoned
+the warriors of the Island, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester,
+to the place where Mabon was in prison.  Kai and Bedwyr went upon the
+shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked the
+castle.  And Kai broke through the wall into the dungeon, and brought
+away the prisoner upon his back, whilst the fight was going on
+between the warriors.  And Arthur returned home, and Mabon with him
+at liberty.
+
+
+Said Arthur, "Which of the marvels will it be best for us now to seek
+first?"  "It will be best to seek for the two cubs of Gast Rhymhi."
+"Is it known," asked Arthur, "where she is?"  "She is in Aber Deu
+Cleddyf," said one.  Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, in
+Aber Cleddyf, and he inquired of him whether he had heard of her
+there.  "In what form may she be?"  "She is in the form of a she-
+wolf," said he; "and with her there are two cubs."  "She has often
+slain my herds, and she is there below in a cave in Aber Cleddyf."
+
+So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went by
+land, to hunt her.  And they surrounded her and her two cubs, and God
+did change them again for Arthur into their own form.  And the host
+of Arthur dispersed themselves into parties of one and two.
+
+
+On a certain day, as Gwythyr the son of Greidawl was walking over a
+mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry.  And when he heard
+it, he sprang forward, and went towards it.  And when he came there,
+he drew his sword, and smote off an ant-hill close to the earth,
+whereby it escaped being burned in the fire.  And the ants said to
+him, "Receive from us the blessing of Heaven, and that which no man
+can give we will give thee."  Then they fetched the nine bushels of
+flax-seed which Yspaddaden Penkawr had required of Kilhwch, and they
+brought the full measure without lacking any, except one flax-seed,
+and that the lame pismire brought in before night.
+
+
+As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon carn on the summit of Plinlimmon,
+in the highest wind that ever was in the world, they looked around
+them, and saw a great smoke towards the south, afar off, which did
+not bend with the wind.  Then said Kai, "By the hand of my friend,
+behold, yonder is the fire of a robber!"  Then they hastened towards
+the smoke, and they came so near to it, that they could see Dillus
+Varvawc scorching a wild boar.  "Behold, yonder is the greatest
+robber that ever fled from Arthur," said Bedwyr unto Kai.  "Dost thou
+know him?"  "I do know him," answered Kai, "he is Dillus Varvawc, and
+no leash in the world will be able to hold Drudwyn, the cub of Greid
+the son of Eri, save a leash made from the beard of him thou seest
+yonder.  And even that will be useless, unless his beard be plucked
+alive with wooden tweezers; for if dead, it will be brittle."  "What
+thinkest thou that we should do concerning this?" said Bedwyr.  "Let
+us suffer him," said Kai, "to eat as much as he will of the meat, and
+after that he will fall asleep."  And during that time they employed
+themselves in making the wooden tweezers.  And when Kai knew
+certainly that he was asleep, he made a pit under his feet, the
+largest in the world, and he struck him a violent blow, and squeezed
+him into the pit.  And there they twitched out his beard completely
+with the wooden tweezers; and after that they slew him altogether.
+
+And from thence they both went to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, and took
+the leash made of Dillus Varvawc's beard with them, and they gave it
+into Arthur's hand.  Then Arthur composed this Englyn -
+
+
+Kai made a leash
+Of Dillus son of Eurei's beard.
+Were he alive, thy death he'd be.
+
+
+And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the Island could
+scarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur.  And thenceforth, neither
+in Arthur's troubles, nor for the slaying of his men, would Kai come
+forward to his aid for ever after.
+
+
+Said Arthur, "Which of the marvels is it best for us now to seek?"
+"It is best for us to seek Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri."
+
+A little while before this, Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd Llaw
+Ereint, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, were betrothed.  And before
+she had become his bride, Gwyn ap Nudd came and carried her away by
+force; and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl gathered his host together,
+and went to fight with Gwyn ap Nudd.  But Gwyn overcame him, and
+captured Greid the son of Eri, and Glinneu the son of Taran, and
+Gwrgwst Ledlwm, and Dynvarth his son.  And he captured Penn the son
+of Nethawg, and Nwython, and Kyledyr Wyllt his son.  And they slew
+Nwython, and took out his heart, and constrained Kyledyr to eat the
+heart of his father.  And therefrom Kyledyr became mad.  When Arthur
+heard of this, he went to the North, and summoned Gwyn ap Nudd before
+him, and set free the nobles whom he had put in prison, and made
+peace between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Griedawl.  And this
+was the peace that was made: --that the maiden should remain in her
+father's house, without advantage to either of them, and that Gwyn ap
+Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl should fight for her every first
+of May, from thenceforth until the day of doom, and that whichever of
+them should then be conqueror should have the maiden.
+
+And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he obtained
+Mygdwn, Gweddw's horse, and the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin.
+
+And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him Mabon the son
+of Mellt, and Gware Gwallt Euryn, to seek the two dogs of Glythmyr
+Ledewic.  And when he had got them, he went to the West of Ireland,
+in search of Gwrgi Seven; and Odgar the son of Aedd king of Ireland
+went with him.  And thence went Arthur into the North, and captured
+Kyledyr Wyllt; and he went after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd.  And Mabon the
+son of Mellt came with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic in his hand,
+and Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri.  And Arthur went
+himself to the chase, leading his own dog Cavall.  And Kaw, of North
+Britain, mounted Arthur's mare Llamrei, and was first in the attack.
+Then Kaw, of North Britain, wielded a mighty axe, and absolutely
+daring he came valiantly up to the boar, and clave his head in twain.
+And Kaw took away the tusk.  Now the boar was not slain by the dogs
+that Yspaddaden had mentioned, but by Cavall, Arthur's own dog.
+
+And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and his host
+departed to Gelli Wic in Cornwall.  And thence he sent Menw the son
+of Teirgwaedd to see if the precious things were between the two ears
+of Twrch Trwyth, since it were useless to encounter him if they were
+not there.  Albeit it was certain where he was, for he had laid waste
+the third part of Ireland.  And Menw went to seek for him, and he met
+with him in Ireland, in Esgeir Oervel.  And Menw took the form of a
+bird; and he descended upon the top of his lair, and strove to snatch
+away one of the precious things from him, but he carried away nothing
+but one of his bristles.  And the boar rose up angrily and shook
+himself so that some of his venom fell upon Menw, and he was never
+well from that day forward.
+
+After this Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of Aedd king of
+Ireland, to ask for the cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, his purveyor.
+And Odgar commanded him to give it.  But Diwrnach said, "Heaven is my
+witness, if it would avail him anything even to look at it, he should
+not do so."  And the embassy of Arthur returned from Ireland with
+this denial.  And Arthur set forward with a small retinue, and
+entered into Prydwen, his ship, and went over to Ireland.  And they
+proceeded into the house of Diwrnach Wyddel.  And the hosts of Odgar
+saw their strength.  When they had eaten and drunk as much as they
+desired, Arthur demanded to have the cauldron.  And he answered, "If
+I would have given it to any one, I would have given it at the word
+of Odgar king of Ireland."
+
+When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose and seized hold of
+the cauldron, and placed it upon the back of Hygwyd, Arthur's
+servant, who was brother, by the mother's side, to Arthur's servant,
+Cachamwri.  His office was always to carry Arthur's cauldron, and to
+place fire under it.  And Llenlleawg Wyddel seized Caledvwlch, and
+brandished it.  And they slew Diwrnach Wyddel and his company.  Then
+came the Irish and fought with them.  And when he had put them to
+flight, Arthur with his men went forward to the ship, carrying away
+the cauldron full of Irish money.  And he disembarked at the house of
+Llwydden the son of Kelcoed, at Porth Kerddin in Dyved.  And there is
+the measure of the cauldron.
+
+Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were in the three
+Islands of Britain, and in the three Islands adjacent, and all that
+were in France and in Armorica, in Normandy and in the Summer
+Country, and all that were chosen footmen and valiant horsemen.  And
+with all these he went into Ireland.  And in Ireland there was great
+fear and terror concerning him.  And when Arthur had landed in the
+country, there came unto him the saints of Ireland and besought his
+protection.  And he granted his protection unto them, and they gave
+him their blessing.  Then the men of Ireland came unto Arthur, and
+brought him provisions.  And Arthur went as far as Esgeir Oervel in
+Ireland, to the place where the Boar Trwyth was with his seven young
+pigs.  And the dogs were let loose upon him from all sides.  That day
+until evening the Irish fought with him, nevertheless he laid waste
+the fifth part of Ireland.  And on the day following the household of
+Arthur fought with him, and they were worsted by him, and got no
+advantage.  And the third day Arthur himself encountered him, and he
+fought with him nine nights and nine days without so much as killing
+even one little pig.  The warriors inquired of Arthur what was the
+origin of that swine; and he told them that he was once a king, and
+that God had transformed him into a swine for his sins.
+
+Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to speak
+with him.  And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and alighted upon
+the top of the lair, where he was with the seven young pigs.  And
+Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd asked him, "By him who turned you into
+this form, if you can speak, let some one of you, I beseech you, come
+and talk with Arthur."  Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer to him.
+(Now his bristles were like silver wire, and whether he went through
+the wood or through the plain, he was to be traced by the glittering
+of his bristles.)  And this was the answer that Grugyn made:  "By him
+who turned us into this form, we will not do so, and we will not
+speak with Arthur.  That we have been transformed thus is enough for
+us to suffer, without your coming here to fight with us."  "I will
+tell you.  Arthur comes but to fight for the comb, and the razor, and
+the scissors which are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth."  Said
+Grugyn, "Except he first take his life, he will never have those
+precious things.  And to-morrow morning we will rise up hence, and we
+will go into Arthur's country, and there will we do all the mischief
+that we can."
+
+So they set forth through the sea towards Wales.  And Arthur and his
+hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered Prydwen, that they might
+encounter them without delay.  Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis in
+Dyved, and Arthur came to Mynyw.  The next day it was told to Arthur
+that they had gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing the
+cattle of Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at Aber
+Gleddyf, of man and beast, before the coming of Arthur.
+
+Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as Preseleu,
+and Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and Arthur sent men to
+hunt him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drudwyn the whelp of Greid the
+son of Eri, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, in another quarter, with
+the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic, and Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur's
+own dog.  And all the warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver.
+And there came there the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had
+gained much fame at the slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and they
+went on from Glyn Nyver, and came to Cwm Kerwyn.
+
+And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of Arthur's
+champions, Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc of Allt Clwyd, and
+Rheidwn the son of Eli Atver, and Iscovan Hael.  And after he had
+slain these men, he made a second stand in the same place.  And there
+he slew Gwydre the son of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew the
+son of Ysgawd, and Iscawyn the son of Panon; and there he himself was
+wounded.
+
+And the next morning before it was day, some of the men came up with
+him.  And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr, and Penpingon, three
+attendants upon Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, so that Heaven knows he had not
+an attendant remaining, excepting only Llaesgevyn, a man from whom no
+one ever derived any good.  And together with these he slew many of
+the men of that country, and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur's chief Architect.
+
+Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he slew Madawc the
+son of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of Tringad, the son of Neved, and
+Eiryawn Penllorau.  Thence he went to Aberteivi, where he made
+another stand, and where he slew Kyflas the son of Kynan, and
+Gwilenhin king of France.  Then he went as far as Glyn Ystu, and
+there the men and the dogs lost him.
+
+Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he asked him if he
+knew aught of Twrch Trwyth.  And he said that he did not.
+
+And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as Dyffryn
+Llychwr.  And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad closed with
+them and killed all the huntsmen, so that there escaped but one man
+only.  And Arthur and his hosts came to the place where Grugyn and
+Llwydawg were.  And there he let loose the whole of the dogs upon
+them, and with the shout and barking that was set up, Twrch Trwyth
+came to their assistance.
+
+And from the time that they came across the Irish sea, Arthur had
+never got sight of him until then.  So he set men and dogs upon him,
+and thereupon he started off and went to Mynydd Amanw.  And there one
+of his young pigs was killed.  Then they set upon him life for life,
+and Twrch Llawin was slain, and then there was slain another of the
+swine, Gwys was his name.  After that he went on to Dyffryn Amanw,
+and there Banw and Bennwig were killed.  Of all his pigs there went
+with him alive from that place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and
+Llwydawg Govynnyad.
+
+Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook him there, and
+he made a stand.  And there he slew Echel Forddwytwll, and Garwyli
+the son of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and many men and dogs likewise.  And thence
+they went to Llwch Tawy.  Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from them
+there, and went to Din Tywi.  And thence he proceeded to Ceredigiawn,
+and Eli and Trachmyr with him, and a multitude likewise.  Then he
+came to Garth Gregyn, and there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in the
+midst of them, and slew Rhudvyw Rhys and many others with him.  Then
+Llwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw, and there the men of Armorica met
+him, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the king of Armorica, and
+Llygatrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur's uncles, his mother's
+brothers, and there was he himself slain.
+
+Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and Arthur
+summoned all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary of the
+Severn, and he said to the warriors of this Island, "Twrch Trwyth has
+slain many of my men, but, by the valour of warriors, while I live he
+shall not go into Cornwall.  And I will not follow him any longer,
+but I will oppose him life to life.  Do ye as ye will."  And he
+resolved that he would send a body of knights, with the dogs of the
+Island, as far as Euyas, who should return thence to the Severn, and
+that tried warriors should traverse the Island, and force him into
+the Severn.  And Mabon the son of Modron came up with him at the
+Severn, upon Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, and Goreu the son of
+Custennin, and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd; this was betwixt Llyn
+Lliwan and Aber Gwy.  And Arthur fell upon him together with the
+champions of Britain.  And Osla Kyllellvawr drew near, and Manawyddan
+the son of Llyr, and Kacmwri the servant of Arthur, and Gwyngelli,
+and they seized hold of him, catching him first by his feet, and
+plunged him in the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him.  On the one
+side, Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed and snatched his
+razor from him, and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him on the other side,
+upon another steed, in the Severn, and took from him the scissors.
+But before they could obtain the comb, he had regained the ground
+with his feet, and from the moment that he reached the shore, neither
+dog, nor man, nor horse could overtake him until he came to Cornwall.
+If they had had trouble in getting the jewels from him, much more had
+they in seeking to save the two men from being drowned.  Kacmwri, as
+they drew him forth, was dragged by two millstones into the deep.
+And as Osla Kyllellvawr was running after the boar, his knife had
+dropped out of the sheath, and he had lost it, and after that, the
+sheath became full of water, and its weight drew him down into the
+deep, as they were drawing him forth.
+
+Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook the boar in
+Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before was mere
+play to what they encountered in seeking the comb.  But from one
+difficulty to another, the comb was at length obtained.  And then he
+was hunted from Cornwall, and driven straight forward into the deep
+sea.  And thenceforth it was never known whither he went; and Aned
+and Aethlem with him.  Then went Arthur to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, to
+anoint himself, and to rest from his fatigues.
+
+Said Arthur, "Is there any one of the marvels yet unobtained?"  Said
+one of his men, "There is--the blood of the witch Orddu, the daughter
+of the witch Orwen, of Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of Hell."
+Arthur set forth towards the North, and came to the place where was
+the witch's cave.  And Gwyn ab Nudd, and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl,
+counselled him to send Kacmwri, and Hygwyd his brother, to fight with
+the witch.  And as they entered the cave, the witch seized upon them,
+and she caught Hygwyd by the hair of his head, and threw him on the
+floor beneath her.  And Kacmwri caught her by the hair of her head,
+and dragged her to the earth from off Hygwyd, but she turned again
+upon them both, and drove them both out with kicks and with cuffs.
+
+And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants almost slain, and
+he sought to enter the cave; but Gwyn and Gwythyr said unto him, "It
+would not be fitting or seemly for us to see thee squabbling with a
+hag.  Let Hiramreu and Hireidil go to the cave."  So they went.  But
+if great was the trouble of the first two that went, much greater was
+that of these two.  And Heaven knows that not one of the four could
+move from the spot, until they placed them all upon Llamrei, Arthur's
+mare.  And then Arthur rushed to the door of the cave, and at the
+door he struck at the witch, with Carnwennan his dagger, and clove
+her in twain, so that she fell in two parts.  And Kaw, of North
+Britain, took the blood of the witch and kept it.
+
+Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu the son of Custennin with him,
+and as many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr.  And they took the
+marvels with them to his court.  And Kaw of North Britain came and
+shaved his beard, skin, and flesh clean off to the very bone from ear
+to ear.  "Art thou shaved, man?" said Kilhwch.  "I am shaved,"
+answered he.  "Is thy daughter mine now?"  "She is thine," said he,
+"but therefore needest thou not thank me, but Arthur who hath
+accomplished this for thee.  By my free will thou shouldest never
+have had her, for with her I lose my life."  Then Goreu the son of
+Custennin seized him by the hair of his head, and dragged him after
+him to the keep, and cut off his head and placed it on a stake on the
+citadel.  Then they took possession of his castle, and of his
+treasures.
+
+And that night Olwen became Kilhwch's bride, and she continued to be
+his wife as long as she lived.  And the hosts of Arthur dispersed
+themselves, each man to his own country.  And thus did Kilhwch obtain
+Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.
+
+
+
+THE DREAM OF RHONABWY
+
+
+
+Madawc the son of Maredudd possessed Powys within its boundaries,
+from Porfoed to Gwauan in the uplands of Arwystli.  And at that time
+he had a brother, Iorwerth the son of Maredudd, in rank not equal to
+himself.  And Iorwerth had great sorrow and heaviness because of the
+honour and power that his brother enjoyed, which he shared not.  And
+he sought his fellows and his foster-brothers, and took counsel with
+them what he should do in this matter.  And they resolved to dispatch
+some of their number to go and seek a maintenance for him.  Then
+Madawc offered him to become Master of the Household and to have
+horses, and arms, and honour, and to fare like as himself.  But
+Iorwerth refused this.
+
+And Iorwerth made an inroad into Loegria, slaying the inhabitants,
+and burning houses, and carrying away prisoners.  And Madawc took
+counsel with the men of Powys, and they determined to place an
+hundred men in each of the three Commots of Powys to seek for him.
+And thus did they in the plains of Powys from Aber Ceirawc, and in
+Allictwn Ver, and in Rhyd Wilure, on the Vyrnwy, the three best
+Commots of Powys.  So he was none the better, he nor his household,
+in Powys, nor in the plains thereof.  And they spread these men over
+the plains as far as Nillystwn Trevan.
+
+Now one of the men who was upon this quest was called Rhonabwy.  And
+Rhonabwy and Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a man of Mawddwy, and Cadwgan Vras, a
+man of Moelvre in Kynlleith, came together to the house of Heilyn
+Goch the son of Cadwgan the son of Iddon.  And when they came near to
+the house, they saw an old hall, very black and having an upright
+gable, whence issued a great smoke; and on entering, they found the
+floor full of puddles and mounds; and it was difficult to stand
+thereon, so slippery was it with the mire of cattle.  And where the
+puddles were, a man might go up to his ankles in water and dirt.  And
+there were boughs of holly spread over the floor, whereof the cattle
+had browsed the sprigs.  When they came to the hall of the house,
+they beheld cells full of dust, and very gloomy, and on one side an
+old hag making a fire.  And whenever she felt cold, she cast a lapful
+of chaff upon the fire, and raised such a smoke, that it was scarcely
+to be borne, as it rose up the nostrils.  And on the other side was a
+yellow calf-skin on the floor; a main privilege was it to any one who
+should get upon that hide.
+
+And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where were the people
+of the house.  And the hag spoke not, but muttered.  Thereupon behold
+the people of the house entered; a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man,
+with a burthen of faggots on his back, and a pale slender woman, also
+carrying a bundle under her arm.  And they barely welcomed the men,
+and kindled a fire with the boughs.  And the woman cooked something,
+and gave them to eat, barley bread, and cheese, and milk and water.
+
+And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was hardly
+possible to go forth with safety.  And being weary with their
+journey, they laid themselves down and sought to sleep.  And when
+they looked at the couch, it seemed to be made but of a little coarse
+straw full of dust and vermin, with the stems of boughs sticking up
+there-through, for the cattle had eaten all the straw that was placed
+at the head and the foot.  And upon it was stretched an old russet-
+coloured rug, threadbare and ragged; and a coarse sheet, full of
+slits, was upon the rug, and an ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn-out
+cover upon the sheet.  And after much suffering from the vermin, and
+from the discomfort of their couch, a heavy sleep fell on Rhonabwy's
+companions.  But Rhonabwy, not being able either to sleep or to rest,
+thought he should suffer less if he went to lie upon the yellow calf-
+skin that was stretched out on the floor.  And there he slept.
+
+As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him that he was
+journeying with his companions across the plain of Argyngroeg, and he
+thought that he went towards Rhyd y Groes on the Severn.  As he
+journeyed, he heard a mighty noise, the like whereof heard he never
+before; and looking behind him, he beheld a youth with yellow curling
+hair, and with his beard newly trimmed, mounted on a chestnut horse,
+whereof the legs were grey from the top of the forelegs, and from the
+bend of the hindlegs downwards.  And the rider wore a coat of yellow
+satin sewn with green silk, and on his thigh was a gold-hilted sword,
+with a scabbard of new leather of Cordova, belted with the skin of
+the deer, and clasped with gold.  And over this was a scarf of yellow
+satin wrought with green silk, the borders whereof were likewise
+green.  And the green of the caparison of the horse, and of his
+rider, was as green as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the yellow was
+as yellow as the blossom of the broom.  So fierce was the aspect of
+the knight, that fear seized upon them, and they began to flee.  And
+the knight pursued them.  And when the horse breathed forth, the men
+became distant from him, and when he drew in his breath, they were
+drawn near to him, even to the horse's chest.  And when he had
+overtaken them, they besought his mercy.  "You have it gladly," said
+he, "fear nought."  "Ha, chieftain, since thou hast mercy upon me,
+tell me also who thou art," said Rhonabwy.  "I will not conceal my
+lineage from thee, I am Iddawc the son of Mynyo, yet not by my name,
+but by my nickname am I best known."  "And wilt thou tell us what thy
+nickname is?"  "I will tell you; it is Iddawc Cordd Prydain."  "Ha,
+chieftain," said Rhonabwy, "why art thou called thus?"  "I will tell
+thee.  I was one of the messengers between Arthur and Medrawd his
+nephew, at the battle of Camlan; and I was then a reckless youth, and
+through my desire for battle, I kindled strife between them, and
+stirred up wrath, when I was sent by Arthur the Emperor to reason
+with Medrawd, and to show him, that he was his foster-father and his
+uncle, and to seek for peace, lest the sons of the Kings of the
+Island of Britain, and of the nobles, should be slain.  And whereas
+Arthur charged me with the fairest sayings he could think of, I
+uttered unto Medrawd the harshest I could devise.  And therefore am I
+called Iddawc Cordd Prydain, for from this did the battle of Camlan
+ensue.  And three nights before the end of the battle of Camlan I
+left them, and went to the Llech Las in North Britain to do penance.
+And there I remained doing penance seven years, and after that I
+gained pardon."
+
+Then lo! they heard a mighty sound which was much louder than that
+which they had heard before, and when they looked round towards the
+sound, they beheld a ruddy youth, without beard or whiskers, noble of
+mien, and mounted on a stately courser.  And from the shoulders and
+the front of the knees downwards the horse was bay.  And upon the man
+was a dress of red satin wrought with yellow silk, and yellow were
+the borders of his scarf.  And such parts of his apparel and of the
+trappings of his horse as were yellow, as yellow were they as the
+blossom of the broom, and such as were red, were as ruddy as the
+ruddiest blood in the world.
+
+Then, behold the horseman overtook them, and he asked of Iddawc a
+share of the little men that were with him.  "That which is fitting
+for me to grant I will grant, and thou shalt be a companion to them
+as I have been."  And the horseman went away.  "Iddawc," inquired
+Rhonabwy, "who was that horseman?"  "Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince
+Deorthach."
+
+And they journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as far as the ford of
+Rhyd y Groes on the Severn.  And for a mile around the ford on both
+sides of the road, they saw tents and encampments, and there was the
+clamour of a mighty host.  And they came to the edge of the ford, and
+there they beheld Arthur sitting on a flat island below the ford,
+having Bedwini the Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the son
+of Kaw on the other.  And a tall, auburn-haired youth stood before
+him, with his sheathed sword in his hand, and clad in a coat and cap
+of jet-black satin.  And his face was white as ivory, and his
+eyebrows black as jet, and such part of his wrist as could be seen
+between his glove and his sleeve, was whiter than the lily, and
+thicker than a warrior's ankle.
+
+Then came Iddawc and they that were with him, and stood before Arthur
+and saluted him.  "Heaven grant thee good," said Arthur.  "And where,
+Iddawc, didst thou find these little men?"  "I found them, lord, up
+yonder on the road."  Then the Emperor smiled.  "Lord," said Iddawc,
+"wherefore dost thou laugh?"  "Iddawc," replied Arthur, "I laugh not;
+but it pitieth me that men of such stature as these should have this
+island in their keeping, after the men that guarded it of yore."
+Then said Iddawc, "Rhonabwy, dost thou see the ring with a stone set
+in it, that is upon the Emperor's hand?"  "I see it," he answered.
+"It is one of the properties of that stone to enable thee to remember
+that thou seest here to-night, and hadst thou not seen the stone,
+thou wouldest never have been able to remember aught thereof."
+
+After this they saw a troop coming towards the ford.  "Iddawc,"
+inquired Rhonabwy, "to whom does yonder troop belong?"  "They are the
+fellows of Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach.  And these men
+are honourably served with mead and bragget, and are freely beloved
+by the daughters of the kings of the Island of Britain.  And this
+they merit, for they were ever in the front and the rear in every
+peril."  And he saw but one hue upon the men and the horses of this
+troop, for they were all as red as blood.  And when one of the
+knights rode forth from the troop, he looked like a pillar of fire
+glancing athwart the sky.  And this troop encamped above the ford.
+
+Then they beheld another troop coming towards the ford, and these
+from their horses' chests upwards were whiter than the lily, and
+below blacker than jet.  And they saw one of these knights go before
+the rest, and spur his horse into the ford in such a manner that the
+water dashed over Arthur and the Bishop, and those holding counsel
+with them, so that they were as wet as if they had been drenched in
+the river.  And as he turned the head of his horse, the youth who
+stood before Arthur struck the horse over the nostrils with his
+sheathed sword, so that, had it been with the bare blade, it would
+have been a marvel if the bone had not been wounded as well as the
+flesh.  And the knight drew his sword half out of the scabbard, and
+asked of him, "Wherefore didst thou strike my horse?  Whether was it
+in insult or in counsel unto me?"  "Thou dost indeed lack counsel.
+What madness caused thee to ride so furiously as to dash the water of
+the ford over Arthur, and the consecrated Bishop, and their
+counsellors, so that they were as wet as if they had been dragged out
+of the river?"  "As counsel then will I take it."  So he turned his
+horse's head round towards his army.
+
+"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who was yonder knight?"  "The most eloquent
+and the wisest youth that is in this island; Adaon, the son of
+Taliesin."  "Who was the man that struck his horse?"  "A youth of
+froward nature; Elphin, the son of Gwyddno."
+
+Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing speech,
+saying that it was a marvel that so vast a host should be assembled
+in so narrow a space, and that it was a still greater marvel that
+those should be there at that time who had promised to be by mid-day
+in the battle of Badon, fighting with Osla Gyllellvawr.  "Whether
+thou mayest choose to proceed or not, I will proceed."  "Thou sayest
+well," said Arthur, "and we will go altogether."  "Iddawc," said
+Rhonabwy, "who was the man who spoke so marvellously unto Arthur
+erewhile?"  "A man who may speak as boldly as he listeth, Caradawc
+Vreichvras, the son of Llyr Marini, his chief counsellor and his
+cousin."
+
+Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse, and that mighty
+host moved forward, each troop in its order, towards Cevndigoll.  And
+when they came to the middle of the ford of the Severn, Iddawc turned
+his horse's head, and Rhonabwy looked along the valley of the Severn.
+And he beheld two fair troops coming towards the ford.  One troop
+there came of brilliant white, whereof every one of the men had a
+scarf of white satin with jet-black borders.  And the knees and the
+tops of the shoulders of their horses were jet-black, though they
+were of a pure white in every other part.  And their banners were
+pure white, with black points to them all.
+
+"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who are yonder pure white troop?"  "They
+are the men of Norway, and March the son of Meirchion is their
+prince.  And he is cousin unto Arthur."  And further on he saw a
+troop, whereof each man wore garments of jet-black, with borders of
+pure white to every scarf; and the tops of the shoulders and the
+knees of their horses were pure white.  And their banners were jet-
+black with pure white at the point of each.
+
+"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who are the jet-black troop yonder?"  "They
+are the men of Denmark, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd is their prince."
+
+And when they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his army of mighty
+ones dismounted below Caer Badou, and he perceived that he and Iddawc
+journeyed the same road as Arthur.  And after they had dismounted he
+heard a great tumult and confusion amongst the host, and such as were
+then at the flanks turned to the centre, and such as had been in the
+centre moved to the flanks.  And then, behold, he saw a knight
+coming, clad, both he and his horse, in mail, of which the rings were
+whiter than the whitest lily, and the rivets redder than the ruddiest
+blood.  And he rode amongst the host.
+
+"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "will yonder host flee?"  "King Arthur never
+fled, and if this discourse of thine were heard, thou wert a lost
+man.  But as to the knight whom thou seest yonder, it is Kai.  The
+fairest horseman is Kai in all Arthur's Court; and the men who are at
+the front of the army hasten to the rear to see Kai ride, and the men
+who are in the centre flee to the side, from the shock of his horse.
+And this is the cause of the confusion of the host."
+
+Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of Cornwall, and
+behold he arose with the sword of Arthur in his hand.  And the
+similitude of two serpents was upon the sword in gold.  And when the
+sword was drawn from its scabbard, it seemed as if two flames of fire
+burst forth from the jaws of the serpents, and then, so wonderful was
+the sword, that it was hard for any one to look upon it.  And the
+host became still, and the tumult ceased, and the Earl returned to
+the tent.
+
+"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who is the man who bore the sword of
+Arthur?"  "Kadwr, the Earl of Cornwall, whose duty it is to arm the
+King on the days of battle and warfare."
+
+And they heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn, Arthur's servant,
+a red, rough, ill-favoured man, having red whiskers with bristly
+hairs.  And behold he came upon a tall red horse with the mane parted
+on each side, and he brought with him a large and beautiful sumpter
+pack.  And the huge red youth dismounted before Arthur, and he drew a
+golden chair out of the pack, and a carpet of diapered satin.  And he
+spread the carpet before Arthur, and there was an apple of ruddy gold
+at each corner thereof, and he placed the chair upon the carpet.  And
+so large was the chair that three armed warriors might have sat
+therein.  Gwenn was the name of the carpet, and it was one of its
+properties that whoever was upon it no one could see him, and he
+could see every one.  And it would retain no colour but its own.
+
+And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of Urien was
+standing before him.  "Owain," said Arthur, "wilt thou play chess?"
+"I will, Lord," said Owain.  And the red youth brought the chess for
+Arthur and Owain; golden pieces and a board of silver.  And they
+began to play.
+
+And while they were thus, and when they were best amused with their
+game, behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and the figure
+of a jet-black serpent on the top of the tent, and red glaring
+venomous eyes in the head of the serpent, and a red flaming tongue.
+And there came a young page with yellow curling hair, and blue eyes,
+and a newly-springing beard, wearing a coat and a surcoat of yellow
+satin, and hose of thin greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over
+his hose shoes of parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps
+with golden clasps.  And he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a
+golden hilt, in a scabbard of black leather tipped with fine gold.
+And he came to the place where the Emperor and Owain were playing at
+chess.
+
+And the youth saluted Owain.  And Owain marvelled that the youth
+should salute him and should not have saluted the Emperor Arthur.
+And Arthur knew what was in Owain's thought.  And he said to Owain,
+"Marvel not that the youth salutes thee now, for he saluted me
+erewhile; and it is unto thee that his errand is."  Then said the
+youth unto Owain, "Lord, is it with thy leave that the young pages
+and attendants of the Emperor harass and torment and worry thy
+Ravens?  And if it be not with thy leave, cause the Emperor to forbid
+them."  "Lord," said Owain, "thou hearest what the youth says; if it
+seem good to thee, forbid them from my Ravens."  "Play thy game,"
+said he.  Then the youth returned to the tent.
+
+That game did they finish, and another they began, and when they were
+in the midst of the game, behold, a ruddy young man with auburn
+curling hair and large eyes, well-grown, and having his beard new-
+shorn, came forth from a bright yellow tent, upon the summit of which
+was the figure of a bright red lion.  And he was clad in a coat of
+yellow satin, falling as low as the small of his leg, and embroidered
+with threads of red silk.  And on his feet were hose of fine white
+buckram, and buskins of black leather were over his hose, whereon
+were golden clasps.  And in his hand a huge, heavy, three-edged
+sword, with a scabbard of red deer-hide, tipped with gold.  And he
+came to the place where Arthur and Owain were playing at chess.  And
+he saluted him.  And Owain was troubled at his salutation, but Arthur
+minded it no more than before.  And the youth said unto Owain, "Is it
+not against thy will that the attendants of the Emperor harass thy
+Ravens, killing some and worrying others?  If against thy will it be,
+beseech him to forbid them."  "Lord," said Owain, "forbid thy men, if
+it seem good to thee."  "Play thy game," said the Emperor.  And the
+youth returned to the tent.
+
+And that game was ended and another begun.  And as they were
+beginning the first move of the game, they beheld at a small distance
+from them a tent speckled yellow, the largest ever seen, and the
+figure of an eagle of gold upon it, and a precious stone on the
+eagle's head.  And coming out of the tent, they saw a youth with
+thick yellow hair upon his head, fair and comely, and a scarf of blue
+satin upon him, and a brooch of gold in the scarf upon his right
+shoulder as large as a warrior's middle finger.  And upon his feet
+were hose of fine Totness, and shoes of parti-coloured leather,
+clasped with gold, and the youth was of noble bearing, fair of face,
+with ruddy cheeks and large hawk's eyes.  In the hand of the youth
+was a mighty lance, speckled yellow, with a newly-sharpened head; and
+upon the lance a banner displayed.
+
+Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to the place
+where Arthur was playing at chess with Owain.  And they perceived
+that he was wroth.  And thereupon he saluted Owain, and told him that
+his Ravens had been killed, the chief part of them, and that such of
+them as were not slain were so wounded and bruised that not one of
+them could raise its wings a single fathom above the earth.  "Lord,"
+said Owain, "forbid thy men."  "Play," said he, "if it please thee."
+Then said Owain to the youth, "Go back, and wherever thou findest the
+strife at the thickest, there lift up the banner, and let come what
+pleases Heaven."
+
+So the youth returned back to the place where the strife bore hardest
+upon the Ravens, and he lifted up the banner; and as he did so they
+all rose up in the air, wrathful and fierce and high of spirit,
+clapping their wings in the wind, and shaking off the weariness that
+was upon them.  And recovering their energy and courage, furiously
+and with exultation did they, with one sweep, descend upon the heads
+of the men, who had erewhile caused them anger and pain and damage,
+and they seized some by the heads and others by the eyes, and some by
+the ears, and others by the arms, and carried them up into the air;
+and in the air there was a mighty tumult with the flapping of the
+wings of the triumphant Ravens, and with their croaking; and there
+was another mighty tumult with the groaning of the men, that were
+being torn and wounded, and some of whom were slain.
+
+And Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they played at chess;
+and, looking, they perceived a knight upon a dun-coloured horse
+coming towards them.  And marvellous was the hue of the dun horse.
+Bright red was his right shoulder, and from the top of his legs to
+the centre of his hoof was bright yellow.  Both the knight and his
+horse were fully equipped with heavy foreign armour.  The clothing of
+the horse from the front opening upwards was of bright red sendal,
+and from thence opening downwards was of bright yellow sendal.  A
+large gold-hilted one-edged sword had the youth upon his thigh, in a
+scabbard of light blue, and tipped with Spanish laton.  The belt of
+the sword was of dark green leather with golden slides and a clasp of
+ivory upon it, and a buckle of jet-black upon the clasp.  A helmet of
+gold was on the head of the knight, set with precious stones of great
+virtue, and at the top of the helmet was the image of a flame-
+coloured leopard with two ruby-red stones in its head, so that it was
+astounding for a warrior, however stout his heart, to look at the
+face of the leopard, much more at the face of the knight.  He had in
+his hand a blue-shafted lance, but from the haft to the point it was
+stained crimson-red with the blood of the Ravens and their plumage.
+
+The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain were seated at
+chess.  And they perceived that he was harassed and vexed and weary
+as he came towards them.  And the youth saluted Arthur, and told him
+that the Ravens of Owain were slaying his young men and attendants.
+And Arthur looked at Owain and said, "Forbid thy Ravens."  "Lord,"
+answered Owain, "play thy game."  And they played.  And the knight
+returned back towards the strife, and the Ravens were not forbidden
+any more than before.
+
+And when they had played awhile, they heard a mighty tumult, and a
+wailing of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as they carried the men in
+their strength into the air, and, tearing them betwixt them, let them
+fall piecemeal to the earth.  And during the tumult they saw a knight
+coming towards them, on a light grey horse, and the left foreleg of
+the horse was jet-black to the centre of his hoof.  And the knight
+and the horse were fully accoutred with huge heavy blue armour.  And
+a robe of honour of yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and
+the borders of the robe were blue.  And the housings of the horse
+were jet-black, with borders of bright yellow.  And on the thigh of
+the youth was a sword, long, and three-edged, and heavy.  And the
+scabbard was of red cut leather, and the belt of new red deer-skin,
+having upon it many golden slides and a buckle of the bone of the
+sea-horse, the tongue of which was jet-black.  A golden helmet was
+upon the head of the knight, wherein were set sapphire-stones of
+great virtue.  And at the top of the helmet was the figure of a
+flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red tongue, issuing above a foot
+from his mouth, and with venomous eyes, crimson-red, in his head.
+And the knight came, bearing in his hand a thick ashen lance, the
+head whereof, which had been newly steeped in blood, was overlaid
+with silver.
+
+And the youth saluted the Emperor:  "Lord," said he, "carest thou not
+for the slaying of thy pages, and thy young men, and the sons of the
+nobles of the Island of Britain, whereby it will be difficult to
+defend this island from henceforward for ever?"  "Owain," said
+Arthur, "forbid thy Ravens."  "Play this game, Lord," said Owain.
+
+So they finished the game and began another; and as they were
+finishing that game, lo, they heard a great tumult and a clamour of
+armed men, and a croaking of Ravens, and a flapping of wings in the
+air, as they flung down the armour entire to the ground, and the men
+and the horses piecemeal.  Then they saw coming a knight on a lofty-
+headed piebald horse.  And the left shoulder of the horse was of
+bright red, and its right leg from the chest to the hollow of the
+hoof was pure white.  And the knight and horse were equipped with
+arms of speckled yellow, variegated with Spanish laton.  And there
+was a robe of honour upon him, and upon his horse, divided in two
+parts, white and black, and the borders of the robe of honour were of
+golden purple.  And above the robe he wore a sword three-edged and
+bright, with a golden hilt.  And the belt of the sword was of yellow
+goldwork, having a clasp upon it of the eyelid of a black sea-horse,
+and a tongue of yellow gold to the clasp.  Upon the head of the
+knight was a bright helmet of yellow laton, with sparkling stones of
+crystal in it, and at the crest of the helmet was the figure of a
+griffin, with a stone of many virtues in its head.  And he had an
+ashen spear in his hand, with a round shaft, coloured with azure
+blue.  And the head of the spear was newly stained with blood, and
+was overlaid with fine silver.
+
+Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur was, and he told
+him that the Ravens had slain his household and the sons of the chief
+men of this island, and he besought him to cause Owain to forbid his
+Ravens.  And Arthur besought Owain to forbid them.  Then Arthur took
+the golden chessmen that were upon the board, and crushed them until
+they became as dust.  Then Owain ordered Gwres the son of Rheged to
+lower his banner.  So it was lowered, and all was peace.
+
+Then Rhonabwy inquired of Iddawc who were the first three men that
+came to Owain, to tell him his Ravens were being slain.  Said Iddawc,
+"They were men who grieved that Owain should suffer loss, his fellow-
+chieftains and companions, Selyv the son of Kynan Garwyn of Powys,
+and Gwgawn Gleddyvrudd, and Gwres the son of Rheged, he who bears the
+banner in the day of battle and strife."  "Who," said Rhonabwy, "were
+the last three men who came to Arthur, and told him that the Ravens
+were slaughtering his men?"  "The best of men," said Iddawc, "and the
+bravest, and who would grieve exceedingly that Arthur should have
+damage in aught; Blathaon the son of Mawrheth, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the
+son of Prince Deorthach, and Hyveidd Unllenn."
+
+And with that behold four-and-twenty knights came from Osla
+Gyllellvawr, to crave a truce of Arthur for a fortnight and a month.
+And Arthur rose and went to take counsel.  And he came to where a
+tall, auburn, curly-headed man was a little way off, and there he
+assembled his counsellors.  Bedwini, the Bishop, and Gwarthegyd the
+son of Kaw, and March the son of Meirchawn, and Caradawc Vreichvras,
+and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and
+Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach, and Rhiogan the son of the
+King of Ireland, and Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav, Howel the son of Emyr
+Llydaw, Gwilym the son of Rhwyf Freinc, and Daned the son of Ath, and
+Goreu Custennin, and Mabon the son of Modron, and Peredur Paladyr
+Hir, and Hyveidd Unllenn, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Nerth the
+son of Kadarn, and Gobrwy the son of Echel Vorddwyttwll, Gwair the
+son of Gwestyl, and Gadwy the son of Geraint, Trystan the son of
+Tallwch, Moryen Manawc, Granwen the son of Llyr, and Llacheu the son
+of Arthur, and Llawvrodedd Varvawc, and Kadwr Earl of Cornwall,
+Morvran the son of Tegid, and Rhyawd the son of Morgant, and Dyvyr
+the son of Alun Dyved, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Adaon the son of
+Taliesin, Llary the son of Kasnar Wledig, and Fflewddur Fflam, and
+Greidawl Galldovydd, Gilbert the son of Kadgyffro, Menw the son of
+Teirgwaedd, Gwrthmwl Wledig, Cawrdav the son of Caradawc Vreichvras,
+Gildas the son of Kaw, Kadyriaith the son of Saidi, and many of the
+men of Norway and Denmark, and many of the men of Greece, and a crowd
+of the men of the host came to that council.
+
+"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who was the auburn haired man to whom they
+came just now?"  "Rhun the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, a man whose
+prerogative it is, that he may join in counsel with all."  "And
+wherefore did they admit into counsel with men of such dignity as are
+yonder a stripling so young as Kadyriaith the son of Saidi?"
+"Because there is not throughout Britain a man better skilled in
+counsel than he."
+
+Thereupon, behold, bards came and recited verses before Arthur, and
+no man understood those verses but Kadyriaith only, save that they
+were in Arthur's praise.
+
+And lo, there came four-and-twenty asses with their burdens of gold
+and of silver, and a tired way-worn man with each of them, bringing
+tribute to Arthur from the Islands of Greece.  Then Kadyriaith the
+son of Saidi besought that a truce might be granted to Osla
+Gyllellvawr for the space of a fortnight and a month, and that the
+asses and the burdens they carried might be given to the bards, to be
+to them as the reward for their stay and that their verse might be
+recompensed during the time of the truce.  And thus it was settled.
+
+"Rhonabwy," said Iddawc, "would it not be wrong to forbid a youth who
+can give counsel so liberal as this from coming to the councils of
+his Lord?"
+
+Then Kai arose, and he said, "Whosoever will follow Arthur, let him
+be with him to-night in Cornwall, and whosoever will not, let him be
+opposed to Arthur even during the truce."  And through the greatness
+of the tumult that ensued, Rhonabwy awoke.  And when he awoke he was
+upon the yellow calf-skin, having slept three nights and three days.
+
+And this tale is called the Dream of Rhonabwy.  And this is the
+reason that no one knows the dream without a book, neither bard nor
+gifted seer; because of the various colours that were upon the
+horses, and the many wondrous colours of the arms and of the panoply,
+and of the precious scarfs, and of the virtue-bearing stones.
+
+
+
+PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED
+
+
+
+Pwyll Prince of Dyved was lord of the seven Cantrevs of Dyved; and
+once upon a time he was at Narberth his chief palace, and he was
+minded to go and hunt, and the part of his dominions in which it
+pleased him to hunt was Glyn Cuch.  So he set forth from Narbeth that
+night, and went as far as Llwyn Diarwyd.  And that night he tarried
+there, and early on the morrow he rose and came to Glyn Cuch, when he
+let loose the dogs in the wood, and sounded the horn, and began the
+chase.  And as he followed the dogs, he lost his companions; and
+whilst he listened to the hounds, he heard the cry of other hounds, a
+cry different from his own, and coming in the opposite direction.
+
+And he beheld a glade in the wood forming a level plain, and as his
+dogs came to the edge of the glade, he saw a stag before the other
+dogs.  And lo, as it reached the middle of the glade, the dogs that
+followed the stag overtook it and brought it down.  Then looked he at
+the colour of the dogs, staying not to look at the stag, and of all
+the hounds that he had seen in the world, he had never seen any that
+were like unto these.  For their hair was of a brilliant shining
+white, and their ears were red; and as the whiteness of their bodies
+shone, so did the redness of their ears glisten.  And he came towards
+the dogs, and drove away those that had brought down the stag, and
+set his own dogs upon it.
+
+And as he was setting on his dogs he saw a horseman coming towards
+him upon a large light-grey steed, with a hunting horn round his
+neck, and clad in garments of grey woollen in the fashion of a
+hunting garb.  And the horseman drew near and spoke unto him thus.
+"Chieftain," said he, "I know who thou art, and I greet thee not."
+"Peradventure," said Pwyll, "thou art of such dignity that thou
+shouldest not do so."  "Verily," answered he, "it is not my dignity
+that prevents me."  "What is it then, O Chieftain?" asked he.  "By
+Heaven, it is by reason of thine own ignorance and want of courtesy."
+"What discourtesy, Chieftain, hast thou seen in me?"  "Greater
+discourtesy saw I never in man," said he, "than to drive away the
+dogs that were killing the stag and to set upon it thine own.  This
+was discourteous, and though I may not be revenged upon thee, yet I
+declare to Heaven that I will do thee more dishonour than the value
+of an hundred stags."  "O Chieftain," he replied, "if I have done ill
+I will redeem thy friendship."  "How wilt thou redeem it?"
+"According as thy dignity may be, but I know not who thou art?"  "A
+crowned king am I in the land whence I come."  "Lord," said he, "may
+the day prosper with thee, and from what land comest thou?"  "From
+Annwvyn," {2} answered he; "Arawn, a King of Annwvyn, am I."  "Lord,"
+said he, "how may I gain thy friendship?"  "After this manner mayest
+thou," he said.  "There is a man whose dominions are opposite to
+mine, who is ever warring against me, and he is Havgan, a King of
+Annwvyn, and by ridding me of this oppression, which thou canst
+easily do, shalt thou gain my friendship."  "Gladly will I do this,"
+said he.  "Show me how I may."  "I will show thee.  Behold thus it is
+thou mayest.  I will make firm friendship with thee; and this will I
+do.  I will send thee to Annwvyn in my stead, and I will give thee
+the fairest lady thou didst ever behold to be thy companion, and I
+will put my form and semblance upon thee, so that not a page of the
+chamber, nor an officer, nor any other man that has always followed
+me shall know that it is not I.  And this shall be for the space of a
+year from to-morrow, and then we will meet in this place."  "Yes,"
+said he; "but when I shall have been there for the space of a year,
+by what means shall I discover him of whom thou speakest?"  "One year
+from this night," he answered, "is the time fixed between him and me
+that we should meet at the Ford; be thou there in my likeness, and
+with one stroke that thou givest him, he shall no longer live.  And
+if he ask thee to give him another, give it not, how much soever he
+may entreat thee, for when I did so, he fought with me next day as
+well as ever before."  "Verily," said Pwyll, "what shall I do
+concerning my kingdom?"  Said Arawn, "I will cause that no one in all
+thy dominions, neither man nor woman, shall know that I am not thou,
+and I will go there in thy stead."  "Gladly then," said Pwyll, "will
+I set forward."  "Clear shall be thy path, and nothing shall detain
+thee, until thou come into my dominions, and I myself will be thy
+guide!"
+
+So he conducted him until he came in sight of the palace and its
+dwellings.  "Behold," said he, "the Court and the kingdom in thy
+power.  Enter the Court, there is no one there who will know thee,
+and when thou seest what service is done there, thou wilt know the
+customs of the Court."
+
+So he went forward to the Court, and when he came there, he beheld
+sleeping-rooms, and halls, and chambers, and the most beautiful
+buildings ever seen.  And he went into the hall to disarray, and
+there came youths and pages and disarrayed him, and all as they
+entered saluted him.  And two knights came and drew his hunting-dress
+from about him, and clothed him in a vesture of silk and gold.  And
+the hall was prepared, and behold he saw the household and the host
+enter in, and the host was the most comely and the best equipped that
+he had ever seen.  And with them came in likewise the Queen, who was
+the fairest woman that he had ever yet beheld.  And she had on a
+yellow robe of shining satin; and they washed and went to the table,
+and sat, the Queen upon one side of him, and one who seemed to be an
+Earl on the other side.
+
+And he began to speak with the Queen, and he thought, from her
+speech, that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of converse
+and of cheer that ever was.  And they partook of meat, and drink,
+with songs and with feasting; and of all the Courts upon the earth,
+behold this was the best supplied with food and drink, and vessels of
+gold and royal jewels.
+
+
+And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and feasting, and
+diversions, and discourse with his companions until the night that
+was fixed for the conflict.  And when that night came, it was
+remembered even by those who lived in the furthest part of his
+dominions, and he went to the meeting, and the nobles of the kingdom
+with him.  And when he came to the Ford, a knight arose and spake
+thus.  "Lords," said he, "listen well.  It is between two kings that
+this meeting is, and between them only.  Each claimeth of the other
+his land and territory, and do all of you stand aside and leave the
+fight to be between them."
+
+Thereupon the two kings approached each other in the middle of the
+Ford, and encountered, and at the first thrust, the man who was in
+the stead of Arawn struck Havgan on the centre of the boss of his
+shield, so that it was cloven in twain, and his armour was broken,
+and Havgan himself was borne to the ground an arm's and a spear's
+length over the crupper of his horse, and he received a deadly blow.
+"O Chieftain," said Havgan, "what right hast thou to cause my death?
+I was not injuring thee in anything, and I know not wherefore thou
+wouldest slay me.  But, for the love of Heaven, since thou hast begun
+to slay me, complete thy work."  "Ah, Chieftain," he replied, "I may
+yet repent doing that unto thee, slay thee who may, I will not do
+so."  "My trusty Lords," said Havgan, "bear me hence.  My death has
+come.  I shall be no more able to uphold you."  "My Nobles," also
+said he who was in the semblance of Arawn, "take counsel and know who
+ought to be my subjects."  "Lord," said the Nobles, "all should be,
+for there is no king over the whole of Annwvyn but thee."  "Yes," he
+replied, "it is right that he who comes humbly should be received
+graciously, but he that doth not come with obedience, shall be
+compelled by the force of swords."  And thereupon he received the
+homage of the men, and he began to conquer the country; and the next
+day by noon the two kingdoms were in his power.  And thereupon he
+went to keep his tryst, and came to Glyn Cuch.
+
+And when he came there, the King of Annwvyn was there to meet him,
+and each of them was rejoiced to see the other.  "Verily," said
+Arawn, "may Heaven reward thee for thy friendship towards me.  I have
+heard of it.  When thou comest thyself to thy dominions," said he,
+"thou wilt see that which I have done for thee."  "Whatever thou hast
+done for me, may Heaven repay it thee."
+
+Then Arawn gave to Pwyll Prince of Dyved his proper form and
+semblance, and he himself took his own; and Arawn set forth towards
+the Court of Annwvyn; and he was rejoiced when he beheld his hosts,
+and his household, whom he had not seen so long; but they had not
+known of his absence, and wondered no more at his coming than usual.
+And that day was spent in joy and merriment; and he sat and conversed
+with his wife and his nobles.  And when it was time for them rather
+to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest.
+
+
+Pwyll Prince of Dyved came likewise to his country and dominions, and
+began to inquire of the nobles of the land, how his rule had been
+during the past year, compared with what it had been before.  "Lord,"
+said they, "thy wisdom was never so great, and thou wast never so
+kind or so free in bestowing thy gifts, and thy justice was never
+more worthily seen than in this year."  "By Heaven," said he, "for
+all the good you have enjoyed, you should thank him who hath been
+with you; for behold, thus hath this matter been."  And thereupon
+Pwyll related the whole unto them.  "Verily, Lord," said they,
+"render thanks unto Heaven that thou hast such a fellowship, and
+withhold not from us the rule which we have enjoyed for this year
+past."  "I take Heaven to witness that I will not withhold it,"
+answered Pwyll.
+
+And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was between
+them, and each sent unto the other horses, and greyhounds, and hawks,
+and all such jewels as they thought would be pleasing to each other.
+And by reason of his having dwelt that year in Annwvyn, and having
+ruled there so prosperously, and united the two kingdoms in one day
+by his valour and prowess, he lost the name of Pwyll Prince of Dyved,
+and was called Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn from that time forward.
+
+
+Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth his chief palace, where a
+feast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of
+men.  And after the first meal, Pwyll arose to walk, and he went to
+the top of a mound that was above the palace, and was called Gorsedd
+Arberth.  "Lord," said one of the Court, "it is peculiar to the mound
+that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence, without either
+receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing a wonder."  "I fear not to
+receive wounds and blows in the midst of such a host as this, but as
+to the wonder, gladly would I see it.  I will go therefore and sit
+upon the mound."
+
+And upon the mound he sat.  And while he sat there, they saw a lady,
+on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment of shining gold
+around her, coming along the highway that led from the mound; and the
+horse seemed to move at a slow and even pace, and to be coming up
+towards the mound.  "My men," said Pwyll, "is there any among you who
+knows yonder lady?"  "There is not, Lord," said they.  "Go one of you
+and meet her, that we may know who she is."  And one of them arose,
+and as he came upon the road to meet her, she passed by, and he
+followed as fast as he could, being on foot; and the greater was his
+speed, the further was she from him.  And when he saw that it
+profited him nothing to follow her, he returned to Pwyll, and said
+unto him, "Lord, it is idle for any one in the world to follow her on
+foot."  "Verily," said Pwyll, "go unto the palace, and take the
+fleetest horse that thou seest, and go after her."
+
+And he took a horse and went forward.  And he came to an open level
+plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he urged his horse,
+the further was she from him.  Yet she held the same pace as at
+first.  And his horse began to fail; and when his horse's feet failed
+him, he returned to the place where Pwyll was.  "Lord," said he, "it
+will avail nothing for any one to follow yonder lady.  I know of no
+horse in these realms swifter than this, and it availed me not to
+pursue her."  "Of a truth," said Pwyll, "there must be some illusion
+here.  Let us go towards the palace."  So to the palace they went,
+and they spent that day.  And the next day they arose, and that also
+they spent until it was time to go to meat.  And after the first
+meal, "Verily," said Pwyll, "we will go the same party as yesterday
+to the top of the mound.  And do thou," said he to one of his young
+men, "take the swiftest horse that thou knowest in the field."  And
+thus did the young man.  And they went towards the mound, taking the
+horse with them.  And as they were sitting down they beheld the lady
+on the same horse, and in the same apparel, coming along the same
+road.  "Behold," said Pwyll, "here is the lady of yesterday.  Make
+ready, youth, to learn who she is."  "My lord," said he, "that will I
+gladly do."  And thereupon the lady came opposite to them.  So the
+youth mounted his horse; and before he had settled himself in his
+saddle, she passed by, and there was a clear space between them.  But
+her speed was no greater than it had been the day before.  Then he
+put his horse into an amble, and thought that notwithstanding the
+gentle pace at which his horse went, he should soon overtake her.
+But this availed him not; so he gave his horse the reins.  And still
+he came no nearer to her than when he went at a foot's pace.  And the
+more he urged his horse, the further was she from him.  Yet she rode
+not faster than before.  When he saw that it availed not to follow
+her, he returned to the place where Pwyll was.  "Lord," said he, "the
+horse can no more than thou hast seen."  "I see indeed that it avails
+not that any one should follow her.  And by Heaven," said he, "she
+must needs have an errand to some one in this plain, if her haste
+would allow her to declare it.  Let us go back to the palace."  And
+to the palace they went, and they spent that night in songs and
+feasting, as it pleased them.
+
+And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to
+meat.  And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, "Where are the hosts that
+went yesterday and the day before to the top of the mound?"  "Behold,
+Lord, we are here," said they.  "Let us go," said he, "to the mound,
+to sit there.  And do thou," said he to the page who tended his
+horse, "saddle my horse well, and hasten with him to the road, and
+bring also my spurs with thee."  And the youth did thus.  And they
+went and sat upon the mound; and ere they had been there but a short
+time, they beheld the lady coming by the same road, and in the same
+manner, and at the same pace.  "Young man," said Pwyll, "I see the
+lady coming; give me my horse."  And no sooner had he mounted his
+horse than she passed him.  And he turned after her and followed her.
+And he let his horse go bounding playfully, and thought that at the
+second step or the third he should come up with her.  But he came no
+nearer to her than at first.  Then he urged his horse to his utmost
+speed, yet he found that it availed nothing to follow her.  Then said
+Pwyll, "O maiden, for the sake of him whom thou best lovest, stay for
+me."  "I will stay gladly," said she, "and it were better for thy
+horse hadst thou asked it long since."  So the maiden stopped, and
+she threw back that part of her headdress which covered her face.
+And she fixed her eyes upon him, and began to talk with him.  "Lady,"
+asked he, "whence comest thou, and whereunto dost thou journey?"  "I
+journey on mine own errand," said she, "and right glad am I to see
+thee."  "My greeting be unto thee," said he.  Then he thought that
+the beauty of all the maidens, and all the ladies that he had ever
+seen, was as nothing compared to her beauty.  "Lady," he said, "wilt
+thou tell me aught concerning thy purpose?"  "I will tell thee," said
+she.  "My chief quest was to seek thee."  "Behold," said Pwyll, "this
+is to me the most pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come; and
+wilt thou tell me who thou art?"  "I will tell thee, Lord," said she.
+"I am Rhiannon, the daughter of Heveydd Hen, and they sought to give
+me to a husband against my will.  But no husband would I have, and
+that because of my love for thee, neither will I yet have one unless
+thou reject me.  And hither have I come to hear thy answer."  "By
+Heaven," said Pwyll, "behold this is my answer.  If I might choose
+among all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would I choose."
+"Verily," said she, "if thou art thus minded, make a pledge to meet
+me ere I am given to another."  "The sooner I may do so, the more
+pleasing will it be unto me," said Pwyll, "and wheresoever thou wilt,
+there will I meet with thee."  "I will that thou meet me this day
+twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd.  And I will cause a feast to be
+prepared, so that it be ready against thou come."  "Gladly," said he,
+"will I keep this tryst."  "Lord," said she, "remain in health, and
+be mindful that thou keep thy promise; and now I will go hence."  So
+they parted, and he went back to his hosts and to them of his
+household.  And whatsoever questions they asked him respecting the
+damsel, he always turned the discourse upon other matters.  And when
+a year from that time was gone, he caused a hundred knights to equip
+themselves and to go with him to the palace of Heveydd Hen.  And he
+came to the palace, and there was great joy concerning him, with much
+concourse of people and great rejoicing, and vast preparations for
+his coming.  And the whole Court was placed under his orders.
+
+And the hall was garnished and they went to meat, and thus did they
+sit; Heveydd Hen was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon on the other.
+And all the rest according to their rank.  And they ate and feasted
+and talked one with another, and at the beginning of the carousal
+after the meat, there entered a tall auburn-haired youth, of royal
+bearing, clothed in a garment of satin.  And when he came into the
+hall, he saluted Pwyll and his companions.  "The greeting of Heaven
+be unto thee, my soul," said Pwyll, "come thou and sit down."  "Nay,"
+said he, "a suitor am I, and I will do mine errand."  "Do so
+willingly," said Pwyll.  "Lord," said he, "my errand is unto thee,
+and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come."  "What boon soever
+thou mayest ask of me, as far as I am able, thou shalt have."  "Ah,"
+said Rhiannon, "wherefore didst thou give that answer?"  "Has he not
+given it before the presence of these nobles?" asked the youth.  "My
+soul," said Pwyll, "what is the boon thou askest?"  "The lady whom
+best I love is to be thy bride this night; I come to ask her of thee,
+with the feast and the banquet that are in this place."  And Pwyll
+was silent because of the answer which he had given.  "Be silent as
+long as thou wilt," said Rhiannon.  "Never did man make worse use of
+his wits than thou hast done."  "Lady," said he, "I knew not who he
+was."  "Behold this is the man to whom they would have given me
+against my will," said she.  "And he is Gwawl the son of Clud, a man
+of great power and wealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken,
+bestow me upon him lest shame befall thee."  "Lady," said he, "I
+understand not thine answer.  Never can I do as thou sayest."
+"Bestow me upon him," said she, "and I will cause that I shall never
+be his."  "By what means will that be?" asked Pwyll.  "In thy hand
+will I give thee a small bag," said she.  "See that thou keep it
+well, and he will ask of thee the banquet, and the feast, and the
+preparations which are not in thy power.  Unto the hosts and the
+household will I give the feast.  And such will be thy answer
+respecting this.  And as concerns myself, I will engage to become his
+bride this night twelvemonth.  And at the end of the year be thou
+here," said she, "and bring this bag with thee, and let thy hundred
+knights be in the orchard up yonder.  And when he is in the midst of
+joy and feasting, come thou in by thyself, clad in ragged garments,
+and holding thy bag in thy hand, and ask nothing but a bagful of
+food, and I will cause that if all the meat and liquor that are in
+these seven Cantrevs were put into it, it would be no fuller than
+before.  And after a great deal has been put therein, he will ask
+thee whether thy bag will ever be full.  Say thou then that it never
+will, until a man of noble birth and of great wealth arise and press
+the food in the bag with both his feet, saying, 'Enough has been put
+therein;' and I will cause him to go and tread down the food in the
+bag, and when he does so, turn thou the bag, so that he shall be up
+over his head in it, and then slip a knot upon the thongs of the bag.
+Let there be also a good bugle horn about thy neck, and as soon as
+thou hast bound him in the bag, wind thy horn, and let it be a signal
+between thee and thy knights.  And when they hear the sound of the
+horn, let them come down upon the palace."  "Lord," said Gwawl, "it
+is meet that I have an answer to my request."  "As much of that thou
+hast asked as it is in my power to give, thou shalt have," replied
+Pwyll.  "My soul," said Rhiannon unto him, "as for the feast and the
+banquet that are here, I have bestowed them upon the men of Dyved,
+and the household, and the warriors that are with us.  These can I
+not suffer to be given to any.  In a year from to-night a banquet
+shall be prepared for thee in this palace, that I may become thy
+bride."
+
+So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to
+Dyved.  And they both spent that year until it was the time for the
+feast at the palace of Heveydd Hen.  Then Gwawl the son of Clud set
+out to the feast that was prepared for him, and he came to the
+palace, and was received there with rejoicing.  Pwyll, also, the
+Chief of Annwvyn, came to the orchard with his hundred knights, as
+Rhiannon had commanded him, having the bag with him.  And Pwyll was
+clad in coarse and ragged garments, and wore large clumsy old shoes
+upon his feet.  And when he knew that the carousal after the meat had
+begun, he went towards the hall, and when he came into the hall, he
+saluted Gwawl the son of Clud, and his company, both men and women.
+"Heaven prosper thee," said Gwawl, "and the greeting of Heaven be
+unto thee."  "Lord," said he, "may Heaven reward thee, I have an
+errand unto thee."  "Welcome be thine errand, and if thou ask of me
+that which is just, thou shalt have it gladly."  "It is fitting,"
+answered he.  "I crave but from want, and the boon that I ask is to
+have this small bag that thou seest filled with meat."  "A request
+within reason is this," said he, "and gladly shalt thou have it.
+Bring him food."  A great number of attendants arose and began to
+fill the bag, but for all that they put into it, it was no fuller
+than at first.  "My soul," said Gwawl, "will thy bag be ever full?"
+"It will not, I declare to Heaven," said he, "for all that may be put
+into it, unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure,
+shall arise and tread down with both his feet the food that is within
+the bag, and shall say, 'Enough has been put therein.'"  Then said
+Rhiannon unto Gwawl the son of Clud, "Rise up quickly."  "I will
+willingly arise," said he.  So he rose up, and put his two feet into
+the bag.  And Pwyll turned up the sides of the bag, so that Gwawl was
+over his head in it.  And he shut it up quickly and slipped a knot
+upon the thongs, and blew his horn.  And thereupon behold his
+household came down upon the palace.  And they seized all the host
+that had come with Gwawl, and cast them into his own prison.  And
+Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes, and his tattered array;
+and as they came in, every one of Pwyll's knights struck a blow upon
+the bag, and asked, "What is here?"  "A Badger," said they.  And in
+this manner they played, each of them striking the bag, either with
+his foot or with a staff.  And thus played they with the bag.  Every
+one as he came in asked, "What game are you playing at thus?"  "The
+game of Badger in the Bag," said they.  And then was the game of
+Badger in the Bag first played.
+
+"Lord," said the man in the bag, "if thou wouldest but hear me, I
+merit not to be slain in a bag."  Said Heveydd Hen, "Lord, he speaks
+truth.  It were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deserves not
+this."  "Verily," said Pwyll, "I will do thy counsel concerning him."
+"Behold this is my counsel then," said Rhiannon; "thou art now in a
+position in which it behoves thee to satisfy suitors and minstrels;
+let him give unto them in thy stead, and take a pledge from him that
+he will never seek to revenge that which has been done to him.  And
+this will be punishment enough."  "I will do this gladly," said the
+man in the bag.  "And gladly will I accept it," said Pwyll, "since it
+is the counsel of Heveydd and Rhiannon."  "Such then is our counsel,"
+answered they.  "I accept it," said Pwyll.  "Seek thyself sureties."
+"We will be for him," said Heveydd, "until his men be free to answer
+for him."  And upon this he was let out of the bag, and his liegemen
+were liberated.  "Demand now of Gwawl his sureties," said Heveydd,
+"we know which should be taken for him."  And Heveydd numbered the
+sureties.  Said Gwawl, "Do thou thyself draw up the covenant."  "It
+will suffice me that it be as Rhiannon said," answered Pwyll.  So
+unto that covenant were the sureties pledged.  "Verily, Lord," said
+Gwawl, "I am greatly hurt, and I have many bruises.  I have need to
+be anointed; with thy leave I will go forth.  I will leave nobles in
+my stead, to answer for me in all that thou shalt require."
+"Willingly," said Pwyll, "mayest thou do thus."  So Gwawl went
+towards his own possessions.
+
+And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his host, and
+for them also of the palace, and they went to the tables and sat
+down.  And as they had sat that time twelvemonth, so sat they that
+night.  And they ate, and feasted, and spent the night in mirth and
+tranquillity.  And the time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll
+and Rhiannon went to their chamber.
+
+And next morning at the break of day, "My Lord," said Rhiannon,
+"arise and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels.  Refuse no one
+to-day that may claim thy bounty."  "Thus shall it be gladly," said
+Pwyll, "both to-day and every day while the feast shall last."  So
+Pwyll arose, and he caused silence to be proclaimed, and desired all
+the suitors and the minstrels to show and to point out what gifts
+were to their wish and desire.  And this being done, the feast went
+on, and he denied no one while it lasted.  And when the feast was
+ended, Pwyll said unto Heveydd, "My Lord, with thy permission I will
+set out for Dyved to-morrow."  "Certainly," said Heveydd, "may Heaven
+prosper thee.  Fix also a time when Rhiannon may follow thee."  "By
+Heaven," said Pwyll, "we will go hence together."  "Willest thou
+this, Lord?" said Heveydd.  "Yes, by Heaven," answered Pwyll.
+
+And the next day, they set forward towards Dyved, and journeyed to
+the palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready for them.  And
+there came to them great numbers of the chief men and the most noble
+ladies of the land, and of these there was none to whom Rhiannon did
+not give some rich gift, either a bracelet, or a ring, or a precious
+stone.  And they ruled the land prosperously both that year and the
+next.
+
+And in the third year the nobles of the land began to be sorrowful at
+seeing a man whom they loved so much, and who was moreover their lord
+and their foster-brother, without an heir.  And they came to him.
+And the place where they met was Preseleu, in Dyved.  "Lord," said
+they, "we know that thou art not so young as some of the men of this
+country, and we fear that thou mayest not have an heir of the wife
+whom thou hast taken.  Take therefore another wife of whom thou
+mayest have heirs.  Thou canst not always continue with us, and
+though thou desire to remain as thou art, we will not suffer thee."
+"Truly," said Pwyll, "we have not long been joined together, and many
+things may yet befall.  Grant me a year from this time, and for the
+space of a year we will abide together, and after that I will do
+according to your wishes.  So they granted it.  And before the end of
+a year a son was born unto him.  And in Narberth was he born; and on
+the night that he was born, women were brought to watch the mother
+and the boy.  And the women slept, as did also Rhiannon, the mother
+of the boy.  And the number of the women that were brought into the
+chamber was six.  And they watched for a good portion of the night,
+and before midnight every one of them fell asleep, and towards break
+of day they awoke; and when they awoke, they looked where they had
+put the boy, and behold he was not there.  "Oh," said one of the
+women, "the boy is lost?"  "Yes," said another, "and it will be small
+vengeance if we are burnt or put to death because of the child."
+Said one of the women, "Is there any counsel for us in the world in
+this matter?"  "There is," answered another, "I offer you good
+counsel."  "What is that?" asked they.  "There is here a stag-hound
+bitch, and she has a litter of whelps.  Let us kill some of the cubs,
+and rub the blood on the face and hands of Rhiannon, and lay the
+bones before her, and assert that she herself hath devoured her son,
+and she alone will not be able to gainsay us six."  And according to
+this counsel it was settled.  And towards morning Rhiannon awoke, and
+she said, "Women, where is my son?"  "Lady," said they, "ask us not
+concerning thy son, we have nought but the blows and the bruises we
+got by struggling with thee, and of a truth we never saw any woman so
+violent as thou, for it was of no avail to contend with thee.  Hast
+thou not thyself devoured thy son?  Claim him not therefore of us."
+"For pity's sake," said Rhiannon; "the Lord God knows all things.
+Charge me not falsely.  If you tell me this from fear, I assert
+before Heaven that I will defend you."  "Truly," said they, "we would
+not bring evil on ourselves for any one in the world."  "For pity's
+sake," said Rhiannon, "you will receive no evil by telling the
+truth."  But for all her words, whether fair or harsh, she received
+but the same answer from the women.
+
+And Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn arose, and his household, and his
+hosts.  And this occurrence could not be concealed, but the story
+went forth throughout the land, and all the nobles heard it.  Then
+the nobles came to Pwyll, and besought him to put away his wife,
+because of the great crime which she had done.  But Pwyll answered
+them, that they had no cause wherefore they might ask him to put away
+his wife, save for her having no children.  "But children has she now
+had, therefore will I not put her away; if she has done wrong, let
+her do penance for it."
+
+So Rhiannon sent for the teachers and the wise men, and as she
+preferred doing penance to contending with the women, she took upon
+her a penance.  And the penance that was imposed upon her was, that
+she should remain in that palace of Narberth until the end of seven
+years, and that she should sit every day near unto a horseblock that
+was without the gate.  And that she should relate the story to all
+who should come there, whom she might suppose not to know it already;
+and that she should offer the guests and strangers, if they would
+permit her, to carry them upon her back into the palace.  But it
+rarely happened that any would permit.  And thus did she spend part
+of the year.
+
+Now at that time Teirnyon Twryv Vliant was Lord of Gwent Is Coed, and
+he was the best man in the world.  And unto his house there belonged
+a mare, than which neither mare nor horse in the kingdom was more
+beautiful.  And on the night of every first of May she foaled, and no
+one ever knew what became of the colt.  And one night Teirnyon talked
+with his wife:  "Wife," said he, "it is very simple of us that our
+mare should foal every year, and that we should have none of her
+colts."  "What can be done in the matter?" said she.  "This is the
+night of the first of May," said he.  "The vengeance of Heaven be
+upon me, if I learn not what it is that takes away the colts."  So he
+caused the mare to be brought into a house, and he armed himself, and
+began to watch that night.  And in the beginning of the night, the
+mare foaled a large and beautiful colt.  And it was standing up in
+the place.  And Teirnyon rose up and looked at the size of the colt,
+and as he did so he heard a great tumult, and after the tumult behold
+a claw came through the window into the house, and it seized the colt
+by the mane.  Then Teirnyon drew his sword, and struck off the arm at
+the elbow, so that portion of the arm together with the colt was in
+the house with him.  And then did he hear a tumult and wailing, both
+at once.  And he opened the door, and rushed out in the direction of
+the noise, and he could not see the cause of the tumult because of
+the darkness of the night, but he rushed after it and followed it.
+Then he remembered that he had left the door open, and he returned.
+And at the door behold there was an infant boy in swaddling-clothes,
+wrapped around in a mantle of satin.  And he took up the boy, and
+behold he was very strong for the age that he was of.
+
+Then he shut the door, and went into the chamber where his wife was.
+"Lady," said he, "art thou sleeping?"  "No, lord," said she, "I was
+asleep, but as thou camest in I did awake."  "Behold, here is a boy
+for thee if thou wilt," said he, "since thou hast never had one."
+"My lord," said she, "what adventure is this?"  "It was thus," said
+Teirnyon; and he told her how it all befell.  "Verily, lord," said
+she, "what sort of garments are there upon the boy?"  "A mantle of
+satin," said he.  "He is then a boy of gentle lineage," she replied.
+"My lord," she said, "if thou wilt, I shall have great diversion and
+mirth.  I will call my women unto me, and tell them that I have been
+pregnant."  "I will readily grant thee to do this," he answered.  And
+thus did they, and they caused the boy to be baptized, and the
+ceremony was performed there; and the name which they gave unto him
+was Gwri Wallt Euryn, because what hair was upon his head was as
+yellow as gold.  And they had the boy nursed in the Court until he
+was a year old.  And before the year was over he could walk stoutly.
+And he was larger than a boy of three years old, even one of great
+growth and size.  And the boy was nursed the second year, and then he
+was as large as a child six years old.  And before the end of the
+fourth year, he would bribe the grooms to allow him to take the
+horses to water.  "My lord," said his wife unto Teirnyon, "where is
+the colt which thou didst save on the night that thou didst find the
+boy?"  "I have commanded the grooms of the horses," said he, "that
+they take care of him."  "Would it not be well, lord," said she, "if
+thou wert to cause him to be broken in, and given to the boy, seeing
+that on the same night that thou didst find the boy, the colt was
+foaled and thou didst save him?"  "I will not oppose thee in this
+matter," said Teirnyon.  "I will allow thee to give him the colt."
+"Lord," said she, "may Heaven reward thee; I will give it him."  So
+the horse was given to the boy.  Then she went to the grooms and
+those who tended the horses, and commanded them to be careful of the
+horse, so that he might be broken in by the time that the boy could
+ride him.
+
+And while these things were going forward, they heard tidings of
+Rhiannon and her punishment.  And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, by reason of
+the pity that he felt on hearing this story of Rhiannon and her
+punishment, inquired closely concerning it, until he had heard from
+many of those who came to his court.  Then did Teirnyon, often
+lamenting the sad history, ponder within himself, and he looked
+steadfastly on the boy, and as he looked upon him, it seemed to him
+that he had never beheld so great a likeness between father and son,
+as between the boy and Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn.  Now the semblance
+of Pwyll was well known to him, for he had of yore been one of his
+followers.  And thereupon he became grieved for the wrong that he
+did, in keeping with him a boy whom he knew to be the son of another
+man.  And the first time that he was alone with his wife, he told her
+that it was not right that they should keep the boy with them, and
+suffer so excellent a lady as Rhiannon to be punished so greatly on
+his account, whereas the boy was the son of Pwyll the Chief of
+Annwvyn.  And Teirnyon's wife agreed with him, that they should send
+the boy to Pwyll.  "And three things, lord," said she, "shall we gain
+thereby.  Thanks and gifts for releasing Rhiannon from her
+punishment; and thanks from Pwyll for nursing his son and restoring
+him unto him; and thirdly, if the boy is of gentle nature, he will be
+our foster-son, and he will do for us all the good in his power."  So
+it was settled according to this counsel.
+
+And no later than the next day was Teirnyon equipped, and two other
+knights with him.  And the boy, as a fourth in their company, went
+with them upon the horse which Teirnyon had given him.  And they
+journeyed towards Narberth, and it was not long before they reached
+that place.  And as they drew near to the palace, they beheld
+Rhiannon sitting beside the horseblock.  And when they were opposite
+to her, "Chieftain," said she, "go not further thus, I will bear
+every one of you into the palace, and this is my penance for slaying
+my own son and devouring him."  "Oh, fair lady," said Teirnyon,
+"think not that I will be one to be carried upon thy back."  "Neither
+will I," said the boy.  "Truly, my soul," said Teirnyon, "we will not
+go."  So they went forward to the palace, and there was great joy at
+their coming.  And at the palace a feast was prepared, because Pywll
+was come back from the confines of Dyved.  And they went into the
+hall and washed, and Pwyll rejoiced to see Teirnyon.  And in this
+order they sat.  Teirnyon between Pwyll and Rhiannon, and Teirnyon's
+two companions on the other side of Pwyll, with the boy between them.
+And after meat they began to carouse and to discourse.  And
+Teirnyon's discourse was concerning the adventure of the mare and the
+boy, and how he and his wife had nursed and reared the child as their
+own.  "And behold here is thy son, lady," said Teirnyon.  "And
+whosoever told that lie concerning thee, has done wrong.  And when I
+heard of thy sorrow, I was troubled and grieved.  And I believe that
+there is none of this host who will not perceive that the boy is the
+son of Pwyll," said Teirnyon.  "There is none," said they all, "who
+is not certain thereof."  "I declare to Heaven," said Rhiannon, "that
+if this be true, there is indeed an end to my trouble."  "Lady," said
+Pendaran Dyved, "well hast thou named thy son Pryderi, {3} and well
+becomes him the name of Pryderi son of Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn."
+"Look you," said Rhiannon, "will not his own name become him better?"
+"What name has he?" asked Pendaran Dyved.  "Gwri Wallt Euryn is the
+name that we gave him."  "Pryderi," said Pendaran, "shall his name
+be."  "It were more proper," said Pwyll, "that the boy should take
+his name from the word his mother spoke when she received the joyful
+tidings of him."  And thus was it arranged.
+
+"Teirnyon," said Pwyll, "Heaven reward thee that thou hast reared the
+boy up to this time, and, being of gentle lineage, it were fitting
+that he repay thee for it."  "My lord," said Teirnyon, "it was my
+wife who nursed him, and there is no one in the world so afflicted as
+she at parting with him.  It were well that he should bear in mind
+what I and my wife have done for him."  "I call Heaven to witness,"
+said Pwyll, "that while I live I will support thee and thy
+possessions, as long as I am able to preserve my own.  And when he
+shall have power, he will more fitly maintain them than I.  And if
+this counsel be pleasing unto thee, and to my nobles, it shall be
+that, as thou hast reared him up to the present time, I will give him
+to be brought up by Pendaran Dyved, from henceforth.  And you shall
+be companions, and shall both be foster-fathers unto him."  "This is
+good counsel," said they all.  So the boy was given to Pendaran
+Dyved, and the nobles of the land were sent with him.  And Teirnyon
+Twryv Vliant, and his companions, set out for his country, and his
+possessions, with love and gladness.  And he went not without being
+offered the fairest jewels and the fairest horses, and the choicest
+dogs; but he would take none of them.
+
+Thereupon they all remained in their own dominions.  And Pryderi, the
+son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn, was brought up carefully as was
+fit, so that he became the fairest youth, and the most comely, and
+the best skilled in all good games, of any in the kingdom.  And thus
+passed years and years, until the end of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn's
+life came, and he died.
+
+And Pryderi ruled the seven Cantrevs of Dyved prosperously, and he
+was beloved by his people, and by all around him.  And at length he
+added unto them the three Cantrevs of Ystrad Tywi, and the four
+Cantrevs of Cardigan; and these were called the Seven Cantrevs of
+Seissyllwch.  And when he made this addition, Pryderi the son of
+Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn desired to take a wife.  And the wife he
+chose was Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of Gloyw Wallt
+Lydan, the son of Prince Casnar, one of the nobles of this Island.
+
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion.
+
+
+
+BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR
+HERE IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THE MABINOGI
+
+
+
+Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this island,
+and he was exalted from the crown of London.  And one afternoon he
+was at Harlech in Ardudwy, at his Court, and he sat upon the rock of
+Harlech, looking over the sea.  And with him were his brother
+Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and his brothers by the mother's side,
+Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles likewise, as was fitting to
+see around a king.  His two brothers by the mother's side were the
+sons of Eurosswydd, by his mother, Penardun, the daughter of Beli son
+of Manogan.  And one of these youths was a good youth and of gentle
+nature, and would make peace between his kindred, and cause his
+family to be friends when their wrath was at the highest; and this
+one was Nissyen; but the other would cause strife between his two
+brothers when they were most at peace.  And as they sat thus, they
+beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of Ireland, and making
+towards them, and they came with a swift motion, the wind being
+behind them, and they neared them rapidly.  "I see ships afar," said
+the king, "coming swiftly towards the land.  Command the men of the
+Court that they equip themselves, and go and learn their intent."  So
+the men equipped themselves and went down towards them.  And when
+they saw the ships near, certain were they that they had never seen
+ships better furnished.  Beautiful flags of satin were upon them.
+And behold one of the ships outstripped the others, and they saw a
+shield lifted up above the side of the ship, and the point of the
+shield was upwards, in token of peace.  And the men drew near that
+they might hold converse.  Then they put out boats and came towards
+the land.  And they saluted the king.  Now the king could hear them
+from the place where he was, upon the rock above their heads.
+"Heaven prosper you," said he, "and be ye welcome.  To whom do these
+ships belong, and who is the chief amongst you?"  "Lord," said they,
+"Matholwch, king of Ireland, is here, and these ships belong to him."
+"Wherefore comes he?' asked the king, "and will he come to the land?"
+"He is a suitor unto thee, lord," said they, "and he will not land
+unless he have his boon."  "And what may that be?" inquired the king.
+"He desires to ally himself with thee, lord," said they, "and he
+comes to ask Branwen the daughter of Llyr, that, if it seem well to
+thee, the Island of the Mighty may be leagued with Ireland, and both
+become more powerful."  "Verily," said he, "let him come to land, and
+we will take counsel thereupon."  And this answer was brought to
+Matholwch.  "I will go willingly," said he.  So he landed, and they
+received him joyfully; and great was the throng in the palace that
+night, between his hosts and those of the Court; and next day they
+took counsel, and they resolved to bestow Branwen upon Matholwch.
+Now she was one of the three chief ladies of this island, and she was
+the fairest damsel in the world.
+
+And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she should become
+his bride.  And they went thence, and towards Aberffraw the hosts
+proceeded; Matholwch and his host in their ships; Bendigeid Vran and
+his host by land, until they came to Aberffraw.  And at Aberffraw
+they began the feast and sat down.  And thus sat they.  The King of
+the Island of the Mighty and Manawyddan the son of Llyr on one side,
+and Matholwch on the other side, and Branwen the daughter of Llyr
+beside him.  And they were not within a house, but under tents.  No
+house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran.  And they began the banquet
+and caroused and discoursed.  And when it was more pleasing to them
+to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest, and that night Branwen
+became Matholwch's bride.
+
+And next day they arose, and all they of the Court, and the officers
+began to equip and to range the horses and the attendants, and they
+ranged them in order as far as the sea.
+
+And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man of whom it is
+spoken above, came by chance into the place, where the horses of
+Matholwch were, and asked whose horses they might be.  "They are the
+horses of Matholwch king of Ireland, who is married to Branwen, thy
+sister; his horses are they."  "And is it thus they have done with a
+maiden such as she, and moreover my sister, bestowing her without my
+consent?  They could have offered no greater insult to me than this,"
+said he.  And thereupon he rushed under the horses and cut off their
+lips at the teeth, and their ears close to their heads, and their
+tails close to their backs, and wherever he could clutch their
+eyelids, he cut them to the very bone, and he disfigured the horses
+and rendered them useless.
+
+And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch, saying that the
+horses were disfigured, and injured so that not one of them could
+ever be of any use again.  "Verily, lord," said one, "it was an
+insult unto thee, and as such was it meant."  "Of a truth, it is a
+marvel to me, that if they desire to insult me, they should have
+given me a maiden of such high rank and so much beloved of her
+kindred, as they have done."  "Lord," said another, "thou seest that
+thus it is, and there is nothing for thee to do but to go to thy
+ships."  And thereupon towards his ships he set out.
+
+And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch was quitting the
+Court without asking leave, and messengers were sent to inquire of
+him wherefore he did so.  And the messengers that went were Iddic the
+son of Anarawd, and Heveydd Hir.  And these overtook him and asked of
+him what he designed to do, and wherefore he went forth.  "Of a
+truth," said he, "if I had known I had not come hither.  I have been
+altogether insulted, no one had ever worse treatment than I have had
+here.  But one thing surprises me above all."  "What is that?" asked
+they.  "That Branwen the daughter of Llyr, one of the three chief
+ladies of this island, and the daughter of the King of the Island of
+the Mighty, should have been given me as my bride, and that after
+that I should have been insulted; and I marvel that the insult was
+not done me before they had bestowed upon me a maiden so exalted as
+she."  "Truly, lord, it was not the will of any that are of the
+Court," said they, "nor of any that are of the council, that thou
+shouldest have received this insult; and as thou hast been insulted,
+the dishonour is greater unto Bendigeid Vran than unto thee."
+"Verily," said he, "I think so.  Nevertheless he cannot recall the
+insult."  These men returned with that answer to the place where
+Bendigeid Vran was, and they told him what reply Matholwch had given
+them.  "Truly," said he, "there are no means by which we may prevent
+his going away at enmity with us, that we will not take."  "Well,
+lord," said they, "send after him another embassy."  "I will do so,"
+said he.  "Arise, Manawyddan son of Llyr, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic
+Glew Ysgwyd, and go after him, and tell him that he shall have a
+sound horse for every one that has been injured.  And beside that, as
+an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff of silver, as
+large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of the breadth of
+his face.  And show unto him who it was that did this, and that it
+was done against my will; but that he who did it is my brother, by
+the mother's side, and therefore it would be hard for me to put him
+to death.  And let him come and meet me," said he, "and we will make
+peace in any way he may desire."
+
+The embassy went after Matholwch, and told him all these sayings in a
+friendly manner, and he listened thereunto.  "Men," said he, "I will
+take counsel."  So to the council he went.  And in the council they
+considered that if they should refuse this, they were likely to have
+more shame rather than to obtain so great an atonement.  They
+resolved therefore to accept it, and they returned to the Court in
+peace.
+
+Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after the fashion
+of a hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at the
+beginning of the feast, so sat they there.  And Matholwch and
+Bendigeid Vran began to discourse; and behold it seemed to Bendigeid
+Vran, while they talked, that Matholwch was not so cheerful as he had
+been before.  And he thought that the chieftain might be sad, because
+of the smallness of the atonement which he had, for the wrong that
+had been done him.  "Oh, man," said Bendigeid Vran, "thou dost not
+discourse to-night so cheerfully as thou wast wont.  And if it be
+because of the smallness of the atonement, thou shalt add thereunto
+whatsoever thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I will pay thee the
+horses."  "Lord," said he, "Heaven reward thee."  "And I will enhance
+the atonement," said Bendigeid Vran, "for I will give unto thee a
+cauldron, the property of which is, that if one of thy men be slain
+to-day, and be cast therein, to-morrow he will be as well as ever he
+was at the best, except that he will not regain his speech."  And
+thereupon he gave him great thanks, and very joyful was he for that
+cause.
+
+And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as long as the
+trained horses lasted.  And then they journeyed into another commot,
+where they paid him with colts until the whole had been paid, and
+from thenceforth that commot was called Talebolion.
+
+And a second night sat they together.  "My lord," said Matholwch,
+"whence hadst thou the cauldron which thou hast given me?"  "I had it
+of a man who had been in thy land," said he, "and I would not give it
+except to one from there."  "Who was it?" asked he.  "Llassar
+Llaesgyvnewid; he came here from Ireland with Kymideu Kymeinvoll, his
+wife, who escaped from the Iron House in Ireland, when it was made
+red hot around them, and fled hither.  And it is a marvel to me that
+thou shouldst know nothing concerning the matter."  "Something I do
+know," said he, "and as much as I know I will tell thee.  One day I
+was hunting in Ireland, and I came to the mound at the head of the
+lake, which is called the Lake of the Cauldron.  And I beheld a huge
+yellow-haired man coming from the lake with a cauldron upon his back.
+And he was a man of vast size, and of horrid aspect, and a woman
+followed after him.  And if the man was tall, twice as large as he
+was the woman, and they came towards me and greeted me.  'Verily,'
+asked I, 'wherefore are you journeying?'  'Behold, this,' said he to
+me, 'is the cause that we journey.  At the end of a month and a
+fortnight this woman will have a son; and the child that will be born
+at the end of the month and the fortnight will be a warrior fully
+armed.'  So I took them with me and maintained them.  And they were
+with me for a year.  And that year I had them with me not grudgingly.
+But thenceforth was there murmuring, because that they were with me.
+For, from the beginning of the fourth month they had begun to make
+themselves hated and to be disorderly in the land; committing
+outrages, and molesting and harassing the nobles and ladies; and
+thenceforward my people rose up and besought me to part with them,
+and they bade me to choose between them and my dominions.  And I
+applied to the council of my country to know what should be done
+concerning them; for of their own free will they would not go,
+neither could they be compelled against their will, through fighting.
+And [the people of the country] being in this strait, they caused a
+chamber to be made all of iron.  Now when the chamber was ready,
+there came there every smith that was in Ireland, and every one who
+owned tongs and hammer.  And they caused coals to be piled up as high
+as the top of the chamber.  And they had the man, and the woman, and
+the children, served with plenty of meat and drink; but when it was
+known that they were drunk, they began to put fire to the coals about
+the chamber, and they blew it with bellows until the house was red
+hot all around them.  Then was there a council held in the centre of
+the floor of the chamber.  And the man tarried until the plates of
+iron were all of a white heat; and then, by reason of the great heat,
+the man dashed against the plates with his shoulder and struck them
+out, and his wife followed him; but except him and his wife none
+escaped thence.  And then I suppose, lord," said Matholwch unto
+Bendigeid Vran, "that he came over unto thee."  "Doubtless he came
+here," said he, "and gave unto me the cauldron."  "In what manner
+didst thou receive them?"  "I dispersed them through every part of my
+dominions, and they have become numerous and are prospering
+everywhere, and they fortify the places where they are with men and
+arms, of the best that were ever seen."
+
+That night they continued to discourse as much as they would, and had
+minstrelsy and carousing, and when it was more pleasant to them to
+sleep than to sit longer, they went to rest.  And thus was the
+banquet carried on with joyousness; and when it was finished,
+Matholwch journeyed towards Ireland, and Branwen with him, and they
+went from Aber Menei with thirteen ships, and came to Ireland.  And
+in Ireland was there great joy because of their coming.  And not one
+great man or noble lady visited Branwen unto whom she gave not either
+a clasp, or a ring, or a royal jewel to keep, such as it was
+honourable to be seen departing with.  And in these things she spent
+that year in much renown, and she passed her time pleasantly,
+enjoying honour and friendship.  And in the meanwhile it chanced that
+she became pregnant, and in due time a son was born unto her, and the
+name that they gave him was Gwern the son of Matholwch, and they put
+the boy out to be foster-nursed, in a place where were the best men
+of Ireland.
+
+And behold in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on account
+of the insult which Matholwch had received in Cambria, and the
+payment made him for his horses.  And his foster-brothers, and such
+as were nearest unto him, blamed him openly for that matter.  And he
+might have no peace by reason of the tumult until they should revenge
+upon him this disgrace.  And the vengeance which they took was to
+drive away Branwen from the same chamber with him, and to make her
+cook for the Court; and they caused the butcher after he had cut up
+the meat to come to her and give her every day a blow on the ear, and
+such they made her punishment.
+
+"Verily, lord," said his men to Matholwch, "forbid now the ships and
+the ferry boats and the coracles, that they go not into Cambria, and
+such as come over from Cambria hither, imprison them that they go not
+back for this thing to be known there."  And he did so; and it was
+thus for not less than three years.
+
+And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading trough,
+and she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what manner of
+man her brother was.  And she wrote a letter of her woes, and the
+despite with which she was treated, and she bound the letter to the
+root of the bird's wing, and sent it towards Britain.  And the bird
+came to this island, and one day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer
+Seiont in Arvon, conferring there, and it alighted upon his shoulder
+and ruffled its feathers, so that the letter was seen, and they knew
+that the bird had been reared in a domestic manner.
+
+Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it.  And when he
+had read the letter he grieved exceedingly at the tidings of
+Branwen's woes.  And immediately he began sending messengers to
+summon the island together.  And he caused sevenscore and four
+countries to come unto him, and he complained to them himself of the
+grief that his sister endured.  So they took counsel.  And in the
+council they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men as
+princes here, and Caradawc, the son of Bran, as the chief of them,
+and their seven knights.  In Edeyrnion were these men left.  And for
+this reason were the seven knights placed in the town.  Now the names
+of these seven men were, Caradawc the son of Bran, and Heveydd Hir,
+and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and Iddic the son of Anarawc Gwalltgrwn, and
+Fodor the son of Ervyll, and Gwlch Minascwrn, and Llassar the son of
+Llaesar Llaesgygwyd, and Pendaran Dyved as a young page with them.
+And these abode as seven ministers to take charge of this island; and
+Caradawc the son of Bran was the chief amongst them.
+
+Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed towards
+Ireland, and it was not far across the sea, and he came to shoal
+water.  It was caused by two rivers; the Lli and the Archan were they
+called; and the nations covered the sea.  Then he proceeded with what
+provisions he had on his own back, and approached the shore of
+Ireland.
+
+Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the seashore, and they came
+to Matholwch.  "Lord," said they, "greeting be unto thee."  "Heaven
+protect you," said he, "have you any news?"  "Lord," said they, "we
+have marvellous news, a wood have we seen upon the sea, in a place
+where we never yet saw a single tree."  "This is indeed a marvel,"
+said he; "saw you aught else?"  "We saw, lord," said they, "a vast
+mountain beside the wood, which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on
+the top of the mountain, and a lake on each side of the ridge.  And
+the wood, and the mountain, and all these things moved."  "Verily,"
+said he, "there is none who can know aught concerning this, unless it
+be Branwen."
+
+Messengers then went unto Branwen.  "Lady," said they, "what thinkest
+thou that this is?"  "The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have
+come hither on hearing of my ill-treatment and my woes."  "What is
+the forest that is seen upon the sea?" asked they.  "The yards and
+the masts of ships," she answered.  "Alas," said they, "what is the
+mountain that is seen by the side of the ships?"  "Bendigeid Vran, my
+brother," she replied, "coming to shoal water; there is no ship that
+can contain him in it."  "What is the lofty ridge with the lake on
+each side thereof?"  "On looking towards this island he is wroth, and
+his two eyes, one on each side of his nose, are the two lakes beside
+the ridge."
+
+The warriors and the chief men of Ireland were brought together in
+haste, and they took counsel.  "Lord," said the nobles unto
+Matholwch, "there is no other counsel than to retreat over the Linon
+(a river which is in Ireland), and to keep the river between thee and
+him, and to break down the bridge that is across the river, for there
+is a loadstone at the bottom of the river that neither ship nor
+vessel can pass over."  So they retreated across the river, and broke
+down the bridge.
+
+Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with him by the bank of
+the river.  "Lord," said his chieftains, "knowest thou the nature of
+this river, that nothing can go across it, and there is no bridge
+over it?"  "What," said they, "is thy counsel concerning a bridge?"
+"There is none," said he, "except that he who will be chief, let him
+be a bridge.  I will be so," said he.  And then was that saying first
+uttered, and it is still used as a proverb.  And when he had lain
+down across the river, hurdles were placed upon him, and the host
+passed over thereby.
+
+And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch came to him,
+and saluted him, and gave him greeting in the name of Matholwch, his
+kinsman, and showed how that of his goodwill he had merited of him
+nothing but good.  "For Matholwch has given the kingdom of Ireland to
+Gwern the son of Matholwch, thy nephew and thy sister's son.  And
+this he places before thee, as a compensation for the wrong and
+despite that has been done unto Branwen.  And Matholwch shall be
+maintained wheresoever thou wilt, either here or in the Island of the
+Mighty."  Said Bendigeid Vran, "Shall not I myself have the kingdom?
+Then peradventure I may take counsel concerning your message.  From
+this time until then no other answer will you get from me."
+"Verily," said they, "the best message that we receive for thee, we
+will convey it unto thee, and do thou await our message unto him."
+"I will wait," answered he, "and do you return quickly."
+
+The messengers set forth and came to Matholwch.  "Lord," said they,
+"prepare a better message for Bendigeid Vran.  He would not listen at
+all to the message that we bore him."  "My friends," said Matholwch,
+"what may be your counsel?"  "Lord," said they, "there is no other
+counsel than this alone.  He was never known to be within a house,
+make therefore a house that will contain him and the men of the
+Island of the Mighty on the one side, and thyself and thy host on the
+other; and give over thy kingdom to his will, and do him homage.  So
+by reason of the honour thou doest him in making him a house, whereas
+he never before had a house to contain him, he will make peace with
+thee."  So the messengers went back to Bendigeid Vran, bearing him
+this message.
+
+And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved that he
+should accept this, and this was all done by the advice of Branwen,
+and lest the country should be destroyed.  And this peace was made,
+and the house was built both vast and strong.  But the Irish planned
+a crafty device, and the craft was that they should put brackets on
+each side of the hundred pillars that were in the house, and should
+place a leathern bag on each bracket, and an armed man in every one
+of them.  Then Evnissyen came in before the host of the Island of the
+Mighty, and scanned the house with fierce and savage looks, and
+descried the leathern bags which were around the pillars.  "What is
+in this bag?" asked he of one of the Irish.  "Meal, good soul," said
+he.  And Evnissyen felt about it until he came to the man's head, and
+he squeezed the head until he felt his fingers meet together in the
+brain through the bone.  And he left that one and put his hand upon
+another, and asked what was therein.  "Meal," said the Irishman.  So
+he did the like unto every one of them, until he had not left alive,
+of all the two hundred men, save one only; and when he came to him,
+he asked what was there.  "Meal, good soul," said the Irishman.  And
+he felt about until he felt the head, and he squeezed that head as he
+had done the others.  And, albeit he found that the head of this one
+was armed, he left him not until he had killed him.  And then he sang
+an Englyn:-
+
+
+"There is in this bag a different sort of meal,
+The ready combatant, when the assault is made
+By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle."
+
+
+Thereupon came the hosts unto the house.  The men of the Island of
+Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the men of the Island
+of the Mighty on the other.  And as soon as they had sat down there
+was concord between them; and the sovereignty was conferred upon the
+boy.  When the peace was concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy
+unto him, and from Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and
+he was beloved by all that beheld him.  And from Manawyddan the boy
+was called by Nissyen the son of Eurosswydd, and the boy went unto
+him lovingly.  "Wherefore," said Evnissyen, "comes not my nephew the
+son of my sister unto me?  Though he were not king of Ireland, yet
+willingly would I fondle the boy."  "Cheerfully let him go to thee,"
+said Bendigeid Vran, and the boy went unto him cheerfully.  "By my
+confession to Heaven," said Evnissyen in his heart, "unthought of by
+the household is the slaughter that I will this instant commit."
+
+Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and before any one in
+the house could seize hold of him, he thrust the boy headlong into
+the blazing fire.  And when Branwen saw her son burning in the fire,
+she strove to leap into the fire also, from the place where she sat
+between her two brothers.  But Bendigeid Vran grasped her with one
+hand, and his shield with the other.  Then they all hurried about the
+house, and never was there made so great a tumult by any host in one
+house as was made by them, as each man armed himself.  Then said
+Morddwydtyllyon, "The gadflies of Morddwydtyllyon's Cow!"  And while
+they all sought their arms, Bendigeid Vran supported Branwen between
+his shield and his shoulder.
+
+Then the Irish kindled a fire under the cauldron of renovation, and
+they cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until it was full, and
+the next day they came forth fighting-men as good as before, except
+that they were not able to speak.  Then when Evnissyen saw the dead
+bodies of the men of the Island of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated,
+he said in his heart, "Alas! woe is me, that I should have been the
+cause of bringing the men of the Island of the Mighty into so great a
+strait.  Evil betide me if I find not a deliverance therefrom."  And
+he cast himself among the dead bodies of the Irish, and two unshod
+Irishmen came to him, and, taking him to be one of the Irish, flung
+him into the cauldron.  And he stretched himself out in the cauldron,
+so that he rent the cauldron into four pieces, and burst his own
+heart also.
+
+In consequence of that the men of the Island of the Mighty obtained
+such success as they had; but they were not victorious, for only
+seven men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran himself was wounded
+in the foot with a poisoned dart.  Now the seven men that escaped
+were Pryderi, Manawyddan, Gluneu Eil Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc, Grudyen
+the son of Muryel, and Heilyn the son of Gwynn Hen.
+
+And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off his head.
+"And take you my head," said he, "and bear it even unto the White
+Mount, in London, and bury it there, with the face towards France.
+And a long time will you be upon the road.  In Harlech you will be
+feasting seven years, the birds of Rhiannon singing unto you the
+while.  And all that time the head will be to you as pleasant company
+as it ever was when on my body.  And at Gwales in Penvro you will be
+fourscore years, and you may remain there, and the head with you
+uncorrupted, until you open the door that looks towards Aber
+Henvelen, and towards Cornwall.  And after you have opened that door,
+there you may no longer tarry, set forth then to London to bury the
+head, and go straight forward."
+
+So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward therewith.
+And Branwen was the eighth with them, and they came to land at Aber
+Alaw, in Talebolyon, and they sat down to rest.  And Branwen looked
+towards Ireland and towards the Island of the Mighty, to see if she
+could descry them.  "Alas," said she, "woe is me that I was ever
+born; two islands have been destroyed because of me!"  Then she
+uttered a loud groan, and there broke her heart.  And they made her a
+four-sided grave, and buried her upon the banks of the Alaw.
+
+Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Harlech, bearing the
+head with them; and as they went, behold there met them a multitude
+of men and of women.  "Have you any tidings?" asked Manawyddan.  "We
+have none," said they, "save that Caswallawn the son of Beli has
+conquered the Island of the Mighty, and is crowned king in London."
+"What has become," said they, "of Caradawc the son of Bran, and the
+seven men who were left with him in this island?"  "Caswallawn came
+upon them, and slew six of the men, and Caradawc's heart broke for
+grief thereof; for he could see the sword that slew the men, but knew
+not who it was that wielded it.  Caswallawn had flung upon him the
+Veil of Illusion, so that no one could see him slay the men, but the
+sword only could they see.  And it liked him not to slay Caradawc,
+because he was his nephew, the son of his cousin.  And now he was the
+third whose heart had broke through grief.  Pendaran Dyved, who had
+remained as a young page with these men, escaped into the wood," said
+they.
+
+Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to rest, and they
+provided meat and liquor, and sat down to eat and to drink.  And
+there came three birds, and began singing unto them a certain song,
+and all the songs they had ever heard were unpleasant compared
+thereto; and the birds seemed to them to be at a great distance from
+them over the sea, yet they appeared as distinct as if they were
+close by, and at this repast they continued seven years.
+
+And at the close of the seventh year they went forth to Gwales in
+Penvro.  And there they found a fair and regal spot overlooking the
+ocean; and a spacious hall was therein.  And they went into the hall,
+and two of its doors were open, but the third door was closed, that
+which looked towards Cornwall.  "See, yonder," said Manawyddan, "is
+the door that we may not open."  And that night they regaled
+themselves and were joyful.  And of all they had seen of food laid
+before them, and of all they had heard of, they remembered nothing;
+neither of that, nor of any sorrow whatsoever.  And there they
+remained fourscore years, unconscious of having ever spent a time
+more joyous and mirthful.  And they were not more weary than when
+first they came, neither did they, any of them, know the time they
+had been there.  And it was not more irksome to them having the head
+with them, than if Bendigeid Vran had been with them himself.  And
+because of these fourscore years, it was called "the Entertaining of
+the noble Head."  The entertaining of Branwen and Matholwch was in
+the time that they went to Ireland.
+
+One day said Heilyn the son of Gwynn, "Evil betide me, if I do not
+open the door to know if that is true which is said concerning it."
+So he opened the door and looked towards Cornwall and Aber Henvelen.
+And when they had looked, they were as conscious of all the evils
+they had ever sustained, and of all the friends and companions they
+had lost, and of all the misery that had befallen them, as if all had
+happened in that very spot; and especially of the fate of their lord.
+And because of their perturbation they could not rest, but journeyed
+forth with the head towards London.  And they buried the head in the
+White Mount, and when it was buried, this was the third goodly
+concealment; and it was the third ill-fated disclosure when it was
+disinterred, inasmuch as no invasion from across the sea came to this
+island while the head was in that concealment.
+
+And thus is the story related of those who journeyed over from
+Ireland.
+
+In Ireland none were left alive, except five pregnant women in a cave
+in the Irish wilderness; and to these five women in the same night
+were born five sons, whom they nursed until they became grown-up
+youths.  And they thought about wives, and they at the same time
+desired to possess them, and each took a wife of the mothers of their
+companions, and they governed the country and peopled it.
+
+And these five divided it amongst them, and because of this partition
+are the five divisions of Ireland still so termed.  And they examined
+the land where the battles had taken place, and they found gold and
+silver until they became wealthy.
+
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi, concerning the blow given
+to Branwen, which was the third unhappy blow of this island; and
+concerning the entertainment of Bran, when the hosts of sevenscore
+countries and ten went over to Ireland to revenge the blow given to
+Branwen; and concerning the seven years' banquet in Harlech, and the
+singing of the birds of Rhiannon, and the sojourning of the head for
+the space of fourscore years.
+
+
+
+MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR
+HERE IS THE THIRD PORTION OF THE MABINOGI
+
+
+
+When the seven men of whom we spoke above had buried the head of
+Bendigeid Vran, in the White Mount an London, with its face towards
+France; Manawyddan gazed upon the town of London, and upon his
+companions, and heaved a great sigh; and much grief and heaviness
+came upon him.  "Alas, Almighty Heaven, woe is me," he exclaimed,
+"there is none save myself without a resting-place this night."
+"Lord," said Pryderi, "be not so sorrowful.  Thy cousin is king of
+the Island of the Mighty, and though he should do thee wrong, thou
+hast never been a claimant of land or possessions.  Thou art the
+third disinherited prince."  "Yea," answered he, "but although this
+man is my cousin, it grieveth me to see any one in the place of my
+brother Bendigeid Vran, neither can I be happy in the same dwelling
+with him."  "Wilt thou follow the counsel of another?" said Pryderi.
+"I stand in need of counsel," he answered, "and what may that counsel
+be?"  "Seven Cantrevs remain unto me," said Pryderi, "wherein
+Rhiannon my mother dwells.  I will bestow her upon thee and the seven
+Cantrevs with her, and though thou hadst no possessions but those
+Cantrevs only, thou couldst not have seven Cantrevs fairer than they.
+Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw, is my wife, and since the
+inheritance of the Cantrevs belongs to me, do thou and Rhiannon enjoy
+them, and if thou ever desire any possessions thou wilt take these."
+"I do not, Chieftain," said he; "Heaven reward thee for thy
+friendship."  "I would show thee the best friendship in the world if
+thou wouldst let me."  "I will, my friend," said he, "and Heaven
+reward thee.  I will go with thee to seek Rhiannon and to look at thy
+possessions."  "Thou wilt do well," he answered.  "And I believe that
+thou didst never hear a lady discourse better than she, and when she
+was in her prime none was ever fairer.  Even now her aspect is not
+uncomely."
+
+They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at length to
+Dyved, and a feast was prepared for them against their coming to
+Narberth, which Rhiannon and Kicva had provided.  Then began
+Manawyddan and Rhiannon to sit and to talk together, and from their
+discourse his mind and his thoughts became warmed towards her, and he
+thought in his heart he had never beheld any lady more fulfilled of
+grace and beauty than she.  "Pryderi," said he, "I will that it be as
+thou didst say."  "What saying was that?" asked Rhiannon.  "Lady,"
+said Pryderi, "I did offer thee as a wife to Manawyddan the son of
+Llyr."  "By that will I gladly abide," said Rhiannon.  "Right glad am
+I also," said Manawyddan; "may Heaven reward him who hath shown unto
+me friendship so perfect as this."
+
+And before the feast was over she became his bride.  Said Pryderi,
+"Tarry ye here the rest of the feast, and I will go into Lloegyr to
+tender my homage unto Caswallawn the son of Beli."  "Lord," said
+Rhiannon, "Caswallawn is in Kent, thou mayest therefore tarry at the
+feast, and wait until he shall be nearer."  "We will wait," he
+answered.  So they finished the feast.  And they began to make the
+circuit of Dyved, and to hunt, and to take their pleasure.  And as
+they went through the country, they had never seen lands more
+pleasant to live in, nor better hunting grounds, nor greater plenty
+of honey and fish.  And such was the friendship between those four,
+that they would not be parted from each other by night nor by day.
+
+And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford, and
+tendered his homage; and honourable was his reception there, and
+highly was he praised for offering his homage.
+
+And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took their
+ease and pleasure.  And they began a feast at Narberth, for it was
+the chief palace; and there originated all honour.  And when they had
+ended the first meal that night, while those who served them ate,
+they arose and went forth, and proceeded all four to the Gorsedd of
+Narberth, and their retinue with them.  And as they sat thus, behold,
+a peal of thunder, and with the violence of the thunderstorm, lo
+there came a fall of mist, so thick that not one of them could see
+the other.  And after the mist it became light all around.  And when
+they looked towards the place where they were wont to see cattle, and
+herds, and dwellings, they saw nothing now, neither house, nor beast,
+nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor dwelling; but the houses of the
+Court empty, and desert, and uninhabited, without either man or beast
+within them.  And truly all their companions were lost to them,
+without their knowing aught of what had befallen them, save those
+four only.
+
+"In the name of Heaven," cried Manawyddan, "where are they of the
+Court, and all my host beside these?  Let us go and see."  So they
+came into the hall, and there was no man; and they went on to the
+castle and to the sleeping-place, and they saw none; and in the mead-
+cellar and in the kitchen there was nought but desolation.  So they
+four feasted, and hunted, and took their pleasure.  Then they began
+to go through the land and all the possessions that they had, and
+they visited the houses and dwellings, and found nothing but wild
+beasts.  And when they had consumed their feast and all their
+provisions, they fed upon the prey they killed in hunting, and the
+honey of the wild swarms.  And thus they passed the first year
+pleasantly, and the second; but at the last they began to be weary.
+
+"Verily," said Manawyddan, "we must not bide thus.  Let us go into
+Lloegyr, and seek some craft whereby we may gain our support."  So
+they went into Lloegyr, and came as far as Hereford.  And they betook
+themselves to making saddles.  And Manawyddan began to make housings,
+and he gilded and coloured them with blue enamel, in the manner that
+he had seen it done by Llasar Llaesgywydd.  And he made the blue
+enamel as it was made by the other man.  And therefore is it still
+called Calch Lasar [blue enamel], because Llasar Llaesgywydd had
+wrought it.
+
+And as long as that workmanship could be had of Manawyddan, neither
+saddle nor housing was bought of a saddler throughout all Hereford;
+till at length every one of the saddlers perceived that they were
+losing much of their gain, and that no man bought of them, but him
+who could not get what he sought from Manawyddan.  Then they
+assembled together, and agreed to slay him and his companions.
+
+Now they received warning of this, and took counsel whether they
+should leave the city.  "By Heaven," said Pryderi, "it is not my
+counsel that we should quit the town, but that we should slay these
+boors."  "Not so," said Manawyddan, "for if we fight with them, we
+shall have evil fame, and shall be put in prison.  It were better for
+us to go to another town to maintain ourselves."  So they four went
+to another city.
+
+"What craft shall we take?" said Pryderi.  "We will make shields,"
+said Manawyddan.  "Do we know anything about that craft?" said
+Pryderi.  "We will try," answered he.  There they began to make
+shields, and fashioned them after the shape of the good shields they
+had seen; and they enamelled they, as them had done the saddles.  And
+they prospered in that place, so that not a shield was asked for in
+the whole town, but such as was had of them.  Rapid therefore was
+their work, and numberless were the shields they made.  But at last
+they were marked by the craftsmen, who came together in haste, and
+their fellow-townsmen with them, and agreed that they should seek to
+slay them.  But they received warning, and heard how the men had
+resolved on their destruction.  "Pryderi," said Manawyddan, "these
+men desire to slay us."  "Let us not endure this from these boors,
+but let us rather fall upon them and slay them."  "Not so," he
+answered; "Caswallawn and his men will hear of it, and we shall be
+undone.  Let us go to another town."  So to another town they went.
+
+"What craft shall we take?" said Manawyddan.  "Whatsoever thou wilt
+that we know," said Pryderi.  "Not so," he replied, "but let us take
+to making shoes, for there is not courage enough among cordwainers
+either to fight with us or to molest us."  "I know nothing thereof,"
+said Pryderi.  "But I know," answered Manawyddan; "and I will teach
+thee to stitch.  We will not attempt to dress the leather, but we
+will buy it ready dressed and will make the shoes from it."
+
+So he began by buying the best cordwal that could be had in the town,
+and none other would he buy except the leather for the soles; and he
+associated himself with the best goldsmith in the town, and caused
+him to make clasps for the shoes, and to gild the clasps, and he
+marked how it was done until he learnt the method.  And therefore was
+he called one of the three makers of Gold Shoes; and, when they could
+be had from him, not a shoe nor hose was bought of any of the
+cordwainers in the town.  But when the cordwainers perceived that
+their gains were failing (for as Manawyddan shaped the work, so
+Pryderi stitched it), they came together and took counsel, and agreed
+that they would slay them.
+
+"Pryderi," said Manawyddan, "these men are minded to slay us."
+"Wherefore should we bear this from the boorish thieves?" said
+Pryderi.  "Rather let us slay them all."  "Not so," said Manawyddan,
+"we will not slay them, neither will we remain in Lloegyr any longer.
+Let us set forth to Dyved and go to see it."
+
+So they journeyed along until they came to Dyved, and they went
+forward to Narberth.  And there they kindled fire and supported
+themselves by hunting.  And thus they spent a month.  And they
+gathered their dogs around them, and tarried there one year.
+
+And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to hunt, and they
+ranged their dogs and went forth from the palace.  And some of the
+dogs ran before them and came to a small bush which was near at hand;
+but as soon as they were come to the bush, they hastily drew back and
+returned to the men, their hair bristling up greatly.  "Let us go
+near to the bush," said Pryderi, "and see what is in it."  And as
+they came near, behold, a wild boar of a pure white colour rose up
+from the bush.  Then the dogs, being set on by the men, rushed
+towards him; but he left the bush and fell back a little way from the
+men, and made a stand against the dogs without retreating from them,
+until the men had come near.  And when the men came up, he fell back
+a second time, and betook him to flight.  Then they pursued the boar
+until they beheld a vast and lofty castle, all newly built, in a
+place where they had never before seen either stone or building.  And
+the boar ran swiftly into the castle and the dogs after him.  Now
+when the boar and the dogs had gone into the castle, they began to
+wonder at finding a castle in a place where they had never before
+seen any building whatsoever.  And from the top of the Gorsedd they
+looked and listened for the dogs.  But so long as they were there
+they heard not one of the dogs nor aught concerning them.
+
+"Lord," said Pryderi, "I will go into the castle to get tidings of
+the dogs."  "Truly," he replied, "thou wouldst be unwise to go into
+this castle, which thou hast never seen till now.  If thou wouldst
+follow my counsel, thou wouldst not enter therein.  Whosoever has
+cast a spell over this land has caused this castle to be here."  "Of
+a truth," answered Pryderi, "I cannot thus give up my dogs."  And for
+all the counsel that Manawyddan gave him, yet to the castle he went.
+
+When he came within the castle, neither man nor beast, nor boar nor
+dogs, nor house nor dwelling saw he within it.  But in the centre of
+the castle floor he beheld a fountain with marble work around it, and
+on the margin of the fountain a golden bowl upon a marble slab, and
+chains hanging from the air, to which he saw no end.
+
+And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and with the
+rich workmanship of the bowl, and he went up to the bowl and laid
+hold of it.  And when he had taken hold of it his hands stuck to the
+bowl, and his feet to the slab on which the howl was placed, and all
+his joyousness forsook him, so that he could not utter a word.  And
+thus he stood.
+
+And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the day.  And
+late in the evening, being certain that he should have no tidings of
+Pryderi or of the dogs, he went back to the palace.  And as he
+entered, Rhiannon looked at him.  "Where," said she, "are thy
+companion and thy dogs?"  "Behold," he answered, "the adventure that
+has befallen me."  And he related it all unto her.  "An evil
+companion hast thou been," said Rhiannon, "and a good companion hast
+thou lost."  And with that word she went out, and proceeded towards
+the castle according to the direction which he gave her.  The gate of
+the castle she found open.  She was nothing daunted, and she went in.
+And as she went in, she perceived Pryderi laying hold of the bowl,
+and she went towards him.  "Oh, my lord," said she, "what dust thou
+do here?"  And she took hold of the bowl with him; and as she did so
+her hands became fast to the bowl, and her feet to the slab, and she
+was not able to utter a word.  And with that, as it became night, lo,
+there came thunder upon them, and a fall of mist, and thereupon the
+castle vanished, and they with it.
+
+When Kicva the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw saw that there was no one in
+the palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so that she cared
+not whether she lived or died.  And Manawyddan saw this.  "Thou art
+in the wrong," said he, "if through fear of me thou grievest thus.  I
+call Heaven to witness that thou hast never seen friendship mere pure
+than that which I will bear thee, as long as Heaven will that thou
+shouldst be thus.  I declare to thee that were I in the dawn of youth
+I would keep my faith unto Pryderi, and unto thee also will I keep
+it.  Be there no fear upon thee, therefore," said he, "for Heaven is
+my witness that thou shalt meet with all the friendship thou canst
+wish, and that it is in my power to show thee, as long as it shall
+please Heaven to continue us in this grief and woe."  "Heaven reward
+thee," she said, "and that is what I deemed of thee."  And the damsel
+thereupon took courage and was glad.
+
+"Truly, lady," said Manawyddan, "it is not fitting for us to stay
+here, we have lost our dogs, and we cannot get food.  Let us go into
+Lloegyr; it is easiest for us to find support there."  "Gladly,
+lord," said she, "we will do so."  And they set forth together to
+Lloegyr.
+
+"Lord," said she, "what craft wilt thou follow?  Take up one that is
+seemly."  "None other will I take," answered he, "save that of making
+shoes, as I did formerly."  "Lord," said she, "such a craft becomes
+not a man so nobly born as thou."  "By that however will I abide,"
+said he.
+
+So he began his craft, and he made all his work of the finest leather
+he could get in the town, and, as he had done at the other place, he
+caused gilded clasps to be made for the shoes.  And except himself
+all the cordwainers in the town were idle, and without work.  For as
+long as they could be had from him, neither shoes nor hose were
+bought elsewhere.  And thus they tarried there a year, until the
+cordwainers became envious, and took counsel concerning him.  And he
+had warning thereof, and it was told him how the cordwainers had
+agreed together to slay him.
+
+"Lord," said Kicva, "wherefore should this be borne from these
+boors?"  "Nay," said he, "we will go back unto Dyved."  So towards
+Dyved they set forth.
+
+Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved, took with him a
+burden of wheat.  And he proceeded towards Narberth, and there he
+dwelt.  And never was he better pleased than when he saw Narberth
+again, and the lands where he had been wont to hunt with Pryderi and
+with Rhiannon.  And he accustomed himself to fish, and to hunt the
+deer in their covert.  And then he began to prepare some ground, and
+he sowed a croft, and a second, and a third.  And no wheat in the
+world ever sprung up better.  And the three crofts prospered with
+perfect growth, and no man ever saw fairer wheat than it.
+
+And thus passed the seasons of the year until the harvest came.  And
+he went to look at one of his crofts, and behold it was ripe.  "I
+will reap this to-morrow," said he.  And that night he went back to
+Narberth, and on the morrow in the grey dawn he went to reap the
+croft, and when he came there he found nothing but the bare straw.
+Every one of the ears of the wheat was cut from off the stalk, and
+all the ears carried entirely away, and nothing but the straw left.
+And at this he marvelled greatly.
+
+Then he went to look at another croft, and behold that also was ripe.
+"Verily," said he, "this will I reap to-morrow.  And on the morrow he
+came with the intent to reap it, and when he came there he found
+nothing but the bare straw.  "Oh, gracious Heaven," he exclaimed, "I
+know that whosoever has begun my ruin is completing it, and has also
+destroyed the country with me."
+
+Then he went to look at the third croft, and when he came there,
+finer wheat had there never been seen, and this also was ripe.  "Evil
+betide me," said he, "if I watch not here to-night.  Whoever carried
+off the other corn will come in like manner to take this.  And I will
+know who it is."  So he took his arms, and began to watch the croft.
+And he told Kicva all that had befallen.  "Verily," said she, "what
+thinkest thou to do?"  "I will watch the croft to-night," said he.
+
+And he went to watch the croft.  And at midnight, lo, there arose the
+loudest tumult in the world.  And he looked, and behold the mightiest
+host of mice in the world, which could neither be numbered nor
+measured.  And he knew not what it was until the mice had made their
+way into the croft, and each of them climbing up the straw and
+bending it down with its weight, had cut off one of the ears of
+wheat, and had carried it away, leaving there the stalk, and he saw
+not a single stalk there that had not a mouse to it.  And they all
+took their way, carrying the ears with them.
+
+In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice, but he could no more
+come up with them than if they had been gnats, or birds in the air,
+except one only, which though it was but sluggish, went so fast that
+a man on foot could scarce overtake it.  And after this one he went,
+and he caught it and put it in his glove, and tied up the opening of
+the glove with a string, and kept it with him, and returned to the
+palace.  Then he came to the hall where Kicva was, and he lighted a
+fire, and hung the glove by the string upon a peg.  "What hast thou
+there, lord?" said Kicva.  "A thief," said he, "that I found robbing
+me."  "What kind of thief may it be, lord, that thou couldst put into
+thy glove?" said she.  "Behold I will tell thee," he answered.  Then
+he showed her how his fields had been wasted and destroyed, and how
+the mice came to the last of the fields in his sight.  "And one of
+them was less nimble than the rest, and is now in my glove; to-morrow
+I will hang it, and before Heaven, if I had them, I would hang them
+all."  "My lord," said she, "this is marvellous; but yet it would be
+unseemly for a man of dignity like thee to be hanging such a reptile
+as this.  And if thou doest right, thou wilt not meddle with the
+creature, but wilt let it go."  "Woe betide me," said he, "if I would
+not hang them all could I catch them, and such as I have I will
+hang."  "Verily, lord," said she, "there is no reason that I should
+succour this reptile, except to prevent discredit unto thee.  Do
+therefore, lord, as thou wilt."  "If I knew of any cause in the world
+wherefore thou shouldst succour it, I would take thy counsel
+concerning it," said Manawyddan, "but as I know of none, lady, I am
+minded to destroy it."  "Do so willingly then," said she.
+
+And then he went to the Gorsedd of Narberth, taking the mouse with
+him.  And he set up two forks on the highest part of the Gorsedd.
+And while he was doing this, behold he saw a scholar coming towards
+him, in old and poor and tattered garments.  And it was now seven
+years since he had seen in that place either man or beast, except
+those four persons who had remained together until two of them were
+lost.
+
+"My lord," said the scholar, "good day to thee."  "Heaven prosper
+thee, and my greeting be unto thee.  And whence dost thou come,
+scholar?" asked he.  "I come, lord, from singing in Lloegyr; and
+wherefore dost thou inquire?"  "Because for the last seven years,"
+answered he, "I have seen no man here save four secluded persons, and
+thyself this moment."  "Truly, lord," said he, "I go through this
+land unto mine own.  And what work art thou upon, lord?"  "I am
+hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said he.  "What manner of
+thief is that?" asked the scholar.  "I see a creature in thy hand
+like unto a mouse, and ill does it become a man of rank equal to
+thine to touch a reptile such as this.  Let it go forth free."  "I
+will not let it go free, by Heaven," said he; "I caught it robbing
+me, and the doom of a thief will I inflict upon it, and I will hang
+it."  "Lord," said he, "rather than see a man of rank equal to thine
+at such a work as this, I would give thee a pound which I have
+received as alms, to let the reptile go forth free."  "I will not let
+it go free," said he, "by Heaven, neither will I sell it."  "As thou
+wilt, lord," he answered; "except that I would not see a man of rank
+equal to thine touching such a reptile, I care nought."  And the
+scholar went his way.
+
+And as he was placing the crossbeam upon the two forks, behold a
+priest came towards him upon a horse covered with trappings.  "Good
+day to thee, lord," said he.  "Heaven prosper thee," said Manawyddan;
+"thy blessing."  "The blessing of Heaven be upon thee.  And what,
+lord, art thou doing?"  "I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing
+me," said he.  "What manner of thief, lord?" asked he.  "A creature,"
+he answered, "in form of a mouse.  It has been robbing me, and I am
+inflicting upon it the doom of a thief."  "Lord," said he, "rather
+than see thee touch this reptile, I would purchase its freedom."  "By
+my confession to Heaven, neither will I sell it nor set it free."
+"It is true, lord, that it is worth nothing to buy; but rather than
+see thee defile thyself by touching such a reptile as this, I will
+give thee three pounds to let it go."  "I will not, by Heaven," said
+he, "take any price for at.  As it ought, so shall it be hanged."
+"Willingly, lord, do thy good pleasure."  And the priest went his
+way.
+
+Then he noosed the string around the mouse's neck, and as he was
+about to draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop's retinue with his
+sumpter-horses, and his attendants.  And the bishop himself came
+towards him.  And he stayed his work.  "Lord bishop," said he, "thy
+blessing."  "Heaven's blessing be unto thee," said he; "what work art
+thou upon?"  "Hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said he.
+"Is not that a mouse that I see in thy hand?"  "Yes," answered he.
+"And she has robbed me."  "Aye," said he, "since I have come at the
+doom of this reptile, I will ransom it of thee.  I will give thee
+seven pounds for it, and that rather than see a man of rank equal to
+thine destroying so vile a reptile as this.  Let it loose and thou
+shalt have the money."  "I declare to Heaven that I will not set it
+loose."  "If thou wilt not loose it for this, I will give thee four-
+and-twenty pounds of ready money to set it free."  "I will not set it
+free, by Heaven, for as much again," said he.  "If thou wilt not set
+it free for this, I will give thee all the horses that thou seest in
+this plain, and the seven loads of baggage, and the seven horses that
+they are upon."  "By Heaven, I will not," he replied.  "Since for
+this thou wilt not, do so at what price soever thou wilt."  "I will
+do so," said he.  "I will that Rhiannon and Pryderi be free," said
+he.  "That thou shalt have," he answered.  "Not yet will I loose the
+mouse, by Heaven."  "What then wouldst thou?"  "That the charm and
+the illusion be removed from the seven Cantrevs of Dyved."  "This
+shalt thou have also; set therefore the mouse free."  "I will not set
+it free, by Heaven," said he.  "I will know who the mouse may be."
+"She is my wife."  "Even though she be, I will not set her free.
+Wherefore came she to me?"  "To despoil thee," he answered.  "I am
+Llwyd the son of Kilcoed, and I cast the charm over the seven
+Cantrevs of Dyved.  And it was to avenge Gwawl the son of Clud, from
+the friendship I had towards him, that I cast the charm.  And upon
+Pryderi did I revenge Gwawl the son of Clud, for the game of Badger
+in the Bag, that Pwyll Pen Annwvyn played upon him, which he did
+unadvisedly in the Court of Heveydd Hen.  And when it was known that
+thou wast come to dwell in the land, my household came and besought
+me to transform them into mice, that they might destroy thy corn.
+And it was my own household that went the first night.  And the
+second night also they went, and they destroyed thy two crofts.  And
+the third night came unto me my wife and the ladies of the Court, and
+besought me to transform them.  And I transformed them.  Now she is
+pregnant.  And had she not been pregnant thou wouldst not have been
+able to overtake her; but since this has taken place, and she has
+been caught, I will restore thee Pryderi and Rhiannon; and I will
+take the charm and illusion from off Dyved.  I have now told thee who
+she is.  Set her therefore free."  "I will not set her free, by
+Heaven," said he.  "What wilt thou more?" he asked.  "I will that
+there be no more charm upon the seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and that
+none shall be put upon it henceforth."  "This thou shalt have," said
+he.  "Now set her free."  "I will not, by my faith," he answered.
+"What wilt thou furthermore?" asked he.  "Behold," said he, "this
+will I have; that vengeance be never taken for this, either upon
+Pryderi or Rhiannon, or upon me."  "All this shalt thou have.  And
+truly thou hast done wisely in asking this.  Upon thy head would have
+lighted all this trouble."  "Yea," said he, "for fear thereof was it,
+that I required this."  "Set now my wife at liberty."  "I will not,
+by Heaven," said he, "until I see Pryderi and Rhiannon with me free."
+"Behold, here they come," he answered.
+
+And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon.  And he rose up to meet
+them, and greeted them, and sat down beside them.  "Ah, Chieftain,
+set now my wife at liberty," said the bishop.  "Hast thou not
+received all thou didst ask?"  "I will release her gladly," said he.
+And thereupon he set her free.
+
+Then Llwyd struck her with a magic wand, and she was changed back
+into a young woman, the fairest ever seen.
+
+"Look around upon thy land," said he, "and then thou wilt see it all
+tilled and peopled, as it was in its best state."  And he rose up and
+looked forth.  And when he looked he saw all the lands tilled, and
+full of herds and dwellings.  "What bondage," he inquired, "has there
+been upon Pryderi and Rhiannon?"  "Pryderi has had the knockers of
+the gate of my palace about his neck, and Rhiannon has had the
+collars of the asses, after they have been carrying hay, about her
+neck."
+
+And such had been their bondage.
+
+And by reason of this bondage is this story called the Mabinogi of
+Mynnweir and Mynord.
+
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi.
+
+
+
+MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY
+THIS IS THE FOURTH PORTION OF THE MABINOGI
+
+
+
+Math the son of Mathonwy was lord over Gwynedd, and Pryderi the son
+of Pwyll was lord over the one-and-twenty Cantrevs of the South; and
+these were the seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and the seven Cantrevs of
+Morganwc, the four Cantrevs of Ceredigiawn, and the three of Ystrad
+Tywi.
+
+At that time, Math the son of Mathonwy could not exist unless his
+feet were in the lap of a maiden, except only when he was prevented
+by the tumult of war.  Now the maiden who was with him was Goewin,
+the daughter of Pebin of Dol Pebin, in Arvon, and she was the fairest
+maiden of her time who was known there.
+
+And Math dwelt always at Caer Dathyl, in Arvon, and was not able to
+go the circuit of the land, but Gilvaethwy the son of Don, and Eneyd
+the son of Don, his nephews, the sons of his sisters, with his
+household, went the circuit of the land in his stead.
+
+Now the maiden was with Math continually, and Gilvaethwy the son of
+Don set his affections upon her, and loved her so that he knew not
+what he should do because of her, and therefrom behold his hue, and
+his aspect, and his spirits changed for love of her, so that it was
+not easy to know him.
+
+One day his brother Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him.  "Youth,"
+said he, "what aileth thee?"  "Why," replied he, "what seest thou in
+me?"  "I see," said he, "that thou hast lost thy aspect and thy hue;
+what, therefore, aileth thee?"  "My lord brother," he answered, "that
+which aileth me, it will not profit me that I should own to any."
+"What may it be, my soul?" said he.  "Thou knowest," he said, "that
+Math the son of Mathonwy has this property, that if men whisper
+together, in a tone how low soever, if the wind meet it, it becomes
+known unto him."  "Yes," said Gwydion, "hold now thy peace, I know
+thy intent, thou lovest Goewin."
+
+When he found that his brother knew his intent, he gave the heaviest
+sigh in the world.  "Be silent, my soul, and sigh not," he said.  "It
+is not thereby that thou wilt succeed.  I will cause," said he, "if
+it cannot be otherwise, the rising of Gwynedd, and Powys, and
+Deheubarth, to seek the maiden.  Be thou of glad cheer therefore, and
+I will compass it."
+
+So they went unto Math the son of Mathonwy.  "Lord," said Gwydion, "I
+have heard that there have come to the South some beasts, such as
+were never known in this island before."  "What are they called?" he
+asked.  "Pigs, lord."  "And what kind of animals are they?"  "They
+are small animals, and their flesh is better than the flesh of oxen."
+"They are small, then?"  "And they change their names.  Swine are
+they now called."  "Who owneth them?"  "Pryderi the son of Pwyll;
+they were sent him from Annwvyn, by Arawn the king of Annwvyn, and
+still they keep that name, half hog, half pig."  "Verily," asked he,
+"and by what means may they be obtained from him?"  "I will go, lord,
+as one of twelve, in the guise of bards, to seek the swine."  "But it
+may be that he will refuse you," said he.  "My journey will not be
+evil, lord," said he; "I will not come back without the swine."
+"Gladly," said he, "go thou forward."
+
+So he and Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them.  And they
+came into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now called Rhuddlan
+Teivi, where the palace of Pryderi was.  In the guise of bards they
+came in, and they were received joyfully, and Gwydion was placed
+beside Pryderi that night.
+
+"Of a truth," said Pryderi, "gladly would I have a tale from some of
+your men yonder."  "Lord," said Gwydion, "we have a custom that the
+first night that we come to the Court of a great man, the chief of
+song recites.  Gladly will I relate a tale."  Now Gwydion was the
+best teller of tales in the world, and he diverted all the Court that
+night with pleasant discourse and with tales, so that he charmed
+every one in the Court, and it pleased Pryderi to talk with him.
+
+And after this, "Lord," said he unto Pryderi, "were it more pleasing
+to thee, that another should discharge my errand unto thee, than that
+I should tell thee myself what it is?"  "No," he answered, "ample
+speech hast thou."  "Behold then, lord," said he, "my errand.  It is
+to crave from thee the animals that were sent thee from Annwvyn."
+"Verily," he replied, "that were the easiest thing in the world to
+grant, were there not a covenant between me and my land concerning
+them.  And the covenant is that they shall not go from me, until they
+have produced double their number in the land."  "Lord," said he, "I
+can set thee free from those words, and this is the way I can do so;
+give me not the swine to-night, neither refuse them unto me, and to-
+morrow I will show thee an exchange for them."
+
+And that night he and his fellows went unto their lodging, and they
+took counsel.  "Ah, my men," said he, "we shall not have the swine
+for the asking."  "Well," said they, "how may they be obtained?"  "I
+will cause them to be obtained," said Gwydion.
+
+Then he betook himself to his arts, and began to work a charm.  And
+he caused twelve chargers to appear, and twelve black greyhounds,
+each of them white-breasted, and having upon them twelve collars and
+twelve leashes, such as no one that saw them could know to be other
+than gold.  And upon the horses twelve saddles, and every part which
+should have been of iron was entirely of gold, and the bridles were
+of the same workmanship.  And with the horses and the dogs he came to
+Pryderi.
+
+"Good day unto thee, lord," said he.  "Heaven prosper thee," said the
+other, "and greetings be unto thee."  "Lord," said he, "behold here
+is a release for thee from the word which thou spakest last evening
+concerning the swine; that thou wouldst neither give nor sell them.
+Thou mayest exchange them for that which is better.  And I will give
+these twelve horses, all caparisoned as they are, with their saddles
+and their bridles, and these twelve greyhounds, with their collars
+and their leashes as thou seest, and the twelve gilded shields that
+thou beholdest yonder."  Now these he had formed of fungus.  "Well,"
+said he, "we will take counsel."  And they consulted together, and
+determined to give the swine to Gwydion, and to take his horses and
+his dogs and his shields.
+
+Then Gwydion and his men took their leave, and began to journey forth
+with the pigs.  "Ah, my comrades," said Gwydion, "it is needful that
+we journey with speed.  The illusion will not last but from the one
+hour to the same to-morrow."
+
+And that night they journeyed as far as the upper part of
+Ceredigiawn, to the place which, from that cause, is called Mochdrev
+still.  And the next day they took their course through Melenydd, and
+came that night to the town which is likewise for that reason called
+Mochdrev between Keri and Arwystli.  And thence they journeyed
+forward; and that night they came as far as that Commot in Powys,
+which also upon account thereof is called Mochnant, and there tarried
+they that night.  And they journeyed thence to the Cantrev of Rhos,
+and the place where they were that night is still called Mochdrev.
+
+"My men," said Gwydion, "we must push forward to the fastnesses of
+Gwynedd with these animals, for there is a gathering of hosts in
+pursuit of us."  So they journeyed on to the highest town of
+Arllechwedd, and there they made a sty for the swine, and therefore
+was the name of Creuwyryon given to that town.  And after they had
+made the sty for the swine, they proceeded to Math the son of
+Mathonwy, at Caer Dathyl.  And when they came there, the country was
+rising.  "What news is there here?" asked Gwydion.  "Pryderi is
+assembling one-and-twenty Cantrevs to pursue after you," answered
+they.  "It is marvellous that you should have journeyed so slowly."
+"Where are the animals whereof you went in quest?" said Math.  "They
+have had a sty made for them in the other Cantrev below," said
+Gwydion.
+
+Thereupon, lo, they heard the trumpets and the host in the land, and
+they arrayed themselves and set forward and came to Penardd in Arvon.
+
+And at night Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy his brother,
+returned to Caer Dathyl; and Gilvaethwy took Math the son of
+Mathonwy's couch.  And while he turned out the other damsels from the
+room discourteously, he made Goewin unwillingly remain.
+
+And when they saw the day on the morrow, they went back unto the
+place where Math the son of Mathonwy was with his host; and when they
+came there, the warriors were taking counsel in what district they
+should await the coming of Pryderi, and the men of the South.  So
+they went in to the council.  And it was resolved to wait in the
+strongholds of Gwynedd, in Arvon.  So within the two Maenors they
+took their stand, Maenor Penardd and Maenor Coed Alun.  And there
+Pryderi attacked them, and there the combat took place.  And great
+was the slaughter on both sides; but the men of the South were forced
+to flee.  And they fled unto the place which is still called
+Nantcall.  And thither did they follow them, and they made a vast
+slaughter of them there, so that they fled again as far as the place
+called Dol Pen Maen, and there they halted and sought to make peace.
+
+And that he might have peace, Pryderi gave hostages, Gwrgi Gwastra
+gave he and three-and-twenty others, sons of nobles.  And after this
+they journeyed in peace even unto Traeth Mawr; but as they went on
+together towards Melenryd, the men on foot could not be restrained
+from shooting.  Pryderi dispatched unto Math an embassy to pray him
+to forbid his people, and to leave it between him and Gwydion the son
+of Don, for that he had caused all this.  And the messengers came to
+Math.  "Of a truth," said Math, "I call Heaven to witness, if it be
+pleasing unto Gwydion the son of Don, I will so leave it gladly.
+Never will I compel any to go to fight, but that we ourselves should
+do our utmost."
+
+"Verily," said the messengers, "Pryderi saith that it were more fair
+that the man who did him this wrong should oppose his own body to
+his, and let his people remain unscathed."  "I declare to Heaven, I
+will not ask the men of Gwynedd to fight because of me.  If I am
+allowed to fight Pryderi myself, gladly will I oppose my body to
+his."  And this answer they took back to Pryderi.  "Truly," said
+Pryderi, "I shall require no one to demand my rights but myself."
+
+Then these two came forth and armed themselves, and they fought.  And
+by force of strength, and fierceness, and by the magic and charms of
+Gwydion, Pryderi was slain.  And at Maen Tyriawc, above Melenryd, was
+he buried, and there is his grave.
+
+And the men of the South set forth in sorrow towards their own land;
+nor is it a marvel that they should grieve, seeing that they had lost
+their lord, and many of their best warriors, and for the most part
+their horses and their arms.
+
+The men of Gwynedd went back joyful and in triumph.  "Lord," said
+Gwydion unto Math, "would it not be right for us to release the
+hostages of the men of the South, which they pledged unto us for
+peace? for we ought not to put them in prison."  "Let them then be
+set free," saith Math.  So that youth, and the other hostages that
+were with him, were set free to follow the men of the South.
+
+Math himself went forward to Caer Dathyl.  Gilvaethwy the son of Don,
+and they of the household that were with him, went to make the
+circuit of Gwynedd as they were wont, without coming to the Court.
+Math went into his chamber, and caused a place to be prepared for him
+whereon to recline, so that he might put his feet in the maiden's
+lap.  "Lord," said Goewin, "seek now another to hold thy feet, for I
+am now a wife."  "What meaneth this?" said he.  "An attack, lord, was
+made unawares upon me; but I held not my peace, and there was no one
+in the Court who knew not of it.  Now the attack was made by thy
+nephews, lord, the sons of thy sister, Gwydion the son of Don, and
+Gilvaethwy the son of Don; unto me they did wrong, and unto thee
+dishonour."  "Verily," he exclaimed, "I will do to the utmost of my
+power concerning this matter.  But first I will cause thee to have
+compensation, and then will I have amends made unto myself.  As for
+thee, I will take thee to be my wife, and the possession of my
+dominions will I give unto thy hands."
+
+And Gwydion and Gilvaethwy came not near the Court, but stayed in the
+confines of the land until it was forbidden to give them meat and
+drink.  At first they came not near unto Math, but at the last they
+came.  "Lord," said they, "good day to thee."  "Well," said he, "is
+it to make me compensation that ye are come?"  "Lord," they said, "we
+are at thy will."  "By my will I would not have lost my warriors, and
+so many arms as I have done.  You cannot compensate me my shame,
+setting aside the death of Pryderi.  But since ye come hither to be
+at my will, I shall begin your punishment forthwith."
+
+Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so that he became
+a deer, and he seized upon the other hastily lest he should escape
+from him.  And he struck him with the same magic wand, and he became
+a deer also.  "Since now ye are in bonds, I will that ye go forth
+together and be companions, and possess the nature of the animals
+whose form ye bear.  And this day twelvemonth come hither unto me."
+
+At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud noise under
+the chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace together
+with the noise.  "Look," said he, "what is without."  "Lord," said
+one, "I have looked; there are there two deer, and a fawn with them."
+Then he arose and went out.  And when he came he beheld the three
+animals.  And he lifted up his wand.  "As ye were deer last year, be
+ye wild hogs each and either of you, for the year that is to come."
+And thereupon he struck them with the magic wand.  "The young one
+will I take and cause to be baptized."  Now the name that he gave him
+was Hydwn.  "Go ye and be wild swine, each and either of you, and be
+ye of the nature of wild swine.  And this day twelvemonth be ye here
+under the wall."
+
+At the end of the year the barking of dogs was heard under the wall
+of the chamber.  And the Court assembled, and thereupon he arose and
+went forth, and when he came forth he beheld three beasts.  Now these
+were the beasts that he saw; two wild hogs of the woods, and a well-
+grown young one with them.  And he was very large for his age.
+"Truly," said Math, "this one will I take and cause to be baptized."
+And he struck him with his magic wand, and he become a fine fair
+auburn-haired youth, and the name that he gave him was Hychdwn.  "Now
+as for you, as ye were wild hogs last year, be ye wolves each and
+either of you for the year that is to come."  Thereupon he struck
+them with his magic wand, and they became wolves.  "And be ye of like
+nature with the animals whose semblance ye bear, and return here this
+day twelvemonth beneath this wall."
+
+And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a clamour and a
+barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber.  And he rose and went
+forth.  And when he came, behold, he saw two wolves, and a strong cub
+with them.  "This one will I take," said Math, "and I will cause him
+to be baptized; there is a name prepared for him, and that is
+Bleiddwn.  Now these three, such are they:-
+
+
+The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false,
+The three faithful combatants,
+Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall."
+
+
+Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they resumed their
+own nature.  "Oh men," said he, "for the wrong that ye did unto me
+sufficient has been your punishment and your dishonour.  Prepare now
+precious ointment for these men, and wash their heads, and equip
+them."  And this was done.
+
+And after they were equipped, they came unto him.  "Oh men," said he,
+"you have obtained peace, and you shall likewise have friendship.
+Give your counsel unto me, what maiden I shall seek."  "Lord," said
+Gwydion the son of Don, "it is easy to give thee counsel; seek
+Arianrod, the daughter of Don, thy niece, thy sister's daughter."
+
+And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in.  "Ha, damsel,"
+said he, "art thou the maiden?"  "I know not, lord, other than that I
+am."  Then he took up his magic wand, and bent it.  "Step over this,"
+said he, "and I shall know if thou art the maiden."  Then stepped she
+over the magic wand, and there appeared forthwith a fine chubby
+yellow-haired boy.  And at the crying out of the boy, she went
+towards the door.  And thereupon some small form was seen; but before
+any one could get a second glimpse of it, Gwydion had taken it, and
+had flung a scarf of velvet around it and hidden it.  Now the place
+where he hid it was the bottom of a chest at the foot of his bed.
+
+"Verily," said Math the son of Mathonwy, concerning the fine yellow-
+haired boy, "I will cause this one to be baptized, and Dylan is the
+name I will give him."
+
+So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him he plunged
+into the sea.  And immediately when he was in the sea, he took its
+nature, and swam as well as the best fish that was therein.  And for
+that reason was he called Dylan, the son of the Wave.  Beneath him no
+wave ever broke.  And the blow whereby he came to his death, was
+struck by his uncle Govannon.  The third fatal blow was it called.
+
+As Gwydion lay one morning on his bed awake, he heard a cry in the
+chest at his feet; and though it was not loud, it was such that he
+could hear it.  Then he arose in haste, and opened the chest:  and
+when he opened it, he beheld an infant boy stretching out his arms
+from the folds of the scarf, and casting it aside.  And he took up
+the boy in his arms, and carried him to a place where he knew there
+was a woman that could nurse him.  And he agreed with the woman that
+she should take charge of the boy.  And that year he was nursed.
+
+And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as though he were
+two years old.  And the second year he was a big child, and able to
+go to the Court by himself.  And when he came to the Court, Gwydion
+noticed him, and the boy became familiar with him, and loved him
+better than any one else.  Then was the boy reared at the Court until
+he was four years old, when he was as big as though he had been
+eight.
+
+And one day Gwydion walked forth, and the boy followed him, and he
+went to the Castle of Arianrod, having the boy with him; and when he
+came into the Court, Arianrod arose to meet him, and greeted him and
+bade him welcome.  "Heaven prosper thee," said he.  "Who is the boy
+that followeth thee?" she asked.  "This youth, he is thy son," he
+answered.  "Alas," said she, "what has come unto thee that thou
+shouldst shame me thus? wherefore dost thou seek my dishonour, and
+retain it so long as this?"  "Unless thou suffer dishonour greater
+than that of my bringing up such a boy as this, small will be thy
+disgrace."  "What is the name of the boy?" said she.  "Verily," he
+replied, "he has not yet a name."  "Well," she said, "I lay this
+destiny upon him, that he shall never have a name until he receives
+one from me."  "Heaven bears me witness," answered he, "that thou art
+a wicked woman.  But the boy shall have a name how displeasing soever
+it may be unto thee.  As for thee, that which afflicts thee is that
+thou art no longer called a damsel."  And thereupon he went forth in
+wrath, and returned to Caer Dathyl and there he tarried that night.
+
+And the next day he arose and took the boy with him, and went to walk
+on the seashore between that place and Aber Menei.  And there he saw
+some sedges and seaweed, and he turned them into a boat.  And out of
+dry sticks and sedges he made some Cordovan leather, and a great deal
+thereof, and he coloured it in such a manner that no one ever saw
+leather more beautiful than it.  Then he made a sail to the boat, and
+he and the boy went in it to the port of the castle of Arianrod.  And
+he began forming shoes and stitching them, until he was observed from
+the castle.  And when he knew that they of the castle were observing
+him, he disguised his aspect, and put another semblance upon himself,
+and upon the boy, so that they might not be known.  "What men are
+those in yonder boat?" said Arianrod.  "They are cordwainers,"
+answered they.  "Go and see what kind of leather they have, and what
+kind of work they can do."
+
+So they came unto them.  And when they came he was colouring some
+Cordovan leather, and gilding it.  And the messengers came and told
+her this.  "Well," said she, "take the measure of my foot, and desire
+the cordwainer to make shoes for me."  So he made the shoes for her,
+yet not according to the measure, but larger.  The shoes then were
+brought unto her, and behold they were too large.  "These are too
+large," said she, "but he shall receive their value.  Let him also
+make some that are smaller than they."  Then he made her others that
+were much smaller than her foot, and sent them unto her.  "Tell him
+that these will not go on my feet," said she.  And they told him
+this.  "Verily," said he, "I will not make her any shoes, unless I
+see her foot."  And this was told unto her.  "Truly," she answered,
+"I will go unto him."
+
+So she went down to the boat, and when she came there, he was shaping
+shoes and the boy stitching them.  "Ah, lady," said he, "good day to
+thee."  "Heaven prosper thee," said she.  "I marvel that thou canst
+not manage to make shoes according to a measure."  "I could not," he
+replied, "but now I shall be able."
+
+Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and the boy
+shot at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and the bone.
+Then she smiled.  "Verily," said she, "with a steady hand did the
+lion aim at it."  "Heaven reward thee not, but now has he got a name.
+And a good enough name it is.  Llew Llaw Gyffes be he called
+henceforth."
+
+Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went on with
+it no further.  And for that reason was he called the third Gold-
+shoemaker.  "Of a truth," said she, "thou wilt not thrive the better
+for doing evil unto me."  "I have done thee no evil yet," said he.
+Then he restored the boy to his own form.  "Well," said she, "I will
+lay a destiny upon this boy, that he shall never have arms and armour
+until I invest him with them."  "By Heaven," said he, "let thy malice
+be what it may, he shall have arms."
+
+Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up Llew
+Llaw Gyffes, until he could manage any horse, and he was perfect in
+features, and strength, and stature.  And then Gwydion saw that he
+languished through the want of horses and arms.  And he called him
+unto him.  "Ah, youth," said he, "we will go to-morrow on an errand
+together.  Be therefore more cheerful than thou art."  "That I will,"
+said the youth.
+
+Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose.  And they took way
+along the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen.  And at the top of Cevn
+Clydno they equipped themselves with horses, and went towards the
+Castle of Arianrod.  And they changed their form, and pricked towards
+the gate in the semblance of two youths, but the aspect of Gwydion
+was more staid than that of the other.  "Porter," said he, "go thou
+in and say that there are here bards from Glamorgan."  And the porter
+went in.  "The welcome of Heaven be unto them, let them in," said
+Arianrod.
+
+With great joy were they greeted.  And the hall was arranged, and
+they went to meat.  When meat was ended, Arianrod discoursed with
+Gwydion of tales and stories.  Now Gwydion was an excellent teller of
+tales.  And when it was time to leave off feasting, a chamber was
+prepared for them, and they went to rest.
+
+In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto him his magic
+and his power.  And by the time that the day dawned, there resounded
+through the land uproar, and trumpets and shouts.  When it was now
+day, they heard a knocking at the door of the chamber, and therewith
+Arianrod asking that it might be opened.  Up rose the youth and
+opened unto her, and she entered and a maiden with her.  "Ah, good
+men," she said, "in evil plight are we."  "Yes, truly," said Gwydion,
+"we have heard trumpets and shouts; what thinkest thou that they may
+mean?"  "Verily," said she, "we cannot see the colour of the ocean by
+reason of all the ships, side by side.  And they are making for the
+land with all the speed they can.  And what can we do?" said she.
+"Lady," said Gwydion, "there is none other counsel than to close the
+castle upon us, and to defend it as best we may."  "Truly," said she,
+"may Heaven reward you.  And do you defend it.  And here may you have
+plenty of arms."
+
+And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she returned,
+and two maidens, and suits of armour for two men, with her.  "Lady,"
+said he, "do you accoutre this stripling, and I will arm myself with
+the help of thy maidens.  Lo, I hear the tumult of the men
+approaching."  "I will do so, gladly."  So she armed him fully, and
+that right cheerfully.  "Hast thou finished arming the youth?" said
+he.  "I have finished," she answered.  "I likewise have finished,"
+said Gwydion.  "Let us now take off our arms, we have no need of
+them."  "Wherefore?" said she.  "Here is the army around the house."
+"Oh, lady, there is here no army."  "Oh," cried she, "whence then was
+this tumult?"  "The tumult was but to break thy prophecy and to
+obtain arms for thy son.  And now has he got arms without any thanks
+unto thee."  "By Heaven," said Arianrod, "thou art a wicked man.
+Many a youth might have lost his life through the uproar thou hast
+caused in this Cantrev to-day.  Now will I lay a destiny upon this
+youth," she said, "that he shall never have a wife of the race that
+now inhabits this earth."  "Verily," said he, "thou wast ever a
+malicious woman, and no one ought to support thee.  A wife shall he
+have notwithstanding."
+
+They went thereupon unto Math the son of Mathonwy, and complained
+unto him most bitterly of Arianrod.  Gwydion showed him also how he
+had procured arms for the youth.  "Well," said Math, "we will seek, I
+and thou, by charms and illusion, to form a wife for him out of
+flowers.  He has now come to man's stature, and he is the comeliest
+youth that was ever beheld."  So they took the blossoms of the oak,
+and the blossoms of the broom, and the blossoms of the meadow-sweet,
+and produced from them a maiden, the fairest and most graceful that
+man ever saw.  And they baptized her, and gave her the name of
+Blodeuwedd.
+
+After she had become his bride, and they had feasted, said Gwydion,
+"It is not easy for a man to maintain himself without possessions."
+"Of a truth," said Math, "I will give the young man the best Cantrev
+to hold."  "Lord," said he, "what Cantrev is that?"  "The Cantrev of
+Dinodig," he answered.  Now it is called at this day Eivionydd and
+Ardudwy.  And the place in the Cantrev where he dwelt, was a palace
+of his in a spot called Mur y Castell, on the confines of Ardudwy.
+There dwelt he and reigned, and both he and his sway were beloved by
+all.
+
+One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl, to visit Math the son of
+Mathonwy.  And on the day that he set out for Caer Dathyl, Blodeuwedd
+walked in the Court.  And she heard the sound of a horn.  And after
+the sound of the horn, behold a tired stag went by, with dogs and
+huntsmen following it.  And after the dogs and the huntsmen there
+came a crowd of men on foot.  "Send a youth," said she, "to ask who
+yonder host may be."  So a youth went, and inquired who they were.
+"Gronw Pebyr is this, the lord of Penllyn," said they.  And thus the
+youth told her.
+
+Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the river Cynvael he overtook
+the stag and killed it.  And what with flaying the stag and baiting
+his dogs, he was there until the night began to close in upon him.
+And as the day departed and the night drew near, he came to the gate
+of the Court.  "Verily," said Blodeuwedd, "the Chieftain will speak
+ill of us if we let him at this hour depart to another land without
+inviting him in."  "Yes, truly, lady," said they, "it will be most
+fitting to invite him."
+
+Then went messengers to meet him and bid him in.  And he accepted her
+bidding gladly, and came to the Court, and Blodeuwedd went to meet
+him, and greeted him, and bade him welcome.  "Lady," said he, "Heaven
+repay thee thy kindness."
+
+When they had disaccoutred themselves, they went to sit down.  And
+Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the moment that she looked on
+him she became filled with his love.  And he gazed on her, and the
+same thought came unto him as unto her, so that he could not conceal
+from her that he loved her, but he declared unto her that he did so.
+Thereupon she was very joyful.  And all their discourse that night
+was concerning the affection and love which they felt one for the
+other, and which in no longer space than one evening had arisen.  And
+that evening passed they in each other's company.
+
+The next day he sought to depart.  But she said, "I pray thee go not
+from me to-day."  And that night he tarried also.  And that night
+they consulted by what means they might always be together.  "There
+is none other counsel," said he, "but that thou strive to learn from
+Llew Llaw Gyffes in what manner he will meet his death.  And this
+must thou do under the semblance of solicitude concerning him."
+
+The next day Gronw sought to depart.  "Verily," said she, "I will
+counsel thee not to go from me to-day."  "At thy instance will I not
+go," said he, "albeit, I must say, there is danger that the chief who
+owns the palace may return home."  "To-morrow," answered she, "will I
+indeed permit thee to go forth."
+
+The next day he sought to go, and she hindered him not.  "Be
+mindful," said Gronw, "of what I have said unto thee, and converse
+with him fully, and that under the guise of the dalliance of love,
+and find out by what means he may come to his death."
+
+That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home.  And the day they
+spent in discourse, and minstrelsy, and feasting.  And at night they
+went to rest, and he spoke to Blodeuwedd once, and he spoke to her a
+second time.  But, for all this, he could not get from her one word.
+"What aileth thee?" said he, "art thou well?"  "I was thinking," said
+she, "of that which thou didst never think of concerning me; for I
+was sorrowful as to thy death, lest thou shouldst go sooner than I."
+"Heaven reward thy care for me," said he, "but until Heaven take me I
+shall not easily be slain"  "For the sake of Heaven, and for mine,
+show me how thou mightest be slain.  My memory in guarding is better
+than thine."  "I will tell thee gladly," said he.  "Not easily can I
+be slain, except by a wound.  And the spear wherewith I am struck
+must be a year in the forming.  And nothing must be done towards it
+except during the sacrifice on Sundays."  "Is this certain?" asked
+she.  "It is in truth," he answered.  "And I cannot be slain within a
+house, nor without.  I cannot be slain on horseback nor on foot."
+"Verily," said she, "in what manner then canst thou be slain?"  "I
+will tell thee," said he.  "By making a bath for me by the side of a
+river, and by putting a roof over the cauldron, and thatching it well
+and tightly, and bringing a buck, and putting it beside the cauldron.
+Then if I place one foot on the buck's back, and the other on the
+edge of the cauldron, whosoever strikes me thus will cause my death."
+"Well," said she, "I thank Heaven that it will be easy to avoid
+this."
+
+No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw Pebyr.
+Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day twelvemonth it was
+ready.  And that very day he caused her to be informed thereof.
+
+"Lord," said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, "I have been thinking how it is
+possible that what thou didst tell me formerly can be true; wilt thou
+show me in what manner thou couldst stand at once upon the edge of a
+cauldron and upon a buck, if I prepare the bath for thee?"  "I will
+show thee," said he.
+
+Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the hill which
+is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river Cynvael.  She
+caused also to be collected all the goats that were in the Cantrev,
+and had them brought to the other side of the river, opposite Bryn
+Kyvergyr.
+
+And the next day she spoke thus.  "Lord," said she, "I have caused
+the roof and the bath to be prepared, and lo! they are ready."
+"Well," said Llew, "we will go gladly to look at them."
+
+The day after they came and looked at the bath.  "Wilt thou go into
+the bath, lord?" said she.  "Willingly will I go in," he answered.
+So into the bath he went, and he anointed himself.  "Lord," said she,
+"behold the animals which thou didst speak of as being called bucks."
+"Well," said he, "cause one of them to be caught and brought here."
+And the buck was brought.  Then Llew rose out of the bath, and put on
+his trowsers, and he placed one foot on the edge of the bath and the
+other on the buck's back.
+
+Thereupon Gronw rose up from the bill which is called Bryn Kyvergyr,
+and he rested on one knee, and flung the poisoned dart and struck him
+on the side, so that the shaft started out, but the head of the dart
+remained in.  Then he flew up in the form of an eagle and gave a
+fearful scream.  And thenceforth was he no more seen.
+
+As soon as he departed Gronw and Blodeuwedd went together unto the
+palace that night.  And the next day Gronw arose and took possession
+of Ardudwy.  And after he had overcome the land, he ruled over it, so
+that Ardudwy and Penllyn were both under his sway.
+
+Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy.  And heaviness
+and grief came upon Math, and much more upon Gwydion than upon him.
+"Lord," said Gwydion, "I shall never rest until I have tidings of my
+nephew."  "Verily," said Math, "may Heaven be thy strength."  Then
+Gwydion set forth and began to go forward.  And he went through
+Gwynedd and Powys to the confines.  And when he had done so, he went
+into Arvon, and came to the house of a vassal, in Maenawr Penardd.
+And he alighted at the house, and stayed there that night.  The man
+of the house and his house-hold came in, and last of all came there
+the swineherd.  Said the man of the house to the swineherd, "Well,
+youth, hath thy sow come in to-night?"  "She hath," said he, "and is
+this instant returned to the pigs."  "Where doth this sow go to?"
+said Gwydion.  "Every day, when the sty is opened, she goeth forth
+and none can catch sight of her, neither is it known whither she
+goeth more than if she sank into the earth."  "Wilt thou grant unto
+me," said Gwydion, "not to open the sty until I am beside the sty
+with thee?"  "This will I do, right gladly," he answered.
+
+That night they went to rest; and as soon as the swineherd saw the
+light of day, he awoke Gwydion.  And Gwydion arose and dressed
+himself, and went with the swineherd, and stood beside the sty.  Then
+the swineherd opened the sty.  And as soon as he opened it, behold
+she leaped forth, and set off with great speed.  And Gwydion followed
+her, and she went against the course of a river, and made for a
+brook, which is now called Nant y Llew.  And there she halted and
+began feeding.  And Gwydion came under the tree, and looked what it
+might be that the sow was feeding on.  And he saw that she was eating
+putrid flesh and vermin.  Then looked he up to the top of the tree,
+and as he looked he beheld on the top of the tree an eagle, and when
+the eagle shook itself, there fell vermin and putrid flesh from off
+it, and these the sow devoured.  And it seemed to him that the eagle
+was Llew.  And he sang an Englyn:-
+
+
+"Oak that grows between the two banks;
+Darkened is the sky and hill!
+Shall I not tell him by his wounds,
+That this is Llew?"
+
+
+Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre of the
+tree.  And Gwydion sang another Englyn:-
+
+
+"Oak that grows in upland ground,
+Is it not wetted by the rain?  Has it not been drenched
+By nine score tempests?
+It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes!"
+
+
+Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest branch of the
+tree, and thereupon this Englyn did Gwydion sing:-
+
+
+"Oak that grows beneath the steep;
+Stately and majestic is its aspect!
+Shall I not speak it?
+That Llew will come to my lap?"
+
+
+And the eagle came down upon Gwydion's knee.  And Gwydion struck him
+with his magic wand, so that he returned to his own form.  No one
+ever saw a more piteous sight, for he was nothing but skin and bone.
+
+Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were brought unto him good
+physicians that were in Gwynedd, and before the end of the year he
+was quite healed.
+
+"Lord," said he unto Math the son of Mathonwy, "it is full time now
+that I have retribution of him by whom I have suffered all this woe."
+"Truly," said Math, "he will never be able to maintain himself in the
+possession of that which is thy right."  "Well," said Llew, "the
+sooner I have my right, the better shall I be pleased."
+
+Then they called together the whole of Gwynedd, and set forth to
+Ardudwy.  And Gwydion went on before and proceeded to Mur y Castell.
+And when Blodeuwedd heard that he was coming, she took her maidens
+with her, and fled to the mountain.  And they passed through the
+river Cynvael, and went towards a court that there was upon the
+mountain, and through fear they could not proceed except with their
+faces looking backwards, so that unawares they fell into the lake.
+And they were all drowned except Blodeuwedd herself, and her Gwydion
+overtook.  And he said unto her, "I will not slay thee, but I will do
+unto thee worse than that.  For I will turn thee into a bird; and
+because of the shame thou hast done unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shalt
+never show thy face in the light of day henceforth; and that through
+fear of all the other birds.  For it shall be their nature to attack
+thee, and to chase thee from wheresoever they may find thee.  And
+thou shalt not lose thy name, but shalt be always called Blodeuwedd."
+Now Blodeuwedd is an owl in the language of this present time, and
+for this reason is the owl hateful unto all birds.  And even now the
+owl is called Blodeuwedd.
+
+Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he dispatched thence an
+embassy.  And the messengers he sent asked Llew Llaw Gyffes if he
+would take land, or domain, or gold, or silver, for the injury he had
+received.  "I will not, by my confession to Heaven," said he.
+"Behold this is the least that I will accept from him; that he come
+to the spot where I was when he wounded me with the dart, and that I
+stand where he did, and that with a dart I take my aim at him.  And
+this is the very least that I will accept."
+
+And this was told unto Gronw Pebyr.  "Verily," said he, "is it
+needful for me to do thus?  My faithful warriors, and my household,
+and my foster-brothers, is there not one among you who will stand the
+blow in my stead?"  "There is not, verily," answered they.  And
+because of their refusal to suffer one stroke for their lord, they
+are called the third disloyal tribe even unto this day.  "Well," said
+he, "I will meet it."
+
+Then they two went forth to the banks of the river Cynvael, and Gronw
+stood in the place where Llew Llaw Gyffes was when he struck him, and
+Llew in the place where Gronw was.  Then said Gronw Pebyr unto Llew,
+"Since it was through the wiles of a woman that I did unto thee as I
+have done, I adjure thee by Heaven to let me place between me and the
+blow, the slab thou seest yonder on the river's bank."  "Verily,"
+said Llew, "I will not refuse thee this."  "Ah," said he, "may Heaven
+reward thee."  So Gronw took the slab and placed it between him and
+the blow.
+
+Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab and went
+through Gronw likewise, so that it pierced through his back.  And
+thus was Gronw Pebyr slain.  And there is still the slab on the bank
+of the river Cynvael, in Ardudwy, having the hole through it.  And
+therefore is it even now called Llech Gronw.
+
+A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of the land, and
+prosperously did he govern it.  And, as the story relates, he was
+lord after this over Gwynedd.  And thus ends this portion of the
+Mabinogi.
+
+
+
+THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG
+
+
+
+Maxen Wledig was emperor of Rome, and he was a comelier man, and a
+better and a wiser than any emperor that had been before him.  And
+one day he held a council of kings, and he said to his friends, "I
+desire to go to-morrow to hunt."  And the next day in the morning he
+set forth with his retinue, and came to the valley of the river that
+flowed towards Rome.  And he hunted through the valley until mid-day.
+And with him also were two-and-thirty crowned kings, that were his
+vassals; not for the delight of hunting went the emperor with them,
+but to put himself on equal terms with those kings.
+
+And the sun was high in the sky over their heads and the heat was
+great.  And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig.  And his attendants stood
+and set up their shields around him upon the shafts of their spears
+to protect him from the sun, and they placed a gold enamelled shield
+under his head; and so Maxen slept.
+
+And he saw a dream.  And this is the dream that he saw.  He was
+journeying along the valley of the river towards its source; and he
+came to the highest mountain in the world.  And he thought that the
+mountain was as high as the sky; and when he came over the mountain,
+it seemed to him that he went through the fairest and most level
+regions that man ever yet beheld, on the other side of the mountain.
+And he saw large and mighty rivers descending from the mountain to
+the sea, and towards the mouths of the rivers he proceeded.  And as
+he journeyed thus, he came to the mouth of the largest river ever
+seen.  And he beheld a great city at the entrance of the river, and a
+vast castle in the city, and he saw many high towers of various
+colours in the castle.  And he saw a fleet at the mouth of the river,
+the largest ever seen.  And he saw one ship among the fleet; larger
+was it by far, and fairer than all the others.  Of such part of the
+ship as he could see above the water, one plank was gilded and the
+other silvered over.  He saw a bridge of the bone of a whale from the
+ship to the land, and he thought that he went along the bridge, and
+came into the ship.  And a sail was hoisted on the ship, and along
+the sea and the ocean was it borne.  Then it seemed that he came to
+the fairest island in the whole world, and he traversed the island
+from sea to sea, even to the furthest shore of the island.  Valleys
+he saw, and steeps, and rocks of wondrous height, and rugged
+precipices.  Never yet saw he the like.  And thence he beheld an
+island in the sea, facing this rugged land.  And between him and this
+island was a country of which the plain was as large as the sea, the
+mountain as vast as the wood.  And from the mountain he saw a river
+that flowed through the land and fell into the sea.  And at the mouth
+of the river he beheld a castle, the fairest that man ever saw, and
+the gate of the castle was open, and he went into the castle.  And in
+the castle he saw a fair hall, of which the roof seemed to be all
+gold, the walls of the hall seemed to be entirely of glittering
+precious gems, the doors all seemed to be of gold.  Golden seats he
+saw in the hall, and silver tables.  And on a seat opposite to him he
+beheld two auburn-haired youths playing at chess.  He saw a silver
+board for the chess, and golden pieces thereon.  The garments of the
+youths were of jet-black satin, and chaplets of ruddy gold bound
+their hair, whereon were sparkling jewels of great price, rubies, and
+gems, alternately with imperial stones.  Buskins of new Cordovan
+leather on their feet, fastened by slides of red gold.
+
+And beside a pillar in the hall he saw a hoary-headed man, in a chair
+of ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy gold thereon.
+Bracelets of gold were upon his arms, and many rings were on his
+hands, and a golden torque about his neck; and his hair was bound
+with a golden diadem.  He was of powerful aspect.  A chessboard of
+gold was before him, and a rod of gold, and a steel file in his hand.
+And he was carving out chessmen.
+
+And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of ruddy gold.  Not
+more easy than to gaze upon the sun when brightest, was it to look
+upon her by reason of her beauty.  A vest of white silk was upon the
+maiden, with clasps of red gold at the breast; and a surcoat of gold
+tissue upon her, and a frontlet of red gold upon her head, and rubies
+and gems were in the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial
+stones.  And a girdle of ruddy gold was around her.  She was the
+fairest sight that man ever beheld.
+
+The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw his arms
+about the neck of the maiden, and they two sat down together in the
+chair of gold:  and the chair was not less roomy for them both, than
+for the maiden alone.  And as he had his arms about the maiden's
+neck, and his cheek by her cheek, behold, through the chafing of the
+dogs at their leashing, and the clashing of the shields as they
+struck against each other, and the beating together of the shafts of
+the spears, and the neighing of the horses and their prancing, the
+emperor awoke.
+
+And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him, because of
+the maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the love of the maiden
+pervaded his whole frame.  Then his household spake unto him.
+"Lord," said they, "is it not past the time for thee to take thy
+food?"  Thereupon the emperor mounted his palfrey, the saddest man
+that mortal ever saw, and went forth towards Rome.
+
+And thus he was during the space of a week.  When they of the
+household went to drink wine and mead out of golden vessels, he went
+not with any of them.  When they went to listen to songs and tales,
+he went not with them there; neither could he be persuaded to do
+anything but sleep.  And as often as he slept, he beheld in his
+dreams the maiden he loved best; but except when he slept he saw
+nothing of her, for he knew not where in the world she was.
+
+One day the page of the chamber spake unto him; now, although he was
+page of the chamber, he was king of the Romans.  "Lord," said he,
+"all the people revile thee."  "Wherefore do they revile me?" asked
+the emperor.  "Because they can get neither message nor answer from
+thee as men should have from their lord.  This is the cause why thou
+art spoken evil of."  "Youth," said the emperor, "do thou bring unto
+me the wise men of Rome, and I will tell them wherefore I am
+sorrowful."
+
+Then the wise men of Rome were brought to the emperor, and he spake
+to them.  "Sages of Rome," said he, "I have seen a dream.  And in the
+dream I beheld a maiden, and because of the maiden is there neither
+life, nor spirit, nor existence within me."  "Lord," they answered,
+"since thou judgest us worthy to counsel thee, we will give thee
+counsel.  And this is our counsel; that thou send messengers for
+three years to the three parts of the world to seek for thy dream.
+And as thou knowest not what day or what night good news may come to
+thee, the hope thereof will support thee."
+
+So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year, wandering about
+the world, and seeking tidings concerning his dream.  But when they
+came back at the end of the year, they knew not one word more than
+they did the day they set forth.  And then was the emperor exceeding
+sorrowful, for he thought that he should never have tidings of her
+whom best he loved.
+
+Then spoke the king of the Romans unto the emperor.  "Lord," said he,
+"go forth to hunt by the way thou didst seem to go, whether it were
+to the east, or to the west."  So the emperor went forth to the hunt,
+and he came to the bank of the river.  "Behold," said he, "this is
+where I was when I saw the dream, and I went towards the source of
+the river westward."
+
+And thereupon thirteen messengers of the emperor's set forth, and
+before them they saw a high mountain, which seemed to them to touch
+the sky.  Now this was the guise in which the messengers journeyed;
+one sleeve was on the cap of each of them in front, as a sign that
+they were messengers, in order that through what hostile land soever
+they might pass no harm might be done them.  And when they were come
+over this mountain, they beheld vast plains, and large rivers flowing
+there through.
+
+"Behold," said they, "the land which our master saw."
+
+And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until they came to the
+mighty river which they saw flowing to the sea, and the vast city,
+and the many-coloured high towers in the castle.  They saw the
+largest fleet in the world, in the harbour of the river, and one ship
+that was larger than any of the others.  "Behold again," said they,
+"the dream that our master saw."  And in the great ship they crossed
+the sea, and came to the Island of Britain.  And they traversed the
+island until they came to Snowdon.  "Behold," said they, "the rugged
+land that our master saw."  And they went forward until they saw
+Anglesey before them, and until they saw Arvon likewise.  "Behold,"
+said they, "the land our master saw in his sleep."  And they saw Aber
+Sain, and a castle at the mouth of the river.  The portal of the
+castle saw they open, and into the castle they went, and they saw a
+hall in the castle.  Then said they, "Behold, the hall which he saw
+in his sleep."  They went into the hall, and they beheld two youths
+playing at chess on the golden bench.  And they beheld the hoary-
+headed man beside the pillar, in the ivory chair, carving chessmen.
+And they beheld the maiden sitting on a chair of ruddy gold.
+
+The messengers bent down upon their knees.  "Empress of Rome, all
+hail!"  "Ha, gentles," said the maiden, "ye bear the seeming of
+honourable men, and the badge of envoys, what mockery is this ye do
+to me?"  "We mock thee not, lady; but the Emperor of Rome hath seen
+thee in his sleep, and he has neither life nor spirit left because of
+thee.  Thou shalt have of us therefore the choice, lady, whether thou
+wilt go with us and be made empress of Rome, or that the emperor come
+hither and take thee for his wife?"  "Ha, lords," said the maiden, "I
+will not deny what ye say, neither will I believe it too well.  If
+the emperor love me, let him come here to seek me."
+
+And by day and night the messengers hied them back.  And when their
+horses failed, they bought other fresh ones.  And when they came to
+Rome, they saluted the emperor, and asked their boon, which was given
+to them according as they named it.  "We will be thy guides, lord,"
+said they, "over sea and over land, to the place where is the woman
+whom best thou lovest, for we know her name, and her kindred, and her
+race."
+
+And immediately the emperor set forth with his army.  And these men
+were his guides.  Towards the Island of Britain they went over the
+sea and the deep.  And he conquered the Island from Beli the son of
+Manogan, and his sons, and drove them to the sea, and went forward
+even unto Arvon.  And the emperor knew the land when he saw it.  And
+when he beheld the castle of Aber Sain, "Look yonder," said he,
+"there is the castle wherein I saw the damsel whom I best love."  And
+he went forward into the castle and into the hall, and there he saw
+Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of Eudav, playing at chess.
+And he saw Eudav the son of Caradawc, sitting on a chair of ivory
+carving chessmen.  And the maiden whom he had beheld in his sleep, he
+saw sitting on a chair of gold.  "Empress of Rome," said he, "all
+hail!"  And the emperor threw his arms about her neck; and that night
+she became his bride.
+
+And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her maiden portion.
+And he told her to name what she would.  And she asked to have the
+Island of Britain for her father, from the Channel to the Irish Sea,
+together with the three adjacent Islands, to hold under the empress
+of Rome; and to have three chief castles made for her, an whatever
+places she might choose in the Island of Britain.  And she chose to
+have the highest castle made at Arvon.  And they brought thither
+earth from Rome that it might be more healthful for the emperor to
+sleep, and sit, and walk upon.  After that the two other castles were
+made for her, which were Caerlleon and Caermarthen.
+
+And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen, and he came so
+far as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there the emperor pitched his tent.
+And that encamping place is called Cadeir Maxen, even to this day.
+And because that he built the castle with a myriad of men, he called
+it Caervyrddin.  Then Helen bethought her to make high roads from one
+castle to another throughout the Island of Britain.  And the roads
+were made.  And for this cause are they called the roads of Helen
+Luyddawc, that she was sprung from a native of this island, and the
+men of the Island of Britain would not have made these great roads
+for any save for her.
+
+Seven years did the emperor tarry in this Island.  Now, at that time,
+the men of Rome had a custom, that whatsoever emperor should remain
+in other lands more than seven years should remain to his own
+overthrow, and should never return to Rome again.
+
+So they made a new emperor.  And this one wrote a letter of threat to
+Maxen.  There was nought in the letter but only this.  "If thou
+comest, and if thou ever comest to Rome."  And even unto Caerlleon
+came this letter to Maxen, and these tidings.  Then sent he a letter
+to the man who styled himself emperor in Rome.  There was nought in
+that letter also but only this.  "If I come to Rome, and if I come."
+
+And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his army, and
+vanquished France and Bugundy, and every land on the way, and sat
+down before the city of Rome.
+
+A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no nearer taking
+it than the first day.  And after him there came the brothers of
+Helen Luyddawc from the Island of Britain, and a small host with
+them, and better warriors were in that small host than twice as many
+Romans.  And the emperor was told that a host was seen, halting close
+to his army and encamping, and no man ever saw a fairer or better
+appointed host for its size, nor more handsome standards.
+
+And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the standards of her
+brothers.  Then came Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of
+Eudav, to meet the emperor.  And the emperor was glad because of
+them, and embraced them.
+
+Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the city.  Said Kynan
+to his brother, "We will try to attack the city more expertly than
+this."  So they measured by night the height of the wall, and they
+sent their carpenters to the wood, and a ladder was made for every
+four men of their number.  Now when these were ready, every day at
+mid-day the emperors went to meat, and they ceased to fight on both
+sides till all had finished eating.  And in the morning the men of
+Britain took their food and they drank until they were invigorated.
+And while the two emperors were at meat, the Britons came to the
+city, and placed their ladders against it, and forthwith they came in
+through the city.
+
+The new emperor had no time to arm himself when they fell upon him,
+and slew him, and many others with him.  And three nights and three
+days were they subduing the men that were in the city and taking the
+castle.  And others of them kept the city, lest any of the host of
+Maxen should come therein, until they had subjected all to their
+will.
+
+Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc.  "I marvel, lady," said he, "that
+thy brothers have not conquered this city for me."  "Lord, emperor,"
+she answered, "the wisest youths in the world are my brothers.  Go
+thou thither and ask the city of them, and if it be in their
+possession thou shalt have it gladly."  So the emperor and Helen went
+and demanded the city.  And they told the emperor that none had taken
+the city, and that none could give it him, but the men of the Island
+of Britain.  Then the gates of the city of Rome were opened, and the
+emperor sat on the throne, and all the men of Rome submitted them
+selves unto him.
+
+The emperor then said unto Kynan and Adeon, "Lords," said he, "I have
+now had possession of the whole of my empire.  This host give I unto
+you to vanquish whatever region ye may desire in the world."
+
+So they set forth and conquered lands, and castles, and cities.  And
+they slew all the men, but the women they kept alive.  And thus they
+continued until the young men that had come with them were grown
+grey-headed, from the length of time they were upon this conquest.
+
+Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, "Whether wilt thou rather,"
+said he, "tarry in this land, or go back into the land whence thou
+didst come forth?"  Now he chose to go back to his own land, and many
+with him.  But Kynan tarried there with the other part and dwelt
+there.
+
+And they took counsel and cut out the tongues of the women, lest they
+should corrupt their speech.  And because of the silence of the women
+from their own speech, the men of Armorica are called Britons.  From
+that time there came frequently, and still comes, that language from
+the Island of Britain.
+
+And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig, emperor of Rome.
+And here it ends.
+
+
+
+HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS
+
+
+
+Beli the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd, and
+Caswallawn, and Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth
+son called Llevelys.  And after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the
+Island of Britain fell into the hands of Llud his eldest son; and
+Lludd ruled prosperously, and rebuilt the walls of London, and
+encompassed it about with numberless towers.  And after that he bade
+the citizens build houses therein, such as no houses in the kingdoms
+could equal.  And moreover he was a mighty warrior, and generous and
+liberal in giving meat and drink to all that sought them.  And though
+he had many castles and cities this one loved he more than any.  And
+he dwelt therein most part of the year, and therefore was it called
+Caer Lludd, and at last Caer London.  And after the stranger-race
+came there, it was called London, or Lwndrys.
+
+Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he was a wise
+and discreet man.  Having heard that the king of France had died,
+leaving no heir except a daughter, and that he had left all his
+possessions in her hands, he came to Lludd his brother, to beseech
+his counsel and aid.  And that not so much for his own welfare, as to
+seek to add to the glory and honour and dignity of his kindred, if he
+might go to France to woo the maiden for his wife.  And forthwith his
+brother conferred with him, and this counsel was pleasing unto him.
+
+So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights, and set
+forth towards France.  And as soon as they had landed, they sent
+messengers to show the nobles of France the cause of the embassy.
+And by the joint counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes,
+the maiden was given to Llevelys, and the crown of the kingdom with
+her.  And thenceforth he ruled the land discreetly, and wisely, and
+happily, as long as his life lasted.
+
+After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the Island of
+Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the like of.  The
+first was a certain race that came, and was called the Coranians; and
+so great was their knowledge, that there was no discourse upon the
+face of the Island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if the
+wind met it, it was known to them.  And through this they could not
+be injured. {4}
+
+The second plague was a shriek which came on every May-eve, over
+every hearth in the Island of Britain.  And this went through
+people's hearts, and so scared them, that the men lost their hue and
+their strength, and the women their children, and the young men and
+the maidens lost their senses, and all the animals and trees and the
+earth and the waters, were left barren.
+
+The third plague was, that however much of provisions and food might
+be prepared in the king's courts, were there even so much as a year's
+provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found, except
+what was consumed in the first night.  And two of these plagues, no
+one ever knew their cause, therefore was there better hope of being
+freed from the first than from the second and third.
+
+And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care, because that he
+knew not how he might be freed from these plagues.  And he called to
+him all the nobles of his kingdom, and asked counsel of them what
+they should do against these afflictions.  And by the common counsel
+of the nobles, Lludd the son of Beli went to Llevelys his brother,
+king of France, for he was a man great of counsel and wisdom, to seek
+his advice.
+
+And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in silence, lest
+that race should know the cause of their errand, or any besides the
+king and his counsellors.  And when they were made ready, they went
+into their ships, Lludd and those whom he chose with him.  And they
+began to cleave the seas towards France.
+
+And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that he knew not the
+cause of his brother's ships, he came on the other side to meet him,
+and with him was a fleet vast of size.  And when Lludd saw this, he
+left all the ships out upon the sea except one only; and in that one
+he came to meet his brother, and he likewise with a single ship came
+to meet him.  And when they were come together, each put his arms
+about the other's neck, and they welcomed each other with brotherly
+love.
+
+After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his errand,
+Llevelys said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those
+lands.  And they took counsel together to discourse on the matter
+otherwise than thus, in order that the wind might not catch their
+words, nor the Coranians know what they might say.  Then Llevelys
+caused a long horn to be made of brass, and through this horn they
+discoursed.  But whatsoever words they spoke through this horn, one
+to the other, neither of them could hear any other but harsh and
+hostile words.  And when Llevelys saw this, and that there was a
+demon thwarting them and disturbing through this horn, he caused wine
+to be put therein to wash it.  And through the virtue of the wine the
+demon was driven out of the horn.  And when their discourse was
+unobstructed, Llevelys told his brother that he would give him some
+insects whereof he should keep some to breed, lest by chance the like
+affliction might come a second time.  And other of these insects he
+should take and bruise in water.  And he assured him that it would
+have power to destroy the race of the Coranians.  That is to say,
+that when he came home to his kingdom he should call together all the
+people both of his own race and of the race of the Coranians for a
+conference, as though with the intent of making peace between them;
+and that when they were all together, he should take this charmed
+water, and cast it over all alike.  And he assured him that the water
+would poison the race of the Coranians, but that it would not slay or
+harm those of his own race.
+
+"And the second plague," said he, "that is in thy dominion, behold it
+is a dragon.  And another dragon of a foreign race is fighting with
+it, and striving to overcome it.  And therefore does your dragon make
+a fearful outcry.  And on this wise mayest thou come to know this.
+After thou hast returned home, cause the Island to be measured in its
+length and breadth, and in the place where thou dost find the exact
+central point, there cause a pit to be dug, and cause a cauldron full
+of the best mead that can be made to be put in the pit, with a
+covering of satin over the face of the cauldron.  And then, in thine
+own person do thou remain there watching, and thou wilt see the
+dragon fighting in the form of terrific animals.  And at length they
+will take the form of dragons in the air.  And last of all, after
+wearying themselves with fierce and furious fighting, they will fall
+in the form of two pigs upon the covering, and they will sink in, and
+the covering with them, and they will draw it down to the very bottom
+of the cauldron.  And they will drink up the whole of the mead; and
+after that they will sleep.  Thereupon do thou immediately fold the
+covering around them, and bury them in a kistvaen, in the strongest
+place thou hast in thy dominions, and hide them in the earth.  And as
+long as they shall bide in that strong place no plague shall come to
+the Island of Britain from elsewhere.
+
+"The cause of the third plague," said he, "is a mighty man of magic,
+who take thy meat and thy drink and thy store.  And he through
+illusions and charms causes every one to sleep.  Therefore it is
+needful for thee in thy own person to watch thy food and thy
+provisions.  And lest he should overcome thee with sleep, be there a
+cauldron of cold water by thy side, and when thou art oppressed with
+sleep, plunge into the cauldron."
+
+Then Lludd returned back unto his land.  And immediately he summoned
+to him the whole of his own race and of the Coranians.  And as
+Llevelys had taught him, he bruised the insects in water, the which
+he cast over them all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole
+tribe of the Coranians, without hurt to any of the Britons.
+
+And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be measured in
+its length and in its breadth.  And in Oxford he found the central
+point, and in that place he caused the earth to be dug, and in that
+pit a cauldron to be set, full of the best mead that could be made,
+and a covering of satin over the face of it.  And he himself watched
+that night.  And while he was there, he beheld the dragons fighting.
+And when they were weary they fell, and came down upon the top of the
+satin, and drew it with them to the bottom of the cauldron.  And when
+they had drunk the mead they slept.  And in their sleep, Lludd folded
+the covering around them, and in the securest place he had in
+Snowdon, he hid them in a kistvaen.  Now after that this spot was
+called Dinas Emreis, but before that, Dinas Ffaraon.  And thus the
+fierce outcry ceased in his dominions.
+
+And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding great banquet
+to be prepared.  And when it was ready, he placed a vessel of cold
+water by his side, and he in his own proper person watched it.  And
+as he abode thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the night,
+lo, he heard many surpassing fascinations and various songs.  And
+drowsiness urged him to sleep.  Upon this, lest he should be hindered
+from his purpose and be overcome by sleep, he went often into the
+water.  And at last, behold, a man of vast size, clad in strong,
+heavy armour, came in, bearing a hamper.  And, as he was wont, he put
+all the food and provisions of meat and drink into the hamper, and
+proceeded to go with it forth.  And nothing was ever more wonderful
+to Lludd, than that the hamper should hold so much.
+
+And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto him thus.
+"Stop, stop," said he, "though thou hast done many insults and much
+spoil erewhile, thou shalt not do so any more, unless thy skill in
+arms and thy prowess be greater than mine."
+
+Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and awaited him.
+And a fierce encounter was between them, so that the glittering fire
+flew out from their arms.  And at the last Lludd grappled with him,
+and fate bestowed the victory on Lludd.  And he threw the plague to
+the earth.  And after he had overcome him by strength and might, he
+besought his mercy.  "How can I grant thee mercy," said the king,
+"after all the many injuries and wrongs that thou hast done me?"
+"All the losses that ever I have caused thee," said he, "I will make
+thee atonement for, equal to what I have taken.  And I will never do
+the like from this time forth.  But thy faithful vassal will I be."
+And the king accepted this from him.
+
+And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three plagues.
+And from thenceforth until the end of his life, in prosperous peace
+did Lludd the son of Beli rule the Island of Britain.  And this Tale
+is called the Story of Lludd and Llevelys.  And thus it ends.
+
+
+
+TALIESIN
+
+
+
+In times past there lived in Penllyn a man of gentle lineage, named
+Tegid Voel, and his dwelling was in the midst of the lake Tegid, and
+his wife was called Caridwen.  And there was born to him of his wife
+a son named Morvran ab Tegid, and also a daughter named Creirwy, the
+fairest maiden in the world was she; and they had a brother, the most
+ill-favoured man in the world, Avagddu.  Now Caridwen his mother
+thought that he was not likely to be admitted among men of noble
+birth, by reason of his ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits
+or knowledge.  For it was in the beginning of Arthur's time and of
+the Round Table.
+
+So she resolved, according to the arts of the books of the Fferyllt,
+to boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her son, that his
+reception might be honourable because of his knowledge of the
+mysteries of the future state of the world.
+
+Then she began to boil the cauldron, which from the beginning of its
+boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day, until three
+blessed drops were obtained of the grace of Inspiration.
+
+And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in Caereinion,
+in Powys, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named Morda to kindle
+the fire beneath it, and she charged them that they should not suffer
+it to cease boiling for the space of a year and a day.  And she
+herself, according to the books of the astronomers, and in planetary
+hours, gathered every day of all charm-bearing herbs.  And one day,
+towards the end of the year, as Caridwen was culling plants and
+making incantations, it chanced that three drops of the charmed
+liquor flew out of the cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion
+Bach.  And by reason of their great heat he put his finger to his
+mouth, and the instant he put those marvel-working drops into his
+mouth, he foresaw everything that was to come, and perceived that his
+chief care must be to guard against the wiles of Caridwen, for vast
+was her skill.  And in very great fear he fled towards his own land.
+And the cauldron burst in two, because all the liquor within it
+except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous, so that the
+horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned by the water of the stream
+into which the liquor of the cauldron ran, and the confluence of that
+stream was called the Poison of the Horses of Gwyddno from that time
+forth.
+
+Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil of the whole year
+lost.  And she seized a billet of wood and struck the blind Morda on
+the head until one of his eyes fell out upon his cheek.  And he said,
+"Wrongfully hast thou disfigured me, for I am innocent.  Thy loss was
+not because of me."  "Thou speakest truth," said Caridwen, "it was
+Gwion Bach who robbed me."
+
+And she went forth after him, running.  And he saw her, and changed
+himself into a hare and fled.  But she changed herself into a
+greyhound and turned him.  And he ran towards a river, and became a
+fish.  And she in the form of an otter-bitch chased him under the
+water, until he was fain to turn himself into a bird of the air.
+She, as a hawk, followed him and gave him no rest in the sky.  And
+just as she was about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of death,
+he espied a heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn, and he
+dropped among the wheat, and turned himself into one of the grains.
+Then she transformed herself into a high-crested black hen, and went
+to the wheat and scratched it with her feet, and found him out and
+swallowed him.  And, as the story says, she bore him nine months, and
+when she was delivered of him, she could not find it in her heart to
+kill him, by reason of his beauty.  So she wrapped him in a leathern
+bag, and cast him into the sea to the mercy of God, on the twenty-
+ninth day of April.
+
+And at that time the weir of Gwyddno was on the strand between Dyvi
+and Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of an hundred
+pounds was taken in that weir every May eve.  And in those days
+Gwyddno had an only son named Elphin, the most hapless of youths, and
+the most needy.  And it grieved his father sore, for he thought that
+he was born in an evil hour.  And by the advice of his council, his
+father had granted him the drawing of the weir that year, to see if
+good luck would ever befall him, and to give him something wherewith
+to begin the world.
+
+And the next day when Elphin went to look, there was nothing in the
+weir.  But as he turned back he perceived the leathern bag upon a
+pole of the weir.  Then said one of the weir-ward unto Elphin, "Thou
+wast never unlucky until to-night, and now thou hast destroyed the
+virtues of the weir, which always yielded the value of an hundred
+pounds every May eve, and to-night there is nothing but this leathern
+skin within it."  "How now," said Elphin, "there may be therein the
+value of an hundred pounds."  Well, they took up the leathern bag,
+and he who opened it saw the forehead of the boy, and said to Elphin,
+"Behold a radiant brow!" {6}  "Taliesin be he called," said Elphin.
+And he lifted the boy in his arms, and lamenting his mischance, he
+placed him sorrowfully behind him.  And he made his horse amble
+gently, that before had been trotting, and he carried him as softly
+as if he had been sitting in the easiest chair in the world.  And
+presently the boy made a Consolation and praise to Elphin, and
+foretold honour to Elphin; and the Consolation was as you may see:-
+
+
+"Fair Elphin, cease to lament!
+Let no one be dissatisfied with his own,
+To despair will bring no advantage.
+No man sees what supports him;
+The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain;
+God will not violate his promise.
+Never in Gwyddno's weir
+Was there such good luck as this night.
+Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks!
+Being too sad will not avail.
+Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain,
+Too much grief will bring thee no good;
+Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty:
+Although I am but little, I am highly gifted.
+From seas, and from mountains,
+And from the depths of rivers,
+God brings wealth to the fortunate man.
+Elphin of lively qualities,
+Thy resolution is unmanly;
+Thou must not be over sorrowful:
+Better to trust in God than to forbode ill.
+Weak and small as I am,
+On the foaming beach of the ocean,
+In the day of trouble I shall be
+Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon.
+Elphin of notable qualities,
+Be not displeased at thy misfortune;
+Although reclined thus weak in my bag,
+There lies a virtue in my tongue.
+While I continue thy protector
+Thou hast not much to fear;
+Remembering the names of the Trinity,
+None shall be able to harm thee."
+
+
+And this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang, being to console
+Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was lost, and,
+what was worse, that all the world would consider that it was through
+his fault and ill-luck.  And then Gwyddno Garanhir {7} asked him what
+he was, whether man or spirit.  Whereupon he sang this tale, and
+said:-
+
+
+"First, I have been formed a comely person,
+In the court of Caridwen I have done penance;
+Though little I was seen, placidly received,
+I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led;
+I have been a prized defence, the sweet muse the cause,
+And by law without speech I have been liberated
+By a smiling black old hag, when irritated
+Dreadful her claim when pursued:
+I have fled with vigour, I have fled as a frog,
+I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest;
+I have fled vehemently, I have fled as a chain,
+I have fled as a roe into an entangled thicket;
+I have fled as a wolf cub, I have fled as a wolf in a wilderness,
+I have fled as a thrush of portending language;
+I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent bounds of quirks;
+I have fled as a martin, which did not avail;
+I have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides,
+I have fled as a stag's antler, of ruddy course,
+I have fled as iron in a glowing fire,
+I have fled as a spear-head, of woe to such as has a wish for it;
+I have fled as a fierce hull bitterly fighting,
+I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine,
+I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat,
+On the skirt of a hempen sheet entangled,
+That seemed of the size of a mare's foal,
+That is filling like a ship on the waters;
+Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown,
+And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift;
+Which was to me an omen of being tenderly nursed,
+And the Lord God then set me at liberty."
+
+
+Then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwyddno his father, and
+Taliesin with him.  And Gwyddno asked him if he had had a good haul
+at the weir, and he told him that he had got that which was better
+than fish.  "What was that?" said Gwyddno.  "A Bard," answered
+Elphin.  Then said Gwyddno, "Alas, what will he profit thee?"  And
+Taliesin himself replied and said, "He will profit him more than the
+weir ever profited thee."  Asked Gwyddno, "Art thou able to speak,
+and thou so little?"  And Taliesin answered him, "I am better able to
+speak than thou to question me."  "Let me hear what thou canst say,"
+quoth Gwyddno.  Then Taliesin sang:-
+
+
+"In water there is a quality endowed with a blessing;
+On God it is most just to meditate aright;
+To God it is proper to supplicate with seriousness,
+Since no obstacle can there be to obtain a reward from him.
+Three times have I been born, I know by meditation;
+It were miserable for a person not to come and obtain
+All the sciences of the world, collected together in my breast,
+For I know what has been, what in future will occur.
+I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him,
+A regard I may obtain in his grace;
+The Son of Mary is my trust, great in him is my delight,
+For in him is the world continually upholden.
+God has been to instruct me and to raise my expectation,
+The true Creator of heaven, who affords me protection;
+It is rightly intended that the saints should daily pray,
+For God, the renovator, will bring them to him."
+
+
+And forthwith Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she nursed him
+tenderly and lovingly.  Thenceforward Elphin increased in riches more
+and more day after day, and in love and favour with the king, and
+there abode Taliesin until he was thirteen years old, when Elphin son
+of Gwyddno went by a Christmas invitation to his uncle, Maelgwn
+Gwynedd, who some time after this held open court at Christmastide in
+the castle of Dyganwy, for all the number of his lords of both
+degrees, both spiritual and temporal, with a vast and thronged host
+of knights and squires.  And amongst them there arose a discourse and
+discussion.  And thus was it said.
+
+"Is there in the whole world a king so great as Maelgwn, or one on
+whom Heaven has bestowed so many spiritual gifts as upon him?  First,
+form, and beauty, and meekness, and strength, besides all the powers
+of the soul!"  And together with these they said that Heaven had
+given one gift that exceeded all the others, which was the beauty,
+and comeliness, and grace, and wisdom, and modesty of his queen;
+whose virtues surpassed those of all the ladies and noble maidens
+throughout the whole kingdom.  And with this they put questions one
+to another amongst themselves:  Who had braver men?  Who had fairer
+or swifter horses or greyhounds?  Who had more skilful or wiser
+bards--than Maelgwn?
+
+Now at that time the bards were in great favour with the exalted of
+the kingdom; and then none performed the office of those who are now
+called heralds, unless they were learned men, not only expert in the
+service of kings and princes, but studious and well versed in the
+lineage, and arms, and exploits of princes and kings, and in
+discussions concerning foreign kingdoms, and the ancient things of
+this kingdom, and chiefly in the annals of the first nobles; and also
+were prepared always with their answers in various languages, Latin,
+French, Welsh, and English.  And together with this they were great
+chroniclers, and recorders, and skilful in framing verses, and ready
+in making englyns in every one of those languages.  Now of these
+there were at that feast within the palace of Maelgwn as many as
+four-and-twenty, and chief of them all was one named Heinin Vardd.
+
+When they had all made an end of thus praising the king and his
+gifts, it befell that Elphin spoke in this wise.  "Of a truth none
+but a king may vie with a king; but were he not a king, I would say
+that my wife was as virtuous as any lady in the kingdom, and also
+that I have a bard who is more skilful than all the king's bards."
+In a short space some of his fellows showed the king all the
+boastings of Elphin; and the king ordered him to be thrown into a
+strong prison, until he might know the truth as to the virtues of his
+wife, and the wisdom of his bard.
+
+Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with a thick
+chain about his feet (it is said that it was a silver chain, because
+he was of royal blood), the king, as the story relates, sent his son
+Rhun to inquire into the demeanour of Elphin's wife.  Now Rhun was
+the most graceless man in the world, and there was neither wife nor
+maiden with whom he had held converse, but was evil spoken of.  While
+Rhun went in haste towards Elphin's dwelling, being fully minded to
+bring disgrace upon his wife, Taliesin told his mistress how that the
+king had placed his master in durance in prison, and how that Rhun
+was coming in haste to strive to bring disgrace upon her.  Wherefore
+he caused his mistress to array one of the maids of her kitchen in
+her apparel; which the noble lady gladly did; and she loaded her
+hands with the best rings that she and her husband possessed.
+
+In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden to sit
+at the board in her room at supper, and he made her to seem as her
+mistress, and the mistress to seem as the maid.  And when they were
+in due time seated at their supper in the manner that has been said,
+Rhun suddenly arrived at Elphin's dwelling, and was received with
+joy, for all the servants knew him plainly; and they brought him in
+haste to the room of their mistress, in the semblance of whom the
+maid rose up from supper and welcomed him gladly.  And afterwards she
+sat down to supper again the second time, and Rhun with her.  Then
+Rhun began jesting with the maid, who still kept the semblance of her
+mistress.  And verily this story shows that the maiden became so
+intoxicated, that she fell asleep; and the story relates that it was
+a powder that Rhun put into the drink, that made her sleep so soundly
+that she never felt it when he cut from off her hand her little
+finger, whereupon was the signet ring of Elphin, which he had sent to
+his wife as a token, a short time before.  And Rhun returned to the
+king with the finger and the ring as a proof, to show that he had cut
+it from off her hand, without her awaking from her sleep of
+intemperance.
+
+The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for his
+councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the beginning.  And
+he caused Elphin to be brought out of his prison, and he chided him
+because of his boast.  And he spake unto Elphin on this wise.
+"Elphin, be it known to thee beyond a doubt that it is but folly for
+a man to trust in the virtues of his wife further than he can see
+her; and that thou mayest be certain of thy wife's vileness, behold
+her finger, with thy signet ring upon it, which was cut from her hand
+last night, while she slept the sleep of intoxication."  Then thus
+spake Elphin.  "With thy leave, mighty king, I cannot deny my ring,
+for it is known of many; but verily I assert strongly that the finger
+around which it is, was never attached to the hand of my wife, for in
+truth and certainty there are three notable things pertaining to it,
+none of which ever belonged to any of my wife's fingers.  The first
+of the three is, that it is certain, by your grace's leave, that
+wheresoever my wife is at this present hour, whether sitting, or
+standing, or lying down, this ring would never remain upon her thumb,
+whereas you can plainly see that it was hard to draw it over the
+joint of the little finger of the hand whence this was cut; the
+second thing is, that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I
+have known her without paring her nails before going to bed, and you
+can see fully that the nail of this little finger has not been pared
+for a month.  The third is, truly, that the hand whence this finger
+came was kneading rye dough within three days before the finger was
+cut therefrom, and I can assure your goodness that my wife has never
+kneaded rye dough since my wife she has been."
+
+Then the king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutly
+withstanding him, respecting the goodness of his wife, wherefore he
+ordered him to his prison a second time, saying that he should not be
+loosed thence until he had proved the truth of his boast, as well
+concerning the wisdom of his bard as the virtues of his wife.
+
+In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at Elphin's
+dwelling.  And Taliesin showed his mistress how that Elphin was in
+prison because of them, but he bade her be glad, for that he would go
+to Maelgwn's court to free his master.  Then she asked him in what
+manner he would set him free.  And he answered her:-
+
+
+"A journey will I perform,
+And to the gate I will come;
+The hall I will enter,
+And my song I will sing;
+My speech I will pronounce
+To silence royal bards,
+In presence of their chief,
+I will greet to deride,
+Upon them I will break
+And Elphin I will free.
+Should contention arise,
+In presence of the prince,
+With summons to the bards,
+For the sweet flowing song,
+And wizards' posing lore
+And wisdom of Druids,
+In the court of the sons of the Distributor
+Some are who did appear
+Intent on wily schemes,
+By craft and tricking means,
+In pangs of affliction
+To wrong the innocent,
+Let the fools be silent,
+As erst in Badon's fight, -
+With Arthur of liberal ones
+The head, with long red blades;
+Through feats of testy men,
+And a chief with his foes.
+Woe be to them, the fools,
+When revenge comes on them.
+I Taliesin, chief of bards,
+With a sapient Druid's words,
+Will set kind Elphin free
+From haughty tyrant's bonds.
+To their fell and chilling cry,
+By the act of a surprising steed,
+From the far distant North,
+There soon shall be an end.
+Let neither grace nor health
+Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd,
+For this force and this wrong;
+And be extremes of ills
+And an avenged end
+To Rhun and all his race:
+Short be his course of life,
+Be all his lands laid waste;
+And long exile be assigned
+To Maelgwn Gwynedd!"
+
+
+After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at last to the
+Court of Maelgwn, who was going to sit in his hall and dine in his
+royal state, as it was the custom in those days for kings and princes
+to do at every chief feast.  And as soon as Taliesin entered the
+hall, he placed himself in a quiet corner, near the place where the
+bards and the minstrels were wont to come in doing their service and
+duty to the king, as is the custom at the high festivals when the
+bounty is proclaimed.  And so, when the bards and the heralds came to
+cry largess, and to proclaim the power of the king and his strength,
+at the moment that they passed by the corner wherein he was
+crouching, Taliesin pouted out his lips after them, and played
+"Blerwm, blerwm," with his finger upon his lips.  Neither took they
+much notice of him as they went by, but proceeded forward till they
+came before the king, unto whom they made their obeisance with their
+bodies, as they were wont, without speaking a single word, but
+pouting out their lips, and making mouths at the king, playing
+"Blerwm, blerwm," upon their lips with their fingers, as they had
+seen the boy do elsewhere.  This sight caused the king to wonder and
+to deem within himself that they were drunk with many liquors.
+Wherefore he commanded one of his lords, who served at the board, to
+go to them and desire them to collect their wits, and to consider
+where they stood, and what it was fitting for them to do.  And this
+lord did so gladly.  But they ceased not from their folly any more
+than before.  Whereupon he sent to them a second time, and a third,
+desiring them to go forth from the hall.  At the last the king
+ordered one of his squires to give a blow to the chief of them named
+Heinin Vardd; and the squire took a broom and struck him on the head,
+so that he fell back in his seat.  Then he arose and went on his
+knees, and besought leave of the king's grace to show that this their
+fault was not through want of knowledge, neither through drunkenness,
+but by the influence of some spirit that was in the hall.  And after
+this Heinin spoke on this wise.  "Oh, honourable king, be it known to
+your grace, that not from the strength of drink, or of too much
+liquor, are we dumb, without power of speech like drunken men, but
+through the influence of a spirit that sits in the corner yonder in
+the form of a child."  Forthwith the king commanded the squire to
+fetch him; and he went to the nook where Taliesin sat, and brought
+him before the king, who asked him what he was, and whence he came.
+And he answered the king in verse.
+
+
+"Primary chief bard am I to Elphin,
+And my original country is the region of the summer stars;
+Idno and Heinin called me Merddin,
+At length every king will call me Taliesin.
+
+I was with my Lord in the highest sphere,
+On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell
+I have borne a banner before Alexander;
+I know the names of the stars from north to south;
+I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the Distributor;
+I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain;
+I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of Hebron;
+I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwdion.
+I was instructor to Eli and Enoc;
+I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier;
+I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech;
+I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of God;
+I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod;
+I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of Nimrod;
+I am a wonder whose origin is not known.
+I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark,
+I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra;
+I have been in India when Roma was built,
+I am now come here to the remnant of Troia.
+
+I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass:
+I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan;
+I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene;
+I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen;
+I have been bard of the harp to Lleon of Lochlin.
+I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn,
+For a day and a year in stocks and fetters,
+I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin,
+I have been fostered in the land of the Deity,
+I have been teacher to all intelligences,
+I am able to instruct the whole universe.
+I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth;
+And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish.
+
+   Then I was for nine months
+   In the womb of the hag Caridwen;
+   I was originally little Gwion,
+   And at length I am Taliesin."
+
+
+And when the king and his nobles had heard the song, they wondered
+much, for they had never heard the like from a boy so young as he.
+And when the king knew that he was the bard of Elphin, he bade
+Heinin, his first and wisest bard, to answer Taliesin and to strive
+with him.  But when he came, he could do no other but play "blerwm"
+on his lips; and when he sent for the others of the four-and-twenty
+bards they all did likewise, and could do no other.  And Maelgwn
+asked the boy Taliesin what was his errand, and he answered him in
+song.
+
+
+"Puny bards, I am trying
+To secure the prize, if I can;
+By a gentle prophetic strain
+I am endeavouring to retrieve
+The loss I may have suffered;
+Complete the attempt I hope,
+Since Elphin endures trouble
+In the fortress of Teganwy,
+On him may there not be laid
+Too many chains and fetters;
+The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy
+Will I again seek;
+Strengthened by my muse I am powerful;
+Mighty on my part is what I seek,
+For three hundred songs and more
+Are combined in the spell I sing.
+There ought not to stand where I am
+Neither stone, neither ring;
+And there ought not to be about me
+Any bard who may not know
+That Elphin the son of Gwyddno
+Is in the land of Artro,
+Secured by thirteen locks,
+For praising his instructor;
+And then I Taliesin,
+Chief of the bards of the west,
+Shall loosen Elphin
+Out of a golden fetter."
+
+* * * * *
+
+"If you be primary bards
+To the master of sciences,
+Declare ye mysteries
+That relate to the inhabitants of the world;
+There is a noxious creature,
+From the rampart of Satanas,
+Which has overcome all
+Between the deep and the shallow;
+Equally wide are his jaws
+As the mountains of the Alps;
+Him death will not subdue,
+Nor hand or blades;
+There is the load of nine hundred wagons
+In the hair of his two paws;
+There is in his head an eye
+Green as the limpid sheet of icicle;
+Three springs arise
+In the nape of his neck;
+Sea-roughs thereon
+Swim through it;
+There was the dissolution of the oxen
+Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted.
+The names of the three springs
+From the midst of the ocean;
+One generated brine
+Which is from the Corina,
+To replenish the flood
+Over seas disappearing;
+The second, without injury
+It will fall on us,
+When there is rain abroad,
+Through the whelming sky;
+The third will appear
+Through the mountain veins,
+Like a flinty banquet,
+The work of the King of kings,
+You are blundering bards,
+In too much solicitude;
+You cannot celebrate
+The kingdom of the Britons;
+And I am Taliesin,
+Chief of the bards of the west,
+Who will loosen Elphin
+Out of the golden fetter."
+
+* * * * *
+
+"Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming bards,
+For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood.
+If you be primary bards formed by heaven,
+Tell your king what his fate will be.
+It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard,
+And know every passage in the country of your king;
+I shall liberate Elphin from the belly of the stony tower;
+And will tell your king what will befall him.
+A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of Rhianedd
+As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd;
+His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold,
+And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd."
+
+* * * * *
+
+"Discover thou what is
+The strong creature from before the flood,
+Without flesh, without bone,
+Without vein, without blood,
+Without head, without feet,
+It will neither be older nor younger
+Than at the beginning;
+For fear of a denial,
+There are no rude wants
+With creatures.
+Great God! how the sea whitens
+When first it comes!
+Great are its gusts
+When it comes from the south;
+Great are its evaporations
+When it strikes on coasts.
+It is in the field, it is in the wood,
+Without hand, and without foot,
+Without signs of old age,
+Though it be co-aeval
+With the five ages or periods
+And older still,
+Though they be numberless years.
+It is also so wide
+As the surface of the earth;
+And it was not born,
+Nor was it seen.
+It will cause consternation
+Wherever God willeth.
+On sea, and on land,
+It neither sees, nor is seen.
+Its course is devious,
+And will not come when desired;
+On land and on sea,
+It is indispensable.
+It is without an equal,
+It is four-sided;
+It is not confined,
+It is incomparable;
+It comes from four quarters;
+It will not be advised,
+It will not be without advice.
+It commences its journey
+Above the marble rock,
+It is sonorous, it is dumb,
+It is mild,
+It is strong, it is bold,
+When it glances over the land,
+It is silent, it is vocal,
+It is clamorous,
+It is the most noisy
+On the face of the earth.
+It is good, it is bad,
+It is extremely injurious.
+It is concealed,
+Because sight cannot perceive it.
+It is noxious, it is beneficial;
+It is yonder, it is here;
+It will discompose,
+But will not repair the injury;
+It will not suffer for its doings,
+Seeing it is blameless.
+It is wet, it is dry,
+It frequently comes,
+Proceeding from the heat of the sun,
+And the coldness of the moon.
+The moon is less beneficial,
+Inasmuch as her heat is less.
+One Being has prepared it,
+Out of all creatures,
+By a tremendous blast,
+To wreak vengeance
+On Maelgwn Gwynedd."
+
+
+And while he was thus singing his verse near the door, there arose a
+mighty storm of wind, so that the king and all his nobles thought
+that the castle would fall on their heads.  And the king caused them
+to fetch Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and placed him before
+Taliesin.  And it is said, that immediately he sang a verse, so that
+the chains opened from about his feet.
+
+
+"I adore the Supreme, Lord of all animation, -
+Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme,
+Him that made the water good for all,
+Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it; -
+May abundance of mead be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies us,
+From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor.
+Since bees collect, and do not enjoy,
+We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally praised.
+The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes
+God made for man, with a view to enrich him; -
+Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them,
+Some are wild, some are tame; the Lord makes them; -
+Part of their produce becomes clothing;
+For food and beverage till doom will they continue.
+I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace,
+To liberate Elphin from banishment,
+The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead,
+With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance;
+May he yet give me; and at the end,
+May God of his good will grant me, in honour,
+A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of tranquillity.
+Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution!"
+
+
+And afterwards he sang the ode which is called "The Excellence of the
+Bards."
+
+
+"What was the first man
+Made by the God of heaven;
+What the fairest flattering speech
+That was prepared by leuav;
+What meat, what drink,
+What roof his shelter;
+What the first impression
+Of his primary thinking;
+What became his clothing;
+Who carried on a disguise,
+Owing to the wilds of the country,
+In the beginning?
+Wherefore should a stone be hard;
+Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed?
+Who is hard like a flint;
+Who is salt like brine;
+Who sweet like honey;
+Who rides on the gale;
+Why ridged should be the nose;
+Why should a wheel be round;
+Why should the tongue be gifted with speech
+Rather than another member?
+If thy bards, Heinin, be competent,
+Let them reply to me, Taliesin."
+
+
+And after that he sang the address which is called "The Reproof of
+the Bards."
+
+
+"If thou art a bard completely imbued
+With genius not to be controlled,
+Be thou not untractable
+Within the court of thy king;
+Until thy rigmarole shall be known,
+Be thou silent, Heinin,
+As to the name of thy verse,
+And the name of thy vaunting;
+And as to the name of thy grandsire
+Prior to his being baptized.
+And the name of the sphere,
+And the name of the element,
+And the name of thy language,
+And the name of thy region.
+Avaunt, ye bards above,
+Avaunt, ye bards below!
+My beloved is below,
+In the fetter of Ariansod
+It is certain you know not
+How to understand the song I utter,
+Nor clearly how to discriminate
+Between the truth and what is false;
+Puny bards, crows of the district,
+Why do you not take to flight?
+A bard that will not silence me,
+Silence may he not obtain,
+Till he goes to be covered
+Under gravel and pebbles;
+Such as shall listen to me,
+May God listen to him."
+
+
+Then sang he the piece called "The Spite of the Bards."
+
+
+"Minstrels persevere in their false custom,
+Immoral ditties are their delight;
+Vain and tasteless praise they recite;
+Falsehood at all times do they utter;
+The innocent persons they ridicule;
+Married women they destroy,
+Innocent virgins of Mary they corrupt;
+As they pass their lives away in vanity,
+Poor innocent persons they ridicule;
+At night they get drunk, they sleep the day;
+In idleness without work they feed themselves;
+The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent;
+With thieves and perjured fellows they associate;
+At courts they inquire after feasts;
+Every senseless word they bring forward;
+Every deadly sin they praise;
+Every vile course of life they lead;
+Through every village, town, and country they stroll;
+Concerning the gripe of death they think not;
+Neither lodging nor charity do they give;
+Indulging in victuals to excess.
+Psalms or prayers they do not use,
+Tithes or offerings to God they do not pay,
+On holidays or Sundays they do not worship;
+Vigils or festivals they do not heed.
+The birds do fly, the fish do swim,
+The bees collect honey, worms do crawl,
+Every thing travails to obtain its food,
+Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves.
+
+I deride neither song nor minstrelsy,
+For they are given by God to lighten thought;
+But him who abuses them,
+For blaspheming Jesus and his service."
+
+
+Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and having protected
+the innocence of his wife, and silenced the Bards, so that not one of
+them dared to say a word, now brought Elphin's wife before them, and
+showed that she had not one finger wanting.  Right glad was Elphin,
+right glad was Taliesin.
+
+Then he bade Elphin wager the king, that he had a horse both better
+and swifter than the king's horses.  And this Elphin did, and the
+day, and the time, and the place were fixed, and the place was that
+which at this day is called Morva Rhiannedd:  and thither the king
+went with all his people, and four-and-twenty of the swiftest horses
+he possessed.  And after a long process the course was marked, and
+the horses were placed for running.  Then came Taliesin with four-
+and-twenty twigs of holly, which he had burnt black, and he caused
+the youth who was to ride his master's horse to place them in his
+belt, and he gave him orders to let all the king's horses get before
+him, and as he should overtake one horse after the other, to take one
+of the twigs and strike the horse with it over the crupper, and then
+let that twig fall; and after that to take another twig, and do in
+like manner to every one of the horses, as he should overtake them,
+enjoining the horseman strictly to watch when his own horse should
+stumble, and to throw down his cap on the spot.  All these things did
+the youth fulfil, giving a blow to every one of the king's horses,
+and throwing down his cap on the spot where his horse stumbled.  And
+to this spot Taliesin brought his master after his horse had won the
+race.  And he caused Elphin to put workmen to dig a hole there; and
+when they had dug the ground deep enough, they found a large cauldron
+full of gold.  And then said Taliesin, "Elphin, behold a payment and
+reward unto thee, for having taken me out of the weir, and for having
+reared me from that time until now."  And on this spot stands a pool
+of water, which is to this time called Pwllbair.
+
+After all this, the king caused Taliesin to be brought before him,
+and he asked him to recite concerning the creation of man from the
+beginning; and thereupon he made the poem which is now called "One of
+the Four Pillars of Song."
+
+
+"The Almighty made,
+Down the Hebron vale,
+With his plastic hands,
+   Adam's fair form:
+
+And five hundred years,
+Void of any help,
+There he remained and lay
+   Without a soul.
+
+He again did form,
+In calm paradise,
+From a left-side rib,
+   Bliss-throbbing Eve.
+
+Seven hours they were
+The orchard keeping,
+Till Satan brought strife,
+   With wiles from hell.
+
+Thence were they driven,
+Cold and shivering,
+To gain their living,
+   Into this world.
+
+To bring forth with pain
+Their sons and daughters,
+To have possession
+   Of Asia's land.
+
+Twice five, ten and eight,
+She was self-bearing,
+The mixed burden
+   Of man-woman.
+
+And once, not hidden,
+She brought forth Abel,
+And Cain the forlorn,
+   The homicide.
+
+To him and his mate
+Was given a spade,
+To break up the soil,
+   Thus to get bread.
+
+The wheat pure and white,
+Summer tilth to sow,
+Every man to feed,
+   Till great yule feast.
+
+An angelic hand
+From the high Father,
+Brought seed for growing
+   That Eve might sow;
+
+But she then did hide
+Of the gift a tenth,
+And all did not sow
+   Of what was dug.
+
+Black rye then was found,
+And not pure wheat grain,
+To show the mischief
+   Thus of thieving.
+
+For this thievish act,
+It is requisite,
+That all men should pay
+   Tithe unto God.
+
+Of the ruddy wine,
+Planted on sunny days,
+And on new-moon nights;
+   And the white wine.
+
+The wheat rich in grain
+And red flowing wine
+Christ's pure body make,
+   Son of Alpha.
+
+The wafer is flesh,
+The wine is spilt blood,
+The Trinity's words
+   Sanctify them.
+
+The concealed books
+From Emmanuel's hand
+Were brought by Raphael
+   As Adam's gift,
+
+When in his old age,
+To his chin immersed
+In Jordan's water,
+   Keeping a fast,
+
+Moses did obtain
+In Jordan's water,
+The aid of the three
+   Most special rods.
+
+Solomon did obtain
+In Babel's tower,
+All the sciences
+   In Asia land.
+
+So did I obtain,
+In my bardic books,
+All the sciences
+   Of Europe and Africa.
+
+Their course, their bearing,
+Their permitted way,
+And their fate I know,
+   Unto the end.
+
+Oh! what misery,
+Through extreme of woe,
+Prophecy will show
+   On Troia's race!
+
+A coiling serpent
+Proud and merciless,
+On her golden wings,
+   From Germany.
+
+She will overrun
+England and Scotland,
+From Lychlyn sea-shore
+   To the Severn.
+
+Then will the Brython
+Be as prisoners,
+By strangers swayed,
+   From Saxony.
+
+Their Lord they will praise,
+Their speech they will keep,
+Their land they will lose,
+   Except wild Walia.
+
+Till some change shall come,
+After long penance,
+When equally rife
+   The two crimes come.
+
+Britons then shall have
+Their land and their crown,
+And the stranger swarm
+   Shall disappear.
+
+All the angel's words,
+As to peace and war,
+Will be fulfilled
+   To Britain's race."
+
+He further told the king various prophecies of things that should be
+in the world, in songs, as follows.
+
+
+
+Footnotes:
+
+{1}  It is also stated, that there is in the Hengwrt Library, a MS.
+containing the Graal in Welsh, as early as the time of Henry I.  I
+had hoped to have added this to the present collection; but the death
+of Col. Vaughan, to whom I applied, and other subsequent
+circumstances, have prevented me from obtaining access to it.
+
+{2}  Hades.
+
+{3}  The word "Pryder" or "Pryderi" means anxiety.
+
+{4}  The version in the Greal adds, "And their coin was fairy money;"
+literally, dwarf's money:  that is, money which, when received,
+appeared to be good coin, but which, if kept, turned into pieces of
+fungus, &c.
+
+{5}  This dialogue consists of a series of repartees with a play upon
+words, which it is impossible to follow in the translation.
+
+{6}  Taliesin.
+
+{7}  The mention of Gwyddno Garanhir instead of Elphin ab Gwyddno in
+this place is evidently an error of some transcriber of the MS.
+
+
+
+
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+<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN">
+<html>
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII">
+<title>The Mabinogion</title>
+</head>
+<body>
+<h2>
+<a href="#startoftext">The Mabinogion</a>
+</h2>
+<pre>
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+Title: The Mabinogion
+
+Translator: Lady Charlotte Guest
+
+Release Date: February, 2004  [EBook #5160]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on May 22, 2002]
+[Most recently updated: May 22, 2002]
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+Edition: 10
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+Language: English
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+Character set encoding: ASCII
+</pre>
+<p>
+<a name="startoftext"></a>
+Transcribed from the 1849 edition text by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+THE MABINOGION<br>
+TRANSLATED BY LADY CHARLOTTE GUEST<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Contents:<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Introduction<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Lady of the Fountain<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Peredur the Son of Evrawc<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Geraint the son of Erbin<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kilhwch and Olwen<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The dream of Rhonabwy<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pwyll Prince of Dyved<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Branwen the daughter of Llyr<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Manawyddan the son of Llyr<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Math the son of Mathonwy<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The dream of Maxen Wledig<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The story of Lludd and Llevelys<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Taliesin<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+INTRODUCTION<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Whilst engaged on the Translations contained in these volumes, and on
+the Notes appended to the various Tales, I have found myself led unavoidably
+into a much more extensive course of reading than I had originally contemplated,
+and one which in great measure bears directly upon the earlier Medi&aelig;val
+Romance.<br>
+<br>
+Before commencing these labours, I was aware, generally, that there
+existed a connexion between the Welsh Mabinogion and the Romance of
+the Continent; but as I advanced, I became better acquainted with the
+closeness and extent of that connexion, its history, and the proofs
+by which it is supported.<br>
+<br>
+At the same time, indeed, I became aware, and still strongly feel, that
+it is one thing to collect facts, and quite another to classify and
+draw from them their legitimate conclusions; and though I am loth that
+what has been collected with some pains, should be entirely thrown away,
+it is unwillingly, and with diffidence, that I trespass beyond the acknowledged
+province of a translator.<br>
+<br>
+In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there arose into general notoriety
+in Europe, a body of &ldquo;Romance,&rdquo; which in various forms retained
+its popularity till the Reformation.&nbsp; In it the plot, the incidents,
+the characters, were almost wholly those of Chivalry, that bond which
+united the warriors of France, Spain, and Italy, with those of pure
+Teutonic descent, and embraced more or less firmly all the nations of
+Europe, excepting only the Slavonic races, not yet risen to power, and
+the Celts, who had fallen from it.&nbsp; It is not difficult to account
+for this latter omission.&nbsp; The Celts, driven from the plains into
+the mountains and islands, preserved their liberty, and hated their
+oppressors with fierce, and not causeless, hatred.&nbsp; A proud and
+free people, isolated both in country and language, were not likely
+to adopt customs which implied brotherhood with their foes.<br>
+<br>
+Such being the case, it is remarkable that when the chief romances are
+examined, the name of many of the heroes and their scenes of action
+are found to be Celtic, and those of persons and places famous in the
+traditions of Wales and Brittany.&nbsp; Of this the romances of Ywaine
+and Gawaine, Sir Perceval de Galles, Eric and Enide, Mort d&rsquo;Arthur,
+Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristan, the Graal, &amp;c., may be cited as examples.&nbsp;
+In some cases a tendency to triads, and other matters of internal evidence,
+point in the same direction.<br>
+<br>
+It may seem difficult to account for this.&nbsp; Although the ancient
+dominion of the Celts over Europe is not without enduring evidence in
+the names of the mountains and streams, the great features of a country,
+yet the loss of their prior language by the great mass of the Celtic
+nations in Southern Europe (if indeed their successors in territory
+be at all of their blood), prevents us from clearly seeing, and makes
+us wonder, how stories, originally embodied in the Celtic dialects of
+Great Britain and France, could so influence the literature of nations
+to whom the Celtic languages were utterly unknown.&nbsp; Whence then
+came these internal marks, and these proper names of persons and places,
+the features of a story usually of earliest date and least likely to
+change?<br>
+<br>
+These romances were found in England, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden,
+and even Iceland, as early as the beginning of the thirteenth and end
+of the twelfth century.&nbsp; The Germans, who propagated them through
+the nations of the North, derived them certainly from France.&nbsp;
+Robert Wace published his Anglo-Norman Romance of the Brut d&rsquo;Angleterre
+about 1155.&nbsp; Sir Tristan was written in French prose in 1170; and
+The Chevalier au Lion, Chevalier de l&rsquo;Ep&eacute;e, and Sir Lancelot
+du Lac, in metrical French, by Chrestien de Troyes, before 1200.<br>
+<br>
+From these facts it is to be argued that the further back these romances
+are traced, the more clearly does it appear that they spread over the
+Continent from the North-west of France.&nbsp; The older versions, it
+may be remarked, are far more simple than the later corruptions.&nbsp;
+In them there is less allusion to the habits and usages of Chivalry,
+and the Welsh names and elements stand out in stronger relief.&nbsp;
+It is a great step to be able to trace the stocks of these romances
+back to Wace, or to his country and age.&nbsp; For Wace&rsquo;s work
+was not original.&nbsp; He himself, a native of Jersey, appears to have
+derived much of it from the &ldquo;Historia Britonum&rdquo; of Gruffydd
+ab Arthur, commonly known as &ldquo;Geoffrey of Monmouth,&rdquo; born
+1128, who himself professes to have translated from a British original.&nbsp;
+It is, however, very possible that Wace may have had access, like Geoffrey,
+to independent sources of information.<br>
+<br>
+To the claims set up on behalf of Wace and Geoffrey, to be regarded
+as the channels by which the Cymric tales passed into the Continental
+Romance, may be added those of a third almost contemporary author.&nbsp;
+Layamon, a Saxon priest, dwelling, about 1200, upon the banks of the
+upper Severn, acknowledges for the source of his British history, the
+<i>English </i>Bede, the <i>Latin </i>Albin, and the <i>French </i>Wace.&nbsp;
+The last-named however is by very much his chief, and, for Welsh matters,
+his only avowed authority.&nbsp; His book, nevertheless, contains a
+number of names and stories relating to Wales, of which no traces appear
+in Wace, or indeed in Geoffrey, but which he was certainly in a very
+favourable position to obtain for himself.&nbsp; Layamon, therefore,
+not only confirms Geoffrey in some points, but it is clear, that, professing
+to follow Wace, he had independent access to the great body of Welsh
+literature then current.&nbsp; Sir F. Madden has put this matter very
+clearly, in his recent edition of Layamon.&nbsp; The Abb&eacute; de
+la Rue, also, was of opinion that Gaimar, an Anglo-Norman, in the reign
+of Stephen, usually regarded as a translator of Geoffrey of Monmouth,
+had access to a Welsh independent authority.<br>
+<br>
+In addition to these, is to be mentioned the English version of Sir
+Tristrem, which Sir Walter Scott considered to be derived from a distinct
+Celtic source, and not, like the later Amadis, Palmerin, and Lord Berners&rsquo;s
+Canon of Romance, imported into English literature by translation from
+the French.&nbsp; For the Auntours of Arthur, recently published by
+the Camden Society, their Editor, Mr. Robson, seems to hint at a similar
+claim.<br>
+<br>
+Here then are various known channels, by which portions of Welsh and
+Armoric fiction crossed the Celtic border, and gave rise to the more
+ornate, and widely-spread romance of the Age of Chivalry.&nbsp; It is
+not improbable that there may have existed many others.&nbsp; It appears
+then that a large portion of the stocks of Medi&aelig;val Romance proceeded
+from Wales.&nbsp; We have next to see in what condition they are still
+found in that country.<br>
+<br>
+That Wales possessed an ancient literature, containing various lyric
+compositions, and certain triads, in which are arranged historical facts
+or moral aphorisms, has been shown by Sharon Turner, who has established
+the high antiquity of many of these compositions.<br>
+<br>
+The more strictly Romantic Literature of Wales has been less fortunate,
+though not less deserving of critical attention.&nbsp; Small portions
+only of it have hitherto appeared in print, the remainder being still
+hidden in the obscurity of ancient Manuscripts: of these the chief is
+supposed to be the Red Book of Hergest, now in the Library of Jesus
+College, Oxford, and of the fourteenth century.&nbsp; This contains,
+besides poems, the prose romances known as Mabinogion.&nbsp; The Black
+Book of Caermarthen, preserved at Hengwrt, and considered not to be
+of later date than the twelfth century, is said to contain poems only.
+<a name="citation1"></a><a href="#footnote1">{1}</a><br>
+<br>
+The Mabinogion, however, though thus early recorded in the Welsh tongue,
+are in their existing form by no means wholly Welsh.&nbsp; They are
+of two tolerably distinct classes.&nbsp; Of these, the older contains
+few allusions to Norman customs, manners, arts, arms, and luxuries.&nbsp;
+The other, and less ancient, are full of such allusions, and of ecclesiastical
+terms.&nbsp; Both classes, no doubt, are equally of Welsh root, but
+the former are not more overlaid or corrupted, than might have been
+expected, from the communication that so early took place between the
+Normans and the Welsh; whereas the latter probably migrated from Wales,
+and were brought back and re-translated after an absence of centuries,
+with a load of Norman additions.&nbsp; Kilhwch and Olwen, and the dream
+of Rhonabwy, may be cited as examples of the older and purer class;
+the Lady of the Fountain, Peredur, and Geraint ab Erbin, of the later,
+or decorated.<br>
+<br>
+Besides these, indeed, there are a few tales, as Amlyn and Amic, Sir
+Bevis of Hamtoun, the Seven Wise Masters, and the story of Charlemagne,
+so obviously of foreign extraction, and of late introduction into Wales,
+not presenting even a Welsh name, or allusion, and of such very slender
+intrinsic merit, that although comprised in the Llyvr Coch, they have
+not a shadow of claim to form part of the Canon of Welsh Romance.&nbsp;
+Therefore, although I have translated and examined them, I have given
+them no place in these volumes.<br>
+<br>
+There is one argument in favour of the high antiquity in Wales of many
+of the Mabinogion, which deserves to be mentioned here.&nbsp; This argument
+is founded on the topography of the country.&nbsp; It is found that
+Saxon names of places are very frequently definitions of the nature
+of the locality to which they are attached, as Clifton, Deepden, Bridge-ford,
+Thorpe, Ham, Wick, and the like; whereas those of Wales are more frequently
+commemorative of some event, real or supposed, said to have happened
+on or near the spot, or bearing allusion to some person renowned in
+the story of the country or district.&nbsp; Such are &ldquo;Llyn y Morwynion,&rdquo;
+the Lake of the Maidens; &ldquo;Rhyd y Bedd,&rdquo; the Ford of the
+Grave; &ldquo;Bryn Cyfergyr,&rdquo; the Hill of Assault; and so on.&nbsp;
+But as these names could not have preceded the events to which they
+refer, the events themselves must be not unfrequently as old as the
+early settlement in the country.&nbsp; And as some of these events and
+fictions are the subjects of, and are explained by, existing Welsh legends,
+it follows that the legends must be, in some shape or other, of very
+remote antiquity.&nbsp; It will be observed that this argument supports
+<i>remote </i>antiquity only for such legends as are connected with
+the greater topographical features, as mountains, lakes, rivers, seas,
+which must have been named at an early period in the inhabitation of
+the country by man.&nbsp; But there exist, also, legends connected with
+the lesser features, as pools, hills, detached rocks, caves, fords,
+and the like, places not necessarily named by the earlier settlers,
+but the names of which are, nevertheless, probably very old, since the
+words of which they are composed are in many cases not retained in the
+colloquial tongue, in which they must once have been included, and are
+in some instances lost from the language altogether, so much so as to
+be only partially explicable even by scholars.&nbsp; The argument applies
+likewise, in their degree, to camps, barrows, and other artificial earth-works.<br>
+<br>
+Conclusions thus drawn, when established, rest upon a very firm basis.&nbsp;
+They depend upon the number and appositeness of the facts, and it would
+be very interesting to pursue this branch of evidence in detail.&nbsp;
+In following up this idea, the names to be sought for might thus be
+classed:-<br>
+<br>
+I.&nbsp; Names of the great features, involving proper names and actions.<br>
+<br>
+Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur both involve more than a mere name.&nbsp;
+Idris and Arthur must have been invested with heroic qualifications
+to have been placed in such &ldquo;seats.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+II.&nbsp; Names of lesser features, as &ldquo;Bryn y Saeth,&rdquo; Hill
+of the Dart; &ldquo;Llyn Llyngclys,&rdquo; Lake of the Engulphed Court;
+&ldquo;Ceven y Bedd,&rdquo; the Ridge of the Grave; &ldquo;Rhyd y Saeson,&rdquo;
+the Saxons&rsquo; Ford.<br>
+<br>
+III.&nbsp; Names of mixed natural and artificial objects, as &ldquo;Coeten
+Arthur,&rdquo; Arthur&rsquo;s Coit; &ldquo;Cerrig y Drudion,&rdquo;
+the Crag of the Heroes; which involve actions.&nbsp; And such as embody
+proper names only, as &ldquo;Cerrig Howell,&rdquo; the Crag of Howell;
+&ldquo;Caer Arianrod,&rdquo; the Camp of Arianrod; &ldquo;Bron Goronwy,&rdquo;
+the Breast (of the Hill) of Goronwy; &ldquo;Castell mab Wynion,&rdquo;
+the Castle of the son of Wynion; &ldquo;Nant Gwrtheyrn,&rdquo; the Rill
+of Vortigern.<br>
+<br>
+The selection of names would demand much care and discretion.&nbsp;
+The translations should be indisputable, and, where known, the connexion
+of a name with a legend should be noted.&nbsp; Such a name as &ldquo;Mochdrev,&rdquo;
+Swine-town, would be valueless unless accompanied by a legend.<br>
+<br>
+It is always valuable to find a place or work called after an individual,
+because it may help to support some tradition of his existence or his
+actions.&nbsp; But it is requisite that care be taken not to push the
+etymological dissection too far.&nbsp; Thus, &ldquo;Caer Arianrod&rdquo;
+should be taken simply as the &ldquo;Camp of Arianrod,&rdquo; and not
+rendered the &ldquo;Camp of the silver circle,&rdquo; because the latter,
+though it might possibly have something to do with the reason for which
+the name was borne by Arianrod herself, had clearly no reference to
+its application to her camp.<br>
+<br>
+It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has been advanced:-<br>
+<br>
+I.&nbsp; That we have throughout Europe, at an early period, a great
+body of literature, known as Medi&aelig;val Romance, which, amidst much
+that is wholly of Teutonic origin and character, includes certain well-marked
+traces of an older Celtic nucleus.<br>
+<br>
+II.&nbsp; Proceeding backwards in time, we find these romances, their
+ornaments falling away at each step, existing towards the twelfth century,
+of simpler structure, and with less encumbered Celtic features, in the
+works of Wace, and other Bards of the Langue d&rsquo;Oil.<br>
+<br>
+III.&nbsp; We find that Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, and other early
+British and Anglo-Saxon historians, and minstrels, on the one hand,
+transmitted to Europe the rudiments of its after romance, much of which,
+on the other hand, they drew from Wales.<br>
+<br>
+IV.&nbsp; Crossing into Wales we find, in the Mabinogion, the evident
+counterpart of the Celtic portion of the continental romance, mixed
+up, indeed, with various reflex additions from beyond the border, but
+still containing ample internal evidence of a Welsh original.<br>
+<br>
+V.&nbsp; Looking at the connexion between divers of the more ancient
+Mabinogion, and the topographical nomenclature of part of the country,
+we find evidence of the great, though indefinite, antiquity of these
+tales, and of an origin, which, if not indigenous, is certainly derived
+from no European nation.<br>
+<br>
+It was with a general belief in some of these conclusions, that I commenced
+my labours, and I end them with my impressions strongly confirmed.&nbsp;
+The subject is one not unworthy of the talents of a Llwyd or a Prichard.&nbsp;
+It might, I think, be shown, by pursuing the inquiry, that the Cymric
+nation is not only, as Dr. Prichard has proved it to be, an early offshoot
+of the Indo-European family, and a people of unmixed descent, but that
+when driven out of their conquests by the later nations, the names and
+exploits of their heroes, and the compositions of their bards, spread
+far and wide among the invaders, and affected intimately their tastes
+and literature for many centuries, and that it has strong claims to
+be considered the cradle of European Romance.<br>
+<br>
+C. E. G.<br>
+DOWLAIS, <i>August 29th, 1848.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+</i>THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+King Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his chamber;
+and with him were Owain the son of Urien, and Kynon the son of Clydno,
+and Kai the son of Kyner; and Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens at needlework
+by the window.&nbsp; And if it should be said that there was a porter
+at Arthur&rsquo;s palace, there was none.&nbsp; Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr
+was there, acting as porter, to welcome guests and strangers, and to
+receive them with honour, and to inform them of the manners and customs
+of the Court; and to direct those who came to the Hall or to the presence-chamber,
+and those who came to take up their lodging.<br>
+<br>
+In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a seat of green rushes,
+over which was spread a covering of flame-coloured satin, and a cushion
+of red satin was under his elbow.<br>
+<br>
+Then Arthur spoke, &ldquo;If I thought you would not disparage me,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;I would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can
+entertain one another with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon of
+mead and some meat from Kai.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the King went to sleep.&nbsp;
+And Kynon the son of Clydno asked Kai for that which Arthur had promised
+them.&nbsp; &ldquo;I, too, will have the good tale which he promised
+to me,&rdquo; said Kai.&nbsp; &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; answered Kynon, &ldquo;fairer
+will it be for thee to fulfill Arthur&rsquo;s behest, in the first place,
+and then we will tell thee the best tale that we know.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So Kai went to the kitchen and to the mead-cellar, and returned bearing
+a flagon of mead and a golden goblet, and a handful of skewers, upon
+which were broiled collops of meat.&nbsp; Then they ate the collops
+and began to drink the mead.&nbsp; &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;it
+is time for you to give me my story.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Kynon,&rdquo;
+said Owain, &ldquo;do thou pay to Kai the tale that is his due.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Kynon, &ldquo;thou are older, and art a better
+teller of tales, and hast seen more marvellous things than I; do thou
+therefore pay Kai his tale.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Begin thyself,&rdquo;
+quoth Owain, &ldquo;with the best that thou knowest.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will do so,&rdquo; answered Kynon.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly
+aspiring, and my daring was very great.&nbsp; I thought there was no
+enterprise in the world too mighty for me, and after I had achieved
+all the adventures that were in my own country, I equipped myself, and
+set forth to journey through deserts and distant regions.&nbsp; And
+at length it chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world,
+wherein were trees of equal growth; and a river ran through the valley,
+and a path was by the side of the river.&nbsp; And I followed the path
+until mid-day, and continued my journey along the remainder of the valley
+until the evening; and at the extremity of a plain I came to a large
+and lustrous Castle, at the foot of which was a torrent.&nbsp; And I
+approached the Castle, and there I beheld two youths with yellow curling
+hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and clad in a garment
+of yellow satin, and they had gold clasps upon their insteps.&nbsp;
+In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung with the sinews
+of the stag; and their arrows had shafts of the bone of the whale, and
+were winged with peacock&rsquo;s feathers; the shafts also had golden
+heads.&nbsp; And they had daggers with blades of gold, and with hilts
+of the bone of the whale.&nbsp; And they were shooting their daggers.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime of life,
+with his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of yellow satin;
+and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace.&nbsp; On his
+feet were shoes of variegated leather, fastened by two bosses of gold.&nbsp;
+When I saw him, I went towards him and saluted him, and such was his
+courtesy that he no sooner received my greeting than he returned it.&nbsp;
+And he went with me towards the Castle.&nbsp; Now there were no dwellers
+in the Castle except those who were in one hall.&nbsp; And there I saw
+four-and-twenty damsels, embroidering satin at a window.&nbsp; And this
+I tell thee, Kai, that the least fair of them was fairer than the fairest
+maid thou hast ever beheld in the Island of Britain, and the least lovely
+of them was more lovely than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur, when she
+has appeared loveliest at the Offering, on the day of the Nativity,
+or at the feast of Easter.&nbsp; They rose up at my coming, and six
+of them took my horse, and divested me of my armour; and six others
+took my arms, and washed them in a vessel until they were perfectly
+bright.&nbsp; And the third six spread cloths upon the tables and prepared
+meat.&nbsp; And the fourth six took off my soiled garments, and placed
+others upon me; namely, an under-vest and a doublet of fine linen, and
+a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin with a broad gold
+band upon the mantle.&nbsp; And they placed cushions both beneath and
+around me, with coverings of red linen; and I sat down.&nbsp; Now the
+six maidens who had taken my horse, unharnessed him, as well as if they
+had been the best squires in the Island of Britain.&nbsp; Then, behold,
+they brought bowls of silver wherein was water to wash, and towels of
+linen, some green and some white; and I washed.&nbsp; And in a little
+while the man sat down to the table.&nbsp; And I sat next to him, and
+below me sat all the maidens, except those who waited on us.&nbsp; And
+the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the table were of linen;
+and no vessel was served upon the table that was not either of gold
+or of silver, or of buffalo-horn.&nbsp; And our meat was brought to
+us.&nbsp; And verily, Kai, I saw there every sort of meat and every
+sort of liquor that I have ever seen elsewhere; but the meat and the
+liquor were better served there than I have ever seen them in any other
+place.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one of
+the damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceived that
+it would be more agreeable to me to converse than to eat any more, he
+began to inquire of me who I was.&nbsp; I said I was glad to find that
+there was some one who would discourse with me, and that it was not
+considered so great a crime at that Court for people to hold converse
+together. &lsquo;Chieftain,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;we would have
+talked to thee sooner, but we feared to disturb thee during thy repast;
+now, however, we will discourse.&rsquo;&nbsp; Then I told the man who
+I was, and what was the cause of my journey; and said that I was seeking
+whether any one was superior to me, or whether I could gain the mastery
+over all.&nbsp; The man looked upon me, and he smiled and said, &lsquo;If
+I did not fear to distress thee too much, I would show thee that which
+thou seekest.&rsquo;&nbsp; Upon this I became anxious and sorrowful,
+and when the man perceived it, he said, &lsquo;If thou wouldest rather
+that I should show thee thy disadvantage than thine advantage, I will
+do so.&nbsp; Sleep here to-night, and in the morning arise early, and
+take the road upwards through the valley until thou reachest the wood
+through which thou camest hither.&nbsp; A little way within the wood
+thou wilt meet with a road branching off to the right, by which thou
+must proceed, until thou comest to a large sheltered glade with a mound
+in the centre.&nbsp; And thou wilt see a black man of great stature
+on the top of the mound.&nbsp; He is not smaller in size than two of
+the men of this world.&nbsp; He has but one foot; and one eye in the
+middle of his forehead.&nbsp; And he has a club of iron, and it is certain
+that there are no two men in the world who would not find their burden
+in that club.&nbsp; And he is not a comely man, but on the contrary
+he is exceedingly ill-favoured; and he is the woodward of that wood.&nbsp;
+And thou wilt see a thousand wild animals grazing around him.&nbsp;
+Inquire of him the way out of the glade, and he will reply to thee briefly,
+and will point out the road by which thou shalt find that which thou
+art in quest of.&rsquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;And long seemed that night to me.&nbsp; And the next morning
+I arose and equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straight
+through the valley to the wood; and I followed the cross-road which
+the man had pointed out to me, till at length I arrived at the glade.&nbsp;
+And there was I three times more astonished at the number of wild animals
+that I beheld, than the man had said I should be.&nbsp; And the black
+man was there, sitting upon the top of the mound.&nbsp; Huge of stature
+as the man had told me that he was, I found him to exceed by far the
+description he had given me of him.&nbsp; As for the iron club which
+the man had told me was a burden for two men, I am certain, Kai, that
+it would be a heavy weight for four warriors to lift; and this was in
+the black man&rsquo;s hand.&nbsp; And he only spoke to me in answer
+to my questions.&nbsp; Then I asked him what power he held over those
+animals. &lsquo;I will show thee, little man,&rsquo; said he.&nbsp;
+And he took his club in his hand, and with it he struck a stag a great
+blow so that he brayed vehemently, and at his braying the animals came
+together, as numerous as the stars in the sky, so that it was difficult
+for me to find room in the glade to stand among them.&nbsp; There were
+serpents, and dragons, and divers sorts of animals.&nbsp; And he looked
+at them, and bade them go and feed; and they bowed their heads, and
+did him homage as vassals to their lord.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Then the black man said to me, &lsquo;Seest thou now, little
+man, what power I hold over these animals?&rsquo;&nbsp; Then I inquired
+of him the way, and he became very rough in his manner to me; however,
+he asked me whither I would go?&nbsp; And when I told him who I was
+and what I sought, he directed me.&nbsp; &lsquo;Take,&rsquo; said he,
+&lsquo;that path that leads towards the head of the glade, and ascend
+the wooded steep until thou comest to its summit; and there thou wilt
+find an open space like to a large valley, and in the midst of it a
+tall tree, whose branches are greener than the greenest pine-trees.&nbsp;
+Under this tree is a fountain, and by the side of the fountain a marble
+slab, and on the marble slab a silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver,
+so that it may not be carried away.&nbsp; Take the bowl and throw a
+bowlful of water upon the slab, and thou wilt hear a mighty peal of
+thunder, so that thou wilt think that heaven and earth are trembling
+with its fury.&nbsp; With the thunder there will come a shower so severe
+that it will be scarce possible for thee to endure it and live.&nbsp;
+And the shower will be of hailstones; and after the shower, the weather
+will become fair, but every leaf that was upon the tree will have been
+carried away by the shower.&nbsp; Then a flight of birds will come and
+alight upon the tree; and in thine own country thou didst never hear
+a strain so sweet as that which they will sing.&nbsp; And at the moment
+thou art most delighted with the song of the birds, thou wilt hear a
+murmuring and complaining coming towards thee along the valley.&nbsp;
+And thou wilt see a knight upon a coal-black horse, clothed in black
+velvet, and with a pennon of black linen upon his lance; and he will
+ride unto thee to encounter thee with the utmost speed.&nbsp; If thou
+fleest from him he will overtake thee, and if thou abidest there, as
+sure as thou art a mounted knight, he will leave thee on foot.&nbsp;
+And if thou dost not find trouble in that adventure, thou needest not
+seek it during the rest of thy life.&rsquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;So I journeyed on, until I reached the summit of the steep, and
+there I found everything as the black man had described it to me.&nbsp;
+And I went up to the tree, and beneath it I saw the fountain, and by
+its side the marble slab, and the silver bowl fastened by the chain.&nbsp;
+Then I took the bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab; and
+thereupon, behold, the thunder came, much more violent than the black
+man had led me to expect; and after the thunder came the shower; and
+of a truth I tell thee, Kai, that there is neither man nor beast that
+can endure that shower and live.&nbsp; For not one of those hailstones
+would be stopped, either by the flesh or by the skin, until it had reached
+the bone.&nbsp; I turned my horse&rsquo;s flank towards the shower,
+and placed the beak of my shield over his head and neck, while I held
+the upper part of it over my own head.&nbsp; And thus I withstood the
+shower.&nbsp; When I looked on the tree there was not a single leaf
+upon it, and then the sky became clear, and with that, behold the birds
+lighted upon the tree, and sang.&nbsp; And truly, Kai, I never heard
+any melody equal to that, either before or since.&nbsp; And when I was
+most charmed with listening to the birds, lo, a murmuring voice was
+heard through the valley, approaching me and saying, &lsquo;Oh, Knight,
+what has brought thee hither?&nbsp; What evil have I done to thee, that
+thou shouldst act towards me and my possessions as thou hast this day?&nbsp;
+Dost thou not know that the shower to-day has left in my dominions neither
+man nor beast alive that was exposed to it?&rsquo;&nbsp; And thereupon,
+behold, a Knight on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet,
+and with a tabard of black linen about him.&nbsp; And we charged each
+other, and, as the onset was furious, it was not long before I was overthrown.&nbsp;
+Then the Knight passed the shaft of his lance through the bridle rein
+of my horse, and rode off with the two horses, leaving me where I was.&nbsp;
+And he did not even bestow so much notice upon me as to imprison me,
+nor did he despoil me of my arms.&nbsp; So I returned along the road
+by which I had come.&nbsp; And when I reached the glade where the black
+man was, I confess to thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did not melt
+down into a liquid pool, through the shame that I felt at the black
+man&rsquo;s derision.&nbsp; And that night I came to the same castle
+where I had spent the night preceding.&nbsp; And I was more agreeably
+entertained that night than I had been the night before; and I was better
+feasted, and I conversed freely with the inmates of the castle, and
+none of them alluded to my expedition to the fountain, neither did I
+mention it to any; and I remained there that night.&nbsp; When I arose
+on the morrow, I found, ready saddled, a dark bay palfrey, with nostrils
+as red as scarlet; and after putting on my armour, and leaving there
+my blessing, I returned to my own Court.&nbsp; And that horse I still
+possess, and he is in the stable yonder.&nbsp; And I declare that I
+would not part with him for the best palfrey in the Island of Britain.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to an adventure
+so much to his own discredit, and verily it seems strange to me, that
+neither before nor since have I heard of any person besides myself who
+knew of this adventure, and that the subject of it should exist within
+King Arthur&rsquo;s dominions, without any other person lighting upon
+it.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Now,&rdquo; quoth Owain, &ldquo;would it not be well to go and
+endeavour to discover that place?&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;By the hand of my friend,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;often dost
+thou utter that with thy tongue which thou wouldst not make good with
+thy deeds.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;In very truth,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;it were better
+thou wert hanged, Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech towards a
+man like Owain.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;By the hand of my friend, good Lady,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;thy
+praise of Owain is not greater than mine.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping a little.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Yes, Lord,&rdquo; answered Owain, &ldquo;thou hast slept awhile.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Is it time for us to go to meat?&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It is, Lord,&rdquo; said Owain.<br>
+<br>
+Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the King and all his household
+sat down to eat.&nbsp; And when the meal was ended, Owain withdrew to
+his lodging, and made ready his horse and his arms.<br>
+<br>
+On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his armour, and mounted
+his charger, and travelled through distant lands and over desert mountains.&nbsp;
+And at length he arrived at the valley which Kynon had described to
+him; and he was certain that it was the same that he sought.&nbsp; And
+journeying along the valley by the side of the river, he followed its
+course till he came to the plain and within sight of the Castle.&nbsp;
+When he approached the Castle, he saw the youths shooting their daggers
+in the place where Kynon had seen them, and the yellow man, to whom
+the Castle belonged, standing hard by.&nbsp; And no sooner had Owain
+saluted the yellow man than he was saluted by him in return.<br>
+<br>
+And he went forward towards the Castle, and there he saw the chamber,
+and when he had entered the chamber he beheld the maidens working at
+satin embroidery, in chairs of gold.&nbsp; And their beauty and their
+comeliness seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented to
+him.&nbsp; And they rose to wait upon Owain, as they had done to Kynon,
+and the meal which they set before him gave more satisfaction to Owain
+than it had done to Kynon.<br>
+<br>
+About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked Owain the object
+of his journey.&nbsp; And Owain made it known to him, and said, &ldquo;I
+am in quest of the Knight who guards the fountain.&rdquo;&nbsp; Upon
+this the yellow man smiled, and said that he was as loth to point out
+that adventure to Owain as he had been to Kynon.&nbsp; However, he described
+the whole to Owain, and they retired to rest.<br>
+<br>
+The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by the damsels,
+and he set forward and came to the glade where the black man was.&nbsp;
+And the stature of the black man seemed more wonderful to Owain than
+it had done to Kynon, and Owain asked of him his road, and he showed
+it to him.&nbsp; And Owain followed the road, as Kynon had done, till
+he came to the green tree; and he beheld the fountain, and the slab
+beside the fountain, with the bowl upon it.&nbsp; And Owain took the
+bowl, and threw a bowlful of water upon the slab.&nbsp; And, lo, the
+thunder was heard, and after the thunder came the shower, much more
+violent than Kynon had described, and after the shower the sky became
+bright.&nbsp; And when Owain looked at the tree, there was not one leaf
+upon it.&nbsp; And immediately the birds came, and settled upon the
+tree, and sang.&nbsp; And when their song was most pleasing to Owain,
+he beheld a Knight coming towards him through the valley, and he prepared
+to receive him; and encountered him violently.&nbsp; Having broken both
+their lances, they drew their swords, and fought blade to blade.&nbsp;
+Then Owain struck the Knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece and
+visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until it wounded
+the very brain.&nbsp; Then the black Knight felt that he had received
+a mortal wound, upon which he turned his horse&rsquo;s head, and fled.&nbsp;
+And Owain pursued him, and followed close upon him, although he was
+not near enough to strike him with his sword.&nbsp; Thereupon Owain
+descried a vast and resplendent Castle.&nbsp; And they came to the Castle
+gate.&nbsp; And the black Knight was allowed to enter, and the portcullis
+was let fall upon Owain; and it struck his horse behind the saddle,
+and cut him in two, and carried away the rowels of the spurs that were
+upon Owain&rsquo;s heels.&nbsp; And the portcullis descended to the
+floor.&nbsp; And the rowels of the spurs and part of the horse were
+without, and Owain with the other part of the horse remained between
+the two gates, and the inner gate was closed, so that Owain could not
+go thence; and Owain was in a perplexing situation.&nbsp; And while
+he was in this state, he could see through an aperture in the gate,
+a street facing him, with a row of houses on each side.&nbsp; And he
+beheld a maiden, with yellow curling hair, and a frontlet of gold upon
+her head; and she was clad in a dress of yellow satin, and on her feet
+were shoes of variegated leather.&nbsp; And she approached the gate,
+and desired that it should be opened.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven knows, Lady,&rdquo;
+said Owain, &ldquo;it is no more possible for me to open to thee from
+hence, than it is for thee to set me free.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said the damsel, &ldquo;it is very sad that thou canst not be released,
+and every woman ought to succour thee, for I never saw one more faithful
+in the service of ladies than thou.&nbsp; As a friend thou art the most
+sincere, and as a lover the most devoted.&nbsp; Therefore,&rdquo; quoth
+she, &ldquo;whatever is in my power to do for thy release, I will do
+it.&nbsp; Take this ring and put it on thy finger, with the stone inside
+thy hand; and close thy hand upon the stone.&nbsp; And as long as thou
+concealest it, it will conceal thee.&nbsp; When they have consulted
+together, they will come forth to fetch thee, in order to put thee to
+death; and they will be much grieved that they cannot find thee.&nbsp;
+And I will await thee on the horseblock yonder; and thou wilt be able
+to see me, though I cannot see thee; therefore come and place thy hand
+upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou art near me.&nbsp; And by
+the way that I go hence, do thou accompany me.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden had told
+him.&nbsp; And the people of the Castle came to seek Owain, to put him
+to death, and when they found nothing but the half of his horse, they
+were sorely grieved.<br>
+<br>
+And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, and placed
+his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and Owain followed
+her, until they came to the door of a large and beautiful chamber, and
+the maiden opened it, and they went in, and closed the door.&nbsp; And
+Owain looked around the chamber, and behold there was not even a single
+nail in it that was not painted with gorgeous colours; and there was
+not a single panel that had not sundry images in gold portrayed upon
+it.<br>
+<br>
+The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, and put
+a towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain water to wash.&nbsp;
+Then she placed before him a silver table, inlaid with gold; upon which
+was a cloth of yellow linen; and she brought him food.&nbsp; And of
+a truth, Owain had never seen any kind of meat that was not there in
+abundance, but it was better cooked there than he had ever found it
+in any other place.&nbsp; Nor did he ever see so excellent a display
+of meat and drink, as there.&nbsp; And there was not one vessel from
+which he was served, that was not of gold or of silver.&nbsp; And Owain
+ate and drank, until late in the afternoon, when lo, they heard a mighty
+clamour in the Castle; and Owain asked the maiden what that outcry was.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;They are administering extreme unction,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to
+the Nobleman who owns the Castle.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Owain went to sleep.<br>
+<br>
+The couch which the maiden had prepared for him was meet for Arthur
+himself; it was of scarlet, and fur, and satin, and sendal, and fine
+linen.&nbsp; In the middle of the night they heard a woful outcry.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What outcry again is this?&rdquo; said Owain.&nbsp; &ldquo;The
+Nobleman who owned the Castle is now dead,&rdquo; said the maiden.&nbsp;
+And a little after daybreak, they heard an exceeding loud clamour and
+wailing.&nbsp; And Owain asked the maiden what was the cause of it.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;They are bearing to the church the body of the Nobleman who owned
+the Castle.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of the chamber,
+and looked towards the Castle; and he could see neither the bounds,
+nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets.&nbsp; And they
+were fully armed; and a vast number of women were with them, both on
+horseback and on foot; and all the ecclesiastics in the city, singing.&nbsp;
+And it seemed to Owain that the sky resounded with the vehemence of
+their cries, and with the noise of the trumpets, and with the singing
+of the ecclesiastics.&nbsp; In the midst of the throng, he beheld the
+bier, over which was a veil of white linen; and wax tapers were burning
+beside and around it, and none that supported the bier was lower in
+rank than a powerful Baron.<br>
+<br>
+Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with satin, and silk,
+and sendal.&nbsp; And following the train, he beheld a lady with yellow
+hair falling over her shoulders, and stained with blood; and about her
+a dress of yellow satin, which was torn.&nbsp; Upon her feet were shoes
+of variegated leather.&nbsp; And it was a marvel that the ends of her
+fingers were not bruised, from the violence with which she smote her
+hands together.&nbsp; Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain
+ever saw, had she been in her usual guise.&nbsp; And her cry was louder
+than the shout of the men, or the clamour of the trumpets.&nbsp; No
+sooner had he beheld the lady, than he became inflamed with her love,
+so that it took entire possession of him.<br>
+<br>
+Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+knows,&rdquo; replied the maiden, &ldquo;she may be said to be the fairest,
+and the most chaste, and the most liberal, and the wisest, and the most
+noble of women.&nbsp; And she is my mistress; and she is called the
+Countess of the Fountain, the wife of him whom thou didst slay yesterday.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;she is the woman that I love
+best.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;she
+shall also love thee not a little.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and filled a pot with
+water, and placed it to warm; and she brought a towel of white linen,
+and placed it around Owain&rsquo;s neck; and she took a goblet of ivory,
+and a silver basin, and filled them with warm water, wherewith she washed
+Owain&rsquo;s head.&nbsp; Then she opened a wooden casket, and drew
+forth a razor, whose haft was of ivory, and upon which were two rivets
+of gold.&nbsp; And she shaved his beard, and she dried his head, and
+his throat, with the towel.&nbsp; Then she rose up from before Owain,
+and brought him to eat.&nbsp; And truly Owain had never so good a meal,
+nor was he ever so well served.<br>
+<br>
+When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged his couch.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Come here,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and sleep, and I will go and
+woo for thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Owain went to sleep, and the maiden shut
+the door of the chamber after her, and went towards the Castle.&nbsp;
+When she came there, she found nothing but mourning, and sorrow; and
+the Countess in her chamber could not bear the sight of any one through
+grief.&nbsp; Luned came and saluted her, but the Countess answered her
+not.&nbsp; And the maiden bent down towards her, and said, &ldquo;What
+aileth thee, that thou answerest no one to-day?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Luned,&rdquo;
+said the Countess, &ldquo;what change hath befallen thee, that thou
+hast not come to visit me in my grief?&nbsp; It was wrong in thee, and
+I having made thee rich; it was wrong in thee that thou didst not come
+to see me in my distress.&nbsp; That was wrong in thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Luned, &ldquo;I thought thy good sense was
+greater than I find it to be.&nbsp; Is it well for thee to mourn after
+that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst not have?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I declare to heaven,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;that in
+the whole world there is not a man equal to him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Not
+so,&rdquo; said Luned, &ldquo;for an ugly man would be as good as, or
+better than he.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I declare to heaven,&rdquo; said
+the Countess, &ldquo;that were it not repugnant to me to cause to be
+put to death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee executed,
+for making such a comparison to me.&nbsp; As it is, I will banish thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am glad,&rdquo; said Luned, &ldquo;that thou hast no other
+cause to do so, than that I would have been of service to thee where
+thou didst not know what was to thine advantage.&nbsp; And henceforth
+evil betide whichever of us shall make the first advance towards reconciliation
+to the other; whether I should seek an invitation from thee, or thou
+of thine own accord shouldst send to invite me.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+With that Luned went forth: and the Countess arose and followed her
+to the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly.&nbsp; And when
+Luned looked back, the Countess beckoned to her; and she returned to
+the Countess.&nbsp; &ldquo;In truth,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;evil
+is thy disposition; but if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare
+it to me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; quoth she.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible
+for thee to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to seek
+some one who can defend them.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And how can I do that?&rdquo;
+said the Countess.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will tell thee,&rdquo; said Luned.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Unless thou canst defend the fountain, thou canst not maintain
+thy dominions; and no one can defend the fountain, except it be a knight
+of Arthur&rsquo;s household; and I will go to Arthur&rsquo;s Court,
+and ill betide me, if I return thence without a warrior who can guard
+the fountain as well as, or even better than, he who defended it formerly.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;That will be hard to perform,&rdquo; said the Countess.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Go, however, and make proof of that which thou hast promised.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur&rsquo;s Court;
+but she went back to the chamber where she had left Owain; and she tarried
+there with him as long as it might have taken her to have travelled
+to the Court of King Arthur.&nbsp; And at the end of that time, she
+apparelled herself and went to visit the Countess.&nbsp; And the Countess
+was much rejoiced when she saw her, and inquired what news she brought
+from the Court.&nbsp; &ldquo;I bring thee the best of news,&rdquo; said
+Luned, &ldquo;for I have compassed the object of my mission.&nbsp; When
+wilt thou, that I should present to thee the chieftain who has come
+with me hither?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Bring him here to visit me to-morrow,
+at mid-day,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;and I will cause the town
+to be assembled by that time.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And Luned returned home.&nbsp; And the next day, at noon, Owain arrayed
+himself in a coat, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon
+which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were high shoes
+of variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps, in the
+form of lions.&nbsp; And they proceeded to the chamber of the Countess.<br>
+<br>
+Right glad was the Countess of their coming, and she gazed steadfastly
+upon Owain, and said, &ldquo;Luned, this knight has not the look of
+a traveller.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What harm is there in that, lady?&rdquo;
+said Luned.&nbsp; &ldquo;I am certain,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;that
+no other man than this chased the soul from the body of my lord.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;So much the better for thee, lady,&rdquo; said Luned, &ldquo;for
+had he not been stronger than thy lord he could not have deprived him
+of life.&nbsp; There is no remedy for that which is past, be it as it
+may.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Go back to thine abode,&rdquo; said the Countess,
+&ldquo;and I will take counsel.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, and showed
+them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that it could not be
+protected but with horse and arms, and military skill.&nbsp; &ldquo;Therefore,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;this is what I offer for your choice: either let one
+of you take me, or give your consent for me to take a husband from elsewhere
+to defend my dominions.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they came to the determination that it was better that she should
+have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and, thereupon, she
+sent for the bishops and archbishops to celebrate her nuptials with
+Owain.&nbsp; And the men of the earldom did Owain homage.<br>
+<br>
+And Owain defended the Fountain with lance and sword.&nbsp; And this
+is the manner in which he defended it: Whensoever a knight came there
+he overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth, and what he thus
+gained he divided among his barons and his knights; and no man in the
+whole world could be more beloved than he was by his subjects.&nbsp;
+And it was thus for the space of three years.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+It befell that as Gwalchmai went forth one day with King Arthur, he
+perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful.&nbsp; And Gwalchmai was
+much grieved to see Arthur in this state; and he questioned him, saying,
+&ldquo;Oh, my lord! what has befallen thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;In sooth,
+Gwalchmai,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;I am grieved concerning Owain,
+whom I have lost these three years, and I shall certainly die if the
+fourth year passes without my seeing him.&nbsp; Now I am sure, that
+it is through the tale which Kynon the son of Clydno related, that I
+have lost Owain.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;There is no need for thee,&rdquo;
+said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;to summon to arms thy whole dominions on this
+account, for thou thyself and the men of thy household will be able
+to avenge Owain, if he be slain; or to set him free, if he be in prison;
+and, if alive, to bring him back with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And it was
+settled according to what Gwalchmai had said.<br>
+<br>
+Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek Owain,
+and their number was three thousand, besides their attendants.&nbsp;
+And Kynon the son of Clydno acted as their guide.&nbsp; And Arthur came
+to the Castle where Kynon had been before, and when he came there the
+youths were shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was standing
+hard by.&nbsp; When the yellow man saw Arthur he greeted him, and invited
+him to the Castle; and Arthur accepted his invitation, and they entered
+the Castle together.&nbsp; And great as was the number of his retinue,
+their presence was scarcely observed in the Castle, so vast was its
+extent.&nbsp; And the maidens rose up to wait on them, and the service
+of the maidens appeared to them all to excel any attendance they had
+ever met with; and even the pages who had charge of the horses were
+no worse served, that night, than Arthur himself would have been in
+his own palace.<br>
+<br>
+The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and
+came to the place where the black man was.&nbsp; And the stature of
+the black man was more surprising to Arthur than it had been represented
+to him.&nbsp; And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed
+the valley till they reached the green tree, where they saw the fountain,
+and the bowl, and the slab.&nbsp; And upon that, Kai came to Arthur
+and spoke to him.&nbsp; &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I know
+the meaning of all this, and my request is, that thou wilt permit me
+to throw the water on the slab, and to receive the first adventure that
+may befall.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Arthur gave him leave.<br>
+<br>
+Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately there
+came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower.&nbsp; And such a
+thunderstorm they had never known before, and many of the attendants
+who were in Arthur&rsquo;s train were killed by the shower.&nbsp; After
+the shower had ceased the sky became clear; and on looking at the tree
+they beheld it completely leafless.&nbsp; Then the birds descended upon
+the tree, and the song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain
+they had ever heard before.&nbsp; Then they beheld a knight on a coal-black
+horse, clothed in black satin, coming rapidly towards them.&nbsp; And
+Kai met him and encountered him, and it was not long before Kai was
+overthrown.&nbsp; And the knight withdrew, and Arthur and his host encamped
+for the night.<br>
+<br>
+And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of combat
+upon the lance of the Knight.&nbsp; And Kai came to Arthur, and spoke
+to him: &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;though I was overthrown
+yesterday, if it seem good to thee, I would gladly meet the Knight again
+to-day.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou mayst do so,&rdquo; said Arthur.&nbsp;
+And Kai went towards the Knight.&nbsp; And on the spot he overthrew
+Kai, and struck him with the head of his lance in the forehead, so that
+it broke his helmet and the head-piece, and pierced the skin and the
+flesh, the breadth of the spear-head, even to the bone.&nbsp; And Kai
+returned to his companions.<br>
+<br>
+After this, all the household of Arthur went forth, one after the other,
+to combat the Knight, until there was not one that was not overthrown
+by him, except Arthur and Gwalchmai.&nbsp; And Arthur armed himself
+to encounter the Knight.&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh, my lord,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai,
+&ldquo;permit me to fight with him first.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Arthur permitted
+him.&nbsp; And he went forth to meet the Knight, having over himself
+and his horse a satin robe of honour which had been sent him by the
+daughter of the Earl of Rhangyw, and in this dress he was not known
+by any of the host.&nbsp; And they charged each other, and fought all
+that day until the evening, and neither of them was able to unhorse
+the other.<br>
+<br>
+The next day they fought with strong lances, and neither of them could
+obtain the mastery.<br>
+<br>
+And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances.&nbsp; And
+they were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even until noon.&nbsp;
+And they gave each other such a shock that the girths of their horses
+were broken, so that they fell over their horses&rsquo; cruppers to
+the ground.&nbsp; And they rose up speedily, and drew their swords,
+and resumed the combat; and the multitude that witnessed their encounter
+felt assured that they had never before seen two men so valiant or so
+powerful.&nbsp; And had it been midnight, it would have been light from
+the fire that flashed from their weapons.&nbsp; And the Knight gave
+Gwalchmai a blow that turned his helmet from off his face, so that the
+Knight knew that it was Gwalchmai.&nbsp; Then Owain said, &ldquo;My
+lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee for my cousin, owing to the robe
+of honour that enveloped thee; take my sword and my arms.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And with that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced towards
+them.&nbsp; &ldquo;My lord Arthur,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;here
+is Owain, who has vanquished me, and will not take my arms.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;it is he that has vanquished
+me, and he will not take my sword.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Give me your
+swords,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;and then neither of you has vanquished
+the other.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then Owain put his arms around Arthur&rsquo;s
+neck, and they embraced.&nbsp; And all the host hurried forward to see
+Owain, and to embrace him; and there was nigh being a loss of life,
+so great was the press.<br>
+<br>
+And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to depart.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;this is not well of thee;
+for I have been absent from thee these three years, and during all that
+time, up to this very day, I have been preparing a banquet for thee,
+knowing that thou wouldst come to seek me.&nbsp; Tarry with me, therefore,
+until thou and thy attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey,
+and have been anointed.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And they all proceeded to the Castle of the Countess of the Fountain,
+and the banquet which had been three years preparing was consumed in
+three months.&nbsp; Never had they a more delicious or agreeable banquet.&nbsp;
+And Arthur prepared to depart.&nbsp; Then he sent an embassy to the
+Countess, to beseech her to permit Owain to go with him for the space
+of three months, that he might show him to the nobles and the fair dames
+of the Island of Britain.&nbsp; And the Countess gave her consent, although
+it was very painful to her.&nbsp; So Owain came with Arthur to the Island
+of Britain.&nbsp; And when he was once more amongst his kindred and
+friends, he remained three years, instead of three months, with them.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerlleon upon Usk,
+behold a damsel entered upon a bay horse, with a curling mane and covered
+with foam, and the bridle and so much as was seen of the saddle were
+of gold.&nbsp; And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow satin.&nbsp;
+And she came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his hand.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Thus,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;shall be treated the deceiver,
+the traitor, the faithless, the disgraced, and the beardless.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And she turned her horse&rsquo;s head and departed.<br>
+<br>
+Then his adventure came to Owain&rsquo;s remembrance, and he was sorrowful;
+and having finished eating he went to his own abode and made preparations
+that night.&nbsp; And the next day he arose but did not go to the Court,
+but wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to uncultivated mountains.&nbsp;
+And he remained there until all his apparel was worn out, and his body
+was wasted away, and his hair was grown long.&nbsp; And he went about
+with the wild beasts and fed with them, until they became familiar with
+him; but at length he grew so weak that he could no longer bear them
+company.&nbsp; Then he descended from the mountains to the valley, and
+came to a park that was the fairest in the world, and belonged to a
+widowed Countess.<br>
+<br>
+One day the Countess and her maidens went forth to walk by a lake, that
+was in the middle of the park.&nbsp; And they saw the form of a man.&nbsp;
+And they were terrified.&nbsp; Nevertheless they went near him, and
+touched him, and looked at him.&nbsp; And they saw that there was life
+in him, though he was exhausted by the heat of the sun.&nbsp; And the
+Countess returned to the Castle, and took a flask full of precious ointment,
+and gave it to one of her maidens.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go with this,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;and take with thee yonder horse and clothing, and place
+them near the man we saw just now.&nbsp; And anoint him with this balsam,
+near his heart; and if there is life in him, he will arise through the
+efficacy of this balsam.&nbsp; Then watch what he will do.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole of the balsam
+upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a
+little way off, and hid herself to watch him.&nbsp; In a short time
+she saw him begin to move his arms; and he rose up, and looked at his
+person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance.&nbsp;
+Then he perceived the horse and the garments that were near him.&nbsp;
+And he crept forward till he was able to draw the garments to him from
+off the saddle.&nbsp; And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted
+the horse.&nbsp; Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and saluted
+him.&nbsp; And he was rejoiced when he saw her, and inquired of her,
+what land and what territory that was.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said
+the maiden, &ldquo;a widowed Countess owns yonder Castle; at the death
+of her husband, he left her two Earldoms, but at this day she has but
+this one dwelling that has not been wrested from her by a young Earl,
+who is her neighbour, because she refused to become his wife.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;That is pity,&rdquo; said Owain.&nbsp; And he and the maiden
+proceeded to the Castle; and he alighted there, and the maiden conducted
+him to a pleasant chamber, and kindled a fire and left him.<br>
+<br>
+And the maiden came to the Countess, and gave the flask into her hand.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Ha! maiden,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;where is all the
+balsam?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Have I not used it all?&rdquo; said she.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Oh, maiden,&rdquo; said the Countess, &ldquo;I cannot easily
+forgive thee this; it is sad for me to have wasted seven-score pounds&rsquo;
+worth of precious ointment upon a stranger whom I know not.&nbsp; However,
+maiden, wait thou upon him, until he is quite recovered.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat and drink, and fire,
+and lodging, and medicaments, until he was well again.&nbsp; And in
+three months he was restored to his former guise, and became even more
+comely than he had ever been before.<br>
+<br>
+One day Owain heard a great tumult, and a sound of arms in the Castle,
+and he inquired of the maiden the cause thereof.&nbsp; &ldquo;The Earl,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;whom I mentioned to thee, has come before the Castle,
+with a numerous army, to subdue the Countess.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Owain
+inquired of her whether the Countess had a horse and arms in her possession.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;She has the best in the world,&rdquo; said the maiden.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Wilt thou go and request the loan of a horse and arms for me,&rdquo;
+said Owain, &ldquo;that I may go and look at this army?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will,&rdquo; said the maiden.<br>
+<br>
+And she came to the Countess, and told her what Owain had said.&nbsp;
+And the Countess laughed.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I
+will even give him a horse and arms for ever; such a horse and such
+arms had he never yet, and I am glad that they should be taken by him
+to-day, lest my enemies should have them against my will to-morrow.&nbsp;
+Yet I know not what he would do with them.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The Countess bade them bring out a beautiful black steed, upon which
+was a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, for man and horse.&nbsp;
+And Owain armed himself, and mounted the horse, and went forth, attended
+by two pages completely equipped, with horses and arms.&nbsp; And when
+they came near to the Earl&rsquo;s army, they could see neither its
+extent nor its extremity.&nbsp; And Owain asked the pages in which troop
+the Earl was.&nbsp; &ldquo;In yonder troop,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;in
+which are four yellow standards.&nbsp; Two of them are before, and two
+behind him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;do you
+return and await me near the portal of the Castle.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they
+returned, and Owain pressed forward until he met the Earl.&nbsp; And
+Owain drew him completely out of his saddle, and turned his horse&rsquo;s
+head towards the Castle, and though it was with difficulty, he brought
+the Earl to the portal, where the pages awaited him.&nbsp; And in they
+came.&nbsp; And Owain presented the Earl as a gift to the Countess.&nbsp;
+And said to her, &ldquo;Behold a requital to thee for thy blessed balsam.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The army encamped around the Castle.&nbsp; And the Earl restored to
+the Countess the two Earldoms he had taken from her, as a ransom for
+his life; and for his freedom he gave her the half of his own dominions,
+and all his gold, and his silver, and his jewels, besides hostages.<br>
+<br>
+And Owain took his departure.&nbsp; And the Countess and all her subjects
+besought him to remain, but Owain chose rather to wander through distant
+lands and deserts.<br>
+<br>
+And as he journeyed, he heard a loud yelling in a wood.&nbsp; And it
+was repeated a second and a third time.&nbsp; And Owain went towards
+the spot, and beheld a huge craggy mound, in the middle of the wood;
+on the side of which was a grey rock.&nbsp; And there was a cleft in
+the rock, and a serpent was within the cleft.&nbsp; And near the rock
+stood a black lion, and every time the lion sought to go thence, the
+serpent darted towards him to attack him.&nbsp; And Owain unsheathed
+his sword, and drew near to the rock; and as the serpent sprang out,
+he struck him with his sword, and cut him in two.&nbsp; And he dried
+his sword, and went on his way, as before.&nbsp; But behold the lion
+followed him, and played about him, as though it had been a greyhound
+that he had reared.<br>
+<br>
+They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening.&nbsp; And
+when it was time for Owain to take his rest, he dismounted, and turned
+his horse loose in a flat and wooded meadow.&nbsp; And he struck fire,
+and when the fire was kindled, the lion brought him fuel enough to last
+for three nights.&nbsp; And the lion disappeared.&nbsp; And presently
+the lion returned, bearing a fine large roebuck.&nbsp; And he threw
+it down before Owain, who went towards the fire with it.<br>
+<br>
+And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops of its
+flesh upon skewers, around the fire.&nbsp; The rest of the buck he gave
+to the lion to devour.&nbsp; While he was doing this, he heard a deep
+sigh near him, and a second, and a third.&nbsp; And Owain called out
+to know whether the sigh he heard proceeded from a mortal; and he received
+answer that it did.&nbsp; &ldquo;Who art thou?&rdquo; said Owain.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said the voice, &ldquo;I am Luned, the handmaiden
+of the Countess of the Fountain.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And what dost thou
+here?&rdquo; said Owain.&nbsp; &ldquo;I am imprisoned,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;on account of the knight who came from Arthur&rsquo;s Court,
+and married the Countess.&nbsp; And he stayed a short time with her,
+but he afterwards departed for the Court of Arthur, and has not returned
+since.&nbsp; And he was the friend I loved best in the world.&nbsp;
+And two of the pages in the Countess&rsquo;s chamber traduced him, and
+called him a deceiver.&nbsp; And I told them that they two were not
+a match for him alone.&nbsp; So they imprisoned me in the stone vault,
+and said that I should be put to death, unless he came himself to deliver
+me, by a certain day; and that is no further off than the day after
+to-morrow.&nbsp; And I have no one to send to seek him for me.&nbsp;
+And his name is Owain the son of Urien.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And art
+thou certain that if that knight knew all this, he would come to thy
+rescue?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I am most certain of it,&rdquo; said she.<br>
+<br>
+When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts, between
+himself and the maiden; and after they had eaten, they talked together,
+until the day dawned.&nbsp; And the next morning Owain inquired of the
+damsel, if there was any place where he could get food and entertainment
+for that night.&nbsp; &ldquo;There is, Lord,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;cross
+over yonder, and go along the side of the river, and in a short time
+thou wilt see a great Castle, in which are many towers, and the Earl
+who owns that Castle is the most hospitable man in the world.&nbsp;
+There thou mayst spend the night.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord, than the lion
+that night over Owain.<br>
+<br>
+And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by the ford, and came
+in sight of the Castle.&nbsp; And he entered it, and was honourably
+received.&nbsp; And his horse was well cared for, and plenty of fodder
+was placed before him.&nbsp; Then the lion went and lay down in the
+horse&rsquo;s manger; so that none of the people of the Castle dared
+to approach him.&nbsp; The treatment which Owain met with there was
+such as he had never known elsewhere, for every one was as sorrowful
+as though death had been upon him.&nbsp; And they went to meat; and
+the Earl sat upon one side of Owain, and on the other side his only
+daughter.&nbsp; And Owain had never seen any more lovely than she.&nbsp;
+Then the lion came and placed himself between Owain&rsquo;s feet, and
+he fed him with every kind of food that he took himself.&nbsp; And he
+never saw anything equal to the sadness of the people.<br>
+<br>
+In the middle of the repast the Earl began to bid Owain welcome.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;behold, it is time for thee to
+be cheerful.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven knows,&rdquo; said the Earl,
+&ldquo;that it is not thy coming that makes us sorrowful, but we have
+cause enough for sadness and care.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What is that?&rdquo;
+said Owain.&nbsp; &ldquo;I have two sons,&rdquo; replied the Earl, &ldquo;and
+yesterday they went to the mountains to hunt.&nbsp; Now there is on
+the mountain a monster who kills men and devours them, and he seized
+my sons; and to-morrow is the time he has fixed to be here, and he threatens
+that he will then slay my sons before my eyes, unless I will deliver
+into his hands this my daughter.&nbsp; He has the form of a man, but
+in stature he is no less than a giant.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;that is lamentable.&nbsp; And
+which wilt thou do?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven knows,&rdquo; said the
+Earl, &ldquo;it will be better that my sons should be slain against
+my will, than that I should voluntarily give up my daughter to him to
+ill-treat and destroy.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then they talked about other things,
+and Owain stayed there that night.<br>
+<br>
+The next morning they heard an exceeding great clamour, which was caused
+by the coming of the giant with the two youths.&nbsp; And the Earl was
+anxious both to protect his Castle and to release his two sons.&nbsp;
+Then Owain put on his armour and went forth to encounter the giant,
+and the lion followed him.&nbsp; And when the giant saw that Owain was
+armed, he rushed towards him and attacked him.&nbsp; And the lion fought
+with the giant much more fiercely than Owain did.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said the giant, &ldquo;I should find no difficulty in fighting with
+thee, were it not for the animal that is with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; Upon
+that Owain took the lion back to the Castle and shut the gate upon him,
+and then he returned to fight the giant, as before.&nbsp; And the lion
+roared very loud, for he heard that it went hard with Owain.&nbsp; And
+he climbed up till he reached the top of the Earl&rsquo;s hall, and
+thence he got to the top of the Castle, and he sprang down from the
+walls and went and joined Owain.&nbsp; And the lion gave the giant a
+stroke with his paw, which tore him from his shoulder to his hip, and
+his heart was laid bare, and the giant fell down dead.&nbsp; Then Owain
+restored the two youths to their father.<br>
+<br>
+The Earl besought Owain to remain with him, and he would not, but set
+forward towards the meadow where Luned was.&nbsp; And when he came there
+he saw a great fire kindled, and two youths with beautiful curling auburn
+hair were leading the maiden to cast her into the fire.&nbsp; And Owain
+asked them what charge they had against her.&nbsp; And they told him
+of the compact that was between them, as the maiden had done the night
+before.&nbsp; &ldquo;And,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;Owain has failed
+her, therefore we are taking her to be burnt.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said Owain, &ldquo;he is a good knight, and if he knew that the maiden
+was in such peril, I marvel that he came not to her rescue; but if you
+will accept me in his stead, I will do battle with you.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;We will,&rdquo; said the youths, &ldquo;by him who made us.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them.&nbsp; And with
+that the lion came to Owain&rsquo;s assistance, and they two got the
+better of the young men.&nbsp; And they said to him, &ldquo;Chieftain,
+it was not agreed that we should fight save with thyself alone, and
+it is harder for us to contend with yonder animal than with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Owain put the lion in the place where the maiden had been imprisoned,
+and blocked up the door with stones, and he went to fight with the young
+men, as before.&nbsp; But Owain had not his usual strength, and the
+two youths pressed hard upon him.&nbsp; And the lion roared incessantly
+at seeing Owain in trouble; and he burst through the wall until he found
+a way out, and rushed upon the young men, and instantly slew them.&nbsp;
+So Luned was saved from being burned.<br>
+<br>
+Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the Countess of the
+Fountain.&nbsp; And when he went thence he took the Countess with him
+to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and she was his wife as long as she lived.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And then he took the road that led to the Court of the savage black
+man, and Owain fought with him, and the lion did not quit Owain until
+he had vanquished him.&nbsp; And when he reached the Court of the savage
+black man he entered the hall, and beheld four-and-twenty ladies, the
+fairest that could be seen.&nbsp; And the garments which they had on
+were not worth four-and twenty pence, and they were as sorrowful as
+death.&nbsp; And Owain asked them the cause of their sadness.&nbsp;
+And they said, &ldquo;We are the daughters of Earls, and we all came
+here with our husbands, whom we dearly loved.&nbsp; And we were received
+with honour and rejoicing.&nbsp; And we were thrown into a state of
+stupor, and while we were thus, the demon who owns this Castle slew
+all our husbands, and took from us our horses, and our raiment, and
+our gold, and our silver; and the corpses of our husbands are still
+in this house, and many others with them.&nbsp; And this, Chieftain,
+is the cause of our grief, and we are sorry that thou art come hither,
+lest harm should befall thee.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And Owain was grieved when he heard this.&nbsp; And he went forth from
+the Castle, and he beheld a knight approaching him, who saluted him
+in a friendly and cheerful manner, as if he had been a brother.&nbsp;
+And this was the savage black man.&nbsp; &ldquo;In very sooth,&rdquo;
+said Owain, &ldquo;it is not to seek thy friendship that I am here.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;In sooth,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou shalt not find it then.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And with that they charged each other, and fought furiously.&nbsp; And
+Owain overcame him, and bound his hands behind his back.&nbsp; Then
+the black savage besought Owain to spare his life, and spoke thus: &ldquo;My
+lord Owain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it was foretold that thou shouldst
+come hither and vanquish me, and thou hast done so.&nbsp; I was a robber
+here, and my house was a house of spoil; but grant me my life, and I
+will become the keeper of an Hospice, and I will maintain this house
+as an Hospice for weak and for strong, as long as I live, for the good
+of thy soul.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Owain accepted this proposal of him, and
+remained there that night.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day he took the four-and-twenty ladies, and their horses,
+and their raiment, and what they possessed of goods and jewels, and
+proceeded with them to Arthur&rsquo;s Court.&nbsp; And if Arthur was
+rejoiced when he saw him, after he had lost him the first time, his
+joy was now much greater.&nbsp; And of those ladies, such as wished
+to remain in Arthur&rsquo;s Court remained there, and such as wished
+to depart departed.<br>
+<br>
+And thenceforward Owain dwelt at Arthur&rsquo;s Court greatly beloved,
+as the head of his household, until he went away with his followers;
+and those were the army of three hundred ravens which Kenverchyn had
+left him.&nbsp; And wherever Owain went with these he was victorious.<br>
+<br>
+And this is the tale of THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Earl Evrawc owned the Earldom of the North.&nbsp; And he had seven sons.&nbsp;
+And Evrawc maintained himself not so much by his own possessions as
+by attending tournaments, and wars, and combats.&nbsp; And, as it often
+befalls those who join in encounters and wars, he was slain, and six
+of his sons likewise.&nbsp; Now the name of his seventh son was Peredur,
+and he was the youngest of them.&nbsp; And he was not of an age to go
+to wars and encounters, otherwise he might have been slain as well as
+his father and brothers.&nbsp; His mother was a scheming and thoughtful
+woman, and she was very solicitous concerning this her only son and
+his possessions.&nbsp; So she took counsel with herself to leave the
+inhabited country, and to flee to the deserts and unfrequented wildernesses.&nbsp;
+And she permitted none to bear her company thither but women and boys,
+and spiritless men, who were both unaccustomed and unequal to war and
+fighting.&nbsp; And none dared to bring either horses or arms where
+her son was, lest he should set his mind upon them.&nbsp; And the youth
+went daily to divert himself in the forest, by flinging sticks and staves.&nbsp;
+And one day he saw his mother&rsquo;s flock of goats, and near the goats
+two hinds were standing.&nbsp; And he marvelled greatly that these two
+should be without horns, while the others had them.&nbsp; And he thought
+they had long run wild, and on that account they had lost their horns.&nbsp;
+And by activity and swiftness of foot, he drove the hinds and the goats
+together into the house which there was for the goats at the extremity
+of the forest.&nbsp; Then Peredur returned to his mother.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah,
+mother,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;a marvellous thing have I seen in the
+wood; two of thy goats have run wild, and lost their horns, through
+their having been so long missing in the wood.&nbsp; And no man had
+ever more trouble than I had to drive them in.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then they
+all arose and went to see.&nbsp; And when they beheld the hinds they
+were greatly astonished.<br>
+<br>
+And one day they saw three knights coming along the horse-road on the
+borders of the forest.&nbsp; And the three knights were Gwalchmai the
+son of Gwyar, and Geneir Gwystyl, and Owain the son of Urien.&nbsp;
+And Owain kept on the track of the knight who had divided the apples
+in Arthur&rsquo;s Court, whom they were in pursuit of.&nbsp; &ldquo;Mother,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;what are those yonder?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;They
+are angels, my son,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;I will go and become an angel with them.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Peredur went to the road, and met them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell me, good
+soul,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;sawest thou a knight pass this way,
+either to-day or yesterday?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I know not,&rdquo; answered
+he, &ldquo;what a knight is.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Such an one as I am,&rdquo;
+said Owain.&nbsp; &ldquo;If thou wilt tell me what I ask thee, I will
+tell thee that which thou askest me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Gladly will
+I do so,&rdquo; replied Owain.&nbsp; &ldquo;What is this?&rdquo; demanded
+Peredur, concerning the saddle.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is a saddle,&rdquo;
+said Owain.&nbsp; Then he asked about all the accoutrements which he
+saw upon the men, and the horses, and the arms, and what they were for,
+and how they were used.&nbsp; And Owain shewed him all these things
+fully, and told him what use was made of them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go forward,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;for I saw such an one as thou inquirest for, and
+I will follow thee.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Peredur returned to his mother and her company, and he said to
+her, &ldquo;Mother, those were not angels, but honourable knights.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then his mother swooned away.&nbsp; And Peredur went to the place where
+they kept the horses that carried firewood, and that brought meat and
+drink from the inhabited country to the desert.&nbsp; And he took a
+bony piebald horse, which seemed to him the strongest of them.&nbsp;
+And he pressed a pack into the form of a saddle, and with twisted twigs
+he imitated the trappings which he had seen upon the horses.&nbsp; And
+when Peredur came again to his mother, the Countess had recovered from
+her swoon.&nbsp; &ldquo;My son,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;desirest thou
+to ride forth?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes, with thy leave,&rdquo; said
+he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Wait, then, that I may counsel thee before thou goest.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Willingly,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;speak quickly.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Go forward, then,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;to the Court of Arthur,
+where there are the best, and the boldest, and the most bountiful of
+men.&nbsp; And wherever thou seest a church, repeat there thy Paternoster
+unto it.&nbsp; And if thou see meat and drink, and have need of them,
+and none have the kindness or the courtesy to give them to thee, take
+them thyself.&nbsp; If thou hear an outcry, proceed towards it, especially
+if it be the outcry of a woman.&nbsp; If thou see a fair jewel, possess
+thyself of it, and give it to another, for thus thou shalt obtain praise.&nbsp;
+If thou see a fair woman, pay thy court to her, whether she will or
+no; for thus thou wilt render thyself a better and more esteemed man
+than thou wast before.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and taking a handful
+of sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he rode forth.&nbsp; And he journeyed
+two days and two nights in the woody wildernesses, and in desert places,
+without food and without drink.&nbsp; And then he came to a vast wild
+wood, and far within the wood he saw a fair even glade, and in the glade
+he saw a tent, and the tent seeming to him to be a church, he repeated
+his Paternoster to it.&nbsp; And he went towards it, and the door of
+the tent was open.&nbsp; And a golden chair was near the door.&nbsp;
+And on the chair sat a lovely auburn-haired maiden, with a golden frontlet
+on her forehead, and sparkling stones in the frontlet, and with a large
+gold ring on her hand.&nbsp; And Peredur dismounted, and entered the
+tent.&nbsp; And the maiden was glad at his coming, and bade him welcome.&nbsp;
+At the entrance of the tent he saw food, and two flasks full of wine,
+and two loaves of fine wheaten flour, and collops of the flesh of the
+wild boar.&nbsp; &ldquo;My mother told me,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;wheresoever
+I saw meat and drink, to take it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Take the meat
+and welcome, chieftain,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; So Peredur took half
+of the meat and of the liquor himself, and left the rest to the maiden.&nbsp;
+And when Peredur had finished eating, he bent upon his knee before the
+maiden.&nbsp; &ldquo;My mother,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;told me, wheresoever
+I saw a fair jewel, to take it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Do so, my soul,&rdquo;
+said she.&nbsp; So Peredur took the ring.&nbsp; And he mounted his horse,
+and proceeded on his journey.<br>
+<br>
+After this, behold the knight came to whom the tent belonged; and he
+was the Lord of the Glade.&nbsp; And he saw the track of the horse,
+and he said to the maiden, &ldquo;Tell me who has been here since I
+departed.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;A man,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;of wonderful
+demeanour.&rdquo;&nbsp; And she described to him what Peredur&rsquo;s
+appearance and conduct had been.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;did he offer thee any wrong?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;No,&rdquo; answered
+the maiden, &ldquo;by my faith, he harmed me not.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By
+my faith, I do not believe thee; and until I can meet with him, and
+revenge the insult he has done me, and wreak my vengeance upon him,
+thou shalt not remain two nights in the same house.&rdquo;&nbsp; And
+the knight arose, and set forth to seek Peredur.<br>
+<br>
+Meanwhile Peredur journeyed on towards Arthur&rsquo;s Court.&nbsp; And
+before he reached it, another knight had been there, who gave a ring
+of thick gold at the door of the gate for holding his horse, and went
+into the Hall where Arthur and his household, and Gwenhwyvar and her
+maidens, were assembled.&nbsp; And the page of the chamber was serving
+Gwenhwyvar with a golden goblet.&nbsp; Then the knight dashed the liquor
+that was therein upon her face, and upon her stomacher, and gave her
+a violent blow on the face, and said, &ldquo;If any have the boldness
+to dispute this goblet with me, and to revenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar,
+let him follow me to the meadow, and there I will await him.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So the knight took his horse, and rode to the meadow.&nbsp; And all
+the household hung down their heads, lest any of them should be requested
+to go and avenge the insult to Gwenhwyvar.&nbsp; For it seemed to them,
+that no one would have ventured on so daring an outrage, unless he possessed
+such powers, through magic or charms, that none could be able to take
+vengeance upon him.&nbsp; Then, behold, Peredur entered the Hall, upon
+the bony piebald horse, with the uncouth trappings upon it; and in this
+way he traversed the whole length of the Hall.&nbsp; In the centre of
+the Hall stood Kai.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell me, tall man,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;is that Arthur yonder?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What wouldest thou
+with Arthur?&rdquo; asked Kai.&nbsp; &ldquo;My mother told me to go
+to Arthur, and receive the honour of knighthood.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By
+my faith,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou art all too meanly equipped with
+horse and with arms.&rdquo;&nbsp; Thereupon he was perceived by all
+the household, and they threw sticks at him.&nbsp; Then, behold, a dwarf
+came forward.&nbsp; He had already been a year at Arthur&rsquo;s Court,
+both he and a female dwarf.&nbsp; They had craved harbourage of Arthur,
+and had obtained it; and during the whole year, neither of them had
+spoken a single word to any one.&nbsp; When the dwarf beheld Peredur,
+&ldquo;Haha!&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;the welcome of Heaven be unto thee,
+goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, the chief of warriors, and flower of
+knighthood.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;thou
+art ill-taught to remain a year mute at Arthur&rsquo;s Court, with choice
+of society; and now, before the face of Arthur and all his household,
+to call out, and declare such a man as this the chief of warriors, and
+the flower of knighthood.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he gave him such a box on
+the ear that he fell senseless to the ground.&nbsp; Then exclaimed the
+female dwarf, &ldquo;Haha! goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc; the welcome
+of Heaven be unto thee, flower of knights, and light of chivalry.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Of a truth, maiden,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;thou art ill-bred
+to remain mute for a year at the Court of Arthur, and then to speak
+as thou dost of such a man as this.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Kai kicked her
+with his foot, so that she fell to the ground senseless.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tall
+man,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;shew me which is Arthur.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Hold thy peace,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;and go after the knight
+who went hence to the meadow, and take from him the goblet, and overthrow
+him, and possess thyself of his horse and arms, and then thou shalt
+receive the order of knighthood.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do so, tall
+man,&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp; So he turned his horse&rsquo;s head
+towards the meadow.&nbsp; And when he came there, the knight was riding
+up and down, proud of his strength, and valour, and noble mien.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; said the knight, &ldquo;didst thou see any one
+coming after me from the Court?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The tall man that
+was there,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;desired me to come, and overthrow
+thee, and to take from thee the goblet, and thy horse and thy armour
+for myself.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Silence!&rdquo; said the knight; &ldquo;go
+back to the Court, and tell Arthur, from me, either to come himself,
+or to send some other to fight with me; and unless he do so quickly,
+I will not wait for him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;choose thou whether it shall be willingly or unwillingly,
+but I will have the horse, and the arms, and the goblet.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And upon this the knight ran at him furiously, and struck him a violent
+blow with the shaft of his spear, between the neck and the shoulder.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Haha! lad,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;my mother&rsquo;s servants
+were not used to play with me in this wise; therefore, thus will I play
+with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thereupon he struck him with a sharp-pointed
+fork, and it hit him in the eye, and came out at the back of his neck,
+so that he instantly fell down lifeless.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Owain the son of Urien to Kai, &ldquo;thou
+wert ill-advised, when thou didst send that madman after the knight.&nbsp;
+For one of two things must befall him.&nbsp; He must either be overthrown,
+or slain.&nbsp; If he is overthrown by the knight, he will be counted
+by him to be an honourable person of the Court, and an eternal disgrace
+will it be to Arthur and his warriors.&nbsp; And if he is slain, the
+disgrace will be the same, and moreover, his sin will be upon him; therefore
+will I go to see what has befallen him.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Owain went to
+the meadow, and he found Peredur dragging the man about.&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+art thou doing thus?&rdquo; said Owain.&nbsp; &ldquo;This iron coat,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;will never come from off him; not by my efforts,
+at any rate.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Owain unfastened his armour and his clothes.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Here, my good soul,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;is a horse and armour
+better than thine.&nbsp; Take them joyfully, and come with me to Arthur,
+to receive the order of knighthood, for thou dost merit it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;May I never shew my face again if I go,&rdquo; said Peredur;
+&ldquo;but take thou the goblet to Gwenhwyvar, and tell Arthur, that
+wherever I am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what profit and
+service I am able.&nbsp; And say that I will not come to his Court until
+I have encountered the tall man that is there, to revenge the injury
+he did to the dwarf and dwarfess.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Owain went back to
+the Court, and related all these things to Arthur and Gwenhwyvar, and
+to all the household.<br>
+<br>
+And Peredur rode forward.&nbsp; And as he proceeded, behold a knight
+met him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Whence comest thou?&rdquo; said the knight.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I come from Arthur&rsquo;s Court,&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Art thou one of his men?&rdquo; asked he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes, by
+my faith,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;A good service, truly, is
+that of Arthur.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore sayest thou so?&rdquo;
+said Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will tell thee,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;I
+have always been Arthur&rsquo;s enemy, and all such of his men as I
+have ever encountered I have slain.&rdquo;&nbsp; And without further
+parlance they fought, and it was not long before Peredur brought him
+to the ground, over his horse&rsquo;s crupper.&nbsp; Then the knight
+besought his mercy.&nbsp; &ldquo;Mercy thou shalt have,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;if thou wilt make oath to me, that thou wilt go to Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court, and tell him that it was I that overthrew thee, for the honour
+of his service; and say, that I will never come to the Court until I
+have avenged the insult offered to the dwarf and dwarfess.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+The knight pledged him his faith of this, and proceeded to the Court
+of Arthur, and said as he had promised, and conveyed the threat to Kai.<br>
+<br>
+And Peredur rode forward.&nbsp; And within that week he encountered
+sixteen knights, and overthrew them all shamefully.&nbsp; And they all
+went to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, taking with them the same message which
+the first knight had conveyed from Peredur, and the same threat which
+he had sent to Kai.&nbsp; And thereupon Kai was reproved by Arthur;
+and Kai was greatly grieved thereat.<br>
+<br>
+And Peredur rode forward.&nbsp; And he came to a vast and desert wood,
+on the confines of which was a lake.&nbsp; And on the other side was
+a fair castle.&nbsp; And on the border of the lake he saw a venerable,
+hoary-headed man, sitting upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment
+of velvet upon him.&nbsp; And his attendants were fishing in the lake.&nbsp;
+When the hoary-headed man beheld Peredur approaching, he arose and went
+towards the castle.&nbsp; And the old man was lame.&nbsp; Peredur rode
+to the palace, and the door was open, and he entered the hall.&nbsp;
+And there was the hoary-headed man sitting on a cushion, and a large
+blazing fire burning before him.&nbsp; And the household and the company
+arose to meet Peredur, and disarrayed him.&nbsp; And the man asked the
+youth to sit on the cushion; and they sat down, and conversed together.&nbsp;
+When it was time, the tables were laid, and they went to meat.&nbsp;
+And when they had finished their meal, the man inquired of Peredur if
+he knew well how to fight with the sword.&nbsp; &ldquo;I know not,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;but were I to be taught, doubtless I should.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Whoever can play well with the cudgel and shield, will also be
+able to fight with a sword.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the man had two sons; the
+one had yellow hair, and the other auburn.&nbsp; &ldquo;Arise, youths,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and play with the cudgel and the shield.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And so did they.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell me, my soul,&rdquo; said the man,
+&ldquo;which of the youths thinkest thou plays best.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+think,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;that the yellow-haired youth could
+draw blood from the other, if he chose.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Arise thou,
+my life, and take the cudgel and the shield from the hand of the youth
+with the auburn hair, and draw blood from the yellow-haired youth if
+thou canst.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Peredur arose, and went to play with the
+yellow-haired youth; and he lifted up his arm, and struck him such a
+mighty blow, that his brow fell over his eye, and the blood flowed forth.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Ah, my life,&rdquo; said the man, &ldquo;come now, and sit down,
+for thou wilt become the best fighter with the sword of any in this
+island; and I am thy uncle, thy mother&rsquo;s brother.&nbsp; And with
+me shalt thou remain a space, in order to learn the manners and customs
+of different countries, and courtesy, and gentleness, and noble bearing.&nbsp;
+Leave, then, the habits and the discourse of thy mother, and I will
+be thy teacher; and I will raise thee to the rank of knight from this
+time forward.&nbsp; And thus do thou.&nbsp; If thou seest aught to cause
+thee wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has the courtesy to
+inform thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee, but upon me that
+am thy teacher.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they had abundance of honour and service.&nbsp;
+And when it was time they went to sleep.&nbsp; At the break of day,
+Peredur arose, and took his horse, and with his uncle&rsquo;s permission
+he rode forth.&nbsp; And he came to a vast desert wood, and at the further
+end of the wood was a meadow, and on the other side of the meadow he
+saw a large castle.&nbsp; And thitherward Peredur bent his way, and
+he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the hall.&nbsp; And he beheld
+a stately hoary-headed man sitting on one side of the hall, and many
+pages around him, who arose to receive and to honour Peredur.&nbsp;
+And they placed him by the side of the owner of the palace.&nbsp; Then
+they discoursed together; and when it was time to eat, they caused Peredur
+to sit beside the nobleman during the repast.&nbsp; And when they had
+eaten and drunk as much as they desired, the nobleman asked Peredur
+whether he could fight with a sword?&nbsp; &ldquo;Were I to receive
+instruction,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I think I could.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Now, there was on the floor of the hall a huge staple, as large as a
+warrior could grasp.&nbsp; &ldquo;Take yonder sword,&rdquo; said the
+man to Peredur, &ldquo;and strike the iron staple.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Peredur
+arose and struck the staple, so that he cut it in two; and the sword
+broke into two parts also.&nbsp; &ldquo;Place the two parts together,
+and reunite them,&rdquo; and Peredur placed them together, and they
+became entire as they were before.&nbsp; And a second time he struck
+upon the staple, so that both it and the sword broke in two, and as
+before they reunited.&nbsp; And the third time he gave a like blow,
+and placed the broken parts together, and neither the staple nor the
+sword would unite as before.&nbsp; &ldquo;Youth,&rdquo; said the nobleman,
+&ldquo;come now, and sit down, and my blessing be upon thee.&nbsp; Thou
+fightest best with the sword of any man in the kingdom.&nbsp; Thou hast
+arrived at two-thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou hast
+not yet obtained; and when thou attainest to thy full power, none will
+be able to contend with thee.&nbsp; I am thy uncle, thy mother&rsquo;s
+brother, and I am brother to the man in whose house thou wast last night.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then Peredur and his uncle discoursed together, and he beheld two youths
+enter the hall, and proceed up to the chamber, bearing a spear of mighty
+size, with three streams of blood flowing from the point to the ground.&nbsp;
+And when all the company saw this, they began wailing and lamenting.&nbsp;
+But for all that, the man did not break off his discourse with Peredur.&nbsp;
+And as he did not tell Peredur the meaning of what he saw, he forbore
+to ask him concerning it.&nbsp; And when the clamour had a little subsided,
+behold two maidens entered, with a large salver between them, in which
+was a man&rsquo;s head, surrounded by a profusion of blood.&nbsp; And
+thereupon the company of the court made so great an outcry, that it
+was irksome to be in the same hall with them.&nbsp; But at length they
+were silent.&nbsp; And when time was that they should sleep, Peredur
+was brought into a fair chamber.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day, with his uncle&rsquo;s permission, he rode forth.&nbsp;
+And he came to a wood, and far within the wood he heard a loud cry,
+and he saw a beautiful woman with auburn hair, and a horse with a saddle
+upon it, standing near her, and a corpse by her side.&nbsp; And as she
+strove to place the corpse upon the horse, it fell to the ground, and
+thereupon she made a great lamentation.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell me, sister,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;wherefore art thou bewailing?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh!
+accursed Peredur, little pity has my ill-fortune ever met with from
+thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;am
+I accursed?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Because thou wast the cause of thy mother&rsquo;s
+death; for when thou didst ride forth against her will, anguish seized
+upon her heart, so that she died; and therefore art thou accursed.&nbsp;
+And the dwarf and the dwarfess that thou sawest at Arthur&rsquo;s Court
+were the dwarfs of thy father and mother; and I am thy foster-sister,
+and this was my wedded husband, and he was slain by the knight that
+is in the glade in the wood; and do not thou go near him, lest thou
+shouldest be slain by him likewise.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My sister, thou
+dost reproach me wrongfully; through my having so long remained amongst
+you, I shall scarcely vanquish him; and had I continued longer, it would,
+indeed, be difficult for me to succeed.&nbsp; Cease, therefore, thy
+lamenting, for it is of no avail, and I will bury the body, and then
+I will go in quest of the knight, and see if I can do vengeance upon
+him.&rdquo;&nbsp; And when he had buried the body, they went to the
+place where the knight was, and found him riding proudly along the glade;
+and he inquired of Peredur whence he came.&nbsp; &ldquo;I come from
+Arthur&rsquo;s Court.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And art thou one of Arthur&rsquo;s
+men?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes, by my faith.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;A profitable
+alliance, truly, is that of Arthur.&rdquo;&nbsp; And without further
+parlance, they encountered one another, and immediately Peredur overthrew
+the knight, and he besought mercy of Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Mercy shalt
+thou have,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;upon these terms, that thou take this
+woman in marriage, and do her all the honour and reverence in thy power,
+seeing thou hast, without cause, slain her wedded husband; and that
+thou go to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and shew him that it was I that overthrew
+thee, to do him honour and service; and that thou tell him that I will
+never come to his Court again until I have met with the tall man that
+is there, to take vengeance upon him for his insult to the dwarf and
+dwarfess.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he took the knight&rsquo;s assurance, that
+he would perform all this.&nbsp; Then the knight provided the lady with
+a horse and garments that were suitable for her, and took her with him
+to Arthur&rsquo;s Court.&nbsp; And he told Arthur all that had occurred,
+and gave the defiance to Kai.&nbsp; And Arthur and all his household
+reproved Kai, for having driven such a youth as Peredur from his Court.<br>
+<br>
+Said Owain the son of Urien, &ldquo;This youth will never come into
+the Court until Kai has gone forth from it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By my
+faith,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;I will search all the deserts in the
+Island of Britain, until I find Peredur, and then let him and his adversary
+do their utmost to each other.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Peredur rode forward.&nbsp; And he came to a desert wood, where
+he saw not the track either of men or animals, and where there was nothing
+but bushes and weeds.&nbsp; And at the upper end of the wood he saw
+a vast castle, wherein were many strong towers; and when he came near
+the gate, he found the weeds taller than he had seen them elsewhere.&nbsp;
+And he struck the gate with the shaft of his lance, and thereupon behold
+a lean, auburn-haired youth came to an opening in the battlements.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Choose thou, chieftain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;whether shall
+I open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce unto those that are chief,
+that thou art at the gateway?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Say that I am here,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;and if it is desired that I should enter, I will
+go in.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the youth came back, and opened the gate for
+Peredur.&nbsp; And when he went into the hall, he beheld eighteen youths,
+lean and red-headed, of the same height, and of the same aspect, and
+of the same dress, and of the same age as the one who had opened the
+gate for him.&nbsp; And they were well skilled in courtesy and in service.&nbsp;
+And they disarrayed him.&nbsp; Then they sat down to discourse.&nbsp;
+Thereupon, behold five maidens came from the chamber into the hall.&nbsp;
+And Peredur was certain that he had never seen another of so fair an
+aspect as the chief of the maidens.&nbsp; And she had an old garment
+of satin upon her, which had once been handsome, but was then so tattered,
+that her skin could be seen through it.&nbsp; And whiter was her skin
+than the bloom of crystal, and her hair and her two eyebrows were blacker
+than jet, and on her cheeks were two red spots, redder than whatever
+is reddest.&nbsp; And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put her arms
+about his neck, and made him sit down beside her.&nbsp; Not long after
+this he saw two nuns enter, and a flask full of wine was borne by one,
+and six loaves of white bread by the other.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;Heaven is witness, that there is not so much of food
+and liquor as this left in yonder Convent this night.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+they went to meat, and Peredur observed that the maiden wished to give
+more of the food and of the liquor to him than to any of the others.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;My sister,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I will share out the food
+and the liquor.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Not so, my soul,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;By my faith but I will.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Peredur took the bread,
+and he gave an equal portion of it to each alike, as well as a cup full
+of the liquor.&nbsp; And when it was time for them to sleep, a chamber
+was prepared for Peredur, and he went to rest.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Behold, sister,&rdquo; said the youths to the fairest and most
+exalted of the maidens, &ldquo;we have counsel for thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What may it be?&rdquo; she inquired.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go to the youth
+that is in the upper chamber, and offer to become his wife, or the lady
+of his love, if it seem well to him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That were indeed
+unfitting,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;Hitherto I have not been the
+lady-love of any knight, and to make him such an offer before I am wooed
+by him, that, truly, can I not do.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By our confession
+to Heaven, unless thou actest thus, we will leave thee here to thy enemies,
+to do as they will with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And through fear of this,
+the maiden went forth; and shedding tears, she proceeded to the chamber.&nbsp;
+And with the noise of the door opening, Peredur awoke; and the maiden
+was weeping and lamenting.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell me, my sister,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;wherefore dost thou weep?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will
+tell thee, lord,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;My father possessed these
+dominions as their chief, and this palace was his, and with it he held
+the best earldom in the kingdom; then the son of another earl sought
+me of my father, and I was not willing to be given unto him, and my
+father would not give me against my will, either to him or any earl
+in the world.&nbsp; And my father had no child except myself.&nbsp;
+And after my father&rsquo;s death, these dominions came into my own
+hands, and then was I less willing to accept him than before.&nbsp;
+So he made war upon me, and conquered all my possessions, except this
+one house.&nbsp; And through the valour of the men whom thou hast seen,
+who are my foster-brothers, and the strength of the house, it can never
+be taken while food and drink remain.&nbsp; And now our provisions are
+exhausted; but, as thou hast seen, we have been fed by the nuns, to
+whom the country is free.&nbsp; And at length they also are without
+supply of food or liquor.&nbsp; And at no later date than to-morrow,
+the earl will come against this place with all his forces; and if I
+fall into his power, my fate will be no better than to be given over
+to the grooms of his horses.&nbsp; Therefore, lord, I am come to offer
+to place myself in thy hands, that thou mayest succour me, either by
+taking me hence, or by defending me here, whichever may seem best unto
+thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Go, my sister,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and
+sleep; nor will I depart from thee until I do that which thou requirest,
+or prove whether I can assist thee or not.&rdquo;&nbsp; The maiden went
+again to rest; and the next morning she came to Peredur, and saluted
+him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee, my soul, and what tidings dost
+thou bring?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;None other, than that the earl and all
+his forces have alighted at the gate, and I never beheld any place so
+covered with tents, and thronged with knights challenging others to
+the combat.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;let
+my horse be made ready.&rdquo;&nbsp; So his horse was accoutred, and
+he arose and sallied forth to the meadow.&nbsp; And there was a knight
+riding proudly along the meadow, having raised the signal for battle.&nbsp;
+And they encountered, and Peredur threw the knight over his horse&rsquo;s
+crupper to the ground.&nbsp; And at the close of the day, one of the
+chief knights came to fight with him, and he overthrew him also, so
+that he besought his mercy.&nbsp; &ldquo;Who art thou?&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I am Master of the Household to
+the earl.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And how much of the countess&rsquo;s possessions
+is there in thy power?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The third part, verily,&rdquo;
+answered he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;restore
+to her the third of her possessions in full, and all the profit thou
+hast made by them, and bring meat and drink for a hundred men, with
+their horses and arms, to her court this night.&nbsp; And thou shalt
+remain her captive, unless she wish to take thy life.&rdquo;&nbsp; And
+this he did forthwith.&nbsp; And that night the maiden was right joyful,
+and they fared plenteously.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and that day he vanquished
+a multitude of the host.&nbsp; And at the close of the day, there came
+a proud and stately knight, and Peredur overthrew him, and he besought
+his mercy.&nbsp; &ldquo;Who art thou?&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+am Steward of the Palace,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;And how much
+of the maiden&rsquo;s possessions are under thy control?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;One-third part,&rdquo; answered he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;thou shalt fully restore to the maiden her possessions,
+and, moreover, thou shalt give her meat and drink for two hundred men,
+and their horses and their arms.&nbsp; And for thyself, thou shalt be
+her captive.&rdquo;&nbsp; And immediately it was so done.<br>
+<br>
+And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow; and he vanquished
+more that day than on either of the preceding.&nbsp; And at the close
+of the day, an earl came to encounter him, and he overthrew him, and
+he besought his mercy.&nbsp; &ldquo;Who art thou?&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am the earl,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not conceal
+it from thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;thou
+shalt restore the whole of the maiden&rsquo;s earldom, and shalt give
+her thine own earldom in addition thereto, and meat and drink for three
+hundred men, and their horses and arms, and thou thyself shalt remain
+in her power.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thus it was fulfilled.&nbsp; And Peredur
+tarried three weeks in the country, causing tribute and obedience to
+be paid to the maiden, and the government to be placed in her hands.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;With thy leave,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I will go hence.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily, my brother, desirest thou this?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes,
+by my faith; and had it not been for love of thee, I should not have
+been here thus long.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My soul,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;who
+art thou?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I am Peredur the son of Evrawc from the
+North; and if ever thou art in trouble or in danger, acquaint me therewith,
+and if I can, I will protect thee.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So Peredur rode forth.&nbsp; And far thence there met him a lady, mounted
+on a horse that was lean, and covered with sweat; and she saluted the
+youth.&nbsp; &ldquo;Whence comest thou, my sister?&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+she told him the cause of her journey.&nbsp; Now she was the wife of
+the Lord of the Glade.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I
+am the knight through whom thou art in trouble, and he shall repent
+it, who has treated thee thus.&rdquo;&nbsp; Thereupon, behold a knight
+rode up, and he inquired of Peredur, if he had seen a knight such as
+he was seeking.&nbsp; &ldquo;Hold thy peace,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I
+am he whom thou seekest; and by my faith, thou deservest ill of thy
+household for thy treatment of the maiden, for she is innocent concerning
+me.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they encountered, and they were not long in combat
+ere Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought his mercy.&nbsp; &ldquo;Mercy
+thou shalt have,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;so thou wilt return by
+the way thou camest, and declare that thou holdest the maiden innocent,
+and so that thou wilt acknowledge unto her the reverse thou hast sustained
+at my hands.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the knight plighted him his faith thereto.<br>
+<br>
+Then Peredur rode forward.&nbsp; And above him he beheld a castle, and
+thitherward he went.&nbsp; And he struck upon the gate with his lance,
+and then, behold, a comely auburn-haired youth opened the gate, and
+he had the stature of a warrior, and the years of a boy.&nbsp; And when
+Peredur came into the hall, there was a tall and stately lady sitting
+in a chair, and many handmaidens around her; and the lady rejoiced at
+his coming.&nbsp; And when it was time, they went to meat.&nbsp; And
+after their repast was finished, &ldquo;It were well for thee, chieftain,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;to go elsewhere to sleep.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore
+can I not sleep here?&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Nine sorceresses
+are here, my soul, of the sorceresses of Gloucester, and their father
+and their mother are with them; and unless we can make our escape before
+daybreak, we shall be slain; and already they have conquered and laid
+waste all the country, except this one dwelling.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;I will remain here to-night, and if you are in
+trouble, I will do you what service I can; but harm shall you not receive
+from me.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they went to rest.&nbsp; And with the break
+of day, Peredur heard a dreadful outcry.&nbsp; And he hastily arose,
+and went forth in his vest and his doublet, with his sword about his
+neck, and he saw a sorceress overtake one of the watch, who cried out
+violently.&nbsp; Peredur attacked the sorceress, and struck her upon
+the head with his sword, so that he flattened her helmet and her head-piece
+like a dish upon her head.&nbsp; &ldquo;Thy mercy, goodly Peredur, son
+of Evrawc, and the mercy of Heaven.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;How knowest
+thou, hag, that I am Peredur?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By destiny, and the
+foreknowledge that I should suffer harm from thee.&nbsp; And thou shalt
+take a horse and armour of me; and with me thou shalt go to learn chivalry
+and the use of thy arms.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Peredur, &ldquo;Thou shalt
+have mercy, if thou pledge thy faith thou wilt never more injure the
+dominions of the Countess.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Peredur took surety of this,
+and with permission of the Countess, he set forth with the sorceress
+to the palace of the sorceresses.&nbsp; And there he remained for three
+weeks, and then he made choice of a horse and arms, and went his way.<br>
+<br>
+And in the evening he entered a valley, and at the head of the valley
+he came to a hermit&rsquo;s cell, and the hermit welcomed him gladly,
+and there he spent the night.&nbsp; And in the morning he arose, and
+when he went forth, behold a shower of snow had fallen the night before,
+and a hawk had killed a wild fowl in front of the cell.&nbsp; And the
+noise of the horse scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the
+bird.&nbsp; And Peredur stood, and compared the blackness of the raven
+and the whiteness of the snow, and the redness of the blood, to the
+hair of the lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and
+to her skin which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spots
+upon her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow appeared
+to be.<br>
+<br>
+Now Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Know
+ye,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;who is the knight with the long spear
+that stands by the brook up yonder?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said one of them, &ldquo;I will go and learn who he is.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So the youth came to the place where Peredur was, and asked him what
+he did thus, and who he was.&nbsp; And from the intensity with which
+he thought upon the lady whom best he loved, he gave him no answer.&nbsp;
+Then the youth thrust at Peredur with his lance, and Peredur turned
+upon him, and struck him over his horse&rsquo;s crupper to the ground.&nbsp;
+And after this, four-and-twenty youths came to him, and he did not answer
+one more than another, but gave the same reception to all, bringing
+them with one single thrust to the ground.&nbsp; And then came Kai,
+and spoke to Peredur rudely and angrily; and Peredur took him with his
+lance under the jaw, and cast him from him with a thrust, so that he
+broke his arm and his shoulder-blade, and he rode over him one-and-twenty
+times.&nbsp; And while he lay thus, stunned with the violence of the
+pain that he had suffered, his horse returned back at a wild and prancing
+pace.&nbsp; And when the household saw the horse come back without his
+rider, they rode forth in haste to the place where the encounter had
+been.&nbsp; And when they first came there, they thought that Kai was
+slain; but they found that if he had a skilful physician, he yet might
+live.&nbsp; And Peredur moved not from his meditation, on seeing the
+concourse that was around Kai.&nbsp; And Kai was brought to Arthur&rsquo;s
+tent, and Arthur caused skilful physicians to come to him.&nbsp; And
+Arthur was grieved that Kai had met with this reverse, for he loved
+him greatly.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;it is not fitting that any
+should disturb an honourable knight from his thought unadvisedly; for
+either he is pondering some damage that he has sustained, or he is thinking
+of the lady whom best he loves.&nbsp; And through such ill-advised proceeding,
+perchance this misadventure has befallen him who last met with him.&nbsp;
+And if it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight
+hath changed from his thought; and if he has, I will ask him courteously
+to come and visit thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then Kai was wroth, and he spoke
+angry and spiteful words.&nbsp; &ldquo;Gwalchmai,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I
+know that thou wilt bring him because he is fatigued.&nbsp; Little praise
+and honour, nevertheless, wilt thou have from vanquishing a weary knight,
+who is tired with fighting.&nbsp; Yet thus hast thou gained the advantage
+over many.&nbsp; And while thy speech and thy soft words last, a coat
+of thin linen were armour sufficient for thee, and thou wilt not need
+to break either lance or sword in fighting with the knight in the state
+he is in.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then said Gwalchmai to Kai, &ldquo;Thou mightest
+use more pleasant words, wert thou so minded: and it behoves thee not
+upon me to wreak thy wrath and thy displeasure.&nbsp; Methinks I shall
+bring the knight hither with me without breaking either my arm or my
+shoulder.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, &ldquo;Thou speakest
+like a wise and prudent man; go, and take enough of armour about thee,
+and choose thy horse.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Gwalchmai accoutred himself and
+rode forward hastily to the place where Peredur was.<br>
+<br>
+And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the same
+thought, and Gwalchmai came to him without any signs of hostility, and
+said to him, &ldquo;If I thought that it would be as agreeable to thee
+as it would be to me, I would converse with thee.&nbsp; I have also
+a message from Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him.&nbsp;
+And two men have been before on this errand.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That
+is true,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;and uncourteously they came.&nbsp;
+They attacked me, and I was annoyed thereat, for it was not pleasing
+to me to be drawn from the thought that I was in, for I was thinking
+of the lady whom best I love, and thus was she brought to my mind: -
+I was looking upon the snow, and upon the raven, and upon the drops
+of the blood of the bird that the hawk had killed upon the snow.&nbsp;
+And I bethought me that her whiteness was like that of the snow, and
+that the blackness of her hair and her eyebrows like that of the raven,
+and that the two red spots upon her cheeks were like the two drops of
+blood.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;This was not an ungentle
+thought, and I should marvel if it were pleasant to thee to be drawn
+from it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;is
+Kai in Arthur&rsquo;s Court?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;He is,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;and behold he is the knight that fought with thee last; and
+it would have been better for him had he not come, for his arm and his
+shoulder-blade were broken with the fall which he had from thy spear.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I am not sorry to have thus
+begun to avenge the insult to the dwarf and dwarfess.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+Gwalchmai marvelled to hear him speak of the dwarf and the dwarfess;
+and he approached him, and threw his arms around his neck, and asked
+him what was his name.&nbsp; &ldquo;Peredur the son of Evrawc am I called,&rdquo;
+said he; &ldquo;and thou, Who art thou?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I am called
+Gwalchmai,&rdquo; he replied.&nbsp; &ldquo;I am right glad to meet with
+thee,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;for in every country where I have
+been I have heard of thy fame for prowess and uprightness, and I solicit
+thy fellowship.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou shalt have it, by my faith,
+and grant me thine,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Gladly will I do so,&rdquo;
+answered Peredur.<br>
+<br>
+So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place where Arthur
+was, and when Kai saw them coming, he said, &ldquo;I knew that Gwalchmai
+needed not to fight the knight.&nbsp; And it is no wonder that he should
+gain fame; more can he do by his fair words than I by the strength of
+my arm.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and
+they took off their armour.&nbsp; And Peredur put on garments like those
+that Gwalchmai wore, and they went together unto Arthur, and saluted
+him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold, lord,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;him whom
+thou hast sought so long.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Welcome unto thee, chieftain,&rdquo;
+said Arthur.&nbsp; &ldquo;With me thou shalt remain; and had I known
+thy valour had been such, thou shouldst not have left me as thou didst;
+nevertheless, this was predicted of thee by the dwarf and the dwarfess,
+whom Kai ill-treated and whom thou hast avenged.&rdquo;&nbsp; And hereupon,
+behold there came the Queen and her handmaidens, and Peredur saluted
+them.&nbsp; And they were rejoiced to see him, and bade him welcome.&nbsp;
+And Arthur did him great honour and respect, and they returned towards
+Caerlleon.<br>
+<br>
+And the first night Peredur came to Caerlleon to Arthur&rsquo;s Court,
+and as he walked in the city after his repast, behold, there met him
+Angharad Law Eurawc.&nbsp; &ldquo;By my faith, sister,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;thou art a beauteous and lovely maiden; and, were it pleasing
+to thee, I could love thee above all women.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I pledge
+my faith,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;that I do not love thee, nor will
+I ever do so.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I also pledge my faith,&rdquo; said
+Peredur, &ldquo;that I will never speak a word to any Christian again,
+until thou come to love me above all men.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The next day Peredur went forth by the high road, along a mountain-ridge,
+and he saw a valley of a circular form, the confines of which were rocky
+and wooded.&nbsp; And the flat part of the valley was in meadows, and
+there were fields betwixt the meadows and the wood.&nbsp; And in the
+bosom of the wood he saw large black houses of uncouth workmanship.&nbsp;
+And he dismounted, and led his horse towards the wood.&nbsp; And a little
+way within the wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which the road lay.&nbsp;
+And upon the ledge was a lion bound by a chain, and sleeping.&nbsp;
+And beneath the lion he saw a deep pit of immense size, full of the
+bones of men and animals.&nbsp; And Peredur drew his sword and struck
+the lion, so that he fell into the mouth of the pit and hung there by
+the chain; and with a second blow he struck the chain and broke it,
+and the lion fell into the pit; and Peredur led his horse over the rocky
+ledge, until he came into the valley.&nbsp; And in the centre of the
+valley he saw a fair castle, and he went towards it.&nbsp; And in the
+meadow by the castle he beheld a huge grey man sitting, who was larger
+than any man he had ever before seen.&nbsp; And two young pages were
+shooting the hilts of their daggers, of the bone of the sea-horse.&nbsp;
+And one of the pages had red hair, and the other auburn.&nbsp; And they
+went before him to the place where the grey man was, and Peredur saluted
+him.&nbsp; And the grey man said, &ldquo;Disgrace to the beard of my
+porter.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then Peredur understood that the porter was the
+lion. - And the grey man and the pages went together into the castle,
+and Peredur accompanied them; and he found it a fair and noble place.&nbsp;
+And they proceeded to the hall, and the tables were already laid, and
+upon them was abundance of food and liquor.&nbsp; And thereupon he saw
+an aged woman and a young woman come from the chamber; and they were
+the most stately women he had ever seen.&nbsp; Then they washed and
+went to meat, and the grey man sat in the upper seat at the head of
+the table, and the aged woman next to him.&nbsp; And Peredur and the
+maiden were placed together, and the two young pages served them.&nbsp;
+And the maiden gazed sorrowfully upon Peredur, and Peredur asked the
+maiden wherefore she was sad.&nbsp; &ldquo;For thee, my soul; for, from
+when I first beheld thee, I have loved thee above all men.&nbsp; And
+it pains me to know that so gentle a youth as thou should have such
+a doom as awaits thee to-morrow.&nbsp; Sawest thou the numerous black
+houses in the bosom of the wood?&nbsp; All these belong to the vassals
+of the grey man yonder, who is my father.&nbsp; And they are all giants.&nbsp;
+And to-morrow they will rise up against thee, and will slay thee.&nbsp;
+And the Round Valley is this valley called.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Listen,
+fair maiden, wilt thou contrive that my horse and arms be in the same
+lodging with me to-night?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Gladly will I cause it
+so to be, by Heaven, if I can.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And when it was time for them to sleep rather than to carouse, they
+went to rest.&nbsp; And the maiden caused Peredur&rsquo;s horse and
+arms to be in the same lodging with him.&nbsp; And the next morning
+Peredur heard a great tumult of men and horses around the castle.&nbsp;
+And Peredur arose, and armed himself and his horse, and went to the
+meadow.&nbsp; Then the aged woman and the maiden came to the grey man:
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;take the word of the youth, that
+he will never disclose what he has seen in this place, and we will be
+his sureties that he keep it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not do so,
+by my faith,&rdquo; said the grey man.&nbsp; So Peredur fought with
+the host, and towards evening he had slain the one-third of them without
+receiving any hurt himself.&nbsp; Then said the aged woman, &ldquo;Behold,
+many of thy host have been slain by the youth; do thou, therefore, grant
+him mercy.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not grant it, by my faith,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; And the aged woman and the fair maiden were upon the
+battlements of the castle, looking forth.&nbsp; And at that juncture,
+Peredur encountered the yellow-haired youth and slew him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said the maiden, &ldquo;grant the young man mercy.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That
+will I not do, by Heaven,&rdquo; he replied; and thereupon Peredur attacked
+the auburn-haired youth, and slew him likewise.&nbsp; &ldquo;It were
+better that thou hadst accorded mercy to the youth before he had slain
+thy two sons; for now scarcely wilt thou thyself escape from him.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Go, maiden, and beseech the youth to grant mercy unto us, for
+we yield ourselves into his hands.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the maiden came to
+the place where Peredur was, and besought mercy for her father, and
+for all such of his vassals as had escaped alive.&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou
+shalt have it, on condition that thy father and all that are under him
+go and render homage to Arthur, and tell him that it was his vassal
+Peredur that did him this service.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This will we
+do willingly, by Heaven.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And you shall also receive
+baptism; and I will send to Arthur, and beseech him to bestow this valley
+upon thee and upon thy heirs after thee for ever.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+they went in, and the grey man and the tall woman saluted Peredur.&nbsp;
+And the grey man said unto him, &ldquo;Since I have possessed this valley
+I have not seen any Christian depart with his life, save thyself.&nbsp;
+And we will go to do homage to Arthur, and to embrace the faith and
+be baptized.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then said Peredur, &ldquo;To Heaven I render
+thanks that I have not broken my vow to the lady that best I love, which
+was, that I would not speak one word unto any Christian.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+That night they tarried there.&nbsp; And the next day, in the morning,
+the grey man, with his company, set forth to Arthur&rsquo;s Court; and
+they did homage unto Arthur, and he caused them to be baptized.&nbsp;
+And the grey man told Arthur that it was Peredur that had vanquished
+them.&nbsp; And Arthur gave the valley to the grey man and his company,
+to hold it of him as Peredur had besought.&nbsp; And with Arthur&rsquo;s
+permission, the grey man went back to the Round Valley.<br>
+<br>
+Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast tract of desert,
+in which no dwellings were.&nbsp; And at length he came to a habitation,
+mean and small.&nbsp; And there he heard that there was a serpent that
+lay upon a gold ring, and suffered none to inhabit the country for seven
+miles around.&nbsp; And Peredur came to the place where he heard the
+serpent was.&nbsp; And angrily, furiously, and desperately fought he
+with the serpent; and at last he killed it, and took away the ring.&nbsp;
+And thus he was for a long time without speaking a word to any Christian.&nbsp;
+And therefrom he lost his colour and his aspect, through extreme longing
+after the Court of Arthur, and the society of the lady whom best he
+loved, and of his companions.&nbsp; Then he proceeded forward to Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court, and on the road there met him Arthur&rsquo;s household going
+on a particular errand, with Kai at their head.&nbsp; And Peredur knew
+them all, but none of the household recognized him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Whence
+comest thou, chieftain?&rdquo; said Kai.&nbsp; And this he asked him
+twice and three times, and he answered him not.&nbsp; And Kai thrust
+him through the thigh with his lance.&nbsp; And lest he should be compelled
+to speak, and to break his vow, he went on without stopping.&nbsp; &ldquo;Then,&rdquo;
+said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;I declare to Heaven, Kai, that thou hast acted
+ill in committing such an outrage on a youth like this, who cannot speak.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And Gwalchmai returned back to Arthur&rsquo;s Court.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said he to Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;seest thou how wicked an outrage Kai has
+committed upon this youth who cannot speak; for Heaven&rsquo;s sake,
+and for mine, cause him to have medical care before I come back, and
+I will repay thee the charge.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And before the men returned from their errand, a knight came to the
+meadow beside Arthur&rsquo;s Palace, to dare some one to the encounter.&nbsp;
+And his challenge was accepted; and Peredur fought with him, and overthrew
+him.&nbsp; And for a week he overthrew one knight every day.<br>
+<br>
+And one day, Arthur and his household were going to Church, and they
+beheld a knight who had raised the signal for combat.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said Arthur, &ldquo;by the valour of men, I will not go hence until
+I have my horse and my arms to overthrow yonder boor.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+went the attendants to fetch Arthur&rsquo;s horse and arms.&nbsp; And
+Peredur met the attendants as they were going back, and he took the
+horse and arms from them, and proceeded to the meadow; and all those
+who saw him arise and go to do battle with the knight, went upon the
+tops of the houses, and the mounds, and the high places, to behold the
+combat.&nbsp; And Peredur beckoned with his hand to the knight to commence
+the fight.&nbsp; And the knight thrust at him, but he was not thereby
+moved from where he stood.&nbsp; And Peredur spurred his horse, and
+ran at him wrathfully, furiously, fiercely, desperately, and with mighty
+rage, and he gave him a thrust, deadly-wounding, severe, furious, adroit,
+and strong, under his jaw, and raised him out of his saddle, and cast
+him a long way from him.&nbsp; And Peredur went back, and left the horse
+and the arms with the attendant as before, and he went on foot to the
+Palace.<br>
+<br>
+Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth.&nbsp; And behold, Angharad
+Law Eurawc met him.&nbsp; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven, chieftain,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;woful is it that thou canst not speak; for couldst
+thou speak, I would love thee best of all men; and by my faith, although
+thou canst not, I do love thee above all.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+reward thee, my sister,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;by my faith I also
+do love thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; Thereupon it was known that he was Peredur.&nbsp;
+And then he held fellowship with Gwalchmai, and Owain the son of Urien,
+and all the household, and he remained in Arthur&rsquo;s Court.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Arthur was in Caerlleon upon Usk; and he went to hunt, and Peredur went
+with him.&nbsp; And Peredur let loose his dog upon a hart, and the dog
+killed the hart in a desert place.&nbsp; And a short space from him
+he saw signs of a dwelling, and towards the dwelling he went, and he
+beheld a hall, and at the door of the hall he found bald swarthy youths
+playing at chess.&nbsp; And when he entered, he beheld three maidens
+sitting on a bench, and they were all clothed alike, as became persons
+of high rank.&nbsp; And he came, and sat by them upon the bench; and
+one of the maidens looked steadfastly upon Peredur, and wept.&nbsp;
+And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping.&nbsp; &ldquo;Through
+grief, that I should see so fair a youth as thou art, slain.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Who will slay me?&rdquo; inquired Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;If thou
+art so daring as to remain here to-night, I will tell thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;How great soever my danger may be from remaining here, I will
+listen unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This Palace is owned by him who
+is my father,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;and he slays every one
+who comes hither without his leave.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What sort of
+a man is thy father, that he is able to slay every one thus?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;A man who does violence and wrong unto his neighbours, and who
+renders justice unto none.&rdquo;&nbsp; And hereupon he saw the youths
+arise and clear the chessmen from the board.&nbsp; And he heard a great
+tumult; and after the tumult there came in a huge black one-eyed man,
+and the maidens arose to meet him.&nbsp; And they disarrayed him, and
+he went and sat down; and after he had rested and pondered awhile, he
+looked at Peredur, and asked who the knight was.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said one of the maidens, &ldquo;he is the fairest and gentlest youth
+that ever thou didst see.&nbsp; And for the sake of Heaven, and of thine
+own dignity, have patience with him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;For thy sake
+I will have patience, and I will grant him his life this night.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then Peredur came towards them to the fire, and partook of food and
+liquor, and entered into discourse with the ladies.&nbsp; And being
+elated with the liquor, he said to the black man, &ldquo;It is a marvel
+to me, so mighty as thou sayest thou art, who could have put out thine
+eye.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is one of my habits,&rdquo; said the black
+man, &ldquo;that whosoever puts to me the question which thou hast asked,
+shall not escape with his life, either as a free gift or for a price.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;whatsoever he may say to
+thee in jest, and through the excitement of liquor, make good that which
+thou saidst and didst promise me just now.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will
+do so, gladly, for thy sake,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Willingly
+will I grant him his life this night.&rdquo;&nbsp; And that night thus
+they remained.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day the black man got up, and put on his armour, and said
+to Peredur, &ldquo;Arise, man, and suffer death.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Peredur
+said unto him, &ldquo;Do one of two things, black man; if thou wilt
+fight with me, either throw off thy own armour, or give arms to me,
+that I may encounter thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Ha, man,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;couldst thou fight, if thou hadst arms?&nbsp; Take, then,
+what arms thou dost choose.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thereupon the maiden came
+to Peredur with such arms as pleased him; and he fought with the black
+man, and forced him to crave his mercy.&nbsp; &ldquo;Black man, thou
+shalt have mercy, provided thou tell me who thou art, and who put out
+thine eye.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord, I will tell thee; I lost it in
+fighting with the Black Serpent of the Carn.&nbsp; There is a mound,
+which is called the Mound of Mourning; and on the mound there is a carn,
+and in the carn there is a serpent, and on the tail of the serpent there
+is a stone, and the virtues of the stone are such, that whosoever should
+hold it in one hand, in the other he will have as much gold as he may
+desire.&nbsp; And in fighting with this serpent was it that I lost my
+eye.&nbsp; And the Black Oppressor am I called.&nbsp; And for this reason
+I am called the Black Oppressor, that there is not a single man around
+me whom I have not oppressed, and justice have I done unto none.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;how far is it hence?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;The same day that thou settest forth, thou wilt come to the Palace
+of the Sons of the King of the Tortures.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore
+are they called thus?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The Addanc of the Lake slays
+them once every day.&nbsp; When thou goest thence, thou wilt come to
+the Court of the Countess of the Achievements.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+achievements are there?&rdquo; asked Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Three hundred
+men there are in her household, and unto every stranger that comes to
+the Court, the achievements of her household are related.&nbsp; And
+this is the manner of it, - the three hundred men of the household sit
+next unto the Lady; and that not through disrespect unto the guests,
+but that they may relate the achievements of the household.&nbsp; And
+the day that thou goest thence, thou wilt reach the Mound of Mourning,
+and round about the mound there are the owners of three hundred tents
+guarding the serpent.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Since thou hast, indeed, been
+an oppressor so long,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;I will cause that
+thou continue so no longer.&rdquo;&nbsp; So he slew him.<br>
+<br>
+Then the maiden spoke, and began to converse with him.&nbsp; &ldquo;If
+thou wast poor when thou camest here, henceforth thou wilt be rich through
+the treasure of the black man whom thou hast slain.&nbsp; Thou seest
+the many lovely maidens that there are in this Court; thou shalt have
+her whom thou best likest for the lady of thy love.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,
+I came not hither from my country to woo; but match yourselves as it
+liketh you with the comely youths I see here; and none of your goods
+do I desire, for I need them not.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then Peredur rode forward,
+and he came to the Palace of the Sons of the King of the Tortures; and
+when he entered the Palace, he saw none but women; and they rose up,
+and were joyful at his coming; and as they began to discourse with him,
+he beheld a charger arrive, with a saddle upon it, and a corpse in the
+saddle.&nbsp; And one of the women arose, and took the corpse from the
+saddle, and anointed it in a vessel of warm water, which was below the
+door, and placed precious balsam upon it; and the man rose up alive,
+and came to the place where Peredur was, and greeted him, and was joyful
+to see him.&nbsp; And two other men came in upon their saddles, and
+the maiden treated these two in the same manner as she had done the
+first.&nbsp; Then Peredur asked the chieftain wherefore it was thus.&nbsp;
+And they told him, that there was an Addanc in a cave, which slew them
+once every day.&nbsp; And thus they remained that night.<br>
+<br>
+And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and Peredur besought
+them, for the sake of the ladies of their love, to permit him to go
+with them; but they refused him, saying, &ldquo;If thou shouldst be
+slain there, thou hast none to bring thee back to life again.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And they rode forward, and Peredur followed after them; and, after they
+had disappeared out of his sight, he came to a mound, whereon sat the
+fairest lady he had ever beheld.&nbsp; &ldquo;I know thy quest,&rdquo;
+said she; &ldquo;thou art going to encounter the Addanc, and he will
+slay thee, and that not by courage, but by craft.&nbsp; He has a cave,
+and at the entrance of the cave there is a stone pillar, and he sees
+every one that enters, and none see him; and from behind the pillar
+he slays every one with a poisonous dart.&nbsp; And if thou wouldst
+pledge me thy faith to love me above all women, I would give thee a
+stone, by which thou shouldst see him when thou goest in, and he should
+not see thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will, by my troth,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;for when first I beheld thee I loved thee; and where shall I
+seek thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;When thou seekest me, seek towards India.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And the maiden vanished, after placing the stone in Peredur&rsquo;s
+hand.<br>
+<br>
+And he came towards a valley, through which ran a river; and the borders
+of the valley were wooded, and on each side of the river were level
+meadows.&nbsp; And on one side of the river he saw a flock of white
+sheep, and on the other a flock of black sheep.&nbsp; And whenever one
+of the white sheep bleated, one of the black sheep would cross over
+and become white; and when one of the black sheep bleated, one of the
+white sheep would cross over and become black.&nbsp; And he saw a tall
+tree by the side of the river, one half of which was in flames from
+the root to the top, and the other half was green and in full leaf.&nbsp;
+And nigh thereto he saw a youth sitting upon a mound, and two greyhounds,
+white-breasted and spotted, in leashes, lying by his side.&nbsp; And
+certain was he that he had never seen a youth of so royal a bearing
+as he.&nbsp; And in the wood opposite he heard hounds raising a herd
+of deer.&nbsp; And Peredur saluted the youth, and the youth greeted
+him in return.&nbsp; And there were three roads leading from the mound;
+two of them were wide roads, and the third was more narrow.&nbsp; And
+Peredur inquired where the three roads went.&nbsp; &ldquo;One of them
+goes to my palace,&rdquo; said the youth; &ldquo;and one of two things
+I counsel thee to do; either to proceed to my palace, which is before
+thee, and where thou wilt find my wife, or else to remain here to see
+the hounds chasing the roused deer from the wood to the plain.&nbsp;
+And thou shalt see the best greyhounds thou didst ever behold, and the
+boldest in the chase, kill them by the water beside us; and when it
+is time to go to meat, my page will come with my horse to meet me, and
+thou shalt rest in my palace to-night.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven reward
+thee; but I cannot tarry, for onward must I go.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The
+other road leads to the town, which is near here, and wherein food and
+liquor may be bought; and the road which is narrower than the others
+goes towards the cave of the Addanc.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;With thy permission,
+young man, I will go that way.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And Peredur went towards the cave.&nbsp; And he took the stone in his
+left hand, and his lance in his right.&nbsp; And as he went in he perceived
+the Addanc, and he pierced him through with his lance, and cut off his
+head.&nbsp; And as he came from the cave, behold the three companions
+were at the entrance; and they saluted Peredur, and told him that there
+was a prediction that he should slay that monster.&nbsp; And Peredur
+gave the head to the young men, and they offered him in marriage whichever
+of the three sisters he might choose, and half their kingdom with her.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I came not hither to woo,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;but if
+peradventure I took a wife, I should prefer your sister to all others.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Peredur rode forward, and he heard a noise behind him.&nbsp; And
+he looked back, and saw a man upon a red horse, with red armour upon
+him; and the man rode up by his side, and saluted him, and wished him
+the favour of Heaven and of man.&nbsp; And Peredur greeted the youth
+kindly.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord, I come to make a request unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What wouldest thou?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That thou shouldest take
+me as thine attendant.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Whom then should I take as
+my attendant, if I did so?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not conceal from
+thee what kindred I am of.&nbsp; Etlym Gleddyv Coch am I called, an
+Earl from the East Country.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I marvel that thou shouldest
+offer to become attendant to a man whose possessions are no greater
+than thine own; for I have but an earldom like thyself.&nbsp; But since
+thou desirest to be my attendant, I will take thee joyfully.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And they went forward to the Court of the Countess, and all they of
+the Court were glad at their coming; and they were told it was not through
+disrespect they were placed below the household, but that such was the
+usage of the Court.&nbsp; For, whoever should overthrow the three hundred
+men of her household, would sit next the Countess, and she would love
+him above all men.&nbsp; And Peredur having overthrown the three hundred
+men of her household, sat down beside her, and the Countess said, &ldquo;I
+thank Heaven that I have a youth so fair and so valiant as thou, since
+I have not obtained the man whom best I love.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Who
+is he whom best thou lovest?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By my faith, Etlym
+Gleddyv Coch is the man whom I love best, and I have never seen him.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Of a truth, Etlym is my companion; and behold here he is, and
+for his sake did I come to joust with thy household.&nbsp; And he could
+have done so better than I, had it pleased him.&nbsp; And I do give
+thee unto him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee, fair youth, and
+I will take the man whom I love above all others.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the
+Countess became Etlym&rsquo;s bride from that moment.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound of Mourning.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;By thy hand, lord, but I will go with thee,&rdquo; said Etlym.&nbsp;
+Then they went forwards till they came in sight of the mound and the
+tents.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go unto yonder men,&rdquo; said Peredur to Etlym,
+&ldquo;and desire them to come and do me homage.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Etlym
+went unto them, and said unto them thus, - &ldquo;Come and do homage
+to my lord.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Who is thy lord?&rdquo; said they.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Peredur with the long lance is my lord,&rdquo; said Etlym.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Were it permitted to slay a messenger, thou shouldest not go
+back to thy lord alive, for making unto Kings, and Earls, and Barons
+so arrogant a demand as to go and do him homage.&rdquo;&nbsp; Peredur
+desired him to go back to them, and to give them their choice, either
+to do him homage, or to do battle with him.&nbsp; And they chose rather
+to do battle.&nbsp; And that day Peredur overthrew the owners of a hundred
+tents; and the next day he overthrew the owners of a hundred more; and
+the third day the remaining hundred took counsel to do homage to Peredur.&nbsp;
+And Peredur inquired of them, wherefore they were there.&nbsp; And they
+told him they were guarding the serpent until he should die.&nbsp; &ldquo;For
+then should we fight for the stone among ourselves, and whoever should
+be conqueror among us would have the stone.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Await
+here,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;and I will go to encounter the serpent.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Not so, lord,&rdquo; said they; &ldquo;we will go altogether
+to encounter the serpent.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Peredur,
+&ldquo;that will I not permit; for if the serpent be slain, I shall
+derive no more fame therefrom than one of you.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then he
+went to the place where the serpent was, and slew it, and came back
+to them, and said, &ldquo;Reckon up what you have spent since you have
+been here, and I will repay you to the full.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he paid
+to each what he said was his claim.&nbsp; And he required of them only
+that they should acknowledge themselves his vassals.&nbsp; And he said
+to Etlym, &ldquo;Go back unto her whom thou lovest best, and I will
+go forwards, and I will reward thee for having been my attendant.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And he gave Etlym the stone.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven repay thee and prosper
+thee,&rdquo; said Etlym.<br>
+<br>
+And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest valley he had ever
+seen, through which ran a river; and there he beheld many tents of various
+colours.&nbsp; And he marvelled still more at the number of water-mills
+and of wind-mills that he saw.&nbsp; And there rode up with him a tall
+auburn-haired man, in workman&rsquo;s garb, and Peredur inquired of
+him who he was.&nbsp; &ldquo;I am the chief miller,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;of all the mills yonder.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wilt thou give me
+lodging?&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will, gladly,&rdquo; he
+answered.&nbsp; And Peredur came to the miller&rsquo;s house, and the
+miller had a fair and pleasant dwelling.&nbsp; And Peredur asked money
+as a loan from the miller, that he might buy meat and liquor for himself
+and for the household, and he promised that he would pay him again ere
+he went thence.&nbsp; And he inquired of the miller, wherefore such
+a multitude was there assembled.&nbsp; Said the miller to Peredur, &ldquo;One
+thing is certain: either thou art a man from afar, or thou art beside
+thyself.&nbsp; The Empress of Cristinobyl the Great is here; and she
+will have no one but the man who is most valiant; for riches does she
+not require.&nbsp; And it was impossible to bring food for so many thousands
+as are here, therefore were all these mills constructed.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And that night they took their rest.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped himself and his horse
+for the tournament.&nbsp; And among the other tents he beheld one, which
+was the fairest he had ever seen.&nbsp; And he saw a beauteous maiden
+leaning her head out of a window of the tent, and he had never seen
+a maiden more lovely than she.&nbsp; And upon her was a garment of satin.&nbsp;
+And he gazed fixedly on the maiden, and began to love her greatly.&nbsp;
+And he remained there, gazing upon the maiden from morning until mid-day,
+and from mid-day until evening; and then the tournament was ended and
+he went to his lodging and drew off his armour.&nbsp; Then he asked
+money of the miller as a loan, and the miller&rsquo;s wife was wroth
+with Peredur; nevertheless, the miller lent him the money.&nbsp; And
+the next day he did in like manner as he had done the day before.&nbsp;
+And at night he came to his lodging, and took money as a loan from the
+miller.&nbsp; And the third day, as he was in the same place, gazing
+upon the maiden, he felt a hard blow between the neck and the shoulder,
+from the edge of an axe.&nbsp; And when he looked behind him, he saw
+that it was the miller; and the miller said to him, &ldquo;Do one of
+two things: either turn thy head from hence, or go to the tournament.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Peredur smiled on the miller, and went to the tournament; and all
+that encountered him that day he overthrew.&nbsp; And as many as he
+vanquished he sent as a gift to the Empress, and their horses and arms
+he sent as a gift to the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed
+money.&nbsp; Peredur attended the tournament until all were overthrown,
+and he sent all the men to the prison of the Empress, and the horses
+and arms to the wife of the miller, in payment of the borrowed money.&nbsp;
+And the Empress sent to the Knight of the Mill, to ask him to come and
+visit her.&nbsp; And Peredur went not for the first nor for the second
+message.&nbsp; And the third time she sent a hundred knights to bring
+him against his will, and they went to him and told him their mission
+from the Empress.&nbsp; And Peredur fought well with them, and caused
+them to be bound like stags, and thrown into the mill-dyke.&nbsp; And
+the Empress sought advice of a wise man who was in her counsel; and
+he said to her, &ldquo;With thy permission, I will go to him myself.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So he came to Peredur, and saluted him, and besought him, for the sake
+of the lady of his love, to come and visit the Empress.&nbsp; And they
+went, together with the miller.&nbsp; And Peredur went and sat down
+in the outer chamber of the tent, and she came and placed herself by
+his side.&nbsp; And there was but little discourse between them.&nbsp;
+And Peredur took his leave, and went to his lodging.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day he came to visit her, and when he came into the tent
+there was no one chamber less decorated than the others.&nbsp; And they
+knew not where he would sit.&nbsp; And Peredur went and sat beside the
+Empress, and discoursed with her courteously.&nbsp; And while they were
+thus, they beheld a black man enter with a goblet full of wine in his
+hand.&nbsp; And he dropped upon his knee before the Empress, and besought
+her to give it to no one who would not fight with him for it.&nbsp;
+And she looked upon Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;bestow
+on me the goblet.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Peredur drank the wine, and gave
+the goblet to the miller&rsquo;s wife.&nbsp; And while they were thus,
+behold there entered a black man of larger stature than the other, with
+a wild beast&rsquo;s claw in his hand, wrought into the form of a goblet
+and filled with wine.&nbsp; And he presented it to the Empress, and
+besought her to give it to no one but the man who would fight with him.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;bestow it on me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And she gave it to him.&nbsp; And Peredur drank the wine, and sent the
+goblet to the wife of the miller.&nbsp; And while they were thus, behold
+a rough-looking, crisp-haired man, taller than either of the others,
+came in with a bowl in his hand full of wine; and he bent upon his knee,
+and gave it into the hands of the Empress, and he besought her to give
+it to none but him who would fight with him for it; and she gave it
+to Peredur, and he sent it to the miller&rsquo;s wife.&nbsp; And that
+night Peredur returned to his lodging; and the next day he accoutred
+himself and his horse, and went to the meadow and slew the three men.&nbsp;
+Then Peredur proceeded to the tent, and the Empress said to him, &ldquo;Goodly
+Peredur, remember the faith thou didst pledge me when I gave thee the
+stone, and thou didst kill the Addanc.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+answered he, &ldquo;thou sayest truth, I do remember it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Peredur was entertained by the Empress fourteen years, as the story
+relates.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Arthur was at Caerlleon upon Usk, his principal palace; and in the centre
+of the floor of the hall were four men sitting on a carpet of velvet,
+Owain the son of Urien, and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Howel the
+son of Emyr Llydaw, and Peredur of the long lance.&nbsp; And thereupon
+they saw a black curly-headed maiden enter, riding upon a yellow mule,
+with jagged thongs in her hand to urge it on; and having a rough and
+hideous aspect.&nbsp; Blacker were her face and her two hands than the
+blackest iron covered with pitch; and her hue was not more frightful
+than her form.&nbsp; High cheeks had she, and a face lengthened downwards,
+and a short nose with distended nostrils.&nbsp; And one eye was of a
+piercing mottled grey, and the other was as black as jet, deep-sunk
+in her head.&nbsp; And her teeth were long and yellow, more yellow were
+they than the flower of the broom.&nbsp; And her stomach rose from the
+breast-bone, higher than her chin.&nbsp; And her back was in the shape
+of a crook, and her legs were large and bony.&nbsp; And her figure was
+very thin and spare, except her feet and her legs, which were of huge
+size.&nbsp; And she greeted Arthur and all his household except Peredur.&nbsp;
+And to Peredur she spoke harsh and angry words.&nbsp; &ldquo;Peredur,
+I greet thee not, seeing that thou dost not merit it.&nbsp; Blind was
+fate in giving thee fame and favour.&nbsp; When thou wast in the Court
+of the Lame King, and didst see there the youth bearing the streaming
+spear, from the points of which were drops of blood flowing in streams,
+even to the hand of the youth, and many other wonders likewise, thou
+didst not inquire their meaning nor their cause.&nbsp; Hadst thou done
+so, the King would have been restored to health, and his dominions to
+peace.&nbsp; Whereas from henceforth, he will have to endure battles
+and conflicts, and his knights will perish, and wives will be widowed,
+and maidens will be left portionless, and all this is because of thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then said she unto Arthur, &ldquo;May it please thee, lord, my dwelling
+is far hence, in the stately castle of which thou hast heard, and therein
+are five hundred and sixty-six knights of the order of Chivalry, and
+the lady whom best he loves with each; and whoever would acquire fame
+in arms, and encounters, and conflicts, he will gain it there, if he
+deserve it.&nbsp; And whoso would reach the summit of fame and of honour,
+I know where he may find it.&nbsp; There is a castle on a lofty mountain,
+and there is a maiden therein, and she is detained a prisoner there,
+and whoever shall set her free will attain the summit of the fame of
+the world.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thereupon she rode away.<br>
+<br>
+Said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly until
+I have proved if I can release the maiden.&rdquo;&nbsp; And many of
+Arthur&rsquo;s household joined themselves with him.&nbsp; Then, likewise,
+said Peredur, &ldquo;By my faith, I will not rest tranquilly until I
+know the story and the meaning of the lance whereof the black maiden
+spoke.&rdquo;&nbsp; And while they were equipping themselves, behold
+a knight came to the gate.&nbsp; And he had the size and the strength
+of a warrior, and was equipped with arms and habiliments.&nbsp; And
+he went forward, and saluted Arthur and all his household, except Gwalchmai.&nbsp;
+And the knight had upon his shoulder a shield, ingrained with gold,
+with a fesse of azure blue upon it, and his whole armour was of the
+same hue.&nbsp; And he said to Gwalchmai, &ldquo;Thou didst slay my
+lord by thy treachery and deceit, and that will I prove upon thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then Gwalchmai rose up.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;here
+is my gage against thee, to maintain, either in this place or wherever
+else thou wilt, that I am not a traitor or deceiver.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Before
+the King whom I obey, will I that my encounter with thee take place,&rdquo;
+said the knight.&nbsp; &ldquo;Willingly,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai; &ldquo;go
+forward, and I will follow thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the knight went forth,
+and Gwalchmai accoutred himself, and there was offered unto him abundance
+of armour, but he would take none but his own.&nbsp; And when Gwalchmai
+and Peredur were equipped, they set forth to follow him, by reason of
+their fellowship and of the great friendship that was between them.&nbsp;
+And they did not go after him in company together, but each went his
+own way.<br>
+<br>
+At the dawn of day Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in the valley he
+saw a fortress, and within the fortress a vast palace and lofty towers
+around it.&nbsp; And he beheld a knight coming out to hunt from the
+other side, mounted on a spirited black snorting palfrey, that advanced
+at a prancing pace, proudly stepping, and nimbly bounding, and sure
+of foot; and this was the man to whom the palace belonged.&nbsp; And
+Gwalchmai saluted him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee, chieftain,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and whence comest thou?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I come,&rdquo;
+answered Gwalchmai, &ldquo;from the Court of Arthur.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And
+art thou Arthur&rsquo;s vassal?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes, by my faith,&rdquo;
+said Gwalchmai.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will give thee good counsel,&rdquo; said
+the knight.&nbsp; &ldquo;I see that thou art tired and weary; go unto
+my palace, if it may please thee, and tarry there to-night.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Willingly, lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and Heaven reward thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Take this ring as a token to the porter, and go forward to yonder
+tower, and therein thou wilt find my sister.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Gwalchmai
+went to the gate, and showed the ring, and proceeded to the tower.&nbsp;
+And on entering he beheld a large blazing fire, burning without smoke
+and with a bright and lofty flame, and a beauteous and stately maiden
+was sitting on a chair by the fire.&nbsp; And the maiden was glad at
+his coming, and welcomed him, and advanced to meet him.&nbsp; And he
+went and sat beside the maiden, and they took their repast.&nbsp; And
+when their repast was over, they discoursed pleasantly together.&nbsp;
+And while they were thus, behold there entered a venerable hoary-headed
+man.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah! base girl,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if thou didst
+think it was right for thee to entertain and to sit by yonder man, thou
+wouldest not do so.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he withdrew his head, and went
+forth.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah! chieftain,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;if
+thou wilt do as I counsel thee, thou wilt shut the door, lest the man
+should have a plot against thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; Upon that Gwalchmai arose,
+and when he came near unto the door, the man, with sixty others, fully
+armed, were ascending the tower.&nbsp; And Gwalchmai defended the door
+with a chessboard, that none might enter until the man should return
+from the chase.&nbsp; And thereupon, behold the Earl arrived.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What is all this?&rdquo; asked he.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is a sad thing,&rdquo;
+said the hoary-headed man; &ldquo;the young girl yonder has been sitting
+and eating with him who slew your father.&nbsp; He is Gwalchmai, the
+son of Gwyar.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Hold thy peace, then,&rdquo; said
+the Earl, &ldquo;I will go in.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the Earl was joyful
+concerning Gwalchmai.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ha! chieftain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it
+was wrong of thee to come to my court, when thou knewest that thou didst
+slay my father; and though we cannot avenge him, Heaven will avenge
+him upon thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My soul,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;thus
+it is: I came not here either to acknowledge or to deny having slain
+thy father; but I am on a message from Arthur, and therefore do I crave
+the space of a year until I shall return from my embassy, and then,
+upon my faith, I will come back unto this palace, and do one of two
+things, either acknowledge it, or deny it.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the time
+was granted him willingly; and he remained there that night.&nbsp; And
+the next morning he rode forth.&nbsp; And the story relates nothing
+further of Gwalchmai respecting this adventure.<br>
+<br>
+And Peredur rode forward.&nbsp; And he wandered over the whole island,
+seeking tidings of the black maiden, and he could meet with none.&nbsp;
+And he came to an unknown land, in the centre of a valley, watered by
+a river.&nbsp; And as he traversed the valley he beheld a horseman coming
+towards him, and wearing the garments of a priest; and he besought his
+blessing.&nbsp; &ldquo;Wretched man,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou meritest
+no blessing, and thou wouldest not be profited by one, seeing that thou
+art clad in armour on such a day as this.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And what
+day is to-day?&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;To-day is Good Friday,&rdquo;
+he answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;Chide me not that I knew not this, seeing
+that it is a year to-day since I journeyed forth from my country.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then he dismounted, and led his horse in his hand.&nbsp; And he had
+not proceeded far along the high road before he came to a cross road,
+and the cross road traversed a wood.&nbsp; And on the other side of
+the wood he saw an unfortified castle, which appeared to be inhabited.&nbsp;
+And at the gate of the castle there met him the priest whom he had seen
+before, and he asked his blessing.&nbsp; &ldquo;The blessing of Heaven
+be unto thee,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it is more fitting to travel in
+thy present guise than as thou wast erewhile; and this night thou shalt
+tarry with me.&rdquo;&nbsp; So he remained there that night.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day Peredur sought to go forth.&nbsp; &ldquo;To-day may
+no one journey.&nbsp; Thou shalt remain with me to-day and to-morrow,
+and the day following, and I will direct thee as best I may to the place
+which thou art seeking.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the fourth day Peredur sought
+to go forth, and he entreated the priest to tell him how he should find
+the Castle of Wonders.&nbsp; &ldquo;What I know thereof I will tell
+thee,&rdquo; he replied.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go over yonder mountain, and on
+the other side of the mountain thou wilt come to a river, and in the
+valley wherein the river runs is a King&rsquo;s palace, wherein the
+King sojourned during Easter.&nbsp; And if thou mayest have tidings
+anywhere of the Castle of Wonders, thou wilt have them there.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Peredur rode forward.&nbsp; And he came to the valley in which
+was the river, and there met him a number of men going to hunt, and
+in the midst of them was a man of exalted rank, and Peredur saluted
+him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Choose, chieftain,&rdquo; said the man, &ldquo;whether
+thou wilt go with me to the chase, or wilt proceed to my palace, and
+I will dispatch one of my household to commend thee to my daughter,
+who is there, and who will entertain thee with food and liquor until
+I return from hunting; and whatever may be thine errand, such as I can
+obtain for thee thou shalt gladly have.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the King sent
+a little yellow page with him as an attendant; and when they came to
+the palace the lady had arisen, and was about to wash before meat.&nbsp;
+Peredur went forward, and she saluted him joyfully, and placed him by
+her side.&nbsp; And they took their repast.&nbsp; And whatsoever Peredur
+said unto her, she laughed loudly, so that all in the palace could hear.&nbsp;
+Then spoke the yellow page to the lady.&nbsp; &ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;this youth is already thy husband; or if he be not,
+thy mind and thy thoughts are set upon him.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the little
+yellow page went unto the King, and told him that it seemed to him that
+the youth whom he had met with was his daughter&rsquo;s husband, or
+if he were not so already that he would shortly become so unless he
+were cautious.&nbsp; &ldquo;What is thy counsel in this matter, youth?&rdquo;
+said the King.&nbsp; &ldquo;My counsel is,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;that
+thou set strong men upon him, to seize him, until thou hast ascertained
+the truth respecting this.&rdquo;&nbsp; So he set strong men upon Peredur,
+who seized him and cast him into prison.&nbsp; And the maiden went before
+her father, and asked him wherefore he had caused the youth from Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court to be imprisoned.&nbsp; &ldquo;In truth,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;he
+shall not be free to-night, nor to-morrow, nor the day following, and
+he shall not come from where he is.&rdquo;&nbsp; She replied not to
+what the King had said, but she went to the youth.&nbsp; &ldquo;Is it
+unpleasant to thee to be here?&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;I should
+not care if I were not,&rdquo; he replied.&nbsp; &ldquo;Thy couch and
+thy treatment shall be in no wise inferior to that of the King himself,
+and thou shalt have the best entertainment that the palace affords.&nbsp;
+And if it were more pleasing to thee that my couch should be here, that
+I might discourse with thee, it should be so, cheerfully.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;This can I not refuse,&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp; And he remained
+in prison that night.&nbsp; And the maiden provided all that she had
+promised him.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day Peredur heard a tumult in the town.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell
+me, fair maiden, what is that tumult?&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;All
+the King&rsquo;s hosts and his forces have come to the town to-day.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;And what seek they here?&rdquo; he inquired.&nbsp; &ldquo;There
+is an Earl near this place who possesses two Earldoms, and is as powerful
+as a King; and an engagement will take place between them to-day.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I beseech thee,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;to cause a horse
+and arms to be brought, that I may view the encounter, and I promise
+to come back to my prison again.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Gladly,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;will I provide thee with horse and arms.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So she gave him a horse and arms, and a bright scarlet robe of honour
+over his armour, and a yellow shield upon his shoulder.&nbsp; And he
+went to the combat; and as many of the Earl&rsquo;s men as encountered
+him that day he overthrew; and he returned to his prison.&nbsp; And
+the maiden asked tidings of Peredur, and he answered her not a word.&nbsp;
+And she went and asked tidings of her father, and inquired who had acquitted
+himself best of the household.&nbsp; And he said that he knew not, but
+that it was a man with a scarlet robe of honour over his armour, and
+a yellow shield upon his shoulder.&nbsp; Then she smiled, and returned
+to where Peredur was, and did him great honour that night.&nbsp; And
+for three days did Peredur slay the Earl&rsquo;s men; and before any
+one could know who he was, he returned to his prison.&nbsp; And the
+fourth day Peredur slew the Earl himself.&nbsp; And the maiden went
+unto her father, and inquired of him the news.&nbsp; &ldquo;I have good
+news for thee,&rdquo; said the King; &ldquo;the Earl is slain, and I
+am the owner of his two Earldoms.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Knowest thou,
+lord, who slew him?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I do not know,&rdquo; said the
+King.&nbsp; &ldquo;It was the knight with the scarlet robe of honour
+and the yellow shield.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I
+know who that is.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By Heaven!&rdquo; he exclaimed,
+&ldquo;who is he?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;he
+is the knight whom thou hast imprisoned.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then he went unto
+Peredur, and saluted him, and told him that he would reward the service
+he had done him, in any way he might desire.&nbsp; And when they went
+to meat, Peredur was placed beside the King, and the maiden on the other
+side of Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will give thee,&rdquo; said the King,
+&ldquo;my daughter in marriage, and half my kingdom with her, and the
+two Earldoms as a gift.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee, lord,&rdquo;
+said Peredur, &ldquo;but I came not here to woo.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+seekest thou then, chieftain?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I am seeking tidings
+of the Castle of Wonders.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thy enterprise is greater,
+chieftain, than thou wilt wish to pursue,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;nevertheless,
+tidings shalt thou have of the Castle, and thou shalt have a guide through
+my father&rsquo;s dominions, and a sufficiency of provisions for thy
+journey, for thou art, O chieftain, the man whom best I love.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then she said to him, &ldquo;Go over yonder mountain, and thou wilt
+find a lake, and in the middle of the lake there is a Castle, and that
+is the Castle that is called the Castle of Wonders; and we know not
+what wonders are therein, but thus is it called.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And Peredur proceeded towards the Castle, and the gate of the Castle
+was open.&nbsp; And when he came to the hall, the door was open, and
+he entered.&nbsp; And he beheld a chessboard in the hall, and the chessmen
+were playing against each other, by themselves.&nbsp; And the side that
+he favoured lost the game, and thereupon the others set up a shout,
+as though they had been living men.&nbsp; And Peredur was wroth, and
+took the chessmen in his lap, and cast the chessboard into the lake.&nbsp;
+And when he had done thus, behold the black maiden came in, and she
+said to him, &ldquo;The welcome of Heaven be not unto thee.&nbsp; Thou
+hadst rather do evil than good.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What complaint hast
+thou against me, maiden?&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;That thou
+hast occasioned unto the Empress the loss of her chessboard, which she
+would not have lost for all her empire.&nbsp; And the way in which thou
+mayest recover the chessboard is, to repair to the Castle of Ysbidinongyl,
+where is a black man, who lays waste the dominions of the Empress; and
+if thou canst slay him, thou wilt recover the chessboard.&nbsp; But
+if thou goest there, thou wilt not return alive.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wilt
+thou direct me thither?&rdquo; said Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will show
+thee the way,&rdquo; she replied.&nbsp; So he went to the Castle of
+Ysbidinongyl, and he fought with the black man.&nbsp; And the black
+man besought mercy of Peredur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Mercy will I grant thee,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;on condition that thou cause the chessboard to be restored
+to the place where it was when I entered the hall.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+the maiden came to him, and said, &ldquo;The malediction of Heaven attend
+thee for thy work, since thou hast left that monster alive, who lays
+waste all the possessions of the Empress.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I granted
+him his life,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;that he might cause the chessboard
+to be restored.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The chessboard is not in the place
+where thou didst find it; go back, therefore, and slay him,&rdquo; answered
+she.&nbsp; So Peredur went back, and slew the black man.&nbsp; And when
+he returned to the palace, he found the black maiden there.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah!
+maiden,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;where is the Empress?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I declare to Heaven that thou wilt not see her now, unless thou
+dost slay the monster that is in yonder forest.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+monster is there?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is a stag that is as swift
+as the swiftest bird; and he has one horn in his forehead, as long as
+the shaft of a spear, and as sharp as whatever is sharpest.&nbsp; And
+he destroys the branches of the best trees in the forest, and he kills
+every animal that he meets with therein; and those that he doth not
+slay perish of hunger.&nbsp; And what is worse than that, he comes every
+night, and drinks up the fish-pond, and leaves the fishes exposed, so
+that for the most part they die before the water returns again.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Maiden,&rdquo; said Peredur, &ldquo;wilt thou come and show me
+this animal?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;for
+he has not permitted any mortal to enter the forest for above a twelvemonth.&nbsp;
+Behold, here is a little dog belonging to the Empress, which will rouse
+the stag, and will chase him towards thee, and the stag will attack
+thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then the little dog went as a guide to Peredur, and
+roused the stag, and brought him towards the place where Peredur was.&nbsp;
+And the stag attacked Peredur, and he let him pass by him, and as he
+did so, he smote off his head with his sword.&nbsp; And while he was
+looking at the head of the stag, he saw a lady on horseback coming towards
+him.&nbsp; And she took the little dog in the lappet of her cap, and
+the head and the body of the stag lay before her.&nbsp; And around the
+stag&rsquo;s neck was a golden collar.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ha! chieftain,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;uncourteously hast thou acted in slaying the fairest
+jewel that was in my dominions.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I was entreated
+so to do; and is there any way by which I can obtain thy friendship?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;There is,&rdquo; she replied.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go thou forward unto
+yonder mountain, and there thou wilt find a grove; and in the grove
+there is a cromlech; do thou there challenge a man three times to fight,
+and thou shalt have my friendship.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of the grove, and
+challenged any man to fight.&nbsp; And a black man arose from beneath
+the cromlech, mounted upon a bony horse, and both he and his horse were
+clad in huge rusty armour.&nbsp; And they fought.&nbsp; And as often
+as Peredur cast the black man to the earth, he would jump again into
+his saddle.&nbsp; And Peredur dismounted, and drew his sword; and thereupon
+the black man disappeared with Peredur&rsquo;s horse and his own, so
+that he could not gain sight of him a second time.&nbsp; And Peredur
+went along the mountain, and on the other side of the mountain he beheld
+a castle in the valley, wherein was a river.&nbsp; And he went to the
+castle; and as he entered it, he saw a hall, and the door of the hall
+was open, and he went in.&nbsp; And there he saw a lame grey-headed
+man sitting on one side of the hall, with Gwalchmai beside him.&nbsp;
+And Peredur beheld his horse, which the black man had taken, in the
+same stall with that of Gwalchmai.&nbsp; And they were glad concerning
+Peredur.&nbsp; And he went and seated himself on the other side of the
+hoary-headed man.&nbsp; Then, behold a yellow-haired youth came, and
+bent upon the knee before Peredur, and besought his friendship.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said the youth, &ldquo;it was I that came in the
+form of the black maiden to Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and when thou didst
+throw down the chessboard, and when thou didst slay the black man of
+Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the stag, and when thou didst
+go to fight the black man of the cromlech.&nbsp; And I came with the
+bloody head in the salver, and with the lance that streamed with blood
+from the point to the hand, all along the shaft; and the head was thy
+cousin&rsquo;s, and he was killed by the sorceresses of Gloucester,
+who also lamed thine uncle; and I am thy cousin.&nbsp; And there is
+a prediction that thou art to avenge these things.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+Peredur and Gwalchmai took counsel, and sent to Arthur and his household,
+to beseech them to come against the sorceresses.&nbsp; And they began
+to fight with them; and one of the sorceresses slew one of Arthur&rsquo;s
+men before Peredur&rsquo;s face, and Peredur bade her forbear.&nbsp;
+And the sorceress slew a man before Peredur&rsquo;s face a second time,
+and a second time he forbad her.&nbsp; And the third time the sorceress
+slew a man before the face of Peredur; and then Peredur drew his sword,
+and smote the sorceress on the helmet; and all her head-armour was split
+in two parts.&nbsp; And she set up a cry, and desired the other sorceresses
+to flee, and told them that this was Peredur, the man who had learnt
+Chivalry with them, and by whom they were destined to be slain.&nbsp;
+Then Arthur and his household fell upon the sorceresses, and slew the
+sorceresses of Gloucester every one.&nbsp; And thus is it related concerning
+the Castle of Wonders.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk.&nbsp;
+And there he held it seven Easters and five Christmases.&nbsp; And once
+upon a time he held his Court there at Whitsuntide.&nbsp; For Caerlleon
+was the place most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and
+by land.&nbsp; And there were assembled nine crowned kings, who were
+his tributaries, and likewise earls and barons.&nbsp; For they were
+his invited guests at all the high festivals, unless they were prevented
+by any great hindrance.&nbsp; And when he was at Caerlleon, holding
+his Court, thirteen churches were set apart for mass.&nbsp; And thus
+were they appointed: one church for Arthur, and his kings, and his guests;
+and the second for Gwenhwyvar and her ladies; and the third for the
+Steward of the Household and the suitors; and the fourth for the Franks
+and the other officers; and the other nine churches were for the nine
+Masters of the Household and chiefly for Cwalchmai; for he, from the
+eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his birth, was
+the most exalted of the nine.&nbsp; And there was no other arrangement
+respecting the churches than that which we have mentioned above.<br>
+<br>
+Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not himself perform
+the office, except at one of the three high festivals, for he had seven
+men to serve him, and they divided the year amongst them.&nbsp; They
+were Grynn, and Pen Pighon, and Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and Gwrdnei
+with cat&rsquo;s eyes, who could see as well by night as by day, and
+Drem the son of Dremhitid, and Clust the son of Clustveinyd; and these
+were Arthur&rsquo;s guards.&nbsp; And on Whit-Tuesday, as the King sat
+at the banquet, lo! there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in
+a coat and a surcoat of diapered satin, and a golden-hilted sword about
+his neck, and low shoes of leather upon his feet.&nbsp; And he came,
+and stood before Arthur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Hail to thee, Lord!&rdquo; said
+he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;and
+be thou welcome.&nbsp; Dost thou bring any new tidings?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I do, Lord,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; &ldquo;I know thee not,&rdquo;
+said Arthur.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is a marvel to me that thou dost not know
+me.&nbsp; I am one of thy foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and
+my name is Madawc, the son of Twrgadarn.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell me
+thine errand,&rdquo; said Arthur.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do so, Lord,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;In the Forest I saw a stag, the like of which
+beheld I never yet.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What is there about him,&rdquo;
+asked Arthur, &ldquo;that thou never yet didst see his like?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;He is of pure white, Lord, and he does not herd with any other
+animal through stateliness and pride, so royal is his bearing.&nbsp;
+And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord, and to know thy will concerning
+him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It seems best to me,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;to
+go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day; and to cause general notice
+thereof to be given to-night in all quarters of the Court.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Arryfuerys was Arthur&rsquo;s chief huntsman, and Arelivri was his
+chief page.&nbsp; And all received notice; and thus it was arranged.&nbsp;
+And they sent the youth before them.&nbsp; Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur,
+&ldquo;Wilt thou permit me, Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to go to-morrow
+to see and hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will gladly,&rdquo; said Arthur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Then will I go,&rdquo;
+said she.&nbsp; And Gwalchmai said to Arthur, &ldquo;Lord, if it seem
+well to thee, permit that into whose hunt soever the stag shall come,
+that one, be he a knight, or one on foot, may cut off his head, and
+give it to whom he pleases, whether to his own lady-love, or to the
+lady of his friend.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I grant it gladly,&rdquo; said
+Arthur, &ldquo;and let the Steward of the Household be chastised, if
+all are not ready to-morrow for the chase.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse,
+and ample entertainment.&nbsp; And when it was time for them all to
+go to sleep, they went.&nbsp; And when the next day came, they arose;
+and Arthur called the attendants, who guarded his couch.&nbsp; And these
+were four pages, whose names were Cadyrnerth the son of Porthawr Gandwy,
+and Ambreu the son of Bedwor, and Amhar the son of Arthur, and Goreu
+the son of Custennin.&nbsp; And these men came to Arthur and saluted
+him, and arrayed him in his garments.&nbsp; And Arthur wondered that
+Gwenhwyvar did not awake, and did not move in her bed; and the attendants
+wished to awaken her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Disturb her not,&rdquo; said Arthur,
+&ldquo;for she had rather sleep than go to see the hunting.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from near
+the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that of the
+chief page.&nbsp; And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to Arthur,
+and they took the road to the Forest.<br>
+<br>
+And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Gwenhwyvar awoke, and
+called to her maidens, and apparelled herself.&nbsp; &ldquo;Maidens,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;I had leave last night to go and see the hunt.&nbsp;
+Go one of you to the stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman
+may ride.&rdquo;&nbsp; And one of them went, and she found but two horses
+in the stable, and Gwenhwyvar and one of her maidens mounted them, and
+went through the Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses.&nbsp;
+And as they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and they
+looked behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal of mighty
+size; and the rider was a fair-haired youth, bare-legged, and of princely
+mien, and a golden-hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a surcoat
+of satin were upon him, and two low shoes of leather upon his feet;
+and around him was a scarf of blue purple, at each corner of which was
+a golden apple.&nbsp; And his horse stepped stately, and swift, and
+proud; and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and saluted her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+prosper thee, Geraint,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I knew thee when first
+I saw thee just now.&nbsp; And the welcome of Heaven be unto thee.&nbsp;
+And why didst thou not go with thy lord to hunt?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Because
+I knew not when he went,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;I marvel, too,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;how he could go unknown to me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Indeed,
+lady,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;I was asleep, and knew not when he
+went; but thou, O young man, art the most agreeable companion I could
+have in the whole kingdom; and it may be, that I shall be more amused
+with the hunting than they; for we shall hear the horns when they sound,
+and we shall hear the dogs when they are let loose, and begin to cry.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So they went to the edge of the Forest, and there they stood.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;From this place,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;we shall hear when the
+dogs are let loose.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thereupon, they heard a loud noise,
+and they looked towards the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf
+riding upon a horse, stately, and foaming, and prancing, and strong,
+and spirited.&nbsp; And in the hand of the dwarf was a whip.&nbsp; And
+near the dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady
+and stately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold brocade.&nbsp;
+And near her was a knight upon a warhorse of large size, with heavy
+and bright armour both upon himself and upon his horse.&nbsp; And truly
+they never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armour, of such remarkable
+size.&nbsp; And they were all near to each other.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Geraint,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;knowest thou the name
+of that tall knight yonder?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I know him not,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and the strange armour that he wears prevents my either
+seeing his face or his features.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Go, maiden,&rdquo;
+said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;and ask the dwarf who that knight is.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and the dwarf waited for the maiden,
+when he saw her coming towards him.&nbsp; And the maiden inquired of
+the dwarf who the knight was.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not tell thee,&rdquo;
+he answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;Since thou art so churlish as not to tell
+me,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I will ask him himself.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou
+shalt not ask him, by my faith,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore?&rdquo;
+said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;Because thou art not of honour sufficient to
+befit thee to speak to my Lord.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then the maiden turned
+her horse&rsquo;s head towards the knight, upon which the dwarf struck
+her with the whip that was in his hand across the face and the eyes,
+until the blood flowed forth.&nbsp; And the maiden, through the hurt
+she received from the blow, returned to Gwenhwyvar, complaining of the
+pain.&nbsp; &ldquo;Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee,&rdquo; said
+Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will go myself to know who the knight is.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Go,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar.&nbsp; And Geraint went up to the
+dwarf.&nbsp; &ldquo;Who is yonder knight?&rdquo; said Geraint.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will not tell thee,&rdquo; said the dwarf.&nbsp; &ldquo;Then
+will I ask him himself,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;That wilt thou
+not, by my faith,&rdquo; said the dwarf, &ldquo;thou art not honourable
+enough to speak with my Lord.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Geraint, &ldquo;I have
+spoken with men of equal rank with him.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he turned his
+horse&rsquo;s head towards the knight; but the dwarf overtook him, and
+struck him as he had done the maiden, so that the blood coloured the
+scarf that Geraint wore.&nbsp; Then Geraint put his hand upon the hilt
+of his sword, but he took counsel with himself, and considered that
+it would be no vengeance for him to slay the dwarf, and to be attacked
+unarmed by the armed knight, so he returned to where Gwenhwyvar was.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I will follow him yet, with thy
+permission; and at last he will come to some inhabited place, where
+I may have arms either as a loan or for a pledge, so that I may encounter
+the knight.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Go,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and do not
+attack him until thou hast good arms, and I shall be very anxious concerning
+thee, until I hear tidings of thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;If I am alive,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;thou shalt hear tidings of me by to-morrow afternoon;&rdquo;
+and with that he departed.<br>
+<br>
+And the road they took was below the palace of Caerlleon, and across
+the ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair, and even, and lofty
+ridge of ground, until they came to a town, and at the extremity of
+the town they saw a Fortress and a Castle.&nbsp; And they came to the
+extremity of the town.&nbsp; And as the knight passed through it, all
+the people arose, and saluted him, and bade him welcome.&nbsp; And when
+Geraint came into the town, he looked at every house, to see if he knew
+any of those whom he saw.&nbsp; But he knew none, and none knew him
+to do him the kindness to let him have arms either as a loan or for
+a pledge.&nbsp; And every house he saw was full of men, and arms, and
+horses.&nbsp; And they were polishing shields, and burnishing swords,
+and washing armour, and shoeing horses.&nbsp; And the knight, and the
+lady, and the dwarf rode up to the Castle that was in the town, and
+every one was glad in the Castle.&nbsp; And from the battlements and
+the gates they risked their necks, through their eagerness to greet
+them, and to show their joy.<br>
+<br>
+Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the Castle;
+and when he was certain that he would do so, he looked around him; and
+at a little distance from the town he saw an old palace in ruins, wherein
+was a hall that was falling to decay.&nbsp; And as he knew not any one
+in the town, he went towards the old palace; and when he came near to
+the palace, he saw but one chamber, and a bridge of marble-stone leading
+to it.&nbsp; And upon the bridge he saw sitting a hoary-headed man,
+upon whom were tattered garments.&nbsp; And Geraint gazed steadfastly
+upon him for a long time.&nbsp; Then the hoary-headed man spoke to him.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Young man,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;wherefore art thou thoughtful?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am thoughtful,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;because I know not where
+to go to-night.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wilt thou come forward this way,
+chieftain?&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and thou shalt have of the best that
+can be procured for thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Geraint went forward.&nbsp;
+And the hoary-headed man preceded him into the hall.&nbsp; And in the
+hall he dismounted, and he left there his horse.&nbsp; Then he went
+on to the upper chamber with the hoary-headed man.&nbsp; And in the
+chamber he beheld an old decrepit woman, sitting on a cushion, with
+old, tattered garments of satin upon her; and it seemed to him that
+he had never seen a woman fairer than she must have been, when in the
+fulness of youth.&nbsp; And beside her was a maiden, upon whom were
+a vest and a veil, that were old, and beginning to be worn out.&nbsp;
+And truly, he never saw a maiden more full of comeliness, and grace,
+and beauty than she.&nbsp; And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden,
+&ldquo;There is no attendant for the horse of this youth but thyself.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will render the best service I am able,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;both
+to him and to his horse.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the maiden disarrayed the
+youth, and then she furnished his horse with straw and with corn.&nbsp;
+And she went to the hall as before, and then she returned to the chamber.&nbsp;
+And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, &ldquo;Go to the town,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and bring hither the best that thou canst find both
+of food and of liquor.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will, gladly, Lord,&rdquo;
+said she.&nbsp; And to the town went the maiden.&nbsp; And they conversed
+together while the maiden was at the town.&nbsp; And, behold! the maiden
+came back, and a youth with her, bearing on his back a costrel full
+of good purchased mead, and a quarter of a young bullock.&nbsp; And
+in the hands of the maiden was a quantity of white bread, and she had
+some manchet bread in her veil, and she came into the chamber.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I could not obtain better than this,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;nor
+with better should I have been trusted.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is good
+enough,&rdquo; said Geraint.&nbsp; And they caused the meat to be boiled;
+and when their food was ready, they sat down.&nbsp; And it was on this
+wise; Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his wife, and the
+maiden served them.&nbsp; And they ate and drank.<br>
+<br>
+And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary-headed
+man, and he asked him in the first place, to whom belonged the palace
+that he was in.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it was I
+that built it, and to me also belonged the city and the castle which
+thou sawest.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Alas!&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;how
+is it that thou hast lost them now?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I lost a great
+Earldom as well as these,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;and this is how I lost
+them.&nbsp; I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took his possessions
+to myself; and when he came to his strength, he demanded of me his property,
+but I withheld it from him.&nbsp; So he made war upon me, and wrested
+from me all that I possessed.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Good Sir,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;wilt thou tell me wherefore came the knight, and the
+lady, and the dwarf, just now into the town, and what is the preparation
+which I saw, and the putting of arms in order?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will do so,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;The preparations are for the
+game that is to be held to-morrow by the young Earl, which will be on
+this wise.&nbsp; In the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will
+be set up, and upon the two forks a silver rod, and upon the silver
+rod a Sparrow-Hawk, and for the Sparrow-Hawk there will be a tournament.&nbsp;
+And to the tournament will go all the array thou didst see in the city,
+of men, and of horses, and of arms.&nbsp; And with each man will go
+the lady he loves best; and no man can joust for the Sparrow-Hawk, except
+the lady he loves best be with him.&nbsp; And the knight that thou sawest
+has gained the Sparrow-Hawk these two years; and if he gains it the
+third year, they will, from that time, send it every year to him, and
+he himself will come here no more.&nbsp; And he will be called the Knight
+of the Sparrow-Hawk from that time forth.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;what is thy counsel to me concerning this knight,
+on account of the insult which I received from the dwarf, and that which
+was received by the maiden of Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insult was that he had
+received.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou
+hast neither dame nor maiden belonging to thee, for whom thou canst
+joust.&nbsp; Yet, I have arms here, which thou couldest have; and there
+is my horse also, if he seem to thee better than thine own.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Ah!&nbsp; Sir,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Heaven reward thee.&nbsp;
+But my own horse, to which I am accustomed, together with thy arms,
+will suffice me.&nbsp; And if, when the appointed time shall come to-morrow,
+thou wilt permit me, Sir, to challenge for yonder maiden that is thy
+daughter, I will engage, if I escape from the tournament, to love the
+maiden as long as I live; and if I do not escape, she will remain unsullied
+as before.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Gladly will I permit thee,&rdquo; said
+the hoary-headed man, &ldquo;and since thou dost thus resolve, it is
+necessary that thy horse and arms should be ready to-morrow at break
+of day.&nbsp; For then the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk will make proclamation,
+and ask the lady he loves best to take the Sparrow-Hawk.&nbsp; &lsquo;For,&rsquo;
+will he say to her, &lsquo;thou art the fairest of women, and thou didst
+possess it last year, and the year previous; and if any deny it thee
+to-day, by force will I defend it for thee.&rsquo;&nbsp; And therefore,&rdquo;
+said the hoary-headed man, &ldquo;it is needful for thee to be there
+at daybreak; and we three will be with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thus was
+it settled.<br>
+<br>
+And at night, lo! they went to sleep; and before the dawn they arose,
+and arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were all
+four in the meadow.&nbsp; And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk
+making the proclamation, and asking his lady-love to fetch the Sparrow-Hawk.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Fetch it not,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;for there is here a
+maiden, who is fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and who has
+a better claim to it than thou.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;If thou maintainest
+the Sparrow-Hawk to be due to her, come forward, and do battle with
+me.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Geraint went forward to the top of the meadow,
+having upon himself and upon his horse armour which was heavy, and rusty,
+and worthless, and of uncouth shape.&nbsp; Then they encountered each
+other, and they broke a set of lances, and they broke a second set,
+and a third.&nbsp; And thus they did at every onset, and they broke
+as many lances as were brought to them.&nbsp; And when the Earl and
+his company saw the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk gaining the mastery,
+there was shouting, and joy, and mirth amongst them.&nbsp; And the hoary-headed
+man, and his wife, and his daughter were sorrowful.&nbsp; And the hoary-headed
+man served Geraint lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarf served
+the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk.&nbsp; Then the hoary-headed man came
+to Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh! chieftain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;since
+no other will hold with thee, behold, here is the lance which was in
+my hand on the day when I received the honour of knighthood; and from
+that time to this I never broke it.&nbsp; And it has an excellent point.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then Geraint took the lance, thanking the hoary-headed man.&nbsp; And
+thereupon the dwarf also brought a lance to his lord.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,
+here is a lance for thee, not less good than his,&rdquo; said the dwarf.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;And bethink thee, that no knight ever withstood thee before so
+long as this one has done.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;that unless death takes me quickly hence, he shall
+fare never the better for thy service.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Geraint pricked
+his horse towards him from afar, and warning him, he rushed upon him,
+and gave him a blow so severe, and furious, and fierce, upon the face
+of his shield, that he cleft it in two, and broke his armour, and burst
+his girths, so that both he and his saddle were borne to the ground
+over the horse&rsquo;s crupper.&nbsp; And Geraint dismounted quickly.&nbsp;
+And he was wroth, and he drew his sword, and rushed fiercely upon him.&nbsp;
+Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against Geraint.&nbsp;
+And they fought on foot with their swords until their arms struck sparks
+of fire like stars from one another; and thus they continued fighting
+until the blood and sweat obscured the light from their eyes.&nbsp;
+And when Geraint prevailed, the hoary-headed man, and his wife, and
+his daughter were glad; and when the knight prevailed, it rejoiced the
+Earl and his party.&nbsp; Then the hoary-headed man saw Geraint receive
+a severe stroke, and he went up to him quickly, and said to him, &ldquo;Oh,
+chieftain, remember the treatment which thou hadst from the dwarf; and
+wilt thou not seek vengeance for the insult to thyself, and for the
+insult to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur!&rdquo;&nbsp; And Geraint was
+roused by what he said to him, and he called to him all his strength,
+and lifted up his sword, and struck the knight upon the crown of his
+head, so that he broke all his head-armour, and cut through all the
+flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he wounded the bone.<br>
+<br>
+Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from his hand,
+and besought mercy of Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;I relinquish my overdaring and my pride in craving thy mercy;
+and unless I have time to commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to
+talk with a priest, thy mercy will avail me little.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will grant thee grace upon this condition,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;that
+thou wilt go to Gwenhwyvar the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction
+for the insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf.&nbsp; As to
+myself, for the insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf, I am
+content with that which I have done unto thee.&nbsp; Dismount not from
+the time thou goest hence until thou comest into the presence of Gwenhwyvar,
+to make her what atonement shall be adjudged at the Court of Arthur.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;This will I do gladly.&nbsp; And who art thou?&rdquo; said he.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am Geraint the son of Erbin.&nbsp; And declare thou also who
+thou art.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I am Edeyrn the son of Nudd.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then he threw himself upon his horse, and went forward to Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court, and the lady he loved best went before him and the dwarf, with
+much lamentation.&nbsp; And thus far this story up to that time.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Then came the little Earl and his hosts to Geraint, and saluted him,
+and bade him to his castle.&nbsp; &ldquo;I may not go,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;but where I was last night, there will I be to-night also.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Since thou wilt none of my inviting, thou shalt have abundance
+of all that I can command for thee, in the place thou wast last night.&nbsp;
+And I will order ointment for thee, to recover thee from thy fatigues,
+and from the weariness that is upon thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+reward thee,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;and I will go to my lodging.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And thus went Geraint, and Earl Ynywl, and his wife, and his daughter.&nbsp;
+And when they reached the chamber, the household servants and attendants
+of the young Earl had arrived at the Court, and they arranged all the
+houses, dressing them with straw and with fire; and in a short time
+the ointment was ready, and Geraint came there, and they washed his
+head.&nbsp; Then came the young Earl, with forty honourable knights
+from among his attendants, and those who were bidden to the tournament.&nbsp;
+And Geraint came from the anointing.&nbsp; And the Earl asked him to
+go to the hall to eat.&nbsp; &ldquo;Where is the Earl Ynywl,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;and his wife, and his daughter?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;They
+are in the chamber yonder,&rdquo; said the Earl&rsquo;s chamberlain,
+&ldquo;arraying themselves in garments which the Earl has caused to
+be brought for them.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Let not the damsel array herself,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;except in her vest and her veil, until she come to the
+Court of Arthur, to be clad by Gwenhwyvar in such garments as she may
+choose.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the maiden did not array herself.<br>
+<br>
+Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and went, and sat down
+to meat.&nbsp; And thus were they seated.&nbsp; On one side of Geraint
+sat the young Earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him; and on the other side
+of Geraint were the maiden and her mother.&nbsp; And after these all
+sat according to their precedence in honour.&nbsp; And they ate.&nbsp;
+And they were served abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers
+kind of gifts.&nbsp; Then they conversed together.&nbsp; And the young
+Earl invited Geraint to visit him next day.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not,
+by Heaven,&rdquo; said Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;To the Court of Arthur
+will I go with this maiden to-morrow.&nbsp; And it is enough for me,
+as long as Earl Ynywl is in poverty and trouble; and I go chiefly to
+seek to add to his maintenance.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah, chieftain,&rdquo;
+said the young Earl, &ldquo;it is not by my fault that Earl Ynywl is
+without his possessions.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;he shall not remain without them, unless death quickly
+takes me hence.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh, chieftain,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;with
+regard to the disagreement between me and Ynywl, I will gladly abide
+by thy counsel, and agree to what thou mayest judge right between us.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I but ask thee,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;to restore to him
+what is his, and what he should have received from the time he lost
+his possessions, even until this day.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That I will
+do gladly, for thee,&rdquo; answered he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said
+Geraint, &ldquo;whosoever is here who owes homage to Ynywl, let him
+come forward, and perform it on the spot.&rdquo;&nbsp; And all the men
+did so.&nbsp; And by that treaty they abided.&nbsp; And his castle,
+and his town, and all his possessions were restored to Ynywl.&nbsp;
+And he received back all that he had lost, even to the smallest jewel.<br>
+<br>
+Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;Chieftain,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;behold the maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament,
+I bestow her upon thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;She shall go with me,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;to the Court of Arthur; and Arthur and Gwenhwyvar
+they shall dispose of her as they will.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the next day
+they proceeded to Arthur&rsquo;s Court.&nbsp; So far concerning Geraint.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag.&nbsp; The men and the dogs
+were divided into hunting parties, and the dogs were let loose upon
+the stag.&nbsp; And the last dog that was let loose was the favourite
+dog of Arthur.&nbsp; Cavall was his name.&nbsp; And he left all the
+other dogs behind him, and turned the stag.&nbsp; And at the second
+turn, the stag came towards the hunting party of Arthur.&nbsp; And Arthur
+set upon him.&nbsp; And before he could be slain by any other, Arthur
+cut off his head.&nbsp; Then they sounded the death horn for slaying,
+and they all gathered round.<br>
+<br>
+Then came Kadyrieith to Arthur, and spoke to him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;behold, yonder is Gwenhwyvar, and none with her save
+only one maiden.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Command Gildas the son of Caw,
+and all the scholars of the Court,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;to attend
+Gwenhwyvar to the palace.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they did so.<br>
+<br>
+Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning the head
+of the stag, to whom it should be given.&nbsp; One wished that it should
+be given to the lady best beloved by him, and another to the lady whom
+he loved best.&nbsp; And all they of the household, and the knights,
+disputed sharply concerning the head.&nbsp; And with that they came
+to the palace.&nbsp; And when Arthur and Gwenhwyvar heard them disputing
+about the head of the stag, Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, &ldquo;My lord,
+this is my counsel concerning the stag&rsquo;s head; let it not be given
+away until Geraint the son of Erbin shall return from the errand he
+is upon.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Gwenhwyvar told Arthur what that errand was.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Right gladly shall it be so,&rdquo; said Arthur.&nbsp; And thus
+it was settled.&nbsp; And the next day Gwenhwyvar caused a watch to
+be set upon the ramparts for Geraint&rsquo;s coming.&nbsp; And after
+mid-day they beheld an unshapely little man upon a horse, and after
+him, as they supposed, a dame or a damsel, also on horseback, and after
+her a knight of large stature, bowed down, and hanging his head low
+and sorrowfully, and clad in broken and worthless armour.<br>
+<br>
+And before they came near to the gate, one of the watch went to Gwenhwyvar,
+and told her what kind of people they saw, and what aspect they bore.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I know not who they are,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;But I know,&rdquo;
+said Gwenhwyvar; &ldquo;this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, and
+methinks that he comes not here by his own free will.&nbsp; But Geraint
+has overtaken him, and avenged the insult to the maiden to the uttermost.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And thereupon, behold a porter came to the spot where Gwenhwyvar was.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;at the gate there is a knight, and
+I saw never a man of so pitiful an aspect to look upon as he.&nbsp;
+Miserable and broken is the armour that he wears, and the hue of blood
+is more conspicuous upon it than its own colour.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Knowest
+thou his name?&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;I do,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;he
+tells me that he is Edeyrn the son of Nudd.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then she replied,
+&ldquo;I know him not.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and he entered.&nbsp; And
+Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, even though
+he was accompanied by the churlish dwarf.&nbsp; Then Edeyrn saluted
+Gwenhwyvar.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven protect thee,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Geraint the son of Erbin, thy best
+and most valiant servant, greets thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Did he meet
+thee?&rdquo; she asked.&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and
+it was not to my advantage; and that was not his fault, but mine, Lady.&nbsp;
+And Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting thee he compelled me to
+come hither to do thy pleasure for the insult which thy maiden received
+from the dwarf.&nbsp; He forgives the insult to himself, in consideration
+of his having put me in peril of my life.&nbsp; And he imposed on me
+a condition, manly, and honourable, and warrior-like, which was to do
+thee justice, Lady.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Now, where did he overtake thee?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;At the place where we were jousting, and contending for the Sparrow-Hawk,
+in the town which is now called Cardiff.&nbsp; And there were none with
+him save three persons, of a mean and tattered condition.&nbsp; And
+these were an aged, hoary-headed man, and a woman advanced in years,
+and a fair young maiden, clad in worn-out garments.&nbsp; And it was
+for the avouchment of the love of that maiden that Geraint jousted for
+the Sparrow-Hawk at the tournament, for he said that that maiden was
+better entitled to the Sparrow-Hawk than this maiden who was with me.&nbsp;
+And thereupon we encountered each other, and he left me, Lady, as thou
+seest.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;when thinkest
+thou that Geraint will be here?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;To-morrow, Lady,
+I think he will be here with the maiden.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Arthur came to him, and he saluted Arthur; and Arthur gazed a long
+time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus.&nbsp; And thinking that
+he knew him, he inquired of him, &ldquo;Art thou Edeyrn the son of Nudd?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am, Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and I have met with much trouble,
+and received wounds unsupportable.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then he told Arthur
+all his adventure.&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;from
+what I hear, it behoves Gwenhwyvar to be merciful towards thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;The mercy which thou desirest, Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;will
+I grant to him, since it is as insulting to thee that an insult should
+be offered to me as to thyself.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thus will it be
+best to do,&rdquo; said Arthur; &ldquo;let this man have medical care
+until it be known whether he may live.&nbsp; And if he live, he shall
+do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by the men of the Court;
+and take thou sureties to that effect.&nbsp; And if he die, too much
+will be the death of such a youth as Edeyrn for an insult to a maiden.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;This pleases me,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar.&nbsp; And Arthur became
+surety for Edeyrn, and Caradawc the son of Llyr, Gwallawg the son of
+Llenawg, and Owain the son of Nudd, and Gwalchmai, and many others with
+them.&nbsp; And Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to him.&nbsp;
+He was the chief physician.&nbsp; &ldquo;Take with thee Edeyrn the son
+of Nudd, and cause a chamber to be prepared for him, and let him have
+the aid of medicine as thou wouldst do unto myself, if I were wounded,
+and let none into his chamber to molest him, but thyself and thy disciples,
+to administer to him remedies.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do so gladly,
+Lord,&rdquo; said Morgan Tud.&nbsp; Then said the steward of the household,
+&ldquo;Whither is it right, Lord, to order the maiden?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;To Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; And
+the steward of the household so ordered her.&nbsp; Thus far concerning
+them.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+The next day came Geraint towards the Court; and there was a watch set
+on the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar, lest he should arrive unawares.&nbsp;
+And one of the watch came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;methinks that I see Geraint, and the maiden with him.&nbsp;
+He is on horseback, but he has his walking gear upon him, and the maiden
+appears to be in white, seeming to be clad in a garment of linen.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Assemble all the women,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;and come
+to meet Geraint, to welcome him, and wish him joy.&rdquo;&nbsp; And
+Gwenhwyvar went to meet Geraint and the maiden.&nbsp; And when Geraint
+came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was, he saluted her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+prosper thee,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and welcome to thee.&nbsp; And
+thy career has been successful, and fortunate, and resistless, and glorious.&nbsp;
+And Heaven reward thee, that thou hast so proudly caused me to have
+retribution.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I earnestly
+desired to obtain thee satisfaction according to thy will; and, behold,
+here is the maiden through whom thou hadst thy revenge.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;the welcome of Heaven
+be unto her; and it is fitting that we should receive her joyfully.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then they went in, and dismounted.&nbsp; And Geraint came to where Arthur
+was, and saluted him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven protect thee,&rdquo; said
+Arthur, &ldquo;and the welcome of Heaven be unto thee.&nbsp; And since
+Edeyrn the son of Nudd has received his overthrow and wounds from thy
+hands, thou hast had a prosperous career.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Not upon
+me be the blame,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;it was through the arrogance
+of Edeyrn the son of Nudd himself that we were not friends.&nbsp; I
+would not quit him until I knew who he was, and until the one had vanquished
+the other.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;where
+is the maiden for whom I heard thou didst give challenge?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;She is gone with Gwenhwyvar to her chamber.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then went Arthur to see the maiden.&nbsp; And Arthur, and all his companions,
+and his whole Court, were glad concerning the maiden.&nbsp; And certain
+were they all, that had her array been suitable to her beauty, they
+had never seen a maid fairer than she.&nbsp; And Arthur gave away the
+maiden to Geraint.&nbsp; And the usual bond made between two persons
+was made between Geraint and the maiden, and the choicest of all Gwenhwyvar&rsquo;s
+apparel was given to the maiden; and thus arrayed, she appeared comely
+and graceful to all who beheld her.&nbsp; And that day and that night
+were spent in abundance of minstrelsy, and ample gifts of liquor, and
+a multitude of games.&nbsp; And when it was time for them to go to sleep,
+they went.&nbsp; And in the chamber where the couch of Arthur and Gwenhwyvar
+was, the couch of Geraint and Enid was prepared.&nbsp; And from that
+time she became his bride.&nbsp; And the next day Arthur satisfied all
+the claimants upon Geraint with bountiful gifts.&nbsp; And the maiden
+took up her abode in the palace; and she had many companions, both men
+and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed than she in the Island
+of Britain.<br>
+<br>
+Then spake Gwenhwyvar.&nbsp; &ldquo;Rightly did I judge,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;concerning the head of the stag, that it should not be given
+to any until Geraint&rsquo;s return; and, behold, here is a fit occasion
+for bestowing it.&nbsp; Let it be given to Enid the daughter of Ynywl,
+the most illustrious maiden.&nbsp; And I do not believe that any will
+begrudge it her, for between her and every one here there exists nothing
+but love and friendship.&rdquo;&nbsp; Much applauded was this by them
+all, and by Arthur also.&nbsp; And the head of the stag was given to
+Enid.&nbsp; And thereupon her fame increased, and her friends thenceforward
+became more in number than before.&nbsp; And Geraint from that time
+forth loved the stag, and the tournament, and hard encounters; and he
+came victorious from them all.&nbsp; And a year, and a second, and a
+third, he proceeded thus, until his fame had flown over the face of
+the kingdom.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And once upon a time Arthur was holding his Court at Caerlleon upon
+Usk, at Whitsuntide.&nbsp; And, behold, there came to him ambassadors,
+wise and prudent, full of knowledge, and eloquent of speech, and they
+saluted Arthur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven prosper you,&rdquo; said Arthur,
+&ldquo;and the welcome of Heaven be unto you.&nbsp; And whence do you
+come?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We come, Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;from
+Cornwall; and we are ambassadors from Erbin the son of Custennin, thy
+uncle, and our mission is unto thee.&nbsp; And he greets thee well,
+as an uncle should greet his nephew, and as a vassal should greet his
+lord.&nbsp; And he represents unto thee that he waxes heavy and feeble,
+and is advancing in years.&nbsp; And the neighbouring chiefs, knowing
+this, grow insolent towards him, and covet his land and possessions.&nbsp;
+And he earnestly beseeches thee, Lord, to permit Geraint his son to
+return to him, to protect his possessions, and to become acquainted
+with his boundaries.&nbsp; And unto him he represents that it were better
+for him to spend the flower of his youth and the prime of his age in
+preserving his own boundaries, than in tournaments, which are productive
+of no profit, although he obtains glory in them.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;go, and divest yourselves of
+your accoutrements, and take food, and refresh yourselves after your
+fatigues; and before you go forth hence you shall have an answer.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And they went to eat.&nbsp; And Arthur considered that it would go hard
+with him to let Geraint depart from him and from his Court; neither
+did he think it fair that his cousin should be restrained from going
+to protect his dominions and his boundaries, seeing that his father
+was unable to do so.&nbsp; No less was the grief and regret of Gwenhwyvar,
+and all her women, and all her damsels, through fear that the maiden
+would leave them.&nbsp; And that day and that night were spent in abundance
+of feasting.&nbsp; And Arthur showed Geraint the cause of the mission,
+and of the coming of the ambassadors to him out of Cornwall.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;be it to my advantage or disadvantage, Lord, I
+will do according to thy will concerning this embassy.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;though it grieves me to part
+with thee, it is my counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions,
+and to defend thy boundaries, and to take with thee to accompany thee
+as many as thou wilt of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones,
+and among thy friends, and among thy companions in arms.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Heaven reward thee; and this will I do,&rdquo; said Geraint.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What discourse,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;do I hear between
+you?&nbsp; Is it of those who are to conduct Geraint to his country?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;It is,&rdquo; said Arthur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Then it is needful for
+me to consider,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;concerning companions and a
+provision for the lady that is with me?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou wilt
+do well,&rdquo; said Arthur.<br>
+<br>
+And that night they went to sleep.&nbsp; And the next day the ambassadors
+were permitted to depart, and they were told that Geraint should follow
+them.&nbsp; And on the third day Geraint set forth, and many went with
+him.&nbsp; Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Riogonedd the son of the
+king of Ireland, and Ondyaw the son of the duke of Burgundy, Gwilim
+the son of the ruler of the Franks, Howel the son of Emyr of Brittany,
+Elivry, and Nawkyrd, Gwynn the son of Tringad, Goreu the son of Custennin,
+Gweir Gwrhyd Vawr, Garannaw the son of Golithmer, Peredur the son of
+Evrawc, Gwynnllogell, Gwyr a judge in the Court of Arthur, Dyvyr the
+son of Alun of Dyved, Gwrei Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Bedwyr the son of Bedrawd,
+Hadwry the son of Gwryon, Kai the son of Kynyr, Odyar the Frank, the
+Steward of Arthur&rsquo;s Court, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd.&nbsp; Said
+Geraint, &ldquo;I think that I shall have enough of knighthood with
+me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;but it will
+not be fitting for thee to take Edeyrn with thee, although he is well,
+until peace shall be made between him and Gwenhwyvar.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Gwenhwyvar
+can permit him to go with me, if he give sureties.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;If
+she please, she can let him go without sureties, for enough of pain
+and affliction has he suffered for the insult which the maiden received
+from the dwarf.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Gwenhwyvar, &ldquo;since
+it seems well to thee and to Geraint, I will do this gladly, Lord.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then she permitted Edeyrn freely to depart.&nbsp; And many there were
+who accompanied Geraint, and they set forth; and never was there seen
+a fairer host journeying towards the Severn.&nbsp; And on the other
+side of the Severn were the nobles of Erbin the son of Custennin, and
+his foster-father at their head, to welcome Geraint with gladness; and
+many of the women of the Court, with his mother, came to receive Enid
+the daughter of Ynywl, his wife.&nbsp; And there was great rejoicing
+and gladness throughout the whole Court, and throughout all the country,
+concerning Geraint, because of the greatness of their love towards him,
+and of the greatness of the fame which he had gained since he went from
+amongst them, and because he was come to take possession of his dominions
+and to preserve his boundaries.&nbsp; And they came to the Court.&nbsp;
+And in the Court they had ample entertainment, and a multitude of gifts
+and abundance of liquor, and a sufficiency of service, and a variety
+of minstrelsy and of games.&nbsp; And to do honour to Geraint, all the
+chief men of the country were invited that night to visit him.&nbsp;
+And they passed that day and that night in the utmost enjoyment.&nbsp;
+And at dawn next day Erbin arose, and summoned to him Geraint, and the
+noble persons who had borne him company.&nbsp; And he said to Geraint,
+&ldquo;I am a feeble and aged man, and whilst I was able to maintain
+the dominion for thee and for myself, I did so.&nbsp; But thou art young,
+and in the flower of thy vigour and of thy youth; henceforth do thou
+preserve thy possessions.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;with my consent thou shalt not give the power over thy dominions
+at this time into my hands, and thou shalt not take me from Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Into thy hands will I give them,&rdquo; said
+Erbin, &ldquo;and this day also shalt thou receive the homage of thy
+subjects.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;It were better for thee to satisfy those
+who have boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou canst receive the
+homage of thy dominions.&rdquo;&nbsp; So all that had boons to ask were
+summoned into one place.&nbsp; And Kadyrieith came to them, to know
+what were their requests.&nbsp; And every one asked that which he desired.&nbsp;
+And the followers of Arthur began to make gifts, and immediately the
+men of Cornwall came, and gave also.&nbsp; And they were not long in
+giving, so eager was every one to bestow gifts.&nbsp; And of those who
+came to ask gifts, none departed unsatisfied.&nbsp; And that day and
+that night were spent in the utmost enjoyment.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day, at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send messengers
+to the men, to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that he should
+come to receive their homage, and whether they had anything to object
+to him.&nbsp; Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of Cornwall,
+to ask them this.&nbsp; And they all said that it would be the fulness
+of joy and honour to them for Geraint to come and receive their homage.&nbsp;
+So he received the homage of such as were there.&nbsp; And they remained
+with him till the third night.&nbsp; And the day after the followers
+of Arthur intended to go away.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is too soon for you to
+go away yet,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;stay with me until I have finished
+receiving the homage of my chief men, who have agreed to come to me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And they remained with him until he had done so.&nbsp; Then they set
+forth towards the Court of Arthur; and Geraint went to bear them company,
+and Enid also, as far as Diganhwy: there they parted.&nbsp; Then Ondyaw
+the son of the duke of Burgundy said to Geraint, &ldquo;Go first of
+all and visit the uppermost parts of thy dominions, and see well to
+the boundaries of thy territories; and if thou hast any trouble respecting
+them, send unto thy companions.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;and this will I do.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Geraint journeyed
+to the uttermost part of his dominions.&nbsp; And experienced guides,
+and the chief men of his country, went with him.&nbsp; And the furthermost
+point that they showed him he kept possession of.<br>
+<br>
+And, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur&rsquo;s Court,
+he frequented tournaments.&nbsp; And he became acquainted with valiant
+and mighty men, until he had gained as much fame there as he had formerly
+done elsewhere.&nbsp; And he enriched his Court, and his companions,
+and his nobles, with the best horses and the best arms, and with the
+best and most valuable jewels, and he ceased not until his fame had
+flown over the face of the whole kingdom.&nbsp; And when he knew that
+it was thus, he began to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one
+who was worth his opposing.&nbsp; And he loved his wife, and liked to
+continue in the palace, with minstrelsy and diversions.&nbsp; And for
+a long time he abode at home.&nbsp; And after that he began to shut
+himself up in the chamber of his wife, and he took no delight in anything
+besides, insomuch that he gave up the friendship of his nobles, together
+with his hunting and his amusements, and lost the hearts of all the
+host in his Court; and there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him
+among the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing
+so completely their companionship for the love of his wife.&nbsp; And
+these tidings came to Erbin.&nbsp; And when Erbin had heard these things,
+he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it was she that had
+caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his people and his hosts.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Not I, by my confession unto Heaven,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;there
+is nothing more hateful to me than this.&rdquo;&nbsp; And she knew not
+what she should do, for, although it was hard for her to own this to
+Geraint, yet was it not more easy for her to listen to what she heard,
+without warning Geraint concerning it.&nbsp; And she was very sorrowful.<br>
+<br>
+And one morning in the summer time, they were upon their couch, and
+Geraint lay upon the edge of it.&nbsp; And Enid was without sleep in
+the apartment, which had windows of glass.&nbsp; And the sun shone upon
+the couch.&nbsp; And the clothes had slipped from off his arms and his
+breast, and he was asleep.&nbsp; Then she gazed upon the marvellous
+beauty of his appearance, and she said, &ldquo;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!&rdquo;&nbsp; And as she said
+this, the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon his breast.&nbsp;
+And the tears she shed, and the words she had spoken, awoke him; and
+another thing contributed to awaken him, and that was the idea that
+it was not in thinking of him that she spoke thus, but that it was because
+she loved some other man more than him, and that she wished for other
+society, and thereupon Geraint was troubled in his mind, and he called
+his squire; and when he came to him, &ldquo;Go quickly,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;and prepare my horse and my arms, and make them ready.&nbsp;
+And do thou arise,&rdquo; said he to Enid, &ldquo;and apparel thyself;
+and cause thy horse to be accoutred, and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress
+that thou hast in thy possession.&nbsp; And evil betide me,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;if thou returnest here until thou knowest whether I have
+lost my strength so completely as thou didst say.&nbsp; And if it be
+so, it will then be easy for thee to seek the society thou didst wish
+for of him of whom thou wast thinking.&rdquo;&nbsp; So she arose, and
+clothed herself in her meanest garments.&nbsp; &ldquo;I know nothing,
+Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;of thy meaning.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Neither
+wilt thou know at this time,&rdquo; said he.<br>
+<br>
+Then Geraint went to see Erbin.&nbsp; &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I
+am going upon a quest, and I am not certain when I may come back.&nbsp;
+Take heed, therefore, unto thy possessions, until my return.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but it is strange to me
+that thou shouldest go so suddenly.&nbsp; And who will proceed with
+thee, since thou art not strong enough to traverse the land of Lloegyr
+alone?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;But one person only will go with me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Heaven counsel thee, my son,&rdquo; said Erbin, &ldquo;and may
+many attach themselves to thee in Lloegyr.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then went Geraint
+to the place where his horse was, and it was equipped with foreign armour,
+heavy and shining.&nbsp; And he desired Enid to mount her horse, and
+to ride forward, and to keep a long way before him.&nbsp; &ldquo;And
+whatever thou mayest see, and whatever thou mayest hear concerning me,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;do thou not turn back.&nbsp; And unless I speak unto
+thee, say not thou one word either.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they set forward.&nbsp;
+And he did not choose the pleasantest and most frequented road, but
+that which was the wildest and most beset by thieves, and robbers, and
+venomous animals.&nbsp; And they came to a high road, which they followed
+till they saw a vast forest, and they went towards it, and they saw
+four armed horsemen come forth from the forest.&nbsp; When the horsemen
+had beheld them, one of them said to the others, &ldquo;Behold, here
+is a good occasion for us to capture two horses and armour, and a lady
+likewise; for this we shall have no difficulty in doing against yonder
+single knight, who hangs his head so pensively and heavily.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Enid heard this discourse, and she knew not what she should do through
+fear of Geraint, who had told her to be silent.&nbsp; &ldquo;The vengeance
+of Heaven be upon me,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;&nbsp; So she waited for Geraint
+until he came near to her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;didst
+thou hear the words of those men concerning thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+he lifted up his eyes, and looked at her angrily.&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou
+hadst only,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to hold thy peace as I bade thee.&nbsp;
+I wish but for silence, and not for warning.&nbsp; And though thou shouldest
+desire to see my defeat and my death by the hands of those men, yet
+do I feel no dread.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then the foremost of them couched his
+lance, and rushed upon Geraint.&nbsp; And he received him, and that
+not feebly.&nbsp; But he let the thrust go by him, while he struck the
+horseman upon the centre of his shield in such a manner that his shield
+was split, and his armour broken, and so that a cubit&rsquo;s length
+of the shaft of Geraint&rsquo;s lance passed through his body, and sent
+him to the earth, the length of the lance over his horse&rsquo;s crupper.&nbsp;
+Then the second horseman attacked him furiously, being wroth at the
+death of his companion.&nbsp; But with one thrust Geraint overthrew
+him also, and killed him as he had done the other.&nbsp; Then the third
+set upon him, and he killed him in like manner.&nbsp; And thus also
+he slew the fourth.&nbsp; Sad and sorrowful was the maiden as she saw
+all this.&nbsp; Geraint dismounted from his horse, and took the arms
+of the men he had slain, and placed them upon their saddles, and tied
+together the reins of their horses, and he mounted his horse again.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Behold what thou must do,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;take the four
+horses, and drive them before thee, and proceed forward, as I bade thee
+just now.&nbsp; And say not one word unto me, unless I speak first unto
+thee.&nbsp; And I declare unto Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if thou
+doest not thus, it will be to thy cost.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do,
+as far as I can, Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;according to thy desire.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then they went forward through the forest; and when they left the forest,
+they came to a vast plain, in the centre of which was a group of thickly
+tangled copse-wood; and from out thereof they beheld three horsemen
+coming towards them, well equipped with armour, both they and their
+horses.&nbsp; Then the maiden looked steadfastly upon them; and when
+they had come near, she heard them say one to another, &ldquo;Behold,
+here is a good arrival for us; here are coming for us four horses and
+four suits of armour.&nbsp; We shall easily obtain them spite of yonder
+dolorous knight, and the maiden also will fall into our power.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;This is but too true,&rdquo; said she to herself, &ldquo;for
+my husband is tired with his former combat.&nbsp; The vengeance of Heaven
+will be upon me, unless I warn him of this.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the maiden
+waited until Geraint came up to her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;dust thou not hear the discourse of yonder men concerning
+thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What was it?&rdquo; asked he.&nbsp; &ldquo;They
+say to one another, that they will easily obtain all this spoil.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;that their words
+are less grievous to me than that thou wilt not be silent, and abide
+by my counsel.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I
+feared lest they should surprise thee unawares.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Hold
+thy peace, then,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;do not I desire silence?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And thereupon one of the horsemen couched his lance, and attacked Geraint.&nbsp;
+And he made a thrust at him, which he thought would be very effective;
+but Geraint received it carelessly, and struck it aside, and then he
+rushed upon him, and aimed at the centre of his person, and from the
+shock of man and horse, the quantity of his armour did not avail him,
+and the head of the lance and part of the shaft passed through him,
+so that he was carried to the ground an arm and a spear&rsquo;s length
+over the crupper of his horse.&nbsp; And both the other horsemen came
+forward in their turn, but their onset was not more successful than
+that of their companion.&nbsp; And the maiden stood by, looking at all
+this; and on the one hand she was in trouble lest Geraint should be
+wounded in his encounter with the men, and on the other hand she was
+joyful to see him victorious.&nbsp; Then Geraint dismounted, and bound
+the three suits of armour upon the three saddles, and he fastened the
+reins of all the horses together, so that he had seven horses with him.&nbsp;
+And he mounted his own horse, and commanded the maiden to drive forward
+the others.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is no more use for me to speak to thee than
+to refrain, for thou wilt not attend to my advice.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will do so, as far as I am able, Lord,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;but I
+cannot conceal from thee the fierce and threatening words which I may
+hear against thee, Lord, from such strange people as those that haunt
+this wilderness.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;that I desire nought but silence; therefore, hold thy peace.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will, Lord, while I can.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the maiden went on
+with the horses before her, and she pursued her way straight onwards.&nbsp;
+And from the copse-wood already mentioned, they journeyed over a vast
+and dreary open plain.&nbsp; And at a great distance from them they
+beheld a wood, and they could see neither end nor boundary to the wood,
+except on that side that was nearest to them, and they went towards
+it.&nbsp; Then there came from out the wood five horsemen, eager, and
+bold, and mighty, and strong, mounted upon chargers that were powerful,
+and large of bone, and high-mettled, and proudly snorting, and both
+the men and the horses were well equipped with arms.&nbsp; And when
+they drew near to them, Enid heard them say, &ldquo;Behold, here is
+a fine booty coming to us, which we shall obtain easily and without
+labour, for we shall have no trouble in taking all those horses and
+arms, and the lady also, from yonder single knight, so doleful and sad.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Sorely grieved was the maiden upon hearing this discourse, so that she
+knew not in the world what she should do.&nbsp; At last, however, she
+determined to warn Geraint; so she turned her horse&rsquo;s head towards
+him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;if thou hadst heard
+as I did what yonder horsemen said concerning thee, thy heaviness would
+be greater than it is.&rdquo;&nbsp; Angrily and bitterly did Geraint
+smile upon her, and he said, &ldquo;Thee do I hear doing everything
+that I forbade thee; but it may be that thou will repent this yet.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And immediately, behold, the men met them, and victoriously and gallantly
+did Geraint overcome them all five.&nbsp; And he placed the five suits
+of armour upon the five saddles, and tied together the reins of the
+twelve horses, and gave them in charge to Enid.&nbsp; &ldquo;I know
+not,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;what good it is for me to order thee; but
+this time I charge thee in an especial manner.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the maiden
+went forward towards the wood, keeping in advance of Geraint, as he
+had desired her; and it grieved him as much as his wrath would permit,
+to see a maiden so illustrious as she having so much trouble with the
+care of the horses.&nbsp; Then they reached the wood, and it was both
+deep and vast; and in the wood night overtook them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah,
+maiden,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it is vain to attempt proceeding forward!&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Well, Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;whatsoever thou wishest,
+we will do.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It will be best for us,&rdquo; he answered,
+&ldquo;to turn out of the wood, and to rest, and wait for the day, in
+order to pursue our journey.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That will we, gladly,&rdquo;
+said she.&nbsp; And they did so.&nbsp; Having dismounted himself, he
+took her down from her horse.&nbsp; &ldquo;I cannot, by any means, refrain
+from sleep, through weariness,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Do thou,
+therefore, watch the horses, and sleep not.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will,
+Lord,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; Then he went to sleep in his armour, and
+thus passed the night, which was not long at that season.&nbsp; And
+when she saw the dawn of day appear, she looked around her, to see if
+he were waking, and thereupon he woke.&nbsp; &ldquo;My Lord,&rdquo;
+she said, &ldquo;I have desired to awake thee for some time.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+But he spake nothing to her about fatigue, as he had desired her to
+be silent.&nbsp; Then he arose, and said unto her, &ldquo;Take the horses,
+and ride on; and keep straight on before thee as thou didst yesterday.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And early in the day they left the wood, and they came to an open country,
+with meadows on one hand, and mowers mowing the meadows.&nbsp; And there
+was a river before them, and the horses bent down, and drank the water.&nbsp;
+And they went up out of the river by a lofty steep; and there they met
+a slender stripling, with a satchel about his neck, and they saw that
+there was something in the satchel, but they knew not what it was.&nbsp;
+And he had a small blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth
+of the pitcher.&nbsp; And the youth saluted Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+prosper thee,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;and whence dost thou come?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I come,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;from the city that lies before
+thee.&nbsp; My Lord,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;will it be displeasing
+to thee if I ask whence thou comest also?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By no
+means - through yonder wood did I come.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou camest
+not through the wood to-day.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;No,&rdquo; he replied,
+&ldquo;we were in the wood last night.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I warrant,&rdquo;
+said the youth, &ldquo;that thy condition there last night was not the
+most pleasant, and that thou hadst neither meat nor drink.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;No, by my faith,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Wilt thou follow
+my counsel,&rdquo; said the youth, &ldquo;and take thy meal from me?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What sort of meal?&rdquo; he inquired.&nbsp; &ldquo;The breakfast
+which is sent for yonder mowers, nothing less than bread and meat and
+wine; and if thou wilt, Sir, they shall have none of it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and Heaven reward thee for it.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off her horse.&nbsp;
+Then they washed, and took their repast.&nbsp; And the youth cut the
+bread in slices, and gave them drink, and served them withal.&nbsp;
+And when they had finished, the youth arose, and said to Geraint, &ldquo;My
+Lord, with thy permission, I will now go and fetch some food for the
+mowers.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Go, first, to the town,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;and take a lodging for me in the best place that thou knowest,
+and the most commodious one for the horses, and take thou whichever
+horse and arms thou choosest in payment for thy service and thy gift.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Heaven reward thee, Lord,&rdquo; said the youth, &ldquo;and this
+would be ample to repay services much greater than those I have rendered
+unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And to the town went the youth, and he took
+the best and the most pleasant lodgings that he knew; and after that
+he went to the palace, having the horse and armour with him, and proceeded
+to the place where the Earl was, and told him all his adventure.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I go now, Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to meet the young man,
+and to conduct him to his lodging.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Go, gladly,&rdquo;
+said the Earl, &ldquo;and right joyfully shall he be received here,
+if he so come.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the youth went to meet Geraint, and
+told him that he would be received gladly by the Earl in his own palace;
+but he would go only to his lodgings.&nbsp; And he had a goodly chamber,
+in which was plenty of straw, and drapery, and a spacious and commodious
+place he had for the horses; and the youth prepared for them plenty
+of provender.&nbsp; And after they had disarrayed themselves, Geraint
+spoke thus to Enid: &ldquo;Go,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to the other side
+of the chamber, and come not to this side of the house; and thou mayest
+call to thee the woman of the house, if thou wilt.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will do, Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;as thou sayest.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And thereupon the man of the house came to Geraint, and welcomed him.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Oh, chieftain,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;hast thou taken thy meal?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I have,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; Then the youth spoke to him, and
+inquired if he would not drink something before he met the Earl.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Truly I will,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; So the youth went into the
+town, and brought them drink.&nbsp; And they drank.&nbsp; &ldquo;I must
+needs sleep,&rdquo; said Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the
+youth; &ldquo;and whilst thou sleepest, I will go to see the Earl.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Go, gladly,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and come here again when I
+require thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Geraint went to sleep; and so did Enid
+also.<br>
+<br>
+And the youth came to the place where the Earl was, and the Earl asked
+him where the lodgings of the knight were, and he told him.&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+must go,&rdquo; said the youth, &ldquo;to wait on him in the evening.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Go,&rdquo; answered the Earl, &ldquo;and greet him well from
+me, and tell him that in the evening I will go to see him.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;This will I do,&rdquo; said the youth.&nbsp; So he came when
+it was time for them to awake.&nbsp; And they arose, and went forth.&nbsp;
+And when it was time for them to take their food, they took it.&nbsp;
+And the youth served them.&nbsp; And Geraint inquired of the man of
+the house, whether there were any of his companions that he wished to
+invite to him, and he said that there were.&nbsp; &ldquo;Bring them
+hither, and entertain them at my cost with the best thou canst buy in
+the town.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And the man of the house brought there those whom he chose, and feasted
+them at Geraint&rsquo;s expense.&nbsp; Thereupon, behold, the Earl came
+to visit Geraint, and his twelve honourable knights with him.&nbsp;
+And Geraint rose up, and welcomed him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven preserve
+thee,&rdquo; said the Earl.&nbsp; Then they all sat down according to
+their precedence in honour.&nbsp; And the Earl conversed with Geraint,
+and inquired of him the object of his journey.&nbsp; &ldquo;I have none,&rdquo;
+he replied, &ldquo;but to seek adventures, and to follow my own inclination.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then the Earl cast his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her steadfastly.&nbsp;
+And he thought he had never seen a maiden fairer or more comely than
+she.&nbsp; And he set all his thoughts and his affections upon her.&nbsp;
+Then he asked of Geraint, &ldquo;Have I thy permission to go and converse
+with yonder maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Thou hast it gladly,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; So the Earl went to
+the place where the maiden was, and spake with her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah,
+maiden,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it cannot be pleasant to thee to journey
+thus with yonder man!&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is not unpleasant to me,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;to journey the same road that he journeys.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Thou hast neither youths nor maidens to serve thee,&rdquo; said
+he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;it is more pleasant
+for me to follow yonder man, than to be served by youths and maidens.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will give thee good counsel,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;All
+my Earldom will I place in thy possession, if thou wilt dwell with me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;That will I not, by Heaven,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;yonder man
+was the first to whom my faith was ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant
+to him!&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou art in the wrong,&rdquo; said the Earl;
+&ldquo;if I slay the man yonder, I can keep thee with me as long as
+I choose; and when thou no longer pleasest me I can turn thee away.&nbsp;
+But if thou goest with me by thine own good will, I protest that our
+union shall continue eternal and undivided as long as I remain alive.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then she pondered these words of his, and she considered that it was
+advisable to encourage him in his request.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold, then,
+chieftain, this is most expedient for thee to do to save me any needless
+imputation; come here to-morrow, and take me away as though I knew nothing
+thereof.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; So
+he arose, and took his leave, and went forth with his attendants.&nbsp;
+And she told not then to Geraint any of the conversation which she had
+had with the Earl, lest it should rouse his anger, and cause him uneasiness
+and care.<br>
+<br>
+And at the usual hour they went to sleep.&nbsp; And at the beginning
+of the night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she arose, and placed
+all Geraint&rsquo;s armour together, so that it might be ready to put
+on.&nbsp; And although fearful of her errand, she came to the side of
+Geraint&rsquo;s bed; and she spoke to him softly and gently, saying,
+&ldquo;My Lord, arise, and clothe thyself, for these were the words
+of the Earl to me, and his intention concerning me.&rdquo;&nbsp; So
+she told Geraint all that had passed.&nbsp; And although he was wroth
+with her, he took warning, and clothed himself.&nbsp; And she lighted
+a candle, that he might have light to do so.&nbsp; &ldquo;Leave there
+the candle,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and desire the man of the house to
+come here.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then she went, and the man of the house came
+to him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Dost thou know how much I owe thee?&rdquo; asked
+Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;I think thou owest but little.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Take
+the eleven horses and the eleven suits of armour.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+reward thee, lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but I spent not the value
+of one suit of armour upon thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;For that reason,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;thou wilt be the richer.&nbsp; And now, wilt thou come
+to guide me out of the town?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will, gladly,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and in which direction dost thou intend to go?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I wish to leave the town by a different way from that by which
+I entered it.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the man of the lodgings accompanied him
+as far as he desired.&nbsp; Then he bade the maiden to go on before
+him; and she did so, and went straight forward, and his host returned
+home.&nbsp; And he had only just reached his house, when, behold, the
+greatest tumult approached that was ever heard.&nbsp; And when he looked
+out, he saw fourscore knights in complete armour around the house, with
+the Earl Dwnn at their head.&nbsp; &ldquo;Where is the knight that was
+here?&rdquo; said the Earl.&nbsp; &ldquo;By thy hand,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;he went hence some time ago.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore, villain,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;didst thou let him go without informing me?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;My Lord, thou didst not command me to do so, else would I not
+have allowed him to depart.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What way dost thou think
+that he took?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I know not, except that he went along
+the high road.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they turned their horses&rsquo; heads
+that way, and seeing the tracks of the horses upon the high road, they
+followed.&nbsp; And when the maiden beheld the dawning of the day, she
+looked behind her, and saw vast clouds of dust coming nearer and nearer
+to her.&nbsp; And thereupon she became uneasy, and she thought that
+it was the Earl and his host coming after them.&nbsp; And thereupon
+she beheld a knight appearing through the mist.&nbsp; &ldquo;By my faith,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;though he should slay me, it were better for me to
+receive my death at his hands, than to see him killed without warning
+him.&nbsp; My Lord,&rdquo; she said to him, &ldquo;seest thou yonder
+man hastening after thee, and many others with him?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+do see him,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;and in despite of all my orders,
+I see that thou wilt never keep silence.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then he turned
+upon the knight, and with the first thrust he threw him down under his
+horse&rsquo;s feet.&nbsp; And as long as there remained one of the fourscore
+knights, he overthrew every one of them at the first onset.&nbsp; And
+from the weakest to the strongest, they all attacked him one after the
+other, except the Earl: and last of all the Earl came against him also.&nbsp;
+And he broke his lance, and then he broke a second.&nbsp; But Geraint
+turned upon him, and struck him with his lance upon the centre of his
+shield, so that by that single thrust the shield was split, and all
+his armour broken, and he himself was brought over his horse&rsquo;s
+crupper to the ground, and was in peril of his life.&nbsp; And Geraint
+drew near to him; and at the noise of the trampling of his horse the
+Earl revived.&nbsp; &ldquo;Mercy, Lord,&rdquo; said he to Geraint.&nbsp;
+And Geraint granted him mercy.&nbsp; But through the hardness of the
+ground where they had fallen, and the violence of the stroke which they
+had received, there was not a single knight amongst them that escaped
+without receiving a fall, mortally severe, and grievously painful, and
+desperately wounding, from the hand of Geraint.<br>
+<br>
+And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was before him, and the
+maiden went on first; and near them they beheld a valley which was the
+fairest ever seen, and which had a large river running through it; and
+there was a bridge over the river, and the high road led to the bridge.&nbsp;
+And above the bridge upon the opposite side of the river, they beheld
+a fortified town, the fairest ever seen.&nbsp; And as they approached
+the bridge, Geraint saw coming towards him from a thick copse a man
+mounted upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace and spirited though
+tractable.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah, knight,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;whence
+comest thou?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I come,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;from
+the valley below us.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Canst thou tell me,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;who is the owner of this fair valley and yonder
+walled town?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will tell thee, willingly,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks, but
+the Cymry call him the Little King.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Can I go by
+yonder bridge,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;and by the lower highway
+that is beneath the town?&rdquo;&nbsp; Said the knight, &ldquo;Thou
+canst not go by his tower on the other side of the bridge, unless thou
+dost intend to combat him; because it is his custom to encounter every
+knight that comes upon his lands.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;that I will, nevertheless, pursue my journey that
+way.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;If thou dost so,&rdquo; said the knight, &ldquo;thou
+wilt probably meet with shame and disgrace in reward for thy daring.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then Geraint proceeded along the road that led to the town, and the
+road brought him to a ground that was hard, and rugged, and high, and
+ridgy.&nbsp; And as he journeyed thus, he beheld a knight following
+him upon a warhorse, strong, and large, and proudly-stepping, and wide-hoofed,
+and broad-chested.&nbsp; And he never saw a man of smaller stature than
+he who was upon the horse.&nbsp; And both he and his horse were completely
+armed.&nbsp; When he had overtaken Geraint, he said to him, &ldquo;Tell
+me, chieftain, whether it is through ignorance or through presumption
+that thou seekest to insult my dignity, and to infringe my rules.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; answered Geraint, &ldquo;I knew not this road was
+forbid to any.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou didst know it,&rdquo; said the
+other; &ldquo;come with me to my Court, to give me satisfaction.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;That will I not, by my faith,&rdquo; said Geraint; &ldquo;I would
+not go even to thy Lord&rsquo;s Court, excepting Arthur were thy Lord.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;By the hand of Arthur himself,&rdquo; said the knight, &ldquo;I
+will have satisfaction of thee, or receive my overthrow at thy hands.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And immediately they charged one another.&nbsp; And a squire of his
+came to serve him with lances as he broke them.&nbsp; And they gave
+each other such hard and severe strokes that their shields lost all
+their colour.&nbsp; But it was very difficult for Geraint to fight with
+him on account of his small size, for he was hardly able to get a full
+aim at him with all the efforts he could make.&nbsp; And they fought
+thus until their horses were brought down upon their knees; and at length
+Geraint threw the knight headlong to the ground; and then they fought
+on foot, and they gave one another blows so boldly fierce, so frequent,
+and so severely powerful, that their helmets were pierced, and their
+skullcaps were broken, and their arms were shattered, and the light
+of their eyes was darkened by sweat and blood.&nbsp; At the last Geraint
+became enraged, and he called to him all his strength; and boldly angry,
+and swiftly resolute, and furiously determined, he lifted up his sword,
+and struck him on the crown of his head a blow so mortally painful,
+so violent, so fierce, and so penetrating, that it cut through all his
+head armour, and his skin, and his flesh, until it wounded the very
+bone, and the sword flew out of the hand of the Little King to the furthest
+end of the plain, and he besought Geraint that he would have mercy and
+compassion upon him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Though thou hast been neither courteous
+nor just,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;thou shalt have mercy, upon condition
+that thou wilt become my ally, and engage never to fight against me
+again, but to come to my assistance whenever thou hearest of my being
+in trouble.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This will I do, gladly, Lord,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; So he pledged him his faith thereof.&nbsp; &ldquo;And
+now, Lord, come with me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to my Court yonder,
+to recover from thy weariness and fatigue.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That
+will I not, by Heaven,&rdquo; said he.<br>
+<br>
+Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and it grieved him
+to see one of her noble mien appear so deeply afflicted.&nbsp; And he
+said to Geraint, &ldquo;My Lord, thou doest wrong not to take repose,
+and refresh thyself awhile; for, if thou meetest with any difficulty
+in thy present condition, it will not be easy for thee to surmount it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+But Geraint would do no other than proceed on his journey, and he mounted
+his horse in pain, and all covered with blood.&nbsp; And the maiden
+went on first, and they proceeded towards the wood which they saw before
+them.<br>
+<br>
+And the heat of the sun was very great, and through the blood and sweat,
+Geraint&rsquo;s armour cleaved to his flesh; and when they came into
+the wood, he stood under a tree, to avoid the sun&rsquo;s heat; and
+his wounds pained him more than they had done at the time when he received
+them.&nbsp; And the maiden stood under another tree.&nbsp; And lo! they
+heard the sound of horns, and a tumultuous noise; and the occasion of
+it was, that Arthur and his company had come down to the wood.&nbsp;
+And while Geraint was considering which way he should go to avoid them,
+behold, he was espied by a foot-page, who was an attendant on the Steward
+of the Household; and he went to the Steward, and told him what kind
+of man he had seen in the wood.&nbsp; Then the Steward caused his horse
+to be saddled, and he took his lance and his shield, and went to the
+place where Geraint was.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah, knight!&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;what
+dost thou here?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I am standing under a shady tree,
+to avoid the heat and the rays of the sun.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore
+is thy journey, and who art thou?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I seek adventures,
+and go where I list.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Indeed,&rdquo; said Kai; &ldquo;then
+come with me to see Arthur, who is here hard by.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That
+will I not, by Heaven,&rdquo; said Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou must needs
+come,&rdquo; said Kai.&nbsp; Then Geraint knew who he was, but Kai did
+not know Geraint.&nbsp; And Kai attacked Geraint as best he could.&nbsp;
+And Geraint became wroth, and he struck him with the shaft of his lance,
+so that he rolled headlong to the ground.&nbsp; But chastisement worse
+than this would he not inflict on him.<br>
+<br>
+Scared and wildly Kai arose, and he mounted his horse, and went back
+to his lodging.&nbsp; And thence he proceeded to Gwalchmai&rsquo;s tent.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Oh, Sir,&rdquo; said he to Gwalchmai, &ldquo;I was told by one
+of the attendants, that he saw in the wood above a wounded knight, having
+on battered armour; and if thou dost right, thou wilt go and see if
+this be true.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I care not if I do so,&rdquo; said
+Gwalchmai.&nbsp; &ldquo;Take, then, thy horse, and some of thy armour,&rdquo;
+said Kai; &ldquo;for I hear that he is not over courteous to those who
+approach him.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Gwalchmai took his spear and his shield,
+and mounted his horse, and came to the spot where Geraint was.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Sir Knight,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;wherefore is thy journey?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I journey for my own pleasure, and to seek the adventures of
+the world.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wilt thou tell me who thou art; or wilt
+thou come and visit Arthur, who is near at hand?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will make no alliance with thee, nor will I go and visit Arthur,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; And he knew that it was Gwalchmai, but Gwalchmai knew
+him not.&nbsp; &ldquo;I purpose not to leave thee,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai,
+&ldquo;till I know who thou art.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he charged him with
+his lance, and struck him on his shield, so that the shaft was shivered
+into splinters, and their horses were front to front.&nbsp; Then Gwalchmai
+gazed fixedly upon him, and he knew him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah, Geraint,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;is it thou that art here?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I am not
+Geraint,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Geraint thou art, by Heaven,&rdquo;
+he replied, &ldquo;and a wretched and insane expedition is this.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then he looked around, and beheld Enid, and he welcomed her gladly.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Geraint,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;come thou and see Arthur;
+he is thy lord and thy cousin.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;for I am not in a fit state to go and see any one.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Thereupon, behold, one of the pages came after Gwalchmai to speak to
+him.&nbsp; So he sent him to apprise Arthur that Geraint was there wounded,
+and that he would not go to visit him, and that it was pitiable to see
+the plight that he was in.&nbsp; And this he did without Geraint&rsquo;s
+knowledge, inasmuch as he spoke in a whisper to the page.&nbsp; &ldquo;Entreat
+Arthur,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to have his tent brought near to the
+road, for he will not meet him willingly, and it is not easy to compel
+him in the mood he is in.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the page came to Arthur, and
+told him this.&nbsp; And he caused his tent to be removed unto the side
+of the road.&nbsp; And the maiden rejoiced in her heart.&nbsp; And Gwalchmai
+led Geraint onwards along the road, till they came to the place where
+Arthur was encamped, and the pages were pitching his tent by the roadside.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;all hail unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Heaven prosper thee; and who art thou?&rdquo; said Arthur.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;It is Geraint,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai, &ldquo;and of his own free
+will would he not come to meet thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said Arthur, &ldquo;he is bereft of his reason.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then came
+Enid, and saluted Arthur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven protect thee,&rdquo; said
+he.&nbsp; And thereupon he caused one of the pages to take her from
+her horse.&nbsp; &ldquo;Alas! Enid,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;what
+expedition is this?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I know not, Lord,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;save that it behoves me to journey by the same road that
+he journeys.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My Lord,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;with
+thy permission we will depart.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Whither wilt thou
+go?&rdquo; said Arthur.&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou canst not proceed now, unless
+it be unto thy death.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;He will not suffer himself
+to be invited by me,&rdquo; said Gwalchmai.&nbsp; &ldquo;But by me he
+will,&rdquo; said Arthur; &ldquo;and, moreover, he does not go from
+here until he is healed.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I had rather, Lord,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;that thou wouldest let me go forth.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;That will I not, I declare to Heaven,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; Then
+he caused a maiden to be sent for to conduct Enid to the tent where
+Gwenhwyvar&rsquo;s chamber was.&nbsp; And Gwenhwyvar and all her women
+were joyful at her coming; and they took off her riding-dress, and placed
+other garments upon her.&nbsp; Arthur also called Kadyrieith, and ordered
+him to pitch a tent for Geraint and the physicians; and he enjoined
+him to provide him with abundance of all that might be requisite for
+him.&nbsp; And Kadyrieith did as he had commanded him.&nbsp; And Morgan
+Tud and his disciples were brought to Geraint.<br>
+<br>
+And Arthur and his hosts remained there nearly a month, whilst Geraint
+was being healed.&nbsp; And when he was fully recovered, Geraint came
+to Arthur, and asked his permission to depart.&nbsp; &ldquo;I know not
+if thou art quite well.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;In truth I am, Lord,&rdquo;
+said Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;I shall not believe thee concerning that,
+but the physicians that were with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Arthur caused
+the physicians to be summoned to him, and asked them if it were true.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;It is true, Lord,&rdquo; said Morgan Tud.&nbsp; So the next day
+Arthur permitted him to go forth, and he pursued his journey.&nbsp;
+And on the same day Arthur removed thence.&nbsp; And Geraint desired
+Enid to go on, and to keep before him, as she had formerly done.&nbsp;
+And she went forward along the high road.&nbsp; And as they journeyed
+thus, they heard an exceeding loud wailing near to them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Stay
+thou here,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and I will go and see what is the
+cause of this wailing.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp;
+Then he went forward unto an open glade that was near the road.&nbsp;
+And in the glade he saw two horses, one having a man&rsquo;s saddle,
+and the other a woman&rsquo;s saddle upon it.&nbsp; And, behold, there
+was a knight lying dead in his armour, and a young damsel in a riding-dress
+standing over him, lamenting.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah! Lady,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;what hath befallen thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; she
+answered, &ldquo;I journeyed here with my beloved husband, when, lo!
+three giants came upon us, and without any cause in the world, they
+slew him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Which way went they hence?&rdquo; said
+Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;Yonder by the high road,&rdquo; she replied.&nbsp;
+So he returned to Enid.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to the
+lady that is below yonder, and await me there till I come.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+She was sad when he ordered her to do thus, but nevertheless she went
+to the damsel, whom it was ruth to hear, and she felt certain that Geraint
+would never return.&nbsp; Meanwhile Geraint followed the giants, and
+overtook them.&nbsp; And each of them was greater of stature than three
+other men, and a huge club was on the shoulder of each.&nbsp; Then he
+rushed upon one of them, and thrust his lance through his body.&nbsp;
+And having drawn it forth again, he pierced another of them through
+likewise.&nbsp; But the third turned upon him, and struck him with his
+club, so that he split his shield, and crushed his shoulder, and opened
+his wounds anew, and all his blood began to flow from him.&nbsp; But
+Geraint drew his sword, and attacked the giant, and gave him a blow
+on the crown of his head so severe, and fierce, and violent, that his
+head and his neck were split down to his shoulders, and he fell dead.&nbsp;
+So Geraint left him thus, and returned to Enid.&nbsp; And when he saw
+her, he fell down lifeless from his horse.&nbsp; Piercing, and loud,
+and thrilling was the cry that Enid uttered.&nbsp; And she came and
+stood over him where he had fallen.&nbsp; And at the sound of her cries
+came the Earl of Limours, and the host that journeyed with him, whom
+her lamentations brought out of their road.&nbsp; And the Earl said
+to Enid, &ldquo;Alas, Lady, what hath befallen thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah!
+good Sir,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;the only man I have loved, or ever
+shall love, is slain.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then he said to the other, &ldquo;And
+what is the cause of thy grief?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;They have slain
+my beloved husband also,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;And who was it
+that slew them?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Some giants,&rdquo; she answered,
+&ldquo;slew my best-beloved, and the other knight went in pursuit of
+them, and came back in the state thou seest, his blood flowing excessively;
+but it appears to me that he did not leave the giants without killing
+some of them, if not all.&rdquo;&nbsp; The Earl caused the knight that
+was dead to be buried, but he thought that there still remained some
+life in Geraint; and to see if he yet would live, he had him carried
+with him in the hollow of his shield, and upon a bier.&nbsp; And the
+two damsels went to the Court; and when they arrived there, Geraint
+was placed upon a litter-couch in front of the table that was in the
+hall.&nbsp; Then they all took off their travelling gear, and the Earl
+besought Enid to do the same, and to clothe herself in other garments.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will not, by Heaven,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah! Lady,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;be not so sorrowful for this matter.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It
+were hard to persuade me to be otherwise,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will act towards thee in such wise, that thou needest not be sorrowful,
+whether yonder knight live or die.&nbsp; Behold, a good Earldom, together
+with myself, will I bestow on thee; be, therefore, happy and joyful.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;that henceforth
+I shall never be joyful while I live.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Come, then,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and eat.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;No, by Heaven, I will not,&rdquo;
+she answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;But, by Heaven, thou shalt,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp;
+So he took her with him to the table against her will, and many times
+desired her to eat.&nbsp; &ldquo;I call Heaven to witness,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;that I will not eat until the man that is upon yonder bier
+shall eat likewise.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou canst not fulfil that,&rdquo;
+said the Earl, &ldquo;yonder man is dead already.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will prove that I can,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; Then he offered her a
+goblet of liquor.&nbsp; &ldquo;Drink this goblet,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and
+it will cause thee to change thy mind.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Evil betide
+me,&rdquo; she answered, &ldquo;if I drink aught until he drink also.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said the Earl, &ldquo;it is of no more avail for
+me to be gentle with thee than ungentle.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he gave her
+a box on the ear.&nbsp; Thereupon she raised a loud and piercing shriek,
+and her lamentations were much greater than they had been before, for
+she considered in her mind that had Geraint been alive, he durst not
+have struck her thus.&nbsp; But, behold, at the sound of her cry, Geraint
+revived from his swoon, and he sat up on the bier, and finding his sword
+in the hollow of his shield, he rushed to the place where the Earl was,
+and struck him a fiercely-wounding, severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting
+blow upon the crown of his head, so that he clove him in twain, until
+his sword was stayed by the table.&nbsp; Then all left the board, and
+fled away.&nbsp; And this was not so much through fear of the living
+as through the dread they felt at seeing the dead man rise up to slay
+them.&nbsp; And Geraint looked upon Enid, and he was grieved for two
+causes; one was, to see that Enid had lost her colour and her wonted
+aspect, and the other, to know that she was in the right.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;knowest thou where our horses are?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+know, Lord, where thy horse is,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;but I know
+not where is the other.&nbsp; Thy horse is in the house yonder.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So he went to the house, and brought forth his horse, and mounted him,
+and took up Enid from the ground, and placed her upon the horse with
+him.&nbsp; And he rode forward.&nbsp; And their road lay between two
+hedges.&nbsp; And the night was gaining on the day.&nbsp; And lo! they
+saw behind them the shafts of spears betwixt them and the sky, and they
+heard the trampling of horses, and the noise of a host approaching.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I hear something following us,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and I will
+put thee on the other side of the hedge.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thus he did.&nbsp;
+And thereupon, behold, a knight pricked towards him, and couched his
+lance.&nbsp; When Enid saw this, she cried out, saying, &ldquo;Oh! chieftain,
+whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a dead man?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Oh! Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;is it Geraint?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Yes, in truth,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;And who art thou?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am the Little King,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;coming to thy
+assistance, for I heard that thou wast in trouble.&nbsp; And if thou
+hadst followed my advice, none of these hardships would have befallen
+thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Nothing can happen,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;without
+the will of Heaven, though much good results from counsel.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said the Little King, &ldquo;and I know good counsel
+for thee now.&nbsp; Come with me to the court of a son-in-law of my
+sister, which is near here, and thou shalt have the best medical assistance
+in the kingdom.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do so gladly,&rdquo; said
+Geraint.&nbsp; And Enid was placed upon the horse of one of the Little
+King&rsquo;s squires, and they went forward to the Baron&rsquo;s palace.&nbsp;
+And they were received there with gladness, and they met with hospitality
+and attention.&nbsp; And the next morning they went to seek physicians;
+and it was not long before they came, and they attended Geraint until
+he was perfectly well.&nbsp; And while Geraint was under medical care,
+the Little King caused his armour to be repaired, until it was as good
+as it had ever been.&nbsp; And they remained there a fortnight and a
+month.<br>
+<br>
+Then the Little King said to Geraint, &ldquo;Now will we go towards
+my own Court, to take rest, and amuse ourselves.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Not
+so,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;we will first journey for one day more,
+and return again.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;With all my heart,&rdquo; said
+the Little King, &ldquo;do thou go then.&rdquo;&nbsp; And early in the
+day they set forth.&nbsp; And more gladly and more joyfully did Enid
+journey with them that day than she had ever done.&nbsp; And they came
+to the main road.&nbsp; And when they reached a place where the road
+divided in two, they beheld a man on foot coming towards them along
+one of these roads, and Gwiffert asked the man whence he came.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I come,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;from an errand in the country.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;which is the best for me
+to follow of these two roads?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That is the best for
+thee to follow,&rdquo; answered he, &ldquo;for if thou goest by this
+one, thou wilt never return.&nbsp; Below us,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;there
+is a hedge of mist, and within it are enchanted games, and no one who
+has gone there has ever returned.&nbsp; And the Court of the Earl Owain
+is there, and he permits no one to go to lodge in the town, except he
+will go to his Court.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;that we will take the lower road.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And they went along it until they came to the town.&nbsp; And they took
+the fairest and pleasantest place in the town for their lodging.&nbsp;
+And while they were thus, behold, a young man came to them, and greeted
+them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven be propitious to thee,&rdquo; said they.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Good Sirs,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;what preparations are you making
+here?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We are taking up our lodging,&rdquo; said
+they, &ldquo;to pass the night.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is not the custom
+with him who owns the town,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;to permit any
+of gentle birth, unless they come to stay in his Court, to abide here;
+therefore, come ye to the Court.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We will come, gladly,&rdquo;
+said Geraint.&nbsp; And they went with the page, and they were joyfully
+received.&nbsp; And the Earl came to the hall to meet them, and he commanded
+the tables to be laid.&nbsp; And they washed, and sat down.&nbsp; And
+this is the order in which they sat: Geraint on one side of the Earl,
+and Enid on the other side, and next to Enid the Little King, and then
+the Countess next to Geraint; and all after that as became their rank.&nbsp;
+Then Geraint recollected the games, and thought that he should not go
+to them; and on that account he did not eat.&nbsp; Then the Earl looked
+upon Geraint, and considered, and he bethought him that his not eating
+was because of the games, and it grieved him that he had ever established
+those games, were it only on account of losing such a youth as Geraint.&nbsp;
+And if Geraint had asked him to abolish the games, he would gladly have
+done so.&nbsp; Then the Earl said to Geraint, &ldquo;What thought occupies
+thy mind, that thou dost not eat?&nbsp; If thou hesitatest about going
+to the games, thou shalt not go, and no other of thy rank shall ever
+go either.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee,&rdquo; said Geraint,
+&ldquo;but I wish nothing better than to go to the games, and to be
+shown the way thither.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;If that is what thou dost
+prefer, thou shalt obtain it willingly.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I do prefer
+it, indeed,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; Then they ate, and they were amply
+served, and they had a variety of gifts, and abundance of liquor.&nbsp;
+And when they had finished eating they arose.&nbsp; And Geraint called
+for his horse and his armour, and he accoutred both himself and his
+horse.&nbsp; And all the hosts went forth until they came to the side
+of the hedge, and the hedge was so lofty, that it reached as high as
+they could see in the air, and upon every stake in the hedge, except
+two, there was the head of a man, and the number of stakes throughout
+the hedge was very great.&nbsp; Then said the Little King, &ldquo;May
+no one go in with the chieftain?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;No one may,&rdquo;
+said Earl Owain.&nbsp; &ldquo;Which way can I enter?&rdquo; inquired
+Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;I know not,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;but enter
+by the way that thou wilt, and that seemeth easiest to thee.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into the mist.&nbsp;
+And on leaving the mist, he came to a large orchard; and in the orchard
+he saw an open space, wherein was a tent of red satin; and the door
+of the tent was open, and an apple-tree stood in front of the door of
+the tent; and on a branch of the apple-tree hung a huge hunting-horn.&nbsp;
+Then he dismounted, and went into the tent; and there was no one in
+the tent save one maiden sitting in a golden chair, and another chair
+was opposite to her, empty.&nbsp; And Geraint went to the empty chair,
+and sat down therein.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah! chieftain,&rdquo; said the maiden,
+&ldquo;I would not counsel thee to sit in that chair.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore?&rdquo;
+said Geraint.&nbsp; &ldquo;The man to whom that chair belongs has never
+suffered another to sit in it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I care not,&rdquo;
+said Geraint, &ldquo;though it displease him that I sit in the chair.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And thereupon they heard a mighty tumult around the tent.&nbsp; And
+Geraint looked to see what was the cause of the tumult.&nbsp; And he
+beheld without a knight mounted upon a warhorse, proudly snorting, high-mettled,
+and large of bone; and a robe of honour in two parts was upon him and
+upon his horse, and beneath it was plenty of armour.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell
+me, chieftain,&rdquo; said he to Geraint, &ldquo;who it was that bade
+thee sit there?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Myself,&rdquo; answered he.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;It was wrong of thee to do me this shame and disgrace.&nbsp;
+Arise, and do me satisfaction for thine insolence.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+Geraint arose; and they encountered immediately; and they broke a set
+of lances, and a second set, and a third; and they gave each other fierce
+and frequent strokes; and at last Geraint became enraged, and he urged
+on his horse, and rushed upon him, and gave him a thrust on the centre
+of his shield, so that it was split, and so that the head of his lance
+went through his armour, and his girths were broken, and he himself
+was borne headlong to the ground the length of Geraint&rsquo;s lance
+and arm, over his horse&rsquo;s crupper.&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh, my Lord!&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;thy mercy, and thou shalt have what thou wilt.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I only desire,&rdquo; said Geraint, &ldquo;that this game shall
+no longer exist here, nor the hedge of mist, nor magic, nor enchantment.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Thou shalt have this gladly, Lord,&rdquo; he replied.&nbsp; &ldquo;Cause,
+then, the mist to disappear from this place,&rdquo; said Geraint.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Sound yonder horn,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and when thou soundest
+it, the mist will vanish; but it will not go hence unless the horn be
+blown by the knight by whom I am vanquished.&rdquo;&nbsp; And sad and
+sorrowful was Enid where she remained, through anxiety concerning Geraint.&nbsp;
+Then Geraint went and sounded the horn.&nbsp; And at the first blast
+he gave, the mist vanished.&nbsp; And all the hosts came together, and
+they all became reconciled to each other.&nbsp; And the Earl invited
+Geraint and the Little King to stay with him that night.&nbsp; And the
+next morning they separated.&nbsp; And Geraint went towards his own
+dominions; and thenceforth he reigned prosperously, and his warlike
+fame and splendour lasted with renown and honour both to him and to
+Enid from that time forth.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+KILHWCH AND OLWEN<br>
+OR THE<br>
+TWRCH TRWYTH<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Kilydd the son of Prince Kelyddon desired a wife as a helpmate, and
+the wife that he chose was Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd.&nbsp;
+And after their union, the people put up prayers that they might have
+an heir.&nbsp; And they had a son through the prayers of the people.&nbsp;
+From the time of her pregnancy Goleuddydd became wild, and wandered
+about, without habitation; but when her delivery was at hand, her reason
+came back to her.&nbsp; Then she went to a mountain where there was
+a swineherd, keeping a herd of swine.&nbsp; And through fear of the
+swine the queen was delivered.&nbsp; And the swineherd took the boy,
+and brought him to the palace; and he was christened, and they called
+him Kilhwch, because he had been found in a swine&rsquo;s burrow.&nbsp;
+Nevertheless the boy was of gentle lineage, and cousin unto Arthur;
+and they put him out to nurse.<br>
+<br>
+After this the boy&rsquo;s mother, Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince
+Anlawdd, fell sick.&nbsp; Then she called her husband unto her, and
+said to him, &ldquo;Of this sickness I shall die, and thou wilt take
+another wife.&nbsp; Now wives are the gift of the Lord, but it would
+be wrong for thee to harm thy son.&nbsp; Therefore I charge thee that
+thou take not a wife until thou see a briar with two blossoms upon my
+grave.&rdquo;&nbsp; And this he promised her.&nbsp; Then she besought
+him to dress her grave every year, that nothing might grow thereon.&nbsp;
+So the queen died.&nbsp; Now the king sent an attendant every morning
+to see if anything were growing upon the grave.&nbsp; And at the end
+of the seventh year the master neglected that which he had promised
+to the queen.<br>
+<br>
+One day the king went to hunt, and he rode to the place of burial to
+see the grave, and to know if it were time that he should take a wife;
+and the king saw the briar.&nbsp; And when he saw it, the king took
+counsel where he should find a wife.&nbsp; Said one of his counsellors,
+&ldquo;I know a wife that will suit thee well, and she is the wife of
+King Doged.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they resolved to go to seek her; and they
+slew the king, and brought away his wife and one daughter that she had
+along with her.&nbsp; And they conquered the king&rsquo;s lands.<br>
+<br>
+On a certain day, as the lady walked abroad, she came to the house of
+an old crone that dwelt in the town, and that had no tooth in her head.&nbsp;
+And the queen said to her, &ldquo;Old woman, tell me that which I shall
+ask thee, for the love of Heaven.&nbsp; Where are the children of the
+man who has carried me away by violence?&rdquo;&nbsp; Said the crone,
+&ldquo;He has not children.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said the queen, &ldquo;Woe
+is me, that I should have come to one who is childless!&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then said the hag, &ldquo;Thou needest not lament on account of that,
+for there is a prediction he shall have an heir by thee, and by none
+other.&nbsp; Moreover, be not sorrowful, for he has one son.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The lady returned home with joy; and she asked her consort, &ldquo;Wherefore
+hast thou concealed thy children from me?&rdquo;&nbsp; The king said,
+&ldquo;I will do so no longer.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he sent messengers for
+his son, and he was brought to the Court.&nbsp; His stepmother said
+unto him, &ldquo;It were well for thee to have a wife, and I have a
+daughter who is sought of every man of renown in the world.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am not yet of an age to wed,&rdquo; answered the youth.&nbsp;
+Then said she unto him, &ldquo;I declare to thee, that it is thy destiny
+not to be suited with a wife until thou obtain Olwen, the daughter of
+Yspaddaden Penkawr.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the youth blushed, and the love
+of the maiden diffused itself through all his frame, although he had
+never seen her.&nbsp; And his father inquired of him, &ldquo;What has
+come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My
+stepmother has declared to me that I shall never have a wife until I
+obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That
+will be easy for thee,&rdquo; answered his father.&nbsp; &ldquo;Arthur
+is thy cousin.&nbsp; Go, therefore, unto Arthur, to cut thy hair, and
+ask this of him as a boon.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled grey, of
+four winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs, having a bridle
+of linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle of costly gold.&nbsp;
+And in the youth&rsquo;s hand were two spears of silver, sharp, well-tempered,
+headed with steel, three ells in length, of an edge to wound the wind,
+and cause blood to flow, and swifter than the fall of the dewdrop from
+the blade of reed-grass upon the earth when the dew of June is at the
+heaviest.&nbsp; A gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh, the blade of
+which was of gold, bearing a cross of inlaid gold of the hue of the
+lightning of heaven: his war-horn was of ivory.&nbsp; Before him were
+two brindled white-breasted greyhounds, having strong collars of rubies
+about their necks, reaching from the shoulder to the ear.&nbsp; And
+the one that was on the left side bounded across to the right side,
+and the one on the right to the left, and like two sea-swallows sported
+around him.&nbsp; And his courser cast up four sods with his four hoofs,
+like four swallows in the air, about his head, now above, now below.&nbsp;
+About him was a four-cornered cloth of purple, and an apple of gold
+was at each corner, and every one of the apples was of the value of
+an hundred kine.&nbsp; And there was precious gold of the value of three
+hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups, from his knee to
+the tip of his toe.&nbsp; And the blade of grass bent not beneath him,
+so light was his courser&rsquo;s tread as he journeyed towards the gate
+of Arthur&rsquo;s Palace.<br>
+<br>
+Spoke the youth, &ldquo;Is there a porter?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;There
+is; and if thou holdest not thy peace, small will be thy welcome.&nbsp;
+I am Arthur&rsquo;s porter every first day of January.&nbsp; And during
+every other part of the year but this, the office is filled by Huandaw,
+and Gogigwc, and Llaeskenym, and Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head
+to save his feet, neither towards the sky nor towards the earth, but
+like a rolling stone upon the floor of the court.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Open
+the portal.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not open it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore
+not?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The knife is in the meat, and the drink is
+in the horn, and there is revelry in Arthur&rsquo;s Hall, and none may
+enter therein but the son of a king of a privileged country, or a craftsman
+bringing his craft.&nbsp; But there will be refreshment for thy dogs,
+and for thy horses; and for thee there will be collops cooked and peppered,
+and luscious wine and mirthful songs, and food for fifty men shall be
+brought unto thee in the guest chamber, where the stranger and the sons
+of other countries eat, who come not unto the precincts of the Palace
+of Arthur.&nbsp; Thou wilt fare no worse there than thou wouldest with
+Arthur in the Court.&nbsp; A lady shall smooth thy couch, and shall
+lull thee with songs; and early to-morrow morning, when the gate is
+open for the multitude that come hither to-day, for thee shall it be
+opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place that thou shalt choose
+in Arthur&rsquo;s Hall, from the upper end to the lower.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Said the youth, &ldquo;That will I not do.&nbsp; If thou openest the
+gate, it is well.&nbsp; If thou dost not open it, I will bring disgrace
+upon thy Lord, and evil report upon thee.&nbsp; And I will set up three
+shouts at this very gate, than which none were ever more deadly, from
+the top of Pengwaed in Cornwall to the bottom of Dinsol, in the North,
+and to Esgair Oervel, in Ireland.&nbsp; And all the women in this Palace
+that are pregnant shall lose their offspring; and such as are not pregnant,
+their hearts shall be turned by illness, so that they shall never bear
+children from this day forward.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What clamour soever
+thou mayest make,&rdquo; said Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, &ldquo;against the
+laws of Arthur&rsquo;s Palace shalt thou not enter therein, until I
+first go and speak with Arthur.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Glewlwyd went into the Hall.&nbsp; And Arthur said to him, &ldquo;Hast
+thou news from the gate?&rdquo; - &ldquo;Half of my life is past, and
+half of thine.&nbsp; I was heretofore in Kaer Se and Asse, in Sach and
+Salach, in Lotor and Fotor; and I have been heretofore in India the
+Great and India the Lesser; and I was in the battle of Dau Ynyr, when
+the twelve hostages were brought from Llychlyn.&nbsp; And I have also
+been in Europe, and in Africa, and in the islands of Corsica, and in
+Caer Brythwch, and Brythach, and Verthach; and I was present when formerly
+thou didst slay the family of Clis the son of Merin, and when thou didst
+slay Mil Du the son of Ducum, and when thou didst conquer Greece in
+the East.&nbsp; And I have been in Caer Oeth and Annoeth, and in Caer
+Nevenhyr; nine supreme sovereigns, handsome men, saw we there, but never
+did I behold a man of equal dignity with him who is now at the door
+of the portal.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then said Arthur, &ldquo;If walking thou
+didst enter in here, return thou running.&nbsp; And every one that beholds
+the light, and every one that opens and shuts the eye, let them shew
+him respect, and serve him, some with gold-mounted drinking-horns, others
+with collops cooked and peppered, until food and drink can be prepared
+for him.&nbsp; It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou sayest he
+is, in the wind and the rain.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Kai, &ldquo;By the hand
+of my friend, if thou wouldest follow my counsel, thou wouldest not
+break through the laws of the Court because of him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Not
+so, blessed Kai.&nbsp; It is an honour to us to be resorted to, and
+the greater our courtesy the greater will be our renown, and our fame,
+and our glory.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before him; and although
+all dismounted upon the horseblock at the gate, yet did he not dismount,
+but rode in upon his charger.&nbsp; Then said Kilhwch, &ldquo;Greeting
+be unto thee, Sovereign Ruler of this Island; and be this greeting no
+less unto the lowest than unto the highest, and be it equally unto thy
+guests, and thy warriors, and thy chieftains - let all partake of it
+as completely as thyself.&nbsp; And complete be thy favour, and thy
+fame, and thy glory, throughout all this Island.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Greeting
+unto thee also,&rdquo; said Arthur; &ldquo;sit thou between two of my
+warriors, and thou shalt have minstrels before thee, and thou shalt
+enjoy the privileges of a king born to a throne, as long as thou remainest
+here.&nbsp; And when I dispense my presents to the visitors and strangers
+in this Court, they shall be in thy hand at my commencing.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Said the youth, &ldquo;I came not here to consume meat and drink; but
+if I obtain the boon that I seek, I will requite it thee, and extol
+thee; and if I have it not, I will bear forth thy dispraise to the four
+quarters of the world, as far as thy renown has extended.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then said Arthur, &ldquo;Since thou wilt not remain here, chieftain,
+thou shalt receive the boon whatsoever thy tongue may name, as far as
+the wind dries, and the rain moistens, and the sun revolves, and the
+sea encircles, and the earth extends; save only my ship; and my mantle;
+and Caledvwlch, my sword; and Rhongomyant, my lance; and Wynebgwrthucher,
+my shield; and Carnwenhau, my dagger; and Gwenhwyvar, my wife.&nbsp;
+By the truth of Heaven, thou shalt have it cheerfully, name what thou
+wilt.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I would that thou bless my hair.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;That shall be granted thee.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors, whereof the loops were
+of silver, and he combed his hair.&nbsp; And Arthur inquired of him
+who he was.&nbsp; &ldquo;For my heart warms unto thee, and I know that
+thou art come of my blood.&nbsp; Tell me, therefore, who thou art.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will tell thee,&rdquo; said the youth.&nbsp; &ldquo;I am Kilhwch,
+the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd, my mother,
+the daughter of Prince Anlawdd.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That is true,&rdquo;
+said Arthur; &ldquo;thou art my cousin.&nbsp; Whatsoever boon thou mayest
+ask, thou shalt receive, be it what it may that thy tongue shall name.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Pledge the truth of Heaven and the faith of thy kingdom thereof.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I pledge it thee, gladly.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I crave of thee
+then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr;
+and this boon I likewise seek at the hands of thy warriors.&nbsp; I
+seek it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl Galldonyd, and Gwythyr the
+son of Greidawl, and Greid the son of Eri, and Kynddelig Kyvarwydd,
+and Tathal Twyll Goleu, and Maelwys the son of Baeddan, and Crychwr
+the son of Nes, and Cubert the son of Daere, and Percos the son of Poch,
+and Lluber Beuthach, and Corvil Bervach, and Gwynn the son of Nudd,
+and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Gadwy the son of Geraint, and Prince
+Fflewddur Fflam, and Ruawn Pebyr the son of Dorath, and Bradwen the
+son of Moren Mynawc, and Moren Mynawc himself, and Dalldav the son of
+Kimin C&ocirc;v, and the son of Alun Dyved, and the son of Saidi, and
+the son of Gwryon, and Uchtryd Ardywad Kad, and Kynwas Curvagyl, and
+Gwrhyr Gwarthegvras, and Isperyr Ewingath, and Gallcoyt Govynynat, and
+Duach, and Grathach, and Nerthach, the sons of Gwawrddur Kyrvach (these
+men came forth from the confines of hell), and Kilydd Canhastyr, and
+Canastyr Kanllaw, and Cors Cant-Ewin, and Esgeir Gulhwch Govynkawn,
+and Drustwrn Hayarn, and Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, and Lloch Llawwynnyawc,
+and Aunwas Adeiniawc, and Sinnoch the son of Seithved, and Gwennwynwyn
+the son of Naw, and Bedyw the son of Seithved, and Gobrwy the son of
+Echel Vorddwyttwll, and Echel Vorddwyttwll himself, and Mael the son
+of Roycol, and Dadweir Dallpenn, and Garwyli the son of Gwythawc Gwyr,
+and Gwythawc Gwyr himself, and Gormant the son of Ricca, and Menw the
+son of Teirgwaedd, and Digon the son of Alar, and Selyf the son of Smoit,
+and Gusg the son of Atheu, and Nerth the son of Kedarn, and Drudwas
+the son of Tryffin, and Twrch the son of Perif, and Twrch the son of
+Annwas, and Iona king of France, and Sel the son of Selgi, and Teregud
+the son of Iaen, and Sulyen the son of Iaen, and Bradwen the son of
+Iaen, and Moren the son of Iaen, and Siawn the son of Iaen, and Cradawc
+the son of Iaen.&nbsp; (They were men of Caerdathal, of Arthur&rsquo;s
+kindred on his father&rsquo;s side.)&nbsp; Dirmyg the son of Kaw, and
+Justic the son of Kaw, and Etmic the son of Kaw, and Anghawd the son
+of Kaw, and Ovan the son of Kaw, and Kelin the son of Kaw, and Connyn
+the son of Kaw, and Mabsant the son of Kaw, and Gwyngad the son of Kaw,
+and Llwybyr the son of Kaw, and Coth the son of Kaw, and Meilic the
+son of Kaw, and Kynwas the son of Kaw, and Ardwyad the son of Kaw, and
+Ergyryad the son of Kaw, and Neb the son of Kaw, and Gilda the son of
+Kaw, and Calcas the son of Kaw, and Hueil the son of Kaw (he never yet
+made a request at the hand of any Lord).&nbsp; And Samson Vinsych, and
+Taliesin the chief of the bards, and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and
+Llary the son of Prince Kasnar, and Ysperni the son of Fflergant king
+of Armorica, and Saranhon the son of Glythwyr, and Llawr Eilerw, and
+Annyanniawc the son of Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, and Gwynn the son
+of Nwyvre, and Fflam the son of Nwyvre, and Geraint the son of Erbin,
+and Ermid the son of Erbin, and Dyvel the son of Erbin, and Gwynn the
+son of Ermid, and Kyndrwyn the son of Ermid, and Hyveidd Unllenn, and
+Eiddon Vawr Vrydic, and Reidwn Arwy, and Gormant the son of Ricca (Arthur&rsquo;s
+brother by his mother&rsquo;s side; the Penhynev of Cornwall was his
+father), and Llawnrodded Varvawc, and Nodawl Varyf Twrch, and Berth
+the son of Kado, and Rheidwn the son of Beli, and Iscovan Hael, and
+Iscawin the son of Panon, and Morvran the son of Tegid (no one struck
+him in the battle of Camlan by reason of his ugliness; all thought he
+was an auxiliary devil.&nbsp; Hair had he upon him like the hair of
+a stag).&nbsp; And Sandde Bryd Angel (no one touched him with a spear
+in the battle of Camlan because of his beauty; all thought he was a
+ministering angel).&nbsp; And Kynwyl Sant (the third man that escaped
+from the battle of Camlan, and he was the last who parted from Arthur
+on Hengroen his horse).&nbsp; And Uchtryd the son of Erim, and Eus the
+son of Erim, and Henwas Adeinawg the son of Erim, and Henbedestyr the
+son of Erim, and Sgilti Yscawndroed the son of Erim. (Unto these three
+men belonged these three qualities, - With Henbedestyr there was not
+any one who could keep pace, either on horseback or on foot; with Henwas
+Adeinawg, no four-footed beast could run the distance of an acre, much
+less could it go beyond it; and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when he intended
+to go upon a message for his Lord, he never sought to find a path, but
+knowing whither he was to go, if his way lay through a wood he went
+along the tops of the trees.&nbsp; During his whole life, a blade of
+reed grass bent not beneath his feet, much less did one ever break,
+so lightly did he tread.)&nbsp; Teithi H&ecirc;n the son of Gwynhan
+(his dominions were swallowed up by the sea, and he himself hardly escaped,
+and he came to Arthur; and his knife had this peculiarity, that from
+the time that he came there no haft would ever remain upon it, and owing
+to this a sickness came over him, and he pined away during the remainder
+of his life, and of this he died).&nbsp; And Carneddyr the son of Govynyon
+H&ecirc;n, and Gwenwynwyn the son of Nav Gyssevin, Arthur&rsquo;s champion,
+and Llysgadrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu H&ecirc;n (uncles unto Arthur were
+they, his mother&rsquo;s brothers).&nbsp; Kulvanawyd the son of Goryon,
+and Llenlleawg Wyddel from the headland of Ganion, and Dyvynwal Moel,
+and Dunard king of the North, Teirnon Twryf Bliant, and Tegvan Gloff,
+and Tegyr Talgellawg, Gwrdinal the son of Ebrei, and Morgant Hael, Gwystyl
+the son of Rhun the son of Nwython, and Llwyddeu the son of Nwython,
+and Gwydre the son of Llwyddeu (Gwenabwy the daughter of [Kaw] was his
+mother, Hueil his uncle stabbed him, and hatred was between Hueil and
+Arthur because of the wound).&nbsp; Drem the son of Dremidyd (when the
+gnat arose in the morning with the sun, he could see it from Gelli Wic
+in Cornwall, as far off as Pen Blathaon in North Britain).&nbsp; And
+Eidyol the son of Ner, and Glwyddyn Saer (who constructed Ehangwen,
+Arthur&rsquo;s Hall).&nbsp; Kynyr Keinvarvawc (when he was told he had
+a son born he said to his wife, &lsquo;Damsel, if thy son be mine, his
+heart will be always cold, and there will be no warmth in his hands;
+and he will have another peculiarity, if he is my son he will always
+be stubborn; and he will have another peculiarity, when he carries a
+burden, whether it be large or small, no one will be able to see it,
+either before him or at his back; and he will have another peculiarity,
+no one will be able to resist fire and water so well as he will; and
+he will have another peculiarity, there will never be a servant or an
+officer equal to him&rsquo;).&nbsp; Henwas, and Henwyneb (an old companion
+to Arthur).&nbsp; Gwallgoyc (another; when he came to a town, though
+there were three hundred houses in it, if he wanted anything, he would
+not let sleep come to the eyes of any one whilst he remained there).&nbsp;
+Berwyn the son of Gerenhir, and Paris king of France, and Osla Gyllellvawr
+(who bore a short broad dagger.&nbsp; When Arthur and his hosts came
+before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow place where they might
+pass the water, and would lay the sheathed dagger across the torrent,
+and it would form a bridge sufficient for the armies of the three Islands
+of Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, with their spoil).&nbsp;
+Gwyddawg the son of Menestyr (who slew Kai, and whom Arthur slew, together
+with his brothers, to revenge Kai).&nbsp; Garanwyn the son of Kai, and
+Amren the son of Bedwyr, and Ely Amyr,and Rheu Rhwyd Dyrys, and Rhun
+Rhudwern, and Eli, and Trachmyr (Arthur&rsquo;s chief huntsmen).&nbsp;
+And Llwyddeu the son of Kelcoed, and Hunabwy the son of Gwryon, and
+Gwynn Godyvron, and Gweir Datharwenniddawg, and Gweir the son of Cadell
+the son of Talaryant, and Gweir Gwrhyd Ennwir, and Gweir Paladyr Hir
+(the uncles of Arthur, the brothers of his mother).&nbsp; The sons of
+Llwch Llawwynnyawg (from beyond the raging sea).&nbsp; Llenlleawg Wyddel,
+and Ardderchawg Prydain.&nbsp; Cas the son of Saidi, Gwrvan Gwallt Avwyn,
+and Gwyllennhin the king of France, and Gwittart the son of Oedd king
+of Ireland.&nbsp; Garselit Wyddel, Panawr Pen Bagad, and Ffleudor the
+son of Nav, Gwynnhyvar mayor of Cornwall and Devon (the ninth man that
+rallied the battle of Camlan).&nbsp; Keli and Kueli, and Gilla Coes
+Hydd (he would clear three hundred acres at one bound: the chief leaper
+of Ireland was he).&nbsp; Sol, and Gwadyn Ossol, and Gwadyn Odyeith.&nbsp;
+(Sol could stand all day upon one foot.&nbsp; Gwadyn Ossol, if he stood
+upon the top of the highest mountain in the world, it would become a
+level plain under his feet.&nbsp; Gwadyn Odyeith, the soles of his feet
+emitted sparks of fire when they struck upon things hard, like the heated
+mass when drawn out of the forge.&nbsp; He cleared the way for Arthur
+when he came to any stoppage.)&nbsp; Hirerwm and Hiratrwm.&nbsp; (The
+day they went on a visit three Cantrevs provided for their entertainment,
+and they feasted until noon and drank until night, when they went to
+sleep.&nbsp; And then they devoured the heads of the vermin through
+hunger, as if they had never eaten anything.&nbsp; When they made a
+visit they left neither the fat nor the lean, neither the hot nor the
+cold, the sour nor the sweet, the fresh nor the salt, the boiled nor
+the raw.)&nbsp; Huarwar the son of Aflawn (who asked Arthur such a boon
+as would satisfy him.&nbsp; It was the third great plague of Cornwall
+when he received it.&nbsp; None could get a smile from him but when
+he was satisfied).&nbsp; Gware Gwallt Euryn.&nbsp; The two cubs of Gast
+Rhymi, Gwyddrud and Gwyddneu Astrus.&nbsp; Sugyn the son of Sugnedydd
+(who would suck up the sea on which were three hundred ships so as to
+leave nothing but a dry strand.&nbsp; He was broad-chested).&nbsp; Rhacymwri,
+the attendant of Arthur (whatever barn he was shown, were there the
+produce of thirty ploughs within it, he would strike it with an iron
+flail until the rafters, the beams, and the boards were no better than
+the small oats in the mow upon the floor of the barn).&nbsp; Dygyflwng
+and Anoeth Veidawg.&nbsp; And Hir Eiddyl, and Hir Amreu (they were two
+attendants of Arthur).&nbsp; And Gwevyl the son of Gwestad (on the day
+that he was sad, he would let one of his lips drop below his waist,
+while he turned up the other like a cap upon his head).&nbsp; Uchtryd
+Varyf Draws (who spread his red untrimmed beard over the eight-and-forty
+rafters which were in Arthur&rsquo;s Hall).&nbsp; Elidyr Gyvarwydd.&nbsp;
+Yskyrdav and Yscudydd (two attendants of Gwenhwyvar were they.&nbsp;
+Their feet were swift as their thoughts when bearing a message).&nbsp;
+Brys the son of Bryssethach (from the Hill of the Black Fernbrake in
+North Britain).&nbsp; And Grudlwyn Gorr.&nbsp; Bwlch, and Kyfwlch, and
+Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf Kyfwlch, the grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch.&nbsp;
+(Their three shields were three gleaming glitterers; their three spears
+were three pointed piercers; their three swords were three grinding
+gashers; Glas, Glessic, and Gleisad.&nbsp; Their three dogs, Call, Cuall,
+and Cavall.&nbsp; Their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd, and Drwgdyddwd, and
+Llwyrdyddwg.&nbsp; Their three wives, Och, and Garym, and Diaspad.&nbsp;
+Their three grandchildren, Lluched, and Neved, and Eissiwed.&nbsp; Their
+three daughters, Drwg, and Gwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll.&nbsp; Their three
+hand-maids, Eheubryd the daughter of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrn the daughter
+of Nerth, Ewaedan the daughter of Kynvelyn Keudawd Pwyll the half-man.)&nbsp;
+Dwnn Diessic Unbenn, Eiladyr the son of Pen Llarcau, Kynedyr Wyllt the
+son of Hettwn Talaryant, Sawyl Ben Uchel, Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar,
+Gwalhaved the son of Gwyar, Gwrhyr Gwastawd Ieithoedd (to whom all tongues
+were known), and Kethcrwm the Priest.&nbsp; Clust the son of Clustveinad
+(though he were buried seven cubits beneath the earth, he would hear
+the ant fifty miles off rise from her nest in the morning).&nbsp; Medyr
+the son of Methredydd (from Gelli Wic he could, in a twinkling, shoot
+the wren through the two legs upon Esgeir Oervel in Ireland).&nbsp;
+Gwiawn Llygad Cath (who could cut a haw from the eye of the gnat without
+hurting him).&nbsp; Ol the son of Olwydd (seven years before he was
+born his father&rsquo;s swine were carried off, and when he grew up
+a man he tracked the swine, and brought them back in seven herds).&nbsp;
+Bedwini the Bishop (who blessed Arthur&rsquo;s meat and drink).&nbsp;
+For the sake of the golden-chained daughters of this island.&nbsp; For
+the sake of Gwenhwyvar its chief lady, and Gwennhwyach her sister, and
+Rathtyeu the only daughter of Clemenhill, and Rhelemon the daughter
+of Kai, and Tannwen the daughter of Gweir Datharwen&icirc;ddawg.&nbsp;
+Gwenn Alarch the daughter of Kynwyl Canbwch.&nbsp; Eurneid the daughter
+of Clydno Eiddin.&nbsp; Eneuawc the daughter of Bedwyr.&nbsp; Enrydreg
+the daughter of Tudvathar.&nbsp; Gwennwledyr the daughter of Gwaledyr
+Kyrvach.&nbsp; Erddudnid the daughter of Tryffin.&nbsp; Eurolwen the
+daughter of Gwdolwyn Gorr.&nbsp; Teleri the daughter of Peul.&nbsp;
+Indeg the daughter of Garwy Hir.&nbsp; Morvudd the daughter of Urien
+Rheged.&nbsp; Gwenllian Deg the majestic maiden.&nbsp; Creiddylad the
+daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint.&nbsp; (She was the most splendid maiden
+in the three Islands of the mighty, and in the three Islands adjacent,
+and for her Gwythyr the son of Greidawl and Gwynn the son of Nudd fight
+every first of May until the day of doom.)&nbsp; Ellylw the daughter
+of Neol Kynn-Crog (she lived three ages).&nbsp; Essyllt Vinwen and Essyllt
+Vingul.&rdquo;&nbsp; And all these did Kilhwch the son of Kilydd adjure
+to obtain his boon.<br>
+<br>
+Then said Arthur, &ldquo;Oh! chieftain, I have never heard of the maiden
+of whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will gladly send messengers
+in search of her.&nbsp; Give me time to seek her.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the
+youth said, &ldquo;I will willingly grant from this night to that at
+the end of the year to do so.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then Arthur sent messengers
+to every land within his dominions to seek for the maiden; and at the
+end of the year Arthur&rsquo;s messengers returned without having gained
+any knowledge or intelligence concerning Olwen more than on the first
+day.&nbsp; Then said Kilhwch, &ldquo;Every one has received his boon,
+and I yet lack mine.&nbsp; I will depart and bear away thy honour with
+me.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then said Kai, &ldquo;Rash chieftain! dost thou reproach
+Arthur?&nbsp; Go with us, and we will not part until thou dost either
+confess that the maiden exists not in the world, or until we obtain
+her.&rdquo;&nbsp; Thereupon Kai rose up.&nbsp; Kai had this peculiarity,
+that his breath lasted nine nights and nine days under water, and he
+could exist nine nights and nine days without sleep.&nbsp; A wound from
+Kai&rsquo;s sword no physician could heal.&nbsp; Very subtle was Kai.&nbsp;
+When it pleased him he could render himself as tall as the highest tree
+in the forest.&nbsp; And he had another peculiarity, - so great was
+the heat of his nature, that, when it rained hardest, whatever he carried
+remained dry for a handbreadth above and a handbreadth below his hand;
+and when his companions were coldest, it was to them as fuel with which
+to light their fire.<br>
+<br>
+And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any enterprise upon
+which Kai was bound.&nbsp; None was equal to him in swiftness throughout
+this island except Arthur and Drych Ail Kibddar.&nbsp; And although
+he was one-handed, three warriors could not shed blood faster than he
+on the field of battle.&nbsp; Another property he had; his lance would
+produce a wound equal to those of nine opposing lances.<br>
+<br>
+And Arthur called to Kynddelig the Guide, &ldquo;Go thou upon this expedition
+with the chieftain.&rdquo;&nbsp; For as good a guide was he in a land
+which he had never seen as he was in his own.<br>
+<br>
+He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, because he knew all tongues.<br>
+<br>
+He called Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, because he never returned home
+without achieving the adventure of which he went in quest.&nbsp; He
+was the best of footmen and the best of knights.&nbsp; He was nephew
+to Arthur, the son of his sister, and his cousin.<br>
+<br>
+And Arthur called Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, in order that if they
+went into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an illusion over
+them, so that none might see them whilst they could see every one.<br>
+<br>
+They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein they saw
+a great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of the world.&nbsp;
+And they journeyed that day until the evening, and when they thought
+they were nigh to the castle, they were no nearer to it than they had
+been in the morning.&nbsp; And the second and the third day they journeyed,
+and even then scarcely could they reach so far.&nbsp; And when they
+came before the castle, they beheld a vast flock of sheep, which was
+boundless and without an end.&nbsp; And upon the top of a mound there
+was a herdsman, keeping the sheep.&nbsp; And a rug made of skins was
+upon him; and by his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed
+nine winters old.&nbsp; Never had he lost even a lamb from his flock,
+much less a large sheep.&nbsp; He let no occasion ever pass without
+doing some hurt and harm.&nbsp; All the dead trees and bushes in the
+plain he burnt with his breath down to the very ground.<br>
+<br>
+Then said Kai, &ldquo;Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, go thou and salute
+yonder man.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Kai,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I engaged
+not to go further than thou thyself.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Let us go then
+together,&rdquo; answered Kai.&nbsp; Said Menw the son of Teirgwaedd,
+&ldquo;Fear not to go thither, for I will cast a spell upon the dog,
+so that he shall injure no one.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they went up to the
+mound whereon the herdsman was, and they said to him, &ldquo;How dost
+thou fare, O herdsman?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;No less fair be it to you
+than to me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly, art thou the chief?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;There is no hurt to injure me but my own.&rdquo; <a name="citation5"></a><a href="#footnote5">{5}</a>&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Whose are the sheep that thou dost keep, and to whom does yonder
+castle belong?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Stupid are ye, truly!&nbsp; Through
+the whole world is it known that this is the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;And who art thou?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I am called Custennin the
+son of Dyfnedig, and my brother Yspaddaden Penkawr oppressed me because
+of my possessions.&nbsp; And ye also, who are ye?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We
+are an embassy from Arthur, come to seek Olwen the daughter of Yspaddaden
+Penkawr.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh men! the mercy of Heaven be upon you,
+do not that for all the world.&nbsp; None who ever came hither on this
+quest has returned alive.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the herdsman rose up.&nbsp;
+And as he arose, Kilhwch gave unto him a ring of gold.&nbsp; And he
+sought to put on the ring, but it was too small for him, so he placed
+it in the finger of his glove.&nbsp; And he went home, and gave the
+glove to his spouse to keep.&nbsp; And she took the ring from the glove
+when it was given her, and she said, &ldquo;Whence came this ring, for
+thou art not wont to have good fortune?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I went,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;to the sea to seek for fish, and lo, I saw a corpse
+borne by the waves.&nbsp; And a fairer corpse than it did I never behold.&nbsp;
+And from its finger did I take this ring.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;O man!
+does the sea permit its dead to wear jewels?&nbsp; Show me then this
+body.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh wife, him to whom this ring belonged thou
+shalt see here in the evening.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And who is he?&rdquo;
+asked the woman, &ldquo;Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince
+Kelyddon, by Goleuddydd the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, his mother,
+who is come to seek Olwen as his wife.&rdquo;&nbsp; And when she heard
+that, her feelings were divided between the joy that she had that her
+nephew, the son of her sister, was coming to her, and sorrow because
+she had never known any one depart alive who had come on that quest.<br>
+<br>
+And they went forward to the gate of Custennin the herdsman&rsquo;s
+dwelling.&nbsp; And when she heard their footsteps approaching, she
+ran out with joy to meet them.&nbsp; And Kai snatched a billet out of
+the pile.&nbsp; And when she met them she sought to throw her arms about
+their necks.&nbsp; And Kai placed the log between her two hands, and
+she squeezed it so that it became a twisted coil.&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh woman,&rdquo;
+said Kai, &ldquo;if thou hadst squeezed me thus, none could ever again
+have set their affections on me.&nbsp; Evil love were this.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+They entered into the house, and were served; and soon after they all
+went forth to amuse themselves.&nbsp; Then the woman opened a stone
+chest that was before the chimney-corner, and out of it arose a youth
+with yellow curling hair.&nbsp; Said Gwrhyr, &ldquo;It is a pity to
+hide this youth.&nbsp; I know that it is not his own crime that is thus
+visited upon him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This is but a remnant,&rdquo;
+said the woman.&nbsp; &ldquo;Three-and-twenty of my sons has Yspaddaden
+Penkawr slain, and I have no more hope of this one than of the others.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then said Kai, &ldquo;Let him come and be a companion with me, and he
+shall not be slain unless I also am slain with him.&rdquo;&nbsp; And
+they ate.&nbsp; And the woman asked them, &ldquo;Upon what errand come
+you here?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We come to seek Olwen for this youth.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then said the woman, &ldquo;In the name of Heaven, since no one from
+the castle hath yet seen you, return again whence you came.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Heaven is our witness, that we will not return until we have
+seen the maiden.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Kai, &ldquo;Does she ever come hither,
+so that she may be seen?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;She comes here every Saturday
+to wash her head, and in the vessel where she washes, she leaves all
+her rings, and she never either comes herself or sends any messengers
+to fetch them.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Will she come here if she is sent to?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+knows that I will not destroy my soul, nor will I betray those that
+trust me; unless you will pledge me your faith that you will not harm
+her, I will not send to her.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We pledge it,&rdquo;
+said they.&nbsp; So a message was sent, and she came.<br>
+<br>
+The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-coloured silk, and about her
+neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious emeralds and
+rubies.&nbsp; More yellow was her head than the flower of the broom,
+and her skin was whiter than the foam of the wave, and fairer were her
+hands and her fingers than the blossoms of the wood anemone amidst the
+spray of the meadow fountain.&nbsp; The eye of the trained hawk, the
+glance of the three-mewed falcon was not brighter than hers.&nbsp; Her
+bosom was more snowy than the breast of the white swan, her cheek was
+redder than the reddest roses.&nbsp; Whoso beheld her was filled with
+her love.&nbsp; Four white trefoils sprung up wherever she trod.&nbsp;
+And therefore was she called Olwen.<br>
+<br>
+She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch upon the foremost bench;
+and as soon as he saw her he knew her.&nbsp; And Kilhwch said unto her,
+&ldquo;Ah! maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come away with me,
+lest they speak evil of thee and of me.&nbsp; Many a day have I loved
+thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I cannot do this, for I have pledged my faith
+to my father not to go without his counsel, for his life will last only
+until the time of my espousals.&nbsp; Whatever is, must be.&nbsp; But
+I will give thee advice if thou wilt take it.&nbsp; Go, ask me of my
+father, and that which he shall require of thee, grant it, and thou
+wilt obtain me; but if thou deny him anything, thou wilt not obtain
+me, and it will be well for thee if thou escape with thy life.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I promise all this, if occasion offer,&rdquo; said he.<br>
+<br>
+She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up and followed her to
+the castle.&nbsp; And they slew the nine porters that were at the nine
+gates in silence.&nbsp; And they slew the nine watch-dogs without one
+of them barking.&nbsp; And they went forward to the hall.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee, Yspaddaden Penkawr,&rdquo;
+said they.&nbsp; &ldquo;And you, wherefore come you?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We
+come to ask thy daughter Olwen, for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd, the son
+of Prince Kelyddon.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Where are my pages and my servants?&nbsp;
+Raise up the forks beneath my two eyebrows which have fallen over my
+eyes, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-law.&rdquo;&nbsp; And
+they did so.&nbsp; &ldquo;Come hither to-morrow, and you shall have
+an answer.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+They rose to go forth, and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized one of the three
+poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them.&nbsp; And
+Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspaddaden Penkawr grievously
+with it through the knee.&nbsp; Then he said, &ldquo;A cursed ungentle
+son-in-law, truly.&nbsp; I shall ever walk the worse for his rudeness,
+and shall ever be without a cure.&nbsp; This poisoned iron pains me
+like the bite of a gadfly.&nbsp; Cursed be the smith who forged it,
+and the anvil whereon it was wrought!&nbsp; So sharp is it!&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+That night also they took up their abode in the house of Custennin the
+herdsman.&nbsp; The next day with the dawn they arrayed themselves in
+haste and proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall, and they said,
+&ldquo;Yspaddaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration of
+her dower and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee and to her two
+kinswomen likewise.&nbsp; And unless thou wilt do so, thou shalt meet
+with thy death on her account.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then he said, &ldquo;Her
+four great-grandmothers, and her four great-grandsires are yet alive,
+it is needful that I take counsel of them.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Be it
+so,&rdquo; answered they, &ldquo;we will go to meat.&rdquo;&nbsp; As
+they rose up, he took the second dart that was beside him, and cast
+it after them.&nbsp; And Menw the son of Gwaedd caught it, and flung
+it back at him, and wounded him in the centre of the breast, so that
+it came out at the small of his back.&nbsp; &ldquo;A cursed ungentle
+son-in-law, truly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;the hard iron pains me like
+the bite of a horse-leech.&nbsp; Cursed be the hearth whereon it was
+heated, and the smith who formed it!&nbsp; So sharp is it!&nbsp; Henceforth,
+whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my breath, and a pain
+in my chest, and I shall often loathe my food.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they
+went to meat.<br>
+<br>
+And the third day they returned to the palace.&nbsp; And Yspaddaden
+Penkawr said to them, &ldquo;Shoot not at me again unless you desire
+death.&nbsp; Where are my attendants?&nbsp; Lift up the forks of my
+eyebrows which have fallen over my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion
+of my son-in-law.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then they arose, and, as they did so,
+Yspaddaden Penkawr took the third poisoned dart and cast it at them.&nbsp;
+And Kilhwch caught it and threw it vigorously, and wounded him through
+the eyeball, so that the dart came out at the back of his head.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly!&nbsp; As long as I remain
+alive, my eyesight will be the worse.&nbsp; Whenever I go against the
+wind, my eyes will water; and peradventure my head will burn, and I
+shall have a giddiness every new moon.&nbsp; Cursed be the fire in which
+it was forged.&nbsp; Like the bite of a mad dog is the stroke of this
+poisoned iron.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they went to meat.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day they came again to the palace, and they said, &ldquo;Shoot
+not at us any more, unless thou desirest such hurt, and harm, and torture
+as thou now hast, and even more.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Give me thy daughter,
+and if thou wilt not give her, thou shalt receive thy death because
+of her.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Where is he that seeks my daughter?&nbsp;
+Come hither where I may see thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they placed him a
+chair face to face with him.<br>
+<br>
+Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, &ldquo;Is it thou that seekest my daughter?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;It is I,&rdquo; answered Kilhwch.&nbsp; &ldquo;I must have thy
+pledge that thou wilt not do towards me otherwise than is just, and
+when I have gotten that which I shall name, my daughter thou shalt have.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I promise thee that willingly,&rdquo; said Kilhwch, &ldquo;name
+what thou wilt.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo; said he.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Seest thou yonder vast hill?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I see it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I require that it be rooted up, and that the grubbings be burned
+for manure on the face of the land, and that it be ploughed and sown
+in one day, and in one day that the grain ripen.&nbsp; And of that wheat
+I intend to make food and liquor fit for the wedding of thee and my
+daughter.&nbsp; And all this I require done in one day.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which will not
+be so.&nbsp; No husbandman can till or prepare this land, so wild is
+it, except Amaethon the son of Don, and he will not come with thee by
+his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Govannon the son of Don to come to the headland to rid the iron, he
+will do no work of his own good will except for a lawful king, and thou
+wilt not be able to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get;
+the two dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked together, to plough the wild
+land yonder stoutly.&nbsp; He will not give them of his own free will,
+and thou wilt not be able to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get;
+the yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do I require.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get;
+the two horned oxen, one of which is beyond, and the other this side
+of the peaked mountain, yoked together in the same plough.&nbsp; And
+these are Nynniaw and Peibaw whom God turned into oxen on account of
+their sins.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Seest thou yonder red tilled ground?&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;I see it.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine bushels of flax
+were sown therein, and none has yet sprung up, neither white nor black;
+and I have the measure by me still.&nbsp; I require to have the flax
+to sow in the new land yonder, that when it grows up it may make a white
+wimple for my daughter&rsquo;s head, on the day of thy wedding.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Honey that is nine times sweeter than the honey of the virgin swarm,
+without scum and bees, do I require to make bragget for the feast.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;The vessel of Llwyr the son of Llwyryon, which is of the utmost
+value.&nbsp; There is no other vessel in the world that can hold this
+drink.&nbsp; Of his free will thou wilt not get it, and thou canst not
+compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+The basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir, if the whole world should come together,
+thrice nine men at a time, the meat that each of them desired would
+be found within it.&nbsp; I require to eat therefrom on the night that
+my daughter becomes thy bride.&nbsp; He will give it to no one of his
+own free will, and thou canst not compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+The horn of Gwlgawd Gododin to serve us with liquor that night.&nbsp;
+He will not give it of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able
+to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+The harp of Teirtu to play to us that night.&nbsp; When a man desires
+that it should play, it does so of itself, and when he desires that
+it should cease, it ceases.&nbsp; And this he will not give of his own
+free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+The cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, the steward of Odgar the son of Aedd,
+king of Ireland, to boil the meat for thy marriage feast.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+It is needful for me to wash my head, and shave my beard, and I require
+the tusk of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd to shave myself withal, neither shall
+I profit by its use if it be not plucked alive out of his head.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+There is no one in the world that can pluck it out of his head except
+Odgar the son of Aedd, king of Ireland.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+I will not trust any one to keep the tusk except Gado of North Britain.&nbsp;
+Now the threescore Cantrevs of North Britain are under his sway, and
+of his own free will he will not come out of his kingdom, and thou wilt
+not be able to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+I must spread out my hair in order to shave it, and it will never be
+spread out unless I have the blood of the jet-black sorceress, the daughter
+of the pure white sorceress, from Pen Nant Govid, on the confines of
+Hell.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+I will not have the blood unless I have it warm, and no vessels will
+keep warm the liquid that is put therein except the bottles of Gwyddolwyd
+Gorr, which preserve the heat of the liquor that is put into them in
+the east, until they arrive at the west.&nbsp; And he will not give
+them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Some will desire fresh milk, and it will not be possible to have fresh
+milk for all, unless we have the bottles of Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd, wherein
+no liquor ever turns sour.&nbsp; And he will not give them of his own
+free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Throughout the world there is not a comb or scissors with which I can
+arrange my hair, on account of its rankness, except the comb and scissors
+that are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son of Prince Tared.&nbsp;
+He will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able
+to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+It will not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth without Drudwyn the whelp
+of Greid, the son of Eri.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Throughout the world there is not a leash that can hold him, except
+the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Throughout the world there is no collar that will hold the leash except
+the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+The chain of Kilydd Canhastyr to fasten the collar to the leash.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Throughout the world there is not a huntsman who can hunt with this
+dog, except Mabon the son of Modron.&nbsp; He was taken from his mother
+when three nights old, and it is not known where he now is, nor whether
+he is living or dead.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, that is as swift as the wave, to
+carry Mabon the son of Modron to hunt the boar Trwyth.&nbsp; He will
+not give him of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel
+him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Thou wilt not get Mabon, for it is not known where he is, unless thou
+find Eidoel, his kinsman in blood, the son of Aer.&nbsp; For it would
+be useless to seek for him.&nbsp; He is his cousin.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Garselit the Gwyddelian is the chief huntsman of Ireland; the Twrch
+Trwyth can never be hunted without him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+A leash made from the beard of Dillus Varvawc, for that is the only
+one that can hold those two cubs.&nbsp; And the leash will be of no
+avail unless it be plucked from his beard while he is alive, and twitched
+out with wooden tweezers.&nbsp; While he lives he will not suffer this
+to be done to him, and the leash will be of no use should he be dead,
+because it will be brittle.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Throughout the world there is no huntsman that can hold those two whelps
+except Kynedyr Wyllt, the son of Hettwn Glafyrawc; he is nine times
+more wild than the wildest beast upon the mountains.&nbsp; Him wilt
+thou never get, neither wilt thou ever get my daughter.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+It is not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth without Gwynn the son of
+Nudd, whom God has placed over the brood of devils in Annwvyn, lest
+they should destroy the present race.&nbsp; He will never be spared
+thence.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+There is not a horse in the world that can carry Gwynn to hunt the Twrch
+Trwyth, except Du, the horse of Mor of Oerveddawg.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Until Gilennhin the king of France shall come, the Twrch Trwyth cannot
+be hunted.&nbsp; It will be unseemly for him to leave his kingdom for
+thy sake, and he will never come hither.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+The Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted without the son of Alun Dyved;
+he is well skilled in letting loose the dogs.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Aned and Aethlem.&nbsp;
+They are as swift as the gale of wind, and they were never let loose
+upon a beast that they did not kill him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get;
+Arthur and his companions to hunt the Twrch Trwyth.&nbsp; He is a mighty
+man, and he will not come for thee, neither wilt thou be able to compel
+him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted unless thou get Bwlch, and Kyfwlch
+[and Sefwlch], the grandsons of Cleddyf Difwlch.&nbsp; Their three shields
+are three gleaming glitterers.&nbsp; Their three spears are three pointed
+piercers.&nbsp; Their three swords are three griding gashers, Glas,
+Glessic, and Clersag.&nbsp; Their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and Cavall.&nbsp;
+Their three horses, Hwyrdydwg, and Drwgdydwg, and Llwyrdydwg.&nbsp;
+Their three wives, Och, and Garam, and Diaspad.&nbsp; Their three grandchildren,
+Lluched, and Vyned, and Eissiwed.&nbsp; Their three daughters, Drwg,
+and Gwaeth, and Gwaethav Oll.&nbsp; Their three hand-maids [Eheubryd,
+the daughter of Kyfwlch; Gorasgwrn, the daughter of Nerth; and Gwaedan,
+the daughter of Kynvelyn].&nbsp; These three men shall sound the horn,
+and all the others shall shout, so that all will think that the sky
+is falling to the earth.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+The sword of Gwrnach the Giant; he will never be slain except therewith.&nbsp;
+Of his own free will he will not give it, either for a price or as a
+gift, and thou wilt never be able to compel him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest
+think that it will not be easy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get.&nbsp;
+Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights without sleep, in seeking
+this, and if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtain my daughter.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman Arthur
+will obtain for me all these things.&nbsp; And I shall gain thy daughter,
+and thou shalt lose thy life.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Go forward.&nbsp; And thou shalt not be chargeable for food or
+raiment for my daughter while thou art seeking these things; and when
+thou hast compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter for
+thy wife.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they beheld
+a vast castle, which was the largest in the world.&nbsp; And lo, a black
+man, huger than three of the men of this world, came out from the castle.&nbsp;
+And they spoke unto him, &ldquo;Whence comest thou, O man?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;From the castle which you see yonder.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Whose
+castle is that?&rdquo; asked they.&nbsp; &ldquo;Stupid are ye truly,
+O men.&nbsp; There is no one in the world that does not know to whom
+this castle belongs.&nbsp; It is the castle of Gwrnach the Giant.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What treatment is there for guests and strangers that alight
+in that castle?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh!&nbsp; Chieftain, Heaven protect
+thee.&nbsp; No guest ever returned thence alive, and no one may enter
+therein unless he brings with him his craft.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then they proceeded towards the gate.&nbsp; Said Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd,
+&ldquo;Is there a porter?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;There is.&nbsp; And thou,
+if thy tongue be not mute in thy head, wherefore dost thou call?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Open the gate.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not open it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Wherefore wilt thou not?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The knife is in
+the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in the
+hall of Gwrnach the Giant, and except for a craftsman who brings his
+craft, the gate will not be opened to-night.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,
+porter,&rdquo; then said Kai, &ldquo;my craft bring I with me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What is thy craft?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The best burnisher of
+swords am I in the world.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will go and tell this
+unto Gwrnach the Giant, and I will bring thee an answer.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So the porter went in, and Gwrnach said to him, &ldquo;Hast thou any
+news from the gate?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I have.&nbsp; There is a party
+at the door of the gate who desire to come in.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Didst
+thou inquire of them if they possessed any art?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+did inquire,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and one told me that he was well
+skilled in the burnishing of swords.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We have need
+of him then.&nbsp; For some time have I sought for some one to polish
+my sword, and could find no one.&nbsp; Let this man enter, since he
+brings with him his craft.&rdquo;&nbsp; The porter thereupon returned
+and opened the gate.&nbsp; And Kai went in by himself, and he saluted
+Gwrnach the Giant.&nbsp; And a chair was placed for him opposite to
+Gwrnach.&nbsp; And Gwrnach said to him, &ldquo;Oh man! is it true that
+is reported of thee, that thou knowest how to burnish swords?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I know full well how to do so,&rdquo; answered Kai.&nbsp; Then
+was the sword of Gwrnach brought to him.&nbsp; And Kai took a blue whetstone
+from under his arm, and asked him whether he would have it burnished
+white or blue.&nbsp; &ldquo;Do with it as it seems good to thee, and
+as thou wouldest if it were thine own.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then Kai polished
+one half of the blade and put it in his hand.&nbsp; &ldquo;Will this
+please thee?&rdquo; asked he.&nbsp; &ldquo;I would rather than all that
+is in my dominions that the whole of it were like unto this.&nbsp; It
+is a marvel to me that such a man as thou should be without a companion.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Oh! noble sir, I have a companion, albeit he is not skilled in
+this art.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Who may he be?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Let
+the porter go forth, and I will tell him whereby he may know him.&nbsp;
+The head of his lance will leave its shaft, and draw blood from the
+wind, and will descend upon its shaft again.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then the gate
+was opened, and Bedwyr entered.&nbsp; And Kai said, &ldquo;Bedwyr is
+very skilful, although he knows not this art.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And there was much discourse among those who were without, because that
+Kai and Bedwyr had gone in.&nbsp; And a young man who was with them,
+the only son of Custennin the herdsman, got in also.&nbsp; And he caused
+all his companions to keep close to him as he passed the three wards,
+and until he came into the midst of the castle.&nbsp; And his companions
+said unto the son of Custennin, &ldquo;Thou hast done this!&nbsp; Thou
+art the best of all men.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thenceforth he was called
+Goreu, the son of Custennin.&nbsp; Then they dispersed to their lodgings,
+that they might slay those who lodged therein, unknown to the Giant.<br>
+<br>
+The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the hand of Gwrnach
+the Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work.&nbsp; And the Giant
+said, &ldquo;The work is good, I am content therewith.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Said Kai, &ldquo;It is thy scabbard that hath rusted thy sword, give
+it to me that I may take out the wooden sides of it and put in new ones.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And he took the scabbard from him, and the sword in the other hand.&nbsp;
+And he came and stood over against the Giant, as if he would have put
+the sword into the scabbard; and with it he struck at the head of the
+Giant, and cut off his head at one blow.&nbsp; Then they despoiled the
+castle, and took from it what goods and jewels they would.&nbsp; And
+again on the same day, at the beginning of the year, they came to Arthur&rsquo;s
+Court, bearing with them the sword of Gwrnach the Giant.<br>
+<br>
+Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said, &ldquo;Which
+of these marvels will it be best for us to seek first?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;It will be best,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;to seek Mabon the son
+of Modron; and he will not be found unless we first find Eidoel the
+son of Aer, his kinsman.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then Arthur rose up, and the warriors
+of the Islands of Britain with him, to seek for Eidoel; and they proceeded
+until they came before the Castle of Glivi, where Eidoel was imprisoned.&nbsp;
+Glivi stood on the summit of his castle, and he said, &ldquo;Arthur,
+what requirest thou of me, since nothing remains to me in this fortress,
+and I have neither joy nor pleasure in it; neither wheat nor oats?&nbsp;
+Seek not therefore to do me harm.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Arthur, &ldquo;Not
+to injure thee came I hither, but to seek for the prisoner that is with
+thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will give thee my prisoner, though I had
+not thought to give him up to any one; and therewith shalt thou have
+my support and my aid.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+His followers said unto Arthur, &ldquo;Lord, go thou home, thou canst
+not proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as these.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then said Arthur, &ldquo;It were well for thee, Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd,
+to go upon this quest, for thou knowest all languages, and art familiar
+with those of the birds and the beasts.&nbsp; Thou, Eidoel, oughtest
+likewise to go with my men in search of thy cousin.&nbsp; And as for
+you, Kai and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure ye are in quest
+of, that ye will achieve it.&nbsp; Achieve ye this adventure for me.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri.&nbsp; And
+Gwrhyr adjured her for the sake of Heaven, saying, &ldquo;Tell me if
+thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken when three
+nights old from between his mother and the wall.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the
+Ousel answered, &ldquo;When I first came here, there was a smith&rsquo;s
+anvil in this place, and I was then a young bird; and from that time
+no work has been done upon it, save the pecking of my beak every evening,
+and now there is not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof;
+yet the vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if during all that time I have
+ever heard of the man for whom you inquire.&nbsp; Nevertheless I will
+do that which is right, and that which it is fitting that I should do
+for an embassy from Arthur.&nbsp; There is a race of animals who were
+formed before me, and I will be your guide to them.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of Redynvre.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Stag of Redynvre, behold we are come to thee, an embassy from
+Arthur, for we have not heard of any animal older than thou.&nbsp; Say,
+knowest thou aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken from his
+mother when three nights old?&rdquo;&nbsp; The Stag said, &ldquo;When
+first I came hither, there was a plain all around me, without any trees
+save one oak sapling, which grew up to be an oak with an hundred branches.&nbsp;
+And that oak has since perished, so that now nothing remains of it but
+the withered stump; and from that day to this I have been here, yet
+have I never heard of the man for whom you inquire.&nbsp; Nevertheless,
+being an embassy from Arthur, I will be your guide to the place where
+there is an animal which was formed before I was.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, here is an embassy from Arthur; knowest thou
+aught of Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken after three nights from
+his mother?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;If I knew I would tell you.&nbsp; When
+first I came hither, the wide valley you see was a wooded glen.&nbsp;
+And a race of men came and rooted it up.&nbsp; And there grew there
+a second wood; and this wood is the third.&nbsp; My wings, are they
+not withered stumps?&nbsp; Yet all this time, even until to-day, I have
+never heard of the man for whom you inquire.&nbsp; Nevertheless, I will
+be the guide of Arthur&rsquo;s embassy until you come to the place where
+is the oldest animal in this world, and the one that has travelled most,
+the Eagle of Gwern Abwy.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Gwrhyr said, &ldquo;Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to thee an embassy
+from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron,
+who was taken from his mother when he was three nights old.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+The Eagle said, &ldquo;I have been here for a great space of time, and
+when I first came hither there was a rock here, from the top of which
+I pecked at the stars every evening; and now it is not so much as a
+span high.&nbsp; From that day to this I have been here, and I have
+never heard of the man for whom you inquire, except once when I went
+in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw.&nbsp; And when I came there,
+I struck my talons into a salmon, thinking he would serve me as food
+for a long time.&nbsp; But he drew me into the deep, and I was scarcely
+able to escape from him.&nbsp; After that I went with my whole kindred
+to attack him, and to try to destroy him, but he sent messengers, and
+made peace with me; and came and besought me to take fifty fish spears
+out of his back.&nbsp; Unless he know something of him whom you seek,
+I cannot tell who may.&nbsp; However, I will guide you to the place
+where he is.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they went thither; and the Eagle said, &ldquo;Salmon of Llyn Llyw,
+I have come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou
+knowest aught concerning Mabon the son of Modron, who was taken away
+at three nights old from his mother.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;As much as
+I know I will tell thee.&nbsp; With every tide I go along the river
+upwards, until I come near to the walls of Gloucester, and there have
+I found such wrong as I never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye
+may give credence thereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my
+two shoulders.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Kai and Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd went
+upon the two shoulders of the salmon, and they proceeded until they
+came unto the wall of the prison, and they heard a great wailing and
+lamenting from the dungeon.&nbsp; Said Gwrhyr, &ldquo;Who is it that
+laments in this house of stone?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Alas, there is reason
+enough for whoever is here to lament.&nbsp; It is Mabon the son of Modron
+who is here imprisoned; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous as
+mine, neither that of Llud Llaw Ereint, nor that of Greid the son of
+Eri.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Hast thou hope of being released for gold or
+for silver, or for any gifts of wealth, or through battle and fighting?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;By fighting will whatever I may gain be obtained.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told him where
+Mabon the son of Modron was imprisoned.&nbsp; And Arthur summoned the
+warriors of the Island, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester, to
+the place where Mabon was in prison.&nbsp; Kai and Bedwyr went upon
+the shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur attacked the
+castle.&nbsp; And Kai broke through the wall into the dungeon, and brought
+away the prisoner upon his back, whilst the fight was going on between
+the warriors.&nbsp; And Arthur returned home, and Mabon with him at
+liberty.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Said Arthur, &ldquo;Which of the marvels will it be best for us now
+to seek first?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It will be best to seek for the two
+cubs of Gast Rhymhi.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Is it known,&rdquo; asked Arthur,
+&ldquo;where she is?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;She is in Aber Deu Cleddyf,&rdquo;
+said one.&nbsp; Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, in Aber Cleddyf,
+and he inquired of him whether he had heard of her there.&nbsp; &ldquo;In
+what form may she be?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;She is in the form of a she-wolf,&rdquo;
+said he; &ldquo;and with her there are two cubs.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;She
+has often slain my herds, and she is there below in a cave in Aber Cleddyf.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went by land,
+to hunt her.&nbsp; And they surrounded her and her two cubs, and God
+did change them again for Arthur into their own form.&nbsp; And the
+host of Arthur dispersed themselves into parties of one and two.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+On a certain day, as Gwythyr the son of Greidawl was walking over a
+mountain, he heard a wailing and a grievous cry.&nbsp; And when he heard
+it, he sprang forward, and went towards it.&nbsp; And when he came there,
+he drew his sword, and smote off an ant-hill close to the earth, whereby
+it escaped being burned in the fire.&nbsp; And the ants said to him,
+&ldquo;Receive from us the blessing of Heaven, and that which no man
+can give we will give thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then they fetched the nine
+bushels of flax-seed which Yspaddaden Penkawr had required of Kilhwch,
+and they brought the full measure without lacking any, except one flax-seed,
+and that the lame pismire brought in before night.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon carn on the summit of Plinlimmon,
+in the highest wind that ever was in the world, they looked around them,
+and saw a great smoke towards the south, afar off, which did not bend
+with the wind.&nbsp; Then said Kai, &ldquo;By the hand of my friend,
+behold, yonder is the fire of a robber!&rdquo;&nbsp; Then they hastened
+towards the smoke, and they came so near to it, that they could see
+Dillus Varvawc scorching a wild boar.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold, yonder is
+the greatest robber that ever fled from Arthur,&rdquo; said Bedwyr unto
+Kai.&nbsp; &ldquo;Dost thou know him?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I do know
+him,&rdquo; answered Kai, &ldquo;he is Dillus Varvawc, and no leash
+in the world will be able to hold Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son
+of Eri, save a leash made from the beard of him thou seest yonder.&nbsp;
+And even that will be useless, unless his beard be plucked alive with
+wooden tweezers; for if dead, it will be brittle.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+thinkest thou that we should do concerning this?&rdquo; said Bedwyr.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Let us suffer him,&rdquo; said Kai, &ldquo;to eat as much as
+he will of the meat, and after that he will fall asleep.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And during that time they employed themselves in making the wooden tweezers.&nbsp;
+And when Kai knew certainly that he was asleep, he made a pit under
+his feet, the largest in the world, and he struck him a violent blow,
+and squeezed him into the pit.&nbsp; And there they twitched out his
+beard completely with the wooden tweezers; and after that they slew
+him altogether.<br>
+<br>
+And from thence they both went to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, and took the
+leash made of Dillus Varvawc&rsquo;s beard with them, and they gave
+it into Arthur&rsquo;s hand.&nbsp; Then Arthur composed this Englyn
+-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Kai made a leash<br>
+Of Dillus son of Eurei&rsquo;s beard.<br>
+Were he alive, thy death he&rsquo;d be.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of the Island could
+scarcely make peace between Kai and Arthur.&nbsp; And thenceforth, neither
+in Arthur&rsquo;s troubles, nor for the slaying of his men, would Kai
+come forward to his aid for ever after.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Said Arthur, &ldquo;Which of the marvels is it best for us now to seek?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;It is best for us to seek Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of
+Eri.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+A little while before this, Creiddylad the daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint,
+and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, were betrothed.&nbsp; And before she
+had become his bride, Gwyn ap Nudd came and carried her away by force;
+and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl gathered his host together, and went
+to fight with Gwyn ap Nudd.&nbsp; But Gwyn overcame him, and captured
+Greid the son of Eri, and Glinneu the son of Taran, and Gwrgwst Ledlwm,
+and Dynvarth his son.&nbsp; And he captured Penn the son of Nethawg,
+and Nwython, and Kyledyr Wyllt his son.&nbsp; And they slew Nwython,
+and took out his heart, and constrained Kyledyr to eat the heart of
+his father.&nbsp; And therefrom Kyledyr became mad.&nbsp; When Arthur
+heard of this, he went to the North, and summoned Gwyn ap Nudd before
+him, and set free the nobles whom he had put in prison, and made peace
+between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Griedawl.&nbsp; And this
+was the peace that was made: - that the maiden should remain in her
+father&rsquo;s house, without advantage to either of them, and that
+Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl should fight for her every
+first of May, from thenceforth until the day of doom, and that whichever
+of them should then be conqueror should have the maiden.<br>
+<br>
+And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he obtained Mygdwn,
+Gweddw&rsquo;s horse, and the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin.<br>
+<br>
+And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him Mabon the son
+of Mellt, and Gware Gwallt Euryn, to seek the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic.&nbsp;
+And when he had got them, he went to the West of Ireland, in search
+of Gwrgi Seven; and Odgar the son of Aedd king of Ireland went with
+him.&nbsp; And thence went Arthur into the North, and captured Kyledyr
+Wyllt; and he went after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd.&nbsp; And Mabon the son
+of Mellt came with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic in his hand, and
+Drudwyn, the cub of Greid the son of Eri.&nbsp; And Arthur went himself
+to the chase, leading his own dog Cavall.&nbsp; And Kaw, of North Britain,
+mounted Arthur&rsquo;s mare Llamrei, and was first in the attack.&nbsp;
+Then Kaw, of North Britain, wielded a mighty axe, and absolutely daring
+he came valiantly up to the boar, and clave his head in twain.&nbsp;
+And Kaw took away the tusk.&nbsp; Now the boar was not slain by the
+dogs that Yspaddaden had mentioned, but by Cavall, Arthur&rsquo;s own
+dog.<br>
+<br>
+And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and his host departed
+to Gelli Wic in Cornwall.&nbsp; And thence he sent Menw the son of Teirgwaedd
+to see if the precious things were between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth,
+since it were useless to encounter him if they were not there.&nbsp;
+Albeit it was certain where he was, for he had laid waste the third
+part of Ireland.&nbsp; And Menw went to seek for him, and he met with
+him in Ireland, in Esgeir Oervel.&nbsp; And Menw took the form of a
+bird; and he descended upon the top of his lair, and strove to snatch
+away one of the precious things from him, but he carried away nothing
+but one of his bristles.&nbsp; And the boar rose up angrily and shook
+himself so that some of his venom fell upon Menw, and he was never well
+from that day forward.<br>
+<br>
+After this Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of Aedd king of
+Ireland, to ask for the cauldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, his purveyor.&nbsp;
+And Odgar commanded him to give it.&nbsp; But Diwrnach said, &ldquo;Heaven
+is my witness, if it would avail him anything even to look at it, he
+should not do so.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the embassy of Arthur returned from
+Ireland with this denial.&nbsp; And Arthur set forward with a small
+retinue, and entered into Prydwen, his ship, and went over to Ireland.&nbsp;
+And they proceeded into the house of Diwrnach Wyddel.&nbsp; And the
+hosts of Odgar saw their strength.&nbsp; When they had eaten and drunk
+as much as they desired, Arthur demanded to have the cauldron.&nbsp;
+And he answered, &ldquo;If I would have given it to any one, I would
+have given it at the word of Odgar king of Ireland.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose and seized hold of
+the cauldron, and placed it upon the back of Hygwyd, Arthur&rsquo;s
+servant, who was brother, by the mother&rsquo;s side, to Arthur&rsquo;s
+servant, Cachamwri.&nbsp; His office was always to carry Arthur&rsquo;s
+cauldron, and to place fire under it.&nbsp; And Llenlleawg Wyddel seized
+Caledvwlch, and brandished it.&nbsp; And they slew Diwrnach Wyddel and
+his company.&nbsp; Then came the Irish and fought with them.&nbsp; And
+when he had put them to flight, Arthur with his men went forward to
+the ship, carrying away the cauldron full of Irish money.&nbsp; And
+he disembarked at the house of Llwydden the son of Kelcoed, at Porth
+Kerddin in Dyved.&nbsp; And there is the measure of the cauldron.<br>
+<br>
+Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that were in the three
+Islands of Britain, and in the three Islands adjacent, and all that
+were in France and in Armorica, in Normandy and in the Summer Country,
+and all that were chosen footmen and valiant horsemen.&nbsp; And with
+all these he went into Ireland.&nbsp; And in Ireland there was great
+fear and terror concerning him.&nbsp; And when Arthur had landed in
+the country, there came unto him the saints of Ireland and besought
+his protection.&nbsp; And he granted his protection unto them, and they
+gave him their blessing.&nbsp; Then the men of Ireland came unto Arthur,
+and brought him provisions.&nbsp; And Arthur went as far as Esgeir Oervel
+in Ireland, to the place where the Boar Trwyth was with his seven young
+pigs.&nbsp; And the dogs were let loose upon him from all sides.&nbsp;
+That day until evening the Irish fought with him, nevertheless he laid
+waste the fifth part of Ireland.&nbsp; And on the day following the
+household of Arthur fought with him, and they were worsted by him, and
+got no advantage.&nbsp; And the third day Arthur himself encountered
+him, and he fought with him nine nights and nine days without so much
+as killing even one little pig.&nbsp; The warriors inquired of Arthur
+what was the origin of that swine; and he told them that he was once
+a king, and that God had transformed him into a swine for his sins.<br>
+<br>
+Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to speak with
+him.&nbsp; And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and alighted upon
+the top of the lair, where he was with the seven young pigs.&nbsp; And
+Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd asked him, &ldquo;By him who turned you into
+this form, if you can speak, let some one of you, I beseech you, come
+and talk with Arthur.&rdquo;&nbsp; Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer
+to him.&nbsp; (Now his bristles were like silver wire, and whether he
+went through the wood or through the plain, he was to be traced by the
+glittering of his bristles.)&nbsp; And this was the answer that Grugyn
+made: &ldquo;By him who turned us into this form, we will not do so,
+and we will not speak with Arthur.&nbsp; That we have been transformed
+thus is enough for us to suffer, without your coming here to fight with
+us.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will tell you.&nbsp; Arthur comes but to fight
+for the comb, and the razor, and the scissors which are between the
+two ears of Twrch Trwyth.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Grugyn, &ldquo;Except he
+first take his life, he will never have those precious things.&nbsp;
+And to-morrow morning we will rise up hence, and we will go into Arthur&rsquo;s
+country, and there will we do all the mischief that we can.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they set forth through the sea towards Wales.&nbsp; And Arthur and
+his hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered Prydwen, that they might
+encounter them without delay.&nbsp; Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis
+in Dyved, and Arthur came to Mynyw.&nbsp; The next day it was told to
+Arthur that they had gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing
+the cattle of Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at Aber
+Gleddyf, of man and beast, before the coming of Arthur.<br>
+<br>
+Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as Preseleu,
+and Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and Arthur sent men to
+hunt him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drudwyn the whelp of Greid the son
+of Eri, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, in another quarter, with the
+two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic, and Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur&rsquo;s
+own dog.&nbsp; And all the warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver.&nbsp;
+And there came there the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had
+gained much fame at the slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and they went
+on from Glyn Nyver, and came to Cwm Kerwyn.<br>
+<br>
+And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of Arthur&rsquo;s
+champions, Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc of Allt Clwyd, and
+Rheidwn the son of Eli Atver, and Iscovan Hael.&nbsp; And after he had
+slain these men, he made a second stand in the same place.&nbsp; And
+there he slew Gwydre the son of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew
+the son of Ysgawd, and Iscawyn the son of Panon; and there he himself
+was wounded.<br>
+<br>
+And the next morning before it was day, some of the men came up with
+him.&nbsp; And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr, and Penpingon, three attendants
+upon Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, so that Heaven knows he had not an attendant
+remaining, excepting only Llaesgevyn, a man from whom no one ever derived
+any good.&nbsp; And together with these he slew many of the men of that
+country, and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur&rsquo;s chief Architect.<br>
+<br>
+Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he slew Madawc the
+son of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of Tringad, the son of Neved, and
+Eiryawn Penllorau.&nbsp; Thence he went to Aberteivi, where he made
+another stand, and where he slew Kyflas the son of Kynan, and Gwilenhin
+king of France.&nbsp; Then he went as far as Glyn Ystu, and there the
+men and the dogs lost him.<br>
+<br>
+Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he asked him if he knew
+aught of Twrch Trwyth.&nbsp; And he said that he did not.<br>
+<br>
+And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as Dyffryn Llychwr.&nbsp;
+And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwydawg Govynnyad closed with them and
+killed all the huntsmen, so that there escaped but one man only.&nbsp;
+And Arthur and his hosts came to the place where Grugyn and Llwydawg
+were.&nbsp; And there he let loose the whole of the dogs upon them,
+and with the shout and barking that was set up, Twrch Trwyth came to
+their assistance.<br>
+<br>
+And from the time that they came across the Irish sea, Arthur had never
+got sight of him until then.&nbsp; So he set men and dogs upon him,
+and thereupon he started off and went to Mynydd Amanw.&nbsp; And there
+one of his young pigs was killed.&nbsp; Then they set upon him life
+for life, and Twrch Llawin was slain, and then there was slain another
+of the swine, Gwys was his name.&nbsp; After that he went on to Dyffryn
+Amanw, and there Banw and Bennwig were killed.&nbsp; Of all his pigs
+there went with him alive from that place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint
+and Llwydawg Govynnyad.<br>
+<br>
+Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook him there, and
+he made a stand.&nbsp; And there he slew Echel Forddwytwll, and Garwyli
+the son of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and many men and dogs likewise.&nbsp; And
+thence they went to Llwch Tawy.&nbsp; Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from
+them there, and went to Din Tywi.&nbsp; And thence he proceeded to Ceredigiawn,
+and Eli and Trachmyr with him, and a multitude likewise.&nbsp; Then
+he came to Garth Gregyn, and there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in the
+midst of them, and slew Rhudvyw Rhys and many others with him.&nbsp;
+Then Llwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw, and there the men of Armorica
+met him, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the king of Armorica, and Llygatrudd
+Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur&rsquo;s uncles, his mother&rsquo;s brothers,
+and there was he himself slain.<br>
+<br>
+Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and Arthur summoned
+all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary of the Severn, and he
+said to the warriors of this Island, &ldquo;Twrch Trwyth has slain many
+of my men, but, by the valour of warriors, while I live he shall not
+go into Cornwall.&nbsp; And I will not follow him any longer, but I
+will oppose him life to life.&nbsp; Do ye as ye will.&rdquo;&nbsp; And
+he resolved that he would send a body of knights, with the dogs of the
+Island, as far as Euyas, who should return thence to the Severn, and
+that tried warriors should traverse the Island, and force him into the
+Severn.&nbsp; And Mabon the son of Modron came up with him at the Severn,
+upon Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, and Goreu the son of Custennin,
+and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd; this was betwixt Llyn Lliwan and Aber
+Gwy.&nbsp; And Arthur fell upon him together with the champions of Britain.&nbsp;
+And Osla Kyllellvawr drew near, and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and
+Kacmwri the servant of Arthur, and Gwyngelli, and they seized hold of
+him, catching him first by his feet, and plunged him in the Severn,
+so that it overwhelmed him.&nbsp; On the one side, Mabon the son of
+Modron spurred his steed and snatched his razor from him, and Kyledyr
+Wyllt came up with him on the other side, upon another steed, in the
+Severn, and took from him the scissors.&nbsp; But before they could
+obtain the comb, he had regained the ground with his feet, and from
+the moment that he reached the shore, neither dog, nor man, nor horse
+could overtake him until he came to Cornwall.&nbsp; If they had had
+trouble in getting the jewels from him, much more had they in seeking
+to save the two men from being drowned.&nbsp; Kacmwri, as they drew
+him forth, was dragged by two millstones into the deep.&nbsp; And as
+Osla Kyllellvawr was running after the boar, his knife had dropped out
+of the sheath, and he had lost it, and after that, the sheath became
+full of water, and its weight drew him down into the deep, as they were
+drawing him forth.<br>
+<br>
+Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook the boar in
+Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before was mere play
+to what they encountered in seeking the comb.&nbsp; But from one difficulty
+to another, the comb was at length obtained.&nbsp; And then he was hunted
+from Cornwall, and driven straight forward into the deep sea.&nbsp;
+And thenceforth it was never known whither he went; and Aned and Aethlem
+with him.&nbsp; Then went Arthur to Gelli Wic, in Cornwall, to anoint
+himself, and to rest from his fatigues.<br>
+<br>
+Said Arthur, &ldquo;Is there any one of the marvels yet unobtained?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Said one of his men, &ldquo;There is - the blood of the witch Orddu,
+the daughter of the witch Orwen, of Pen Nant Govid, on the confines
+of Hell.&rdquo;&nbsp; Arthur set forth towards the North, and came to
+the place where was the witch&rsquo;s cave.&nbsp; And Gwyn ab Nudd,
+and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, counselled him to send Kacmwri, and
+Hygwyd his brother, to fight with the witch.&nbsp; And as they entered
+the cave, the witch seized upon them, and she caught Hygwyd by the hair
+of his head, and threw him on the floor beneath her.&nbsp; And Kacmwri
+caught her by the hair of her head, and dragged her to the earth from
+off Hygwyd, but she turned again upon them both, and drove them both
+out with kicks and with cuffs.<br>
+<br>
+And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants almost slain, and
+he sought to enter the cave; but Gwyn and Gwythyr said unto him, &ldquo;It
+would not be fitting or seemly for us to see thee squabbling with a
+hag.&nbsp; Let Hiramreu and Hireidil go to the cave.&rdquo;&nbsp; So
+they went.&nbsp; But if great was the trouble of the first two that
+went, much greater was that of these two.&nbsp; And Heaven knows that
+not one of the four could move from the spot, until they placed them
+all upon Llamrei, Arthur&rsquo;s mare.&nbsp; And then Arthur rushed
+to the door of the cave, and at the door he struck at the witch, with
+Carnwennan his dagger, and clove her in twain, so that she fell in two
+parts.&nbsp; And Kaw, of North Britain, took the blood of the witch
+and kept it.<br>
+<br>
+Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu the son of Custennin with him, and
+as many as wished ill to Yspaddaden Penkawr.&nbsp; And they took the
+marvels with them to his court.&nbsp; And Kaw of North Britain came
+and shaved his beard, skin, and flesh clean off to the very bone from
+ear to ear.&nbsp; &ldquo;Art thou shaved, man?&rdquo; said Kilhwch.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am shaved,&rdquo; answered he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Is thy daughter
+mine now?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;She is thine,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but
+therefore needest thou not thank me, but Arthur who hath accomplished
+this for thee.&nbsp; By my free will thou shouldest never have had her,
+for with her I lose my life.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then Goreu the son of Custennin
+seized him by the hair of his head, and dragged him after him to the
+keep, and cut off his head and placed it on a stake on the citadel.&nbsp;
+Then they took possession of his castle, and of his treasures.<br>
+<br>
+And that night Olwen became Kilhwch&rsquo;s bride, and she continued
+to be his wife as long as she lived.&nbsp; And the hosts of Arthur dispersed
+themselves, each man to his own country.&nbsp; And thus did Kilhwch
+obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+THE DREAM OF RHONABWY<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Madawc the son of Maredudd possessed Powys within its boundaries, from
+Porfoed to Gwauan in the uplands of Arwystli.&nbsp; And at that time
+he had a brother, Iorwerth the son of Maredudd, in rank not equal to
+himself.&nbsp; And Iorwerth had great sorrow and heaviness because of
+the honour and power that his brother enjoyed, which he shared not.&nbsp;
+And he sought his fellows and his foster-brothers, and took counsel
+with them what he should do in this matter.&nbsp; And they resolved
+to dispatch some of their number to go and seek a maintenance for him.&nbsp;
+Then Madawc offered him to become Master of the Household and to have
+horses, and arms, and honour, and to fare like as himself.&nbsp; But
+Iorwerth refused this.<br>
+<br>
+And Iorwerth made an inroad into Loegria, slaying the inhabitants, and
+burning houses, and carrying away prisoners.&nbsp; And Madawc took counsel
+with the men of Powys, and they determined to place an hundred men in
+each of the three Commots of Powys to seek for him.&nbsp; And thus did
+they in the plains of Powys from Aber Ceirawc, and in Allictwn Ver,
+and in Rhyd Wilure, on the Vyrnwy, the three best Commots of Powys.&nbsp;
+So he was none the better, he nor his household, in Powys, nor in the
+plains thereof.&nbsp; And they spread these men over the plains as far
+as Nillystwn Trevan.<br>
+<br>
+Now one of the men who was upon this quest was called Rhonabwy.&nbsp;
+And Rhonabwy and Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a man of Mawddwy, and Cadwgan Vras,
+a man of Moelvre in Kynlleith, came together to the house of Heilyn
+Goch the son of Cadwgan the son of Iddon.&nbsp; And when they came near
+to the house, they saw an old hall, very black and having an upright
+gable, whence issued a great smoke; and on entering, they found the
+floor full of puddles and mounds; and it was difficult to stand thereon,
+so slippery was it with the mire of cattle.&nbsp; And where the puddles
+were, a man might go up to his ankles in water and dirt.&nbsp; And there
+were boughs of holly spread over the floor, whereof the cattle had browsed
+the sprigs.&nbsp; When they came to the hall of the house, they beheld
+cells full of dust, and very gloomy, and on one side an old hag making
+a fire.&nbsp; And whenever she felt cold, she cast a lapful of chaff
+upon the fire, and raised such a smoke, that it was scarcely to be borne,
+as it rose up the nostrils.&nbsp; And on the other side was a yellow
+calf-skin on the floor; a main privilege was it to any one who should
+get upon that hide.<br>
+<br>
+And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where were the people
+of the house.&nbsp; And the hag spoke not, but muttered.&nbsp; Thereupon
+behold the people of the house entered; a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed
+man, with a burthen of faggots on his back, and a pale slender woman,
+also carrying a bundle under her arm.&nbsp; And they barely welcomed
+the men, and kindled a fire with the boughs.&nbsp; And the woman cooked
+something, and gave them to eat, barley bread, and cheese, and milk
+and water.<br>
+<br>
+And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was hardly possible
+to go forth with safety.&nbsp; And being weary with their journey, they
+laid themselves down and sought to sleep.&nbsp; And when they looked
+at the couch, it seemed to be made but of a little coarse straw full
+of dust and vermin, with the stems of boughs sticking up there-through,
+for the cattle had eaten all the straw that was placed at the head and
+the foot.&nbsp; And upon it was stretched an old russet-coloured rug,
+threadbare and ragged; and a coarse sheet, full of slits, was upon the
+rug, and an ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn-out cover upon the sheet.&nbsp;
+And after much suffering from the vermin, and from the discomfort of
+their couch, a heavy sleep fell on Rhonabwy&rsquo;s companions.&nbsp;
+But Rhonabwy, not being able either to sleep or to rest, thought he
+should suffer less if he went to lie upon the yellow calf-skin that
+was stretched out on the floor.&nbsp; And there he slept.<br>
+<br>
+As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him that he was
+journeying with his companions across the plain of Argyngroeg, and he
+thought that he went towards Rhyd y Groes on the Severn.&nbsp; As he
+journeyed, he heard a mighty noise, the like whereof heard he never
+before; and looking behind him, he beheld a youth with yellow curling
+hair, and with his beard newly trimmed, mounted on a chestnut horse,
+whereof the legs were grey from the top of the forelegs, and from the
+bend of the hindlegs downwards.&nbsp; And the rider wore a coat of yellow
+satin sewn with green silk, and on his thigh was a gold-hilted sword,
+with a scabbard of new leather of Cordova, belted with the skin of the
+deer, and clasped with gold.&nbsp; And over this was a scarf of yellow
+satin wrought with green silk, the borders whereof were likewise green.&nbsp;
+And the green of the caparison of the horse, and of his rider, was as
+green as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the yellow was as yellow as
+the blossom of the broom.&nbsp; So fierce was the aspect of the knight,
+that fear seized upon them, and they began to flee.&nbsp; And the knight
+pursued them.&nbsp; And when the horse breathed forth, the men became
+distant from him, and when he drew in his breath, they were drawn near
+to him, even to the horse&rsquo;s chest.&nbsp; And when he had overtaken
+them, they besought his mercy.&nbsp; &ldquo;You have it gladly,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;fear nought.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Ha, chieftain, since
+thou hast mercy upon me, tell me also who thou art,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will not conceal my lineage from thee, I am Iddawc the son
+of Mynyo, yet not by my name, but by my nickname am I best known.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;And wilt thou tell us what thy nickname is?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will tell you; it is Iddawc Cordd Prydain.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Ha, chieftain,&rdquo;
+said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;why art thou called thus?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will tell thee.&nbsp; I was one of the messengers between Arthur and
+Medrawd his nephew, at the battle of Camlan; and I was then a reckless
+youth, and through my desire for battle, I kindled strife between them,
+and stirred up wrath, when I was sent by Arthur the Emperor to reason
+with Medrawd, and to show him, that he was his foster-father and his
+uncle, and to seek for peace, lest the sons of the Kings of the Island
+of Britain, and of the nobles, should be slain.&nbsp; And whereas Arthur
+charged me with the fairest sayings he could think of, I uttered unto
+Medrawd the harshest I could devise.&nbsp; And therefore am I called
+Iddawc Cordd Prydain, for from this did the battle of Camlan ensue.&nbsp;
+And three nights before the end of the battle of Camlan I left them,
+and went to the Llech Las in North Britain to do penance.&nbsp; And
+there I remained doing penance seven years, and after that I gained
+pardon.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then lo! they heard a mighty sound which was much louder than that which
+they had heard before, and when they looked round towards the sound,
+they beheld a ruddy youth, without beard or whiskers, noble of mien,
+and mounted on a stately courser.&nbsp; And from the shoulders and the
+front of the knees downwards the horse was bay.&nbsp; And upon the man
+was a dress of red satin wrought with yellow silk, and yellow were the
+borders of his scarf.&nbsp; And such parts of his apparel and of the
+trappings of his horse as were yellow, as yellow were they as the blossom
+of the broom, and such as were red, were as ruddy as the ruddiest blood
+in the world.<br>
+<br>
+Then, behold the horseman overtook them, and he asked of Iddawc a share
+of the little men that were with him.&nbsp; &ldquo;That which is fitting
+for me to grant I will grant, and thou shalt be a companion to them
+as I have been.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the horseman went away.&nbsp; &ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo;
+inquired Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who was that horseman?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Rhuvawn
+Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And they journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as far as the ford of
+Rhyd y Groes on the Severn.&nbsp; And for a mile around the ford on
+both sides of the road, they saw tents and encampments, and there was
+the clamour of a mighty host.&nbsp; And they came to the edge of the
+ford, and there they beheld Arthur sitting on a flat island below the
+ford, having Bedwini the Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the
+son of Kaw on the other.&nbsp; And a tall, auburn-haired youth stood
+before him, with his sheathed sword in his hand, and clad in a coat
+and cap of jet-black satin.&nbsp; And his face was white as ivory, and
+his eyebrows black as jet, and such part of his wrist as could be seen
+between his glove and his sleeve, was whiter than the lily, and thicker
+than a warrior&rsquo;s ankle.<br>
+<br>
+Then came Iddawc and they that were with him, and stood before Arthur
+and saluted him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven grant thee good,&rdquo; said Arthur.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;And where, Iddawc, didst thou find these little men?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I found them, lord, up yonder on the road.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then
+the Emperor smiled.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Iddawc, &ldquo;wherefore
+dost thou laugh?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; replied Arthur,
+&ldquo;I laugh not; but it pitieth me that men of such stature as these
+should have this island in their keeping, after the men that guarded
+it of yore.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then said Iddawc, &ldquo;Rhonabwy, dost thou
+see the ring with a stone set in it, that is upon the Emperor&rsquo;s
+hand?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I see it,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;It
+is one of the properties of that stone to enable thee to remember that
+thou seest here to-night, and hadst thou not seen the stone, thou wouldest
+never have been able to remember aught thereof.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+After this they saw a troop coming towards the ford.&nbsp; &ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo;
+inquired Rhonabwy, &ldquo;to whom does yonder troop belong?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;They are the fellows of Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach.&nbsp;
+And these men are honourably served with mead and bragget, and are freely
+beloved by the daughters of the kings of the Island of Britain.&nbsp;
+And this they merit, for they were ever in the front and the rear in
+every peril.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he saw but one hue upon the men and the
+horses of this troop, for they were all as red as blood.&nbsp; And when
+one of the knights rode forth from the troop, he looked like a pillar
+of fire glancing athwart the sky.&nbsp; And this troop encamped above
+the ford.<br>
+<br>
+Then they beheld another troop coming towards the ford, and these from
+their horses&rsquo; chests upwards were whiter than the lily, and below
+blacker than jet.&nbsp; And they saw one of these knights go before
+the rest, and spur his horse into the ford in such a manner that the
+water dashed over Arthur and the Bishop, and those holding counsel with
+them, so that they were as wet as if they had been drenched in the river.&nbsp;
+And as he turned the head of his horse, the youth who stood before Arthur
+struck the horse over the nostrils with his sheathed sword, so that,
+had it been with the bare blade, it would have been a marvel if the
+bone had not been wounded as well as the flesh.&nbsp; And the knight
+drew his sword half out of the scabbard, and asked of him, &ldquo;Wherefore
+didst thou strike my horse?&nbsp; Whether was it in insult or in counsel
+unto me?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou dost indeed lack counsel.&nbsp; What
+madness caused thee to ride so furiously as to dash the water of the
+ford over Arthur, and the consecrated Bishop, and their counsellors,
+so that they were as wet as if they had been dragged out of the river?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;As counsel then will I take it.&rdquo;&nbsp; So he turned his
+horse&rsquo;s head round towards his army.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who was yonder knight?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;The most eloquent and the wisest youth that is in this island;
+Adaon, the son of Taliesin.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Who was the man that
+struck his horse?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;A youth of froward nature; Elphin,
+the son of Gwyddno.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then spake a tall and stately man, of noble and flowing speech, saying
+that it was a marvel that so vast a host should be assembled in so narrow
+a space, and that it was a still greater marvel that those should be
+there at that time who had promised to be by mid-day in the battle of
+Badon, fighting with Osla Gyllellvawr.&nbsp; &ldquo;Whether thou mayest
+choose to proceed or not, I will proceed.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou sayest
+well,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;and we will go altogether.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who was the man who spoke
+so marvellously unto Arthur erewhile?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;A man who
+may speak as boldly as he listeth, Caradawc Vreichvras, the son of Llyr
+Marini, his chief counsellor and his cousin.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse, and that mighty host
+moved forward, each troop in its order, towards Cevndigoll.&nbsp; And
+when they came to the middle of the ford of the Severn, Iddawc turned
+his horse&rsquo;s head, and Rhonabwy looked along the valley of the
+Severn.&nbsp; And he beheld two fair troops coming towards the ford.&nbsp;
+One troop there came of brilliant white, whereof every one of the men
+had a scarf of white satin with jet-black borders.&nbsp; And the knees
+and the tops of the shoulders of their horses were jet-black, though
+they were of a pure white in every other part.&nbsp; And their banners
+were pure white, with black points to them all.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who are yonder pure white
+troop?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;They are the men of Norway, and March the
+son of Meirchion is their prince.&nbsp; And he is cousin unto Arthur.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And further on he saw a troop, whereof each man wore garments of jet-black,
+with borders of pure white to every scarf; and the tops of the shoulders
+and the knees of their horses were pure white.&nbsp; And their banners
+were jet-black with pure white at the point of each.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who are the jet-black troop
+yonder?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;They are the men of Denmark, and Edeyrn
+the son of Nudd is their prince.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And when they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his army of mighty
+ones dismounted below Caer Badou, and he perceived that he and Iddawc
+journeyed the same road as Arthur.&nbsp; And after they had dismounted
+he heard a great tumult and confusion amongst the host, and such as
+were then at the flanks turned to the centre, and such as had been in
+the centre moved to the flanks.&nbsp; And then, behold, he saw a knight
+coming, clad, both he and his horse, in mail, of which the rings were
+whiter than the whitest lily, and the rivets redder than the ruddiest
+blood.&nbsp; And he rode amongst the host.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;will yonder host flee?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;King Arthur never fled, and if this discourse of thine were heard,
+thou wert a lost man.&nbsp; But as to the knight whom thou seest yonder,
+it is Kai.&nbsp; The fairest horseman is Kai in all Arthur&rsquo;s Court;
+and the men who are at the front of the army hasten to the rear to see
+Kai ride, and the men who are in the centre flee to the side, from the
+shock of his horse.&nbsp; And this is the cause of the confusion of
+the host.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of Cornwall, and behold
+he arose with the sword of Arthur in his hand.&nbsp; And the similitude
+of two serpents was upon the sword in gold.&nbsp; And when the sword
+was drawn from its scabbard, it seemed as if two flames of fire burst
+forth from the jaws of the serpents, and then, so wonderful was the
+sword, that it was hard for any one to look upon it.&nbsp; And the host
+became still, and the tumult ceased, and the Earl returned to the tent.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who is the man who bore
+the sword of Arthur?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Kadwr, the Earl of Cornwall,
+whose duty it is to arm the King on the days of battle and warfare.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And they heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn, Arthur&rsquo;s servant,
+a red, rough, ill-favoured man, having red whiskers with bristly hairs.&nbsp;
+And behold he came upon a tall red horse with the mane parted on each
+side, and he brought with him a large and beautiful sumpter pack.&nbsp;
+And the huge red youth dismounted before Arthur, and he drew a golden
+chair out of the pack, and a carpet of diapered satin.&nbsp; And he
+spread the carpet before Arthur, and there was an apple of ruddy gold
+at each corner thereof, and he placed the chair upon the carpet.&nbsp;
+And so large was the chair that three armed warriors might have sat
+therein.&nbsp; Gwenn was the name of the carpet, and it was one of its
+properties that whoever was upon it no one could see him, and he could
+see every one.&nbsp; And it would retain no colour but its own.<br>
+<br>
+And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son of Urien was standing
+before him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Owain,&rdquo; said Arthur, &ldquo;wilt thou
+play chess?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will, Lord,&rdquo; said Owain.&nbsp;
+And the red youth brought the chess for Arthur and Owain; golden pieces
+and a board of silver.&nbsp; And they began to play.<br>
+<br>
+And while they were thus, and when they were best amused with their
+game, behold they saw a white tent with a red canopy, and the figure
+of a jet-black serpent on the top of the tent, and red glaring venomous
+eyes in the head of the serpent, and a red flaming tongue.&nbsp; And
+there came a young page with yellow curling hair, and blue eyes, and
+a newly-springing beard, wearing a coat and a surcoat of yellow satin,
+and hose of thin greenish-yellow cloth upon his feet, and over his hose
+shoes of parti-coloured leather, fastened at the insteps with golden
+clasps.&nbsp; And he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a golden hilt,
+in a scabbard of black leather tipped with fine gold.&nbsp; And he came
+to the place where the Emperor and Owain were playing at chess.<br>
+<br>
+And the youth saluted Owain.&nbsp; And Owain marvelled that the youth
+should salute him and should not have saluted the Emperor Arthur.&nbsp;
+And Arthur knew what was in Owain&rsquo;s thought.&nbsp; And he said
+to Owain, &ldquo;Marvel not that the youth salutes thee now, for he
+saluted me erewhile; and it is unto thee that his errand is.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then said the youth unto Owain, &ldquo;Lord, is it with thy leave that
+the young pages and attendants of the Emperor harass and torment and
+worry thy Ravens?&nbsp; And if it be not with thy leave, cause the Emperor
+to forbid them.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Owain, &ldquo;thou
+hearest what the youth says; if it seem good to thee, forbid them from
+my Ravens.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Play thy game,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp;
+Then the youth returned to the tent.<br>
+<br>
+That game did they finish, and another they began, and when they were
+in the midst of the game, behold, a ruddy young man with auburn curling
+hair and large eyes, well-grown, and having his beard new-shorn, came
+forth from a bright yellow tent, upon the summit of which was the figure
+of a bright red lion.&nbsp; And he was clad in a coat of yellow satin,
+falling as low as the small of his leg, and embroidered with threads
+of red silk.&nbsp; And on his feet were hose of fine white buckram,
+and buskins of black leather were over his hose, whereon were golden
+clasps.&nbsp; And in his hand a huge, heavy, three-edged sword, with
+a scabbard of red deer-hide, tipped with gold.&nbsp; And he came to
+the place where Arthur and Owain were playing at chess.&nbsp; And he
+saluted him.&nbsp; And Owain was troubled at his salutation, but Arthur
+minded it no more than before.&nbsp; And the youth said unto Owain,
+&ldquo;Is it not against thy will that the attendants of the Emperor
+harass thy Ravens, killing some and worrying others?&nbsp; If against
+thy will it be, beseech him to forbid them.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said Owain, &ldquo;forbid thy men, if it seem good to thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Play thy game,&rdquo; said the Emperor.&nbsp; And the youth returned
+to the tent.<br>
+<br>
+And that game was ended and another begun.&nbsp; And as they were beginning
+the first move of the game, they beheld at a small distance from them
+a tent speckled yellow, the largest ever seen, and the figure of an
+eagle of gold upon it, and a precious stone on the eagle&rsquo;s head.&nbsp;
+And coming out of the tent, they saw a youth with thick yellow hair
+upon his head, fair and comely, and a scarf of blue satin upon him,
+and a brooch of gold in the scarf upon his right shoulder as large as
+a warrior&rsquo;s middle finger.&nbsp; And upon his feet were hose of
+fine Totness, and shoes of parti-coloured leather, clasped with gold,
+and the youth was of noble bearing, fair of face, with ruddy cheeks
+and large hawk&rsquo;s eyes.&nbsp; In the hand of the youth was a mighty
+lance, speckled yellow, with a newly-sharpened head; and upon the lance
+a banner displayed.<br>
+<br>
+Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to the place where
+Arthur was playing at chess with Owain.&nbsp; And they perceived that
+he was wroth.&nbsp; And thereupon he saluted Owain, and told him that
+his Ravens had been killed, the chief part of them, and that such of
+them as were not slain were so wounded and bruised that not one of them
+could raise its wings a single fathom above the earth.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said Owain, &ldquo;forbid thy men.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Play,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;if it please thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then said Owain to the
+youth, &ldquo;Go back, and wherever thou findest the strife at the thickest,
+there lift up the banner, and let come what pleases Heaven.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So the youth returned back to the place where the strife bore hardest
+upon the Ravens, and he lifted up the banner; and as he did so they
+all rose up in the air, wrathful and fierce and high of spirit, clapping
+their wings in the wind, and shaking off the weariness that was upon
+them.&nbsp; And recovering their energy and courage, furiously and with
+exultation did they, with one sweep, descend upon the heads of the men,
+who had erewhile caused them anger and pain and damage, and they seized
+some by the heads and others by the eyes, and some by the ears, and
+others by the arms, and carried them up into the air; and in the air
+there was a mighty tumult with the flapping of the wings of the triumphant
+Ravens, and with their croaking; and there was another mighty tumult
+with the groaning of the men, that were being torn and wounded, and
+some of whom were slain.<br>
+<br>
+And Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they played at chess;
+and, looking, they perceived a knight upon a dun-coloured horse coming
+towards them.&nbsp; And marvellous was the hue of the dun horse.&nbsp;
+Bright red was his right shoulder, and from the top of his legs to the
+centre of his hoof was bright yellow.&nbsp; Both the knight and his
+horse were fully equipped with heavy foreign armour.&nbsp; The clothing
+of the horse from the front opening upwards was of bright red sendal,
+and from thence opening downwards was of bright yellow sendal.&nbsp;
+A large gold-hilted one-edged sword had the youth upon his thigh, in
+a scabbard of light blue, and tipped with Spanish laton.&nbsp; The belt
+of the sword was of dark green leather with golden slides and a clasp
+of ivory upon it, and a buckle of jet-black upon the clasp.&nbsp; A
+helmet of gold was on the head of the knight, set with precious stones
+of great virtue, and at the top of the helmet was the image of a flame-coloured
+leopard with two ruby-red stones in its head, so that it was astounding
+for a warrior, however stout his heart, to look at the face of the leopard,
+much more at the face of the knight.&nbsp; He had in his hand a blue-shafted
+lance, but from the haft to the point it was stained crimson-red with
+the blood of the Ravens and their plumage.<br>
+<br>
+The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain were seated at chess.&nbsp;
+And they perceived that he was harassed and vexed and weary as he came
+towards them.&nbsp; And the youth saluted Arthur, and told him that
+the Ravens of Owain were slaying his young men and attendants.&nbsp;
+And Arthur looked at Owain and said, &ldquo;Forbid thy Ravens.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; answered Owain, &ldquo;play thy game.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And they played.&nbsp; And the knight returned back towards the strife,
+and the Ravens were not forbidden any more than before.<br>
+<br>
+And when they had played awhile, they heard a mighty tumult, and a wailing
+of men, and a croaking of Ravens, as they carried the men in their strength
+into the air, and, tearing them betwixt them, let them fall piecemeal
+to the earth.&nbsp; And during the tumult they saw a knight coming towards
+them, on a light grey horse, and the left foreleg of the horse was jet-black
+to the centre of his hoof.&nbsp; And the knight and the horse were fully
+accoutred with huge heavy blue armour.&nbsp; And a robe of honour of
+yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and the borders of the robe
+were blue.&nbsp; And the housings of the horse were jet-black, with
+borders of bright yellow.&nbsp; And on the thigh of the youth was a
+sword, long, and three-edged, and heavy.&nbsp; And the scabbard was
+of red cut leather, and the belt of new red deer-skin, having upon it
+many golden slides and a buckle of the bone of the sea-horse, the tongue
+of which was jet-black.&nbsp; A golden helmet was upon the head of the
+knight, wherein were set sapphire-stones of great virtue.&nbsp; And
+at the top of the helmet was the figure of a flame-coloured lion, with
+a fiery-red tongue, issuing above a foot from his mouth, and with venomous
+eyes, crimson-red, in his head.&nbsp; And the knight came, bearing in
+his hand a thick ashen lance, the head whereof, which had been newly
+steeped in blood, was overlaid with silver.<br>
+<br>
+And the youth saluted the Emperor: &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;carest
+thou not for the slaying of thy pages, and thy young men, and the sons
+of the nobles of the Island of Britain, whereby it will be difficult
+to defend this island from henceforward for ever?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Owain,&rdquo;
+said Arthur, &ldquo;forbid thy Ravens.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Play this
+game, Lord,&rdquo; said Owain.<br>
+<br>
+So they finished the game and began another; and as they were finishing
+that game, lo, they heard a great tumult and a clamour of armed men,
+and a croaking of Ravens, and a flapping of wings in the air, as they
+flung down the armour entire to the ground, and the men and the horses
+piecemeal.&nbsp; Then they saw coming a knight on a lofty-headed piebald
+horse.&nbsp; And the left shoulder of the horse was of bright red, and
+its right leg from the chest to the hollow of the hoof was pure white.&nbsp;
+And the knight and horse were equipped with arms of speckled yellow,
+variegated with Spanish laton.&nbsp; And there was a robe of honour
+upon him, and upon his horse, divided in two parts, white and black,
+and the borders of the robe of honour were of golden purple.&nbsp; And
+above the robe he wore a sword three-edged and bright, with a golden
+hilt.&nbsp; And the belt of the sword was of yellow goldwork, having
+a clasp upon it of the eyelid of a black sea-horse, and a tongue of
+yellow gold to the clasp.&nbsp; Upon the head of the knight was a bright
+helmet of yellow laton, with sparkling stones of crystal in it, and
+at the crest of the helmet was the figure of a griffin, with a stone
+of many virtues in its head.&nbsp; And he had an ashen spear in his
+hand, with a round shaft, coloured with azure blue.&nbsp; And the head
+of the spear was newly stained with blood, and was overlaid with fine
+silver.<br>
+<br>
+Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur was, and he told
+him that the Ravens had slain his household and the sons of the chief
+men of this island, and he besought him to cause Owain to forbid his
+Ravens.&nbsp; And Arthur besought Owain to forbid them.&nbsp; Then Arthur
+took the golden chessmen that were upon the board, and crushed them
+until they became as dust.&nbsp; Then Owain ordered Gwres the son of
+Rheged to lower his banner.&nbsp; So it was lowered, and all was peace.<br>
+<br>
+Then Rhonabwy inquired of Iddawc who were the first three men that came
+to Owain, to tell him his Ravens were being slain.&nbsp; Said Iddawc,
+&ldquo;They were men who grieved that Owain should suffer loss, his
+fellow-chieftains and companions, Selyv the son of Kynan Garwyn of Powys,
+and Gwgawn Gleddyvrudd, and Gwres the son of Rheged, he who bears the
+banner in the day of battle and strife.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Who,&rdquo;
+said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;were the last three men who came to Arthur, and
+told him that the Ravens were slaughtering his men?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The
+best of men,&rdquo; said Iddawc, &ldquo;and the bravest, and who would
+grieve exceedingly that Arthur should have damage in aught; Blathaon
+the son of Mawrheth, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach,
+and Hyveidd Unllenn.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And with that behold four-and-twenty knights came from Osla Gyllellvawr,
+to crave a truce of Arthur for a fortnight and a month.&nbsp; And Arthur
+rose and went to take counsel.&nbsp; And he came to where a tall, auburn,
+curly-headed man was a little way off, and there he assembled his counsellors.&nbsp;
+Bedwini, the Bishop, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and March the son
+of Meirchawn, and Caradawc Vreichvras, and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar,
+and Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach,
+and Rhiogan the son of the King of Ireland, and Gwenwynwyn the son of
+Nav, Howel the son of Emyr Llydaw, Gwilym the son of Rhwyf Freinc, and
+Daned the son of Ath, and Goreu Custennin, and Mabon the son of Modron,
+and Peredur Paladyr Hir, and Hyveidd Unllenn, and Twrch the son of Perif,
+and Nerth the son of Kadarn, and Gobrwy the son of Echel Vorddwyttwll,
+Gwair the son of Gwestyl, and Gadwy the son of Geraint, Trystan the
+son of Tallwch, Moryen Manawc, Granwen the son of Llyr, and Llacheu
+the son of Arthur, and Llawvrodedd Varvawc, and Kadwr Earl of Cornwall,
+Morvran the son of Tegid, and Rhyawd the son of Morgant, and Dyvyr the
+son of Alun Dyved, Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Adaon the son of Taliesin,
+Llary the son of Kasnar Wledig, and Fflewddur Fflam, and Greidawl Galldovydd,
+Gilbert the son of Kadgyffro, Menw the son of Teirgwaedd, Gwrthmwl Wledig,
+Cawrdav the son of Caradawc Vreichvras, Gildas the son of Kaw, Kadyriaith
+the son of Saidi, and many of the men of Norway and Denmark, and many
+of the men of Greece, and a crowd of the men of the host came to that
+council.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Iddawc,&rdquo; said Rhonabwy, &ldquo;who was the auburn haired
+man to whom they came just now?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Rhun the son of
+Maelgwn Gwynedd, a man whose prerogative it is, that he may join in
+counsel with all.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And wherefore did they admit into
+counsel with men of such dignity as are yonder a stripling so young
+as Kadyriaith the son of Saidi?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Because there is
+not throughout Britain a man better skilled in counsel than he.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Thereupon, behold, bards came and recited verses before Arthur, and
+no man understood those verses but Kadyriaith only, save that they were
+in Arthur&rsquo;s praise.<br>
+<br>
+And lo, there came four-and-twenty asses with their burdens of gold
+and of silver, and a tired way-worn man with each of them, bringing
+tribute to Arthur from the Islands of Greece.&nbsp; Then Kadyriaith
+the son of Saidi besought that a truce might be granted to Osla Gyllellvawr
+for the space of a fortnight and a month, and that the asses and the
+burdens they carried might be given to the bards, to be to them as the
+reward for their stay and that their verse might be recompensed during
+the time of the truce.&nbsp; And thus it was settled.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Rhonabwy,&rdquo; said Iddawc, &ldquo;would it not be wrong to
+forbid a youth who can give counsel so liberal as this from coming to
+the councils of his Lord?&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Kai arose, and he said, &ldquo;Whosoever will follow Arthur, let
+him be with him to-night in Cornwall, and whosoever will not, let him
+be opposed to Arthur even during the truce.&rdquo;&nbsp; And through
+the greatness of the tumult that ensued, Rhonabwy awoke.&nbsp; And when
+he awoke he was upon the yellow calf-skin, having slept three nights
+and three days.<br>
+<br>
+And this tale is called the Dream of Rhonabwy.&nbsp; And this is the
+reason that no one knows the dream without a book, neither bard nor
+gifted seer; because of the various colours that were upon the horses,
+and the many wondrous colours of the arms and of the panoply, and of
+the precious scarfs, and of the virtue-bearing stones.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Pwyll Prince of Dyved was lord of the seven Cantrevs of Dyved; and once
+upon a time he was at Narberth his chief palace, and he was minded to
+go and hunt, and the part of his dominions in which it pleased him to
+hunt was Glyn Cuch.&nbsp; So he set forth from Narbeth that night, and
+went as far as Llwyn Diarwyd.&nbsp; And that night he tarried there,
+and early on the morrow he rose and came to Glyn Cuch, when he let loose
+the dogs in the wood, and sounded the horn, and began the chase.&nbsp;
+And as he followed the dogs, he lost his companions; and whilst he listened
+to the hounds, he heard the cry of other hounds, a cry different from
+his own, and coming in the opposite direction.<br>
+<br>
+And he beheld a glade in the wood forming a level plain, and as his
+dogs came to the edge of the glade, he saw a stag before the other dogs.&nbsp;
+And lo, as it reached the middle of the glade, the dogs that followed
+the stag overtook it and brought it down.&nbsp; Then looked he at the
+colour of the dogs, staying not to look at the stag, and of all the
+hounds that he had seen in the world, he had never seen any that were
+like unto these.&nbsp; For their hair was of a brilliant shining white,
+and their ears were red; and as the whiteness of their bodies shone,
+so did the redness of their ears glisten.&nbsp; And he came towards
+the dogs, and drove away those that had brought down the stag, and set
+his own dogs upon it.<br>
+<br>
+And as he was setting on his dogs he saw a horseman coming towards him
+upon a large light-grey steed, with a hunting horn round his neck, and
+clad in garments of grey woollen in the fashion of a hunting garb.&nbsp;
+And the horseman drew near and spoke unto him thus.&nbsp; &ldquo;Chieftain,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;I know who thou art, and I greet thee not.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Peradventure,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;thou art of such dignity
+that thou shouldest not do so.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; answered
+he, &ldquo;it is not my dignity that prevents me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+is it then, O Chieftain?&rdquo; asked he.&nbsp; &ldquo;By Heaven, it
+is by reason of thine own ignorance and want of courtesy.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What discourtesy, Chieftain, hast thou seen in me?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Greater discourtesy saw I never in man,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;than
+to drive away the dogs that were killing the stag and to set upon it
+thine own.&nbsp; This was discourteous, and though I may not be revenged
+upon thee, yet I declare to Heaven that I will do thee more dishonour
+than the value of an hundred stags.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;O Chieftain,&rdquo;
+he replied, &ldquo;if I have done ill I will redeem thy friendship.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;How wilt thou redeem it?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;According as thy
+dignity may be, but I know not who thou art?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;A crowned
+king am I in the land whence I come.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;may the day prosper with thee, and from what land comest
+thou?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;From Annwvyn,&rdquo; <a name="citation2"></a><a href="#footnote2">{2}</a>
+answered he; &ldquo;Arawn, a King of Annwvyn, am I.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;how may I gain thy friendship?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;After
+this manner mayest thou,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; &ldquo;There is a man
+whose dominions are opposite to mine, who is ever warring against me,
+and he is Havgan, a King of Annwvyn, and by ridding me of this oppression,
+which thou canst easily do, shalt thou gain my friendship.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Gladly will I do this,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Show me how
+I may.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will show thee.&nbsp; Behold thus it is
+thou mayest.&nbsp; I will make firm friendship with thee; and this will
+I do.&nbsp; I will send thee to Annwvyn in my stead, and I will give
+thee the fairest lady thou didst ever behold to be thy companion, and
+I will put my form and semblance upon thee, so that not a page of the
+chamber, nor an officer, nor any other man that has always followed
+me shall know that it is not I.&nbsp; And this shall be for the space
+of a year from to-morrow, and then we will meet in this place.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;but when I shall have been there
+for the space of a year, by what means shall I discover him of whom
+thou speakest?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;One year from this night,&rdquo;
+he answered, &ldquo;is the time fixed between him and me that we should
+meet at the Ford; be thou there in my likeness, and with one stroke
+that thou givest him, he shall no longer live.&nbsp; And if he ask thee
+to give him another, give it not, how much soever he may entreat thee,
+for when I did so, he fought with me next day as well as ever before.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;what shall I do concerning
+my kingdom?&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Arawn, &ldquo;I will cause that no one
+in all thy dominions, neither man nor woman, shall know that I am not
+thou, and I will go there in thy stead.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Gladly then,&rdquo;
+said Pwyll, &ldquo;will I set forward.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Clear shall
+be thy path, and nothing shall detain thee, until thou come into my
+dominions, and I myself will be thy guide!&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So he conducted him until he came in sight of the palace and its dwellings.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;the Court and the kingdom in thy
+power.&nbsp; Enter the Court, there is no one there who will know thee,
+and when thou seest what service is done there, thou wilt know the customs
+of the Court.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So he went forward to the Court, and when he came there, he beheld sleeping-rooms,
+and halls, and chambers, and the most beautiful buildings ever seen.&nbsp;
+And he went into the hall to disarray, and there came youths and pages
+and disarrayed him, and all as they entered saluted him.&nbsp; And two
+knights came and drew his hunting-dress from about him, and clothed
+him in a vesture of silk and gold.&nbsp; And the hall was prepared,
+and behold he saw the household and the host enter in, and the host
+was the most comely and the best equipped that he had ever seen.&nbsp;
+And with them came in likewise the Queen, who was the fairest woman
+that he had ever yet beheld.&nbsp; And she had on a yellow robe of shining
+satin; and they washed and went to the table, and sat, the Queen upon
+one side of him, and one who seemed to be an Earl on the other side.<br>
+<br>
+And he began to speak with the Queen, and he thought, from her speech,
+that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of converse and of cheer
+that ever was.&nbsp; And they partook of meat, and drink, with songs
+and with feasting; and of all the Courts upon the earth, behold this
+was the best supplied with food and drink, and vessels of gold and royal
+jewels.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and feasting, and
+diversions, and discourse with his companions until the night that was
+fixed for the conflict.&nbsp; And when that night came, it was remembered
+even by those who lived in the furthest part of his dominions, and he
+went to the meeting, and the nobles of the kingdom with him.&nbsp; And
+when he came to the Ford, a knight arose and spake thus.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lords,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;listen well.&nbsp; It is between two kings that this
+meeting is, and between them only.&nbsp; Each claimeth of the other
+his land and territory, and do all of you stand aside and leave the
+fight to be between them.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Thereupon the two kings approached each other in the middle of the Ford,
+and encountered, and at the first thrust, the man who was in the stead
+of Arawn struck Havgan on the centre of the boss of his shield, so that
+it was cloven in twain, and his armour was broken, and Havgan himself
+was borne to the ground an arm&rsquo;s and a spear&rsquo;s length over
+the crupper of his horse, and he received a deadly blow.&nbsp; &ldquo;O
+Chieftain,&rdquo; said Havgan, &ldquo;what right hast thou to cause
+my death?&nbsp; I was not injuring thee in anything, and I know not
+wherefore thou wouldest slay me.&nbsp; But, for the love of Heaven,
+since thou hast begun to slay me, complete thy work.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah,
+Chieftain,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;I may yet repent doing that unto
+thee, slay thee who may, I will not do so.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My trusty
+Lords,&rdquo; said Havgan, &ldquo;bear me hence.&nbsp; My death has
+come.&nbsp; I shall be no more able to uphold you.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My
+Nobles,&rdquo; also said he who was in the semblance of Arawn, &ldquo;take
+counsel and know who ought to be my subjects.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said the Nobles, &ldquo;all should be, for there is no king over the
+whole of Annwvyn but thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; he replied,
+&ldquo;it is right that he who comes humbly should be received graciously,
+but he that doth not come with obedience, shall be compelled by the
+force of swords.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thereupon he received the homage of
+the men, and he began to conquer the country; and the next day by noon
+the two kingdoms were in his power.&nbsp; And thereupon he went to keep
+his tryst, and came to Glyn Cuch.<br>
+<br>
+And when he came there, the King of Annwvyn was there to meet him, and
+each of them was rejoiced to see the other.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said Arawn, &ldquo;may Heaven reward thee for thy friendship towards
+me.&nbsp; I have heard of it.&nbsp; When thou comest thyself to thy
+dominions,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou wilt see that which I have done
+for thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Whatever thou hast done for me, may Heaven
+repay it thee.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Arawn gave to Pwyll Prince of Dyved his proper form and semblance,
+and he himself took his own; and Arawn set forth towards the Court of
+Annwvyn; and he was rejoiced when he beheld his hosts, and his household,
+whom he had not seen so long; but they had not known of his absence,
+and wondered no more at his coming than usual.&nbsp; And that day was
+spent in joy and merriment; and he sat and conversed with his wife and
+his nobles.&nbsp; And when it was time for them rather to sleep than
+to carouse, they went to rest.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Pwyll Prince of Dyved came likewise to his country and dominions, and
+began to inquire of the nobles of the land, how his rule had been during
+the past year, compared with what it had been before.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;thy wisdom was never so great, and thou wast never
+so kind or so free in bestowing thy gifts, and thy justice was never
+more worthily seen than in this year.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By Heaven,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;for all the good you have enjoyed, you should thank
+him who hath been with you; for behold, thus hath this matter been.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And thereupon Pwyll related the whole unto them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,
+Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;render thanks unto Heaven that thou hast
+such a fellowship, and withhold not from us the rule which we have enjoyed
+for this year past.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I take Heaven to witness that
+I will not withhold it,&rdquo; answered Pwyll.<br>
+<br>
+And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that was between them,
+and each sent unto the other horses, and greyhounds, and hawks, and
+all such jewels as they thought would be pleasing to each other.&nbsp;
+And by reason of his having dwelt that year in Annwvyn, and having ruled
+there so prosperously, and united the two kingdoms in one day by his
+valour and prowess, he lost the name of Pwyll Prince of Dyved, and was
+called Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn from that time forward.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth his chief palace, where a feast
+had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of men.&nbsp;
+And after the first meal, Pwyll arose to walk, and he went to the top
+of a mound that was above the palace, and was called Gorsedd Arberth.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said one of the Court, &ldquo;it is peculiar to
+the mound that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence, without either
+receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing a wonder.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+fear not to receive wounds and blows in the midst of such a host as
+this, but as to the wonder, gladly would I see it.&nbsp; I will go therefore
+and sit upon the mound.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And upon the mound he sat.&nbsp; And while he sat there, they saw a
+lady, on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment of shining
+gold around her, coming along the highway that led from the mound; and
+the horse seemed to move at a slow and even pace, and to be coming up
+towards the mound.&nbsp; &ldquo;My men,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;is
+there any among you who knows yonder lady?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;There
+is not, Lord,&rdquo; said they.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go one of you and meet
+her, that we may know who she is.&rdquo;&nbsp; And one of them arose,
+and as he came upon the road to meet her, she passed by, and he followed
+as fast as he could, being on foot; and the greater was his speed, the
+further was she from him.&nbsp; And when he saw that it profited him
+nothing to follow her, he returned to Pwyll, and said unto him, &ldquo;Lord,
+it is idle for any one in the world to follow her on foot.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;go unto the palace, and take
+the fleetest horse that thou seest, and go after her.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And he took a horse and went forward.&nbsp; And he came to an open level
+plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he urged his horse,
+the further was she from him.&nbsp; Yet she held the same pace as at
+first.&nbsp; And his horse began to fail; and when his horse&rsquo;s
+feet failed him, he returned to the place where Pwyll was.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;it will avail nothing for any one to follow yonder lady.&nbsp;
+I know of no horse in these realms swifter than this, and it availed
+me not to pursue her.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said Pwyll,
+&ldquo;there must be some illusion here.&nbsp; Let us go towards the
+palace.&rdquo;&nbsp; So to the palace they went, and they spent that
+day.&nbsp; And the next day they arose, and that also they spent until
+it was time to go to meat.&nbsp; And after the first meal, &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said Pwyll, &ldquo;we will go the same party as yesterday to the top
+of the mound.&nbsp; And do thou,&rdquo; said he to one of his young
+men, &ldquo;take the swiftest horse that thou knowest in the field.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And thus did the young man.&nbsp; And they went towards the mound, taking
+the horse with them.&nbsp; And as they were sitting down they beheld
+the lady on the same horse, and in the same apparel, coming along the
+same road.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;here is the
+lady of yesterday.&nbsp; Make ready, youth, to learn who she is.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that will I gladly do.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And thereupon the lady came opposite to them.&nbsp; So the youth mounted
+his horse; and before he had settled himself in his saddle, she passed
+by, and there was a clear space between them.&nbsp; But her speed was
+no greater than it had been the day before.&nbsp; Then he put his horse
+into an amble, and thought that notwithstanding the gentle pace at which
+his horse went, he should soon overtake her.&nbsp; But this availed
+him not; so he gave his horse the reins.&nbsp; And still he came no
+nearer to her than when he went at a foot&rsquo;s pace.&nbsp; And the
+more he urged his horse, the further was she from him.&nbsp; Yet she
+rode not faster than before.&nbsp; When he saw that it availed not to
+follow her, he returned to the place where Pwyll was.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;the horse can no more than thou hast seen.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I see indeed that it avails not that any one should follow her.&nbsp;
+And by Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;she must needs have an errand
+to some one in this plain, if her haste would allow her to declare it.&nbsp;
+Let us go back to the palace.&rdquo;&nbsp; And to the palace they went,
+and they spent that night in songs and feasting, as it pleased them.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to meat.&nbsp;
+And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, &ldquo;Where are the hosts that
+went yesterday and the day before to the top of the mound?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Behold, Lord, we are here,&rdquo; said they.&nbsp; &ldquo;Let
+us go,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to the mound, to sit there.&nbsp; And
+do thou,&rdquo; said he to the page who tended his horse, &ldquo;saddle
+my horse well, and hasten with him to the road, and bring also my spurs
+with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the youth did thus.&nbsp; And they went
+and sat upon the mound; and ere they had been there but a short time,
+they beheld the lady coming by the same road, and in the same manner,
+and at the same pace.&nbsp; &ldquo;Young man,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;I
+see the lady coming; give me my horse.&rdquo;&nbsp; And no sooner had
+he mounted his horse than she passed him.&nbsp; And he turned after
+her and followed her.&nbsp; And he let his horse go bounding playfully,
+and thought that at the second step or the third he should come up with
+her.&nbsp; But he came no nearer to her than at first.&nbsp; Then he
+urged his horse to his utmost speed, yet he found that it availed nothing
+to follow her.&nbsp; Then said Pwyll, &ldquo;O maiden, for the sake
+of him whom thou best lovest, stay for me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will
+stay gladly,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and it were better for thy horse
+hadst thou asked it long since.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the maiden stopped,
+and she threw back that part of her headdress which covered her face.&nbsp;
+And she fixed her eyes upon him, and began to talk with him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+asked he, &ldquo;whence comest thou, and whereunto dost thou journey?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I journey on mine own errand,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and right
+glad am I to see thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My greeting be unto thee,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; Then he thought that the beauty of all the maidens, and
+all the ladies that he had ever seen, was as nothing compared to her
+beauty.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;wilt thou tell me
+aught concerning thy purpose?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will tell thee,&rdquo;
+said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;My chief quest was to seek thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;this is to me the most pleasing
+quest on which thou couldst have come; and wilt thou tell me who thou
+art?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will tell thee, Lord,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am Rhiannon, the daughter of Heveydd H&ecirc;n, and they sought
+to give me to a husband against my will.&nbsp; But no husband would
+I have, and that because of my love for thee, neither will I yet have
+one unless thou reject me.&nbsp; And hither have I come to hear thy
+answer.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By Heaven,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;behold
+this is my answer.&nbsp; If I might choose among all the ladies and
+damsels in the world, thee would I choose.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;if thou art thus minded, make a pledge to meet me ere
+I am given to another.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The sooner I may do so, the
+more pleasing will it be unto me,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;and wheresoever
+thou wilt, there will I meet with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will that
+thou meet me this day twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd.&nbsp; And
+I will cause a feast to be prepared, so that it be ready against thou
+come.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Gladly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;will I keep
+this tryst.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;remain
+in health, and be mindful that thou keep thy promise; and now I will
+go hence.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they parted, and he went back to his hosts
+and to them of his household.&nbsp; And whatsoever questions they asked
+him respecting the damsel, he always turned the discourse upon other
+matters.&nbsp; And when a year from that time was gone, he caused a
+hundred knights to equip themselves and to go with him to the palace
+of Heveydd H&ecirc;n.&nbsp; And he came to the palace, and there was
+great joy concerning him, with much concourse of people and great rejoicing,
+and vast preparations for his coming.&nbsp; And the whole Court was
+placed under his orders.<br>
+<br>
+And the hall was garnished and they went to meat, and thus did they
+sit; Heveydd H&ecirc;n was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon on the
+other.&nbsp; And all the rest according to their rank.&nbsp; And they
+ate and feasted and talked one with another, and at the beginning of
+the carousal after the meat, there entered a tall auburn-haired youth,
+of royal bearing, clothed in a garment of satin.&nbsp; And when he came
+into the hall, he saluted Pwyll and his companions.&nbsp; &ldquo;The
+greeting of Heaven be unto thee, my soul,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;come
+thou and sit down.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;a
+suitor am I, and I will do mine errand.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Do so willingly,&rdquo;
+said Pwyll.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;my errand is unto
+thee, and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+boon soever thou mayest ask of me, as far as I am able, thou shalt have.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Ah,&rdquo; said Rhiannon, &ldquo;wherefore didst thou give that
+answer?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Has he not given it before the presence
+of these nobles?&rdquo; asked the youth.&nbsp; &ldquo;My soul,&rdquo;
+said Pwyll, &ldquo;what is the boon thou askest?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The
+lady whom best I love is to be thy bride this night; I come to ask her
+of thee, with the feast and the banquet that are in this place.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Pwyll was silent because of the answer which he had given.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Be silent as long as thou wilt,&rdquo; said Rhiannon.&nbsp; &ldquo;Never
+did man make worse use of his wits than thou hast done.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I knew not who he was.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Behold this is the man to whom they would have given me against
+my will,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;And he is Gwawl the son of Clud,
+a man of great power and wealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken,
+bestow me upon him lest shame befall thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;I understand not thine answer.&nbsp; Never can I do
+as thou sayest.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Bestow me upon him,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;and I will cause that I shall never be his.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;By what means will that be?&rdquo; asked Pwyll.&nbsp; &ldquo;In
+thy hand will I give thee a small bag,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;See
+that thou keep it well, and he will ask of thee the banquet, and the
+feast, and the preparations which are not in thy power.&nbsp; Unto the
+hosts and the household will I give the feast.&nbsp; And such will be
+thy answer respecting this.&nbsp; And as concerns myself, I will engage
+to become his bride this night twelvemonth.&nbsp; And at the end of
+the year be thou here,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and bring this bag with
+thee, and let thy hundred knights be in the orchard up yonder.&nbsp;
+And when he is in the midst of joy and feasting, come thou in by thyself,
+clad in ragged garments, and holding thy bag in thy hand, and ask nothing
+but a bagful of food, and I will cause that if all the meat and liquor
+that are in these seven Cantrevs were put into it, it would be no fuller
+than before.&nbsp; And after a great deal has been put therein, he will
+ask thee whether thy bag will ever be full.&nbsp; Say thou then that
+it never will, until a man of noble birth and of great wealth arise
+and press the food in the bag with both his feet, saying, &lsquo;Enough
+has been put therein;&rsquo; and I will cause him to go and tread down
+the food in the bag, and when he does so, turn thou the bag, so that
+he shall be up over his head in it, and then slip a knot upon the thongs
+of the bag.&nbsp; Let there be also a good bugle horn about thy neck,
+and as soon as thou hast bound him in the bag, wind thy horn, and let
+it be a signal between thee and thy knights.&nbsp; And when they hear
+the sound of the horn, let them come down upon the palace.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Gwawl, &ldquo;it is meet that I have an answer
+to my request.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;As much of that thou hast asked as
+it is in my power to give, thou shalt have,&rdquo; replied Pwyll.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;My soul,&rdquo; said Rhiannon unto him, &ldquo;as for the feast
+and the banquet that are here, I have bestowed them upon the men of
+Dyved, and the household, and the warriors that are with us.&nbsp; These
+can I not suffer to be given to any.&nbsp; In a year from to-night a
+banquet shall be prepared for thee in this palace, that I may become
+thy bride.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to
+Dyved.&nbsp; And they both spent that year until it was the time for
+the feast at the palace of Heveydd H&ecirc;n.&nbsp; Then Gwawl the son
+of Clud set out to the feast that was prepared for him, and he came
+to the palace, and was received there with rejoicing.&nbsp; Pwyll, also,
+the Chief of Annwvyn, came to the orchard with his hundred knights,
+as Rhiannon had commanded him, having the bag with him.&nbsp; And Pwyll
+was clad in coarse and ragged garments, and wore large clumsy old shoes
+upon his feet.&nbsp; And when he knew that the carousal after the meat
+had begun, he went towards the hall, and when he came into the hall,
+he saluted Gwawl the son of Clud, and his company, both men and women.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo; said Gwawl, &ldquo;and the greeting
+of Heaven be unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;may
+Heaven reward thee, I have an errand unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Welcome
+be thine errand, and if thou ask of me that which is just, thou shalt
+have it gladly.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is fitting,&rdquo; answered he.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I crave but from want, and the boon that I ask is to have this
+small bag that thou seest filled with meat.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;A request
+within reason is this,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and gladly shalt thou
+have it.&nbsp; Bring him food.&rdquo;&nbsp; A great number of attendants
+arose and began to fill the bag, but for all that they put into it,
+it was no fuller than at first.&nbsp; &ldquo;My soul,&rdquo; said Gwawl,
+&ldquo;will thy bag be ever full?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It will not, I
+declare to Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for all that may be put into
+it, unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, shall
+arise and tread down with both his feet the food that is within the
+bag, and shall say, &lsquo;Enough has been put therein.&rsquo;&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Then said Rhiannon unto Gwawl the son of Clud, &ldquo;Rise up quickly.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will willingly arise,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; So he rose up,
+and put his two feet into the bag.&nbsp; And Pwyll turned up the sides
+of the bag, so that Gwawl was over his head in it.&nbsp; And he shut
+it up quickly and slipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his horn.&nbsp;
+And thereupon behold his household came down upon the palace.&nbsp;
+And they seized all the host that had come with Gwawl, and cast them
+into his own prison.&nbsp; And Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old
+shoes, and his tattered array; and as they came in, every one of Pwyll&rsquo;s
+knights struck a blow upon the bag, and asked, &ldquo;What is here?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;A Badger,&rdquo; said they.&nbsp; And in this manner they played,
+each of them striking the bag, either with his foot or with a staff.&nbsp;
+And thus played they with the bag.&nbsp; Every one as he came in asked,
+&ldquo;What game are you playing at thus?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The game
+of Badger in the Bag,&rdquo; said they.&nbsp; And then was the game
+of Badger in the Bag first played.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said the man in the bag, &ldquo;if thou wouldest
+but hear me, I merit not to be slain in a bag.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Heveydd
+H&ecirc;n, &ldquo;Lord, he speaks truth.&nbsp; It were fitting that
+thou listen to him, for he deserves not this.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said Pwyll, &ldquo;I will do thy counsel concerning him.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Behold this is my counsel then,&rdquo; said Rhiannon; &ldquo;thou
+art now in a position in which it behoves thee to satisfy suitors and
+minstrels; let him give unto them in thy stead, and take a pledge from
+him that he will never seek to revenge that which has been done to him.&nbsp;
+And this will be punishment enough.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do this
+gladly,&rdquo; said the man in the bag.&nbsp; &ldquo;And gladly will
+I accept it,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;since it is the counsel of Heveydd
+and Rhiannon.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Such then is our counsel,&rdquo; answered
+they.&nbsp; &ldquo;I accept it,&rdquo; said Pwyll.&nbsp; &ldquo;Seek
+thyself sureties.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We will be for him,&rdquo; said
+Heveydd, &ldquo;until his men be free to answer for him.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And upon this he was let out of the bag, and his liegemen were liberated.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Demand now of Gwawl his sureties,&rdquo; said Heveydd, &ldquo;we
+know which should be taken for him.&rdquo;&nbsp; And Heveydd numbered
+the sureties.&nbsp; Said Gwawl, &ldquo;Do thou thyself draw up the covenant.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;It will suffice me that it be as Rhiannon said,&rdquo; answered
+Pwyll.&nbsp; So unto that covenant were the sureties pledged.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily, Lord,&rdquo; said Gwawl, &ldquo;I am greatly hurt, and
+I have many bruises.&nbsp; I have need to be anointed; with thy leave
+I will go forth.&nbsp; I will leave nobles in my stead, to answer for
+me in all that thou shalt require.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Willingly,&rdquo;
+said Pwyll, &ldquo;mayest thou do thus.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Gwawl went towards
+his own possessions.<br>
+<br>
+And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his host, and
+for them also of the palace, and they went to the tables and sat down.&nbsp;
+And as they had sat that time twelvemonth, so sat they that night.&nbsp;
+And they ate, and feasted, and spent the night in mirth and tranquillity.&nbsp;
+And the time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll and Rhiannon went
+to their chamber.<br>
+<br>
+And next morning at the break of day, &ldquo;My Lord,&rdquo; said Rhiannon,
+&ldquo;arise and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels.&nbsp; Refuse
+no one to-day that may claim thy bounty.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thus shall
+it be gladly,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;both to-day and every day while
+the feast shall last.&rdquo;&nbsp; So Pwyll arose, and he caused silence
+to be proclaimed, and desired all the suitors and the minstrels to show
+and to point out what gifts were to their wish and desire.&nbsp; And
+this being done, the feast went on, and he denied no one while it lasted.&nbsp;
+And when the feast was ended, Pwyll said unto Heveydd, &ldquo;My Lord,
+with thy permission I will set out for Dyved to-morrow.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; said Heveydd, &ldquo;may Heaven prosper thee.&nbsp;
+Fix also a time when Rhiannon may follow thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By
+Heaven,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;we will go hence together.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Willest thou this, Lord?&rdquo; said Heveydd.&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes,
+by Heaven,&rdquo; answered Pwyll.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day, they set forward towards Dyved, and journeyed to the
+palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready for them.&nbsp; And
+there came to them great numbers of the chief men and the most noble
+ladies of the land, and of these there was none to whom Rhiannon did
+not give some rich gift, either a bracelet, or a ring, or a precious
+stone.&nbsp; And they ruled the land prosperously both that year and
+the next.<br>
+<br>
+And in the third year the nobles of the land began to be sorrowful at
+seeing a man whom they loved so much, and who was moreover their lord
+and their foster-brother, without an heir.&nbsp; And they came to him.&nbsp;
+And the place where they met was Preseleu, in Dyved.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;we know that thou art not so young as some of the
+men of this country, and we fear that thou mayest not have an heir of
+the wife whom thou hast taken.&nbsp; Take therefore another wife of
+whom thou mayest have heirs.&nbsp; Thou canst not always continue with
+us, and though thou desire to remain as thou art, we will not suffer
+thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;we have not
+long been joined together, and many things may yet befall.&nbsp; Grant
+me a year from this time, and for the space of a year we will abide
+together, and after that I will do according to your wishes.&nbsp; So
+they granted it.&nbsp; And before the end of a year a son was born unto
+him.&nbsp; And in Narberth was he born; and on the night that he was
+born, women were brought to watch the mother and the boy.&nbsp; And
+the women slept, as did also Rhiannon, the mother of the boy.&nbsp;
+And the number of the women that were brought into the chamber was six.&nbsp;
+And they watched for a good portion of the night, and before midnight
+every one of them fell asleep, and towards break of day they awoke;
+and when they awoke, they looked where they had put the boy, and behold
+he was not there.&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said one of the women, &ldquo;the
+boy is lost?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said another, &ldquo;and
+it will be small vengeance if we are burnt or put to death because of
+the child.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said one of the women, &ldquo;Is there any counsel
+for us in the world in this matter?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;There is,&rdquo;
+answered another, &ldquo;I offer you good counsel.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+is that?&rdquo; asked they.&nbsp; &ldquo;There is here a stag-hound
+bitch, and she has a litter of whelps.&nbsp; Let us kill some of the
+cubs, and rub the blood on the face and hands of Rhiannon, and lay the
+bones before her, and assert that she herself hath devoured her son,
+and she alone will not be able to gainsay us six.&rdquo;&nbsp; And according
+to this counsel it was settled.&nbsp; And towards morning Rhiannon awoke,
+and she said, &ldquo;Women, where is my son?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;ask us not concerning thy son, we have nought but
+the blows and the bruises we got by struggling with thee, and of a truth
+we never saw any woman so violent as thou, for it was of no avail to
+contend with thee.&nbsp; Hast thou not thyself devoured thy son?&nbsp;
+Claim him not therefore of us.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;For pity&rsquo;s
+sake,&rdquo; said Rhiannon; &ldquo;the Lord God knows all things.&nbsp;
+Charge me not falsely.&nbsp; If you tell me this from fear, I assert
+before Heaven that I will defend you.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;we would not bring evil on ourselves for any one in
+the world.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;For pity&rsquo;s sake,&rdquo; said Rhiannon,
+&ldquo;you will receive no evil by telling the truth.&rdquo;&nbsp; But
+for all her words, whether fair or harsh, she received but the same
+answer from the women.<br>
+<br>
+And Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn arose, and his household, and his hosts.&nbsp;
+And this occurrence could not be concealed, but the story went forth
+throughout the land, and all the nobles heard it.&nbsp; Then the nobles
+came to Pwyll, and besought him to put away his wife, because of the
+great crime which she had done.&nbsp; But Pwyll answered them, that
+they had no cause wherefore they might ask him to put away his wife,
+save for her having no children.&nbsp; &ldquo;But children has she now
+had, therefore will I not put her away; if she has done wrong, let her
+do penance for it.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So Rhiannon sent for the teachers and the wise men, and as she preferred
+doing penance to contending with the women, she took upon her a penance.&nbsp;
+And the penance that was imposed upon her was, that she should remain
+in that palace of Narberth until the end of seven years, and that she
+should sit every day near unto a horseblock that was without the gate.&nbsp;
+And that she should relate the story to all who should come there, whom
+she might suppose not to know it already; and that she should offer
+the guests and strangers, if they would permit her, to carry them upon
+her back into the palace.&nbsp; But it rarely happened that any would
+permit.&nbsp; And thus did she spend part of the year.<br>
+<br>
+Now at that time Teirnyon Twryv Vliant was Lord of Gwent Is Coed, and
+he was the best man in the world.&nbsp; And unto his house there belonged
+a mare, than which neither mare nor horse in the kingdom was more beautiful.&nbsp;
+And on the night of every first of May she foaled, and no one ever knew
+what became of the colt.&nbsp; And one night Teirnyon talked with his
+wife: &ldquo;Wife,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it is very simple of us that
+our mare should foal every year, and that we should have none of her
+colts.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What can be done in the matter?&rdquo; said
+she.&nbsp; &ldquo;This is the night of the first of May,&rdquo; said
+he.&nbsp; &ldquo;The vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if I learn not
+what it is that takes away the colts.&rdquo;&nbsp; So he caused the
+mare to be brought into a house, and he armed himself, and began to
+watch that night.&nbsp; And in the beginning of the night, the mare
+foaled a large and beautiful colt.&nbsp; And it was standing up in the
+place.&nbsp; And Teirnyon rose up and looked at the size of the colt,
+and as he did so he heard a great tumult, and after the tumult behold
+a claw came through the window into the house, and it seized the colt
+by the mane.&nbsp; Then Teirnyon drew his sword, and struck off the
+arm at the elbow, so that portion of the arm together with the colt
+was in the house with him.&nbsp; And then did he hear a tumult and wailing,
+both at once.&nbsp; And he opened the door, and rushed out in the direction
+of the noise, and he could not see the cause of the tumult because of
+the darkness of the night, but he rushed after it and followed it.&nbsp;
+Then he remembered that he had left the door open, and he returned.&nbsp;
+And at the door behold there was an infant boy in swaddling-clothes,
+wrapped around in a mantle of satin.&nbsp; And he took up the boy, and
+behold he was very strong for the age that he was of.<br>
+<br>
+Then he shut the door, and went into the chamber where his wife was.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;art thou sleeping?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;No, lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I was asleep, but as thou camest
+in I did awake.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold, here is a boy for thee if
+thou wilt,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;since thou hast never had one.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;what adventure is this?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;It was thus,&rdquo; said Teirnyon; and he told her how it all
+befell.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily, lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;what sort
+of garments are there upon the boy?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;A mantle of
+satin,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;He is then a boy of gentle lineage,&rdquo;
+she replied.&nbsp; &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;if thou wilt,
+I shall have great diversion and mirth.&nbsp; I will call my women unto
+me, and tell them that I have been pregnant.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will
+readily grant thee to do this,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; And thus did
+they, and they caused the boy to be baptized, and the ceremony was performed
+there; and the name which they gave unto him was Gwri Wallt Euryn, because
+what hair was upon his head was as yellow as gold.&nbsp; And they had
+the boy nursed in the Court until he was a year old.&nbsp; And before
+the year was over he could walk stoutly.&nbsp; And he was larger than
+a boy of three years old, even one of great growth and size.&nbsp; And
+the boy was nursed the second year, and then he was as large as a child
+six years old.&nbsp; And before the end of the fourth year, he would
+bribe the grooms to allow him to take the horses to water.&nbsp; &ldquo;My
+lord,&rdquo; said his wife unto Teirnyon, &ldquo;where is the colt which
+thou didst save on the night that thou didst find the boy?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I have commanded the grooms of the horses,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that
+they take care of him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Would it not be well, lord,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;if thou wert to cause him to be broken in, and given
+to the boy, seeing that on the same night that thou didst find the boy,
+the colt was foaled and thou didst save him?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will
+not oppose thee in this matter,&rdquo; said Teirnyon.&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will allow thee to give him the colt.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;may Heaven reward thee; I will give it him.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So the horse was given to the boy.&nbsp; Then she went to the grooms
+and those who tended the horses, and commanded them to be careful of
+the horse, so that he might be broken in by the time that the boy could
+ride him.<br>
+<br>
+And while these things were going forward, they heard tidings of Rhiannon
+and her punishment.&nbsp; And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant, by reason of the
+pity that he felt on hearing this story of Rhiannon and her punishment,
+inquired closely concerning it, until he had heard from many of those
+who came to his court.&nbsp; Then did Teirnyon, often lamenting the
+sad history, ponder within himself, and he looked steadfastly on the
+boy, and as he looked upon him, it seemed to him that he had never beheld
+so great a likeness between father and son, as between the boy and Pwyll
+the Chief of Annwvyn.&nbsp; Now the semblance of Pwyll was well known
+to him, for he had of yore been one of his followers.&nbsp; And thereupon
+he became grieved for the wrong that he did, in keeping with him a boy
+whom he knew to be the son of another man.&nbsp; And the first time
+that he was alone with his wife, he told her that it was not right that
+they should keep the boy with them, and suffer so excellent a lady as
+Rhiannon to be punished so greatly on his account, whereas the boy was
+the son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn.&nbsp; And Teirnyon&rsquo;s wife
+agreed with him, that they should send the boy to Pwyll.&nbsp; &ldquo;And
+three things, lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;shall we gain thereby.&nbsp;
+Thanks and gifts for releasing Rhiannon from her punishment; and thanks
+from Pwyll for nursing his son and restoring him unto him; and thirdly,
+if the boy is of gentle nature, he will be our foster-son, and he will
+do for us all the good in his power.&rdquo;&nbsp; So it was settled
+according to this counsel.<br>
+<br>
+And no later than the next day was Teirnyon equipped, and two other
+knights with him.&nbsp; And the boy, as a fourth in their company, went
+with them upon the horse which Teirnyon had given him.&nbsp; And they
+journeyed towards Narberth, and it was not long before they reached
+that place.&nbsp; And as they drew near to the palace, they beheld Rhiannon
+sitting beside the horseblock.&nbsp; And when they were opposite to
+her, &ldquo;Chieftain,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;go not further thus,
+I will bear every one of you into the palace, and this is my penance
+for slaying my own son and devouring him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh, fair
+lady,&rdquo; said Teirnyon, &ldquo;think not that I will be one to be
+carried upon thy back.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Neither will I,&rdquo; said
+the boy.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly, my soul,&rdquo; said Teirnyon, &ldquo;we
+will not go.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they went forward to the palace, and there
+was great joy at their coming.&nbsp; And at the palace a feast was prepared,
+because Pywll was come back from the confines of Dyved.&nbsp; And they
+went into the hall and washed, and Pwyll rejoiced to see Teirnyon.&nbsp;
+And in this order they sat.&nbsp; Teirnyon between Pwyll and Rhiannon,
+and Teirnyon&rsquo;s two companions on the other side of Pwyll, with
+the boy between them.&nbsp; And after meat they began to carouse and
+to discourse.&nbsp; And Teirnyon&rsquo;s discourse was concerning the
+adventure of the mare and the boy, and how he and his wife had nursed
+and reared the child as their own.&nbsp; &ldquo;And behold here is thy
+son, lady,&rdquo; said Teirnyon.&nbsp; &ldquo;And whosoever told that
+lie concerning thee, has done wrong.&nbsp; And when I heard of thy sorrow,
+I was troubled and grieved.&nbsp; And I believe that there is none of
+this host who will not perceive that the boy is the son of Pwyll,&rdquo;
+said Teirnyon.&nbsp; &ldquo;There is none,&rdquo; said they all, &ldquo;who
+is not certain thereof.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I declare to Heaven,&rdquo;
+said Rhiannon, &ldquo;that if this be true, there is indeed an end to
+my trouble.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said Pendaran Dyved, &ldquo;well
+hast thou named thy son Pryderi, <a name="citation3"></a><a href="#footnote3">{3}</a>
+and well becomes him the name of Pryderi son of Pwyll Chief of Annwvyn.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Look you,&rdquo; said Rhiannon, &ldquo;will not his own name
+become him better?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What name has he?&rdquo; asked
+Pendaran Dyved.&nbsp; &ldquo;Gwri Wallt Euryn is the name that we gave
+him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Pryderi,&rdquo; said Pendaran, &ldquo;shall
+his name be.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It were more proper,&rdquo; said Pwyll,
+&ldquo;that the boy should take his name from the word his mother spoke
+when she received the joyful tidings of him.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thus was
+it arranged.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Teirnyon,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;Heaven reward thee that thou
+hast reared the boy up to this time, and, being of gentle lineage, it
+were fitting that he repay thee for it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo;
+said Teirnyon, &ldquo;it was my wife who nursed him, and there is no
+one in the world so afflicted as she at parting with him.&nbsp; It were
+well that he should bear in mind what I and my wife have done for him.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I call Heaven to witness,&rdquo; said Pwyll, &ldquo;that while
+I live I will support thee and thy possessions, as long as I am able
+to preserve my own.&nbsp; And when he shall have power, he will more
+fitly maintain them than I.&nbsp; And if this counsel be pleasing unto
+thee, and to my nobles, it shall be that, as thou hast reared him up
+to the present time, I will give him to be brought up by Pendaran Dyved,
+from henceforth.&nbsp; And you shall be companions, and shall both be
+foster-fathers unto him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This is good counsel,&rdquo;
+said they all.&nbsp; So the boy was given to Pendaran Dyved, and the
+nobles of the land were sent with him.&nbsp; And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant,
+and his companions, set out for his country, and his possessions, with
+love and gladness.&nbsp; And he went not without being offered the fairest
+jewels and the fairest horses, and the choicest dogs; but he would take
+none of them.<br>
+<br>
+Thereupon they all remained in their own dominions.&nbsp; And Pryderi,
+the son of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn, was brought up carefully as was
+fit, so that he became the fairest youth, and the most comely, and the
+best skilled in all good games, of any in the kingdom.&nbsp; And thus
+passed years and years, until the end of Pwyll the Chief of Annwvyn&rsquo;s
+life came, and he died.<br>
+<br>
+And Pryderi ruled the seven Cantrevs of Dyved prosperously, and he was
+beloved by his people, and by all around him.&nbsp; And at length he
+added unto them the three Cantrevs of Ystrad Tywi, and the four Cantrevs
+of Cardigan; and these were called the Seven Cantrevs of Seissyllwch.&nbsp;
+And when he made this addition, Pryderi the son of Pwyll the Chief of
+Annwvyn desired to take a wife.&nbsp; And the wife he chose was Kicva,
+the daughter of Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of Gloyw Wallt Lydan, the son
+of Prince Casnar, one of the nobles of this Island.<br>
+<br>
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogion.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR<br>
+HERE IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THE MABINOGI<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this island,
+and he was exalted from the crown of London.&nbsp; And one afternoon
+he was at Harlech in Ardudwy, at his Court, and he sat upon the rock
+of Harlech, looking over the sea.&nbsp; And with him were his brother
+Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and his brothers by the mother&rsquo;s side,
+Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles likewise, as was fitting to see
+around a king.&nbsp; His two brothers by the mother&rsquo;s side were
+the sons of Eurosswydd, by his mother, Penardun, the daughter of Beli
+son of Manogan.&nbsp; And one of these youths was a good youth and of
+gentle nature, and would make peace between his kindred, and cause his
+family to be friends when their wrath was at the highest; and this one
+was Nissyen; but the other would cause strife between his two brothers
+when they were most at peace.&nbsp; And as they sat thus, they beheld
+thirteen ships coming from the south of Ireland, and making towards
+them, and they came with a swift motion, the wind being behind them,
+and they neared them rapidly.&nbsp; &ldquo;I see ships afar,&rdquo;
+said the king, &ldquo;coming swiftly towards the land.&nbsp; Command
+the men of the Court that they equip themselves, and go and learn their
+intent.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the men equipped themselves and went down towards
+them.&nbsp; And when they saw the ships near, certain were they that
+they had never seen ships better furnished.&nbsp; Beautiful flags of
+satin were upon them.&nbsp; And behold one of the ships outstripped
+the others, and they saw a shield lifted up above the side of the ship,
+and the point of the shield was upwards, in token of peace.&nbsp; And
+the men drew near that they might hold converse.&nbsp; Then they put
+out boats and came towards the land.&nbsp; And they saluted the king.&nbsp;
+Now the king could hear them from the place where he was, upon the rock
+above their heads.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven prosper you,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and be ye welcome.&nbsp; To whom do these ships belong, and who
+is the chief amongst you?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;Matholwch, king of Ireland, is here, and these ships belong to
+him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore comes he?&rsquo; asked the king,
+&ldquo;and will he come to the land?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;He is a suitor
+unto thee, lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;and he will not land unless
+he have his boon.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And what may that be?&rdquo; inquired
+the king.&nbsp; &ldquo;He desires to ally himself with thee, lord,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;and he comes to ask Branwen the daughter of Llyr,
+that, if it seem well to thee, the Island of the Mighty may be leagued
+with Ireland, and both become more powerful.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;let him come to land, and we will take counsel thereupon.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And this answer was brought to Matholwch.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will go willingly,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; So he landed, and they received him joyfully; and great
+was the throng in the palace that night, between his hosts and those
+of the Court; and next day they took counsel, and they resolved to bestow
+Branwen upon Matholwch.&nbsp; Now she was one of the three chief ladies
+of this island, and she was the fairest damsel in the world.<br>
+<br>
+And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she should become his
+bride.&nbsp; And they went thence, and towards Aberffraw the hosts proceeded;
+Matholwch and his host in their ships; Bendigeid Vran and his host by
+land, until they came to Aberffraw.&nbsp; And at Aberffraw they began
+the feast and sat down.&nbsp; And thus sat they.&nbsp; The King of the
+Island of the Mighty and Manawyddan the son of Llyr on one side, and
+Matholwch on the other side, and Branwen the daughter of Llyr beside
+him.&nbsp; And they were not within a house, but under tents.&nbsp;
+No house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran.&nbsp; And they began the
+banquet and caroused and discoursed.&nbsp; And when it was more pleasing
+to them to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest, and that night
+Branwen became Matholwch&rsquo;s bride.<br>
+<br>
+And next day they arose, and all they of the Court, and the officers
+began to equip and to range the horses and the attendants, and they
+ranged them in order as far as the sea.<br>
+<br>
+And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man of whom it is spoken
+above, came by chance into the place, where the horses of Matholwch
+were, and asked whose horses they might be.&nbsp; &ldquo;They are the
+horses of Matholwch king of Ireland, who is married to Branwen, thy
+sister; his horses are they.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And is it thus they
+have done with a maiden such as she, and moreover my sister, bestowing
+her without my consent?&nbsp; They could have offered no greater insult
+to me than this,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; And thereupon he rushed under
+the horses and cut off their lips at the teeth, and their ears close
+to their heads, and their tails close to their backs, and wherever he
+could clutch their eyelids, he cut them to the very bone, and he disfigured
+the horses and rendered them useless.<br>
+<br>
+And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch, saying that the horses
+were disfigured, and injured so that not one of them could ever be of
+any use again.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily, lord,&rdquo; said one, &ldquo;it
+was an insult unto thee, and as such was it meant.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Of
+a truth, it is a marvel to me, that if they desire to insult me, they
+should have given me a maiden of such high rank and so much beloved
+of her kindred, as they have done.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said another, &ldquo;thou seest that thus it is, and there is nothing
+for thee to do but to go to thy ships.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thereupon towards
+his ships he set out.<br>
+<br>
+And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch was quitting the Court
+without asking leave, and messengers were sent to inquire of him wherefore
+he did so.&nbsp; And the messengers that went were Iddic the son of
+Anarawd, and Heveydd Hir.&nbsp; And these overtook him and asked of
+him what he designed to do, and wherefore he went forth.&nbsp; &ldquo;Of
+a truth,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if I had known I had not come hither.&nbsp;
+I have been altogether insulted, no one had ever worse treatment than
+I have had here.&nbsp; But one thing surprises me above all.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What is that?&rdquo; asked they.&nbsp; &ldquo;That Branwen the
+daughter of Llyr, one of the three chief ladies of this island, and
+the daughter of the King of the Island of the Mighty, should have been
+given me as my bride, and that after that I should have been insulted;
+and I marvel that the insult was not done me before they had bestowed
+upon me a maiden so exalted as she.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly, lord,
+it was not the will of any that are of the Court,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;nor of any that are of the council, that thou shouldest have
+received this insult; and as thou hast been insulted, the dishonour
+is greater unto Bendigeid Vran than unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;I think so.&nbsp; Nevertheless he cannot recall the
+insult.&rdquo;&nbsp; These men returned with that answer to the place
+where Bendigeid Vran was, and they told him what reply Matholwch had
+given them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;there are no
+means by which we may prevent his going away at enmity with us, that
+we will not take.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Well, lord,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;send after him another embassy.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do
+so,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Arise, Manawyddan son of Llyr, and
+Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and go after him, and tell him that
+he shall have a sound horse for every one that has been injured.&nbsp;
+And beside that, as an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff
+of silver, as large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of the
+breadth of his face.&nbsp; And show unto him who it was that did this,
+and that it was done against my will; but that he who did it is my brother,
+by the mother&rsquo;s side, and therefore it would be hard for me to
+put him to death.&nbsp; And let him come and meet me,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and we will make peace in any way he may desire.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The embassy went after Matholwch, and told him all these sayings in
+a friendly manner, and he listened thereunto.&nbsp; &ldquo;Men,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;I will take counsel.&rdquo;&nbsp; So to the council
+he went.&nbsp; And in the council they considered that if they should
+refuse this, they were likely to have more shame rather than to obtain
+so great an atonement.&nbsp; They resolved therefore to accept it, and
+they returned to the Court in peace.<br>
+<br>
+Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after the fashion
+of a hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at the beginning
+of the feast, so sat they there.&nbsp; And Matholwch and Bendigeid Vran
+began to discourse; and behold it seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they
+talked, that Matholwch was not so cheerful as he had been before.&nbsp;
+And he thought that the chieftain might be sad, because of the smallness
+of the atonement which he had, for the wrong that had been done him.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Oh, man,&rdquo; said Bendigeid Vran, &ldquo;thou dost not discourse
+to-night so cheerfully as thou wast wont.&nbsp; And if it be because
+of the smallness of the atonement, thou shalt add thereunto whatsoever
+thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I will pay thee the horses.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;Heaven reward thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;And I will enhance the atonement,&rdquo; said Bendigeid Vran,
+&ldquo;for I will give unto thee a cauldron, the property of which is,
+that if one of thy men be slain to-day, and be cast therein, to-morrow
+he will be as well as ever he was at the best, except that he will not
+regain his speech.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thereupon he gave him great thanks,
+and very joyful was he for that cause.<br>
+<br>
+And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses as long as the trained
+horses lasted.&nbsp; And then they journeyed into another commot, where
+they paid him with colts until the whole had been paid, and from thenceforth
+that commot was called Talebolion.<br>
+<br>
+And a second night sat they together.&nbsp; &ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said
+Matholwch, &ldquo;whence hadst thou the cauldron which thou hast given
+me?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I had it of a man who had been in thy land,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and I would not give it except to one from there.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Who was it?&rdquo; asked he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Llassar Llaesgyvnewid;
+he came here from Ireland with Kymideu Kymeinvoll, his wife, who escaped
+from the Iron House in Ireland, when it was made red hot around them,
+and fled hither.&nbsp; And it is a marvel to me that thou shouldst know
+nothing concerning the matter.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Something I do know,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and as much as I know I will tell thee.&nbsp; One day
+I was hunting in Ireland, and I came to the mound at the head of the
+lake, which is called the Lake of the Cauldron.&nbsp; And I beheld a
+huge yellow-haired man coming from the lake with a cauldron upon his
+back.&nbsp; And he was a man of vast size, and of horrid aspect, and
+a woman followed after him.&nbsp; And if the man was tall, twice as
+large as he was the woman, and they came towards me and greeted me.&nbsp;
+&lsquo;Verily,&rsquo; asked I, &lsquo;wherefore are you journeying?&rsquo;&nbsp;
+&lsquo;Behold, this,&rsquo; said he to me, &lsquo;is the cause that
+we journey.&nbsp; At the end of a month and a fortnight this woman will
+have a son; and the child that will be born at the end of the month
+and the fortnight will be a warrior fully armed.&rsquo;&nbsp; So I took
+them with me and maintained them.&nbsp; And they were with me for a
+year.&nbsp; And that year I had them with me not grudgingly.&nbsp; But
+thenceforth was there murmuring, because that they were with me.&nbsp;
+For, from the beginning of the fourth month they had begun to make themselves
+hated and to be disorderly in the land; committing outrages, and molesting
+and harassing the nobles and ladies; and thenceforward my people rose
+up and besought me to part with them, and they bade me to choose between
+them and my dominions.&nbsp; And I applied to the council of my country
+to know what should be done concerning them; for of their own free will
+they would not go, neither could they be compelled against their will,
+through fighting.&nbsp; And [the people of the country] being in this
+strait, they caused a chamber to be made all of iron.&nbsp; Now when
+the chamber was ready, there came there every smith that was in Ireland,
+and every one who owned tongs and hammer.&nbsp; And they caused coals
+to be piled up as high as the top of the chamber.&nbsp; And they had
+the man, and the woman, and the children, served with plenty of meat
+and drink; but when it was known that they were drunk, they began to
+put fire to the coals about the chamber, and they blew it with bellows
+until the house was red hot all around them.&nbsp; Then was there a
+council held in the centre of the floor of the chamber.&nbsp; And the
+man tarried until the plates of iron were all of a white heat; and then,
+by reason of the great heat, the man dashed against the plates with
+his shoulder and struck them out, and his wife followed him; but except
+him and his wife none escaped thence.&nbsp; And then I suppose, lord,&rdquo;
+said Matholwch unto Bendigeid Vran, &ldquo;that he came over unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Doubtless he came here,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and gave unto
+me the cauldron.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;In what manner didst thou receive
+them?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I dispersed them through every part of my
+dominions, and they have become numerous and are prospering everywhere,
+and they fortify the places where they are with men and arms, of the
+best that were ever seen.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+That night they continued to discourse as much as they would, and had
+minstrelsy and carousing, and when it was more pleasant to them to sleep
+than to sit longer, they went to rest.&nbsp; And thus was the banquet
+carried on with joyousness; and when it was finished, Matholwch journeyed
+towards Ireland, and Branwen with him, and they went from Aber Menei
+with thirteen ships, and came to Ireland.&nbsp; And in Ireland was there
+great joy because of their coming.&nbsp; And not one great man or noble
+lady visited Branwen unto whom she gave not either a clasp, or a ring,
+or a royal jewel to keep, such as it was honourable to be seen departing
+with.&nbsp; And in these things she spent that year in much renown,
+and she passed her time pleasantly, enjoying honour and friendship.&nbsp;
+And in the meanwhile it chanced that she became pregnant, and in due
+time a son was born unto her, and the name that they gave him was Gwern
+the son of Matholwch, and they put the boy out to be foster-nursed,
+in a place where were the best men of Ireland.<br>
+<br>
+And behold in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on account
+of the insult which Matholwch had received in Cambria, and the payment
+made him for his horses.&nbsp; And his foster-brothers, and such as
+were nearest unto him, blamed him openly for that matter.&nbsp; And
+he might have no peace by reason of the tumult until they should revenge
+upon him this disgrace.&nbsp; And the vengeance which they took was
+to drive away Branwen from the same chamber with him, and to make her
+cook for the Court; and they caused the butcher after he had cut up
+the meat to come to her and give her every day a blow on the ear, and
+such they made her punishment.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Verily, lord,&rdquo; said his men to Matholwch, &ldquo;forbid
+now the ships and the ferry boats and the coracles, that they go not
+into Cambria, and such as come over from Cambria hither, imprison them
+that they go not back for this thing to be known there.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And he did so; and it was thus for not less than three years.<br>
+<br>
+And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading trough, and
+she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what manner of man her
+brother was.&nbsp; And she wrote a letter of her woes, and the despite
+with which she was treated, and she bound the letter to the root of
+the bird&rsquo;s wing, and sent it towards Britain.&nbsp; And the bird
+came to this island, and one day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer Seiont
+in Arvon, conferring there, and it alighted upon his shoulder and ruffled
+its feathers, so that the letter was seen, and they knew that the bird
+had been reared in a domestic manner.<br>
+<br>
+Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it.&nbsp; And when
+he had read the letter he grieved exceedingly at the tidings of Branwen&rsquo;s
+woes.&nbsp; And immediately he began sending messengers to summon the
+island together.&nbsp; And he caused sevenscore and four countries to
+come unto him, and he complained to them himself of the grief that his
+sister endured.&nbsp; So they took counsel.&nbsp; And in the council
+they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men as princes here,
+and Caradawc, the son of Bran, as the chief of them, and their seven
+knights.&nbsp; In Edeyrnion were these men left.&nbsp; And for this
+reason were the seven knights placed in the town.&nbsp; Now the names
+of these seven men were, Caradawc the son of Bran, and Heveydd Hir,
+and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and Iddic the son of Anarawc Gwalltgrwn, and Fodor
+the son of Ervyll, and Gwlch Minascwrn, and Llassar the son of Llaesar
+Llaesgygwyd, and Pendaran Dyved as a young page with them.&nbsp; And
+these abode as seven ministers to take charge of this island; and Caradawc
+the son of Bran was the chief amongst them.<br>
+<br>
+Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed towards Ireland,
+and it was not far across the sea, and he came to shoal water.&nbsp;
+It was caused by two rivers; the Lli and the Archan were they called;
+and the nations covered the sea.&nbsp; Then he proceeded with what provisions
+he had on his own back, and approached the shore of Ireland.<br>
+<br>
+Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the seashore, and they came
+to Matholwch.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;greeting be
+unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven protect you,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;have
+you any news?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;we
+have marvellous news, a wood have we seen upon the sea, in a place where
+we never yet saw a single tree.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This is indeed a
+marvel,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;saw you aught else?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We
+saw, lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;a vast mountain beside the wood,
+which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on the top of the mountain,
+and a lake on each side of the ridge.&nbsp; And the wood, and the mountain,
+and all these things moved.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;there is none who can know aught concerning this, unless
+it be Branwen.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Messengers then went unto Branwen.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said they,
+&ldquo;what thinkest thou that this is?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The men
+of the Island of the Mighty, who have come hither on hearing of my ill-treatment
+and my woes.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What is the forest that is seen upon
+the sea?&rdquo; asked they.&nbsp; &ldquo;The yards and the masts of
+ships,&rdquo; she answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;Alas,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;what
+is the mountain that is seen by the side of the ships?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Bendigeid Vran, my brother,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;coming
+to shoal water; there is no ship that can contain him in it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What is the lofty ridge with the lake on each side thereof?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;On looking towards this island he is wroth, and his two eyes,
+one on each side of his nose, are the two lakes beside the ridge.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The warriors and the chief men of Ireland were brought together in haste,
+and they took counsel.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said the nobles unto
+Matholwch, &ldquo;there is no other counsel than to retreat over the
+Linon (a river which is in Ireland), and to keep the river between thee
+and him, and to break down the bridge that is across the river, for
+there is a loadstone at the bottom of the river that neither ship nor
+vessel can pass over.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they retreated across the river,
+and broke down the bridge.<br>
+<br>
+Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with him by the bank of the
+river.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said his chieftains, &ldquo;knowest
+thou the nature of this river, that nothing can go across it, and there
+is no bridge over it?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;is
+thy counsel concerning a bridge?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;There is none,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;except that he who will be chief, let him be a bridge.&nbsp;
+I will be so,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; And then was that saying first uttered,
+and it is still used as a proverb.&nbsp; And when he had lain down across
+the river, hurdles were placed upon him, and the host passed over thereby.<br>
+<br>
+And as he rose up, behold the messengers of Matholwch came to him, and
+saluted him, and gave him greeting in the name of Matholwch, his kinsman,
+and showed how that of his goodwill he had merited of him nothing but
+good.&nbsp; &ldquo;For Matholwch has given the kingdom of Ireland to
+Gwern the son of Matholwch, thy nephew and thy sister&rsquo;s son.&nbsp;
+And this he places before thee, as a compensation for the wrong and
+despite that has been done unto Branwen.&nbsp; And Matholwch shall be
+maintained wheresoever thou wilt, either here or in the Island of the
+Mighty.&rdquo;&nbsp; Said Bendigeid Vran, &ldquo;Shall not I myself
+have the kingdom?&nbsp; Then peradventure I may take counsel concerning
+your message.&nbsp; From this time until then no other answer will you
+get from me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;the
+best message that we receive for thee, we will convey it unto thee,
+and do thou await our message unto him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will wait,&rdquo;
+answered he, &ldquo;and do you return quickly.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The messengers set forth and came to Matholwch.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;prepare a better message for Bendigeid Vran.&nbsp;
+He would not listen at all to the message that we bore him.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;My friends,&rdquo; said Matholwch, &ldquo;what may be your counsel?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;there is no other counsel than
+this alone.&nbsp; He was never known to be within a house, make therefore
+a house that will contain him and the men of the Island of the Mighty
+on the one side, and thyself and thy host on the other; and give over
+thy kingdom to his will, and do him homage.&nbsp; So by reason of the
+honour thou doest him in making him a house, whereas he never before
+had a house to contain him, he will make peace with thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So the messengers went back to Bendigeid Vran, bearing him this message.<br>
+<br>
+And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved that he should
+accept this, and this was all done by the advice of Branwen, and lest
+the country should be destroyed.&nbsp; And this peace was made, and
+the house was built both vast and strong.&nbsp; But the Irish planned
+a crafty device, and the craft was that they should put brackets on
+each side of the hundred pillars that were in the house, and should
+place a leathern bag on each bracket, and an armed man in every one
+of them.&nbsp; Then Evnissyen came in before the host of the Island
+of the Mighty, and scanned the house with fierce and savage looks, and
+descried the leathern bags which were around the pillars.&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+is in this bag?&rdquo; asked he of one of the Irish.&nbsp; &ldquo;Meal,
+good soul,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; And Evnissyen felt about it until he
+came to the man&rsquo;s head, and he squeezed the head until he felt
+his fingers meet together in the brain through the bone.&nbsp; And he
+left that one and put his hand upon another, and asked what was therein.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Meal,&rdquo; said the Irishman.&nbsp; So he did the like unto
+every one of them, until he had not left alive, of all the two hundred
+men, save one only; and when he came to him, he asked what was there.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Meal, good soul,&rdquo; said the Irishman.&nbsp; And he felt
+about until he felt the head, and he squeezed that head as he had done
+the others.&nbsp; And, albeit he found that the head of this one was
+armed, he left him not until he had killed him.&nbsp; And then he sang
+an Englyn:-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;There is in this bag a different sort of meal,<br>
+The ready combatant, when the assault is made<br>
+By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Thereupon came the hosts unto the house.&nbsp; The men of the Island
+of Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the men of the Island
+of the Mighty on the other.&nbsp; And as soon as they had sat down there
+was concord between them; and the sovereignty was conferred upon the
+boy.&nbsp; When the peace was concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy
+unto him, and from Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and
+he was beloved by all that beheld him.&nbsp; And from Manawyddan the
+boy was called by Nissyen the son of Eurosswydd, and the boy went unto
+him lovingly.&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore,&rdquo; said Evnissyen, &ldquo;comes
+not my nephew the son of my sister unto me?&nbsp; Though he were not
+king of Ireland, yet willingly would I fondle the boy.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Cheerfully let him go to thee,&rdquo; said Bendigeid Vran, and
+the boy went unto him cheerfully.&nbsp; &ldquo;By my confession to Heaven,&rdquo;
+said Evnissyen in his heart, &ldquo;unthought of by the household is
+the slaughter that I will this instant commit.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and before any one in
+the house could seize hold of him, he thrust the boy headlong into the
+blazing fire.&nbsp; And when Branwen saw her son burning in the fire,
+she strove to leap into the fire also, from the place where she sat
+between her two brothers.&nbsp; But Bendigeid Vran grasped her with
+one hand, and his shield with the other.&nbsp; Then they all hurried
+about the house, and never was there made so great a tumult by any host
+in one house as was made by them, as each man armed himself.&nbsp; Then
+said Morddwydtyllyon, &ldquo;The gadflies of Morddwydtyllyon&rsquo;s
+Cow!&rdquo;&nbsp; And while they all sought their arms, Bendigeid Vran
+supported Branwen between his shield and his shoulder.<br>
+<br>
+Then the Irish kindled a fire under the cauldron of renovation, and
+they cast the dead bodies into the cauldron until it was full, and the
+next day they came forth fighting-men as good as before, except that
+they were not able to speak.&nbsp; Then when Evnissyen saw the dead
+bodies of the men of the Island of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated,
+he said in his heart, &ldquo;Alas! woe is me, that I should have been
+the cause of bringing the men of the Island of the Mighty into so great
+a strait.&nbsp; Evil betide me if I find not a deliverance therefrom.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And he cast himself among the dead bodies of the Irish, and two unshod
+Irishmen came to him, and, taking him to be one of the Irish, flung
+him into the cauldron.&nbsp; And he stretched himself out in the cauldron,
+so that he rent the cauldron into four pieces, and burst his own heart
+also.<br>
+<br>
+In consequence of that the men of the Island of the Mighty obtained
+such success as they had; but they were not victorious, for only seven
+men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran himself was wounded in the
+foot with a poisoned dart.&nbsp; Now the seven men that escaped were
+Pryderi, Manawyddan, Gluneu Eil Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc, Grudyen the
+son of Muryel, and Heilyn the son of Gwynn Hen.<br>
+<br>
+And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off his head.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;And take you my head,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and bear it even
+unto the White Mount, in London, and bury it there, with the face towards
+France.&nbsp; And a long time will you be upon the road.&nbsp; In Harlech
+you will be feasting seven years, the birds of Rhiannon singing unto
+you the while.&nbsp; And all that time the head will be to you as pleasant
+company as it ever was when on my body.&nbsp; And at Gwales in Penvro
+you will be fourscore years, and you may remain there, and the head
+with you uncorrupted, until you open the door that looks towards Aber
+Henvelen, and towards Cornwall.&nbsp; And after you have opened that
+door, there you may no longer tarry, set forth then to London to bury
+the head, and go straight forward.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward therewith.&nbsp;
+And Branwen was the eighth with them, and they came to land at Aber
+Alaw, in Talebolyon, and they sat down to rest.&nbsp; And Branwen looked
+towards Ireland and towards the Island of the Mighty, to see if she
+could descry them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Alas,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;woe is
+me that I was ever born; two islands have been destroyed because of
+me!&rdquo;&nbsp; Then she uttered a loud groan, and there broke her
+heart.&nbsp; And they made her a four-sided grave, and buried her upon
+the banks of the Alaw.<br>
+<br>
+Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Harlech, bearing the head
+with them; and as they went, behold there met them a multitude of men
+and of women.&nbsp; &ldquo;Have you any tidings?&rdquo; asked Manawyddan.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;We have none,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;save that Caswallawn the
+son of Beli has conquered the Island of the Mighty, and is crowned king
+in London.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What has become,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;of
+Caradawc the son of Bran, and the seven men who were left with him in
+this island?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Caswallawn came upon them, and slew
+six of the men, and Caradawc&rsquo;s heart broke for grief thereof;
+for he could see the sword that slew the men, but knew not who it was
+that wielded it.&nbsp; Caswallawn had flung upon him the Veil of Illusion,
+so that no one could see him slay the men, but the sword only could
+they see.&nbsp; And it liked him not to slay Caradawc, because he was
+his nephew, the son of his cousin.&nbsp; And now he was the third whose
+heart had broke through grief.&nbsp; Pendaran Dyved, who had remained
+as a young page with these men, escaped into the wood,&rdquo; said they.<br>
+<br>
+Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to rest, and they provided
+meat and liquor, and sat down to eat and to drink.&nbsp; And there came
+three birds, and began singing unto them a certain song, and all the
+songs they had ever heard were unpleasant compared thereto; and the
+birds seemed to them to be at a great distance from them over the sea,
+yet they appeared as distinct as if they were close by, and at this
+repast they continued seven years.<br>
+<br>
+And at the close of the seventh year they went forth to Gwales in Penvro.&nbsp;
+And there they found a fair and regal spot overlooking the ocean; and
+a spacious hall was therein.&nbsp; And they went into the hall, and
+two of its doors were open, but the third door was closed, that which
+looked towards Cornwall.&nbsp; &ldquo;See, yonder,&rdquo; said Manawyddan,
+&ldquo;is the door that we may not open.&rdquo;&nbsp; And that night
+they regaled themselves and were joyful.&nbsp; And of all they had seen
+of food laid before them, and of all they had heard of, they remembered
+nothing; neither of that, nor of any sorrow whatsoever.&nbsp; And there
+they remained fourscore years, unconscious of having ever spent a time
+more joyous and mirthful.&nbsp; And they were not more weary than when
+first they came, neither did they, any of them, know the time they had
+been there.&nbsp; And it was not more irksome to them having the head
+with them, than if Bendigeid Vran had been with them himself.&nbsp;
+And because of these fourscore years, it was called &ldquo;the Entertaining
+of the noble Head.&rdquo;&nbsp; The entertaining of Branwen and Matholwch
+was in the time that they went to Ireland.<br>
+<br>
+One day said Heilyn the son of Gwynn, &ldquo;Evil betide me, if I do
+not open the door to know if that is true which is said concerning it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So he opened the door and looked towards Cornwall and Aber Henvelen.&nbsp;
+And when they had looked, they were as conscious of all the evils they
+had ever sustained, and of all the friends and companions they had lost,
+and of all the misery that had befallen them, as if all had happened
+in that very spot; and especially of the fate of their lord.&nbsp; And
+because of their perturbation they could not rest, but journeyed forth
+with the head towards London.&nbsp; And they buried the head in the
+White Mount, and when it was buried, this was the third goodly concealment;
+and it was the third ill-fated disclosure when it was disinterred, inasmuch
+as no invasion from across the sea came to this island while the head
+was in that concealment.<br>
+<br>
+And thus is the story related of those who journeyed over from Ireland.<br>
+<br>
+In Ireland none were left alive, except five pregnant women in a cave
+in the Irish wilderness; and to these five women in the same night were
+born five sons, whom they nursed until they became grown-up youths.&nbsp;
+And they thought about wives, and they at the same time desired to possess
+them, and each took a wife of the mothers of their companions, and they
+governed the country and peopled it.<br>
+<br>
+And these five divided it amongst them, and because of this partition
+are the five divisions of Ireland still so termed.&nbsp; And they examined
+the land where the battles had taken place, and they found gold and
+silver until they became wealthy.<br>
+<br>
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi, concerning the blow given
+to Branwen, which was the third unhappy blow of this island; and concerning
+the entertainment of Bran, when the hosts of sevenscore countries and
+ten went over to Ireland to revenge the blow given to Branwen; and concerning
+the seven years&rsquo; banquet in Harlech, and the singing of the birds
+of Rhiannon, and the sojourning of the head for the space of fourscore
+years.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+MANAWYDDAN THE SON OF LLYR<br>
+HERE IS THE THIRD PORTION OF THE MABINOGI<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+When the seven men of whom we spoke above had buried the head of Bendigeid
+Vran, in the White Mount an London, with its face towards France; Manawyddan
+gazed upon the town of London, and upon his companions, and heaved a
+great sigh; and much grief and heaviness came upon him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Alas,
+Almighty Heaven, woe is me,&rdquo; he exclaimed, &ldquo;there is none
+save myself without a resting-place this night.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said Pryderi, &ldquo;be not so sorrowful.&nbsp; Thy cousin is king of
+the Island of the Mighty, and though he should do thee wrong, thou hast
+never been a claimant of land or possessions.&nbsp; Thou art the third
+disinherited prince.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yea,&rdquo; answered he, &ldquo;but
+although this man is my cousin, it grieveth me to see any one in the
+place of my brother Bendigeid Vran, neither can I be happy in the same
+dwelling with him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wilt thou follow the counsel
+of another?&rdquo; said Pryderi.&nbsp; &ldquo;I stand in need of counsel,&rdquo;
+he answered, &ldquo;and what may that counsel be?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Seven
+Cantrevs remain unto me,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;wherein Rhiannon
+my mother dwells.&nbsp; I will bestow her upon thee and the seven Cantrevs
+with her, and though thou hadst no possessions but those Cantrevs only,
+thou couldst not have seven Cantrevs fairer than they.&nbsp; Kicva,
+the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw, is my wife, and since the inheritance of
+the Cantrevs belongs to me, do thou and Rhiannon enjoy them, and if
+thou ever desire any possessions thou wilt take these.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I do not, Chieftain,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee
+for thy friendship.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I would show thee the best friendship
+in the world if thou wouldst let me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will, my
+friend,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and Heaven reward thee.&nbsp; I will
+go with thee to seek Rhiannon and to look at thy possessions.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Thou wilt do well,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;And I believe
+that thou didst never hear a lady discourse better than she, and when
+she was in her prime none was ever fairer.&nbsp; Even now her aspect
+is not uncomely.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at length to
+Dyved, and a feast was prepared for them against their coming to Narberth,
+which Rhiannon and Kicva had provided.&nbsp; Then began Manawyddan and
+Rhiannon to sit and to talk together, and from their discourse his mind
+and his thoughts became warmed towards her, and he thought in his heart
+he had never beheld any lady more fulfilled of grace and beauty than
+she.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pryderi,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I will that it be
+as thou didst say.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What saying was that?&rdquo;
+asked Rhiannon.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;I did
+offer thee as a wife to Manawyddan the son of Llyr.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By
+that will I gladly abide,&rdquo; said Rhiannon.&nbsp; &ldquo;Right glad
+am I also,&rdquo; said Manawyddan; &ldquo;may Heaven reward him who
+hath shown unto me friendship so perfect as this.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And before the feast was over she became his bride.&nbsp; Said Pryderi,
+&ldquo;Tarry ye here the rest of the feast, and I will go into Lloegyr
+to tender my homage unto Caswallawn the son of Beli.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said Rhiannon, &ldquo;Caswallawn is in Kent, thou mayest therefore tarry
+at the feast, and wait until he shall be nearer.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We
+will wait,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; So they finished the feast.&nbsp;
+And they began to make the circuit of Dyved, and to hunt, and to take
+their pleasure.&nbsp; And as they went through the country, they had
+never seen lands more pleasant to live in, nor better hunting grounds,
+nor greater plenty of honey and fish.&nbsp; And such was the friendship
+between those four, that they would not be parted from each other by
+night nor by day.<br>
+<br>
+And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford, and tendered
+his homage; and honourable was his reception there, and highly was he
+praised for offering his homage.<br>
+<br>
+And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took their
+ease and pleasure.&nbsp; And they began a feast at Narberth, for it
+was the chief palace; and there originated all honour.&nbsp; And when
+they had ended the first meal that night, while those who served them
+ate, they arose and went forth, and proceeded all four to the Gorsedd
+of Narberth, and their retinue with them.&nbsp; And as they sat thus,
+behold, a peal of thunder, and with the violence of the thunderstorm,
+lo there came a fall of mist, so thick that not one of them could see
+the other.&nbsp; And after the mist it became light all around.&nbsp;
+And when they looked towards the place where they were wont to see cattle,
+and herds, and dwellings, they saw nothing now, neither house, nor beast,
+nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor dwelling; but the houses of the Court
+empty, and desert, and uninhabited, without either man or beast within
+them.&nbsp; And truly all their companions were lost to them, without
+their knowing aught of what had befallen them, save those four only.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;In the name of Heaven,&rdquo; cried Manawyddan, &ldquo;where
+are they of the Court, and all my host beside these?&nbsp; Let us go
+and see.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they came into the hall, and there was no man;
+and they went on to the castle and to the sleeping-place, and they saw
+none; and in the mead-cellar and in the kitchen there was nought but
+desolation.&nbsp; So they four feasted, and hunted, and took their pleasure.&nbsp;
+Then they began to go through the land and all the possessions that
+they had, and they visited the houses and dwellings, and found nothing
+but wild beasts.&nbsp; And when they had consumed their feast and all
+their provisions, they fed upon the prey they killed in hunting, and
+the honey of the wild swarms.&nbsp; And thus they passed the first year
+pleasantly, and the second; but at the last they began to be weary.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;we must not bide thus.&nbsp;
+Let us go into Lloegyr, and seek some craft whereby we may gain our
+support.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they went into Lloegyr, and came as far as
+Hereford.&nbsp; And they betook themselves to making saddles.&nbsp;
+And Manawyddan began to make housings, and he gilded and coloured them
+with blue enamel, in the manner that he had seen it done by Llasar Llaesgywydd.&nbsp;
+And he made the blue enamel as it was made by the other man.&nbsp; And
+therefore is it still called Calch Lasar [blue enamel], because Llasar
+Llaesgywydd had wrought it.<br>
+<br>
+And as long as that workmanship could be had of Manawyddan, neither
+saddle nor housing was bought of a saddler throughout all Hereford;
+till at length every one of the saddlers perceived that they were losing
+much of their gain, and that no man bought of them, but him who could
+not get what he sought from Manawyddan.&nbsp; Then they assembled together,
+and agreed to slay him and his companions.<br>
+<br>
+Now they received warning of this, and took counsel whether they should
+leave the city.&nbsp; &ldquo;By Heaven,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;it
+is not my counsel that we should quit the town, but that we should slay
+these boors.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;for
+if we fight with them, we shall have evil fame, and shall be put in
+prison.&nbsp; It were better for us to go to another town to maintain
+ourselves.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they four went to another city.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;What craft shall we take?&rdquo; said Pryderi.&nbsp; &ldquo;We
+will make shields,&rdquo; said Manawyddan.&nbsp; &ldquo;Do we know anything
+about that craft?&rdquo; said Pryderi.&nbsp; &ldquo;We will try,&rdquo;
+answered he.&nbsp; There they began to make shields, and fashioned them
+after the shape of the good shields they had seen; and they enamelled
+they, as them had done the saddles.&nbsp; And they prospered in that
+place, so that not a shield was asked for in the whole town, but such
+as was had of them.&nbsp; Rapid therefore was their work, and numberless
+were the shields they made.&nbsp; But at last they were marked by the
+craftsmen, who came together in haste, and their fellow-townsmen with
+them, and agreed that they should seek to slay them.&nbsp; But they
+received warning, and heard how the men had resolved on their destruction.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Pryderi,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;these men desire to slay
+us.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Let us not endure this from these boors, but
+let us rather fall upon them and slay them.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Not
+so,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;Caswallawn and his men will hear of it,
+and we shall be undone.&nbsp; Let us go to another town.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So to another town they went.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;What craft shall we take?&rdquo; said Manawyddan.&nbsp; &ldquo;Whatsoever
+thou wilt that we know,&rdquo; said Pryderi.&nbsp; &ldquo;Not so,&rdquo;
+he replied, &ldquo;but let us take to making shoes, for there is not
+courage enough among cordwainers either to fight with us or to molest
+us.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I know nothing thereof,&rdquo; said Pryderi.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;But I know,&rdquo; answered Manawyddan; &ldquo;and I will teach
+thee to stitch.&nbsp; We will not attempt to dress the leather, but
+we will buy it ready dressed and will make the shoes from it.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So he began by buying the best cordwal that could be had in the town,
+and none other would he buy except the leather for the soles; and he
+associated himself with the best goldsmith in the town, and caused him
+to make clasps for the shoes, and to gild the clasps, and he marked
+how it was done until he learnt the method.&nbsp; And therefore was
+he called one of the three makers of Gold Shoes; and, when they could
+be had from him, not a shoe nor hose was bought of any of the cordwainers
+in the town.&nbsp; But when the cordwainers perceived that their gains
+were failing (for as Manawyddan shaped the work, so Pryderi stitched
+it), they came together and took counsel, and agreed that they would
+slay them.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Pryderi,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;these men are minded
+to slay us.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore should we bear this from the
+boorish thieves?&rdquo; said Pryderi.&nbsp; &ldquo;Rather let us slay
+them all.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Not so,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;we
+will not slay them, neither will we remain in Lloegyr any longer.&nbsp;
+Let us set forth to Dyved and go to see it.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they journeyed along until they came to Dyved, and they went forward
+to Narberth.&nbsp; And there they kindled fire and supported themselves
+by hunting.&nbsp; And thus they spent a month.&nbsp; And they gathered
+their dogs around them, and tarried there one year.<br>
+<br>
+And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to hunt, and they ranged
+their dogs and went forth from the palace.&nbsp; And some of the dogs
+ran before them and came to a small bush which was near at hand; but
+as soon as they were come to the bush, they hastily drew back and returned
+to the men, their hair bristling up greatly.&nbsp; &ldquo;Let us go
+near to the bush,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;and see what is in it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And as they came near, behold, a wild boar of a pure white colour rose
+up from the bush.&nbsp; Then the dogs, being set on by the men, rushed
+towards him; but he left the bush and fell back a little way from the
+men, and made a stand against the dogs without retreating from them,
+until the men had come near.&nbsp; And when the men came up, he fell
+back a second time, and betook him to flight.&nbsp; Then they pursued
+the boar until they beheld a vast and lofty castle, all newly built,
+in a place where they had never before seen either stone or building.&nbsp;
+And the boar ran swiftly into the castle and the dogs after him.&nbsp;
+Now when the boar and the dogs had gone into the castle, they began
+to wonder at finding a castle in a place where they had never before
+seen any building whatsoever.&nbsp; And from the top of the Gorsedd
+they looked and listened for the dogs.&nbsp; But so long as they were
+there they heard not one of the dogs nor aught concerning them.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;I will go into the castle to
+get tidings of the dogs.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; he replied,
+&ldquo;thou wouldst be unwise to go into this castle, which thou hast
+never seen till now.&nbsp; If thou wouldst follow my counsel, thou wouldst
+not enter therein.&nbsp; Whosoever has cast a spell over this land has
+caused this castle to be here.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo;
+answered Pryderi, &ldquo;I cannot thus give up my dogs.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And for all the counsel that Manawyddan gave him, yet to the castle
+he went.<br>
+<br>
+When he came within the castle, neither man nor beast, nor boar nor
+dogs, nor house nor dwelling saw he within it.&nbsp; But in the centre
+of the castle floor he beheld a fountain with marble work around it,
+and on the margin of the fountain a golden bowl upon a marble slab,
+and chains hanging from the air, to which he saw no end.<br>
+<br>
+And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and with the
+rich workmanship of the bowl, and he went up to the bowl and laid hold
+of it.&nbsp; And when he had taken hold of it his hands stuck to the
+bowl, and his feet to the slab on which the howl was placed, and all
+his joyousness forsook him, so that he could not utter a word.&nbsp;
+And thus he stood.<br>
+<br>
+And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the day.&nbsp;
+And late in the evening, being certain that he should have no tidings
+of Pryderi or of the dogs, he went back to the palace.&nbsp; And as
+he entered, Rhiannon looked at him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Where,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;are thy companion and thy dogs?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo;
+he answered, &ldquo;the adventure that has befallen me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And he related it all unto her.&nbsp; &ldquo;An evil companion hast
+thou been,&rdquo; said Rhiannon, &ldquo;and a good companion hast thou
+lost.&rdquo;&nbsp; And with that word she went out, and proceeded towards
+the castle according to the direction which he gave her.&nbsp; The gate
+of the castle she found open.&nbsp; She was nothing daunted, and she
+went in.&nbsp; And as she went in, she perceived Pryderi laying hold
+of the bowl, and she went towards him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh, my lord,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;what dust thou do here?&rdquo;&nbsp; And she took hold
+of the bowl with him; and as she did so her hands became fast to the
+bowl, and her feet to the slab, and she was not able to utter a word.&nbsp;
+And with that, as it became night, lo, there came thunder upon them,
+and a fall of mist, and thereupon the castle vanished, and they with
+it.<br>
+<br>
+When Kicva the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw saw that there was no one in
+the palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so that she cared
+not whether she lived or died.&nbsp; And Manawyddan saw this.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Thou art in the wrong,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if through fear
+of me thou grievest thus.&nbsp; I call Heaven to witness that thou hast
+never seen friendship mere pure than that which I will bear thee, as
+long as Heaven will that thou shouldst be thus.&nbsp; I declare to thee
+that were I in the dawn of youth I would keep my faith unto Pryderi,
+and unto thee also will I keep it.&nbsp; Be there no fear upon thee,
+therefore,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for Heaven is my witness that thou
+shalt meet with all the friendship thou canst wish, and that it is in
+my power to show thee, as long as it shall please Heaven to continue
+us in this grief and woe.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven reward thee,&rdquo;
+she said, &ldquo;and that is what I deemed of thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; And
+the damsel thereupon took courage and was glad.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Truly, lady,&rdquo; said Manawyddan, &ldquo;it is not fitting
+for us to stay here, we have lost our dogs, and we cannot get food.&nbsp;
+Let us go into Lloegyr; it is easiest for us to find support there.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Gladly, lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;we will do so.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And they set forth together to Lloegyr.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;what craft wilt thou follow?&nbsp;
+Take up one that is seemly.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;None other will I take,&rdquo;
+answered he, &ldquo;save that of making shoes, as I did formerly.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;such a craft becomes not a man
+so nobly born as thou.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By that however will I abide,&rdquo;
+said he.<br>
+<br>
+So he began his craft, and he made all his work of the finest leather
+he could get in the town, and, as he had done at the other place, he
+caused gilded clasps to be made for the shoes.&nbsp; And except himself
+all the cordwainers in the town were idle, and without work.&nbsp; For
+as long as they could be had from him, neither shoes nor hose were bought
+elsewhere.&nbsp; And thus they tarried there a year, until the cordwainers
+became envious, and took counsel concerning him.&nbsp; And he had warning
+thereof, and it was told him how the cordwainers had agreed together
+to slay him.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Kicva, &ldquo;wherefore should this be borne
+from these boors?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;we
+will go back unto Dyved.&rdquo;&nbsp; So towards Dyved they set forth.<br>
+<br>
+Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved, took with him a
+burden of wheat.&nbsp; And he proceeded towards Narberth, and there
+he dwelt.&nbsp; And never was he better pleased than when he saw Narberth
+again, and the lands where he had been wont to hunt with Pryderi and
+with Rhiannon.&nbsp; And he accustomed himself to fish, and to hunt
+the deer in their covert.&nbsp; And then he began to prepare some ground,
+and he sowed a croft, and a second, and a third.&nbsp; And no wheat
+in the world ever sprung up better.&nbsp; And the three crofts prospered
+with perfect growth, and no man ever saw fairer wheat than it.<br>
+<br>
+And thus passed the seasons of the year until the harvest came.&nbsp;
+And he went to look at one of his crofts, and behold it was ripe.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will reap this to-morrow,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; And that night
+he went back to Narberth, and on the morrow in the grey dawn he went
+to reap the croft, and when he came there he found nothing but the bare
+straw.&nbsp; Every one of the ears of the wheat was cut from off the
+stalk, and all the ears carried entirely away, and nothing but the straw
+left.&nbsp; And at this he marvelled greatly.<br>
+<br>
+Then he went to look at another croft, and behold that also was ripe.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;this will I reap to-morrow.&nbsp;
+And on the morrow he came with the intent to reap it, and when he came
+there he found nothing but the bare straw.&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh, gracious
+Heaven,&rdquo; he exclaimed, &ldquo;I know that whosoever has begun
+my ruin is completing it, and has also destroyed the country with me.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then he went to look at the third croft, and when he came there, finer
+wheat had there never been seen, and this also was ripe.&nbsp; &ldquo;Evil
+betide me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if I watch not here to-night.&nbsp;
+Whoever carried off the other corn will come in like manner to take
+this.&nbsp; And I will know who it is.&rdquo;&nbsp; So he took his arms,
+and began to watch the croft.&nbsp; And he told Kicva all that had befallen.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;what thinkest thou to do?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will watch the croft to-night,&rdquo; said he.<br>
+<br>
+And he went to watch the croft.&nbsp; And at midnight, lo, there arose
+the loudest tumult in the world.&nbsp; And he looked, and behold the
+mightiest host of mice in the world, which could neither be numbered
+nor measured.&nbsp; And he knew not what it was until the mice had made
+their way into the croft, and each of them climbing up the straw and
+bending it down with its weight, had cut off one of the ears of wheat,
+and had carried it away, leaving there the stalk, and he saw not a single
+stalk there that had not a mouse to it.&nbsp; And they all took their
+way, carrying the ears with them.<br>
+<br>
+In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice, but he could no more come
+up with them than if they had been gnats, or birds in the air, except
+one only, which though it was but sluggish, went so fast that a man
+on foot could scarce overtake it.&nbsp; And after this one he went,
+and he caught it and put it in his glove, and tied up the opening of
+the glove with a string, and kept it with him, and returned to the palace.&nbsp;
+Then he came to the hall where Kicva was, and he lighted a fire, and
+hung the glove by the string upon a peg.&nbsp; &ldquo;What hast thou
+there, lord?&rdquo; said Kicva.&nbsp; &ldquo;A thief,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;that I found robbing me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What kind of thief
+may it be, lord, that thou couldst put into thy glove?&rdquo; said she.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Behold I will tell thee,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; Then he showed
+her how his fields had been wasted and destroyed, and how the mice came
+to the last of the fields in his sight.&nbsp; &ldquo;And one of them
+was less nimble than the rest, and is now in my glove; to-morrow I will
+hang it, and before Heaven, if I had them, I would hang them all.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;this is marvellous; but yet
+it would be unseemly for a man of dignity like thee to be hanging such
+a reptile as this.&nbsp; And if thou doest right, thou wilt not meddle
+with the creature, but wilt let it go.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Woe betide
+me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if I would not hang them all could I catch
+them, and such as I have I will hang.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily, lord,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;there is no reason that I should succour this reptile,
+except to prevent discredit unto thee.&nbsp; Do therefore, lord, as
+thou wilt.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;If I knew of any cause in the world wherefore
+thou shouldst succour it, I would take thy counsel concerning it,&rdquo;
+said Manawyddan, &ldquo;but as I know of none, lady, I am minded to
+destroy it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Do so willingly then,&rdquo; said she.<br>
+<br>
+And then he went to the Gorsedd of Narberth, taking the mouse with him.&nbsp;
+And he set up two forks on the highest part of the Gorsedd.&nbsp; And
+while he was doing this, behold he saw a scholar coming towards him,
+in old and poor and tattered garments.&nbsp; And it was now seven years
+since he had seen in that place either man or beast, except those four
+persons who had remained together until two of them were lost.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;My lord,&rdquo; said the scholar, &ldquo;good day to thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Heaven prosper thee, and my greeting be unto thee.&nbsp; And
+whence dost thou come, scholar?&rdquo; asked he.&nbsp; &ldquo;I come,
+lord, from singing in Lloegyr; and wherefore dost thou inquire?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Because for the last seven years,&rdquo; answered he, &ldquo;I
+have seen no man here save four secluded persons, and thyself this moment.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Truly, lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I go through this land unto
+mine own.&nbsp; And what work art thou upon, lord?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+manner of thief is that?&rdquo; asked the scholar.&nbsp; &ldquo;I see
+a creature in thy hand like unto a mouse, and ill does it become a man
+of rank equal to thine to touch a reptile such as this.&nbsp; Let it
+go forth free.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not let it go free, by Heaven,&rdquo;
+said he; &ldquo;I caught it robbing me, and the doom of a thief will
+I inflict upon it, and I will hang it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;rather than see a man of rank equal to thine at such
+a work as this, I would give thee a pound which I have received as alms,
+to let the reptile go forth free.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not let
+it go free,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;by Heaven, neither will I sell it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;As thou wilt, lord,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;except that I
+would not see a man of rank equal to thine touching such a reptile,
+I care nought.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the scholar went his way.<br>
+<br>
+And as he was placing the crossbeam upon the two forks, behold a priest
+came towards him upon a horse covered with trappings.&nbsp; &ldquo;Good
+day to thee, lord,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo;
+said Manawyddan; &ldquo;thy blessing.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The blessing
+of Heaven be upon thee.&nbsp; And what, lord, art thou doing?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What manner of thief, lord?&rdquo; asked he.&nbsp; &ldquo;A creature,&rdquo;
+he answered, &ldquo;in form of a mouse.&nbsp; It has been robbing me,
+and I am inflicting upon it the doom of a thief.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;rather than see thee touch this reptile, I would purchase
+its freedom.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By my confession to Heaven, neither
+will I sell it nor set it free.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It is true, lord,
+that it is worth nothing to buy; but rather than see thee defile thyself
+by touching such a reptile as this, I will give thee three pounds to
+let it go.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not, by Heaven,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;take any price for at.&nbsp; As it ought, so shall it be hanged.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Willingly, lord, do thy good pleasure.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the priest
+went his way.<br>
+<br>
+Then he noosed the string around the mouse&rsquo;s neck, and as he was
+about to draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop&rsquo;s retinue with his
+sumpter-horses, and his attendants.&nbsp; And the bishop himself came
+towards him.&nbsp; And he stayed his work.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord bishop,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;thy blessing.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven&rsquo;s blessing
+be unto thee,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;what work art thou upon?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Hanging a thief that I caught robbing me,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Is not that a mouse that I see in thy hand?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo;
+answered he.&nbsp; &ldquo;And she has robbed me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Aye,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;since I have come at the doom of this reptile, I will
+ransom it of thee.&nbsp; I will give thee seven pounds for it, and that
+rather than see a man of rank equal to thine destroying so vile a reptile
+as this.&nbsp; Let it loose and thou shalt have the money.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I declare to Heaven that I will not set it loose.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;If thou wilt not loose it for this, I will give thee four-and-twenty
+pounds of ready money to set it free.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not
+set it free, by Heaven, for as much again,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;If
+thou wilt not set it free for this, I will give thee all the horses
+that thou seest in this plain, and the seven loads of baggage, and the
+seven horses that they are upon.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By Heaven, I will
+not,&rdquo; he replied.&nbsp; &ldquo;Since for this thou wilt not, do
+so at what price soever thou wilt.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do so,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will that Rhiannon and Pryderi be free,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;That thou shalt have,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Not yet will I loose the mouse, by Heaven.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+then wouldst thou?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;That the charm and the illusion
+be removed from the seven Cantrevs of Dyved.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This
+shalt thou have also; set therefore the mouse free.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will not set it free, by Heaven,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will
+know who the mouse may be.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;She is my wife.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Even though she be, I will not set her free.&nbsp; Wherefore
+came she to me?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;To despoil thee,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I am Llwyd the son of Kilcoed, and I cast the charm over the
+seven Cantrevs of Dyved.&nbsp; And it was to avenge Gwawl the son of
+Clud, from the friendship I had towards him, that I cast the charm.&nbsp;
+And upon Pryderi did I revenge Gwawl the son of Clud, for the game of
+Badger in the Bag, that Pwyll Pen Annwvyn played upon him, which he
+did unadvisedly in the Court of Heveydd H&ecirc;n.&nbsp; And when it
+was known that thou wast come to dwell in the land, my household came
+and besought me to transform them into mice, that they might destroy
+thy corn.&nbsp; And it was my own household that went the first night.&nbsp;
+And the second night also they went, and they destroyed thy two crofts.&nbsp;
+And the third night came unto me my wife and the ladies of the Court,
+and besought me to transform them.&nbsp; And I transformed them.&nbsp;
+Now she is pregnant.&nbsp; And had she not been pregnant thou wouldst
+not have been able to overtake her; but since this has taken place,
+and she has been caught, I will restore thee Pryderi and Rhiannon; and
+I will take the charm and illusion from off Dyved.&nbsp; I have now
+told thee who she is.&nbsp; Set her therefore free.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will not set her free, by Heaven,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+wilt thou more?&rdquo; he asked.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will that there be no
+more charm upon the seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and that none shall be
+put upon it henceforth.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This thou shalt have,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Now set her free.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not,
+by my faith,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;What wilt thou furthermore?&rdquo;
+asked he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;this will I have;
+that vengeance be never taken for this, either upon Pryderi or Rhiannon,
+or upon me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;All this shalt thou have.&nbsp; And
+truly thou hast done wisely in asking this.&nbsp; Upon thy head would
+have lighted all this trouble.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yea,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;for fear thereof was it, that I required this.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Set now my wife at liberty.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not, by
+Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;until I see Pryderi and Rhiannon with
+me free.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold, here they come,&rdquo; he answered.<br>
+<br>
+And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon.&nbsp; And he rose up to meet
+them, and greeted them, and sat down beside them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah, Chieftain,
+set now my wife at liberty,&rdquo; said the bishop.&nbsp; &ldquo;Hast
+thou not received all thou didst ask?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will release
+her gladly,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; And thereupon he set her free.<br>
+<br>
+Then Llwyd struck her with a magic wand, and she was changed back into
+a young woman, the fairest ever seen.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Look around upon thy land,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and then thou
+wilt see it all tilled and peopled, as it was in its best state.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And he rose up and looked forth.&nbsp; And when he looked he saw all
+the lands tilled, and full of herds and dwellings.&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+bondage,&rdquo; he inquired, &ldquo;has there been upon Pryderi and
+Rhiannon?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Pryderi has had the knockers of the gate
+of my palace about his neck, and Rhiannon has had the collars of the
+asses, after they have been carrying hay, about her neck.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And such had been their bondage.<br>
+<br>
+And by reason of this bondage is this story called the Mabinogi of Mynnweir
+and Mynord.<br>
+<br>
+And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY<br>
+THIS IS THE FOURTH PORTION OF THE MABINOGI<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Math the son of Mathonwy was lord over Gwynedd, and Pryderi the son
+of Pwyll was lord over the one-and-twenty Cantrevs of the South; and
+these were the seven Cantrevs of Dyved, and the seven Cantrevs of Morganwc,
+the four Cantrevs of Ceredigiawn, and the three of Ystrad Tywi.<br>
+<br>
+At that time, Math the son of Mathonwy could not exist unless his feet
+were in the lap of a maiden, except only when he was prevented by the
+tumult of war.&nbsp; Now the maiden who was with him was Goewin, the
+daughter of Pebin of D&ocirc;l Pebin, in Arvon, and she was the fairest
+maiden of her time who was known there.<br>
+<br>
+And Math dwelt always at Caer Dathyl, in Arvon, and was not able to
+go the circuit of the land, but Gilvaethwy the son of Don, and Eneyd
+the son of Don, his nephews, the sons of his sisters, with his household,
+went the circuit of the land in his stead.<br>
+<br>
+Now the maiden was with Math continually, and Gilvaethwy the son of
+Don set his affections upon her, and loved her so that he knew not what
+he should do because of her, and therefrom behold his hue, and his aspect,
+and his spirits changed for love of her, so that it was not easy to
+know him.<br>
+<br>
+One day his brother Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Youth,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;what aileth thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Why,&rdquo; replied
+he, &ldquo;what seest thou in me?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I see,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;that thou hast lost thy aspect and thy hue; what, therefore,
+aileth thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;My lord brother,&rdquo; he answered,
+&ldquo;that which aileth me, it will not profit me that I should own
+to any.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What may it be, my soul?&rdquo; said he.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Thou knowest,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;that Math the son of Mathonwy
+has this property, that if men whisper together, in a tone how low soever,
+if the wind meet it, it becomes known unto him.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo;
+said Gwydion, &ldquo;hold now thy peace, I know thy intent, thou lovest
+Goewin.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+When he found that his brother knew his intent, he gave the heaviest
+sigh in the world.&nbsp; &ldquo;Be silent, my soul, and sigh not,&rdquo;
+he said.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is not thereby that thou wilt succeed.&nbsp;
+I will cause,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;if it cannot be otherwise, the
+rising of Gwynedd, and Powys, and Deheubarth, to seek the maiden.&nbsp;
+Be thou of glad cheer therefore, and I will compass it.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they went unto Math the son of Mathonwy.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said Gwydion, &ldquo;I have heard that there have come to the South
+some beasts, such as were never known in this island before.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What are they called?&rdquo; he asked.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pigs, lord.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;And what kind of animals are they?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;They are
+small animals, and their flesh is better than the flesh of oxen.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;They are small, then?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;And they change their
+names.&nbsp; Swine are they now called.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Who owneth
+them?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Pryderi the son of Pwyll; they were sent him
+from Annwvyn, by Arawn the king of Annwvyn, and still they keep that
+name, half hog, half pig.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; asked he,
+&ldquo;and by what means may they be obtained from him?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will go, lord, as one of twelve, in the guise of bards, to
+seek the swine.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;But it may be that he will refuse
+you,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;My journey will not be evil, lord,&rdquo;
+said he; &ldquo;I will not come back without the swine.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Gladly,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;go thou forward.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So he and Gilvaethwy went, and ten other men with them.&nbsp; And they
+came into Ceredigiawn, to the place that is now called Rhuddlan Teivi,
+where the palace of Pryderi was.&nbsp; In the guise of bards they came
+in, and they were received joyfully, and Gwydion was placed beside Pryderi
+that night.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;gladly would I have a
+tale from some of your men yonder.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said Gwydion, &ldquo;we have a custom that the first night that we come
+to the Court of a great man, the chief of song recites.&nbsp; Gladly
+will I relate a tale.&rdquo;&nbsp; Now Gwydion was the best teller of
+tales in the world, and he diverted all the Court that night with pleasant
+discourse and with tales, so that he charmed every one in the Court,
+and it pleased Pryderi to talk with him.<br>
+<br>
+And after this, &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he unto Pryderi, &ldquo;were
+it more pleasing to thee, that another should discharge my errand unto
+thee, than that I should tell thee myself what it is?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;No,&rdquo;
+he answered, &ldquo;ample speech hast thou.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold
+then, lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;my errand.&nbsp; It is to crave from
+thee the animals that were sent thee from Annwvyn.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+he replied, &ldquo;that were the easiest thing in the world to grant,
+were there not a covenant between me and my land concerning them.&nbsp;
+And the covenant is that they shall not go from me, until they have
+produced double their number in the land.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;I can set thee free from those words, and this is the
+way I can do so; give me not the swine to-night, neither refuse them
+unto me, and to-morrow I will show thee an exchange for them.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And that night he and his fellows went unto their lodging, and they
+took counsel.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah, my men,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;we shall
+not have the swine for the asking.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;how may they be obtained?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will
+cause them to be obtained,&rdquo; said Gwydion.<br>
+<br>
+Then he betook himself to his arts, and began to work a charm.&nbsp;
+And he caused twelve chargers to appear, and twelve black greyhounds,
+each of them white-breasted, and having upon them twelve collars and
+twelve leashes, such as no one that saw them could know to be other
+than gold.&nbsp; And upon the horses twelve saddles, and every part
+which should have been of iron was entirely of gold, and the bridles
+were of the same workmanship.&nbsp; And with the horses and the dogs
+he came to Pryderi.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Good day unto thee, lord,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+prosper thee,&rdquo; said the other, &ldquo;and greetings be unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;behold here is a release for thee
+from the word which thou spakest last evening concerning the swine;
+that thou wouldst neither give nor sell them.&nbsp; Thou mayest exchange
+them for that which is better.&nbsp; And I will give these twelve horses,
+all caparisoned as they are, with their saddles and their bridles, and
+these twelve greyhounds, with their collars and their leashes as thou
+seest, and the twelve gilded shields that thou beholdest yonder.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Now these he had formed of fungus.&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;we will take counsel.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they consulted together,
+and determined to give the swine to Gwydion, and to take his horses
+and his dogs and his shields.<br>
+<br>
+Then Gwydion and his men took their leave, and began to journey forth
+with the pigs.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah, my comrades,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;it
+is needful that we journey with speed.&nbsp; The illusion will not last
+but from the one hour to the same to-morrow.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And that night they journeyed as far as the upper part of Ceredigiawn,
+to the place which, from that cause, is called Mochdrev still.&nbsp;
+And the next day they took their course through Melenydd, and came that
+night to the town which is likewise for that reason called Mochdrev
+between Keri and Arwystli.&nbsp; And thence they journeyed forward;
+and that night they came as far as that Commot in Powys, which also
+upon account thereof is called Mochnant, and there tarried they that
+night.&nbsp; And they journeyed thence to the Cantrev of Rhos, and the
+place where they were that night is still called Mochdrev.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;My men,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;we must push forward to the
+fastnesses of Gwynedd with these animals, for there is a gathering of
+hosts in pursuit of us.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they journeyed on to the highest
+town of Arllechwedd, and there they made a sty for the swine, and therefore
+was the name of Creuwyryon given to that town.&nbsp; And after they
+had made the sty for the swine, they proceeded to Math the son of Mathonwy,
+at Caer Dathyl.&nbsp; And when they came there, the country was rising.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What news is there here?&rdquo; asked Gwydion.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pryderi
+is assembling one-and-twenty Cantrevs to pursue after you,&rdquo; answered
+they.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is marvellous that you should have journeyed so
+slowly.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Where are the animals whereof you went in
+quest?&rdquo; said Math.&nbsp; &ldquo;They have had a sty made for them
+in the other Cantrev below,&rdquo; said Gwydion.<br>
+<br>
+Thereupon, lo, they heard the trumpets and the host in the land, and
+they arrayed themselves and set forward and came to Penardd in Arvon.<br>
+<br>
+And at night Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy his brother, returned
+to Caer Dathyl; and Gilvaethwy took Math the son of Mathonwy&rsquo;s
+couch.&nbsp; And while he turned out the other damsels from the room
+discourteously, he made Goewin unwillingly remain.<br>
+<br>
+And when they saw the day on the morrow, they went back unto the place
+where Math the son of Mathonwy was with his host; and when they came
+there, the warriors were taking counsel in what district they should
+await the coming of Pryderi, and the men of the South.&nbsp; So they
+went in to the council.&nbsp; And it was resolved to wait in the strongholds
+of Gwynedd, in Arvon.&nbsp; So within the two Maenors they took their
+stand, Maenor Penardd and Maenor Coed Alun.&nbsp; And there Pryderi
+attacked them, and there the combat took place.&nbsp; And great was
+the slaughter on both sides; but the men of the South were forced to
+flee.&nbsp; And they fled unto the place which is still called Nantcall.&nbsp;
+And thither did they follow them, and they made a vast slaughter of
+them there, so that they fled again as far as the place called Dol Pen
+Maen, and there they halted and sought to make peace.<br>
+<br>
+And that he might have peace, Pryderi gave hostages, Gwrgi Gwastra gave
+he and three-and-twenty others, sons of nobles.&nbsp; And after this
+they journeyed in peace even unto Traeth Mawr; but as they went on together
+towards Melenryd, the men on foot could not be restrained from shooting.&nbsp;
+Pryderi dispatched unto Math an embassy to pray him to forbid his people,
+and to leave it between him and Gwydion the son of Don, for that he
+had caused all this.&nbsp; And the messengers came to Math.&nbsp; &ldquo;Of
+a truth,&rdquo; said Math, &ldquo;I call Heaven to witness, if it be
+pleasing unto Gwydion the son of Don, I will so leave it gladly.&nbsp;
+Never will I compel any to go to fight, but that we ourselves should
+do our utmost.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said the messengers, &ldquo;Pryderi saith that
+it were more fair that the man who did him this wrong should oppose
+his own body to his, and let his people remain unscathed.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I declare to Heaven, I will not ask the men of Gwynedd to fight
+because of me.&nbsp; If I am allowed to fight Pryderi myself, gladly
+will I oppose my body to his.&rdquo;&nbsp; And this answer they took
+back to Pryderi.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Pryderi, &ldquo;I shall
+require no one to demand my rights but myself.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then these two came forth and armed themselves, and they fought.&nbsp;
+And by force of strength, and fierceness, and by the magic and charms
+of Gwydion, Pryderi was slain.&nbsp; And at Maen Tyriawc, above Melenryd,
+was he buried, and there is his grave.<br>
+<br>
+And the men of the South set forth in sorrow towards their own land;
+nor is it a marvel that they should grieve, seeing that they had lost
+their lord, and many of their best warriors, and for the most part their
+horses and their arms.<br>
+<br>
+The men of Gwynedd went back joyful and in triumph.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said Gwydion unto Math, &ldquo;would it not be right for us to release
+the hostages of the men of the South, which they pledged unto us for
+peace? for we ought not to put them in prison.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Let
+them then be set free,&rdquo; saith Math.&nbsp; So that youth, and the
+other hostages that were with him, were set free to follow the men of
+the South.<br>
+<br>
+Math himself went forward to Caer Dathyl.&nbsp; Gilvaethwy the son of
+Don, and they of the household that were with him, went to make the
+circuit of Gwynedd as they were wont, without coming to the Court.&nbsp;
+Math went into his chamber, and caused a place to be prepared for him
+whereon to recline, so that he might put his feet in the maiden&rsquo;s
+lap.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Goewin, &ldquo;seek now another
+to hold thy feet, for I am now a wife.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;What meaneth
+this?&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;An attack, lord, was made unawares
+upon me; but I held not my peace, and there was no one in the Court
+who knew not of it.&nbsp; Now the attack was made by thy nephews, lord,
+the sons of thy sister, Gwydion the son of Don, and Gilvaethwy the son
+of Don; unto me they did wrong, and unto thee dishonour.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; he exclaimed, &ldquo;I will do to the utmost of
+my power concerning this matter.&nbsp; But first I will cause thee to
+have compensation, and then will I have amends made unto myself.&nbsp;
+As for thee, I will take thee to be my wife, and the possession of my
+dominions will I give unto thy hands.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And Gwydion and Gilvaethwy came not near the Court, but stayed in the
+confines of the land until it was forbidden to give them meat and drink.&nbsp;
+At first they came not near unto Math, but at the last they came.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;good day to thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;is it to make me compensation that
+ye are come?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; they said, &ldquo;we are
+at thy will.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By my will I would not have lost my
+warriors, and so many arms as I have done.&nbsp; You cannot compensate
+me my shame, setting aside the death of Pryderi.&nbsp; But since ye
+come hither to be at my will, I shall begin your punishment forthwith.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then he took his magic wand, and struck Gilvaethwy, so that he became
+a deer, and he seized upon the other hastily lest he should escape from
+him.&nbsp; And he struck him with the same magic wand, and he became
+a deer also.&nbsp; &ldquo;Since now ye are in bonds, I will that ye
+go forth together and be companions, and possess the nature of the animals
+whose form ye bear.&nbsp; And this day twelvemonth come hither unto
+me.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+At the end of a year from that day, lo there was a loud noise under
+the chamber wall, and the barking of the dogs of the palace together
+with the noise.&nbsp; &ldquo;Look,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;what is without.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said one, &ldquo;I have looked; there are there
+two deer, and a fawn with them.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then he arose and went
+out.&nbsp; And when he came he beheld the three animals.&nbsp; And he
+lifted up his wand.&nbsp; &ldquo;As ye were deer last year, be ye wild
+hogs each and either of you, for the year that is to come.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And thereupon he struck them with the magic wand.&nbsp; &ldquo;The young
+one will I take and cause to be baptized.&rdquo;&nbsp; Now the name
+that he gave him was Hydwn.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go ye and be wild swine, each
+and either of you, and be ye of the nature of wild swine.&nbsp; And
+this day twelvemonth be ye here under the wall.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+At the end of the year the barking of dogs was heard under the wall
+of the chamber.&nbsp; And the Court assembled, and thereupon he arose
+and went forth, and when he came forth he beheld three beasts.&nbsp;
+Now these were the beasts that he saw; two wild hogs of the woods, and
+a well-grown young one with them.&nbsp; And he was very large for his
+age.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Math, &ldquo;this one will I take
+and cause to be baptized.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he struck him with his magic
+wand, and he become a fine fair auburn-haired youth, and the name that
+he gave him was Hychdwn.&nbsp; &ldquo;Now as for you, as ye were wild
+hogs last year, be ye wolves each and either of you for the year that
+is to come.&rdquo;&nbsp; Thereupon he struck them with his magic wand,
+and they became wolves.&nbsp; &ldquo;And be ye of like nature with the
+animals whose semblance ye bear, and return here this day twelvemonth
+beneath this wall.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And at the same day at the end of the year, he heard a clamour and a
+barking of dogs under the wall of the chamber.&nbsp; And he rose and
+went forth.&nbsp; And when he came, behold, he saw two wolves, and a
+strong cub with them.&nbsp; &ldquo;This one will I take,&rdquo; said
+Math, &ldquo;and I will cause him to be baptized; there is a name prepared
+for him, and that is Bleiddwn.&nbsp; Now these three, such are they:-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false,<br>
+The three faithful combatants,<br>
+Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Then he struck the two with his magic wand, and they resumed their own
+nature.&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh men,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for the wrong that
+ye did unto me sufficient has been your punishment and your dishonour.&nbsp;
+Prepare now precious ointment for these men, and wash their heads, and
+equip them.&rdquo;&nbsp; And this was done.<br>
+<br>
+And after they were equipped, they came unto him.&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh men,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;you have obtained peace, and you shall likewise have
+friendship.&nbsp; Give your counsel unto me, what maiden I shall seek.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Gwydion the son of Don, &ldquo;it is easy to
+give thee counsel; seek Arianrod, the daughter of Don, thy niece, thy
+sister&rsquo;s daughter.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And they brought her unto him, and the maiden came in.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ha,
+damsel,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;art thou the maiden?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+know not, lord, other than that I am.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then he took up his
+magic wand, and bent it.&nbsp; &ldquo;Step over this,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;and I shall know if thou art the maiden.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then stepped
+she over the magic wand, and there appeared forthwith a fine chubby
+yellow-haired boy.&nbsp; And at the crying out of the boy, she went
+towards the door.&nbsp; And thereupon some small form was seen; but
+before any one could get a second glimpse of it, Gwydion had taken it,
+and had flung a scarf of velvet around it and hidden it.&nbsp; Now the
+place where he hid it was the bottom of a chest at the foot of his bed.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Math the son of Mathonwy, concerning the
+fine yellow-haired boy, &ldquo;I will cause this one to be baptized,
+and Dylan is the name I will give him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him he plunged into
+the sea.&nbsp; And immediately when he was in the sea, he took its nature,
+and swam as well as the best fish that was therein.&nbsp; And for that
+reason was he called Dylan, the son of the Wave.&nbsp; Beneath him no
+wave ever broke.&nbsp; And the blow whereby he came to his death, was
+struck by his uncle Govannon.&nbsp; The third fatal blow was it called.<br>
+<br>
+As Gwydion lay one morning on his bed awake, he heard a cry in the chest
+at his feet; and though it was not loud, it was such that he could hear
+it.&nbsp; Then he arose in haste, and opened the chest: and when he
+opened it, he beheld an infant boy stretching out his arms from the
+folds of the scarf, and casting it aside.&nbsp; And he took up the boy
+in his arms, and carried him to a place where he knew there was a woman
+that could nurse him.&nbsp; And he agreed with the woman that she should
+take charge of the boy.&nbsp; And that year he was nursed.<br>
+<br>
+And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as though he were two
+years old.&nbsp; And the second year he was a big child, and able to
+go to the Court by himself.&nbsp; And when he came to the Court, Gwydion
+noticed him, and the boy became familiar with him, and loved him better
+than any one else.&nbsp; Then was the boy reared at the Court until
+he was four years old, when he was as big as though he had been eight.<br>
+<br>
+And one day Gwydion walked forth, and the boy followed him, and he went
+to the Castle of Arianrod, having the boy with him; and when he came
+into the Court, Arianrod arose to meet him, and greeted him and bade
+him welcome.&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Who is the boy that followeth thee?&rdquo; she asked.&nbsp; &ldquo;This
+youth, he is thy son,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;Alas,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;what has come unto thee that thou shouldst shame me
+thus? wherefore dost thou seek my dishonour, and retain it so long as
+this?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Unless thou suffer dishonour greater than
+that of my bringing up such a boy as this, small will be thy disgrace.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What is the name of the boy?&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+he replied, &ldquo;he has not yet a name.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo;
+she said, &ldquo;I lay this destiny upon him, that he shall never have
+a name until he receives one from me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven bears
+me witness,&rdquo; answered he, &ldquo;that thou art a wicked woman.&nbsp;
+But the boy shall have a name how displeasing soever it may be unto
+thee.&nbsp; As for thee, that which afflicts thee is that thou art no
+longer called a damsel.&rdquo;&nbsp; And thereupon he went forth in
+wrath, and returned to Caer Dathyl and there he tarried that night.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day he arose and took the boy with him, and went to walk
+on the seashore between that place and Aber Menei.&nbsp; And there he
+saw some sedges and seaweed, and he turned them into a boat.&nbsp; And
+out of dry sticks and sedges he made some Cordovan leather, and a great
+deal thereof, and he coloured it in such a manner that no one ever saw
+leather more beautiful than it.&nbsp; Then he made a sail to the boat,
+and he and the boy went in it to the port of the castle of Arianrod.&nbsp;
+And he began forming shoes and stitching them, until he was observed
+from the castle.&nbsp; And when he knew that they of the castle were
+observing him, he disguised his aspect, and put another semblance upon
+himself, and upon the boy, so that they might not be known.&nbsp; &ldquo;What
+men are those in yonder boat?&rdquo; said Arianrod.&nbsp; &ldquo;They
+are cordwainers,&rdquo; answered they.&nbsp; &ldquo;Go and see what
+kind of leather they have, and what kind of work they can do.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they came unto them.&nbsp; And when they came he was colouring some
+Cordovan leather, and gilding it.&nbsp; And the messengers came and
+told her this.&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;take the measure
+of my foot, and desire the cordwainer to make shoes for me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So he made the shoes for her, yet not according to the measure, but
+larger.&nbsp; The shoes then were brought unto her, and behold they
+were too large.&nbsp; &ldquo;These are too large,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;but
+he shall receive their value.&nbsp; Let him also make some that are
+smaller than they.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then he made her others that were much
+smaller than her foot, and sent them unto her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Tell him
+that these will not go on my feet,&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; And they told
+him this.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I will not make
+her any shoes, unless I see her foot.&rdquo;&nbsp; And this was told
+unto her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; she answered, &ldquo;I will go
+unto him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So she went down to the boat, and when she came there, he was shaping
+shoes and the boy stitching them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah, lady,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;good day to thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven prosper thee,&rdquo;
+said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;I marvel that thou canst not manage to make shoes
+according to a measure.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I could not,&rdquo; he replied,
+&ldquo;but now I shall be able.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the boat, and the boy
+shot at it, and hit it in the leg between the sinew and the bone.&nbsp;
+Then she smiled.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;with a
+steady hand did the lion aim at it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven reward
+thee not, but now has he got a name.&nbsp; And a good enough name it
+is.&nbsp; Llew Llaw Gyffes be he called henceforth.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and he went on with
+it no further.&nbsp; And for that reason was he called the third Gold-shoemaker.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;thou wilt not thrive the
+better for doing evil unto me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I have done thee
+no evil yet,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; Then he restored the boy to his own
+form.&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I will lay a destiny
+upon this boy, that he shall never have arms and armour until I invest
+him with them.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By Heaven,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;let
+thy malice be what it may, he shall have arms.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he brought up Llew Llaw
+Gyffes, until he could manage any horse, and he was perfect in features,
+and strength, and stature.&nbsp; And then Gwydion saw that he languished
+through the want of horses and arms.&nbsp; And he called him unto him.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Ah, youth,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;we will go to-morrow on an
+errand together.&nbsp; Be therefore more cheerful than thou art.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;That I will,&rdquo; said the youth.<br>
+<br>
+Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose.&nbsp; And they took way
+along the sea coast, up towards Bryn Aryen.&nbsp; And at the top of
+Cevn Clydno they equipped themselves with horses, and went towards the
+Castle of Arianrod.&nbsp; And they changed their form, and pricked towards
+the gate in the semblance of two youths, but the aspect of Gwydion was
+more staid than that of the other.&nbsp; &ldquo;Porter,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;go thou in and say that there are here bards from Glamorgan.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And the porter went in.&nbsp; &ldquo;The welcome of Heaven be unto them,
+let them in,&rdquo; said Arianrod.<br>
+<br>
+With great joy were they greeted.&nbsp; And the hall was arranged, and
+they went to meat.&nbsp; When meat was ended, Arianrod discoursed with
+Gwydion of tales and stories.&nbsp; Now Gwydion was an excellent teller
+of tales.&nbsp; And when it was time to leave off feasting, a chamber
+was prepared for them, and they went to rest.<br>
+<br>
+In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto him his magic
+and his power.&nbsp; And by the time that the day dawned, there resounded
+through the land uproar, and trumpets and shouts.&nbsp; When it was
+now day, they heard a knocking at the door of the chamber, and therewith
+Arianrod asking that it might be opened.&nbsp; Up rose the youth and
+opened unto her, and she entered and a maiden with her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Ah,
+good men,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;in evil plight are we.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Yes, truly,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;we have heard trumpets
+and shouts; what thinkest thou that they may mean?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo;
+said she, &ldquo;we cannot see the colour of the ocean by reason of
+all the ships, side by side.&nbsp; And they are making for the land
+with all the speed they can.&nbsp; And what can we do?&rdquo; said she.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lady,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;there is none other counsel
+than to close the castle upon us, and to defend it as best we may.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;may Heaven reward you.&nbsp; And
+do you defend it.&nbsp; And here may you have plenty of arms.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold she returned,
+and two maidens, and suits of armour for two men, with her.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;do you accoutre this stripling, and I will arm myself
+with the help of thy maidens.&nbsp; Lo, I hear the tumult of the men
+approaching.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will do so, gladly.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So she armed him fully, and that right cheerfully.&nbsp; &ldquo;Hast
+thou finished arming the youth?&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;I have
+finished,&rdquo; she answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;I likewise have finished,&rdquo;
+said Gwydion.&nbsp; &ldquo;Let us now take off our arms, we have no
+need of them.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore?&rdquo; said she.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Here is the army around the house.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh, lady,
+there is here no army.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; cried she, &ldquo;whence
+then was this tumult?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The tumult was but to break
+thy prophecy and to obtain arms for thy son.&nbsp; And now has he got
+arms without any thanks unto thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;By Heaven,&rdquo;
+said Arianrod, &ldquo;thou art a wicked man.&nbsp; Many a youth might
+have lost his life through the uproar thou hast caused in this Cantrev
+to-day.&nbsp; Now will I lay a destiny upon this youth,&rdquo; she said,
+&ldquo;that he shall never have a wife of the race that now inhabits
+this earth.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;thou
+wast ever a malicious woman, and no one ought to support thee.&nbsp;
+A wife shall he have notwithstanding.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+They went thereupon unto Math the son of Mathonwy, and complained unto
+him most bitterly of Arianrod.&nbsp; Gwydion showed him also how he
+had procured arms for the youth.&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Math,
+&ldquo;we will seek, I and thou, by charms and illusion, to form a wife
+for him out of flowers.&nbsp; He has now come to man&rsquo;s stature,
+and he is the comeliest youth that was ever beheld.&rdquo;&nbsp; So
+they took the blossoms of the oak, and the blossoms of the broom, and
+the blossoms of the meadow-sweet, and produced from them a maiden, the
+fairest and most graceful that man ever saw.&nbsp; And they baptized
+her, and gave her the name of Blodeuwedd.<br>
+<br>
+After she had become his bride, and they had feasted, said Gwydion,
+&ldquo;It is not easy for a man to maintain himself without possessions.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Of a truth,&rdquo; said Math, &ldquo;I will give the young man
+the best Cantrev to hold.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he,
+&ldquo;what Cantrev is that?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The Cantrev of Dinodig,&rdquo;
+he answered.&nbsp; Now it is called at this day Eivionydd and Ardudwy.&nbsp;
+And the place in the Cantrev where he dwelt, was a palace of his in
+a spot called Mur y Castell, on the confines of Ardudwy.&nbsp; There
+dwelt he and reigned, and both he and his sway were beloved by all.<br>
+<br>
+One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl, to visit Math the son of Mathonwy.&nbsp;
+And on the day that he set out for Caer Dathyl, Blodeuwedd walked in
+the Court.&nbsp; And she heard the sound of a horn.&nbsp; And after
+the sound of the horn, behold a tired stag went by, with dogs and huntsmen
+following it.&nbsp; And after the dogs and the huntsmen there came a
+crowd of men on foot.&nbsp; &ldquo;Send a youth,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to
+ask who yonder host may be.&rdquo;&nbsp; So a youth went, and inquired
+who they were.&nbsp; &ldquo;Gronw Pebyr is this, the lord of Penllyn,&rdquo;
+said they.&nbsp; And thus the youth told her.<br>
+<br>
+Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the river Cynvael he overtook the
+stag and killed it.&nbsp; And what with flaying the stag and baiting
+his dogs, he was there until the night began to close in upon him.&nbsp;
+And as the day departed and the night drew near, he came to the gate
+of the Court.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Blodeuwedd, &ldquo;the
+Chieftain will speak ill of us if we let him at this hour depart to
+another land without inviting him in.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Yes, truly,
+lady,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;it will be most fitting to invite him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then went messengers to meet him and bid him in.&nbsp; And he accepted
+her bidding gladly, and came to the Court, and Blodeuwedd went to meet
+him, and greeted him, and bade him welcome.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lady,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;Heaven repay thee thy kindness.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+When they had disaccoutred themselves, they went to sit down.&nbsp;
+And Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the moment that she looked
+on him she became filled with his love.&nbsp; And he gazed on her, and
+the same thought came unto him as unto her, so that he could not conceal
+from her that he loved her, but he declared unto her that he did so.&nbsp;
+Thereupon she was very joyful.&nbsp; And all their discourse that night
+was concerning the affection and love which they felt one for the other,
+and which in no longer space than one evening had arisen.&nbsp; And
+that evening passed they in each other&rsquo;s company.<br>
+<br>
+The next day he sought to depart.&nbsp; But she said, &ldquo;I pray
+thee go not from me to-day.&rdquo;&nbsp; And that night he tarried also.&nbsp;
+And that night they consulted by what means they might always be together.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;There is none other counsel,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but that
+thou strive to learn from Llew Llaw Gyffes in what manner he will meet
+his death.&nbsp; And this must thou do under the semblance of solicitude
+concerning him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The next day Gronw sought to depart.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said
+she, &ldquo;I will counsel thee not to go from me to-day.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;At thy instance will I not go,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;albeit,
+I must say, there is danger that the chief who owns the palace may return
+home.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;To-morrow,&rdquo; answered she, &ldquo;will
+I indeed permit thee to go forth.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The next day he sought to go, and she hindered him not.&nbsp; &ldquo;Be
+mindful,&rdquo; said Gronw, &ldquo;of what I have said unto thee, and
+converse with him fully, and that under the guise of the dalliance of
+love, and find out by what means he may come to his death.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home.&nbsp; And the day
+they spent in discourse, and minstrelsy, and feasting.&nbsp; And at
+night they went to rest, and he spoke to Blodeuwedd once, and he spoke
+to her a second time.&nbsp; But, for all this, he could not get from
+her one word.&nbsp; &ldquo;What aileth thee?&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;art
+thou well?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I was thinking,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;of
+that which thou didst never think of concerning me; for I was sorrowful
+as to thy death, lest thou shouldst go sooner than I.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Heaven
+reward thy care for me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but until Heaven take
+me I shall not easily be slain&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;For the sake of Heaven,
+and for mine, show me how thou mightest be slain.&nbsp; My memory in
+guarding is better than thine.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I will tell thee
+gladly,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Not easily can I be slain, except
+by a wound.&nbsp; And the spear wherewith I am struck must be a year
+in the forming.&nbsp; And nothing must be done towards it except during
+the sacrifice on Sundays.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Is this certain?&rdquo;
+asked she.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is in truth,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; &ldquo;And
+I cannot be slain within a house, nor without.&nbsp; I cannot be slain
+on horseback nor on foot.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;in what manner then canst thou be slain?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I
+will tell thee,&rdquo; said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;By making a bath for me
+by the side of a river, and by putting a roof over the cauldron, and
+thatching it well and tightly, and bringing a buck, and putting it beside
+the cauldron.&nbsp; Then if I place one foot on the buck&rsquo;s back,
+and the other on the edge of the cauldron, whosoever strikes me thus
+will cause my death.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I
+thank Heaven that it will be easy to avoid this.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw Pebyr.&nbsp;
+Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day twelvemonth it was ready.&nbsp;
+And that very day he caused her to be informed thereof.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, &ldquo;I have been thinking
+how it is possible that what thou didst tell me formerly can be true;
+wilt thou show me in what manner thou couldst stand at once upon the
+edge of a cauldron and upon a buck, if I prepare the bath for thee?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;I will show thee,&rdquo; said he.<br>
+<br>
+Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the hill which
+is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river Cynvael.&nbsp;
+She caused also to be collected all the goats that were in the Cantrev,
+and had them brought to the other side of the river, opposite Bryn Kyvergyr.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day she spoke thus.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she,
+&ldquo;I have caused the roof and the bath to be prepared, and lo! they
+are ready.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Llew, &ldquo;we will
+go gladly to look at them.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+The day after they came and looked at the bath.&nbsp; &ldquo;Wilt thou
+go into the bath, lord?&rdquo; said she.&nbsp; &ldquo;Willingly will
+I go in,&rdquo; he answered.&nbsp; So into the bath he went, and he
+anointed himself.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;behold
+the animals which thou didst speak of as being called bucks.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;cause one of them to be caught and
+brought here.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the buck was brought.&nbsp; Then Llew
+rose out of the bath, and put on his trowsers, and he placed one foot
+on the edge of the bath and the other on the buck&rsquo;s back.<br>
+<br>
+Thereupon Gronw rose up from the bill which is called Bryn Kyvergyr,
+and he rested on one knee, and flung the poisoned dart and struck him
+on the side, so that the shaft started out, but the head of the dart
+remained in.&nbsp; Then he flew up in the form of an eagle and gave
+a fearful scream.&nbsp; And thenceforth was he no more seen.<br>
+<br>
+As soon as he departed Gronw and Blodeuwedd went together unto the palace
+that night.&nbsp; And the next day Gronw arose and took possession of
+Ardudwy.&nbsp; And after he had overcome the land, he ruled over it,
+so that Ardudwy and Penllyn were both under his sway.<br>
+<br>
+Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy.&nbsp; And heaviness
+and grief came upon Math, and much more upon Gwydion than upon him.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said Gwydion, &ldquo;I shall never rest until I
+have tidings of my nephew.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Math,
+&ldquo;may Heaven be thy strength.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then Gwydion set forth
+and began to go forward.&nbsp; And he went through Gwynedd and Powys
+to the confines.&nbsp; And when he had done so, he went into Arvon,
+and came to the house of a vassal, in Maenawr Penardd.&nbsp; And he
+alighted at the house, and stayed there that night.&nbsp; The man of
+the house and his house-hold came in, and last of all came there the
+swineherd.&nbsp; Said the man of the house to the swineherd, &ldquo;Well,
+youth, hath thy sow come in to-night?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;She hath,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;and is this instant returned to the pigs.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Where doth this sow go to?&rdquo; said Gwydion.&nbsp; &ldquo;Every
+day, when the sty is opened, she goeth forth and none can catch sight
+of her, neither is it known whither she goeth more than if she sank
+into the earth.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wilt thou grant unto me,&rdquo;
+said Gwydion, &ldquo;not to open the sty until I am beside the sty with
+thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;This will I do, right gladly,&rdquo; he answered.<br>
+<br>
+That night they went to rest; and as soon as the swineherd saw the light
+of day, he awoke Gwydion.&nbsp; And Gwydion arose and dressed himself,
+and went with the swineherd, and stood beside the sty.&nbsp; Then the
+swineherd opened the sty.&nbsp; And as soon as he opened it, behold
+she leaped forth, and set off with great speed.&nbsp; And Gwydion followed
+her, and she went against the course of a river, and made for a brook,
+which is now called Nant y Llew.&nbsp; And there she halted and began
+feeding.&nbsp; And Gwydion came under the tree, and looked what it might
+be that the sow was feeding on.&nbsp; And he saw that she was eating
+putrid flesh and vermin.&nbsp; Then looked he up to the top of the tree,
+and as he looked he beheld on the top of the tree an eagle, and when
+the eagle shook itself, there fell vermin and putrid flesh from off
+it, and these the sow devoured.&nbsp; And it seemed to him that the
+eagle was Llew.&nbsp; And he sang an Englyn:-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Oak that grows between the two banks;<br>
+Darkened is the sky and hill!<br>
+Shall I not tell him by his wounds,<br>
+That this is Llew?&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre of the tree.&nbsp;
+And Gwydion sang another Englyn:-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Oak that grows in upland ground,<br>
+Is it not wetted by the rain?&nbsp; Has it not been drenched<br>
+By nine score tempests?<br>
+It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes!&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest branch of the tree,
+and thereupon this Englyn did Gwydion sing:-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Oak that grows beneath the steep;<br>
+Stately and majestic is its aspect!<br>
+Shall I not speak it?<br>
+That Llew will come to my lap?&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And the eagle came down upon Gwydion&rsquo;s knee.&nbsp; And Gwydion
+struck him with his magic wand, so that he returned to his own form.&nbsp;
+No one ever saw a more piteous sight, for he was nothing but skin and
+bone.<br>
+<br>
+Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were brought unto him good
+physicians that were in Gwynedd, and before the end of the year he was
+quite healed.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said he unto Math the son of Mathonwy, &ldquo;it
+is full time now that I have retribution of him by whom I have suffered
+all this woe.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Math, &ldquo;he
+will never be able to maintain himself in the possession of that which
+is thy right.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Llew, &ldquo;the
+sooner I have my right, the better shall I be pleased.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then they called together the whole of Gwynedd, and set forth to Ardudwy.&nbsp;
+And Gwydion went on before and proceeded to Mur y Castell.&nbsp; And
+when Blodeuwedd heard that he was coming, she took her maidens with
+her, and fled to the mountain.&nbsp; And they passed through the river
+Cynvael, and went towards a court that there was upon the mountain,
+and through fear they could not proceed except with their faces looking
+backwards, so that unawares they fell into the lake.&nbsp; And they
+were all drowned except Blodeuwedd herself, and her Gwydion overtook.&nbsp;
+And he said unto her, &ldquo;I will not slay thee, but I will do unto
+thee worse than that.&nbsp; For I will turn thee into a bird; and because
+of the shame thou hast done unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shalt never
+show thy face in the light of day henceforth; and that through fear
+of all the other birds.&nbsp; For it shall be their nature to attack
+thee, and to chase thee from wheresoever they may find thee.&nbsp; And
+thou shalt not lose thy name, but shalt be always called Blodeuwedd.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Now Blodeuwedd is an owl in the language of this present time, and for
+this reason is the owl hateful unto all birds.&nbsp; And even now the
+owl is called Blodeuwedd.<br>
+<br>
+Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he dispatched thence an
+embassy.&nbsp; And the messengers he sent asked Llew Llaw Gyffes if
+he would take land, or domain, or gold, or silver, for the injury he
+had received.&nbsp; &ldquo;I will not, by my confession to Heaven,&rdquo;
+said he.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold this is the least that I will accept from
+him; that he come to the spot where I was when he wounded me with the
+dart, and that I stand where he did, and that with a dart I take my
+aim at him.&nbsp; And this is the very least that I will accept.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And this was told unto Gronw Pebyr.&nbsp; &ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;is it needful for me to do thus?&nbsp; My faithful warriors,
+and my household, and my foster-brothers, is there not one among you
+who will stand the blow in my stead?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;There is not,
+verily,&rdquo; answered they.&nbsp; And because of their refusal to
+suffer one stroke for their lord, they are called the third disloyal
+tribe even unto this day.&nbsp; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I
+will meet it.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then they two went forth to the banks of the river Cynvael, and Gronw
+stood in the place where Llew Llaw Gyffes was when he struck him, and
+Llew in the place where Gronw was.&nbsp; Then said Gronw Pebyr unto
+Llew, &ldquo;Since it was through the wiles of a woman that I did unto
+thee as I have done, I adjure thee by Heaven to let me place between
+me and the blow, the slab thou seest yonder on the river&rsquo;s bank.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Verily,&rdquo; said Llew, &ldquo;I will not refuse thee this.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Ah,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;may Heaven reward thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So Gronw took the slab and placed it between him and the blow.<br>
+<br>
+Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the slab and went through
+Gronw likewise, so that it pierced through his back.&nbsp; And thus
+was Gronw Pebyr slain.&nbsp; And there is still the slab on the bank
+of the river Cynvael, in Ardudwy, having the hole through it.&nbsp;
+And therefore is it even now called Llech Gronw.<br>
+<br>
+A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of the land, and
+prosperously did he govern it.&nbsp; And, as the story relates, he was
+lord after this over Gwynedd.&nbsp; And thus ends this portion of the
+Mabinogi.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Maxen Wledig was emperor of Rome, and he was a comelier man, and a better
+and a wiser than any emperor that had been before him.&nbsp; And one
+day he held a council of kings, and he said to his friends, &ldquo;I
+desire to go to-morrow to hunt.&rdquo;&nbsp; And the next day in the
+morning he set forth with his retinue, and came to the valley of the
+river that flowed towards Rome.&nbsp; And he hunted through the valley
+until mid-day.&nbsp; And with him also were two-and-thirty crowned kings,
+that were his vassals; not for the delight of hunting went the emperor
+with them, but to put himself on equal terms with those kings.<br>
+<br>
+And the sun was high in the sky over their heads and the heat was great.&nbsp;
+And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig.&nbsp; And his attendants stood and
+set up their shields around him upon the shafts of their spears to protect
+him from the sun, and they placed a gold enamelled shield under his
+head; and so Maxen slept.<br>
+<br>
+And he saw a dream.&nbsp; And this is the dream that he saw.&nbsp; He
+was journeying along the valley of the river towards its source; and
+he came to the highest mountain in the world.&nbsp; And he thought that
+the mountain was as high as the sky; and when he came over the mountain,
+it seemed to him that he went through the fairest and most level regions
+that man ever yet beheld, on the other side of the mountain.&nbsp; And
+he saw large and mighty rivers descending from the mountain to the sea,
+and towards the mouths of the rivers he proceeded.&nbsp; And as he journeyed
+thus, he came to the mouth of the largest river ever seen.&nbsp; And
+he beheld a great city at the entrance of the river, and a vast castle
+in the city, and he saw many high towers of various colours in the castle.&nbsp;
+And he saw a fleet at the mouth of the river, the largest ever seen.&nbsp;
+And he saw one ship among the fleet; larger was it by far, and fairer
+than all the others.&nbsp; Of such part of the ship as he could see
+above the water, one plank was gilded and the other silvered over.&nbsp;
+He saw a bridge of the bone of a whale from the ship to the land, and
+he thought that he went along the bridge, and came into the ship.&nbsp;
+And a sail was hoisted on the ship, and along the sea and the ocean
+was it borne.&nbsp; Then it seemed that he came to the fairest island
+in the whole world, and he traversed the island from sea to sea, even
+to the furthest shore of the island.&nbsp; Valleys he saw, and steeps,
+and rocks of wondrous height, and rugged precipices.&nbsp; Never yet
+saw he the like.&nbsp; And thence he beheld an island in the sea, facing
+this rugged land.&nbsp; And between him and this island was a country
+of which the plain was as large as the sea, the mountain as vast as
+the wood.&nbsp; And from the mountain he saw a river that flowed through
+the land and fell into the sea.&nbsp; And at the mouth of the river
+he beheld a castle, the fairest that man ever saw, and the gate of the
+castle was open, and he went into the castle.&nbsp; And in the castle
+he saw a fair hall, of which the roof seemed to be all gold, the walls
+of the hall seemed to be entirely of glittering precious gems, the doors
+all seemed to be of gold.&nbsp; Golden seats he saw in the hall, and
+silver tables.&nbsp; And on a seat opposite to him he beheld two auburn-haired
+youths playing at chess.&nbsp; He saw a silver board for the chess,
+and golden pieces thereon.&nbsp; The garments of the youths were of
+jet-black satin, and chaplets of ruddy gold bound their hair, whereon
+were sparkling jewels of great price, rubies, and gems, alternately
+with imperial stones.&nbsp; Buskins of new Cordovan leather on their
+feet, fastened by slides of red gold.<br>
+<br>
+And beside a pillar in the hall he saw a hoary-headed man, in a chair
+of ivory, with the figures of two eagles of ruddy gold thereon.&nbsp;
+Bracelets of gold were upon his arms, and many rings were on his hands,
+and a golden torque about his neck; and his hair was bound with a golden
+diadem.&nbsp; He was of powerful aspect.&nbsp; A chessboard of gold
+was before him, and a rod of gold, and a steel file in his hand.&nbsp;
+And he was carving out chessmen.<br>
+<br>
+And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of ruddy gold.&nbsp;
+Not more easy than to gaze upon the sun when brightest, was it to look
+upon her by reason of her beauty.&nbsp; A vest of white silk was upon
+the maiden, with clasps of red gold at the breast; and a surcoat of
+gold tissue upon her, and a frontlet of red gold upon her head, and
+rubies and gems were in the frontlet, alternating with pearls and imperial
+stones.&nbsp; And a girdle of ruddy gold was around her.&nbsp; She was
+the fairest sight that man ever beheld.<br>
+<br>
+The maiden arose from her chair before him, and he threw his arms about
+the neck of the maiden, and they two sat down together in the chair
+of gold: and the chair was not less roomy for them both, than for the
+maiden alone.&nbsp; And as he had his arms about the maiden&rsquo;s
+neck, and his cheek by her cheek, behold, through the chafing of the
+dogs at their leashing, and the clashing of the shields as they struck
+against each other, and the beating together of the shafts of the spears,
+and the neighing of the horses and their prancing, the emperor awoke.<br>
+<br>
+And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left him, because of
+the maiden whom he had seen in his sleep, for the love of the maiden
+pervaded his whole frame.&nbsp; Then his household spake unto him.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;is it not past the time for thee
+to take thy food?&rdquo;&nbsp; Thereupon the emperor mounted his palfrey,
+the saddest man that mortal ever saw, and went forth towards Rome.<br>
+<br>
+And thus he was during the space of a week.&nbsp; When they of the household
+went to drink wine and mead out of golden vessels, he went not with
+any of them.&nbsp; When they went to listen to songs and tales, he went
+not with them there; neither could he be persuaded to do anything but
+sleep.&nbsp; And as often as he slept, he beheld in his dreams the maiden
+he loved best; but except when he slept he saw nothing of her, for he
+knew not where in the world she was.<br>
+<br>
+One day the page of the chamber spake unto him; now, although he was
+page of the chamber, he was king of the Romans.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;all the people revile thee.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Wherefore
+do they revile me?&rdquo; asked the emperor.&nbsp; &ldquo;Because they
+can get neither message nor answer from thee as men should have from
+their lord.&nbsp; This is the cause why thou art spoken evil of.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Youth,&rdquo; said the emperor, &ldquo;do thou bring unto me
+the wise men of Rome, and I will tell them wherefore I am sorrowful.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then the wise men of Rome were brought to the emperor, and he spake
+to them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Sages of Rome,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I have seen
+a dream.&nbsp; And in the dream I beheld a maiden, and because of the
+maiden is there neither life, nor spirit, nor existence within me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord,&rdquo; they answered, &ldquo;since thou judgest us worthy
+to counsel thee, we will give thee counsel.&nbsp; And this is our counsel;
+that thou send messengers for three years to the three parts of the
+world to seek for thy dream.&nbsp; And as thou knowest not what day
+or what night good news may come to thee, the hope thereof will support
+thee.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year, wandering about
+the world, and seeking tidings concerning his dream.&nbsp; But when
+they came back at the end of the year, they knew not one word more than
+they did the day they set forth.&nbsp; And then was the emperor exceeding
+sorrowful, for he thought that he should never have tidings of her whom
+best he loved.<br>
+<br>
+Then spoke the king of the Romans unto the emperor.&nbsp; &ldquo;Lord,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;go forth to hunt by the way thou didst seem to go, whether
+it were to the east, or to the west.&rdquo;&nbsp; So the emperor went
+forth to the hunt, and he came to the bank of the river.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;this is where I was when I saw the dream, and I went
+towards the source of the river westward.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And thereupon thirteen messengers of the emperor&rsquo;s set forth,
+and before them they saw a high mountain, which seemed to them to touch
+the sky.&nbsp; Now this was the guise in which the messengers journeyed;
+one sleeve was on the cap of each of them in front, as a sign that they
+were messengers, in order that through what hostile land soever they
+might pass no harm might be done them.&nbsp; And when they were come
+over this mountain, they beheld vast plains, and large rivers flowing
+there through.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;the land which our master saw.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until they came to the
+mighty river which they saw flowing to the sea, and the vast city, and
+the many-coloured high towers in the castle.&nbsp; They saw the largest
+fleet in the world, in the harbour of the river, and one ship that was
+larger than any of the others.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold again,&rdquo; said
+they, &ldquo;the dream that our master saw.&rdquo;&nbsp; And in the
+great ship they crossed the sea, and came to the Island of Britain.&nbsp;
+And they traversed the island until they came to Snowdon.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo;
+said they, &ldquo;the rugged land that our master saw.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And they went forward until they saw Anglesey before them, and until
+they saw Arvon likewise.&nbsp; &ldquo;Behold,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;the
+land our master saw in his sleep.&rdquo;&nbsp; And they saw Aber Sain,
+and a castle at the mouth of the river.&nbsp; The portal of the castle
+saw they open, and into the castle they went, and they saw a hall in
+the castle.&nbsp; Then said they, &ldquo;Behold, the hall which he saw
+in his sleep.&rdquo;&nbsp; They went into the hall, and they beheld
+two youths playing at chess on the golden bench.&nbsp; And they beheld
+the hoary-headed man beside the pillar, in the ivory chair, carving
+chessmen.&nbsp; And they beheld the maiden sitting on a chair of ruddy
+gold.<br>
+<br>
+The messengers bent down upon their knees.&nbsp; &ldquo;Empress of Rome,
+all hail!&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Ha, gentles,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;ye
+bear the seeming of honourable men, and the badge of envoys, what mockery
+is this ye do to me?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We mock thee not, lady; but
+the Emperor of Rome hath seen thee in his sleep, and he has neither
+life nor spirit left because of thee.&nbsp; Thou shalt have of us therefore
+the choice, lady, whether thou wilt go with us and be made empress of
+Rome, or that the emperor come hither and take thee for his wife?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Ha, lords,&rdquo; said the maiden, &ldquo;I will not deny what
+ye say, neither will I believe it too well.&nbsp; If the emperor love
+me, let him come here to seek me.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And by day and night the messengers hied them back.&nbsp; And when their
+horses failed, they bought other fresh ones.&nbsp; And when they came
+to Rome, they saluted the emperor, and asked their boon, which was given
+to them according as they named it.&nbsp; &ldquo;We will be thy guides,
+lord,&rdquo; said they, &ldquo;over sea and over land, to the place
+where is the woman whom best thou lovest, for we know her name, and
+her kindred, and her race.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And immediately the emperor set forth with his army.&nbsp; And these
+men were his guides.&nbsp; Towards the Island of Britain they went over
+the sea and the deep.&nbsp; And he conquered the Island from Beli the
+son of Manogan, and his sons, and drove them to the sea, and went forward
+even unto Arvon.&nbsp; And the emperor knew the land when he saw it.&nbsp;
+And when he beheld the castle of Aber Sain, &ldquo;Look yonder,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;there is the castle wherein I saw the damsel whom I
+best love.&rdquo;&nbsp; And he went forward into the castle and into
+the hall, and there he saw Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son
+of Eudav, playing at chess.&nbsp; And he saw Eudav the son of Caradawc,
+sitting on a chair of ivory carving chessmen.&nbsp; And the maiden whom
+he had beheld in his sleep, he saw sitting on a chair of gold.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Empress of Rome,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;all hail!&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And the emperor threw his arms about her neck; and that night she became
+his bride.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her maiden portion.&nbsp;
+And he told her to name what she would.&nbsp; And she asked to have
+the Island of Britain for her father, from the Channel to the Irish
+Sea, together with the three adjacent Islands, to hold under the empress
+of Rome; and to have three chief castles made for her, an whatever places
+she might choose in the Island of Britain.&nbsp; And she chose to have
+the highest castle made at Arvon.&nbsp; And they brought thither earth
+from Rome that it might be more healthful for the emperor to sleep,
+and sit, and walk upon.&nbsp; After that the two other castles were
+made for her, which were Caerlleon and Caermarthen.<br>
+<br>
+And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen, and he came so
+far as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there the emperor pitched his tent.&nbsp;
+And that encamping place is called Cadeir Maxen, even to this day.&nbsp;
+And because that he built the castle with a myriad of men, he called
+it Caervyrddin.&nbsp; Then Helen bethought her to make high roads from
+one castle to another throughout the Island of Britain.&nbsp; And the
+roads were made.&nbsp; And for this cause are they called the roads
+of Helen Luyddawc, that she was sprung from a native of this island,
+and the men of the Island of Britain would not have made these great
+roads for any save for her.<br>
+<br>
+Seven years did the emperor tarry in this Island.&nbsp; Now, at that
+time, the men of Rome had a custom, that whatsoever emperor should remain
+in other lands more than seven years should remain to his own overthrow,
+and should never return to Rome again.<br>
+<br>
+So they made a new emperor.&nbsp; And this one wrote a letter of threat
+to Maxen.&nbsp; There was nought in the letter but only this.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;If thou comest, and if thou ever comest to Rome.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And even unto Caerlleon came this letter to Maxen, and these tidings.&nbsp;
+Then sent he a letter to the man who styled himself emperor in Rome.&nbsp;
+There was nought in that letter also but only this.&nbsp; &ldquo;If
+I come to Rome, and if I come.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his army, and vanquished
+France and Bugundy, and every land on the way, and sat down before the
+city of Rome.<br>
+<br>
+A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no nearer taking
+it than the first day.&nbsp; And after him there came the brothers of
+Helen Luyddawc from the Island of Britain, and a small host with them,
+and better warriors were in that small host than twice as many Romans.&nbsp;
+And the emperor was told that a host was seen, halting close to his
+army and encamping, and no man ever saw a fairer or better appointed
+host for its size, nor more handsome standards.<br>
+<br>
+And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the standards of her brothers.&nbsp;
+Then came Kynan the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of Eudav, to meet
+the emperor.&nbsp; And the emperor was glad because of them, and embraced
+them.<br>
+<br>
+Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the city.&nbsp; Said
+Kynan to his brother, &ldquo;We will try to attack the city more expertly
+than this.&rdquo;&nbsp; So they measured by night the height of the
+wall, and they sent their carpenters to the wood, and a ladder was made
+for every four men of their number.&nbsp; Now when these were ready,
+every day at mid-day the emperors went to meat, and they ceased to fight
+on both sides till all had finished eating.&nbsp; And in the morning
+the men of Britain took their food and they drank until they were invigorated.&nbsp;
+And while the two emperors were at meat, the Britons came to the city,
+and placed their ladders against it, and forthwith they came in through
+the city.<br>
+<br>
+The new emperor had no time to arm himself when they fell upon him,
+and slew him, and many others with him.&nbsp; And three nights and three
+days were they subduing the men that were in the city and taking the
+castle.&nbsp; And others of them kept the city, lest any of the host
+of Maxen should come therein, until they had subjected all to their
+will.<br>
+<br>
+Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc.&nbsp; &ldquo;I marvel, lady,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;that thy brothers have not conquered this city for me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Lord, emperor,&rdquo; she answered, &ldquo;the wisest youths
+in the world are my brothers.&nbsp; Go thou thither and ask the city
+of them, and if it be in their possession thou shalt have it gladly.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+So the emperor and Helen went and demanded the city.&nbsp; And they
+told the emperor that none had taken the city, and that none could give
+it him, but the men of the Island of Britain.&nbsp; Then the gates of
+the city of Rome were opened, and the emperor sat on the throne, and
+all the men of Rome submitted them selves unto him.<br>
+<br>
+The emperor then said unto Kynan and Adeon, &ldquo;Lords,&rdquo; said
+he, &ldquo;I have now had possession of the whole of my empire.&nbsp;
+This host give I unto you to vanquish whatever region ye may desire
+in the world.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+So they set forth and conquered lands, and castles, and cities.&nbsp;
+And they slew all the men, but the women they kept alive.&nbsp; And
+thus they continued until the young men that had come with them were
+grown grey-headed, from the length of time they were upon this conquest.<br>
+<br>
+Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, &ldquo;Whether wilt thou rather,&rdquo;
+said he, &ldquo;tarry in this land, or go back into the land whence
+thou didst come forth?&rdquo;&nbsp; Now he chose to go back to his own
+land, and many with him.&nbsp; But Kynan tarried there with the other
+part and dwelt there.<br>
+<br>
+And they took counsel and cut out the tongues of the women, lest they
+should corrupt their speech.&nbsp; And because of the silence of the
+women from their own speech, the men of Armorica are called Britons.&nbsp;
+From that time there came frequently, and still comes, that language
+from the Island of Britain.<br>
+<br>
+And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig, emperor of Rome.&nbsp;
+And here it ends.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+HERE IS THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Beli the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons, Lludd, and Caswallawn,
+and Nynyaw; and according to the story he had a fourth son called Llevelys.&nbsp;
+And after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the Island of Britain fell
+into the hands of Llud his eldest son; and Lludd ruled prosperously,
+and rebuilt the walls of London, and encompassed it about with numberless
+towers.&nbsp; And after that he bade the citizens build houses therein,
+such as no houses in the kingdoms could equal.&nbsp; And moreover he
+was a mighty warrior, and generous and liberal in giving meat and drink
+to all that sought them.&nbsp; And though he had many castles and cities
+this one loved he more than any.&nbsp; And he dwelt therein most part
+of the year, and therefore was it called Caer Lludd, and at last Caer
+London.&nbsp; And after the stranger-race came there, it was called
+London, or Lwndrys.<br>
+<br>
+Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because he was a wise
+and discreet man.&nbsp; Having heard that the king of France had died,
+leaving no heir except a daughter, and that he had left all his possessions
+in her hands, he came to Lludd his brother, to beseech his counsel and
+aid.&nbsp; And that not so much for his own welfare, as to seek to add
+to the glory and honour and dignity of his kindred, if he might go to
+France to woo the maiden for his wife.&nbsp; And forthwith his brother
+conferred with him, and this counsel was pleasing unto him.<br>
+<br>
+So he prepared ships and filled them with armed knights, and set forth
+towards France.&nbsp; And as soon as they had landed, they sent messengers
+to show the nobles of France the cause of the embassy.&nbsp; And by
+the joint counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes, the maiden
+was given to Llevelys, and the crown of the kingdom with her.&nbsp;
+And thenceforth he ruled the land discreetly, and wisely, and happily,
+as long as his life lasted.<br>
+<br>
+After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on the Island of
+Britain, such as none in the islands had ever seen the like of.&nbsp;
+The first was a certain race that came, and was called the Coranians;
+and so great was their knowledge, that there was no discourse upon the
+face of the Island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if the
+wind met it, it was known to them.&nbsp; And through this they could
+not be injured. <a name="citation4"></a><a href="#footnote4">{4}</a><br>
+<br>
+The second plague was a shriek which came on every May-eve, over every
+hearth in the Island of Britain.&nbsp; And this went through people&rsquo;s
+hearts, and so scared them, that the men lost their hue and their strength,
+and the women their children, and the young men and the maidens lost
+their senses, and all the animals and trees and the earth and the waters,
+were left barren.<br>
+<br>
+The third plague was, that however much of provisions and food might
+be prepared in the king&rsquo;s courts, were there even so much as a
+year&rsquo;s provision of meat and drink, none of it could ever be found,
+except what was consumed in the first night.&nbsp; And two of these
+plagues, no one ever knew their cause, therefore was there better hope
+of being freed from the first than from the second and third.<br>
+<br>
+And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care, because that he
+knew not how he might be freed from these plagues.&nbsp; And he called
+to him all the nobles of his kingdom, and asked counsel of them what
+they should do against these afflictions.&nbsp; And by the common counsel
+of the nobles, Lludd the son of Beli went to Llevelys his brother, king
+of France, for he was a man great of counsel and wisdom, to seek his
+advice.<br>
+<br>
+And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and in silence, lest
+that race should know the cause of their errand, or any besides the
+king and his counsellors.&nbsp; And when they were made ready, they
+went into their ships, Lludd and those whom he chose with him.&nbsp;
+And they began to cleave the seas towards France.<br>
+<br>
+And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that he knew not the
+cause of his brother&rsquo;s ships, he came on the other side to meet
+him, and with him was a fleet vast of size.&nbsp; And when Lludd saw
+this, he left all the ships out upon the sea except one only; and in
+that one he came to meet his brother, and he likewise with a single
+ship came to meet him.&nbsp; And when they were come together, each
+put his arms about the other&rsquo;s neck, and they welcomed each other
+with brotherly love.<br>
+<br>
+After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of his errand, Llevelys
+said that he himself knew the cause of the coming to those lands.&nbsp;
+And they took counsel together to discourse on the matter otherwise
+than thus, in order that the wind might not catch their words, nor the
+Coranians know what they might say.&nbsp; Then Llevelys caused a long
+horn to be made of brass, and through this horn they discoursed.&nbsp;
+But whatsoever words they spoke through this horn, one to the other,
+neither of them could hear any other but harsh and hostile words.&nbsp;
+And when Llevelys saw this, and that there was a demon thwarting them
+and disturbing through this horn, he caused wine to be put therein to
+wash it.&nbsp; And through the virtue of the wine the demon was driven
+out of the horn.&nbsp; And when their discourse was unobstructed, Llevelys
+told his brother that he would give him some insects whereof he should
+keep some to breed, lest by chance the like affliction might come a
+second time.&nbsp; And other of these insects he should take and bruise
+in water.&nbsp; And he assured him that it would have power to destroy
+the race of the Coranians.&nbsp; That is to say, that when he came home
+to his kingdom he should call together all the people both of his own
+race and of the race of the Coranians for a conference, as though with
+the intent of making peace between them; and that when they were all
+together, he should take this charmed water, and cast it over all alike.&nbsp;
+And he assured him that the water would poison the race of the Coranians,
+but that it would not slay or harm those of his own race.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;And the second plague,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that is in thy
+dominion, behold it is a dragon.&nbsp; And another dragon of a foreign
+race is fighting with it, and striving to overcome it.&nbsp; And therefore
+does your dragon make a fearful outcry.&nbsp; And on this wise mayest
+thou come to know this.&nbsp; After thou hast returned home, cause the
+Island to be measured in its length and breadth, and in the place where
+thou dost find the exact central point, there cause a pit to be dug,
+and cause a cauldron full of the best mead that can be made to be put
+in the pit, with a covering of satin over the face of the cauldron.&nbsp;
+And then, in thine own person do thou remain there watching, and thou
+wilt see the dragon fighting in the form of terrific animals.&nbsp;
+And at length they will take the form of dragons in the air.&nbsp; And
+last of all, after wearying themselves with fierce and furious fighting,
+they will fall in the form of two pigs upon the covering, and they will
+sink in, and the covering with them, and they will draw it down to the
+very bottom of the cauldron.&nbsp; And they will drink up the whole
+of the mead; and after that they will sleep.&nbsp; Thereupon do thou
+immediately fold the covering around them, and bury them in a kistvaen,
+in the strongest place thou hast in thy dominions, and hide them in
+the earth.&nbsp; And as long as they shall bide in that strong place
+no plague shall come to the Island of Britain from elsewhere.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;The cause of the third plague,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;is a mighty
+man of magic, who take thy meat and thy drink and thy store.&nbsp; And
+he through illusions and charms causes every one to sleep.&nbsp; Therefore
+it is needful for thee in thy own person to watch thy food and thy provisions.&nbsp;
+And lest he should overcome thee with sleep, be there a cauldron of
+cold water by thy side, and when thou art oppressed with sleep, plunge
+into the cauldron.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then Lludd returned back unto his land.&nbsp; And immediately he summoned
+to him the whole of his own race and of the Coranians.&nbsp; And as
+Llevelys had taught him, he bruised the insects in water, the which
+he cast over them all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole
+tribe of the Coranians, without hurt to any of the Britons.<br>
+<br>
+And some time after this, Lludd caused the Island to be measured in
+its length and in its breadth.&nbsp; And in Oxford he found the central
+point, and in that place he caused the earth to be dug, and in that
+pit a cauldron to be set, full of the best mead that could be made,
+and a covering of satin over the face of it.&nbsp; And he himself watched
+that night.&nbsp; And while he was there, he beheld the dragons fighting.&nbsp;
+And when they were weary they fell, and came down upon the top of the
+satin, and drew it with them to the bottom of the cauldron.&nbsp; And
+when they had drunk the mead they slept.&nbsp; And in their sleep, Lludd
+folded the covering around them, and in the securest place he had in
+Snowdon, he hid them in a kistvaen.&nbsp; Now after that this spot was
+called Dinas Emreis, but before that, Dinas Ffaraon.&nbsp; And thus
+the fierce outcry ceased in his dominions.<br>
+<br>
+And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an exceeding great banquet
+to be prepared.&nbsp; And when it was ready, he placed a vessel of cold
+water by his side, and he in his own proper person watched it.&nbsp;
+And as he abode thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the night,
+lo, he heard many surpassing fascinations and various songs.&nbsp; And
+drowsiness urged him to sleep.&nbsp; Upon this, lest he should be hindered
+from his purpose and be overcome by sleep, he went often into the water.&nbsp;
+And at last, behold, a man of vast size, clad in strong, heavy armour,
+came in, bearing a hamper.&nbsp; And, as he was wont, he put all the
+food and provisions of meat and drink into the hamper, and proceeded
+to go with it forth.&nbsp; And nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd,
+than that the hamper should hold so much.<br>
+<br>
+And thereupon King Lludd went after him and spoke unto him thus.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Stop, stop,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;though thou hast done many
+insults and much spoil erewhile, thou shalt not do so any more, unless
+thy skill in arms and thy prowess be greater than mine.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor, and awaited him.&nbsp;
+And a fierce encounter was between them, so that the glittering fire
+flew out from their arms.&nbsp; And at the last Lludd grappled with
+him, and fate bestowed the victory on Lludd.&nbsp; And he threw the
+plague to the earth.&nbsp; And after he had overcome him by strength
+and might, he besought his mercy.&nbsp; &ldquo;How can I grant thee
+mercy,&rdquo; said the king, &ldquo;after all the many injuries and
+wrongs that thou hast done me?&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;All the losses that
+ever I have caused thee,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I will make thee atonement
+for, equal to what I have taken.&nbsp; And I will never do the like
+from this time forth.&nbsp; But thy faithful vassal will I be.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And the king accepted this from him.<br>
+<br>
+And thus Lludd freed the Island of Britain from the three plagues.&nbsp;
+And from thenceforth until the end of his life, in prosperous peace
+did Lludd the son of Beli rule the Island of Britain.&nbsp; And this
+Tale is called the Story of Lludd and Llevelys.&nbsp; And thus it ends.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+TALIESIN<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+In times past there lived in Penllyn a man of gentle lineage, named
+Tegid Voel, and his dwelling was in the midst of the lake Tegid, and
+his wife was called Caridwen.&nbsp; And there was born to him of his
+wife a son named Morvran ab Tegid, and also a daughter named Creirwy,
+the fairest maiden in the world was she; and they had a brother, the
+most ill-favoured man in the world, Avagddu.&nbsp; Now Caridwen his
+mother thought that he was not likely to be admitted among men of noble
+birth, by reason of his ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits
+or knowledge.&nbsp; For it was in the beginning of Arthur&rsquo;s time
+and of the Round Table.<br>
+<br>
+So she resolved, according to the arts of the books of the Fferyllt,
+to boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her son, that his
+reception might be honourable because of his knowledge of the mysteries
+of the future state of the world.<br>
+<br>
+Then she began to boil the cauldron, which from the beginning of its
+boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day, until three blessed
+drops were obtained of the grace of Inspiration.<br>
+<br>
+And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in Caereinion,
+in Powys, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named Morda to kindle
+the fire beneath it, and she charged them that they should not suffer
+it to cease boiling for the space of a year and a day.&nbsp; And she
+herself, according to the books of the astronomers, and in planetary
+hours, gathered every day of all charm-bearing herbs.&nbsp; And one
+day, towards the end of the year, as Caridwen was culling plants and
+making incantations, it chanced that three drops of the charmed liquor
+flew out of the cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion Bach.&nbsp;
+And by reason of their great heat he put his finger to his mouth, and
+the instant he put those marvel-working drops into his mouth, he foresaw
+everything that was to come, and perceived that his chief care must
+be to guard against the wiles of Caridwen, for vast was her skill.&nbsp;
+And in very great fear he fled towards his own land.&nbsp; And the cauldron
+burst in two, because all the liquor within it except the three charm-bearing
+drops was poisonous, so that the horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned
+by the water of the stream into which the liquor of the cauldron ran,
+and the confluence of that stream was called the Poison of the Horses
+of Gwyddno from that time forth.<br>
+<br>
+Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil of the whole year lost.&nbsp;
+And she seized a billet of wood and struck the blind Morda on the head
+until one of his eyes fell out upon his cheek.&nbsp; And he said, &ldquo;Wrongfully
+hast thou disfigured me, for I am innocent.&nbsp; Thy loss was not because
+of me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thou speakest truth,&rdquo; said Caridwen,
+&ldquo;it was Gwion Bach who robbed me.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+And she went forth after him, running.&nbsp; And he saw her, and changed
+himself into a hare and fled.&nbsp; But she changed herself into a greyhound
+and turned him.&nbsp; And he ran towards a river, and became a fish.&nbsp;
+And she in the form of an otter-bitch chased him under the water, until
+he was fain to turn himself into a bird of the air.&nbsp; She, as a
+hawk, followed him and gave him no rest in the sky.&nbsp; And just as
+she was about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of death, he espied
+a heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn, and he dropped among
+the wheat, and turned himself into one of the grains.&nbsp; Then she
+transformed herself into a high-crested black hen, and went to the wheat
+and scratched it with her feet, and found him out and swallowed him.&nbsp;
+And, as the story says, she bore him nine months, and when she was delivered
+of him, she could not find it in her heart to kill him, by reason of
+his beauty.&nbsp; So she wrapped him in a leathern bag, and cast him
+into the sea to the mercy of God, on the twenty-ninth day of April.<br>
+<br>
+And at that time the weir of Gwyddno was on the strand between Dyvi
+and Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of an hundred
+pounds was taken in that weir every May eve.&nbsp; And in those days
+Gwyddno had an only son named Elphin, the most hapless of youths, and
+the most needy.&nbsp; And it grieved his father sore, for he thought
+that he was born in an evil hour.&nbsp; And by the advice of his council,
+his father had granted him the drawing of the weir that year, to see
+if good luck would ever befall him, and to give him something wherewith
+to begin the world.<br>
+<br>
+And the next day when Elphin went to look, there was nothing in the
+weir.&nbsp; But as he turned back he perceived the leathern bag upon
+a pole of the weir.&nbsp; Then said one of the weir-ward unto Elphin,
+&ldquo;Thou wast never unlucky until to-night, and now thou hast destroyed
+the virtues of the weir, which always yielded the value of an hundred
+pounds every May eve, and to-night there is nothing but this leathern
+skin within it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;How now,&rdquo; said Elphin, &ldquo;there
+may be therein the value of an hundred pounds.&rdquo;&nbsp; Well, they
+took up the leathern bag, and he who opened it saw the forehead of the
+boy, and said to Elphin, &ldquo;Behold a radiant brow!&rdquo; <a name="citation6"></a><a href="#footnote6">{6}</a>&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Taliesin be he called,&rdquo; said Elphin.&nbsp; And he lifted
+the boy in his arms, and lamenting his mischance, he placed him sorrowfully
+behind him.&nbsp; And he made his horse amble gently, that before had
+been trotting, and he carried him as softly as if he had been sitting
+in the easiest chair in the world.&nbsp; And presently the boy made
+a Consolation and praise to Elphin, and foretold honour to Elphin; and
+the Consolation was as you may see:-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Fair Elphin, cease to lament!<br>
+Let no one be dissatisfied with his own,<br>
+To despair will bring no advantage.<br>
+No man sees what supports him;<br>
+The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain;<br>
+God will not violate his promise.<br>
+Never in Gwyddno&rsquo;s weir<br>
+Was there such good luck as this night.<br>
+Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks!<br>
+Being too sad will not avail.<br>
+Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain,<br>
+Too much grief will bring thee no good;<br>
+Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty:<br>
+Although I am but little, I am highly gifted.<br>
+From seas, and from mountains,<br>
+And from the depths of rivers,<br>
+God brings wealth to the fortunate man.<br>
+Elphin of lively qualities,<br>
+Thy resolution is unmanly;<br>
+Thou must not be over sorrowful:<br>
+Better to trust in God than to forbode ill.<br>
+Weak and small as I am,<br>
+On the foaming beach of the ocean,<br>
+In the day of trouble I shall be<br>
+Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon.<br>
+Elphin of notable qualities,<br>
+Be not displeased at thy misfortune;<br>
+Although reclined thus weak in my bag,<br>
+There lies a virtue in my tongue.<br>
+While I continue thy protector<br>
+Thou hast not much to fear;<br>
+Remembering the names of the Trinity,<br>
+None shall be able to harm thee.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang, being to console
+Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was lost, and,
+what was worse, that all the world would consider that it was through
+his fault and ill-luck.&nbsp; And then Gwyddno Garanhir <a name="citation7"></a><a href="#footnote7">{7}</a>
+asked him what he was, whether man or spirit.&nbsp; Whereupon he sang
+this tale, and said:-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;First, I have been formed a comely person,<br>
+In the court of Caridwen I have done penance;<br>
+Though little I was seen, placidly received,<br>
+I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led;<br>
+I have been a prized defence, the sweet muse the cause,<br>
+And by law without speech I have been liberated<br>
+By a smiling black old hag, when irritated<br>
+Dreadful her claim when pursued:<br>
+I have fled with vigour, I have fled as a frog,<br>
+I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest;<br>
+I have fled vehemently, I have fled as a chain,<br>
+I have fled as a roe into an entangled thicket;<br>
+I have fled as a wolf cub, I have fled as a wolf in a wilderness,<br>
+I have fled as a thrush of portending language;<br>
+I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent bounds of quirks;<br>
+I have fled as a martin, which did not avail;<br>
+I have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides,<br>
+I have fled as a stag&rsquo;s antler, of ruddy course,<br>
+I have fled as iron in a glowing fire,<br>
+I have fled as a spear-head, of woe to such as has a wish for it;<br>
+I have fled as a fierce hull bitterly fighting,<br>
+I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine,<br>
+I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat,<br>
+On the skirt of a hempen sheet entangled,<br>
+That seemed of the size of a mare&rsquo;s foal,<br>
+That is filling like a ship on the waters;<br>
+Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown,<br>
+And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift;<br>
+Which was to me an omen of being tenderly nursed,<br>
+And the Lord God then set me at liberty.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwyddno his father, and Taliesin
+with him.&nbsp; And Gwyddno asked him if he had had a good haul at the
+weir, and he told him that he had got that which was better than fish.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;What was that?&rdquo; said Gwyddno.&nbsp; &ldquo;A Bard,&rdquo;
+answered Elphin.&nbsp; Then said Gwyddno, &ldquo;Alas, what will he
+profit thee?&rdquo;&nbsp; And Taliesin himself replied and said, &ldquo;He
+will profit him more than the weir ever profited thee.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+Asked Gwyddno, &ldquo;Art thou able to speak, and thou so little?&rdquo;&nbsp;
+And Taliesin answered him, &ldquo;I am better able to speak than thou
+to question me.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Let me hear what thou canst say,&rdquo;
+quoth Gwyddno.&nbsp; Then Taliesin sang:-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;In water there is a quality endowed with a blessing;<br>
+On God it is most just to meditate aright;<br>
+To God it is proper to supplicate with seriousness,<br>
+Since no obstacle can there be to obtain a reward from him.<br>
+Three times have I been born, I know by meditation;<br>
+It were miserable for a person not to come and obtain<br>
+All the sciences of the world, collected together in my breast,<br>
+For I know what has been, what in future will occur.<br>
+I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him,<br>
+A regard I may obtain in his grace;<br>
+The Son of Mary is my trust, great in him is my delight,<br>
+For in him is the world continually upholden.<br>
+God has been to instruct me and to raise my expectation,<br>
+The true Creator of heaven, who affords me protection;<br>
+It is rightly intended that the saints should daily pray,<br>
+For God, the renovator, will bring them to him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And forthwith Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she nursed him tenderly
+and lovingly.&nbsp; Thenceforward Elphin increased in riches more and
+more day after day, and in love and favour with the king, and there
+abode Taliesin until he was thirteen years old, when Elphin son of Gwyddno
+went by a Christmas invitation to his uncle, Maelgwn Gwynedd, who some
+time after this held open court at Christmastide in the castle of Dyganwy,
+for all the number of his lords of both degrees, both spiritual and
+temporal, with a vast and thronged host of knights and squires.&nbsp;
+And amongst them there arose a discourse and discussion.&nbsp; And thus
+was it said.<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Is there in the whole world a king so great as Maelgwn, or one
+on whom Heaven has bestowed so many spiritual gifts as upon him?&nbsp;
+First, form, and beauty, and meekness, and strength, besides all the
+powers of the soul!&rdquo;&nbsp; And together with these they said that
+Heaven had given one gift that exceeded all the others, which was the
+beauty, and comeliness, and grace, and wisdom, and modesty of his queen;
+whose virtues surpassed those of all the ladies and noble maidens throughout
+the whole kingdom.&nbsp; And with this they put questions one to another
+amongst themselves: Who had braver men?&nbsp; Who had fairer or swifter
+horses or greyhounds?&nbsp; Who had more skilful or wiser bards - than
+Maelgwn?<br>
+<br>
+Now at that time the bards were in great favour with the exalted of
+the kingdom; and then none performed the office of those who are now
+called heralds, unless they were learned men, not only expert in the
+service of kings and princes, but studious and well versed in the lineage,
+and arms, and exploits of princes and kings, and in discussions concerning
+foreign kingdoms, and the ancient things of this kingdom, and chiefly
+in the annals of the first nobles; and also were prepared always with
+their answers in various languages, Latin, French, Welsh, and English.&nbsp;
+And together with this they were great chroniclers, and recorders, and
+skilful in framing verses, and ready in making englyns in every one
+of those languages.&nbsp; Now of these there were at that feast within
+the palace of Maelgwn as many as four-and-twenty, and chief of them
+all was one named Heinin Vardd.<br>
+<br>
+When they had all made an end of thus praising the king and his gifts,
+it befell that Elphin spoke in this wise.&nbsp; &ldquo;Of a truth none
+but a king may vie with a king; but were he not a king, I would say
+that my wife was as virtuous as any lady in the kingdom, and also that
+I have a bard who is more skilful than all the king&rsquo;s bards.&rdquo;&nbsp;
+In a short space some of his fellows showed the king all the boastings
+of Elphin; and the king ordered him to be thrown into a strong prison,
+until he might know the truth as to the virtues of his wife, and the
+wisdom of his bard.<br>
+<br>
+Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with a thick
+chain about his feet (it is said that it was a silver chain, because
+he was of royal blood), the king, as the story relates, sent his son
+Rhun to inquire into the demeanour of Elphin&rsquo;s wife.&nbsp; Now
+Rhun was the most graceless man in the world, and there was neither
+wife nor maiden with whom he had held converse, but was evil spoken
+of.&nbsp; While Rhun went in haste towards Elphin&rsquo;s dwelling,
+being fully minded to bring disgrace upon his wife, Taliesin told his
+mistress how that the king had placed his master in durance in prison,
+and how that Rhun was coming in haste to strive to bring disgrace upon
+her.&nbsp; Wherefore he caused his mistress to array one of the maids
+of her kitchen in her apparel; which the noble lady gladly did; and
+she loaded her hands with the best rings that she and her husband possessed.<br>
+<br>
+In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden to sit
+at the board in her room at supper, and he made her to seem as her mistress,
+and the mistress to seem as the maid.&nbsp; And when they were in due
+time seated at their supper in the manner that has been said, Rhun suddenly
+arrived at Elphin&rsquo;s dwelling, and was received with joy, for all
+the servants knew him plainly; and they brought him in haste to the
+room of their mistress, in the semblance of whom the maid rose up from
+supper and welcomed him gladly.&nbsp; And afterwards she sat down to
+supper again the second time, and Rhun with her.&nbsp; Then Rhun began
+jesting with the maid, who still kept the semblance of her mistress.&nbsp;
+And verily this story shows that the maiden became so intoxicated, that
+she fell asleep; and the story relates that it was a powder that Rhun
+put into the drink, that made her sleep so soundly that she never felt
+it when he cut from off her hand her little finger, whereupon was the
+signet ring of Elphin, which he had sent to his wife as a token, a short
+time before.&nbsp; And Rhun returned to the king with the finger and
+the ring as a proof, to show that he had cut it from off her hand, without
+her awaking from her sleep of intemperance.<br>
+<br>
+The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for his councillors,
+to whom he told the whole story from the beginning.&nbsp; And he caused
+Elphin to be brought out of his prison, and he chided him because of
+his boast.&nbsp; And he spake unto Elphin on this wise.&nbsp; &ldquo;Elphin,
+be it known to thee beyond a doubt that it is but folly for a man to
+trust in the virtues of his wife further than he can see her; and that
+thou mayest be certain of thy wife&rsquo;s vileness, behold her finger,
+with thy signet ring upon it, which was cut from her hand last night,
+while she slept the sleep of intoxication.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then thus spake
+Elphin.&nbsp; &ldquo;With thy leave, mighty king, I cannot deny my ring,
+for it is known of many; but verily I assert strongly that the finger
+around which it is, was never attached to the hand of my wife, for in
+truth and certainty there are three notable things pertaining to it,
+none of which ever belonged to any of my wife&rsquo;s fingers.&nbsp;
+The first of the three is, that it is certain, by your grace&rsquo;s
+leave, that wheresoever my wife is at this present hour, whether sitting,
+or standing, or lying down, this ring would never remain upon her thumb,
+whereas you can plainly see that it was hard to draw it over the joint
+of the little finger of the hand whence this was cut; the second thing
+is, that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I have known
+her without paring her nails before going to bed, and you can see fully
+that the nail of this little finger has not been pared for a month.&nbsp;
+The third is, truly, that the hand whence this finger came was kneading
+rye dough within three days before the finger was cut therefrom, and
+I can assure your goodness that my wife has never kneaded rye dough
+since my wife she has been.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+Then the king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutly withstanding
+him, respecting the goodness of his wife, wherefore he ordered him to
+his prison a second time, saying that he should not be loosed thence
+until he had proved the truth of his boast, as well concerning the wisdom
+of his bard as the virtues of his wife.<br>
+<br>
+In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at Elphin&rsquo;s
+dwelling.&nbsp; And Taliesin showed his mistress how that Elphin was
+in prison because of them, but he bade her be glad, for that he would
+go to Maelgwn&rsquo;s court to free his master.&nbsp; Then she asked
+him in what manner he would set him free.&nbsp; And he answered her:-<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;A journey will I perform,<br>
+And to the gate I will come;<br>
+The hall I will enter,<br>
+And my song I will sing;<br>
+My speech I will pronounce<br>
+To silence royal bards,<br>
+In presence of their chief,<br>
+I will greet to deride,<br>
+Upon them I will break<br>
+And Elphin I will free.<br>
+Should contention arise,<br>
+In presence of the prince,<br>
+With summons to the bards,<br>
+For the sweet flowing song,<br>
+And wizards&rsquo; posing lore<br>
+And wisdom of Druids,<br>
+In the court of the sons of the Distributor<br>
+Some are who did appear<br>
+Intent on wily schemes,<br>
+By craft and tricking means,<br>
+In pangs of affliction<br>
+To wrong the innocent,<br>
+Let the fools be silent,<br>
+As erst in Badon&rsquo;s fight, -<br>
+With Arthur of liberal ones<br>
+The head, with long red blades;<br>
+Through feats of testy men,<br>
+And a chief with his foes.<br>
+Woe be to them, the fools,<br>
+When revenge comes on them.<br>
+I Taliesin, chief of bards,<br>
+With a sapient Druid&rsquo;s words,<br>
+Will set kind Elphin free<br>
+From haughty tyrant&rsquo;s bonds.<br>
+To their fell and chilling cry,<br>
+By the act of a surprising steed,<br>
+From the far distant North,<br>
+There soon shall be an end.<br>
+Let neither grace nor health<br>
+Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd,<br>
+For this force and this wrong;<br>
+And be extremes of ills<br>
+And an avenged end<br>
+To Rhun and all his race:<br>
+Short be his course of life,<br>
+Be all his lands laid waste;<br>
+And long exile be assigned<br>
+To Maelgwn Gwynedd!&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at last to the Court
+of Maelgwn, who was going to sit in his hall and dine in his royal state,
+as it was the custom in those days for kings and princes to do at every
+chief feast.&nbsp; And as soon as Taliesin entered the hall, he placed
+himself in a quiet corner, near the place where the bards and the minstrels
+were wont to come in doing their service and duty to the king, as is
+the custom at the high festivals when the bounty is proclaimed.&nbsp;
+And so, when the bards and the heralds came to cry largess, and to proclaim
+the power of the king and his strength, at the moment that they passed
+by the corner wherein he was crouching, Taliesin pouted out his lips
+after them, and played &ldquo;Blerwm, blerwm,&rdquo; with his finger
+upon his lips.&nbsp; Neither took they much notice of him as they went
+by, but proceeded forward till they came before the king, unto whom
+they made their obeisance with their bodies, as they were wont, without
+speaking a single word, but pouting out their lips, and making mouths
+at the king, playing &ldquo;Blerwm, blerwm,&rdquo; upon their lips with
+their fingers, as they had seen the boy do elsewhere.&nbsp; This sight
+caused the king to wonder and to deem within himself that they were
+drunk with many liquors.&nbsp; Wherefore he commanded one of his lords,
+who served at the board, to go to them and desire them to collect their
+wits, and to consider where they stood, and what it was fitting for
+them to do.&nbsp; And this lord did so gladly.&nbsp; But they ceased
+not from their folly any more than before.&nbsp; Whereupon he sent to
+them a second time, and a third, desiring them to go forth from the
+hall.&nbsp; At the last the king ordered one of his squires to give
+a blow to the chief of them named Heinin Vardd; and the squire took
+a broom and struck him on the head, so that he fell back in his seat.&nbsp;
+Then he arose and went on his knees, and besought leave of the king&rsquo;s
+grace to show that this their fault was not through want of knowledge,
+neither through drunkenness, but by the influence of some spirit that
+was in the hall.&nbsp; And after this Heinin spoke on this wise.&nbsp;
+&ldquo;Oh, honourable king, be it known to your grace, that not from
+the strength of drink, or of too much liquor, are we dumb, without power
+of speech like drunken men, but through the influence of a spirit that
+sits in the corner yonder in the form of a child.&rdquo;&nbsp; Forthwith
+the king commanded the squire to fetch him; and he went to the nook
+where Taliesin sat, and brought him before the king, who asked him what
+he was, and whence he came.&nbsp; And he answered the king in verse.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Primary chief bard am I to Elphin,<br>
+And my original country is the region of the summer stars;<br>
+Idno and Heinin called me Merddin,<br>
+At length every king will call me Taliesin.<br>
+<br>
+I was with my Lord in the highest sphere,<br>
+On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell<br>
+I have borne a banner before Alexander;<br>
+I know the names of the stars from north to south;<br>
+I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the Distributor;<br>
+I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain;<br>
+I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of Hebron;<br>
+I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwdion.<br>
+I was instructor to Eli and Enoc;<br>
+I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier;<br>
+I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech;<br>
+I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of God;<br>
+I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod;<br>
+I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of Nimrod;<br>
+I am a wonder whose origin is not known.<br>
+I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark,<br>
+I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra;<br>
+I have been in India when Roma was built,<br>
+I am now come here to the remnant of Troia.<br>
+<br>
+I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass:<br>
+I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan;<br>
+I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene;<br>
+I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen;<br>
+I have been bard of the harp to Lleon of Lochlin.<br>
+I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn,<br>
+For a day and a year in stocks and fetters,<br>
+I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin,<br>
+I have been fostered in the land of the Deity,<br>
+I have been teacher to all intelligences,<br>
+I am able to instruct the whole universe.<br>
+I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth;<br>
+And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish.<br>
+<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then I was for nine months<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the womb of the hag Caridwen;<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I was originally little Gwion,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And at length I am Taliesin.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And when the king and his nobles had heard the song, they wondered much,
+for they had never heard the like from a boy so young as he.&nbsp; And
+when the king knew that he was the bard of Elphin, he bade Heinin, his
+first and wisest bard, to answer Taliesin and to strive with him.&nbsp;
+But when he came, he could do no other but play &ldquo;blerwm&rdquo;
+on his lips; and when he sent for the others of the four-and-twenty
+bards they all did likewise, and could do no other.&nbsp; And Maelgwn
+asked the boy Taliesin what was his errand, and he answered him in song.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Puny bards, I am trying<br>
+To secure the prize, if I can;<br>
+By a gentle prophetic strain<br>
+I am endeavouring to retrieve<br>
+The loss I may have suffered;<br>
+Complete the attempt I hope,<br>
+Since Elphin endures trouble<br>
+In the fortress of Teganwy,<br>
+On him may there not be laid<br>
+Too many chains and fetters;<br>
+The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy<br>
+Will I again seek;<br>
+Strengthened by my muse I am powerful;<br>
+Mighty on my part is what I seek,<br>
+For three hundred songs and more<br>
+Are combined in the spell I sing.<br>
+There ought not to stand where I am<br>
+Neither stone, neither ring;<br>
+And there ought not to be about me<br>
+Any bard who may not know<br>
+That Elphin the son of Gwyddno<br>
+Is in the land of Artro,<br>
+Secured by thirteen locks,<br>
+For praising his instructor;<br>
+And then I Taliesin,<br>
+Chief of the bards of the west,<br>
+Shall loosen Elphin<br>
+Out of a golden fetter.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+* * * * *<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;If you be primary bards<br>
+To the master of sciences,<br>
+Declare ye mysteries<br>
+That relate to the inhabitants of the world;<br>
+There is a noxious creature,<br>
+From the rampart of Satanas,<br>
+Which has overcome all<br>
+Between the deep and the shallow;<br>
+Equally wide are his jaws<br>
+As the mountains of the Alps;<br>
+Him death will not subdue,<br>
+Nor hand or blades;<br>
+There is the load of nine hundred wagons<br>
+In the hair of his two paws;<br>
+There is in his head an eye<br>
+Green as the limpid sheet of icicle;<br>
+Three springs arise<br>
+In the nape of his neck;<br>
+Sea-roughs thereon<br>
+Swim through it;<br>
+There was the dissolution of the oxen<br>
+Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted.<br>
+The names of the three springs<br>
+From the midst of the ocean;<br>
+One generated brine<br>
+Which is from the Corina,<br>
+To replenish the flood<br>
+Over seas disappearing;<br>
+The second, without injury<br>
+It will fall on us,<br>
+When there is rain abroad,<br>
+Through the whelming sky;<br>
+The third will appear<br>
+Through the mountain veins,<br>
+Like a flinty banquet,<br>
+The work of the King of kings,<br>
+You are blundering bards,<br>
+In too much solicitude;<br>
+You cannot celebrate<br>
+The kingdom of the Britons;<br>
+And I am Taliesin,<br>
+Chief of the bards of the west,<br>
+Who will loosen Elphin<br>
+Out of the golden fetter.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+* * * * *<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming bards,<br>
+For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood.<br>
+If you be primary bards formed by heaven,<br>
+Tell your king what his fate will be.<br>
+It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard,<br>
+And know every passage in the country of your king;<br>
+I shall liberate Elphin from the belly of the stony tower;<br>
+And will tell your king what will befall him.<br>
+A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of Rhianedd<br>
+As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd;<br>
+His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold,<br>
+And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+* * * * *<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Discover thou what is<br>
+The strong creature from before the flood,<br>
+Without flesh, without bone,<br>
+Without vein, without blood,<br>
+Without head, without feet,<br>
+It will neither be older nor younger<br>
+Than at the beginning;<br>
+For fear of a denial,<br>
+There are no rude wants<br>
+With creatures.<br>
+Great God! how the sea whitens<br>
+When first it comes!<br>
+Great are its gusts<br>
+When it comes from the south;<br>
+Great are its evaporations<br>
+When it strikes on coasts.<br>
+It is in the field, it is in the wood,<br>
+Without hand, and without foot,<br>
+Without signs of old age,<br>
+Though it be co-&aelig;val<br>
+With the five ages or periods<br>
+And older still,<br>
+Though they be numberless years.<br>
+It is also so wide<br>
+As the surface of the earth;<br>
+And it was not born,<br>
+Nor was it seen.<br>
+It will cause consternation<br>
+Wherever God willeth.<br>
+On sea, and on land,<br>
+It neither sees, nor is seen.<br>
+Its course is devious,<br>
+And will not come when desired;<br>
+On land and on sea,<br>
+It is indispensable.<br>
+It is without an equal,<br>
+It is four-sided;<br>
+It is not confined,<br>
+It is incomparable;<br>
+It comes from four quarters;<br>
+It will not be advised,<br>
+It will not be without advice.<br>
+It commences its journey<br>
+Above the marble rock,<br>
+It is sonorous, it is dumb,<br>
+It is mild,<br>
+It is strong, it is bold,<br>
+When it glances over the land,<br>
+It is silent, it is vocal,<br>
+It is clamorous,<br>
+It is the most noisy<br>
+On the face of the earth.<br>
+It is good, it is bad,<br>
+It is extremely injurious.<br>
+It is concealed,<br>
+Because sight cannot perceive it.<br>
+It is noxious, it is beneficial;<br>
+It is yonder, it is here;<br>
+It will discompose,<br>
+But will not repair the injury;<br>
+It will not suffer for its doings,<br>
+Seeing it is blameless.<br>
+It is wet, it is dry,<br>
+It frequently comes,<br>
+Proceeding from the heat of the sun,<br>
+And the coldness of the moon.<br>
+The moon is less beneficial,<br>
+Inasmuch as her heat is less.<br>
+One Being has prepared it,<br>
+Out of all creatures,<br>
+By a tremendous blast,<br>
+To wreak vengeance<br>
+On Maelgwn Gwynedd.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And while he was thus singing his verse near the door, there arose a
+mighty storm of wind, so that the king and all his nobles thought that
+the castle would fall on their heads.&nbsp; And the king caused them
+to fetch Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and placed him before Taliesin.&nbsp;
+And it is said, that immediately he sang a verse, so that the chains
+opened from about his feet.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;I adore the Supreme, Lord of all animation, -<br>
+Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme,<br>
+Him that made the water good for all,<br>
+Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it; -<br>
+May abundance of mead be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies us,<br>
+From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor.<br>
+Since bees collect, and do not enjoy,<br>
+We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally praised.<br>
+The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes<br>
+God made for man, with a view to enrich him; -<br>
+Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them,<br>
+Some are wild, some are tame; the Lord makes them; -<br>
+Part of their produce becomes clothing;<br>
+For food and beverage till doom will they continue.<br>
+I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace,<br>
+To liberate Elphin from banishment,<br>
+The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead,<br>
+With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance;<br>
+May he yet give me; and at the end,<br>
+May God of his good will grant me, in honour,<br>
+A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of tranquillity.<br>
+Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution!&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And afterwards he sang the ode which is called &ldquo;The Excellence
+of the Bards.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;What was the first man<br>
+Made by the God of heaven;<br>
+What the fairest flattering speech<br>
+That was prepared by leuav;<br>
+What meat, what drink,<br>
+What roof his shelter;<br>
+What the first impression<br>
+Of his primary thinking;<br>
+What became his clothing;<br>
+Who carried on a disguise,<br>
+Owing to the wilds of the country,<br>
+In the beginning?<br>
+Wherefore should a stone be hard;<br>
+Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed?<br>
+Who is hard like a flint;<br>
+Who is salt like brine;<br>
+Who sweet like honey;<br>
+Who rides on the gale;<br>
+Why ridged should be the nose;<br>
+Why should a wheel be round;<br>
+Why should the tongue be gifted with speech<br>
+Rather than another member?<br>
+If thy bards, Heinin, be competent,<br>
+Let them reply to me, Taliesin.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+And after that he sang the address which is called &ldquo;The Reproof
+of the Bards.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;If thou art a bard completely imbued<br>
+With genius not to be controlled,<br>
+Be thou not untractable<br>
+Within the court of thy king;<br>
+Until thy rigmarole shall be known,<br>
+Be thou silent, Heinin,<br>
+As to the name of thy verse,<br>
+And the name of thy vaunting;<br>
+And as to the name of thy grandsire<br>
+Prior to his being baptized.<br>
+And the name of the sphere,<br>
+And the name of the element,<br>
+And the name of thy language,<br>
+And the name of thy region.<br>
+Avaunt, ye bards above,<br>
+Avaunt, ye bards below!<br>
+My beloved is below,<br>
+In the fetter of Ariansod<br>
+It is certain you know not<br>
+How to understand the song I utter,<br>
+Nor clearly how to discriminate<br>
+Between the truth and what is false;<br>
+Puny bards, crows of the district,<br>
+Why do you not take to flight?<br>
+A bard that will not silence me,<br>
+Silence may he not obtain,<br>
+Till he goes to be covered<br>
+Under gravel and pebbles;<br>
+Such as shall listen to me,<br>
+May God listen to him.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Then sang he the piece called &ldquo;The Spite of the Bards.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;Minstrels persevere in their false custom,<br>
+Immoral ditties are their delight;<br>
+Vain and tasteless praise they recite;<br>
+Falsehood at all times do they utter;<br>
+The innocent persons they ridicule;<br>
+Married women they destroy,<br>
+Innocent virgins of Mary they corrupt;<br>
+As they pass their lives away in vanity,<br>
+Poor innocent persons they ridicule;<br>
+At night they get drunk, they sleep the day;<br>
+In idleness without work they feed themselves;<br>
+The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent;<br>
+With thieves and perjured fellows they associate;<br>
+At courts they inquire after feasts;<br>
+Every senseless word they bring forward;<br>
+Every deadly sin they praise;<br>
+Every vile course of life they lead;<br>
+Through every village, town, and country they stroll;<br>
+Concerning the gripe of death they think not;<br>
+Neither lodging nor charity do they give;<br>
+Indulging in victuals to excess.<br>
+Psalms or prayers they do not use,<br>
+Tithes or offerings to God they do not pay,<br>
+On holidays or Sundays they do not worship;<br>
+Vigils or festivals they do not heed.<br>
+The birds do fly, the fish do swim,<br>
+The bees collect honey, worms do crawl,<br>
+Every thing travails to obtain its food,<br>
+Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves.<br>
+<br>
+I deride neither song nor minstrelsy,<br>
+For they are given by God to lighten thought;<br>
+But him who abuses them,<br>
+For blaspheming Jesus and his service.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and having protected
+the innocence of his wife, and silenced the Bards, so that not one of
+them dared to say a word, now brought Elphin&rsquo;s wife before them,
+and showed that she had not one finger wanting.&nbsp; Right glad was
+Elphin, right glad was Taliesin.<br>
+<br>
+Then he bade Elphin wager the king, that he had a horse both better
+and swifter than the king&rsquo;s horses.&nbsp; And this Elphin did,
+and the day, and the time, and the place were fixed, and the place was
+that which at this day is called Morva Rhiannedd: and thither the king
+went with all his people, and four-and-twenty of the swiftest horses
+he possessed.&nbsp; And after a long process the course was marked,
+and the horses were placed for running.&nbsp; Then came Taliesin with
+four-and-twenty twigs of holly, which he had burnt black, and he caused
+the youth who was to ride his master&rsquo;s horse to place them in
+his belt, and he gave him orders to let all the king&rsquo;s horses
+get before him, and as he should overtake one horse after the other,
+to take one of the twigs and strike the horse with it over the crupper,
+and then let that twig fall; and after that to take another twig, and
+do in like manner to every one of the horses, as he should overtake
+them, enjoining the horseman strictly to watch when his own horse should
+stumble, and to throw down his cap on the spot.&nbsp; All these things
+did the youth fulfil, giving a blow to every one of the king&rsquo;s
+horses, and throwing down his cap on the spot where his horse stumbled.&nbsp;
+And to this spot Taliesin brought his master after his horse had won
+the race.&nbsp; And he caused Elphin to put workmen to dig a hole there;
+and when they had dug the ground deep enough, they found a large cauldron
+full of gold.&nbsp; And then said Taliesin, &ldquo;Elphin, behold a
+payment and reward unto thee, for having taken me out of the weir, and
+for having reared me from that time until now.&rdquo;&nbsp; And on this
+spot stands a pool of water, which is to this time called Pwllbair.<br>
+<br>
+After all this, the king caused Taliesin to be brought before him, and
+he asked him to recite concerning the creation of man from the beginning;
+and thereupon he made the poem which is now called &ldquo;One of the
+Four Pillars of Song.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+&ldquo;The Almighty made,<br>
+Down the Hebron vale,<br>
+With his plastic hands,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Adam&rsquo;s fair form:<br>
+<br>
+And five hundred years,<br>
+Void of any help,<br>
+There he remained and lay<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Without a soul.<br>
+<br>
+He again did form,<br>
+In calm paradise,<br>
+From a left-side rib,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bliss-throbbing Eve.<br>
+<br>
+Seven hours they were<br>
+The orchard keeping,<br>
+Till Satan brought strife,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With wiles from hell.<br>
+<br>
+Thence were they driven,<br>
+Cold and shivering,<br>
+To gain their living,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Into this world.<br>
+<br>
+To bring forth with pain<br>
+Their sons and daughters,<br>
+To have possession<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of Asia&rsquo;s land.<br>
+<br>
+Twice five, ten and eight,<br>
+She was self-bearing,<br>
+The mixed burden<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of man-woman.<br>
+<br>
+And once, not hidden,<br>
+She brought forth Abel,<br>
+And Cain the forlorn,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The homicide.<br>
+<br>
+To him and his mate<br>
+Was given a spade,<br>
+To break up the soil,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thus to get bread.<br>
+<br>
+The wheat pure and white,<br>
+Summer tilth to sow,<br>
+Every man to feed,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Till great yule feast.<br>
+<br>
+An angelic hand<br>
+From the high Father,<br>
+Brought seed for growing<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That Eve might sow;<br>
+<br>
+But she then did hide<br>
+Of the gift a tenth,<br>
+And all did not sow<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of what was dug.<br>
+<br>
+Black rye then was found,<br>
+And not pure wheat grain,<br>
+To show the mischief<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thus of thieving.<br>
+<br>
+For this thievish act,<br>
+It is requisite,<br>
+That all men should pay<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tithe unto God.<br>
+<br>
+Of the ruddy wine,<br>
+Planted on sunny days,<br>
+And on new-moon nights;<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And the white wine.<br>
+<br>
+The wheat rich in grain<br>
+And red flowing wine<br>
+Christ&rsquo;s pure body make,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Son of Alpha.<br>
+<br>
+The wafer is flesh,<br>
+The wine is spilt blood,<br>
+The Trinity&rsquo;s words<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sanctify them.<br>
+<br>
+The concealed books<br>
+From Emmanuel&rsquo;s hand<br>
+Were brought by Raphael<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Adam&rsquo;s gift,<br>
+<br>
+When in his old age,<br>
+To his chin immersed<br>
+In Jordan&rsquo;s water,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Keeping a fast,<br>
+<br>
+Moses did obtain<br>
+In Jordan&rsquo;s water,<br>
+The aid of the three<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Most special rods.<br>
+<br>
+Solomon did obtain<br>
+In Babel&rsquo;s tower,<br>
+All the sciences<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In Asia land.<br>
+<br>
+So did I obtain,<br>
+In my bardic books,<br>
+All the sciences<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of Europe and Africa.<br>
+<br>
+Their course, their bearing,<br>
+Their permitted way,<br>
+And their fate I know,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unto the end.<br>
+<br>
+Oh! what misery,<br>
+Through extreme of woe,<br>
+Prophecy will show<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On Troia&rsquo;s race!<br>
+<br>
+A coiling serpent<br>
+Proud and merciless,<br>
+On her golden wings,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;From Germany.<br>
+<br>
+She will overrun<br>
+England and Scotland,<br>
+From Lychlyn sea-shore<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To the Severn.<br>
+<br>
+Then will the Brython<br>
+Be as prisoners,<br>
+By strangers swayed,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;From Saxony.<br>
+<br>
+Their Lord they will praise,<br>
+Their speech they will keep,<br>
+Their land they will lose,<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Except wild Walia.<br>
+<br>
+Till some change shall come,<br>
+After long penance,<br>
+When equally rife<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The two crimes come.<br>
+<br>
+Britons then shall have<br>
+Their land and their crown,<br>
+And the stranger swarm<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shall disappear.<br>
+<br>
+All the angel&rsquo;s words,<br>
+As to peace and war,<br>
+Will be fulfilled<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Britain&rsquo;s race.&rdquo;<br>
+<br>
+He further told the king various prophecies of things that should be
+in the world, in songs, as follows.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+Footnotes:<br>
+<br>
+<a name="footnote1"></a><a href="#citation1">{1}</a>&nbsp; It is also
+stated, that there is in the Hengwrt Library, a MS. containing the Graal
+in Welsh, as early as the time of Henry I.&nbsp; I had hoped to have
+added this to the present collection; but the death of Col. Vaughan,
+to whom I applied, and other subsequent circumstances, have prevented
+me from obtaining access to it.<br>
+<br>
+<a name="footnote2"></a><a href="#citation2">{2}</a>&nbsp; Hades.<br>
+<br>
+<a name="footnote3"></a><a href="#citation3">{3}</a>&nbsp; The word
+&ldquo;Pryder&rdquo; or &ldquo;Pryderi&rdquo; means anxiety.<br>
+<br>
+<a name="footnote4"></a><a href="#citation4">{4}</a>&nbsp; The version
+in the Greal adds, &ldquo;And their coin was fairy money;&rdquo; literally,
+dwarf&rsquo;s money: that is, money which, when received, appeared to
+be good coin, but which, if kept, turned into pieces of fungus, &amp;c.<br>
+<br>
+<a name="footnote5"></a><a href="#citation5">{5}</a>&nbsp; This dialogue
+consists of a series of repartees with a play upon words, which it is
+impossible to follow in the translation.<br>
+<br>
+<a name="footnote6"></a><a href="#citation6">{6}</a>&nbsp; Taliesin.<br>
+<br>
+<a name="footnote7"></a><a href="#citation7">{7}</a>&nbsp; The mention
+of Gwyddno Garanhir instead of Elphin ab Gwyddno in this place is evidently
+an error of some transcriber of the MS.<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MABINOGION ***<br>
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