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diff --git a/old/mbng10h.htm b/old/mbng10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb3d839 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mbng10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10698 @@ +<!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> +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mabinogion + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +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] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +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> + Introduction<br> + The Lady of the Fountain<br> + Peredur the Son of Evrawc<br> + Geraint the son of Erbin<br> + Kilhwch and Olwen<br> + The dream of Rhonabwy<br> + Pwyll Prince of Dyved<br> + Branwen the daughter of Llyr<br> + Manawyddan the son of Llyr<br> + Math the son of Mathonwy<br> + The dream of Maxen Wledig<br> + The story of Lludd and Llevelys<br> + 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 Mediæval +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 “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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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?<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. 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.<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. 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.<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. +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.<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’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.<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. 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.<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. 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">{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. 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.<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. +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. 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 +<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.<br> +<br> +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:-<br> +<br> +I. Names of the great features, involving proper names and actions.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +It appears to me, then, looking back upon what has been advanced:-<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.<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. 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.<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, “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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.’<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.’<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“Now,” quoth Owain, “would it not be well to go and +endeavour to discover that place?”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“In very truth,” said Gwenhwyvar, “it were better +thou wert hanged, Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech towards a +man like Owain.”<br> +<br> +“By the hand of my friend, good Lady,” said Kai, “thy +praise of Owain is not greater than mine.”<br> +<br> +With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping a little.<br> +<br> +“Yes, Lord,” answered Owain, “thou hast slept awhile.”<br> +<br> +“Is it time for us to go to meat?”<br> +<br> +“It is, Lord,” said Owain.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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. +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.<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. 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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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’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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. “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.”<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. And the men of the earldom did Owain homage.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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. “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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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’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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<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, “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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. “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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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, “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.<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. 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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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. “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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.<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. 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.<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. 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.<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. “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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +“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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.<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. +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. “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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<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. +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. He +was the best of footmen and the best of knights. 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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.” <a name="citation5"></a><a href="#footnote5">{5}</a> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +“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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<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. 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!”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.”<br> +<br> +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get; +the yellow and the brindled bull yoked together do I require.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.”<br> +<br> +“Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Seest thou yonder red tilled ground?”<br> +<br> +“I see it.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think that it will not be easy.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<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. 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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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 +-<br> +<br> +<br> +Kai made a leash<br> +Of Dillus son of Eurei’s beard.<br> +Were he alive, thy death he’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. And thenceforth, neither +in Arthur’s troubles, nor for the slaying of his men, would Kai +come forward to his aid for ever after.<br> +<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +And when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains, he obtained Mygdwn, +Gweddw’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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.”<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’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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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’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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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, “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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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, “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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<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. “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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<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. 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.<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. 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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<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’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. 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.<br> +<br> +“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?”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<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. +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.<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. +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,” <a name="citation2"></a><a href="#footnote2">{2}</a> +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!”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. +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.<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. 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. 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.”<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’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.<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. “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.”<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. 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.<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. “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.<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. +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. +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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, <a name="citation3"></a><a href="#footnote3">{3}</a> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. “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.<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. “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.<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. 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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +“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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. “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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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:-<br> +<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.<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. 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.<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. 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. +“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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. “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.<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. 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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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. 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’ 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. “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.”<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. 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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.<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. 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. “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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. “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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<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. “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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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> +“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.”<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. 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.<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. “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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<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’s +couch. 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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. “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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. +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.”<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. 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.”<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. “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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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:-<br> +<br> +<br> +The three sons of Gilvaethwy the false,<br> +The three faithful combatants,<br> +Bleiddwn, Hydwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.”<br> +<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. “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.<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. 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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. “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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<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. +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. “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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. Then he flew up in the form of an eagle and gave +a fearful scream. And thenceforth was he no more seen.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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:-<br> +<br> +<br> +“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?”<br> +<br> +<br> +Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the centre of the tree. +And Gwydion sang another Englyn:-<br> +<br> +<br> +“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!”<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> +“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?”<br> +<br> +<br> +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.<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> +“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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. “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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“Behold,” said they, “the land which our master saw.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig, emperor of Rome. +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. +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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">{4}</a><br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. +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.<br> +<br> +“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.<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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.”<br> +<br> +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.<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. 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.<br> +<br> +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!” <a name="citation6"></a><a href="#footnote6">{6}</a> +“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:-<br> +<br> +<br> +“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’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.”<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. And then Gwyddno Garanhir <a name="citation7"></a><a href="#footnote7">{7}</a> +asked him what he was, whether man or spirit. Whereupon he sang +this tale, and said:-<br> +<br> +<br> +“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’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’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.”<br> +<br> +<br> +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:-<br> +<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +<br> +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.<br> +<br> +“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?<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. +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.<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. “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.<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’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.<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. 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.<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. 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.”<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’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:-<br> +<br> +<br> +“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’ 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’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’s words,<br> +Will set kind Elphin free<br> +From haughty tyrant’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!”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +<br> +“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> + 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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +* * * * *<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +* * * * *<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +* * * * *<br> +<br> +“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.”<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. 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.<br> +<br> +<br> +“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!”<br> +<br> +<br> +And afterwards he sang the ode which is called “The Excellence +of the Bards.”<br> +<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +<br> +And after that he sang the address which is called “The Reproof +of the Bards.”<br> +<br> +<br> +“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.”<br> +<br> +<br> +Then sang he the piece called “The Spite of the Bards.”<br> +<br> +<br> +“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.”<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’s wife before them, +and showed that she had not one finger wanting. 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’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.<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 “One of the +Four Pillars of Song.”<br> +<br> +<br> +“The Almighty made,<br> +Down the Hebron vale,<br> +With his plastic hands,<br> + Adam’s fair form:<br> +<br> +And five hundred years,<br> +Void of any help,<br> +There he remained and lay<br> + Without a soul.<br> +<br> +He again did form,<br> +In calm paradise,<br> +From a left-side rib,<br> + Bliss-throbbing Eve.<br> +<br> +Seven hours they were<br> +The orchard keeping,<br> +Till Satan brought strife,<br> + With wiles from hell.<br> +<br> +Thence were they driven,<br> +Cold and shivering,<br> +To gain their living,<br> + Into this world.<br> +<br> +To bring forth with pain<br> +Their sons and daughters,<br> +To have possession<br> + Of Asia’s land.<br> +<br> +Twice five, ten and eight,<br> +She was self-bearing,<br> +The mixed burden<br> + Of man-woman.<br> +<br> +And once, not hidden,<br> +She brought forth Abel,<br> +And Cain the forlorn,<br> + The homicide.<br> +<br> +To him and his mate<br> +Was given a spade,<br> +To break up the soil,<br> + Thus to get bread.<br> +<br> +The wheat pure and white,<br> +Summer tilth to sow,<br> +Every man to feed,<br> + Till great yule feast.<br> +<br> +An angelic hand<br> +From the high Father,<br> +Brought seed for growing<br> + That Eve might sow;<br> +<br> +But she then did hide<br> +Of the gift a tenth,<br> +And all did not sow<br> + Of what was dug.<br> +<br> +Black rye then was found,<br> +And not pure wheat grain,<br> +To show the mischief<br> + Thus of thieving.<br> +<br> +For this thievish act,<br> +It is requisite,<br> +That all men should pay<br> + Tithe unto God.<br> +<br> +Of the ruddy wine,<br> +Planted on sunny days,<br> +And on new-moon nights;<br> + And the white wine.<br> +<br> +The wheat rich in grain<br> +And red flowing wine<br> +Christ’s pure body make,<br> + Son of Alpha.<br> +<br> +The wafer is flesh,<br> +The wine is spilt blood,<br> +The Trinity’s words<br> + Sanctify them.<br> +<br> +The concealed books<br> +From Emmanuel’s hand<br> +Were brought by Raphael<br> + As Adam’s gift,<br> +<br> +When in his old age,<br> +To his chin immersed<br> +In Jordan’s water,<br> + Keeping a fast,<br> +<br> +Moses did obtain<br> +In Jordan’s water,<br> +The aid of the three<br> + Most special rods.<br> +<br> +Solomon did obtain<br> +In Babel’s tower,<br> +All the sciences<br> + In Asia land.<br> +<br> +So did I obtain,<br> +In my bardic books,<br> +All the sciences<br> + Of Europe and Africa.<br> +<br> +Their course, their bearing,<br> +Their permitted way,<br> +And their fate I know,<br> + Unto the end.<br> +<br> +Oh! what misery,<br> +Through extreme of woe,<br> +Prophecy will show<br> + On Troia’s race!<br> +<br> +A coiling serpent<br> +Proud and merciless,<br> +On her golden wings,<br> + From Germany.<br> +<br> +She will overrun<br> +England and Scotland,<br> +From Lychlyn sea-shore<br> + To the Severn.<br> +<br> +Then will the Brython<br> +Be as prisoners,<br> +By strangers swayed,<br> + From Saxony.<br> +<br> +Their Lord they will praise,<br> +Their speech they will keep,<br> +Their land they will lose,<br> + Except wild Walia.<br> +<br> +Till some change shall come,<br> +After long penance,<br> +When equally rife<br> + The two crimes come.<br> +<br> +Britons then shall have<br> +Their land and their crown,<br> +And the stranger swarm<br> + Shall disappear.<br> +<br> +All the angel’s words,<br> +As to peace and war,<br> +Will be fulfilled<br> + To Britain’s race.”<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> 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.<br> +<br> +<a name="footnote2"></a><a href="#citation2">{2}</a> Hades.<br> +<br> +<a name="footnote3"></a><a href="#citation3">{3}</a> The word +“Pryder” or “Pryderi” means anxiety.<br> +<br> +<a name="footnote4"></a><a href="#citation4">{4}</a> 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.<br> +<br> +<a name="footnote5"></a><a href="#citation5">{5}</a> 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> Taliesin.<br> +<br> +<a name="footnote7"></a><a href="#citation7">{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.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE MABINOGION ***<br> +<pre> + +******This file should be named mbng10h.htm or mbng10h.zip****** +Corrected EDITIONS of our EBooks get a new NUMBER, mbng11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, mbng10ah.htm + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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